Volume One: The Young Master of the Demon Gods - Chapter 45

Only after everyone had departed did Mr. Chu put down his book.

Mr. Chu was the first to speak, "That Fairy Jinghong from the Qingfeng Sect indeed possesses top-tier natural talent and foundations. Despite her youth, she has already reached the eighth stage of the Profound Martial Realm, and her constitution is a rare spiritual body."

Yang Ling'er chimed in, "Indeed. I noticed quite a few promising saplings among the other sects as well. Ye Lan, the chief disciple of the Azure Cloud Sect, is born with a freezing ice-saint physique and extraordinary talent. She is well-suited to remain in the academy for cultivation."

Following that, the two of them evaluated several other outstanding disciples from various sects.

At last, a slow smile crept up the corners of Mr. Chu's mouth. "The Tiangang Sword Sect, an obscure little sword sect, has actually handed me two massive surprises this year!"

"As for that little girl, I inspected her foundation—she possesses a born divine physique, her path of cultivation unobstructed, and she feels close to the heavenly and earthly Dao, making comprehension effortless. Truly extraordinary!"

"As for Qi Yu, however, I cannot quite read him. It is as if a layer of mist shrouds his body, yet within that very mist, I can sense boundless sword intent!"

Yang Ling'er pondered for a moment. "Could it be an innate sword physique?"

Mr. Chu shook his head. "Unlikely. I have seen those who possess the innate sword physique; they are born with sword meridians and sword bones, yet they are not like this."

Yang Ling'er furrowed her brow slightly. "Last night, I observed the celestial phenomena, intending to divine whether the first place this year would still belong to the Cliff Academy."

Mr. Chu immediately asked, "And what was the outcome?"

Yang Ling'er shook her head. "It was impossible to discern. This year, prodigies and monsters have emerged in droves, and countless special constitutions have sprung up like bamboo shoots after a spring rain. In this sect grand tournament alone, no fewer than ten disciples possess special physiques!"

One must know that in past sect grand tournaments, the number of disciples with special physiques never exceeded three.

"It seems the prodigy rankings will have to be revised once more!"

Mr. Chu smiled faintly.

"Ling'er, do you suppose that Qi Yu can claim first place?"

Yang Ling'er thought it over. "Today's welcoming assembly did not bring forth everyone; there are still many other monstrous talents. Furthermore, our academy's Senior Brother Lu is hailed as the peerless number one of his generation and sits at the pinnacle of the prodigy rankings. If Qi Yu were to be compared with him, they are simply not on the same level!"

A complex look washed over Mr. Chu's face as he stroked his beard and murmured, "Lu Nankai... he is indeed a proud son of heaven for the ages. Yet, I have a premonition that should he ever cross swords with Qi Yu, he will undoubtedly lose!"

Yang Ling'er lowered her head in contemplation, offering no response.

"Even though Qi Yu confronted that elder of the Hanging City today, he still concealed his strength!"

Shock immediately swept across Yang Ling'er's face.

One had to realize that concealing one's strength under such circumstances meant that the slightest misstep could cost one's life.

"Hard to say..."

"We must admit, for these gifted prodigies to exist in the same era as Senior Brother Lu is quite simply their tragedy—they will never see the light of day!"

Mr. Chu's eyes burned with intensity. "A new era has begun!"

"When all is said and done, our domain is merely a commandery kingdom. What about the greater kingdoms, the imperial dynasties, and the sacred lands? How many prodigies and monsters will spring up like bamboo shoots there? Perhaps the very first genius who shatters the laws of heaven and earth to achieve the Deity Transformation realm will also rise!"

The growth of every prodigy requires enduring trials of life and death; one's vision must not be confined to the immediate horizon.

Qi Yu was destined to eventually become the Sword God. Yaoya's master was none other than Qi Yu's father, Qi Zhenming, while Qi Yu's mother was the Demonic God Empress of the Demon Realm.

The two of them had developed mutual affection during a fierce battle, which was why Qi Yu had awakened the Demonic God bloodline.

The road ahead remained long and distant, and who could truly predict the final outcome?