The Top Three Positions

Xia Hou’s eyes burned with fire, the muscles across his entire body contorting as he suddenly exploded with full force, lunging toward Zheng Donglin.

Zheng Donglin watched Xia Hou in shock; did this guy not fear being punished? Xia Hou’s arm reached for Zheng Donglin’s shoulder, wanting to seize him.

His calves tensing, Zheng Donglin shifted his body to the side, evading Xia Hou’s arm.

"Do you not fear punishment?" Zheng Donglin asked in a low voice, then used all his strength to pull away from Xia Hou.

"Having me, a single genius, is enough. Even if you are eliminated, the Academy will not punish me too severely," Xia Hou smirked with contempt.

Zheng Donglin looked at Xia Hou for a moment, once again changing his perception of him. This person was very confident, but confidence must be accompanied by strength, not just big talk.

Unfortunately, Xia Hou did have enough strength, but Zheng Donglin was not someone he could easily dispose of.

The ear-piercing sound of the Heavenly Thunder Drum rang out. Xia Hou was caught off guard, his mind shaken by the drumbeat, making his head ring.

He quickly focused his spiritual defense, and his trembling blood and Qi suddenly calmed. With a cold snort, he continued to move against Zheng Donglin.

So what if he had a Dao Heart? Among geniuses, strength and talent were the deciding factors. He was a Ninth Grade Late-Stage expert, while Zheng Donglin was only at the Eighth Grade Peak.

Zheng Donglin looked at him coldly, turned slightly, and swung his hand to strike back at Xia Hou’s arm. The difference in strength between the two was immediately apparent.

Xia Hou’s arm was knocked back by Zheng Donglin’s force. His expression at that moment was hard to describe.

But one thing was certain: he was extremely frustrated.

"Senior Brother Lian Cheng, should we stop them?" Hou Yuan asked, seeing Zheng Donglin and Xia Hou exchanging blows.

"No need, their strength is comparable; it makes for a better show," Lian Cheng said calmly, his expression suggesting he didn't fear the world falling into chaos.

He knew full well that Xia Hou had ill intentions toward Zheng Donglin. If it were anyone else, he would have intervened immediately, but Zheng Donglin was different. This white-haired youth made him very curious.

Especially when he casually countered Xia Hou, a man a full major realm higher than himself. Interesting, truly interesting. Lian Cheng smiled.

On the Heavenly Stairway Path, True Qi could not be utilized, so the exchange between the two was entirely without True Qi.

Xia Hou was incensed; if not for the inability to use True Qi, he would have beaten Zheng Donglin out of human shape.

His arm drew an arc, striking toward Zheng Donglin’s temple. Zheng Donglin’s pupils constricted, and he leaned back. This strike from Xia Hou was vicious; the temple was one of the body’s weak points, and if he took a direct hit, at the very least, his mind would lose clarity.

Suddenly, Xia Hou’s arm, with incredible speed, unexpectedly changed direction following Zheng Donglin’s leaning momentum.

Xia Hou sneered; *let's see how you avoid it this time.*

"That guy is quite interesting, his talent isn't bad," Hou Yuan said, looking at Xia Hou’s technique.

"Indeed, his reflexes and physical quality have reached the level of a genius," Lian Cheng nodded, then watched to see how Zheng Donglin would react.

At the moment the fist swung toward him, Zheng Donglin did something unbelievable. He relaxed his entire body, letting himself fall freely down the steps.

"Stupid," Xia Hou said with contempt, seeing him falling in mid-air. Though he had evaded the fist, how could he continue to evade the subsequent strikes?

Xia Hou put all his power into his leg, launching a powerful kick toward Zheng Donglin’s midsection.

"Young Master is valiant!" Xia Han shouted from below to cheer him on.

"Just looking at it hurts; if that kick lands, his entrails will be crushed."

"That white-haired youth is finished; why aren't the Academy people stopping it?" the spectators said.

"What do you people know, you fools! It’s because they recognize our Young Master’s talent, so they’re turning a blind eye," Xia Han sneered.

The noise from below echoed up to Lian Cheng and Hou Yuan.

"Senior Brother, this time it’s truly bad," Hou Yuan said anxiously. The commotion was too great, and they feared being punished by the Academy.

"Fine, go save him," Lian Cheng said with a hint of disappointment. The youth had no other miracles to surprise him with. Suddenly, his pupils constricted. *Here it comes again!*

Hou Yuan’s group also noticed something unusual. Zheng Donglin’s entire body began to contract rapidly, and his whole person spun in mid-air, a series of kicks flying out and knocking Xia Hou back.

Xia Hou was caught off guard by the counterattack and couldn't react in time, taking at least ten kicks.

His chest was covered in black footprints, and the blood and Qi in Xia Hou’s body surged; having been struck by ten of Zheng Donglin’s kicks, his injuries were not small.

An ordinary person could hardly do what Zheng Donglin just did, but he had succeeded.

Because he possessed superhuman reflexes, thanks to the terrifying spiritual power from the Heavenly Demon Heart-Disturbing Great Art.

For others to manifest spiritual power, they had to reach the Soul Shaking Realm. But the Heavenly Demon Heart-Disturbing Great Art was no ordinary thing, but something extremely heaven-defying. It allowed Zheng Donglin to open his spiritual world and manifest his spiritual power in the form of a Heavenly Demon.

Others' spiritual power could at most manifest in their own image, but Zheng Donglin’s was a Heavenly Demon, emitting an ancient and extraordinary aura, not a common form of spiritual power.

As for physical flexibility, he had the Savage Battle Method, which helped him meticulously control every joint and muscle in his body. By contracting his joints to the limit and then twisting and releasing, his body turned into a spinning machine.

Xia Hou was kicked back about twenty steps, and the three people with Jiang Nam had now reached his side, passing him in an instant.

"You dare to pass me?" Xia Hou roared in anger, absolutely furious.

"Who do you think you are?" Among the three, the girl spoke up.

"The Young Master of Shicheng in Dai Li, Xia Hou, that’s who I am," Xia Hou said arrogantly; with his status, he was very confident.

However, to his disappointment, Jiang Nam’s group showed no fear. Jiang Nam had previously been a servant and had endured much to reach this point; he cared even less for power. The other man raised an eyebrow, finding Xia Hou a bit of an eyesore. The girl said indifferently:

"The Young Master of a single city, is that very impressive?"

"Who are you?" Xia Hou, being disrespected like this for the first time, glared at the girl and barked.

"Hou Xiaomei," the girl replied without fear, not even looking at him.

"Hou Yuan, your little sister’s talent seems not bad; I see she still has strength to spare," Lian Cheng said, looking at Hou Xiaomei.

"Compared to me, my sister’s talent is better," Hou Yuan admitted, his face flashing with a hint of pride.

Having a sister with good talent meant he could rely on her in the future. Even if her talent wasn't good, his sister was very beautiful; the only problem was her personality was too arrogant.

"Ah ah ah!" Xia Hou was consumed by rage, unable to vent it; one person after another was looking down on him.

Jiang Nam’s group quickly left him behind. It seemed this was their full power, their figures chasing the lead group.

Su Dongliu’s group also reached his side and passed Xia Hou.

"Brother Donglin, we meet again," Ma Teng greeted.

"We meet again," Zheng Donglin nodded.

At the nine-hundredth step, Hong Jiuyuan was in the lead, followed by Ma Teng, Zheng Donglin, Jiang Nam’s group, Xia Hou, and Su Dongliu’s group.

Though Xia Hou had been passed by Zheng Donglin and Jiang Nam’s group, his talent was still very good. After being passed by Su Dongliu’s group, it wasn't long before he moved ahead again.

Reaching the final hundred steps, everyone unleashed their full power, competing for the highest rank.

In their minds, they all had the same thought: there was no need to exert too much effort on the early steps; wait until they were near the top to give it their all and seize the final victory.

The group was now clearly divided. From the eight-hundredth step up were geniuses. From seven hundred to eight hundred were also geniuses, but of the most common type. From nine hundred steps up were super geniuses.

The ranks of super geniuses now included Hong Jiuyuan, Ma Teng, Zheng Donglin, Jiang Nam’s group, Xia Hou, and the group of Su Dongliu, Li Xin, Liang, Cheng Xiu, and Ding Baling.

The ranks of common geniuses numbered about a thousand.

Ma Teng looked at Hong Jiuyuan, and Hong Jiuyuan looked back. Their auras clashed fiercely, neither yielding. The situation suddenly changed as a third force rose to compete with them—Zheng Donglin.

"Good!" Ma Teng praised; his seemingly bottomless stamina was being seriously depleted. Zheng Donglin’s eyes flared with battle intent.

Ma Teng passed Hong Jiuyuan, but in an instant, Hong Jiuyuan returned to the lead. Zheng Donglin passed Ma Teng, then once again passed Hong Jiuyuan.

Hong Jiuyuan was rarely surprised. He caught a glimpse of Zheng Donglin’s realm. Though this trial was about the Dao Heart, a higher cultivation was still beneficial; a strong cultivation made the Dao Heart even firmer.

Hong Jiuyuan was a full major realm higher than Zheng Donglin, at the Ninth Grade Peak, yet Zheng Donglin had passed him.

Hong Jiuyuan smiled; this was how it became interesting. He acknowledged Zheng Donglin, then looked at Ma Teng.

Hong Jiuyuan had recognized the two of them as worthy opponents to face with all his might.

"Go!"

A collective shout rang out.

The three leading figures shot upward like ghosts, leaving a series of black shadows on the ground.

Zheng Donglin, first.

Hong Jiuyuan, second.

Ma Teng, third.

The top three positions of the first round were decided.