Chapter 574: A Familiar Presence
The Mortal Physique.
Aware that only he and Plain Skirt Destiny had the Mortal Bloodline, Ye Guan spoke with certainty. However, his physique hadn't yet fully become a Mortal Physique. Hence, the revelation of someone having a Mortal Physique within the Divine Academy seemed absurd.
Was it a scam?
Upon hearing his skepticism, the black-robed elder cast a glance his way. "Young man, in this world, there will always be people better than you. Having spent many years in this academy, I've encountered countless prodigies, far exceeding what you might comprehend. Many newcomers like yourself initially believe that they are unparalleled geniuses in the universe. However, it doesn't take long for reality to set in."
Ye Guan merely smiled. He had never assumed that he was the most talented individual in the entire universe. Rather, he simply harbored doubts about this purported Mortal Physique. However, he chose not to voice his suspicions.
Before long, the elder led Ye Guan and Ye An to a vast sea. Tens of thousands of temples stood in front of them.
"The individuals within this Divine Academy are far from ordinary. They possess exceptional talents and are backed by formidable, mysterious forces," the elder said. "It would be wise for you to keep a low profile, young man."
Ye Guan nodded. "I know. However, I have backers of my own."
"Interestingly, someone has already once echoed your sentiments," the elder sarcastically replied. Before Ye Guan could respond, he announced, "We're here."
Upon entering one of the temples, Ye Guan was greeted by a grandeur that left him in awe. However, what caught his attention the most was the lone, faceless statue inside.
Perplexed, he inquired, "Elder, what is that?"
"The First God once proclaimed that the true god in one's heart should be themselves, not anyone else. Hence, he used this faceless statue to represent himself."
Ye Guan was rendered speechless.
The First God is remarkable!
The elder produced two wooden plaques from the altar and handed them to Ye Guan and Ye An. "These are your Divine Academy student badges. They will serve as your identification here. While attendance at the biweekly divine classes is optional, the Abyss Expedition that happens once each month is mandatory."
Ye Guan was intrigued. "Abyss Expedition?"
"The realm of sin where evil wrongdoers live. As students of this academy, it is your duty to purge these sinners. Rewards await those who succeed."
"What rewards?"
"When you exit the temple, you'll find a hall with some fundamental divine texts to your right. You can go take a look."
"Alright."
The elder continued his explanation. "Every year, we hold a major competition with many exceptional rewards. Since it serves as an assessment, participation is mandatory. Those who perform poorly will be expelled from the academy."
Right after, he turned and left.
Ye Guan looked at Ye An, finding her staring at the faceless statue. "Big Sis?"
"Do you truly believe in gods?" Ye An whispered.
"I'm not sure," he confessed. When Ye An turned to him, he softly continued, "The universe is vast. Boundless, even."
"True."
"I'm going to read some books. Are you coming?"
"I'm going to cultivate."
"Do you need the little pagoda?"
Ye An shook her head. "No."
She then turned and departed.
Smiling, Ye Guan shook his head and noted his sister's cold demeanor.
He glanced once more at the faceless statue before exiting the temple. Upon entering another hall, the scenery suddenly shifted, and he found himself amid an endless starry expanse.
It was tranquil.
Ye Guan looked around, noticing numerous divine texts floating all over the place.
Stretching out his hand, the nearest text floated into his grasp. When he opened the scroll, a burst of divine light entered his mind and flooded him with information.
Cultivators didn't read books like ordinary folks, page by page.
After a while, Ye Guan slowly opened his eyes. The text he had just read recounted the journey of a cultivator traversing the other galaxies.
He learned that outsiders called this place the ‘Old Era,' while the natives referred to it as the Divine Realm.
The Divine Realm was vast, consisting of two major continents: the Divine Continent and the Sin Continent, which the black-robed elder had mentioned earlier.
Upon seeing the Sin Continent, Ye Guan sought out several texts to learn more about it.
After half an hour, he finally gained an understanding of it. It turned out that the Sin Continent and the Divine Academy were once under the jurisdiction of the Divine Temple.
During the era of the First God, only he was recognized as a god. However, after his fall, powerful figures within the temple began proclaiming themselves as gods as well. As a result, the Divine Temple came to be known as the Temple of the Gods.
Internal strife then arose when the devout followers of the First God opposed the pseudo-gods. Eventually, the two factions ended up clashing against each other.
By the time the great battle was over, only seven gods remained. One went to the Sin Continent, while five remained in the Temple of the Gods. The last one stayed in the Divine Academy, which the First God had established.
The last god was Shengu, the current dean. Unlike the others, Shengu had never claimed that he was a god or allowed anyone to refer to the five gods as such.
From the past to the present, the Divine Academy only recognized the First God as the one true god.
Ye Guan slowly opened his eyes again. Reading a couple more books had given him a rough understanding of this place.
Following the departure of the First God, the Temple of the Gods fell into chaos. Even now, surviving figures from that era harbored deep-seated conflicts. The Divine Academy and the Sin Continent had immense enmity for each other.
It was quite chaotic.
Ye Guan shook his head and smiled. He then resumed reading.
He was interested in the power struggle among the gods. After all, his mother, Qin Guan, would eventually unify the entire universe.
In the following days, Ye Guan immersed himself in studying daily in the hall. Gradually, he gained a comprehensive understanding of the history of the Divine Realm and the rules governing the Divine Academy.
Within the academy were the Outer, Inner, and Divine Courtyards. Each admitted exceptionally talented individuals. However, compared to the Divine Courtyard, the first two were significantly inferior. The criteria for admission into the Divine Courtyard were extremely stringent.
In the Divine Realm, geniuses were categorized into eight ranks: Extraordinary Aptitude, Genius, Absolute Genius, Unparalled Genius, Great Dao Bearer, Anomaly, Chosen One, and Variable.
To gain entry into the Divine Academy, one had to at least be a Great Dao Bearer, which meant having the protection of Great Dao Destiny. A Great Dao Bearer not only had immunity to misfortune but also had the blessings of the Great Dao. It was tantamount to defying fate itself.
Those above the Great Dao Bearer were even more exceptional. They would appear monstrous to ordinary talents.
Ye Guan finally understood why the elder had told him to keep a low profile. Even though he was a genius, he would at most have the rank of a Chosen One. Above his rank were the Variables, who had transcended the Dao.
He couldn't help but be intrigued by these so-called Variable geniuses. Since the Divine Academy seemed to have some, he eagerly anticipated the opportunity to meet them someday.
Refocusing on his objective, Ye Guan went back to reading. Although he could absorb knowledge directly from books, the sheer volume of information required him to spend several days engrossed in study. Although he wanted to bring these books into the pagoda to read, he refrained from doing so. These divine texts could only be read within the academy and could not taken away. Furthermore, he did not want to reveal the little pagoda here. After all, it was a divine artifact that defied conventional understanding.
One day, Ye An suddenly entered the room. She walked up to Ye Guan and, with determination, said, "We're heading to the Sin Continent."
"A mission?" Ye Guan asked.
His sister nodded.
Setting aside the books in his hand, he said, "Let's go."
The siblings departed from the hall.
While journeying to the Sin Continent, Ye Guan asked, "Sis, have you encountered any other geniuses within the Divine Academy?"
Ye An simply shook her head in response.
Surprised, Ye Guan pressed further. "Not even one?"
"Geniuses within the Divine Academy aren't bound by restrictions. Besides the monthly trials in the Sin Continent, they rarely make appearances."
"I see."
Just like him, they, too, were engrossed with their own tasks. It was rare for outsiders to see them.
"This place is not to be underestimated. We need to exercise caution," Ye An suddenly warned.
Sensing the gravity in her tone, Ye Guan turned to her.
She continued, "There are powerful individuals within the academy, and certain areas pose significant risks."
"Understood," he responded.
Ye An glanced at him before adding, "The academy's Sword Dao Department is rumored to have been established by the First God himself. It's said that he even left behind a Sword Dao manual. You might want to explore it."
Intrigued, Ye Guan inquired, "Did the First God practice swordsmanship?"
"I'm not sure, but individuals of such caliber likely possess knowledge across various disciplines."
"That makes sense."
Interrupting their conversation, the little pagoda whispered, "Hmm... That's a familiar aura..."
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