Chapter Ninety-Nine: Initiation

Yang Ze felt a chill run through his heart. Despite having the experiences of two lifetimes, he could not help but show excitement on his face. After enduring for so long, he finally had the opportunity to come into contact with the pinnacle of martial arts in this world.

Indeed, in his view, the martial arts of the Ethereal Martial Academy must surely rank among the best in the world; otherwise, it would be impossible for it to stand as a regional power before a Martial Emperor who had reached the Seventh-Grade Grandmaster realm.

Ning Teng did not say anything more to Yang Ze, and the two continued to gallop on horseback for some time. Along this stretch, Yang Ze noticed that Ning Teng was not leading him toward the city of Lin-Yang Prefecture, but rather toward increasingly remote areas.

After traveling an unknown distance, Ning Teng suddenly clamped his legs against his horse, bringing it to a halt. Yang Ze quickly followed suit.

"Elder, have we arrived?" Yang Ze asked with some surprise.

He looked around. Their current location was a desolate place, surrounded by dense forests. The occasional birdcall was the only sound to be heard. It was hard for Yang Ze to imagine that a martial academy capable of suppressing an entire province could exist in such a place.

"Yes, we have arrived. Look over there!" Ning Teng’s voice had changed slightly. He pointed upward.

Yang Ze followed the direction of Ning Teng’s finger and looked up. Through the gaps in the canopy, he saw a peak towering into the clouds. The mountain was of unfathomable height, piercing the sky, with clouds swirling around its midsection, obscuring any view of the scenery above.

"Is the Ethereal Martial Academy on this mountain?" Yang Ze asked, shocked.

"No, this peak is called Qingyang Peak, where our Ethereal Martial Academy’s registered disciples reside. Behind this peak lie the Outer Academy and the Inner Academy. The entire hundred-mile radius belongs to our Ethereal Martial Academy!" Ning Teng announced loudly.

Yang Ze was left speechless. This towering peak was merely a part of the academy. The fact that the entire hundred-mile area served as the academy’s grounds showed such immense ambition; in terms of scale, it was comparable to an entire city.

"Remember to stay behind me. Once you are here, you are already within the Ethereal Martial Academy. The entire grounds are protected by a grand defensive array. Do not be fooled by its appearance; it is treacherous everywhere. Even I would not dare to force my way in, as I would surely perish. When you are admitted, remember to follow the academy's rules. Once you receive your identity token, that will be your pass. Without it, you will be treated as an intruder, and you know what the consequences for that are."

Ning Teng instructed him, and Yang Ze nodded repeatedly. Any regional power was not to be underestimated, and the Ethereal Martial Academy was an existence he could not yet fully fathom.

As they walked through the dense forest, the path ahead seemed to shift automatically. What appeared to be a never-ending road suddenly opened into a valley. As they neared the entrance, two waves of pressure descended upon them.

Facing this pressure, Ning Teng did not release his own aura but instead produced his identity token.

"Pass!"

A calm voice echoed through the valley. The pressure dissipated, and Ning Teng led Yang Ze inside.

"Those two were the mountain guards, both Fifth-Grade Qi-Sea realm experts. Only members of our academy can enter here. If someone comes without an identity token, they are immediately struck down by the guards!"

As they entered the valley, it was filled with mist. Yang Ze had no idea where to go and could only follow Ning Teng. Ning Teng seemed to see through the mist, leading Yang Ze along until they arrived at a small platform.

On the platform, Yang Ze saw a massive circle inscribed with strange patterns, filled with runes and peculiar markings.

"This is a teleportation array, obtained from a meteorite. Our resources are limited, so this can only perform short-distance travel," Ning Teng explained, leading Yang Ze to the center. "Stand by my side and hold onto me. Your cultivation is not high, and this is your first time; without my protection, it could be dangerous."

Yang Ze did not dare to be careless. He stood beside Ning Teng and gripped his shoulder. When they were both steady, Ning Teng waved his hand. Four light orbs appeared at the tops of the pillars surrounding the array, shooting beams of light that struck the ground and activated the runes.

Light flared, and Yang Ze felt his body distort and twist until he vanished.

On Qingyang Peak, the array lit up, and the figures of the old man and the youth appeared. However, Yang Ze did not look well. His face was pale, and he looked as if he were about to vomit.

"I could only protect you from the spatial turbulence; I cannot eliminate the discomfort of the travel. You will get used to it," Ning Teng said, tapping Yang Ze on the back and infusing him with a warm stream of energy, which immediately made him feel better.

Several disciples guarding the array walked over. Seeing Ning Teng, they bowed respectfully. Ning Teng waved them off and took flight with Yang Ze toward a specific location on the peak.

The disciples watched them depart with curiosity, noting Yang Ze’s face. A person who did not even seem to have reached the First Grade was being escorted by the Chief Elder of the Outer Academy; this person was clearly not simple. Yang Ze was unaware that he had already attracted attention before even being officially registered.

Ning Teng moved rapidly, traversing the peak with such speed that no one could track his movements. They finally stopped at a mansion with a plaque that read: "Qingyang Peak General Hall."

"Qingyang Peak is where registered disciples live, and this Hall governs it. The Elder in charge is Xie Yuan, a Fifth-Grade Qi-Sea realm expert. You will report to him from now on," Ning Teng explained.

Yang Ze nodded. Registered disciples were at the very periphery of the academy. Qingyang Hall was the central authority, and Xie Yuan was effectively the master of the peak.

Four men in sturdy attire stood outside the hall. Yang Ze could feel their potent blood energy; each was at least as strong as Zhang Yongxu.

"May we ask who is visiting?" one of them asked, bowing.

"No need to report," a hearty voice rang out from inside as a thin, tall elder walked out. "Senior Brother Ning, I heard the Dean had a mission for you. I didn't expect you to return so quietly and head straight here."

"Greetings, Hall Master! Greetings, Elder Ning!" The four disciples bowed.

"No need for formalities," Ning Teng said, ignoring the disciples and turning to Xie Yuan. "Junior Brother Xie, I have only just returned and came straight to you."

Xie Yuan laughed. "A busy man like you rarely visits me. You must have something important. Shall we go inside?"

As they walked in, Xie Yuan noticed Yang Ze. "And this is?"

"He is the reason I came here first. I found a promising talent while I was out. I want you to register him," Ning Teng said.

"So that’s why," Xie Yuan chuckled. "It’s not the time for recruitment, so you’re pulling strings, are you? But talent is abundant in the academy. He looks a bit old and has only practiced secular martial arts. What makes him worth your attention?"

"Junior Brother Xie, just do me this favor, will you?" Ning Teng said, a hint of annoyance in his voice.

Seeing that Ning Teng was getting irritated—a rare sight for the usually composed elder—Xie Yuan quickly called someone over to register Yang Ze.