Universe Daoist Academy was called an academy, but it was actually a giant world.
The entire world possessed nine main stars, each tens of thousands of times larger than Blue Star.
The Yin-Yang Dao Lord, Li Taiji, had poured his heart and soul into this world to forge it into a sacred land of martial arts.
The disciples of the Universe Daoist Academy were divided into three groups: the Outer Sect, the Inner Sect, and the Progeny.
The chosen geniuses selected from the hundreds of subordinate martial worlds of the Universe Martial Lineage were merely the lowest-level Outer Sect members upon entering the academy.
Of course, even at the lowest level, an Outer Sect member could act with impunity across the myriad worlds.
This was, after all, the bottom tier of the core organization of a Dao Lord-tier power. A phoenix's backside is still part of a phoenix; even a phoenix's flatulence is nobler than a common pheasant's crest.
To rise above the Outer Sect, one had to pass an assessment to be promoted to the Inner Sect.
According to the rules established by Li Taiji, the century following admission was the period for the Inner Sect assessment. As long as a disciple completed any one of the tasks during this time, they could be promoted to the Inner Sect and become true middle-management cadres of the Universe Martial Lineage.
The Inner Sect assessment was divided into three categories: comprehension, strength, and fortune—which essentially meant luck.
Those with extraordinary comprehension could enter the Inner Sect if they mastered ninety-nine earth-rank or higher martial arts from the academy's collection within a hundred years.
Those with great strength could enter if they reached the Eternal-tier within a hundred years, or if they could hold out for ten moves against an Eternal-tier elder while still at the mythic-tier, legendary-tier, or even transcendent-tier.
As for those with high fortune, there was no specific criteria. Whether they passed or failed was determined entirely by Li Taiji himself.
Over the years, only three people had entered the Inner Sect through fortune, and all of them eventually became Progeny disciples under Li Taiji's tutelage.
Chen Xu was particularly curious about these three individuals, but unfortunately, the official records of the Universe Daoist Academy contained no details about them, leaving the specifics unknown.
Above the Inner Sect were the Dao Lord's Progeny. There were no fixed standards for their assessment; Li Taiji's word was final.
For instance, when Li Taiji wandered the worlds and brought back children, they would skip the Outer and Inner Sects to become Progeny immediately. No one dared to gossip about it.
Being a Progeny carried immense weight within the Universe Martial Lineage, and the same was true across the myriad worlds.
They were equivalent to the decision-making layer of a company—unquestionable high-level leaders.
This was evident from the distribution of the nine main stars. Outer Sect disciples lived on Planet Ren and Planet Gui, while Inner Sect disciples lived on Planet Geng and Planet Xin. Despite being the smallest in number, the Progeny disciples occupied the remaining five main stars: Planet Yi, Planet Bing, Planet Ding, Planet Wu, and Planet Ji.
Although the academy did not forbid disciples from visiting other stars to meet friends or attend events, low-tier disciples could not use any of the academy's facilities on high-tier stars.
For example, Chen Xu was currently deep within a vast ocean on Planet Yi. This immense sea was composed entirely of One-Yuan Heavy Water. The pressure at the bottom was extreme, making it exceptionally suitable for tempering the physical body.
Chen Xu often secluded himself on the seabed, practicing his punches daily. By clashing against the weight of ten thousand tons of waves, he sought to comprehend the deep meaning of the Dao of Power.
All nine main stars had similar martial cultivation sites, though the higher the star's tier, the better the resources.
Since arriving on Planet Yi, Chen Xu spent every day either practicing punches on the seabed or following Li Hu to the residences of various Progeny disciples to hang out and enjoy free meals, making quite a few friends in the process.
After spending time with them, Chen Xu realized that the Dao Lord's Progeny truly had impressive skills.
These disciples did not only focus on martial arts; they were proficient in everything from blacksmithing and forging to drawing runes, setting up arrays, leveling mountains for farming, and breeding spirit beasts.
The vast Universe Daoist Academy was almost entirely managed by the Progeny disciples. They personally handled the maintenance of core secret realms and the repair of complex arrays.
One day, after practicing on the seabed, Chen Xu accompanied Li Hu to visit the residence of another Progeny disciple.
This disciple was named Huang Mao. His cultivation was only at the mythic-tier, which wasn't particularly outstanding.
However, he possessed exceptionally powerful skills in painting and secret markings. He frequently helped the warriors of the Universe Daoist Academy by sketching Secret Runes on them to bolster their strength and aid their cultivation.
These Secret Runes were essentially tattoos, but unlike decorative tattoos, they held transcendent power.
By sketching Secret Runes on the body, one could gain various buff effects. It was somewhat similar to enchanting equipment, except the target of the enchantment was the biological body itself.
Chen Xu had come this time hoping Huang Mao could sketch a strength-type Secret Rune to help him cultivate the Power Sutra.
In any case, Secret Runes could be replaced at any time. One only needed to use their internal transcendent power to wash away the artist's residual energy, and the runes would disappear, making it extremely convenient.
But as soon as they entered Huang Mao's residence, Chen Xu and Li Hu found someone they hadn't expected.
"Fellow Daoist Li."
"Master!"
With a whooshing sound, Li Hu zipped over to Li Taiji's side in an instant.
"Master, why are you here at Junior Brother Huang's place? Don't tell me you want him to paint Secret Runes on you too?"
"When I asked him to do it, you scolded me plenty. Why have you developed a taste for it now?"
Li Taiji ignored Li Hu, merely shooting him a glare before turning to look at Chen Xu.
"Fellow Daoist, what a coincidence. Perhaps your wish to get a Secret Rune will have to go unfulfilled."
"Oh? Why is that?"
"Sigh, my disciple... sigh, come in and see for yourself."
Li Taiji beckoned for the two to enter.
The man and the gourd followed closely behind Li Taiji. After just a few steps, they realized they had stepped into a domain.
Within the domain, yang qi rose above while mystic yin sank below. The yin and yang were perfectly blended, isolating the area from the outside world.
At this moment, the relaxed expressions on Chen Xu's and Li Hu's faces vanished, replaced by solemnity.
What could have happened to make a Dao Lord personally deploy a domain to isolate the surroundings?
As they drew closer, Chen Xu saw a young man sitting cross-legged on a jade platform. Standing on either side of him were two old men.
The one on the left had a kind face and a dignified aura, looking like an old celestial.
The one on the right was muscular, and his entire body radiated the aura of a Dao at every moment. He was incredibly imposing, like a fierce and battle-hardened general.
Li Hu leaned in and sent a voice transmission to Chen Xu.
"The one on the left is the Hunyuan Dao Lord of the Xuanyuan Immortal World. The one on the right is the Extreme Martial Dao Lord of the Extreme Martial World."
Chen Xu nodded. Even without Li Hu's explanation, he could sense that these were two Dao Lord-tier existences.
However, their expressions revealed a rare mix of confusion and worry.
What exactly had happened to Huang Mao that even three Dao Lords found it troublesome?
"Fellow Daoists, are you certain?" Li Taiji asked.
The two nodded simultaneously. The Hunyuan Dao Lord raised his right hand, and a silver thread connected his fingertip to the center of Huang Mao's forehead.
In the next moment, a familiar aura of corruption appeared. Raging flames erupted from the forehead, climbing rapidly along the silver thread, seemingly about to spread to the Hunyuan Dao Lord's hand.
Unperturbed, the Hunyuan Dao Lord's eyes shot out golden light that shone directly onto the Hellfire on the thread. In an instant, the Hellfire was extinguished, but Huang Mao began to bleed from his five facial orifices, his aura becoming extremely weak.
Li Taiji flicked his hand, sending a jewel into Huang Mao's mouth. Instantly, layers of frost covered Huang Mao's body, sealing him away.
The Hunyuan Dao Lord finally spoke slowly. "Hellfire. And it's a rooted Hellfire."
The Extreme Martial Dao Lord added, "Brother Li, counting this disciple of yours, seven warriors have already fallen victim. And those are only the ones we've discovered. Who knows how many more remain undetected?"
"The Sea of Spirit has also been contaminated by Hell."
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