Hey guys, I hear you liked that last chapter. Nice, I'm happy you guys like it. I'm hearing stuff about shipping...Feng Yun and Xia Qing? Well, I'm not gonna say anything but ahem *cough* *cough* wait till they're sixteen *cough* *cough*. What, I didn't say anything. -_- Anyways, enjoy the chapter and the introduction to the next arc.

EDIT: All grammatical errors corrected.

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A boy could be seen walking through a courtyard admiring the view. His facial features were completely exposed revealing his charming and handsome facial features. He had long silky black hair that draped down his shoulder. His eyes were deep and mysterious filled with experiences that could not be comprehended by normal people. In his hands was a bright red pill containing large amounts of energy.

"Haha, I Feng Yun actually managed to obtain the Xiantian pill from the tournament. My fortune can only be provided by the Heavens themselves."

This boy was, of course Feng Yun. He quickly put the pill away and sat down in the courtyard. He went into a meditative state, feeling nothing but the essence of the world and his own soul. Feng Yun decided to cultivate while he was there. The faster he could make a breakthrough into the 9th Layer the better. Then, he could use the Xiantian pill to speed up the process and enter the Xiantian realm. Breaking into the Xiantian realm required one to build a bridge between the meridians of your body and your dantian. By doing so, the qi is more connected and the energy used for Xiantian realm cultivation could then be accessed.

It was a difficult and arduous process but the Xiantian pill sped up the process by a hundred times. It could forcefully connect the bridge and begin the construction at a speed that defied common sense. One could see how useful the Xiantian pill was. However, these pills were insanely expensive and rare. Even getting one was considered lucky. Feng Yun smiled and mocked the Xu Dynasty in his heart. They actually chose to give away this precious treasure in a competition that they thought they would win. Breaking into the 9th Layer wouldn't be hard as he was already at the peak of the eighth layer and had already felt the pull of the ninth layer. If he cultivated for a month or two, he should be able to do it.

The courtyard that Feng Yun was practicing in belonged to the Xu Dynasty. The Dynasty had invited all the powers to remain in the area so that the injured could recuperate faster. Feng Yun had stayed with the other powers and was given a large residence to live in with his family. The other Cloudscale sect members and the other powers were given large residences as well. Feng Yun had used his courtyard to train and cultivate after having gained many insights from the battle. His fingers still shook from the earth shaking fight that he had with Xu Fangzi. He had enjoyed it very much and longed for the battles that Tyrant/Truth realm cultivators had. They must be incredibly explosive, Feng Yun thought. He submerged himself within the Universal Bindings technique to try to gain the approval of another celestial body.

Feng Yun was drifting off in the space and gazing at the awe inspiring auras that they gave off, each one a different type of aura. He never stopped being surprised at these things. Mostly because they were all so different and varied.

"Haa, the universe is large. I wonder how a sovereign captured the full universe in all its glory and placed it into a cultivation technique. He must be an extraordinary individual. I hope to meet him one day and thank him."

Feng Yun was whispering while absorbing energy. He had understood the Twin Dragons' Harmony Torrent skill to the extent that it could be considered a Sage mid phase skill now. He didn't use it in his fight with Xu Fangzi because if he had, then he would have probably killed him from its overwhelming power. Although Xu Fangzi had a soul defense spirit ability, it would not be enough to fight against the power of the Golden Tyrant Thunder God Dragon's personal technique. Although the potential of the first two chapters of the Reigning Thunder Manual could go so much farther, that would only happen the more he increased his personal strength.

When he advanced to the Xiantian realm, the strength of these two techniques would increase by leaps and bounds. At this moment however, he was trying to comprehend the third chapter. This technique was incredibly hard to understand and he had only grasped the surface of it during his fight with Xu Fangzi. His spirit had truly been stretched to the limits and had begun to make rapid improvement. He was incredibly far from the third chapter but with his talent and cultivation technique, he would be able to learn it immediately upon stepping into the Xiantian Realm.

Feng Yun cultivated for a few hours more before exiting and taking a break. He let out a sigh and looked very bright as he remembered the appointment that he had later tonight. Hehe, it seems I'm going to meet her today, Feng Yun thought. He had a large grin on his face. After the awards were given, Xia Qing had invited him to have a talk and meet later and had messaged him scheduling an appointment the next night. That time period had arrived and he was quite excited. He would be meeting her around the evening after the dinner that the Xu Dynasty had planned later. He stood up with glee and walked over to his living quarters going to get a good shower to clean himself and some food to get rid of his fatigue after a long period of cultivation.

Evening arrived quite fast by a cultivator's standards and the representatives of Cloudscale Sect wore their sky blue robes with the insignia of wind on the back with the exception of Feng Yun who wore his usual white jacket. He had gotten used to this jacket and rather liked that it complemented his body physique. He walked alongside his father and grandfather who nodded while smiling at him. It was evident that Feng Yun had made his family proud. His mother was directly behind them.

The disciples of Cloudscale Sect raised their heads to look at the genius that dominated the competition and whom they previously looked at with disdain. They felt ashamed in their hearts because compared to them, he was like a god and had incredible talent. They had actually dared to condescend him. The disciples now admired him for his great strength and ability. The delegates of the Cloudscale Sect arrived at the dining hall, which was a large building with adornments and gold walls decorating the outer layer.

There, they met members of the Blood Demon Sect as well as The Tyrant Thunder God Dragon clan. The Blood Demon Sect members coldly glared at them whereas the Tyrant Thunder God Dragon clan had warm smiles towards them. A familiar old man with a bright smile walked up to Feng Lei and cupped his hands in a gesture of respect. Feng Lei returned the gesture as well with a smile the old man spoke.

"Haha, old man Feng Lei. You truly got yourself a great disciple. I'm truly proud that he is my grandson." The old man was Ling Sun and he looked incomparably delightful. He beamed at Feng Yun, who lightly bowed to him and smiled back.

"Haha, old man Ling Sun, thanks for that. You should know that the Cloudscale Sect's win is a win for the Tyrant Thunder God Dragon clan as well. Our grandson here is a true genius. Come let's make our way to the dining hall." Feng Lei replied and beckoned the Tyrant Thunder God Dragon clan members towards the hall.

If the outside was already impressive, the inside was much more lavish. More ornaments and gold statues surrounded the hall and a deep purple carpet lined the floor. A large chandelier hung above the hall, it's clear crystals gleaming with a diamond like appearance. Feng Yun sucked in a large breath and stared in amazement at the marvelous image before his eyes. There were four long tables that encompassed the room and all of them was a silvery color. However, in the center of all four of the tables was a gold table that stretched out longer and led to a large throne chair with two smaller throne chairs on each side. Xu Qinzheng sat in the large throne chair but at his left was a young beautiful woman who looked like a fairy.

The woman had azure colored hair and delicate facial features. She wore exquisite jewelry that covered most of the parts of her body and had a warm smile. This was undoubtedly the empress of the Xu Dynasty, Yue Jing. Feng Yun was amazed by her beauty. He had not seen many that were comparable to her in his previous life. The Blood Demon Sect members had already seated at the corner table coldly staring at Feng Yun and the delegates of Cloudscale Sect.

Mo Han especially looked evil. He had fury raging in his eyes and they looked bloodshot. He had bandages covering half of his previously handsome face. Feng Yun let out a smile and continued on to his own table and sat down. He looked around and saw Xia Qing sitting at the fourth table which was right behind his table. She sat with three other disciples from the excluded powers.

Feng Yun smiled at her in which she returned the gesture. She lightly waved a hand and returned to being attentive. Feng Yun followed her gaze which pointed to Xu Qinzheng who stood up to speak. Feng Yun assumed an attentive facial expression and listened to Xu Qinzheng.

"Ahem. I have gathered you all here today as a hospitality offered by me for taking the time to come to this tournament. I thank you very sincerely for attending. The results were indeed a little...unexpected however it was well deserved. I would like to congratulate the Cloudscale Sect for having won the tournament. I would like to raise a toast in their honor."

Xu Qinzheng said while smiling wryly. He stared at Feng Yun for a moment before reverting back to his original expression. Xu Qinzheng raised his glass of wine and began to drink. The rest of the powers raised theirs as well and drank. The Blood Demon Sect hesitated for a moment for obvious reasons but knowing that they had to give face to the Emperor, they bitterly drank the purple liquid.

The banquet began shortly after and everyone ate until they were full. Feng Yun didn't eat a lot. He never was one for eating too much. Everyone was busy having conversations with each other and he was preparing to leave the show. He looked at Xia Qing who gave him a wink and left to go outside the building. Feng Yun followed shortly after and made it as un-suspicious as possible. He followed Xia Qing until they reached a small lake surrounded by wildlife and trees. The lake shimmered from the reflection of the moon.

A girl could be seen, her face staring at the lake in complete relaxation, her face very bright under the reflection of the moonlight. Her purple colored hair draped down her shoulder and black colored dress making her look very beautiful. Feng Yun consoled himself. Just a few years, just a few years, he repeated to himself. He put on a smile and sat next to Xia Qing. The latter turned her head to look at him and sudden their faces were inches away from each other. Xia Qing broke the silence and started the conversation.

"Feng Yun, how exactly did you beat Xu Fangzi? That scythe that he pulled out was terrifying enough but his Song of Death spirit ability was even fiercer. I'm afraid that if I had been the one in that position, I would have been defeated easily." Xia Qing let out a sigh.

"Haha, you see, most of what I used to overpower him before he used his scythe was pure combat experience. Before coming to the competition, I trained in a wasteland of beasts alone for two years and built up a lot of combat experience that was able to stand up to Xu Fangzi's 9th Layer power very easily. As for the scythe, that was actually quite troublesome for me. I pretty much had to use my second spirit, the Overlord Heaven Piercer Sword to completely destroy him. My spirit held the absolute advantage in terms of pressure or raw strength." Feng Yun lied a little bit. He had years of combat experience from his previous life. Of course he couldn't tell Xia Qing that.

"Hmmm, I see. So combat experience is a necessary factor. Still, two different spirits of different categories. That'll come in handy." Xia Qing was slightly envious.

"Haha, yes combat experience can get you out of many situations. As for your spirit, don't worry about it. Your Ice Fire Emperor Eagle is a very extraordinary beast spirit. I have a feeling there is so much more to it than what knowledge there is given about it. It will naturally reveal itself to you in due time." Xia Qing brightened up at this and smiled. Feng Yun was glad that he was able to affect her state of mind for the better.

"Thank you Feng Yun. You are a true friend. So what are you going to do after the tournament is over?" Xia Qing asked curiously. Now that she asked it, Feng Yun wasn't sure. He planned to break into the Xiantian realm but after that then what?

"Hmmm, that is a very good question. I planned to break into the Xiantian realm first but know that I think of it, I will probably travel around the continent and see new places. After all, I can't stay in the confined quarters of the Cloudscale Sect forever."

Feng Yun wanted to see the wonders of the continent and battle new beasts and cultivators. He would gain a lot of experience and would have quite some fun. Xia Qing had a happy expression in her face.

"I plan to do something similar. Shortly after breaking into the 9th Layer, I plan to travel to the Holy Continental academy." She spoke of this with a shiny look in her eyes. Feng Yun was puzzled. What was this academy?

"Xia Qing, what is this academy?"

Xia Qing looked at him with shock and disbelief unwilling to believe that Feng Yun hadn't heard of this name. Her gaze was almost as if she had seen an idiot.

"Feng Yun, have you been living under a rock? The Holy Continental academy is the publicly announced number 1 school for cultivators in the whole continent. They are extremely powerful and hold a lot of influence over the affairs of the continent. They attracted disciples from all five powers including the Immortal Fiendlands and Mystic Realm. That's how powerful they are. They only accept the most talented of geniuses and are incredibly strict with their acceptance rate.

They only accept disciples age fifteen or lower with the cultivation of at least the Xiantian realm third layer. Everyone that has come out of that academy has become influential and extremely powerful people. They are monsters on another level. Rumor has it that the academy was created by an expert above the level of an Asura from another continent and still secretly backs it secretly.

Of course, these are all just baseless rumors. The fact that a supreme expert created it is no doubt however. That is why powerful people do not dare to make trouble for the Holy Continental academy. They hold a prestige much higher than other academies."

From the looks of it, this academy is extremely powerful and prestigious. Feng Yun was surprised. An expert above the Asura level created this academy. He must be incredible.

"Xia Qing, you plan to go to this academy soon?" Feng Yun probed.

"Yes, soon I will attend the academy admissions. However, the trip to the academy takes about two years if you go on foot. I plan to go on foot and raise my strength as I go. I believe that I will break through the Xiantian realm faster that way and obtain valuable experience." Xia Qing was very resolute.

"Xia Qing, you are very admirable and patient to wish to slowly progress in strength before attending. Hmm, perhaps I will go to this academy as well." Feng Yun contemplated. Xia Qing got excited as she registered his words.

"Truly? You must come and accompany me on the journey Feng Yun! We will gain a lot from this. And you should be able to reach the Xiantian realm in a year as well so you should be fine. Once you are ready send me a message and we will depart together." Xia Qing said it freely without any restraint. She didn't realize that it sounded as if they were running away together. Feng Yun got a little embarrassed at this and seeing this reaction, Xia Qing's face flushed red.

"A..anyways, ask your family if you can come with me and we can carve our way to the Holy Continental academy. " She managed to get out while standing up. She offered a hand to Feng Yun who took it and stood up.

"Yeah, definetly. Let us enter the academy together." Feng Yun smiled at her.

They talked about cultivation and their families as they got increasingly more familiarized with each other. They had turned into very good friends. They then returned to their families as it was getting late. The Cloudscale Sect delegates left first and Feng Yun said goodbye to Xia Qing. They flew back to the Cloudscale Sect quarters.

On the way there, Feng Yun questioned Feng Lei.

"Grandfather, do you know what the Holy Continental academy is?" Feng Lei surprisingly let out a sigh and looked back at Feng Yun.

"You want to go there don't you? All right all right. I give you permission."

"Wait, grandpa how did you---" Feng Yun was cut off by Feng Lei who answered his question faster than he could finish.

"I heard your conversation with that girl Xia Qing while I was drunk in the hall. I accidentally turned on my divine sense and heard you talking to her. I know everything. Knowing your talent, you'll probably make it in. Why keep your talent restrained here? Go, boy and become someone great."

Feng Lei slightly smiled despite knowing that his grandson might leave him soon. Feng Yun's parents nodded their heads behind them. They had heard the talk that Feng Lei was having with Feng Yun and they supported his decision. Ling Qian still had some tears in her eyes in which Feng Luo comforted her. Feng Yun slightly teared up and replied.

"Thank you everyone. You are the greatest family one could ever have. I will come back soon a stronger man." Feng Yun promised them. He then looked straight into the horizon.

"Holy Continental academy, I am coming for you."