Divine Wilderness Dragon Emperor

Before the Human List, Ling Fei made his move. Relying on the True Dragon Momentum he had comprehended and his immense Physical Power, he shot all the way to first place.

This made Wu Dapang and the others incredibly excited.

But Ling Fei was perfectly calm.

He hadn't even used his Cold Chi True Qi!

That was his true trump card!

"Did Young Master Ling just... not use his Cold Dao True Qi?" Seeing Ling Fei's calm demeanor, Shangguan Qingmu was startled for a moment before a look of realization dawned in his eyes.

Although one couldn't project True Qi externally in the Body Tempering Realm...

...when making a move, using such a True Qi would at least cause a Cold Intent to spread.

But Shangguan Qingmu hadn't felt the slightest hint of cold just now.

'In other words, Ling Fei took first place without even using the power of his Spirit Body?' At this thought, Shangguan Qingmu's gaze toward Ling Fei changed.

In that instant, the young man before him seemed to become unfathomable. Perhaps his potential far exceeded anything Shangguan Qingmu had imagined.

'This Celestial River Academy is destined to see waves stirred up because of him!' Shangguan Qingmu's eyes filled with anticipation.

It was as if he could already see the countless geniuses who would be stunned by the young man before him.

"Heh heh, since the Human List is settled, let's head to the dormitories first," Shangguan Qingmu said with a smile.

"Mm," everyone nodded.

Now that the Human List was decided, it was time for them to embrace their new lives.

"Xiaoman, take them to the new student dormitories." Then, Shangguan Qingmu added, "I'll take Young Master Ling to the Genius Area."

At Celestial River Academy, geniuses received preferential treatment.

They lived in a separate area.

Though called dormitories, they were actually private courtyards.

This was to facilitate the geniuses' quiet cultivation, free from the disturbances of other students.

However, to enter the Genius Area, one had to be in the top twenty of the Heaven, Earth, or Human Lists.

Besides them, many geniuses from major Clans also had their own private residences.

...

Ling Fei, Shangguan Qingmu, and Shangguan Yurou headed toward the Genius Area together.

It wasn't far from the Celestial River Valley.

It was also the academy's rear garden.

The Genius Area was scenic, with rivers crisscrossing the landscape and islands dotted between them.

Here, the Essence Qi was also extremely dense.

With mist swirling about, it looked just like a paradise on earth.

Seeing it, one would never guess it was a residential area for academy students.

Many genius disciples and high-ranking members of the academy lived in this region.

"From now on, this island will be your residence. I live on a nearby island, so feel free to find me anytime if you need anything."

Shangguan Qingmu said, pointing to a small island ahead.

It was called a small island, but it was really just a small hill situated within the river.

At that moment, they were riding a River Turtle.

It was a type of Demon Beast raised by the academy, large enough for several people to stand on.

These River Turtles were very fast in the water. One simply had to pour a special medicinal liquid, available at the riverside docks, into the river, and they would come, drawn by the scent.

First, Shangguan Qingmu and Shangguan Yurou accompanied Ling Fei to his new residence.

It was an exquisite little island with shady trees and neatly planted flowers and grasses.

The island covered nearly a hectare. The courtyard was exquisite, complete with small bridges, flowing water, towers, and pavilions—it had everything.

The house was built on high ground. Pushing open the doors, one could overlook the entire layout of the Genius Area.

"This truly is a wonderful place!" Ling Fei said with admiration, standing on a balcony and surveying his surroundings.

Before him, mist coiled, rivers crisscrossed, and the turquoise water shimmered like jade, making one feel as if they were immersed in nature.

The feeling was so comforting it seemed one could forget all their troubles.

"Of course. This is where geniuses live. The environment is naturally good," said Shangguan Qingmu.

"The treatment for geniuses is indeed good," Ling Fei nodded.

He had originally thought that with so many people at the academy, everyone would be crammed together.

He hadn't expected geniuses to receive such treatment.

But this was also good. The distinction would motivate people to strive upward and pursue better treatment.

This was motivation!

"The academy will make arrangements for you tomorrow. With your talent as a Spirit Body, you can directly enter the Basic Genius Class. And now that you've also taken first on the Human List, the Cold Dao Primordial Vein will likely be opened to you as well. At that time, you'll receive the academy's best cultivation resources," Shangguan Qingmu said with a smile.

His attitude toward Ling Fei had now changed, no longer so cold and aloof.

"Mm." Ling Fei nodded slightly, a determined light in his eyes.

As long as he had enough resources, he was confident he could become a powerful expert and surpass others.

"Heh heh, I imagine that by tomorrow, the news of you taking first place on the Human List will have spread throughout the entire Celestial River Academy."

Shangguan Qingmu turned his head to look at Ling Fei, a smile playing on his lips.

He was quite eager to see what kind of waves this would stir up.

"I wonder how those guys who were ranked higher will react?" Shangguan Yurou's eyes also filled with anticipation.

She knew that the few ranked at the top were all incredibly arrogant.

Would they be willing to accept being surpassed by an unknown disciple from a Humble Family?

Ling Fei, however, was unconcerned.

Afterward, Shangguan Qingmu took Shangguan Yurou to her residence.

Ling Fei went to visit as well.

Their residences were very close, on an adjacent island only eight hundred meters away.

This was a special arrangement to make it convenient for Ling Fei and Shangguan Yurou to look out for each other.

...

「Meanwhile, within the academy.」

In the Celestial River Valley, students came to stand before the Heaven, Earth, and Human Lists.

These were older students.

They hadn't come to leave their names on the Celestial List before, so they had come specifically to do so now.

But as they passed the Human List, their steps suddenly halted.

"First on the Human List, Ling Fei?" one of the older students casually glanced at the list.

"Wait, who the hell is this Ling Fei? Wasn't the first on the Human List supposed to be the Pang Clan's genius, Pang Fei? Why is it Ling Fei now?"

His face filled with bewilderment, and his expression grew strange.

"Ling Fei?" The two people next to him looked up, both staring at the Human List.

"Huh, it's true. Pang Fei is second. Where did this Ling Fei pop out from? How come I've never heard of any Clan having a genius like this?"

"Not only that, there's a Shangguan Yurou now, too."

"I know of this Shangguan Yurou. She's Shangguan Wan'Er's younger sister and also a genius. But who is that Ling Fei?"

At that moment, all of them were completely bewildered.

The Empire was vast, but news of any young geniuses from the major Clans always spread early on.

Therefore, disciples from the major Clans could usually guess which geniuses would occupy the top ten spots on the Human List.

Ling Fei's appearance had clearly taken everyone by surprise.

"Does anyone here know Ling Fei?" After finishing their tests, the three of them began asking around.

"Ling Fei? Who's he?"

"You don't know? He's the genius ranked first on the Human List!"

"Isn't Pang Fei first on the Human List?"

"It was Pang Fei yesterday, but now it's Ling Fei!"

"What! The list changed?!"

...

Instantly, an uproar erupted.

Afterward, many curious students headed for the Celestial River Valley.

"It really did change!"

"Who is this Ling Fei?"

"Who knows Ling Fei!"

In just a single hour, Ling Fei's name had spread through more than half of Celestial River Academy.

Many people began asking about him.

"Did you guys hear? First place on the Human List was taken by a student named Ling Fei!"

Another hour passed, and the news had reached nearly eighty percent of the people in the academy.

"The Human List? Ling Fei?" Under a tree, Mu Xue's brow furrowed. She had also heard the news.

"That name sounds so familiar!" a beautiful woman next to her murmured.

"Isn't that junior who's always with Xiaoman named Ling Fei?" another beauty among them said, her eyes lighting up.

"He is!" Mu Xue's gaze sharpened. She then said, "But that's first place on the Human List. Does that junior with Xiaoman really have that kind of strength?"

The other women shook their heads, not daring to be certain it was the same person.

After all, first on the Human List meant he was a peerless genius!

An existence like that was destined to become a legendary figure in the Empire!

'Could Xiaoman's sweetheart be that kind of genius?'

Everyone shook their heads.

They all knew that Huang Xiaoman came from a Humble Family, so her childhood sweetheart was most likely from a Humble Family as well.

"What's the point of guessing? Let's just go ask Xiaoman and we'll know," Mu Xue said, standing up with a decisive air.

"Right."

"Let's go, let's go ask Xiaoman."

Instantly, the group of women turned and left.

They then found Huang Xiaoman in her dormitory.

By this time, Huang Xiaoman had already settled in Huang Liang and the others and had just returned to her own room.

"Xiaoman, the genius who's first on the Human List is named Ling Fei. Is he the same junior we saw before?" Mu Xue and the others asked, their eyes smiling.

But their smiles seemed to hold a hint of mischievous intent.

They looked as if they were ready to go hit on the junior the moment they got confirmation.

"That Ling Fei is indeed the Ling Fei you saw!" Huang Xiaoman felt exasperated being stared at like this, but in the end, she had no choice but to confess. It was impossible to hide something like this, so it was better to just say it. But as the words left her mouth, she glared fiercely at her best friends.

She looked like she was guarding against thieves.

Because all sorts of lights were already glittering in her friends' eyes.

"Aiya, it really is junior Ling Fei!"

"Xiaoman, quick, tell us! How is your junior Ling Fei so amazing?"

...

Instantly, the group of women started chattering, asking questions nonstop.

"He possesses a Spirit Body and is also a genius in Martial Arts, so he smoothly shot up to first place," Huang Xiaoman had to explain patiently.

"So he has a Spirit Body!" Everyone understood.

Only someone like that could break into the top three.

"No wonder you ignored the pursuits of Liu Yuan and the others. Turns out you had someone better back home!" a few of the women said, their faces full of envy.

"Hey, he's my man! Don't you get any funny ideas!" Seeing their expressions, Huang Xiaoman said very seriously.

"Relax, since he's our sister's man, we naturally won't try to steal him." Mu Xue gave a captivating smile and said, "However, if this junior's affections happen to wander, don't blame us sisters for disregarding our sisterly bond, hehe. A piece of fresh meat like him can't be passed up, right girls?"

"Right, we absolutely can't pass him up!"

"How could we pass up a junior who's both handsome and has heaven-defying talent?" the other women chimed in, all wearing wicked smiles.

"A bunch of fangirls!" Huang Xiaoman rolled her eyes repeatedly.

But she wasn't too bothered. She had long been perfectly clear about her sisters' personalities!