Xuanwu War Sovereign

Qin Feng stood on a rock, Ancient Sword in hand, his disheveled black hair draped over his shoulders. Nearby, a waterfall thundered as countless waves cascaded down with a deafening roar.

A glint appeared in his eyes as Qin Feng thought to himself, ’If I’m not mistaken, this waterfall must function similarly to the Heart Refining Arrays or heart-refining paths some sects use. Its purpose has to be to weed out those with ulterior motives!’

Qin Feng didn’t know much about the Lingxu Sect, but from experience, he knew that the first stage of most sect trials was usually a test of one’s heart, or a process of Refining Heart.

This was to ensure the purity of the sect and to expose any disloyal applicants.

All Stars Academy might claim to teach all without discrimination, but it surely had similar methods in place.

Most importantly, Qin Feng sensed something about the Glacial Waterfall that was reminiscent of a Heart Refining Array.

Despite his suspicions, Qin Feng didn’t charge in recklessly.

In the Ice and Snow Valley, someone had already taken flight. The first to charge into the waterfall was Liu Canyang.

"Since no one else is willing to go first, then I, Liu Canyang, will seize the honor!"

With a cold laugh, Liu Canyang shot forward under the watchful eyes of the crowd. He was like a cannonball, instantly vanishing into the torrent. Astonishingly, his body wasn’t swept away by the crushing force of the water. He remained suspended within the formidable aquatic curtain.

Liu Canyang closed his eyes as a faint glow circulated around him. He endured the crushing force of the cascade, yet he seemed completely unaffected, as if the immense power was simply vanishing around him.

After nine breaths, Liu Canyang opened his eyes. A searing glint shot from their depths. His lips parted, and he let out a thunderous cry.

BOOM!

The resounding cry was like a clap of thunder, momentarily drowning out the roar of the waterfall.

"Everyone, it looks like I’ve taken the lead in this first stage!" With a great laugh, Liu Canyang’s body transformed into a streak of light. In a flash, he broke through the waves, shot up against the current, and soared into the sky!

While everyone watched in astonishment, Liu Canyang had already claimed the lead, rushing into the Holy Spring Palace.

"Since Brother Liu has already made his move, I can’t fall behind!"

With a soft laugh, just as most of the students in the valley were still reeling in shock, another figure stepped forward. He was a dashingly handsome youth in white robes, his face as bright and striking as the moon.

He was about fifteen or sixteen, dressed in white robes, with a vermilion dot between his brows. His lips were red, his teeth white, and he was breathtakingly handsome—so much so that a quick glance might mistake him for a peerless maiden.

It was hard to imagine a man of such beauty existed in the world. He was none other than Xiao Yuchan, hailed as one of the five strongest students of his year.

As one of the Five Great War Gods, Xiao Yuchan already had many eyes on him. The moment he stepped forward, he became the center of attention.

He had sharp brows, starlike eyes, and an aura brimming with Purple Qi. With a push of his foot, he began to walk on air, ascending step by step. It was as if a great road of Purple Qi was materializing beneath his feet.

Liu Qinghe’s eyes narrowed at the sight. "Innate Purple Qi stretching thirty thousand li... the Three Flowers Purple Qi Technique. So Xiao Yuchan is cultivating this technique. The Three Flowers Purple Qi Technique is a top-tier Martial Arts Foundation Establishment Technique with a full Twelfth Layer! In terms of qi channel purity, it’s a world apart from ordinary foundation techniques. What’s more, that Innate Purple Qi is incredibly beneficial for comprehending and upgrading a Seed of Heaven and Earth!"

"The Three Flowers Purple Qi Technique is a top-tier Martial Arts Foundation Establishment Technique?" Nearby, Qin Tianjiao frowned, a flicker of irritation in her eyes.

"Such a powerful aura! It’s truly worthy of a top-tier Martial Arts Foundation Establishment Technique!" Xu Fei’s eyes sharpened, a trace of awe flashing within them.

It was common knowledge that the Martial Arts Ninth Layer Heaven corresponded to the stage of Martial Arts Foundation Establishment. Ordinary Martial Arts Foundation Establishment Techniques typically had nine layers to match the Martial Arts Ninth Layer Heaven.

However, disciples from Noble Family backgrounds like Qin Tianjiao and Xu Fei knew better. Those were merely ordinary Martial Arts Foundation Establishment Techniques. True Upper Vehicle Martial Arts Foundation Establishment Techniques typically surpassed the Ninth Layer.

The techniques they themselves cultivated had ten layers, barely qualifying as Upper Vehicle, but that was nothing compared to the Twelfth Layer Three Flowers Purple Qi Technique!

Legend had it that the absolute best Martial Arts Foundation Establishment Techniques reached the Thirteenth Layer!

After eight breaths, Xiao Yuchan flashed with light and vanished into the curtain of water. He had used one breath less than Liu Canyang.

Immediately after, Li Qiubai and Yuan Daozhen made their move at almost the same time. The two transformed into straight beams of Invisible Sword Qi, like twin rainbows blasting through the curtain of water! 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

’Body as the sword... They’ve both chosen to forge their Martial Dao foundations with Sword Qi, abandoning their innate Attributes to walk the path of the Sword Dao. I wonder what techniques they’re cultivating?’

’But judging by the brilliance of their surging Sword Qi, it must be an exceptionally powerful Upper Vehicle Martial Arts Foundation Establishment Technique!’

Seeing their performance, the eyes of the more knowledgeable students flickered. Every Sword Cultivator possessed extraordinary combat prowess and was known to be a king among their peers.

’The Holy Sword Refining God Technique!’ A glint flashed in Qin Feng’s eyes. His knowledge was vast, with a veritable ocean of Cultivation Techniques stored in his mind. He had recognized the essence of Yuan Daozhen’s Sword Qi at a single glance.

Only the Sword Qi from the Holy Sword Refining God Technique could be so pure!

The Holy Sword Refining God Technique, like his own Innate Primordial Qi, was a top-tier, Thirteenth Layer Martial Arts Foundation Establishment Technique. But just like his Innate Primordial Qi, being a top-tier technique meant it came with extreme restrictions for successfully reaching Foundation Establishment.

The Cultivation of Innate Primordial Qi required countless Spirit Medicines.

The requirements for the *Holy Sword Refining God Technique* were even more demanding. One had to endure an indescribable, ultimate agony, tempering their body as if it were a Battle Sword. The pain of Sword Qi Infusion was said to be no less than death by a thousand cuts or being flayed to the bone.

Since ancient times, nine out of ten people who attempted this Foundation Establishment Technique were driven mad by the horrific pain.

Yuan Daozhen was already an expert at the Martial Arts Eighth Layer Heaven, which meant he had surely cultivated to the Eighth Layer of Heaven of his technique. The pain of Sword Qi Infusion he must have endured was unimaginable.

A trace of awe flashed in his eyes. Qin Feng sighed in admiration, then turned his gaze to Li Qiubai.

Li Qiubai had also used Sword Qi for his foundation, and he too cultivated an exceptional Upper Vehicle Martial Arts Foundation Establishment Technique. However, to Qin Feng’s Spiritual Sense, Li Qiubai’s Sword Qi wasn’t as pure or sharp as Yuan Daozhen’s. Instead, it carried a profoundly mysterious and ethereal quality.

In terms of Sword Qi alone, their quality was comparable, each with its own strengths. But Qin Feng was absolutely certain that if the two fought to the death, Li Qiubai would be the one to fall.

Li Qiubai and Yuan Daozhen both took eight breaths. Their times were nearly identical, and they entered the Holy Spring Palace as streaks of light at almost the same instant.

Du Pingxia made her move next. She was an exquisitely beautiful girl dressed as a man, appearing like a young nobleman. A noble air permeated her features, and her movements were elegant, as if she belonged to the Celestial Royal Family.

A seven-colored light flashed. Nine breaths later, Du Pingxia transformed into a streak of colorful light and shot upstream.

After the Five Great War Gods led the way into the Holy Spring Palace, the floodgates opened.

The other geniuses could no longer hold back. Countless figures soared into the air and charged into the Nine Heavens waterfall. Streaks of light shot toward the heavens, ascending with incredible speed.

Qin Feng remained on the rock, his gaze fixed on the spectacular scene. Figures shot upward like meteors, sometimes in dozens at a time.

Other times, hundreds of meteors streaked past, creating a magnificent spectacle.

Liu Qinghe’s figure resembled starlight as he soared through in ten breaths.

Qin Mubai became a white rainbow, breaking through the current in eleven breaths.

The Green-clothed Maiden, Lu Han, became a green shadow, clearing the obstacle in twelve breaths to enter the Holy Spring Palace.

...

As the figures shot past, Qin Feng saw the cold, cruel glare Liu Qinghe sent his way. He saw the silhouettes of Qin Tianjiao and Xu Fei soaring past. He saw the triumphant look in Yu Yao’s eyes as she became a golden rainbow and ascended against the current.

He saw the encouraging gaze from the young Li Zhuang as he took flight.

He saw the chilling hatred in Guan Ruo Lin’s eyes, a coldness sharper than a thousand blades.

He watched as countless youths—triumphant, arrogant, indifferent, or calm—vanished into the waterfall.

After half a day, fewer than a hundred people remained in the Ice and Snow Valley. Most of them were Martial Artists at the Martial Arts Fourth Layer.

While the remaining crowd watched, Qin Feng finally stepped forward. But to everyone’s astonishment, he didn’t charge toward the waterfall. Instead, he grinned, stretched his limbs, and with a SPLASH, jumped into the river...

’I’ll let you all get a head start. Time for me to level up!’