Seeing the light emanating from the Martial Tower, everyone at Beiming Martial Arts University knew what it meant.
A student had passed all the levels in the tower!
A group of people ran towards the tower, but they were stunned when they saw the name "Taotie."
"Does Beiming Martial Arts University have a student named Taotie? Which department is he in?"
"Is that a person's name? It sounds like a beast's name..."
"It really is a beast! How can a beast pass through the Martial Tower? Tell me this isn't real?!"
Then, everyone saw Wu Liang walk out of the Martial Tower.
They all felt a wave of dizziness!
This world had finally gone crazy beyond comprehension.
Wu Liang flew onto Ling Qingxue's shoulder with a look of disdain on his face.
"I thought it would be harder. That was it? I cleared it with a single Devouring Domain. It's so boring. I don't understand why some people can't even get past the first level."
Beiming Yan: I think I've been targeted...
Ling Qingxue's lips twitched. "A domain is an advanced product of willpower. Of course you can clear the Martial Tower with a Devouring Domain. I wanted you to hone your Killing Will..."
Wu Liang scratched his head, a hint of embarrassment in his expression.
"Oh. I'm used to using the Devouring Domain. I activated it on the first level and immediately reached the ninth level. I forgot to use my Killing Will."
Seeing Beiming Yan still looking devastated, Ling Qingxue gave an explanation, which made her feel a little better.
"Right, your magical beast has mastered the Devouring Domain. That makes sense. I thought the Martial Tower was broken."
The others finally understood and also learned Ling Qingxue's identity.
The first contracted Taotie on Blue Star, a special being now known throughout the entire Great Xia Country.
But the brightly lit name "Taotie" at the top of the rankings was simply too glaring.
A magical beast was trampling on these four-year undergraduates at Beiming Martial Arts University—how could they bear it?
If no one could surpass Wu Liang, the name "Taotie" would remain on the rankings for four years!
Ling Qingxue had only just enrolled; she still had four years to go.
Seeing that she wasn't the only one feeling this way, Beiming Yan felt a little better.
Indeed, it was good to have other companions in suffering; the breakdown was easier to endure.
"Let's go to the Astral Wind Secret Place. I must comprehend Martial Will as soon as possible!"
Although Martial Will didn't affect the breakthroughs of martial artists from the first to the ninth level, the feeling of others comprehending it while she couldn't was unbearable.
Beiming Yan was thinking about Martial Will even while eating.
The pressure from others was simply too great.
She wished she could tie everyone else down with a rope, slowing down their breakthrough.
...
After swiping Beiming Yan's identity card, the two entered the Astral Wind Secret Place.
Upon entering, a strong gale swept over them, making flight extremely difficult.
"Flying in the Astral Wind Secret Place is very difficult. Even my Northern Sea Kunpeng will be slightly affected. I need to use spatial power to break through the gale!" Beiming Yan warned.
Wu Liang paid no heed. He didn't care about the size of the gale.
He activated his 'Size Control' skill, instantly growing to the size of a dark mountain.
The power of devouring took effect, and the gale had little impact on him.
Beiming Yan exclaimed in surprise. "Your Gluttonous Beast has so many skills!"
Wu Liang now had eight skills, including his bloodline divine skill. If you added the special skills he acquired through devouring, that made twelve.
The sheer number of skills was shocking to Beiming Yan.
She had never seen anyone's magical beast possess so many skills.
Wu Liang turned his massive head to look at Ling Qingxue.
"Little Xuexue, what are you looking for? Which way should we go?"
Ling Qingxue's gaze fell upon the enormous wind pillar in the center of the secret place.
"I need the Astral Wind Crystal, which contains the spirit of the Astral Wind. This thing can only be formed in places with strong winds. Just head towards the center."
"Then hold on tight, don't get blown away."
Wu Liang sprinted, looking like a mountain was running.
Seeing his terrifying aura, the Hurricane Eagles circling overhead hesitated to attack.
A smile appeared in Ling Qingxue's eyes.
"Beiming Yan, have you ever practiced swordsmanship in such a fierce wind?"
"Never," Beiming Yan replied curiously. "Does practicing swordsmanship in this environment help with comprehending Sword Intent?"
Ling Qingxue nodded slightly. "Sword Intent is a kind of will. When you can regard the sword as a part of yourself, you can channel your will through it—that is the essence of any weapon intent.
Now, you will ride the Northern Sea Kunpeng to kill those Third Rank Hurricane Eagles. The requirement is that only you can fight; the Kunpeng can only serve as a mount. Furthermore, you can only use swordsmanship, not any other means!"
"Ah? In this fierce wind, I can barely stand at such a height. How can I use swordsmanship to kill Hurricane Eagles?" Beiming Yan said dejectedly.
"You can do it!" Ling Qingxue said confidently.
Beiming Yan was slightly taken aback. "You trust me that much?"
"Of course! You're Beiming Yan, the most talented person in the history of the Beiming family. Even your brother, Beiming Feng, will only see your back in the future!"
Beiming Yan gasped. "You even know what I'm bragging about? How do you know me so well?"
"This isn't bragging. It's the truth."
"Stop talking, or I'll get cocky!"
Beiming Yan released the Kunpeng from her beast pouch and rode it towards the Hurricane Eagles.
The Northern Sea Kunpeng was entirely azure blue, with broad wings. Even at the Third Rank late-stage, its wingspan was tens of meters. Not only that, its body was covered in fine fish scales, providing decent defense, though not as strong as the Golden Dragon's scales. It also possessed a talent similar to 'Size Control'.
Its true strength lay in its speed; it covered a thousand meters in the blink of an eye. Wu Liang's speed was completely insignificant by comparison.
If it weren't for the rules of the martial arts exam, the Northern Sea Kunpeng would be difficult for anyone to match.
Having mastered the power of space, it was inherently invincible; if it couldn't win, it could easily escape.
"Little Xuexue, why are you praising Beiming Yan?"
Ling Qingxue smiled. "Because she doesn't like being suppressed. She's very easygoing, but when someone praises her, her confidence skyrockets, and she achieves twice the result with half the effort."
This was something she discovered in her previous life; a few words of praise, and she could muster 120% of her strength.
Just a few words of praise, and she could unleash her inner power!
So when Ling Qingxue said she was capable, she wasn't lying.
As a Third Rank late-stage expert, how could Beiming Yan possibly fail to kill a few mere Third Rank Hurricane Eagles?
What she feared was only her own insufficient swordsmanship and the disadvantage of the strong winds.