Starting as a Grandmaster, all of my cultivation techniques are at max level.

He is currently only at the third level of the Immortal Ascension Realm, but when facing an opponent at the fifth level of the Immortal Ascension Realm, the difference in their realms is still very real.

Moreover, Shen Jinghong was able to be adopted as a godson by Pei Linhai, the city lord of Longyuan City, and could make the other city lords wary of him. Clearly, he was not just a showy figurehead with high cultivation levels.

Fortunately, he had quite a few trump cards up his sleeve. If he really fought Pei Linhai's adopted son, it was uncertain who would win or lose.

It's clear that the Grand Master has done his homework on this person.

"At the fifth level of the Immortal Ascension Realm, he excels in swordsmanship, but no one has ever been able to force him to reveal his true strength..."

As Xia Jin read, she silently memorized this information, and her expression changed from relaxed to somewhat serious.

The Grand Master sat to the side, observing Xia Jin's reaction without making a sound.

"A fifth-level Immortal Ascension Realm expert, indeed a formidable opponent." The Grand Hall Master raised an eyebrow. "But are you truly afraid?"

"Afraid?" A hint of disdain flashed in Xia Jin's eyes. "That word doesn't exist in my dictionary! I was just thinking that if we win against this Young Master Shen tomorrow, Lord Pei of Longyuan City might lose face."

The Grand Hall Master was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, then burst into laughter.

"Good! Kid, I love your fearless spirit!"

After laughing, the Grand Master's expression returned to calm.

"However, Shen Jinghong is indeed no ordinary person. You don't need to force yourself in tomorrow's competition. It would be best if you could win, but if you can't... it's not shameful."

"Xia Jin, do you know why I chose to have you represent Silver Sand City in tomorrow's competition?"

"Hmm?" Xia Jin was slightly taken aback, then shook her head.

"To be honest, that mine doesn't bring much benefit to Silver Sand City. Even if we obtain it, it might strengthen Silver Sand City, but we'll still be subordinate to Dragon Abyss City!" The Grand Hall Master stood up, his gaze fixed on Xia Jin.

"There's only one way to surpass Dragon Abyss City, and that's to give you the opportunity to join the Cloud Academy!!"

"Cloud Academy?" Xia Jin raised an eyebrow slightly. The moment these four words entered her ears, the system notification sound instantly echoed in her mind.

[Ding dong, triggering the key information 'Cloud Academy'...]

[System task issued: Become a formal disciple of Yunshang Academy within one year.]

[System Reward: Yin-Yang Differentiation Technique (Beginner), 60,000 years of cultivation.]

Xia Jin was suddenly stunned, her pupils shrinking slightly.

Why is this triggering a system task again?

The last time the system issued a mission was when he first entered the Mirage Realm, and the reward from that mission benefited him greatly. This time, however, it's the Yin-Yang Differentiation Technique? Sixty thousand years of cultivation? Just hearing the name, one knows that the "Yin-Yang Differentiation Technique" is no ordinary cultivation method, let alone sixty thousand years of cultivation.

If I can really get these rewards, my strength will definitely reach a new level!

Suppressing her shock, Xia Jin hurriedly looked at the Grand Hall Master, her voice tinged with urgency: "Grand Hall Master, what exactly is this Cloud Academy you're talking about?"

Upon hearing this, a hint of awe flashed in the Grand Hall Master's eyes. He took a deep breath and slowly spoke:

"Xia Jin, this Mirage Realm is vast and boundless, divided into nine major states, and we are currently in Fengyuan State, one of the nine major states."

Xia Jin nodded; he knew these basic details.

The Grand Hall Master continued, "Fengyuan Prefecture is further divided into five prefectures. Our Longyuan City, along with the territories of the other four city lords, all belong to Yungui Prefecture, one of these five prefectures. And Yunshang Academy is undoubtedly the overlord of Yungui Prefecture."

When he said the word "overlord," he emphasized it, and the look of awe in his eyes deepened.

"The overlord of Yun Gui County?" Xia Jin repeated thoughtfully.

"That's right!!" The Grand Hall Master looked out the window into the distance, as if he could see through the layers of clouds and mist to the legendary academy. "In this land of Yun Gui County, whether it is us city lords, or those long-established aristocratic families, or those sects that occupy a certain area, they are all just things that can be easily swept away in front of Yun Shang Academy."

Xia Jin was startled.

Although he knew that the Cloud Academy was extraordinary, he never expected it to be this bad.

"If you can enter the Cloud Academy," the Grand Hall Master looked at Xia Jin with fervent eyes, "even the most ordinary disciple can walk sideways in Yun Gui County. At that time, even we so-called city lords in Yun Gui County will have to show you respect."

Give way a little...

A glint of light flashed in Xia Jin's eyes.

He knew all too well the weight of those four words.

If I could truly become a disciple of the Cloud Academy...

That would mean that Xia Jin had truly established himself in the Mirage Realm.

"Cloud Academy..." Xia Jin murmured these four words, her eyes shining even brighter.

The Grand Hall Master had been observing Xia Jin's reaction discreetly. Seeing the glint in his eyes, a slight smile played on his lips as he offered a reminder:

Don't get too excited yet.

Xia Jin raised her head and looked at the main hall master.

The Grand Hall Master returned to his seat, his tone regaining its calm: "If you win tomorrow's competition, you will receive the recommendation of the five city lords!"

"However, even if you get a joint recommendation from the five of us city lords, it only gives you a chance to join the Cloud Academy. Passing their test is not as easy as you think."

"Hmm!?" A hint of doubt flashed in Xia Jin's eyes as he looked at the Grand Hall Master and asked, "Grand Hall Master, what do you mean by that?"

The Grand Hall Master looked directly at Xia Jin and sighed helplessly, saying, "Although Yunshang Academy is the dominant force in Yungui County, it doesn't have many disciples. Apart from a few true disciples, the rest of its disciples don't exceed one hundred."

"So, do you know how difficult it is to join this Cloud Academy?"

"No more than a hundred people?" Xia Jin's eyelids twitched involuntarily.

This is the Mirage Realm, a place teeming with powerful figures and geniuses. Even though it's just a hegemon among the five prefectures under Fengyuan Prefecture, it's still a formidable force. How can such a powerful academy have fewer than a hundred disciples?

"Surprised?" The Grand Hall Master seemed to see through Xia Jin's thoughts and chuckled. "The standards for recruiting disciples at Yunshang Academy are extremely strict. Countless scions of noble families and geniuses from various sects in Yungui County are desperate to get in, but only a handful of people can pass the test every hundred years. Sometimes, for hundreds of years in a row, not a single one can catch the eye of Yunshang Academy."

Xia Jin remained silent for a moment, then slowly nodded.

With fewer than a hundred disciples, it means that everyone who can enter the Cloud Academy is a true genius, one in a million. To stand out in such a place, one must either have extraordinary talent, profound opportunities, or both.

What I need to do is to become one of those fewer than one hundred people within a year.

The system gives a time limit of one year.

A year is neither long nor short. For ordinary people, a year may not be enough to accomplish anything significant, but for Xia Jin, there are countless things he can do within a year.

The prerequisite is that he must win tomorrow's competition and obtain the joint recommendation of the five city lords.

The Grand Master stood up and patted Xia Jin on the shoulder: "Alright, it's getting late. Go back and rest early, and prepare well for tomorrow's battle."

After a moment of silence, he added earnestly, "I've given you this opportunity. Whether you can seize it depends on your own ability."

"Remember, this isn't just for Silver Sand City, it's for yourself too!!"