Villains Aren't Stepping Stones!

The next day, a crisp, invigorating breeze swept through the Imperial Academy, carrying with it the subtle fragrance of morning dew and the electric tension of an impending grand event.

The sky above was a vast expanse of unblemished azure, though the high-altitude atmosphere occasionally rippled with the immense power of hidden monitoring arrays.

Imperial Academy was buzzing with unprecedented energy as all students were gathered on a massive plaza, where four portals can be seen.

The plaza itself was a colossal structure carved from ancient, white spirit-stone, sprawling across several miles to easily accommodate the thousands of young cultivators who comprised the current generation of elites.

The ground beneath their feet was etched with countless glowing golden runes that hummed in perfect unison.

At the center of this plaza, floating several feet above the stone floor, stood the four massive portals.

They were towering, arching gateways constructed from absolute spatial obsidian, their interiors swirling with turbulent, kaleidoscopic vortexes of raw cosmic energy that crackled with a deep, rhythmic vibration.

In front, all master teachers and the ten sages gathered there as well.

The faculty stood in a rigid, imposing semi-circle before the portals, their robes billowing in the spatial wind.

The master teachers radiated a collective pressure that naturally suppressed the anxious chattering of the crowd.

Above them sat the Ten Sages on floating platforms of white jade, though to the average observer, their figures appeared slightly blurred, shrouded in a divine, untouchable mist.

Soon, Venerable Sky Cloud stepped forward and spoke.

The grand leader of the Sages took a single step out into the open air, yet that single movement felt as though it shook the very mountain beneath the academy.

His deep, resonant voice instantly echoed directly inside the mind of every single person present, instantly silencing the lingering whispers.

”Disciples of the Imperial Academy,” Venerable Sky Cloud began, his long white beard swaying gently. ”Today marks a pivotal moment in your journey along the grand path of cultivation. The tribulations a cultivator faces are not merely confined to private seclusion or the simple accumulation of internal spiritual energy. True strength is forged in the crucible of unpredictable chaos, where your decisions under pressure define your destiny.”

He paused, his deep, starry eyes sweeping over the massive sea of young faces before continuing to detail the specific parameters of the test.

”The rules of this survival trial have been fundamentally restructured to reflect the multi-faceted duties of an absolute elite. You and your randomly assigned partner will be thrust into an untamed, perilous wilderness filled with high-level spirit beasts. However, your primary objective is not mindless slaughter. You must save as many natives as possible. Scattered throughout your respective trial zones are hundreds of thousands of local inhabitants. Your final scores rely entirely on that metric. For every native life you protect, guide to safety, or shield from the jaws of the local beasts, your standing will rise. If you fail them, your scores will suffer.”

A wave of subtle murmurings threatened to break out, but Venerable Sky Cloud’s voice hardened, instantly crushing the noise.

”Furthermore, let it be known that you are not performing in the shadows today. The entire empire will be watching. Through the supreme projection arrays graciously provided for this event, every noble house, every vassal king, and every common citizen across the length and breadth of the Tian Yuan Empire will bear witness to your courage, your strategic capability, and your absolute resolve. Do not disgrace the name of the academy.”

Once done, another sage stepped forward, pointing towards the portal and spoke.

The Second Sage, carrying a sharp, military posture, extended a hand toward the four roaring spatial vortexes floating behind the podium.

His voice was crisp, cutting through the heavy air like a well-honed blade.

”Greetings, student. I will just continue on with Venerable Sky Cloud’s words,” the Second Sage pointed at the portals, ”Each of these portal leads to a completely different dimension, specifically calibrated to match your current baseline of power. The first portal is reserved strictly for Golden Core Students, leading to a restricted mountain range. The second portal is for Nascent Soul Students, opening into a primordial wilderness teeming with dangerous apex predators. The third portal is for Spirit Ascension students, dropping you into a volatile, elementally unstable wasteland. And the fourth portal is for Nirvana Rebirth students, entering a chaotic spatial rift where only the absolute strongest can survive.”

He lowered his hand, his eyes narrowing as the spatial runes on the portals flared with blinding intensity.

”Do not worry, you will not cross path with each other. Now, I tell everyone to step inside with your partner into your respective portal. Your time begins the moment your feet touch the soil of the other side. Advance!”

Just like that, everyone started to walk towards the portal.

The massive crowd of disciples surged forward in an orderly yet tense progression.

Partners stood side by side, gripping their weapons or adjusting their armor as they approached their designated spatial gateways.

The air was thick with the scent of burning spirit charms and the low hum of defensive talismans being activated in advance.

In Shen Haoran’s group, Huo Yue, who had drawn the number 1, was the first to enter with her partner.

She didn’t spare a single look back, her crimson hair flowing like fire as she stepped boldly into the Nascent Soul portal, her senior partner hurrying to keep up with her aggressive pace

Gu Xunyi was the third with her partner.

She moved with an ethereal, unhurried grace, her azure robes fluttering softly as she vanished into the swirling light, her expression completely peaceful.

And finally, after a few more students, comes the seven, both he and Shen Xinye, stepped towards the portal, his arms around her waist.

Shen Xinye’s hand trembled slightly as she walked closely beside the young master, but her eyes were filled with a fierce, unwavering resolve.

Haoran offered her a faint, reassuring smile, his aura completely calm as they crossed the threshold together, their figures instantly dissolved by the silver spatial light.

*

*

*

At this moment, in Ye Heavenly City, in the stadium.

The transition was instantaneous. The colossal, obsidian amphitheater of the Ye Family was packed to absolute capacity, with millions of spectators shouting, betting, and staring at the massive, sky-high spiritual projection screens that hovered over the central arena.

The ten sages, who were in the Academy Dimension just a few moments ago, were now here.

The truth was that what appeared in the student’s eyes back at the plaza was just a projection.

As a Heavenly Saint who are masters of spatial manipulation and spiritual illusions, the Sages could easily project their divine presence across vast distances while their physical bodies remained situated in the luxury VIP viewing decks of the gambling capital.

And right in front of them stood Ye Liuman and his assistant and also adopted son, Ye Fan, an average-looking man, but the way he carries himself made him very charming.

Ye Fan stood half a step behind the patriarch, his posture relaxed yet impeccably polite, his eyes carrying a sharp, quiet intelligence that drew the attention of many noble ladies in the surrounding boxes.

”Master Ye, it has been awhile,” Venerable Sky Cloud offered a handshake, his elderly face cracking into a polite, respectful smile as he greeted the wealthiest tycoon in the empire.

”Venerable, it is an honor,” Ye Liuman replied smoothly, returning the handshake with absolute professionalism, his previously ferocious demeanor completely masked. ”Your academy has nurtured many magnificent talents since its founding. It is only natural for me to offer our premier stadium for free to support the future pillars of our great empire.”

The servants around who were listening couldn’t help but roll their eyes back into their heads.

You certainly weren’t acting like this when you confronted the madam yesterday, they all thought in unison, silently mocking the patriarch’s sudden, dramatic shift into a generous benefactor after throwing a mountain-shattering tantrum over the lost revenue.

Ye Liuman looked at the sages, his sharp eyes scanning the group, and noticed that his daughter wasn’t among them, but he didn’t think too much about it.

He assumed she was either supervising the inner mechanisms of the trial or simply avoiding him, which was her usual custom.

Whatever the case, he couldn’t really care less about that girl’s affairs.

He shook his head and smiled, gesturing toward the grand, carpeted corridor leading to the absolute highest tier of the stadium.

”Please, honored sages, follow me. I have already reserved our supreme seats, offering the absolute best view of all four projection fields.”

*

*

*

At this moment...

On a private booth, situated on the opposite side of the colossal stadium away from the public commotion, Ye Hongyan was with her mother, Yan Renhua.

The room was beautifully decorated with white jade panels and filled with the gentle, sweet aroma of brewing peach-blossom tea.

The massive window in front of them provided a crystal-clear, unhindered view of the primary projection screen, which was currently flickering to life, showing the initial arrival of the students in the wilderness.

”You’ve grown even more beautiful, my child,” Yan Renhua said softly, pouring a fresh cup of tea and placing it gently in front of her daughter, her pink eyes shone with an unadulterated, gentle warmth. ”Though, you still carry that cold, rigid posture of yours. Must you always look like you are about to execute a criminal, even when you are sitting with your own mother?”

Ye Hongyan felt her expression soften, a small, genuine smile breaking through her professional mask as she accepted the cup. ”Mother, please. If I don’t maintain this demeanor, those old men among the Sages and the young students will think they can bypass my authority. It is exhausting enough dealing with the academy’s bureaucracy.”

”I know, I know,” Yan Renhua chuckled softly, sitting down gracefully beside her. She reached out, gently patting her daughter’s hand. ”Your father was utterly furious yesterday when he found out about the stadium. He threw quite a tantrum in the garden, shouting about his precious lost profits.”

Ye Hongyan let out a cold, dismissive snort, her eyes turning toward the tea. ”Let him shout. He cares for nothing but his mountains of spirit stones and his ridiculous dragon-horses. He has never cared for me, so why should I care about his revenue?”

Yan Renhua sighed, a trace of old sorrow passing through her eyes, though she chose not to argue about her husband’s hidden sacrifices just yet.

Instead, a playful, incredibly curious glint ignited in her pink eyes as she leaned forward, her voice dropping to a thrilled whisper.

”Let’s ignore your foolish father for now. Tell me about this man you found. You sent me that message saying the rice was already cooked, and I nearly choked on my breakfast! Is it really him, the heir of the Shen Clan?”

Ye Hongyan’s cheeks immediately flushed a beautiful, delicate shade of pink, her fingers tightening slightly around the warm jade tea-cup.

The fierce Sage suddenly looked like a timid young maiden.

”Yes. He is currently undergoing the trial.” Ye Hongyan murmured, her voice barely audible over the distant roar of the stadium crowd.

Yan Renhua stared at her daughter, and couldn’t help but think how ironic fate was.

A thousand years ago, she rejected a young master of an Immortal Clan, and now, a thousand years later, she is already the woman of a young master of an Immortal Clan.

Just then, Ye Hongyan raised her head, her eyes shifting toward the massive projection screen outside their booth.

On the screen, the spatial vortex of the seventh pair was currently dissolving, revealing the majestic, unbothered figure of Shen Haoran standing tall amidst the primordial trees, with Shen Xinye standing dutifully at his side.

”Look closely at the screen, Mother,” Ye Hongyan whispered, a proud, deeply affectionate smile gracing her lips as she pointed toward his figure. ”That is him. He is Shen Haoran.”

Yan Renhua turned her gaze to the projection, her breath catching as she felt the innate, terrifyingly profound aura radiating even through the illusionary array.

Shen Haoran...to have actually make this helpless, love-brain daughter of mine give up her first love.

Well, he certainly deserve to be the young master of the strongest clan in the world.