Chapter 40: The First Round of Exchange

Above this world, four figures stood amidst the void.

Looking down.

The aura of that world was unexpectedly turbid, and in mid-air, there were countless collapsing forces of rules!

This was a collapsed Heavenly Dao!

One of the men spoke, "Are you saying that in this desolate land, there is an unfathomable powerhouse who has cultivated the power of Daoist Laws?"

"Mhm." A green-faced man nodded. "However, I suspect they likely came from a higher-dimensional world."

If Lu Changsheng were here, he would certainly recognize him.

This person was the very one who had confronted him above the Blood Prison Secret Realm!

"It could only be someone from a higher-dimensional world. After all, the Heavenly Dao of this desolate land has collapsed, and the forces of rules have turned into fragments; it is impossible to comprehend Daoist Laws here!"

"However, there are still two points of suspicion."

A female voice drifted out. "Oh? What suspicions?"

The green-faced man looked over and said solemnly, "First, why did someone from a higher dimension take an interest in this desolate land? The secrets of this world cannot be leaked; after all, the four of us have sworn a Heavenly Dao oath not to spread them."

"Second, how did they enter? This world is currently sealed; one cannot enter or leave. Even for us, it requires a great price just to project ourselves into this world."

One of the men shook his head. "That remains unknown. However, I believe that with the four of us projecting down, we should be able to deal with that person."

The woman nodded in agreement. "This is an unstable factor. We cannot allow him to ruin our plans."

"Fine."

The black-clad figure, who had remained silent until now, nodded and spoke, "Then prepare yourselves. We depart immediately to eliminate that person."

With that.

The four vanished from the spot, as if they had never existed.

...

A day passed.

The exchange between the Four Domains Academies officially began.

Ye Qiubai and the others also headed to the exchange venue.

On the way, Huang Yuan continuously reminded them, his expression solemn, "When the time comes, you must avoid being eliminated. I will step in to block their team leaders."

He then looked at Ye Qiubai and said casually, "Ye Qiubai, your task is to hide yourself as much as possible and gather as many points as you can from the shadows. Now that your strength has been exposed, the opponent will surely devise tactics specifically against you."

As a disciple of the Dean, Huang Yuan naturally understood the flow of the exchange competition.

The first stage of the martial arts exchange was based on a point system.

All participants would be teleported to the Qingyan Mountain Range.

Defeating demonic beasts would grant points.

Of course, if one encountered an enemy and was defeated, all points would be seized, and they would be eliminated.

Standing beside Ye Qiubai, Xin Hongyi teased, "It seems you're being looked down upon?"

Ye Qiubai did not argue, merely shrugging his shoulders.

They arrived at the exchange venue.

The people from the Four Domains Academies had also gathered there.

The North Domain's Hidden Dao Academy was led by Jian Chaomian.

Liao Meisheng stood behind him with a dark expression; seeing Ye Qiubai arrive, a murderous intent flickered in his eyes.

Ye Qiubai ignored him.

"The leader of the East Domain is Tian Cheng. His physical strength is terrifying; he possesses innate divine strength."

"The West Domain is led by Zhang He, who cultivates the Buddhist Vajra Body. It is unbreakable, and his palm techniques are incredibly domineering."

Zhong Wu explained from the side.

He would not be participating in the martial arts exchange; he was the candidate for the subsequent Confucian Dao exchange.

"As for the North Domain, that would be Jian Chaomian."

At that moment, four figures arrived together from high in the sky.

Among them was Qin Tiannan.

The other three were, of course, the Deans of the other three domain academies.

Seeing this, everyone bowed toward them.

One of the four stepped forward.

He was the Dean of the North Domain's Hidden Dao Academy, Wu Deshi.

He was also a powerhouse ranked 12th on the Four Domains Martial Ranking!

He was a full 14 ranks higher than Qin Tiannan.

This was sufficient proof that Wu Deshi was significantly stronger than Qin Tiannan.

Wu Deshi waved his hand, and instantly, a force of void lifted everyone present into the air.

"Today marks the grand exchange competition of our four Hidden Dao Academies. Now that the geniuses of every academy have gathered here, it is a joyous occasion for our Hidden Dao Academy."

"Today begins with the martial arts exchange. You should all be familiar with the rules of the first round. The three other Deans and I will teleport you to the Qingyan Mountain Range."

Having spoken, the four Deans took a step forward. Beneath them, a teleportation array slowly rose.

As the four injected spiritual energy, the space around the array began to warp.

At this point, Wu Deshi said, "Alright, students participating in the martial arts exchange, enter the teleportation array."

With that, the students from the four domains began to step in one after another.

As Ye Qiubai took his step, a voice drifted toward him.

"I'll leave it to you."

It was Qin Tiannan's voice.

Ye Qiubai looked over and found Qin Tiannan watching him.

Seeing this, Ye Qiubai nodded.

Even if it wasn't for the Hidden Dao Academy or for Qin Tiannan, for the sake of his Master and the Grass Hall, he had to ensure Qin Tiannan kept his position as Dean.

After all, if a new Dean took over, would the Grass Hall still be able to remain as transcendent as before?

Ye Qiubai would not allow such an accident to happen.

Thinking of this, Ye Qiubai stepped into the teleportation array!

A sensation of spinning followed.

What met his eyes was a lush, green expanse.

Countless towering, ancient trees reached toward the sky.

However, Ye Qiubai could sensitively sense it.

There was a faint, lingering demonic aura in this place!

Suddenly, the Dark Demon Sword began to vibrate.

Ye Qiubai could feel the Dark Demon's excitement.

Clearly, the demonic aura here was extremely pure.

Likely, in this place, the power of Ye Qiubai's Nine Swords of the Heavenly Demon would be even stronger.

At that moment, a stone appeared in Ye Qiubai's hand.

A number was imprinted on the surface of the stone.

Currently, the number was 0.

This must be the points...

To obtain points, one must either kill demonic beasts or... plunder others!

Just then, Ye Qiubai turned around. Not far away, a roaring sound was rushing toward him!

A massive cloud of dust!

Within the dust, the silhouette of a four-legged demonic beast could be vaguely seen charging!

*Roar!*

The roar carried a sonic boom within its sound waves!

Even someone in the Golden Core Realm might be unable to resist this sonic boom and would be shattered instantly!

With his wooden sword in hand, Ye Qiubai slowly swung it forward!

Sword qi erupted.

It neutralized the sonic boom.

Simultaneously, countless streaks of sword qi swirled around Ye Qiubai!

They transformed into massive blades of air, slashing toward the charging four-legged beast!

The four-legged beast seemed to possess a trace of intelligence. Sensing the crisis from the incoming sword qi, it did not choose to clash head-on!

Instead, it slammed its four legs into the ground to halt its forward momentum.

Then, it lunged violently to the side, dodging the several destructive sword qi strikes!

However, in the next instant, Ye Qiubai's figure had already vanished from his original spot!

In the blink of an eye, he arrived before the four-legged beast.

With a single slash!

The head fell to the ground without even a sound!

Ye Qiubai took out the point stone to check.

The 0 on it had risen to 10.