Everyone around was staring, their eyes wide open, as Xu Nian climbed down from the Green-eyed Eagle, which then stood up.
At that moment, even a fool would understand that Xu Nian's weight was simply too heavy, preventing the Green-eyed Eagle from taking flight.
How could a person's weight be so heavy? The only explanation was the beast skin Xu Nian had strapped to his back.
Everyone was curious about what exactly was in that beast skin suit Xu Nian was carrying to weigh down a nine-star Demon Beast of the Star Realm.
Not just the students were curious, but Dugu Jingcheng, Chen Xifeng, and Leng Yanran as well.
However, Xu Nian did not provide any explanation and instead summoned Little Xu Yu, climbing onto its back.
Little Xu Yu had already reached the level of a Three-star Silver Moon Battle Sect, and coupled with its pure Divine Beast Bloodline, the weight of the hammer wasn't enough to crush it, thus ensuring Xu Nian did not fall behind.
"Let's set off!" Leng Yanran commanded.
The two flying Demon Beasts then took to the skies, soaring into the distance.
Meanwhile, back at the academy, the students were a buzz, speculating about what Xu Nian could be carrying on his back.
Some said it was an unparalleled Divine Sword, others speculated it was a stele hiding a Divine Technique!
In the following days, the item Xu Nian was carrying on his back became a great unsolved mystery of Qinglin Academy.
Not long after Xu Nian and others had left, a chubby figure leisurely made his way down the mountain.
At the mountain's foot, a majestic black leopard stood, its body adorned with stunning sky-blue patterns, looking exceptionally formidable and brilliant.
The Black Wind Thunder Cloud Leopard!
A nine-star Silver Moon Level Demon Beast, rivaling the peak level of the Silver Moon Battle Sect.
The appearance of such a high-level Demon Beast at a human cultivation site was indeed a cause for shock.
However, the black leopard, upon seeing the young man approach, actually whimpered like a big housecat welcoming its owner, and voluntarily crouched down.
"Good little Black, have you missed me during this long absence?" the chubby figure asked, stroking the smooth, satin-like fur of the black leopard.
"Wuu wuu!" It seemed to understand the chubby figure's words as the black leopard whimpered again.
The chubby figure chuckled and mounted the black leopard's back, commanding "Let's go to Tianfeng City to check out the excitement!"
The Black Wind Thunder Cloud Leopard then dashed forward with great momentum, as fast as lightning, disappearing from sight in the blink of an eye.
If Xu Nian had witnessed this scene, he would have been utterly astonished.
Because the chubby figure was none other than Chen Wudi, whom he regarded as his only good brother at Qinglin Academy!
Unaware that Chen Wudi was riding an exceptionally striking leopard not far behind them, Xu Nian was sitting cross-legged on the back of Little Xu Yu, feeling the sharp wind blowing against his face.
High up in the sky, the wind was naturally strong, and with Little Xu Yu's rapid flight, the wind felt like blades cutting against their faces.
Xu Nian, however, didn't mind and sat with his eyes tightly closed, all the pores of his body open, feeling the sensation of the wind slicing against every inch of his skin.
As a wind element Sword Cultivator, what he sought was a keen observation of the wind.
Only through constant observation could he discover the Profound Argumentation within the wind.
The biting wind rustled Xu Nian's academy robe, yet upon closer observation, one would find that there always lingered a faint breeze swirling around Xu Nian, never dissipating from start to finish.
"What is he doing?" Chen Xifeng, who was on the back of the Green-eyed Eagle, asked with surprise as he looked in Xu Nian's direction.
Dugu Jingcheng glanced over at Xu Nian and a flash of astonishment crossed the depths of his eyes before he answered, "Practicing swordsmanship!"
"Practicing swordsmanship? But he's just sitting there, not moving. How is he practicing?" Chen Xifeng asked, puzzled.
However, Dugu Jingcheng closed his eyes and stopped paying attention to Chen Xifeng.
Chen Xifeng was confused, not understanding why Dugu Jingcheng suddenly fell silent.
But Leng Yanran's next response enlightened Chen Xifeng instantly on the matter.
"Dugu Jingcheng is right; he is practicing swordsmanship. Right now, he is a sword himself. If I'm not mistaken, Xu Nian must have entered the realm of 'Man and Sword as One,'" Leng Yanran said with some surprise, her gaze filled with wonder as she looked toward Xu Nian.
When she first entered the realm of 'Man and Sword as One,' she was already twenty-four years old, and even Dugu Jingcheng was eighteen before he grasped it. But how old was Xu Nian now? Not even seventeen, right?
A youth not yet seventeen, who has not only achieved a high level of Spirit Body Dual Cultivation but also understood 'Man and Sword as One'—either of these feats would be dazzling on its own in any individual.
When all these are concentrated in one person, that person is no longer just a genius but is...
The word burst from Chen Xifeng's mouth; he finally understood why Dugu Jingcheng had suddenly fallen silent because he, like Dugu Jingcheng, felt utterly daunted.
Over the next three days, Xu Nian remained immersed in comprehending the wind.
Every once in a while, Leng Yanran and the others would stop to give the two Demon Beasts a rest.
It wasn't that the Green-eyed Eagle felt tired, but rather Little Xu Yu was exhausted.
On the evening of the third day, the group of four finally arrived at Tianfeng City.
"So this is Tianfeng City? How magnificent!" Chen Xifeng couldn't help but feel moved as he looked at the gargantuan city gate, reminiscent of an ancient beast before them.
Xu Nian also looked up at the towering city walls in front of him, intensely awestruck.
The city wall stood a colossal thirty-eight zhang tall, almost reaching into the clouds, where even a Xuantian-level Battle General might not be able to climb over.
The entire city wall was constructed of extremely hard green stones, comparable in hardness to Xuan Iron, indicating its formidable strength.
"Truly befitting of a county city. The majesty exuded by this city gate alone is extremely authoritarian," Xu Nian thought with reverence.
Compared to Tianhai City's city walls before him, which seemed like nothing more than a small mound, there was no basis for comparison.
"I wonder just how awe-inspiring the legendary Imperial Capital is?" Xu Nian couldn't help but think of the Imperial Capital mentioned by Leng Yanran, his fists tightening inside his sleeves.
"Let's go. Our destination this time is Tianhen Academy, and we still have a ways to go," Leng Yanran said after sending the Green-eyed Eagle back. She spoke to the three stunned companions.
Xu Nian also stored Little Xu Yu into the Demon Beast Ring and followed Leng Yanran and the others toward the city interior.
Flying was not allowed within the city, so they had to walk on foot.
However, before they even reached the city gates, they were interrupted by a mocking voice.
"Well, well, if it isn't Qinglin Academy, who ranked fourth in the last competition. I didn't expect you to be so eager to arrive even before us," a grating voice echoed loud and flippant.
The city gate was already crowded, and at this voice, everyone turned their attention towards the direction of the sound and also at Xu Nian and his companions.
Xu Nian and the others also stopped and looked toward the four people approaching from a distance.