"So, you're saying the Yunling Academy is quite famous?" Ye Hun looked toward Chen Lingling and asked.
"Famous? It's more like legendary!" Chen Lingling said, hands on her hips with a dramatic expression.
Chen Yun, standing nearby, explained: "The Yunling Academy is the best cultivation institution in the Yunling Empire. It possesses the finest training resources in the entire empire, and the Dean himself is among the most formidable powerhouses in the land."
"The Academy was established alongside the Yunling Empire itself. With the full backing of the royal family and a history spanning several hundred years, it houses a vast collection of martial skills and cultivation techniques, drawing countless people to flock there like ducks."
"Anyone who manages to enter is a genius. Everyone in the Yunling Empire considers it an honor to be part of the Yunling Academy!"
"The Academy recruits talented youths from across the entire empire. They study and compete together within its walls, which is why everyone who graduates from the Yunling Academy is a force to be reckoned with. Their family's standing is elevated immensely as a result."
"More importantly, it allows one to change their social status, providing a ticket into officialdom and a glimpse into a much broader world. Sometimes, students even get to spar with peers from other countries, broadening their horizons."
"All these superior benefits have cemented the Yunling Academy’s exalted status within the Yunling Empire. It is no exaggeration to say that sixty percent of the empire's powerhouses and high-ranking officials walked out of that Academy."
"And these," Chen Yun said, pointing to the group of boys and girls behind her, "are this year’s candidates."
Ye Hun looked in the direction Chen Yun was pointing. The dozen or so teenagers still looked shaken, panting heavily.
However, their talent was indeed as high as Chen Yun had claimed; the strongest among them had already reached Spirit Awakening Stage 7, despite being only fifteen or sixteen years old.
They were leagues ahead of Ye Family Village. It was no wonder he had never heard of the Yunling Academy.
Ye Family Village was simply too disconnected, and the Academy wouldn't bother recruiting or holding assessments in a small mountain village. These students must have been recruited from the larger towns.
"I see," Ye Hun said calmly.
"Um, Young Master, you don't look very old yourself. Why not join the Yunling Academy assessment? I’m sure you could take first place!" Chen Lingling asked, her face full of anticipation.
As soon as she said this, Chen Yun and Li Qing also turned to look at Ye Hun with expectant eyes.
"Hm? Participate in the assessment?"
Ye Hun fell into deep thought. He didn't have anywhere else to go right now, and this Academy seemed like a decent place.
It offered cultivation, resources, and a chance to hone his skills. Using the Academy as a platform might be the fastest way to investigate the massacre at Ye Family Village!
Once he had made up his mind, Ye Hun said directly, "Sounds good. I’ll go and see for myself!"
Seeing Ye Hun agree, both Chen Yun and Chen Lingling were overjoyed.
Although they had encountered many dangers after getting separated, bringing back someone as mysteriously powerful as Ye Hun to the Academy could be considered a blessing in disguise—not to mention that Ye Hun had saved their lives.
"Um, I’m Chen Yun, and this is my sister, Chen Lingling. May I ask your name, Young Master?" Chen Yun asked, hoping to get to know him better now that he had agreed.
"My name is Ye Hun," he replied without hesitation.
"Ye Hun?"
"Alright, I’ve got it. It’s getting late, so let’s get moving. Staying in the Wanqian Mountains at night is too dangerous."
"Perhaps once we get out, we’ll be able to contact our mentor."
Chen Yun waved her hand, signaling everyone to prepare for departure.
"Oh, right, Ye Hun—do you need to tell your parents that you're going to participate in the assessment?" Chen Yun suddenly thought to ask.
Ye Hun was stunned for a moment, then replied calmly, "No need."
"Alright then!"
Afterward, Ye Hun took the lead. Having wandered the area for several days, he was quite familiar with the terrain.
Under his guidance, they didn't run into a single demonic beast the entire way, which made everyone breathe a sigh of relief.
Naturally, that was because almost all the demonic beasts in this area had been slaughtered by Ye Hun alone, so there wouldn't be any around for a while.
During the journey, Chen Lingling chattered incessantly in Ye Hun’s ear. She asked how old he was, what his cultivation level was, why he was out here, and even whether he was married!
It made Ye Hun’s head spin. Aside from his age, he didn't answer a single other question.
When they found out Ye Hun was not even sixteen, everyone’s eyes widened. At sixteen, he had pinned a Spirit-Entering Stage 4 beast to death with a single strike.
This strength truly shocked all three of them. Whether it was Ye Hun’s own cultivation or that terrifying silver spear, either way, it was proof of his power.
They had been enrolled for a year and had made great progress, yet they still couldn't compare to someone even younger than them!
Along the way, Ye Hun also asked them many questions. He asked if the Yunling Empire was powerful, if there were any sects where people wore gold robes and rode swords through the sky, or perhaps sects that rode giant whale beasts—and of course, what the Yunling Academy was really like.
Chen Lingling was about to answer when Chen Yun quickly interjected: "The Yunling Empire is quite powerful; among the surrounding nations, our strength ranks near the top."
"As for sects, the Yunling Empire does not allow them. Only small, individual gangs are permitted. There certainly aren't any sects where members wear gold robes and ride swords; the royal family would never allow such a thing."
"As for giant whale beasts, that’s even more impossible. If a beast of that caliber truly existed, it would be the guardian deity of the Yunling Empire. It would only appear if the empire were facing total annihilation; it would never just wander about."
Chen Yun’s explanation was concise and clear. She then went on to praise the Academy, and Ye Hun nodded repeatedly, gaining a preliminary understanding of the Yunling Empire.
*It seems those people weren't from this Yunling Empire. I'll just have to wait and inquire later,* Ye Hun sighed to himself.
As they pressed on, they finally emerged from the Wanqian Mountains just as dusk began to fall, heading toward the nearby Huangyun Town.
During the walk, Chen Yun took out an object resembling a disk engraved with various runes. As she made gestures with her left hand, a phantom image of an elderly man with a kind face and wide white robes appeared above it.
"Chen Yun, are you and the assessment candidates safe? Where are you? I will send people to retrieve you immediately!" the old man asked, his face full of anxiety.
"Mentor, we are all safe. We were rescued by a Young Master named Ye Hun, and that is the only reason we were able to get out. We are currently heading toward..." Chen Yun paused and looked at Ye Hun.