Golden rain filled the entire space of the Divine Spiritual Mountain. However, apart from the Nine Heavens Steps, the rain that fell upon the surrounding areas was extremely sparse. The farther one was from the Steps, the fewer the drops became.
Yet, despite the thin baptismal power, no one complained. After all, every single drop of this sacred rain might increase their chance of survival when they faced the "Three Sovereign Disaster" in the future. Even one drop was precious, and no one would give it up.
At the very top of the Nine Heavens Steps, two slender figures sat quietly in meditation. Brilliant golden light shrouded them entirely, almost drowning their bodies within it. The majestic baptismal power around them made all onlookers below burn with envy, though they could do nothing about it.
Previously, when they had seen Liu Bai ascend the first level, some people had wanted to try as well. For example, Liu Ying… although their names differed by only one character, their treatment was entirely different.
When Liu Bai stepped onto the first level, Ding Xuan had nodded at him kindly in greeting. But when Liu Ying tried to do the same, he was met with a terrifying blade aura that nearly sliced him in half.
This scene not only frightened Liu Ying out of his wits but also made everyone around him shudder as a chill ran down their spines.
Xia Youran watched this scene and sneered inwardly. Based on Liu Bai's earlier performance, his strength was enough to earn Ding Xuan's recognition and respect. But you, Liu Ying—nothing more than a nobody—how dare you try to force your way up?
At this moment, within Liu Bai's body, golden light flowed through every inch of his flesh and blood. An indescribable comfort spread within him. Although this baptismal power did not immediately raise his strength, he could clearly sense that some mysterious transformation was taking place deep inside his body.
This change was subtle and unpredictable, but Liu Bai knew that it would make his future Disaster crossings much easier.
Perhaps it was because he had fused with the finger bone and blood essence of that Heavenly Sovereign, but Liu Bai could feel the golden baptismal energy flowing through him faster and more smoothly. In fact, on the small hand of his Spirit, a thumb-sized golden crystal had begun to form.
This was the Baptismal Crystal, a miraculous object that could only be born from a perfect baptism. Only those who had absorbed enough baptismal power on the first level could condense such a treasure.
Liu Bai willed it, and the Spirit within his Qi Sea opened its mouth gently, inhaling the Baptismal Crystal into its body.
A streak of golden light followed the Spirit's throat, finally settling near its heart. The soft golden radiance gradually nourished the Spirit, making it even more refined and condensed.
"Perfect."
A faint smile spread in Liu Bai's heart.
Only by doing this could one be said to have completed the baptism perfectly. Whether it was the Human Body Disaster, the Spiritual Energy Disaster, or even the most difficult Spirit Disaster, all would bring him great benefits.
Although the baptismal power he could absorb had already reached its limit, the Divine Spiritual Baptism itself had not yet ended. The others were still frantically absorbing the golden energy, transforming their bodies and Spiritual Energy.
Even Ding Xuan, who was on the same level as Liu Bai, remained in deep cultivation. Clearly, he was not progressing as fast as Liu Bai.
After a moment of thought, Liu Bai decided not to stop either. He continued to absorb the golden rain madly, refining it within his body and condensing new Baptismal Crystals.
These were valuable treasures—worth no less than a supreme spiritual artifact or a Deity art. Since he had the opportunity, naturally, he wanted to take advantage of it. Even if he didn't use them himself, he could save them for his family in the future.
Thus, while others were still struggling desperately to draw in the baptismal energy as if they were plungers sucking up the rain, Liu Bai had already begun producing Baptismal Crystals in batches.
Well, it wasn't exactly a large number. By the time he was condensing the third crystal, the baptismal energy from the sky had almost run dry.
When the final streak of golden light descended and was absorbed into Liu Bai's palm, golden radiance surged between his fingers, and the third Baptismal Crystal was finally formed—just in time to avoid failure.
The crowd below could only stare, their eyes bloodshot like rabbits.
If not for the fact that they couldn't defeat him, they would have long since rushed up and torn Liu Bai apart on the spot.
Even Ding Xuan, who sat beside him, could not help but glance sideways. When his gaze returned to Liu Bai, it carried a hint of astonishment.
Although Ding Xuan himself had managed to form a Baptismal Crystal, he had barely done so at the last possible moment. Yet this man had already produced several. The difference was almost humiliating.
"Heavenly Blade Sect, Ding Xuan. Congratulations." For the first time, Ding Xuan cupped his fists toward Liu Bai.
This scene made the few people on the second level below grit their teeth in envy. They had flattered Ding Xuan countless times before, yet he had not even spared them a glance. They had assumed he was simply cold by nature. But now he had taken the initiative to greet Liu Bai and even introduce himself, showing no effort to conceal his disdain toward them.
Still, one thing became clear—they finally learned where Ding Xuan came from.
"The Heavenly Blade Sect? How come I've never heard of such a sect in the Northern Heaven Continent?"
"That's simple—it means he isn't from the Northern Heaven Continent at all."
"Yes, I once heard my father mention that not far from our Northern Heaven Continent lies a small land known as the Heavenly Blade Continent, which is ruled by a faction called the Heavenly Blade Sect."
The one who spoke last was Xia Youran. Her father, Xia Tianyan, president of the Nine Summer Chamber of Commerce, had traveled widely across the Great Thousand World in his youth.
Liu Bai searched his memory for the name of this sect but found nothing. Clearly, it was a force that did not appear in the original story, and judging from the description, its overall power was probably mediocre. Otherwise, it would not be confined to ruling a single small continent.
"Northern Heaven Spiritual Academy, Liu Bai. Likewise, congratulations to Brother Ding." Liu Bai smiled politely and returned the salute.
As the saying went, one does not strike a smiling face. Besides, Ding Xuan, though cold in temperament, seemed to be a decent person overall.
Ding Xuan nodded slightly, a stiff smile forming on his face. It was easy to see he was not someone used to smiling, hence his awkward expression.
"May we meet again someday in the Great Thousand World."
After saying this, Ding Xuan's face returned to its usual coldness as his gaze lifted toward the sky.
Up above, a beam of golden light descended, and the space twisted rapidly, forming a spatial vortex. It was the exit from the Divine Spiritual Mountain. With the disappearance of the baptismal power, the mountain was about to close.
Liu Bai thought about Ding Xuan's words and nodded lightly before following the others out of the Divine Spiritual Mountain.
When they stood outside again, before the once-familiar Divine Spiritual Mountain, everyone wore expressions of confusion.
"What's going on? How long have we been inside? Has the world outside changed so much?"
Looking at the completely transformed landscape, they all felt as if ages had passed.
A colossal mountain now stood before them, towering into the clouds. Compared to it, the Divine Spiritual City seemed insignificant. If they hadn't just emerged from the Divine Spiritual Mountain themselves, they might have thought the mountain had burst out from another space.
At that moment, the people outside spotted the young cultivators emerging and immediately began searching for their own kin or disciples.
The scene suddenly reminded Liu Bai of the parents picking up their children after school in his previous life.
As for the major factions like the Nine Summer Chamber of Commerce and the Western Extreme Palace, each had their own area of control. Xia Youran and the others quickly regained their senses and headed back to their respective forces.
After bidding Ding Xuan farewell once more, Liu Bai walked toward Elder Zhu Tian.
To his surprise, the person who was supposed to be standing with Elder Zhu Tian—the Elder of Punishment Hall was nowhere to be seen. Only Zhu Tian remained.
"Let's go. We'll talk on the way." Zhu Tian did not offer any explanation, his tone serious yet faintly joyous.
Liu Bai gave him a look and then noticed something strange. The people of the Demonic Dargon Palace were nowhere to be found.
Back when he had slain Mo Xingtian, the Black Dragon Sovereign of the Demonic Dargon Palace had attacked him through space. Liu Bai had expected that once he emerged, a great battle would erupt, much like in the original timeline.
But judging from the current situation, that battle had already taken place and the victor was none other than the Northern Heaven Spiritual Academy.
Under Zhu Tian's lead, the two did not return to Divine Spiritual City but instead headed straight toward the Northern Heaven Spiritual Academy.
Along the way, Liu Bai finally learned from Zhu Tian what had happened in the outside world while he was undergoing the baptism.
The reason why the Northern Heaven Spiritual Academy had spared the Demonic Dargon Palace when they annihilated them in the past, and why they had refrained from taking further action afterward, was because within the Demonic Dargon Palace's headquarters lay an ancient Spiritual Array.
If the six Great Sovereigns, including the Black Dragon Sovereign, activated it simultaneously, even the Northern Sea Dragon would be unable to break through it. Thus, they had no choice but to let them lurk in the shadows for all these years.
However, now that the Northern Sea Dragon had broken through to the Earth Sovereign Realm and personally slain the Black Dragon Sovereign along with two other Sovereigns, the Demonic Dargon Palace's power was instantly reduced by more than half. The ancient array could no longer shield them, and so the Northern Heaven Spiritual Academy naturally decided to strike without restraint.
On the second day after slaying the Black Dragon Sovereign, since the Dean had yet to return, the Northern Sea Dragon personally presided over the campaign. Under his command, Mo You and the other Heavenly Seat Elders led all high-ranking members of the Northern Heaven Spiritual Academy and the Punishment Hall to begin a continent-wide hunt for the Demonic Dargon Palace.
Within only two days, all of the Demonic Dargon Palace's external forces were eradicated. Those who retreated into their headquarters under the protection of the ancient array sought to resist further, but in the face of an Earth Sovereign, such defiance was nothing short of courting death.
Throughout the entire extermination campaign, the Northern Sea Dragon Kun only struck once. Yet that single strike completely erased all remaining forces of the Demonic Dargon Palace from the Northern Heaven Continent.
Perhaps there were still some remnants scattered across the Northern Heaven Continent, but they no longer mattered.
From this day forth, these people would either flee the Northern Heaven Continent or live the rest of their lives in hiding under false identities.
Forget about seeking revenge from the shadows; with the Northern Heaven Spiritual Academy's current influence, even the slightest exposure of these remnants would lead to them being discovered by the continent's countless powers, who would then eagerly deliver them to the Northern Heaven Spiritual Academy themselves.
When the Northern Sea Dragon Kun advanced to Earth Sovereign, the Northern Heaven Continent came to resound with only one supreme voice.
Upon hearing all this, Liu Bai could not help but sigh with emotion.
The Demonic Dargon Palace had been one of the most formidable antagonist factions encountered by the protagonist in the early stages of the original story, serving as the next major stepping stone after the Liu Family.
But now, due to his existence, Mu Chen could no longer step on the Liu Family to rise in power. With the Demonic Dargon Palace destroyed as well, didn't that mean Mu Chen could only remain an ordinary genius youth whether in the Northern Spiritual Realm or at the Northern Heaven Spiritual Academy?
"Hmm, perhaps I should go back and take a look."
Thinking of Mu Chen and the Northern Spiritual Realm, Liu Bai suddenly remembered that there was still a fateful opportunity in that small realm which he had yet to claim.
Moreover, given his current strength, that opportunity was perfectly suited for him now.
The thought made Liu Bai restless.
Of course, returning to the Northern Spiritual Realm was not so simple. At the very least, he needed to give the Academy a reasonable explanation. After all, he was still considered a "new student" who had only been enrolled for a year.
"So, you want to relocate your family to Northern Heaven City?" In the Refining Pavilion, Liu Bai once again sought out his easygoing master and made his request.
Liu Bai nodded and said, "My Liu Family does not have many members, and the Northern Spiritual Realm is far too remote and barren. I believe it would be better to move to the Northern Heaven Continent, where we can achieve greater development."
Elder Chi Huo pondered for a moment before replying, "Your idea isn't without merit. Many graduates of the Northern Heaven Spiritual Academy have established their own clans or sects on the Northern Heaven Continent. The Academy generally does not oppose this and may even offer some conveniences, though it will not openly provide support."
Even so, any force affiliated with the Northern Heaven Spiritual Academy, no matter how small, had always enjoyed protection on the Northern Heaven Continent, with few daring to provoke them.
As for the Xie Family that was exterminated by Yu Yuan, that was merely an exception. If they had not encountered that madman, they would still be city lords, living comfortably and without worry.
Now that the Demonic Dargon Palace had been eradicated and the Northern Heaven Spiritual Academy had grown stronger thanks to the Northern Sea Dragon Kun's breakthrough, this was undoubtedly the best time for the Liu Family to attach themselves to the Academy and prosper.
The only remaining question was whether they could directly relocate to Northern Heaven City itself.
"I can't be certain about that," Elder Chi Huo said after some thought. "Such matters can only be decided by the Dean. How about this—since the Dean has already returned, let's go and ask him in person. After all, your performance at the Divine Spiritual Mountain has brought great honor to our Academy. I believe the Dean will likely give you a satisfactory answer."
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