I bear witness to immortality in the human world.

Chapter 187 Breaking Through Seven Gates
Wu Ming's primordial spirit had reached the fifth level of refinement. Because his primordial spirit had always been kept in the inner sanctum and had not been used for a long time, even Liu Muyuan did not know about it. With the primordial spirit at the fifth level of refinement, it was naturally very easy for him to explore the mysteries of a Dao technique.

In the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Wu Ming broke through the second gate once again.

then,

It's the third gate, the fourth gate, the fifth gate...

When Wu Ming broke through the fifth gate solely through comprehension, Zhang Yong, the vice dean of the Hidden Dragon Academy who had been observing the formation, also had his eyes light up slightly.

"Impressive. As expected of Lord Liu's outstanding disciple, he passed five gates in less than half an hour based solely on his comprehension. His talent is even stronger than that girl from the Ziyuan Sect not long ago."

Zhang Yong knew very well that since Liu Muyuan had brought Wu Ming, Wu Ming would definitely be able to forcefully break through the first four gates with his strength. However, compared to breaking through with brute force, he would much rather see Wu Ming break through with enlightenment. After all, this kind of enlightenment within the formation, whether for a martial artist or a Taoist cultivator, better reflects a person's talent and aptitude.

Not long ago, Yan Luo, a true disciple of the 'Zi Yuan Sect,' a Taoist sect recently conferred by the imperial court, broke through the gates here when she entered the Qianlong Academy. Although she also broke through five gates in a row, it took her a little longer than Wu Ming. At that time, he was already quite surprised, because Yan Luo's talent in Taoist magic was already among the best of the younger generation.

Wu Ming's talent at this moment is even greater than Yan Luo's!

Time continues to pass.

Breaking through the formation in the main hall of Qianlong Academy is not an unlimited process; it takes at most two hours. Wu Ming spent nearly half an hour breaking through the first five gates, but around the sixth gate, he paused for almost half an hour before finally breaking through.

"The sixth gate!"

Seeing Wu Ming break through to the sixth level through his enlightenment, Zhang Yong finally showed a hint of amazement.

It's not that breaking through the first five gates in half an hour guarantees breaking through the sixth gate. In reality, very few young Daoist cultivators or martial artists who enter the Hidden Dragon Academy can break through the sixth gate. This is because once you reach the sixth gate, you can basically only break through through comprehension. Even if you have top-tier strength at the fourth level of cultivation, you can't forcefully break through the gate using Daoist techniques.

Like Yan Luo, although she broke through the first five gates in half an hour, she failed to break through the sixth gate in the following hour and a half.

The Hidden Dragon Academy is now filled with the most outstanding young talents of the Yong Kingdom. Among them, only two people have been able to break through to the sixth level. One of them is Gu Liufeng, the number one martial arts prodigy of the younger generation!
One of them is Yin Kun, the number one Daoist cultivator among the younger generation of Yong Kingdom!
As for the seventh gate...

No one in this generation could break the Yong Kingdom's defenses.

Although within the Hidden Dragon Academy, after breaking through to the fifth level of the Primordial Spirit Refinement or the fifth level of Blood Condensation, one can generally forcefully break through the seventh gate by brute force, the Mysterious Gate Formation is the entrance examination for the Hidden Dragon Academy. It is extremely rare for one person in a hundred years to be able to break through the seventh gate upon entering the academy.

Wu Ming stood quietly in front of the seventh gate, sensing the extremely complex Dao patterns on it. His eyes flashed with light as he carefully comprehended the Dao, feeling the knowledge accumulating in his mind growing stronger.

at last.

A glint of light flashed in his eyes, and then he raised his right hand, where a radiant light appeared in his palm. His soul thoughts intertwined and formed a mysterious pattern. Then he stretched out his hand and pushed forward sharply.

With a sudden thud, the seventh gate of the Xuanmen Formation burst open!

Almost the instant the seventh door was pushed open, the pure white world before him shattered instantly, turning into countless points of light and dissipating. Wu Ming looked around and saw that he was still standing in the same place.

Not far from him, Liu Muyuan was looking at him with a hint of approval in his eyes, while Zhang Yong, the vice dean of the Qianlong Academy, stared at Wu Ming with a look of astonishment.

"The Seventh Gate!"

"They actually passed the seventh gate!"

Although Wu Ming barely passed the seventh gate, breaking through in the last bit of the two-hour period, he still genuinely passed the seventh gate in the entrance examination of the Hidden Dragon Academy.

How long has it been since anyone in Yong Kingdom broke through the seventh level in the entrance examination?
Is it seventy-one years, or seventy-two years?!
Zhang Yong couldn't remember exactly, but he knew that those who could break through to the seventh level were truly once-in-a-century geniuses, and had the potential to win a ranking in the Hundred Kingdoms Genius Battle and gain the attention of the Great Jin Dynasty!
For Yong Kingdom, if it could cultivate a prodigy who would gain the attention of the Great Jin Dynasty and even enter the Great Jin's sacred cultivation ground, it would be a tremendous gain. First of all, cultivating a prodigy who joins the Great Jin's sacred cultivation ground would not only gain the Great Jin's attention but also its rewards, which would be of extraordinary significance!

The Northern Wilderness is home to a hundred kingdoms. Apart from the Great Jin Dynasty, which stands eternally, power often changes hands among the kingdoms. For example, the Yong Kingdom has existed for over a thousand years. Although it has not yet reached the point of decline, it is no longer as prosperous as it was at its founding. Fortunately, it has good relations with its neighboring countries, so it is still relatively prosperous.

However, relations between countries are not static, and it is common for them to fight each other for various interests.

For a country to maintain its prosperity, it must either be strong and have a constant stream of top experts with the Seven Refinements and Seven Blood Techniques, or it must be able to cultivate unparalleled geniuses who will be recruited into the Great Jin's sacred cultivation grounds!

Those peerless geniuses who can enter the sacred land of cultivation will at least reach the level of the seventh blood and seventh refinement, and it is not surprising that they may even reach the level of the eighth or ninth blood. Such people will naturally not ignore the small country from which they come, and their lifespan is very long. Once they grow up, they will be able to protect the small country for hundreds of years.

That's why the Hidden Dragon Academy came into being in the Yong Kingdom!

All members of the royal bloodline, rising talents within the territory, and members of prestigious families appointed by the imperial court, as long as they reach the fourth stage of blood coagulation or the fourth stage of primordial spirit refinement, can enter the Hidden Dragon Academy to cultivate, all for the sake of the Hundred Kingdoms Prodigy Battle held once every five years!
"Okay."

Just as Zhang Yong was overjoyed, a slightly aged voice came from behind him.

An old man dressed in loose cloth clothes and wooden clogs, with half gray and half white temples, leisurely walked into the main hall. His blood and qi were not strong, only at the level of six blood clotting, but his eyes were bright and stared directly at Wu Ming.

"Your name is Wu Ming, right? Hahaha, it's rare to find someone who can break through seven gates so quickly after entering the Hidden Dragon Academy... Hmm, pass on my order: for the first two years after Wu Ming enters the Hidden Dragon Academy, all supplies will be upgraded to the highest level." The old man burst into laughter and came to Wu Ming's side.

Although he and Zhang Yong were both sixth-time blood clotting practitioners, and he even looked much older with somewhat weakened blood and energy, not as robust as Zhang Yong, the old man exuded a stronger sense of pressure and authority over Wu Ming.

Wu Ming naturally knew the old man's identity—Meng Huaizhen, the head of the Hidden Dragon Academy!
As the head of the Hidden Dragon Academy, he is naturally the most prominent figure in the Yong Kingdom. His cultivation level is certainly not just the sixth level of Blood Condensation. His true skill is that of a Daoist master who has reached the seventh level of Primordial Spirit Refinement!

The seventh level of primordial spirit refinement has already transcended life and death. Even if the physical body decays, one can be reborn by seizing another's body, or even remain in the world permanently with only the primordial spirit. However, completely abandoning the physical body has many constraints. Generally, cultivators at this level will still cultivate a physical body with good blood and qi to support their primordial spirit.

"Master."

Wu Ming bowed respectfully to Meng Huaizhen.

The seventh level of primordial spirit refinement—this level of Daoist mastery is still far beyond his reach for the time being.

Meng Huaizhen looked at Wu Ming with great satisfaction. Although he had heard of Wu Ming and knew that Jingye City had produced a talented prodigy, he hadn't paid much attention to it at the time. After all, there were geniuses from all over the fifty-four cities of Yong Kingdom every year. As for whether he could stand out in the Hidden Dragon Academy, that would only be known once he actually entered the Hidden Dragon Academy.

However, someone like Wu Ming, who can pass the seventh gate in the entrance examination, is basically guaranteed to rise to prominence in the future. He will be able to break through to the fifth level of the Primordial Spirit in just a few years. Before the next Hundred Kingdoms Prodigy Battle, he will definitely have a chance to reach the top level of the fifth level!

"Dean Meng, the person has been delivered, so I'll take my leave now."

Liu Muyuan watched this scene calmly, bowing to Meng Huaizhen from afar.

Unlike Meng Huaizhen, he had already witnessed Wu Ming's talent in Jingye City, so he was not too surprised by Wu Ming's performance. It was not surprising that his disciple, whom he had nurtured with such care, had such abilities.

"it is good."

Meng Huaizhen looked at Liu Muyuan with a meaningful look in her eyes and nodded at him.

Liu Muyuan didn't say anything more, turned around and quietly left Qianlong Academy.

Wu Ming, on the other hand, was led by Vice Dean Zhang Yong, and walked out of the main hall to a spacious courtyard behind the Qianlong Academy. There was a courtyard at intervals, and each courtyard was a separate residence.

The Hidden Dragon Academy is no ordinary place. Those who can enter are at least at the fourth level of Blood Coagulation, and either they are the best among the fourth level of Blood Coagulation, or they have royal blood. Although they come here for cultivation, their treatment is never bad.

"This courtyard is currently vacant. Wu Ming, you may move in here. All the servants and maids in the courtyard are at your disposal."

Zhang Yong led Wu Ming to a courtyard.

There were still some servants sweeping up fallen leaves in the courtyard. As soon as Wu Ming and Zhang Yong entered, they all knelt down and bowed.

"Thank you for your trouble, Lord Zhang."

Wu Ming surveyed the courtyard with his eyes and bowed to Zhang Yong.

Zhang Yong waved his hand and said, "No need to be polite. Well, you have passed the entrance examination and are now a disciple of the Hidden Dragon Academy. I want to tell you about the Hidden Dragon Academy... There are two academy masters and eight vice academy masters in the Hidden Dragon Academy. They each have different areas of expertise. If you have any questions about martial arts or Taoist practices, you can ask any vice academy master or academy master for advice."

"In addition, the library here contains all the martial arts and Taoist classics of the Yong Kingdom, which are freely open to all disciples of the Qianlong Academy. You can read any of them without any restrictions."

"In this Hidden Dragon Academy, each disciple has a resource quota. Once you pass the seventh entrance exam, you can get the highest quota for the first two years, with 20,000 'spiritual points' every month. These spiritual points can be exchanged for all the resources you need in the back hall. After two years, if you still want to get the highest quota, you have to compete for a ranking in the academy in the 'Hidden Dragon Tower' and reach the top five."

"In addition, there are various places within the Hidden Dragon Academy that help people cultivate Taoist techniques and martial arts, such as the Green Bamboo Forest and the Rock Fire Cave. These places are all controlled by array formations. Some of them are extremely dangerous at their deepest points. Before you break through to the fifth level of the Primordial Spirit Refinement or the fifth level of Blood Condensation, you need to be careful when exploring them and avoid getting injured."

"at last……"

Zhang Yong explained many things about Qianlong Courtyard to Wu Ming. Some of these things Wu Ming already knew, but most of them were things Wu Ming didn't know. After listening patiently to everything, Wu Ming greeted Zhang Yong a few times. Only after watching Zhang Yong leave did Wu Ming finally come to his senses, look around, and examine the courtyard where he lived.

He looked at the servants and maids kneeling on the ground and said in a calm tone:

"Everyone, get up."

After saying this, he stepped into the inner courtyard and went to the innermost room.

The room was clean and tidy, without any dust.

Wu Ming casually tossed the bundle he was carrying onto the bed, then glanced around the room before sitting down on a chair and letting out a soft sigh.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, he will be spending the next few years cultivating in the Hidden Dragon Academy.

(End of this chapter)