Everyone ascended, but I didn't get on board

Chapter 94: Top Entering the Blue Academy

The colleges were really in a hurry for this competition, so there was no intention to decide the champion. They just selected the top 100 contestants and stopped there. Qiu Ci successfully made it into the shortlist. She took a closer look and found that the strength of the five colleges was relatively balanced. There were about 20 candidates shortlisted from each college, and there were also two shortlisted candidates among the independent cultivators.

The academy didn't waste any time selecting the top 100 students the next day before gathering them to prepare for the Blue Academy. Qiu Ci hadn't expected that the person leading them into the academy would actually be the dean. He seemed extremely cautious, repeatedly instructing everyone before the meeting that upon entering the academy, they must not trespass, make noise, or leave their group. He went through a long list of rules before letting everyone follow.

Qiu Ci naturally knew why the dean said so. After all, she had been there once and knew how dangerous it was. Even the psychic machine could only barely block the attacks. With the cultivation level of people like them, they could still hit one enemy every second.

She was preoccupied with the base, and even more curious about whether the so-called Heavenly Ranking was the core of the base. If not, how would she find it? With the Dean's serious attitude, it was almost impossible for her to act alone. She could only take it one step at a time.

"We're here." The dean led a group of people through the layers of buildings in the academy, but suddenly stopped at a place.

Everyone looked ahead and saw a cloud of smoke and a rich aura. The air was filled with a fresh scent, faintly tinged with moisture. But it was obvious that this was not the Blue Courtyard, but the forest behind the academy.

"The Cleansing Pool is just ahead." As if sensing everyone's confusion, the dean explained in a deep voice, "Blue Courtyard is a sacred place. Although this situation is urgent, etiquette cannot be abandoned. Before entering Blue Courtyard, all students must bathe and change clothes here to wash away any dust before entering."

Everyone finally reacted and nodded to indicate that this was the right thing to do. They immediately divided into two teams, male and female. The dean also waved his hand and asked the two teams to separate and go to their respective pools.

Soon Qiu Ci felt the water vapor in front of him getting thicker and thicker. In less than a moment, he saw a pool of water, surrounded by steaming hot air. It turned out to be a hot spring.

"Dean Yu said we only have fifteen minutes. Fellow Daoist Chu, let's get in the water!" Ji Jiaojiao pulled her hand and walked towards the pool while urging her.

"Oh, okay." Qiu Ci nodded, pinched his fingers to take off his clothes, and followed him into the water.

There are many female cultivators who have entered the top 100 this time, but since all the members of Hehuan Academy are female cultivators, 90% of the people here are disciples of Hehuan Academy.

As soon as he touched the pool water, a strong spiritual power instantly came up from his feet, flowing through his body without the need for special guidance. The fatigue in his body was instantly swept away, and his mind became extremely clear.

"Wow, this is a spiritual spring! A spiritual spring that can cleanse the tendons and strengthen the meridians." Someone exclaimed in surprise, their eyes full of surprise. They quickly signaled to everyone, "Hurry, this is a rare opportunity. Sisters, quickly enter a state of meditation and refine your bodies!"

As soon as the words fell, the eyes of the female cultivators brightened, especially the physical cultivators from Hehuan Academy. They all entered the water and sat down. The next moment, streams of spiritual energy spread out from their bodies, followed by a few bang sounds.

Suddenly, a large group of giant figures appeared in the pool. They all turned into the original appearance of the Taoist body. Some were tall and fat, and some were strong and powerful Barbie dolls, but their bodies had grown rapidly, more than three times larger than before. The pool, which was originally spacious and empty, was instantly filled to the brim.

Qiu Ci, who was sandwiched between the giants: "..."

By the way, is this a women's bath?

I suddenly feel like I walked into the wrong bathroom. What's going on?
Fortunately, the dean set the time in advance. Half an hour later, although reluctant, everyone left the Spirit Pool, put on their clothes, and returned to the entrance of the Cleansing Pool. The male cultivators had also come out one after another.

"Dear students, please follow me into the courtyard. Remember not to make any noise!" The dean reminded them again before leading everyone towards the Blue Courtyard.

Everyone was very quiet along the way. They passed through the mountains and forests that Qiu Ci had seen before and several familiar streams, and finally came to the stone-paved path.

Qiu Ci's heart tightened as he recalled the sword energy, and he wondered if they would be stopped this time. However, the dean seemed to know that the path ahead was impassable. He suddenly stopped, clasped his fists, and bowed deeply toward the end of the path. He spoke loudly, "Yu Xian, the 77th generation disciple of Shuangxing Academy, has brought one of the top 100 geniuses from Lanru Continent to challenge the Heavenly Ranking. Please allow passage, ancestor!"

His voice was filled with spiritual power, as if it was deliberately intended to be transmitted to a certain place.

The magical thing is that there is no sign of anyone ahead, it looks like just an ordinary path.

Half a while...

An old and distant voice came from the other side.

"Can!"

The next moment, there was a series of crackling sounds all around, as if something was starting up.

The dense trees and grass on both sides of the path suddenly separated to the sides, and the path stretched and thickened. In less than a moment, it became a four or five meter wide road, curving forward.

Everyone was shocked. It was the first time they had seen such a situation. They vaguely guessed that it was a magic circle, but they couldn't tell what kind of magic circle it was.

Dean Yu, however, seemed to be accustomed to this. He bowed and said, "Thank you, Ancestor!"

After saying that, he led everyone to continue walking forward.

"System, can you detect the source of interference this time?" Qiu Ci stepped onto the path carefully and couldn't help but ask the system in his heart.

[Replying to the master, I still can't detect it. The source of interference has disappeared since my system crashed that time.]

The answer was expected, so Qiu Ci didn't ask any more questions and continued to follow the main group until they reached the end of the path, where the crowd stopped.

"We're here!" The dean turned and looked at everyone, "This is where the Heavenly Ranking challenge will take place."

Everyone was stunned. Where is it?

Looking around, they saw that this was just a flat land with nothing around. Not to mention challenging the Heavenly Ranking, there wasn't even a bird. Where could they go to challenge it?

The dean smiled, as if he was very satisfied with everyone's confused look. After a long time, he turned around, took out a talisman, and threw it towards the open space in front.

The next moment, a dazzling white light emanated from the talisman, and the entire ground shook, as if something was stirring underground. The originally flat ground suddenly opened to both sides, revealing a gap dozens of meters wide. The center position began to fall layer by layer, getting deeper and deeper, almost to the point of being bottomless.

As this huge hole appeared, a series of clattering sounds echoed from inside, like... the sound of some kind of metal turning?!
[Ding! Base signal detected, distance ahead: three meters!]

Qiu Ci: !!!!!!!!!
No way, the so-called Blue Courtyard is really a base!