Chapter 102: Barking in My Presence?

The fifty slots had been allocated.

Mo Xingyun had secured one for Jun Wushuang, but only one.

This was because there was no second person in the Azure Cloud Martial Arts Academy capable of participating.

Although Lin Mengyao possessed great talent, her cultivation period was still too short. She had not even broken through to the Divine Sea Realm yet. Venturing into the tomb would be a near-certain death sentence for her.

As for Liu Yiyi and A'Man, they were even less prepared.

The four great noble families were allocated five slots each, totaling twenty.

Of the remaining twenty-nine slots, ten went to the Royal Martial Arts Academy, fifteen to the imperial family, and the final four were distributed among several other clans within the imperial capital.

With the slots finalized, the next step was preparation.

The tomb of the Nether Poison Emperor was riddled with traps and deadly poisons. The sinister poison and deathly energy alone were far beyond what ordinary people could endure.

To seize the opportunities within, one first had to survive.

***

Inside the Wushuang Palace of the Azure Cloud Martial Arts Academy.

Jun Wushuang had finally refined the sinister poison, the deathly energy, and the spiritual wraith.

"Ninth level of the Divine Sea Realm!"

Jun Wushuang opened his eyes, a sharp light flashing within them.

After ten days of secluded cultivation, he had achieved his goal, breaking through two successive boundaries to reach the ninth level of the Divine Sea Realm.

Now, he only needed to fuse his essence, energy, and spirit into one to commune with heaven and earth, thereby breaking through to the Heaven-Man Realm.

"Mengyao, where is the Dean?"

Stepping out of Wushuang Palace, Jun Wushuang found Lin Mengyao practicing her swordplay.

Having reached the ninth level of the Divine Sea Realm, his next step was to visit the imperial palace to undergo the Spiritual Pool baptism, using the momentum to break through to the Heaven-Man Realm in one fell swoop.

"Young Master, the Dean had some business to attend to and went out," Lin Mengyao replied respectfully, wiping the sweat from her brow.

Lin Mengyao was exceptionally talented, yet she worked far harder than ordinary martial artists.

Ever since she began receiving Mo Xingyun's meticulous guidance, she treasured every single second, cultivating diligently to grow stronger.

By now, she had already reached the ninth level of the Myriad Manifestations Realm.

She was only a single step away from the Divine Sea Realm.

Her arduous effort served only one purpose: to keep pace with her young master, hoping that one day she could become his right hand.

"Continue with your practice," Jun Wushuang said with a nod. He had no intention of telling Lin Mengyao about the dangerous expedition into the tomb, wanting to spare her from worrying.

"Ah!"

A miserable cry echoed from the distance.

It was A'Man practicing the *Nine Demonic Transformations*.

Although this cultivation technique possessed immense power, the process of practicing it was excruciatingly painful.

Liu Yiyi watched from the side, her face filled with worry.

Only when A'Man finished his training session did she step forward, circulating the *Creation and Life Scripture* to channel the spiritual energy of creation, helping A'Man heal and recover.

The two complemented each other perfectly, and their cultivation speeds were rising at a staggering rate.

By now, A'Man's strength had risen to the ninth level of the Body Tempering Realm.

Liu Yiyi had also successfully mastered the first tier of the *Creation and Life Scripture*, reaching the fifth level of the Body Tempering Realm.

At this rate, it would not be long before the Azure Cloud Martial Arts Academy gained two more geniuses of the Myriad Manifestations Realm.

Jun Wushuang watched them from afar for a moment, choosing not to disturb them.

Though the academy had few disciples, everyone was striving to grow stronger, giving the place a vibrant, thriving atmosphere.

This pleased Jun Wushuang.

Since leaving Jiangning City and arriving in the imperial capital, he had witnessed the shameless behavior of the Royal Martial Arts Academy. He had also seen the scum and fools of the Nangong and Dongfang clans.

In contrast, the Azure Cloud Martial Arts Academy felt like a home to him.

"Hmm?"

Suddenly, Jun Wushuang's expression shifted.

He sensed an unfamiliar aura.

With a flicker of his body, he walked toward the academy's entrance.

Soon, a slender figure came into view.

It was a woman dressed in tight-fitting black martial attire.

She appeared to be around twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, tall and with a striking, voluptuous figure. The black outfit clung tightly to her skin, perfectly accentuating her graceful, alluring curves.

She carried two sabers on her back—one long and one short—and she exuded a sharp, piercing aura.

*Whoosh!*

Her gaze instantly locked onto Jun Wushuang.

Her eyes were like blades, sharp and menacing, making it difficult for anyone to look her in the eye without feeling as if they were about to be sliced apart. It was a terrifying presence.

Yet Jun Wushuang remained calm and unaffected.

"Blade Imperial Physique!"

Jun Wushuang was also sizing up the woman.

Activating his Purple Demon Eyes, he instantly saw through her condition.

This woman was highly powerful, a cultivator at the ninth level of the Heaven-Man Realm. Furthermore, she possessed the rare Blade Imperial Physique.

The sharp aura radiating from her did not stem from the two sabers on her back, but from deep within her body. She herself was an incredibly sharp blade.

"Are you Jun Wushuang?" the woman asked, staring coldly at him. Her eyes were condescending, her tone haughty and overbearing.

"Who are you?" Jun Wushuang did not recognize her, but he could tell she did not come in peace.

"My name is Ling Qianxue, and I serve His Highness the Crown Prince. I have come today on His Highness's orders to demand that you hand over your slot for the Spiritual Pool baptism!"

"I know you possess some strength, having slain Dongfang Li and Nangong Tianxuan in the life-and-death duel. But compared to His Highness, you are nothing but a lowly ant."

"This is an opportunity for you to curry favor with His Highness. I hope you will not be ungrateful."

"As long as you willingly offer up your slot, you will earn the right to become one of His Highness's dogs," Ling Qianxue said coldly, her voice dripping with arrogance and disdain.

In her mind, the Crown Prince was a god high above. When a god decreed, mortals had to bow in worship, without the slightest thought of defiance.

To be allowed to hand over the slot was Jun Wushuang's good fortune. To be allowed to become a dog was an even greater honor.

Jun Wushuang could not and must not refuse.

*Hand over the slot?*

*Kneel and become a dog?*

Jun Wushuang laughed in sheer disbelief.

He had long anticipated that a conflict would arise between himself and Jiang Rulong. But he had not expected it to come so quickly, or to be so utterly absurd.

The slot for the Spiritual Pool baptism was compensation given to the Azure Cloud Martial Arts Academy by the Emperor of Qian. What right did Jiang Rulong have to demand it?

And to do so with such overbearing arrogance and ridiculous audacity.

"Scram!" Jun Wushuang spat coldly, killing intent rising within his heart.

"Impudent!"

Jun Wushuang's attitude turned Ling Qianxue's face cold. Instantly, a sharp blade intent erupted from her.

The blade intent was icy, freezing like snow. The surrounding temperature plummeted to the freezing point.

"Jun Wushuang, His Highness the Crown Prince showing interest in your slot is a favor to you. Do not be ungrateful."

"Today, I will not only take the slot, but I will also make you kneel and kowtow to apologize."

"Otherwise, I will sever your limbs and turn you into a human stump!"

Ling Qianxue was enraged. She would never allow anyone to insult the Crown Prince. Jun Wushuang's defiance fueled a powerful surge of killing intent in her heart.

"Idiot," Jun Wushuang shook his head. A blindly loyal person like Ling Qianxue was utterly beyond reason.

"Foolish wretch, to dare defy the will of the Crown Prince!"

"If I do not cripple you today, you will never learn your lesson."

Ling Qianxue roared in anger. Her blade intent surged as she prepared to strike.

*Slap!*

Before she could even draw her sabers, Jun Wushuang's figure blurred. He raised his hand and delivered a stinging slap across her face.

"Who do you think you are, barking like a dog in front of me?"