Desolate Devouring Art-Chapter 798 - Structure

Standing on the smooth blue stone, Liu Wuxie could sense the dense spiritual energy and laws in the surroundings. Liu Wuxie felt as though he had entered a whole new world.

"Everyone, wait here. Someone will come to arrange your accommodations shortly and distribute your medals and uniforms," Qu Su said, leaving them free to explore. But he did remind them not to wander too far around.

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The entire training ground erupted without the ten examiners' restriction. The students began to form small groups to explore the surroundings.

The training ground was massive, capable of holding tens of thousands of people at once—an essential structure for any great sect.

Liu Wuxie walked alongside Liu Xin'er, while Liu Lin vanished and was nowhere to be seen.

"There's a monument over there! Let's take a look. It seems to record the most talented prodigies throughout history and their achievements," someone called out as many people began heading to the region. There was a large monument with many words engraved on it.

Liu Wuxie was also intrigued and wished to learn more about the Heavenly Spirit Celestial Academy's history.

The monument stood ten feet tall and was engraved with thousands of names. Each had once been renowned in its era, but time had faded many from memory, leaving only the older generation to recall their legendary deeds.

"The Thousand-Faced Saint! I know of him!" someone murmured. "He once stormed into the Abyssal Underworld and wiped out countless abyssal devils, granting humanity a century of peace. It's said that he had a thousand faces and could change his appearance at will—but he mysteriously vanished a thousand years ago."

The achievements of every name on the monument were enough to shake the world.

Liu Wuxie gave it only a brief look, yet he committed every name to memory. Whether it would prove useful one day or not, it didn’t matter—there was no harm in remembering.

"I have heard that the Heavenly Spirit Celestial Academy has three rankings: heaven, earth, and mortal. The mortal ranking represents true disciples, the earth ranking represents holy sons and maidens, and the heaven ranking represents legacy disciples. I wonder where these rankings are displayed..." Liu Wuxie mused. Compared to the other participants, he knew far less about the academy's inner workings.

"I've heard about the rankings as well," someone chimed in. "Upon entering the sect, each disciple must inject a strand of their true essence into the rankings. Your placement is determined by your strength, and as your cultivation improves or your power surpasses those ranked ahead of you, your position will rise accordingly."

Since the rankings adjusted automatically with cultivation breakthroughs, no manual alteration was needed.

Just then, a crowd emerged from the depths of the academy, making their way to the training ground in search of family and friends.

"Third brother, you finally made it into the academy!"

"Nephew, you're here as well!"

"Not bad! You've lived up to the sect's expectations!" Joyous reunions filled the air as families and fellow sect members greeted one another with excitement.

However, not everyone participated in the celebration. Some had come in hope, only to be disappointed when they realized their kin or fellow disciples had been eliminated.

Liu Wuxie noticed a man off to the side dragging Liu Lin away. Their interactions suggested a close bond.

"That's Liu Lin's eldest brother—Liu Chen. He joined the academy alongside Liu Feng five years ago," Liu Xin'er explained.

Liu Wuxie silently committed this information to memory. He knew his conflict with Liu Lin was far from over. However, as long as they stayed out of his way, he wouldn’t waste his time on them—but if they sought trouble, he wouldn’t hesitate to respond.

"Xin'er! I can't believe you made it into the Heavenly Spirit Celestial Academy!" a voice rang out from the crowd, calling out to Liu Xin'er.

"Big Brother Liu Feng!" Liu Xin'er exclaimed, quickly dragging Liu Wuxie over when she saw who had come to greet them.

Liu Feng, the eldest son of Liu Dazhi, was Liu Wuxie’s eldest cousin. Bound by blood, the two embraced upon meeting.

There was no need for introductions—their shared lineage bridged any gap between them, and familiarity came naturally.

"Greetings, Big Brother Liu Feng!" Liu Feng was the strongest and oldest in their lineage, so he naturally deserved Liu Wuxie's respect.

"There’s no need to be so formal. I’m just glad you both made it into the sect," Liu Feng said, patting Liu Wuxie’s shoulder.

When he had first received his father’s letter, he was shocked to learn that his uncle had a son all this time. But more than anything, after hearing how Liu Wuxie had treated his father, he felt nothing but boundless gratitude.

They spent some time discussing the family’s recent situation, including their grandfather’s recovery and the clan’s newfound stability. The news lifted Liu Feng’s spirits.

"Wuxie, let me explain the academy's current structure," Liu Feng said, leading them to a quiet corner.

Both Liu Wuxie and Liu Xin'er listened with anticipation, especially Liu Xin'er. Given her aptitude, joining the academy had once seemed impossible—she was only here because of Liu Wuxie.

Although Liu Wuxie remained calm on the surface, he was eager to understand the academy’s structure. He had already made numerous enemies and knew his journey here would be anything but easy.

"The academy is divided into one cavern, three courts, five institutions, and seven peaks. I believe Grandfather mentioned this to you before?" Liu Feng asked. Having spent five years in the academy, he had a thorough understanding of its inner workings.

Both Liu Wuxie and Liu Xin'er nodded. Their grandfather had briefly mentioned it but hadn't gone into detail.

"The cavern is called the Myriad Phase Cavern, home to most legacy disciples. It's shrouded in mystery, and you can look when there's an opportunity. That is the heaven for all disciples," Liu Feng said with a longing expression at the mention of the Myriad Phase Cavern.

"Big Brother Liu Feng, Wuxie secured first place in all four stages. Do you think he has a chance to enter the Myriad Phase Cavern?" Liu Xin'er asked. Though entry was notoriously difficult, Liu Wuxie’s talent surely made him a worthy candidate.

"Logically, yes, but..." Liu Feng hesitated, his expression conflicted. Securing first place in even one stage was usually enough to qualify for the Myriad Phase Cavern—let alone all four.

"Big Brother Liu Feng, you can speak freely. There’s no need to hold anything back between family," Liu Wuxie said. "Besides, the final decision on where I go will be mine."

He wasn’t particularly concerned about rankings or prestige. To him, the environment mattered more. He preferred solitude over overcrowded places.

The Myriad Phase Cavern was home to countless prodigies, but it also meant relentless competition. Though he wasn’t fond of the idea of joining, he chose not to voice it just yet.

"To secure a spot for you in the recruitment test, I had no choice but to seek out Elder Madman. But he had one condition in return..." Liu Feng sighed, his brows furrowed.

His father had repeatedly reminded him to secure a spot for Liu Wuxie, but no elders were willing to write a referral letter. All the spirit stones he spent in the process had gone to waste. With no other options left, he was forced to seek out Elder Madman, who agreed—on one condition.

"What condition?" Liu Xin'er looked nervous, hoping it wasn't an unreasonable demand.

"If Wuxie joins the academy successfully, he must become Elder Madman’s disciple," Liu Feng said with a bitter smile. If there was one person no one wanted to be apprenticed to, it was Elder Madman.

Liu Wuxie relaxed upon hearing the condition. If that was all, it was of no concern to him. He had no particular preference for mentors, as few were truly capable of guiding him anyway.

Moreover, he was curious—who exactly was Elder Madman that even Qu Su and the other examiners had to show him respect?

"Tell me more about the three courts, five institutions, and seven peaks. Since you have already made a promise to Elder Madman, we will naturally honor it," Liu Wuxie said. He was a man of integrity, and since Liu Feng had given his word, he would uphold it without question. After all, keeping one's promises was a fundamental principle of honor.

As for Elder Madman, Liu Wuxie decided to ask Liu Feng more about him later.

Liu Feng let out a quiet sigh of relief. He had worried that Liu Wuxie might be displeased, but the latter's indifferent demeanor made it clear that he didn't mind in the slightest.

"The three courts are the Frost Court, primarily composed of female disciples; the Thousand Mechanism Court, known for their expertise in divination; and the Heavenly Monarch Court, renowned for their formidable combat prowess," Liu Feng explained, outlining the structure of the three courts. These divisions, second only to the Myriad Phase Cavern, housed countless disciples and were among the most powerful in the academy.

Liu Wuxie nodded. The academy's structure seemed well-organized, allowing disciples to develop their talents in specialized fields.

"The five academies are the Starfall, Skywind, Wandering Dragon, Heavenly Martial, and Treasure Institutions. Among them, the most prestigious are the Starfall and Treasure Institutions," Liu Feng continued, placing emphasis on the two elite academies.

The Starfall Institution was famed for its spiritual arrays, while the Treasure Institution was known for its appraisal skills and blacksmithing.

Liu Wuxie and Liu Xin'er hadn’t expected the academy to have such a meticulous structure. Liu Xin'er, in particular, was mesmerized as she listened to Liu Feng’s explanation.

"Lastly, we have the seven peaks. They're the White Dragon, Half-Moon, Sky Incineration, Azure Cloud, Everlasting, and Heavenly Gate Peaks. I hail from Half-Moon Peak," Liu Feng continued his explanation. The seven peaks were pale compared to the cavern, courts, and institutions.

However, they had still produced many monstrous prodigies who became leaders of their generation.

As Liu Feng finished his explanation, a complete map of the academy surfaced in Liu Wuxie's soul sea, with the Myriad Phase Cavern at its center. The entire academy layout became clear to him.

The sheer scale of the academy was astonishing—it spanned millions of miles, and after years of development, its disciples numbered in the hundreds of thousands.

"Can you tell me more about this Elder Madman?" Liu Wuxie asked. Since he had no choice, he might as well adapt. Regardless of Elder Madman’s personality, he was confident he could handle him with his wisdom.

"Elder Madman is the Heavenly Gate Peak's head, and it's also ranked at the bottom among the seven peaks. The entire mountain is like a heavenly gate—hence its name," Liu Feng replied.

As for the Heavenly Gate Peak's ranking, it was of no concern to Liu Wuxie. He had come to search for the Astral Domain Path and find a way to become an immortal. As for the academy's future development, it didn't matter to him.

It wasn’t that he was heartless—everything was built on mutual benefit. The Heavenly Treasure Pavilion had nurtured him, and in return, he naturally repaid them with kindness. But the Heavenly Spirit Celestial Academy had done nothing for him, so it was only natural that he felt no sense of belonging here. The future remained uncertain, and only time would tell how things would unfold.

"How many disciples are there in the Heavenly Gate Peak, and how's Elder Madman's personality?" Liu Wuxie asked. That was what he was mainly concerned about. He preferred a place with fewer disciples. The fewer, the better.

Upon mentioning the Heavenly Gate Peak's disciples, Liu Feng frowned. This instantly made Liu Wuxie wonder if there were no other disciples in the Heavenly Gate Peak.

"Including Elder Madman, the Heavenly Gate Peak has only four people," Liu Feng said with a sigh, and his words left Liu Xin'er frozen in shock. She couldn't believe it.

Meanwhile, Liu Wuxie couldn't help but laugh inwardly with joy.