At this moment, at the end of this path, besides the three of them, the rest were either severely injured or dead. Lu Yin's group of three didn't say much before heading towards the beam of light, stepping into it, and disappearing from the Reaching Realm path.
The moment Lu Yin disappeared, he heard a few words: 'Bone age qualified, cultivation level qualified, trial qualified. Approved to enter the Astral-10 Academy.'
In the starry sky, Dolan Yushan and the others looked at the ten paths, their expressions uneasy, not knowing if anyone from the Great Yu Empire could pass. If not a single one made it, it would be a terrible embarrassment. The Tenth Academy descending upon the Canglan territory was equivalent to it descending upon the Great Yu Empire, and if the Great Yu Empire couldn't even get one person in, it would become the laughingstock of the entire universe.
But no one could help them in this matter. The three major powers of the Innerverse had ambushed the assessment, something no one had known beforehand. Facing the elite masters of the three major powers, Dolan Yushan didn't hold much hope for success.
"Look, a light screen has been erected on each path. Those who pass should be able to leave their names on the screen," Rock Ona said.
Dolan Yushan and the others quickly looked at the screens, clenching their fists.
Three Reaching Realm paths, three light screens. One screen already had a name—Yin, with a note behind it: Great Yu Empire.
Another Reaching Realm path's screen also had a name—Zhao Yilong, with a note: from Myriad Swords Mountain.
Dolan Yushan and the others stared at the name 'Yin', their expressions blank. "Yin? Is there such a person among the people we brought?"
One person took out the disciple list. "Your Highness the Crown Prince, no. This person must have come on their own."
A glint flashed in Dolan Yushan's eyes. "Investigate this person. To be able to come here for the assessment is no simple feat."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Huo Qingshan looked at the name 'Zhao Yilong' and said in surprise, "Someone from the Innerverse's Myriad Swords Mountain also came. No wonder they could pass through the blockade of the three major powers. This Zhao Yilong must be very strong in the Reaching Realm."
Dolan Yushan nodded. "Fifth Sister is the head disciple of Myriad Swords Mountain. She might know this person. I'll ask her."
There were ten paths in total. The battle on the Reaching Realm paths was relatively simple, while the seven screens for the Melting Realm paths had not a single name appear. Not only because the Melting Realm battles were more intense, but also because the Melting Realm paths were longer than the Reaching Realm paths.
The screen for the last Reaching Realm path appeared. Dolan Yushan and the others stared at it. All the Reaching Realm cultivators from the Great Yu Empire had taken this path.
The first name appeared on the screen: Lulu Mebis, with a direct note: Mebis Bank.
No one was surprised. The Mebis clan was an absolute behemoth, even surpassing those three major powers. It wasn't difficult for them to break through the blockade.
The second name appeared: Ke Ke, with a note: Xuanfeng Hall.
"There's even someone from Xuanfeng Hall. It seems the Innerverse is not entirely indifferent to the Tenth Academy," Rock Ona said in surprise.
At this moment, the third name appeared: Lu Yin, with a note: Great Yu Empire.
The moment they saw Lu Yin's name, Dolan Yushan and the others were overjoyed. Lu Yin was purely from the Great Yu Empire and was also the King of Zishan. His passing saved the Great Yu Empire from losing face. Although Yin was also noted as being from the Great Yu Empire, that person was a bit mysterious and couldn't bring the same level of pleasant surprise as Lu Yin.
Rock Ona nodded in admiration. To be able to enter the Tenth Academy, this King of Zishan was worthy of the Ona family. Even if he was just an idle king, his status as a student of an Astral Combat Academy was enough, enough to cover the humiliation of being rejected by Princess Wendy.
Huo Qingshan looked at Lu Yin's name, his eyes glinting, his thoughts unknown.
Jue Lang had been very quiet all along, and at this moment, he only glanced at Lu Yin's name.
Dolan Yushan laughed excitedly and immediately contacted the empire. He wanted to send this good news back.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince, wait a moment. Let's wait for the results of the Melting Realm paths before saying anything," Huo Qingshan stopped him.
Dolan Yushan slapped his forehead. "You're right... I was too hasty, my apologies."
To the major powers of the universe, the Reaching Realm was just the beginning; the Melting Realm was the start of the path of cultivation. A person's strength in the Melting Realm was enough to determine their life. The Astral Combat Academies had clear realm requirements for admission: the lowest was the Reaching Realm, the highest the Melting Realm. Those beyond the Melting Realm, in their view, lacked plasticity. This showed the importance of the Melting Realm. For the empire, having a Melting Realm cultivator admitted to an Astral Combat Academy was the biggest surprise.
The beam of light at the end of the Reaching Realm path was like a spatial teleportation portal, transporting Lu Yin's group of three to a bluestone platform.
The platform was not large and was covered in green moss. The three of them had just landed when they heard the sound of raindrops. Looking up, they saw strange plants soaring into the clouds and rain covering the heavens and the earth.
This was a place deep in a rain-drenched forest. Under their feet was a bluestone platform, rain falling from the sky, flowing into a river on the ground, its destination unknown. The world was a dim cyan color, giving a hazy feeling.
Lu Yin turned to look around and suddenly saw a familiar smiling face. "Yin?" Lu Yin was surprised.
Not far away, Yin raised his hand in greeting. "Long time no see, classmate."
Lu Yin hadn't expected to see him here. He had passed the assessment one step ahead of him.
On the other side, another figure stood quietly, looking at the rain, carrying an ancient longsword on his back. His whole body exuded a sharp aura that even split the raindrops.
The moment he saw this person, Lu Yin suddenly felt a pressure. This person's strength was absolutely formidable.
"Someone from Myriad Swords Mountain?" Ke Ke exclaimed, staring at the standing man.
Lu Yin was surprised. Myriad Swords Mountain, wasn't that the great power Wendy Yushan belonged to? Someone from there had come too?
Lulu stared excitedly at the man, then looked at Yin, her fists cracking, looking like she was about to pick a fight. Ke Ke hurriedly pulled her back.
Even with a terrifying power from the Innerverse guarding the path, he was still able to pass one step ahead of him. Lu Yin was very curious about Yin's current strength. This person, like himself, improved extremely quickly. The first time they met, they were evenly matched. This time, he still felt they were evenly matched. And he was related to the Neo-Human Alliance; this person was not easy to deal with.
The man from Myriad Swords Mountain stared at the rain, paying no attention to Lu Yin and the others.
Lu Yin glanced at Yin, not intending to reminisce. He began to scan his surroundings, but all he could see was the dim cyan sky and the emerald green forest, and nothing else, apart from the seemingly endless rain.
The Melting Realm path was much longer than the Reaching Realm path, but no matter how long, there were experts who reached the end. A group of five Melting Realm experts looked excitedly at the beam of light in the distance. "We're finally here. Brother Meng, the hardest part is next. We have to face the blockade of the powerful elites from the Innerverse."
The news that the three major powers of the Innerverse had sent people to ambush the assessment had already spread. Many people had received the news on the path, and some had directly given up. But the majority who had made it to the end were unwilling to give up; they had paid too much and would absolutely not quit.
Meng Tao's expression was firm. He was from the Honghuang Sect, one of the top three young experts of the sect. The Honghuang Sect dominated the Honghuang territory and would never allow someone who fled without a fight. He wanted to personally experience the strength of the so-called Innerverse experts.
When Meng Tao and his group arrived in front of the beam of light, there were already people waiting here. More people arrived from other directions, totaling over twenty people.
And in front of them, a huge Great Underworld Netherdragon looked down on the crowd, exuding a ferocious aura. Its Star Energy was as deep as the ocean, and every time its Star Energy swelled, the ground cracked. The air it exhaled was like a sharp blade.
The Great Underworld Netherdragon's huge eyes swept over everyone, and it let out a heaven-shaking roar. "My name is Long Jiu. Remember this name. This is the name of the expert who blocked you from entering the Astral Combat Academy."
All the Melting Realm cultivators were furious.
Meng Tao took a step forward and faced Long Jiu directly. "Honghuang Sect, Meng Tao, here to challenge you."
Long Jiu lowered its head, looked down at Meng Tao, and grinned, breathing out a powerful stream of air. "I'll satisfy you."
In less than half a minute, Meng Tao screamed. His body was bitten by Long Jiu, directly bitten in half. Blood dripped from Long Jiu's huge body. A dignified expert from the Honghuang Sect was just bitten to death like that.
Everyone's scalp tingled. Meng Tao's strength was among the top in the crowd, yet he ended up like this. Who would dare to provoke Long Jiu?
"Everyone, let's attack together! This thing is called a Great Underworld Netherdragon. That large ball of flesh on its tail is its weak point," a voice echoed around, coming from a female.
Everyone's eyes lit up when they heard this. Long Jiu was furious. "Who? Who dares to slander my Great Underworld Netherdragon clan?"
The next moment, more than 20 Melting Realm experts all attacked. This was their only chance. No one dared to say they could win against Long Jiu in a one-on-one fight.
Long Jiu was furious, its huge eyes desperately searching for the person who had spoken, specifically targeting the females. Several female cultivators were severely injured by it, but a few people broke through Long Jiu's blockade and flew straight towards the beam of light.
Long Jiu roared. It executed extreme speed, its huge body splitting into two, then three, and finally, five. Five afterimages strolled through the sky, completely blocking the path in front of the beam of light. All the Melting Realm experts were horrified. This kind of extreme speed was terrifying. This was a powerful creature from the Innerverse.