In the hunting trial, in addition to allowing students to gain Spirit Light, they also needed to defeat the final guardian to have the opportunity for spiritual enlightenment. Otherwise, no matter how much spiritual illumination they acquired, it would all be for nothing in the end.
In the past, this guardian was always selected from the Punishment Hall, and this time was no exception.
"In previous trials, the guardians were always one of the nine commanders of the Punishment Hall, generally possessing Heaven Transformation Realm strength. This time, we have senior Lin Zheng, ranked among the top three of the Heavenly Ranking. Passing the final guardian should not be difficult."
The Punishment Hall, aside from the hall master, also had three great generals, nine commanders, and countless captains. However, the positions of the three great generals were not easy to hold, so they were often vacant. The nine commanders were responsible for the specific tasks of the Punishment Hall.
At this moment, many returning students looked relaxed. The final trial was not a major challenge for them.
However, a sudden voice drew everyone's attention.
"Eh, why do I not see Senior Lin Zheng?"
As soon as this question was asked, everyone was shocked and quickly scanned the surroundings.
To their surprise, not only was the first-ranked Lin Zheng absent, but second-ranked Zhou Qingshan and third-ranked Gu Tianyan were also nowhere to be seen.
What is happening?
Everyone was stunned. Could it be that the top three of the Heavenly Ranking would not participate in this year's hunting trial?
How was this supposed to work?
Whispers spread across the plaza. Many were looking for the three top-ranked students of Northern Heaven Spiritual Academy, as only they could ensure that everyone had a chance to achieve spiritual enlightenment.
Liu Bai had not anticipated this either.
"Senior Wei Fan, Senior Chu Lin, do you know why Lin Zheng and the others are not here?" Since the top three were missing, they could only look to the fourth and fifth.
However, Wei Fan and Chu Lin looked equally confused. They did not know why none of the three appeared.
If these three truly did not participate in the hunting trial, then the two of them would have to face the guardian alone.
Both Wei Fan and Chu Lin realized this, and their expressions turned grim.
Although their ranks seemed close to those of Lin Zheng and the others, the difference in actual strength was immense.
Most directly, Wei Fan and Chu Lin were both in the Late-phase of Heaven Fusion Realm. Compared to Lin Zheng and the others, who had likely broken into the Heaven Transformation Realm, the gap was enormous.
Two Late-phase Heaven Fusion Realm cultivators faced with Early-phase Heaven Transformation Realm opponents could only be crushed.
As they worried, Chu Lin's eyes suddenly brightened, and his frown vanished. He then hurried in a certain direction.
Seeing this, the surrounding students were puzzled. They did not know whom Chu Lin had seen that made him so happy.
When they saw Chu Lin stop beside a young-looking boy, their confusion deepened.
"Ha ha, Junior Liu, it is so good to see you." Chu Lin said with a smile.
This was not a polite smile. He was genuinely delighted.
Chu Lin knew clearly that relying on just him and Wei Fan to pass the final trial was impossible. But if Liu Bai joined them, it was no longer certain.
He had witnessed Liu Bai's Rank-Five spiritual array. Its power was already enough to rival an Early-phase Heaven Transformation Realm cultivator. With him and Wei Fan assisting, Chu Lin believed that even if they could not win the final trial, they would definitely not lose.
According to the rules, even if the result was a tie, it would still count as passing the final hunting trial, and no one would leave empty-handed.
Chu Lin's behavior left many students dumbfounded.
Why would he treat such a young boy with so much enthusiasm? Did Liu Bai have some special identity?
Some recognized Liu Bai, knowing he was the top-ranked freshman of this year, and the first to enter the top twenty of the Heavenly Ranking as a freshman.
Yet compared to the fifth-ranked Chu Lin, this was not particularly impressive.
Unfortunately, neither of the two cared about outside attention. As they chatted, the dean in the sky had already opened the entrance to the Spiritual Illumination Realm.
Above, a massive spatial portal slowly took shape. A strange and immense wave of spiritual energy rippled outward.
"The time is nearly right. This year's hunting trial shall begin!" Dean Tai Cang's clear and cheerful voice echoed across the students' ears.
Countless students' eyes burned with intensity. No matter what, giving up before the final step was not the style of Northern Heaven students.
Even without Lin Zheng and the other top three, they would still attempt to conquer the final trial themselves.
In the next moment, countless figures rose into the air, sweeping across the sky like locusts. They darkened the heavens and charged into the massive spatial portal.
Liu Bai clasped his fists toward Chu Lin and said, "Senior Chu, we shall meet at the Spiritual Illumination Platform."
"All right, see you at the platform."
With Su Xuan and the others, Liu Bai and his companions followed the crowd into the portal.
The moment they passed through, they immediately sensed a difference.
They now stood in a strange, almost chaotic world. The sky was dim, yet the space was filled with a terrifying flow of heavenly and earthly spiritual energy.
The spiritual energy was so overwhelming that they saw spiritual clouds floating in the sky above. Occasionally, droplets of misty spiritual energy would drift from the clouds.
"The spiritual energy here is extremely concentrated, but there is no life at all." Li Qing said, raising her hand to touch a cloud formed of spiritual mist.
Liu Bai looked around and smiled. "This space was naturally created by the academy's powerful cultivators. Of course it cannot contain life."
Even a Heavenly Sovereign could not create true life from nothing. This was a rule of the world, impossible for anyone to break.
The five of them were standing on an ordinary small peak within the Spiritual Illumination Realm. Although the portal was crowded when they entered, once dispersed inside, the space appeared relatively empty.
Along the way, Liu Bai and the others had not seen anyone else.
"Let's go. This Spiritual Illumination Realm not only lacks life, but foreign beings cannot remain here for long. Time is limited. We must try to acquire as much spiritual illumination as possible."
The ultimate effect of spiritual enlightenment depended on the quantity and quality of the spiritual illumination obtained. If they gained too little, it would be a waste of the blessing of spiritual enlightenment.
In the Spiritual Illumination Realm, there was only one way to obtain spiritual illumination, which was to slay the spiritual soldiers.
These spiritual soldiers were humanoid forms condensed from heavenly and earthly spiritual energy. They had no intelligence of their own.
From Chu Lin, Liu Bai and the others had learned some information about the Spiritual Illumination Realm.
Within it, these spiritual soldiers were divided into three levels.
The lowest level was the ordinary spiritual soldiers. They possessed strength equivalent to the Heaven Fusion Realm, but because they lacked intelligence, their individual combat power was limited and could not match students of the same level.
The second level were called spiritual generals, with Heaven Transformation Realm strength. Some spiritual generals with abundant spiritual energy could rival Late-phase Heaven Transformation Realm strength.
These spiritual generals were preferred by powerful students because the quality of spiritual illumination obtained from them was the highest.
The strongest type was called the spiritual king.
These beings were rare in the Spiritual Illumination Realm, but extremely formidable. If encountered, one could only take the opportunity to quickly retreat.
Spiritual soldiers that reached the level of a spiritual king not only possessed basic awareness but also had strength comparable to Tongtian Realm experts, making them extremely difficult to deal with.
Over the years, during the hunting trials, very few dared to provoke spiritual kings, even though the spiritual illumination within them was considered the best material for spiritual enlightenment.
Liu Bai and his group flew through the Spiritual Illumination Realm at a moderate pace. Because the spiritual energy condensed into mist, their vision was not very clear. Many times they could only see the situation within the mist when they approached it closely, which inevitably led to some accidents.
Just as it was now, Liu Bai noticed a figure suddenly charging out from a nearby patch of spiritual mist.
The figure emitted a powerful spiritual energy aura, moving as swiftly as a phantom, and in the blink of an eye, it had approached not far from them.
"What incredible speed!"
Su Xuan and the others were startled. Before they could react, a bolt of lightning struck first, instantly obliterating the figure.
"Ding, low-level spiritual soldier defeated. Experience gained 2000."
Liu Bai frowned. It seemed that killing low-level spiritual soldiers was not very worthwhile as the experience gained was so low.
Even more unexpected for Liu Bai was that the spiritual soldier he had destroyed completely dissipated, and no spiritual illumination appeared.
"What? Why is there nothing?" Su Ling'er blinked her big eyes, looking confused.
"Perhaps this soldier was too low-level, or the spiritual illumination was dispersed?" Guo Xiong said with his arms crossed, looking like a detective.
However, Liu Bai frowned, as a bad suspicion suddenly arose in his mind.
"Let's move on and continue."
This had only been the first spiritual soldier they encountered, so no one paid it much attention.
Soon, they came across a second group, a small tribe of over ten spiritual soldiers, but none of them were spiritual generals.
Naturally, Liu Bai and the others charged directly, leaving little Su Ling'er behind to cheer them on.
Quickly, the more than ten spiritual soldiers were defeated. Guo Xiong and the others each obtained two or three red orbs the size of longan fruits, containing extremely pure heavenly and earthly spiritual energy.
"So this is the so-called spiritual illumination?"
The group regrouped and noticed that Liu Bai remained empty-handed.
At this moment, Liu Bai confirmed that the spiritual soldiers he had slain did not produce spiritual illumination. It was obvious that this was due to the nature of his system.
"I was originally hoping to gain double rewards this time, experience from killing and spiritual illumination from enlightenment. It seems that wish will not come true."
In that case, it was no longer suitable for him to stay with Su Xuan and the others.
Su Xuan and the others also noticed Liu Bai's situation and became silent for a moment.
"Let's split up. Su Xuan, you lead the others to continue hunting these spiritual soldiers. Avoid the large tribes and prioritize your safety." Liu Bai said without explaining further.
"Understood." Su Xuan nodded immediately, not asking any questions.
However, seeing little Su Ling'er, Liu Bai felt a bit troubled.
Originally, with him present, he had no concern about danger and had brought Su Ling'er along to take advantage of this rare opportunity.
Now, thinking for a moment, Liu Bai raised his hand, and bolts of lightning flickered rapidly, condensing into three golden lightning orbs in his palm.
"Ling'er, take these. If you encounter danger, throw them and run immediately."
Su Ling'er looked at the golden orbs in front of her and happily accepted them. The golden spheres were beautiful, and she clearly liked them.
"Be careful. These lightning orbs contain the full force of my attack. Even Late-phase Heaven Transformation Realm cultivators would be severely injured if struck. Be cautious, understand?" Liu Bai quickly warned seeing her eager expression.
"Yes." Su Ling'er immediately stopped moving, carefully stored the orbs in her Space Bracelet, and obediently nodded.
Seeing this, Liu Bai could only shake his head with a smile. He then gave a few more instructions to Su Xuan and the others before flying in another direction.
Watching Liu Bai disappear, Su Xuan and the others were thoughtful but soon continued forward. Without Liu Bai, they proceeded with much greater caution.
Alone, Liu Bai moved faster. When encountering small tribes of spiritual soldiers, he did not even need to appear, using the Five Thunder Strikes to eliminate them and leaving effortlessly.
Since he did not need to collect spiritual illumination, he had no reason to approach, which allowed for even faster movement.
Soon, Liu Bai advanced, killing everything in his path.
Anything within his divine sense could not escape the thunder's descent.
Moreover, when a small group of five or six people were surrounding a small gathering with a spiritual general, a golden lightning bolt suddenly descended from the sky, obliterating the spiritual general into pieces. When the group rushed over, they could not find a single trace, making the leader furious enough to curse the heavens for fifteen minutes before calming down.
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