The Body Forging Realm tests physical talent. Many, sensing the possibility of breaking through to the next martial realm, rush the breakthrough without hesitation.
This has left many elder masters regretful, warning younger generations to perfect their Body Forging foundation before advancing—otherwise, they will live to regret it.
The Rhyme Spirit Realm requires awakening mysterious energy within. The strength of this awakened energy is deeply tied to the Body Forging Realm. Rushing the breakthrough to Rhyme Spirit will limit future achievements.
Cheng Miaofu bit her red lips, blinking at his calm face in disbelief. Sensing his strength, she whispered, "Thank you for earlier."
Dao Ling looked at her, offering a gentle smile. "You're welcome."
"Your strength is amazing—are you breaking through?" Cheng Miaofu asked, clenching her jade-like hands. Though unfamiliar, she was curious about his abilities.
"Almost," Dao Ling shrugged. The breakthrough could wait.
Cheng Miaofu felt a twinge of disappointment at his casual reply but smiled. "Me too. With your strength, joining Star Academy should be easy."
The white-robed youth sneered arrogantly at the retreating students. His cold gaze flickered upon seeing Dao Ling and Cheng Miaofu chatting, then his aura surged toward Dao Ling.
The pressure suddenly lifted, and the crowd sighed in relief, growing more awed by Rhyme Spirit masters.
Vice-Principal Tao Kangning scowled. This show of force was excessive, but as a senior, he couldn't interfere in younger-generation conflicts.
Dao Ling felt the pressure intensify like a mountain, making his blood boil and bones vibrate. Strangely, the pressure refined his blood qi, forcing hidden essence from his muscles.
*The ancient ferocious beast's true blood holds vast energy—this pressure helps extract it,* Dao Ling thought. The Panther麟（Unicorn）Beast's blood hadn't fully absorbed, with much蛰伏 (dormant) in his muscles now surfacing.
Silence fell as Qingshan students eyed Dao Ling in shock. *This waste withstood such pressure? Impossible!*
Cheng Miaofu paled, sensing Dao Ling was a vortex—stepping too close would cripple her. She marveled at his hidden strength.
The white-robed youth scowled. His attempt to paralyze Dao Ling had failed, a blow to his pride.
Tao Kangning's frown turned to delight. Dao Ling had redeemed their honor.
Wang Ling's aura erupted, clashing with the white-robed youth's. The air trembled as the two confronted each other.
The white-robed youth frowned, surprised Qingshan Academy had another master who could match him.
"Cheng Miaofu fumed. *Wang Ling didn't act earlier—why now?* She didn't realize Wang Ling couldn't bear Dao Ling's rise and intervened to steal the spotlight."
"Enough," Hua Zhicheng waved. Knowing Wang Ling was from the Wang family—a force they couldn't provoke—he called for restraint.
"Rumor has it you're Qingshan's top prodigy? We'll settle this in the trials!" the white-robed youth declared haughtily, dispersing his aura. To him, others were mere fodder.
Tao Kangning seethed. The youth's aura outmatched Wang Ling's. If he ranked in the top 100, Qingshan would lose face.
"Are you okay?" Cheng Miaofu turned to Dao Ling.
"Fine," he replied, regretting the short-lived pressure.
His ability to withstand the youth's aura unsettled Wang Ling and Wang Ya. Exchanging a glance, Wang Ya wondered, *Did this waste break through to Rhyme Spirit?*
" Impossible," Wang Ling scoffed. "That requires Spirit Channeling Fruits or Rhyme Spirit Pills—rare treasures even I can hardly obtain, let alone him."
"But he withstood a Rhyme Spirit's aura..." Wang Ya frowned.
"Hmph, no matter. My second brother is overseeing the trials. I'll have Dao Ling assigned to my area and eliminate him," Wang Ling said nonchalantly, as if crushing an ant.
"Perfect. His arrogance will end, and the Blue Crystal secret dies with him," Wang Ya smiled.
Just then, elders from Star Academy arrived. An old man scanned the crowd indifferently, then headed for Treasure Gathering Pavilion.
*They must be using the pavilion's Void Formation to reach Qingzhou City,* Dao Ling thought. Qingzhou lay far away—only void teleportation allowed rapid travel.
Void formations were rare, especially for long distances, consuming vast treasures per use.
As the crowd swelled to over a thousand, Dao Ling believed Ye Yun's words—100,000 participants might be a low estimate.
"Dao Ling!"
A burly man maintaining order gaped at Dao Ling in the crowd.
Dao Ling winked at Chen Dahai, who grinned. The Scarlet Blood Copper Crystal sale had been lucrative for both.
"Uncle Fu, Dao Ling is joining Star Academy? Hard to believe he's from Qingshan—such talent shouldn't be here," Chen Dahai whispered to Chen Fu.
Chen Fu studied Dao Ling. "Star Academy is good. Wonder if he can make top 100?"
"Uncle Fu, even with 4th-grade Foundation Establishment Liquid, breaking through to Rhyme Spirit is hard. Top 100 is dominated by clan prodigies," Chen Dahai fretted.
"You don't understand," Chen Fu shook his head. He knew Dao Ling's divination skills were extraordinary—fame in Qingzhou was only a matter of time.
*Can he master *Yin-Yang Palm*?* Chen Fu wondered, then dismissed it. The Ten Supreme Divine Abilities were daunting, even the introductory chapters stymieing ancient clan prodigies.
"Uncle Fu, this year's trials are special—Star Academy's Star Hall is opening. Many prodigies are here for the opportunity," Chen Dahai marveled.
"True. The Star Hall is Star Academy's foundation—an ancient secret realm with great fortunes!"
"Rumor says it holds *Stars Shifting*, one of the Seventy-Two Great Divine Abilities. Is that true?" Chen Dahai's eyes lit up.
*Stars Shifting* was a terrifying ancient神通 (divine ability), enduring among the Seventy-Two Great Divine Abilities for eons—testament to its power.
In a world of powerful cultivators, divine ability masters could suppress entire regions, living for millennia. Every ten thousand years, the Seventy-Two Great Divine Abilities were re-ranked as new逆天 (heaven-defying) techniques emerged, yet *Stars Shifting* remained.
"Just rumors, but this year is lively. Even Young Miss plans to join. If she finds *Stars Shifting*, it would be incredible," Chen Fu sighed.
A sealed chamber opened, releasing dazzling light. Inside, a massive formation platform shimmered with runes, emanating terrifying void energy.
The thousand attendees marveled—void formations were rare, built by grand forces like Treasure Gathering Pavilion using master阵法师 (formation masters) and rare ores, source stones, and divine materials.
As the chamber closed, Dao Ling felt the void shift. *Some强者 (powerful cultivators) can cross voids with their bodies—those are true masters of heaven and earth,* he thought.