Divine Wilderness Dragon Emperor

The Profound Eagle streaked across the sky like a rainbow, crossing mountains and rivers in an instant.

After resting for a night, the group set out once more.

The next day, as the Profound Eagle flew over mountain ranges, a network of crisscrossing rivers appeared before them.

The rivers formed a web, each one churning with turbulent waves.

Great mountains occasionally rose between the rivers, breaking the pattern.

High in the sky, gazing down at the magnificent landscape, one couldn't help but be struck by the spiritual grace of the heavens and the earth, the sheer beauty of the mountains and rivers.

"We're almost at Celestial River Academy!" Huang Xiaoman's eyes lit up as she gazed at the great rivers below.

"We're here?" Ling Fei's eyes filled with anticipation.

The Profound Eagle flew at incredible speed.

Finally, in the afternoon, a colossal river came into view.

The massive river coiled across the land like a dragon.

Rolling mountain ranges followed its winding path.

A massive academy was situated on a wide expanse of land nestled by the great river.

It was the heartland of the river, a place of both mountains and water.

'This river is so majestic, like a dragon coiled upon the earth.' Ling Fei was inwardly shaken as he stared at the long river below.

"This is the Celestial River, the most important river in the Empire. It coils like a dragon, its tributaries stretching out to cross more than half of the Empire," Huang Xiaoman said. "And that is Celestial River Academy, located in the heartland of the Celestial River. It's one of the Empire's Three Great Academies. I heard our academy has produced many powerhouses."

Huang Xiaoman was full of affection for Celestial River Academy.

A sense of longing grew in Ling Fei's heart as well.

As they drew near the academy, the Profound Eagle gradually slowed its flight.

Then, the Profound Eagle landed at the academy's gate.

The academy was surrounded by high walls, and at the main entrance stood a magnificent archway.

Above this archway, the words "Celestial River Academy" were particularly conspicuous.

"Celestial River Academy?" Wu Dapang and the others dismounted from the Profound Eagle and looked up.

As Ling Fei and the others looked up, a vast and powerful momentum swept out from the words on the archway.

WHOOSH!

Instantly, they felt as if a great river was surging toward them, its roiling waters about to sweep them away.

A suffocating pressure washed over them.

"Such powerful momentum!" Everyone was shaken, their expressions turning grave.

It was just a few words, yet a single glance made them feel as though they were facing a great river, a mighty torrent.

It was an incredible sight.

"These words were inscribed by a powerhouse. They contain the Momentum of Martial Arts!" Shangguan Hong said with a smile.

"The Momentum of Martial Arts?"

"Are Martial Artists really that strong? For their writing to possess such terrifying momentum!" Zhao Fa, Huang Liang, and the others looked on in astonishment.

At that moment, their minds were in turmoil.

"But of course," Shangguan Hong said. "As long as you cultivate diligently, you will meet true powerhouses."

'If a Martial Arts Powerhouse reaches a certain level of strength, a single word can hold sway over mountains and rivers. It seems the ancient texts were right after all.' Ling Fei's eyes burned with passion.

Although the words on the archway didn't quite have the power to overwhelm mountains and rivers, they came close.

This filled Ling Fei with anticipation for the Martial Arts World.

"Let's go," Shangguan Hong said, leading the group toward the academy's main gate.

The academy gate was guarded by a powerhouse at Innate Realm Perfection.

This was to prevent unauthorized people from entering or leaving the academy.

Upon entering the main gate, Shangguan Hong announced his identity.

"Ah, Lord Shangguan. The Dean and the others have been waiting for you for a long time," the guard said respectfully after verifying his identity, gesturing for them to enter.

Then, Ling Fei and the others followed Shangguan Hong into Celestial River Academy.

Upon entering the academy, they were greeted by a wide, tree-lined plaza.

Bluestone paths radiated from the plaza in all directions.

"I'll take Yurou and Qingmu to complete their enrollment procedures first. Xiaoman, you can take Young Master Ling and the others to get familiar with the academy and have them sign the student roster," Shangguan Hong said to Huang Xiaoman after they entered. He also needed to discuss Ling Fei's situation with the academy elders.

Thus, it was inconvenient to have these outsiders present for that conversation.

"Alright!" Huang Xiaoman nodded, then turned to Ling Fei and the others. "Come with me. I'll show you around the academy."

"Okay!" Ling Fei, Wu Dapang, and the others were filled with anticipation.

Then, the group followed Huang Xiaoman deeper into the academy grounds.

"This is the Administration Building, for the academy leadership... This is the Basic Level Students' classroom building. This is the Martial Hall, and that's the Cultivation Tower. The tower is connected to a Primordial Vein, so you can absorb Primordial Vein Qi inside. The Essence Qi there is incredibly dense and can increase your cultivation speed."

Huang Xiaoman explained as they walked.

"Primordial Vein Qi?" At this, Ling Fei's brow twitched. "Does Celestial River Academy have a Cold Qi Primordial Vein?"

Most Cultivators trained with ordinary Heaven and Earth Essence Qi.

But Ling Fei was different. He needed to absorb Cold Dao Essence Qi to progress.

After all, he produced Cold Chi True Qi.

Of course, if there was Dragon Qi, that would be even better.

But how could Dragon Qi be so easy to find?

Besides, Ling Fei didn't want to tell anyone that he primarily cultivated Dragon Qi.

In the Empire, only the Celestial Emperor was permitted to cultivate True Dragon Qi.

An ordinary person cultivating Dragon Qi could easily be seen as harboring rebellious intent.

Moreover, most people were incapable of cultivating Dragon Qi anyway.

If people found out that Ling Fei, a commoner, could cultivate Dragon Qi, it would certainly lead to trouble.

"A Cold Qi Primordial Vein?" Huang Xiaoman's eyebrows arched. "The academy does have one, but it's very small. The area is under strict academy control, and ordinary people can't go near it. Only those with a Cold Essence Spirit Body are allowed access. Since you have a Cold Essence Spirit Body, you should be able to cultivate there."

"As long as there is one!" Ling Fei let out a small sigh of relief.

If there wasn't a Cold Qi Primordial Vein, he would have been at a complete loss.

"This is the teaching area for Mid Level Students, and over there is for High Level Students." Huang Xiaoman continued to point out the various zones.

Celestial River Academy was divided into three teaching zones.

The first was for Basic Level Students.

This included newly enrolled students like Ling Fei.

Mid Level Students were those who had been enrolled for a year and had advanced.

High Level Students were in Huang Xiaoman's cohort.

The academy program was three years long, divided into three levels.

After three years, students would graduate.

Upon graduation, those with decent strength could join the Divine Guard Bureau.

The most outstanding geniuses could participate in the Empire's tournament for prodigies.

Anyone who distinguished themselves there would earn the right to enter one of the Major Sects.

That was the true opportunity to enter the vast Martial Arts World.

However, the requirements for entering a Sect were extremely high, so most students aimed to become Divine Guards.

"Now, we're going to the academy's Celestial River Mountain!" Huang Xiaoman then led the group onward.

They were already deep within the academy grounds.

A mountain could be seen faintly in the distance.

The academy was enormous, containing its own mountains and rivers. It was practically a small city.

"Sister Xiaoman, you're back!"

"Sister Xiaoman, classes started a week ago. Why are you just getting back?"

Along the way, people began to greet Huang Xiaoman.

These were all returning students.

"Well, well, Xiaoman. Bringing some new students around, are we?" Three tall women in fitted martial attire approached them.

Each of the women wore a playful smile as they looked at Huang Xiaoman.

Then, their gazes shifted to Ling Fei and his group.

"This little guy is quite handsome. Care to introduce us?" one of the tall beauties with a prominent nose bridge said, squinting her eyes at Ling Fei. Her forwardness startled Huang Liang and Zhao Fa, who shrank back. Having grown up in Longtan Town, they had never witnessed such a bold display.

The women they knew were all so modest!

'Hey, beauties, I'm pretty dashing too!' Seeing all the beautiful women looking at Ling Fei made Wu Dapang indignant. He thought this to himself but didn't have the guts to actually say it out loud. In his mind, however, his imagination was already running wild.

These women weren't just beautiful; they had an exceptional air about them that ordinary girls couldn't match.

"Get lost, you lot!" Huang Xiaoman rolled her eyes at her classmates' antics.

At the same time, she was inwardly groaning. 'Of all the people to run into right after getting back to the academy!'

"Hey, cutie, my name is Mu Xue. What's yours?" the tall beauty asked Ling Fei, her eyes smiling.

The other two women also sized up Ling Fei with grins.

"My name is Ling Fei. It's nice to meet you, but please don't call me 'cutie' in the future." Ling Fei was initially taken aback by her bold approach, clearly stunned by the three senior students' forwardness. But after hearing the beautiful upperclassman call him "cutie" one too many times, he frowned.

It was demeaning.

How could a dignified man let a woman look down on him?

'She should at least call me "Young Master," or even just "sir"!'

'"Cutie?"'

'Is she trying to belittle me?'

"Ling Fei?" The beauty named Mu Xue's eyebrows arched, as if committing his name to memory.

Ah!

Just then, a pained cry rang out.

It was Huang Xiaoman, who had reached out and viciously pinched the flesh on Ling Fei's arm before giving it a twist.

"So you're Ling Fei, huh!?" Huang Xiaoman muttered under her breath as she pinched him hard.

Ling Fei frowned, glaring angrily at Huang Xiaoman.

'Has this girl lost her mind?'

"What's wrong with my sister?" Huang Liang was also stunned.

Wu Dapang also stared at Huang Xiaoman in utter astonishment.

The three senior students' eyes widened in apparent understanding.

"Oh my, is our little Xiaoman getting jealous?" Mu Xue said with a laugh, raising an eyebrow at Huang Xiaoman.

"Yoo-hoo, Xiaoman, he isn't your sweetheart, is he?" one of the women cackled.

"We're just getting acquainted. Do you need to be so possessive?" another said, rolling her eyes.

All three women stared at Huang Xiaoman with mischievous looks, as if waiting for her answer.

"Get outta here. He's my... I mean, he's with me. You lot should stop trying to corrupt a minor," Huang Xiaoman said, rolling her eyes.

"Tch, what minor? This Junior Ling must be sixteen by now!"

"Xiaoman, you don't actually like him, do you?"

"If you do, we won't compete with you for him."

"But if you don't like him, then we wouldn't mind having a little 'chat about life' with Junior Ling Fei," the women said with teasing smiles.

Being teased by them, Huang Xiaoman felt a headache coming on.

'Sweetheart?' Ling Fei was also dumbfounded. 'These senior students are really something else!'

'These senior girls are so forward! But could you please let go of Brother Fei and come after me instead!' Wu Dapang roared internally.

But he didn't dare say a word.

He could sense that all of these senior students were in the Innate Realm.

If he angered them, he'd probably be beaten until he'd gained another twenty pounds in bruises.

The three senior women stared at Huang Xiaoman, their expressions a mixture of smiles and aggression.

For a moment, Huang Xiaoman was at a loss for words.

Her heart began to race. She pursed her lips, seemingly unsure how to respond.

The atmosphere suddenly became strange.

The air seemed to freeze.

Zhao Fa, Chen Feng, and the others just stood by awkwardly.

Of course, their eyes also held a trace of envy.

After all, these three senior students were all gorgeous women with incredible charisma.