Chapter 659 - 654: Arriving at the Creation Academy

Chapter 659: Chapter 654: Arriving at the Creation Academy

A vast stone platform stretched out here. Above it, space warped and twisted. Flashes of light flickered within the distorted void, and with each flash, figures emerged one after another.

This was a Teleportation Array.

Another flash of light cut through the distorted space, and a man and an eagle stepped out.

They were, of course, Ning Jiang and the Cyan-Scaled Eagle, having arrived from the Teleportation Array in Xun Province. After bidding farewell to Cheng Ming in Xun Province, he had immediately activated the array to come to Qiong Province.

Before they parted, however, Cheng Ming had mentioned an upcoming gathering of Array Masters in a few months and invited Ning Jiang to attend.

To this, Ning Jiang had simply replied that he would leave it to fate.

He had more important things to do than attend some gathering for Array Masters. For one, he had to see Ye Chenyu. For another, he needed to make a trip to the White Fox Race and investigate the reason for their decline.

At that, Ning Jiang’s gaze swept across his surroundings.

In every direction, countless pavilions and palaces pierced the clouds. Some palaces even floated untethered, suspended high in the sky in breathtaking, majestic splendor.

The streets were incredibly wide, spanning dozens of yards, bustling with Martial Artists coming and going. Some rode on the backs of colossal Demon Beasts.

Above, even more Martial Artists soared through the sky on their own Demon Beasts. One figure sat within a luxurious, glowing carriage, pulled by a mountain-sized Demon Beast whose sheer presence was overwhelming.

"As expected of Qiong Province," Ning Jiang remarked. "As one of the core regions of the Human Race’s Ninety-nine Provinces, it’s far beyond anything Xun Province could compare to."

Although Xun Province was also part of the Celestial Domain, it was on the periphery and not particularly prosperous. Qiong Province was different. It was one of the core regions of the Human Race’s Ninety-nine Provinces, and home to Creation Academy—one of the Three Dynasties and Five Institutes—whose fame echoed throughout the Celestial Domain.

Qiong Province was teeming with masters and geniuses.

Ning Jiang casually scanned the surrounding auras and found that one in every ten Martial Artists was a Heaven-Reaching Realm expert. More astonishingly, he could sense the auras of four or five Celestial Martial Realm Kings within a radius of dozens of miles!

Here, even powerhouses at the Supreme Celestial Rank, just one step away from the Celestial Martial Realm, had to keep a low profile and couldn’t afford to be arrogant. Even Celestial Martial Realm Kings were no longer high and mighty, for Qiong Province had far too many Kings. An ordinary King lived in fear of provoking one of the Top Level Kings.

"Let’s go."

At Ning Jiang’s command, the Cyan-Scaled Eagle soared into the air. Ning Jiang sat on its back, and they headed east.

Though it was his first time in Qiong Province, he had no trouble finding his way. As one of the Three Dynasties and Five Institutes, the prestigious Creation Academy was renowned throughout the Human Race’s Ninety-nine Provinces, its location clearly marked on the map he had purchased.

He followed the map’s directions, heading for Creation Academy.

About five hours later, at dusk, a spectacular sea of clouds appeared before Ning Jiang.

Countless palaces and pavilions were built upon this sea of clouds. Majestic mountains rose with imposing grandeur, and from their peaks, innumerable thousand-foot waterfalls cascaded down like a host of jade dragons.

Upon the hundreds, even thousands, of mountain peaks, gnarled pines with twisted branches exuded an air of primordial antiquity. Auspicious Exotic Beasts flew about with abandon, exhaling shimmering, divine light.

At a single glance, the place resembled a great city in the sky, as if one had arrived in the fabled Immortal Realm.

This was Creation Academy.

As one of the Three Dynasties and Five Institutes and a top-tier power in the Celestial Domain, Creation Academy’s choice of location was naturally extraordinary—unlike common factions built on the ground.

Creation Academy was constructed directly upon a sea of clouds. Any Martial Artist who came here and witnessed this scene, reminiscent of a Celestial Palace, would be struck with awe.

But with Ning Jiang’s experience, what was there in the Great Thousand Realms that he hadn’t seen?

Even when faced with the heavenly splendor of Creation Academy, he remained calm and unmoved. To him, no amount of prosperity could pique his interest. His only purpose for this trip was to see Ye Chenyu and fulfill the promise he had made when they parted in the East Sea.

The main entrance to Creation Academy was a colossal gate thousands of feet tall, dwarfing even the mountains. Behind it lay a grand staircase paved with white jade tiles.

"Who goes there?"

As Ning Jiang neared Creation Academy, a voice like thunder boomed, and a gray-robed elder blocked his path.

He was, shockingly, a Supreme Celestial Rank powerhouse.

A powerhouse of the Supreme Celestial Rank could be a regional hegemon anywhere else, a true titan worthy of being called a great figure. Yet at Creation Academy, he was merely a Guard.

Furthermore, this Guard’s aura was far stronger than that of an ordinary Supreme Celestial Rank expert. He had clearly practiced a formidable Cultivation Technique.

"I’m looking for someone," Ning Jiang stated his purpose.

"Looking for someone?" The gray-robed elder frowned. This junior, Ning Jiang, hadn’t even addressed him as ’Senior.’ That alone was enough to displease him.

As a Mountain Guardian of Creation Academy, his status was exceptional. Even a Celestial Martial Realm King visiting the academy would have to treat him, a mere Guard, with respect.

Yet this junior, Ning Jiang, spoke to him as if they were equals.

But displeasure was one thing. In a place like the Celestial Domain, he knew there was always a bigger fish. Some young people with astonishing backgrounds truly had the right to be arrogant.

"Where are you from?" the gray-robed elder asked. Not just anyone who wanted to could enter Creation Academy; he had to see if Ning Jiang was qualified.

Ning Jiang didn’t hide the truth. "The Six Eastern Provinces."

"The Six Eastern Provinces?" A flash of contempt appeared in the elder’s eyes. He had assumed Ning Jiang came from some major power, which would explain his audacity. After all, someone from a major power could afford to act that way.

He never imagined Ning Jiang was merely from the weakest corner of the Great Thousand Realms.

"Creation Academy is currently hosting distinguished guests and is not receiving outsiders. Come back in a few days." The gray-robed elder waved his hand dismissively.

Hearing this, Ning Jiang frowned. "I don’t need to enter Creation Academy. I only need you to pass on a message. When she knows I’ve arrived, she will naturally come out to see me."

"Pass on a message for you?" The gray-robed elder was growing impatient, but he asked anyway, "I haven’t asked yet. Who is it you’re looking for?"

"Ye Chenyu." Ning Jiang spoke the two words.

Hearing those two words, the gray-robed elder’s expression changed instantly. Then he shook his head. "It seems you’re another one who overestimates his own abilities. Go back. I’ve seen plenty of people like you. Countless young prodigies in Qiong Province want to meet Ye Chenyu, but she is a Double Pupil by birth. Do you think she’s someone you can meet just because you want to?"

’It seems Chenyu is held in high regard here at Creation Academy,’ Ning Jiang thought.

But that was only to be expected. Ye Chenyu was born with the Heavy Pupils, and her innate talent was exceptional. As long as the people at Creation Academy weren’t fools, they would naturally recognize her potential.