Reversing the Milky Way

Si Nanyue also had an unspeakable expression on his face, because Bai Cheng was now a disciple of the Bai family, and the old patriarch of the Bai family was the city lord of Baifeng City and the nominal dean of the Baigong Academy. Thinking of the complexity of the matter, he looked at Si Nanchen in front of him with a dark face.

If we were to express our opinion today that Bai Cheng was wrong, it would undoubtedly be a slap in the face to the Bai family. If we do not express our opinion, it seems that the matter has already spread. If the royal family finds out that a disciple of the Bai family killed the son of the town's prefect, it would likely leave a bad impression. After all, the emperor of Huoyun Kingdom is most unwilling to see cultivators killing mortals innocently, otherwise he would not have introduced so many regulations targeting cultivators.

Bai Cheng looked at Si Nanchen's face and found that there was no emotion on his face at the moment. When Si Nanchen's eyes met Bai Cheng's, an inexplicable feeling arose in Bai Cheng's heart, as if the other party had been planning to do this all along.

Just then, Bai Wenzhe, who was standing in front of Bai Cheng, suddenly raised his hand in a gesture.

"Elders, the Bai family will handle this matter ourselves. Right now, the priority is to advance the ladder trial."

As soon as he finished speaking, Bai Wenzhe's figure suddenly disappeared from Bai Cheng's sight, and the suffocating sense of oppression vanished instantly. Bai Cheng then began to breathe heavily, feeling a bit uneasy; to be honest, he was indeed experiencing some heart palpitations.

At this moment, Yang Zhi came to Bai Cheng's side again and whispered, "Brother Bai Cheng, you don't need to worry too much. If I were in the same situation as you, I would probably do the same thing."

Upon hearing this, Bai Cheng closed his eyes tightly, took a deep breath, and then asked, "Brother Yang, I would like to ask what the origins of the Si Nan family are?"

Upon hearing this, Yang Zhi also turned to look at Si Nanchen.

"The Si Nan family has a long history. Their history is very special, and they are one of the five great families in the capital. This place is just a branch of their family."

Bai Cheng narrowed his eyes slightly upon hearing this.

"The five great families of the capital? Aren't they the same as the Qin family? Then why is it said that their family history is so special?"

"No one wants to talk about the reasons behind this, because it is one of the secrets of Baifeng City, and discussing it in public would displease the Si Nan family."

As Yang Zhi spoke, he glanced at Si Nanchen not far away and found that Si Nanchen was standing next to Si Nanyue with his head down and no words in his eyes. Si Nanyue seemed to be talking to him. However, when he turned his head towards Bai Cheng, Bai Cheng could clearly feel the resentment in his eyes, which made Bai Cheng clench his fists.

As time slowly passed, people began to walk up the steps below, and they all looked disheveled and covered in dust.

During this time, Bai Cheng witnessed a person who had already reached the 800th floor fall directly down because he did not have the physique to cultivate spiritual energy.

Although there were nearly ten thousand people on site, only five or six thousand actually participated in the staircase trial. Among these people, one-third could not even reach the 300th floor, and half of the remaining two-thirds could not reach the 500th floor. Those who could reach the 700th floor numbered less than a thousand. Of these less than a thousand, nearly 60% could not take another step when they reached the 800th floor. Most of them ended up tumbling down the stairs. Although some people tried their best to climb upwards, those without spiritual energy circulating in their bodies could not take another step.

And so, after enduring the midday sun, dusk approached, and only a mere two hundred people had successfully passed through the trial staircase and arrived at the entrance of the White House Academy.

Seeing this, Bai Cheng was also somewhat dazed for a moment. He didn't know whether he should be glad that he was able to cultivate. In any case, when he looked at those who were still climbing upwards with all their might, he always had a strange feeling in his heart.

Just then, he heard Hongyun sigh beside him.

"Sigh... Every year, quite a few people participate in the Ladder Climbing Trial, but very few are actually able to cultivate. Look at them, each of them yearns to become a cultivator and roam freely in this world, but fate just likes to play tricks on people. Some people's fates are already predetermined at birth. Although it is unfair, there is nothing that can be done about it."

After saying that, he mentally calculated the time, then looked up at the distant sunset.

"Time's up! This year's ladder-climbing trial has come to an end!"

Hong Yun's words, imbued with spiritual energy, reached the ears of everyone present. Those who were still struggling to climb the stairs all showed expressions of frustration upon hearing them.

As Hong Yun's figure returned to the giant stone statue's hand, under his manipulation, the golden light on the surface of the steps at the academy's entrance slowly dissipated.

Those who were still lingering on the steps felt as if a great weight had been lifted from their shoulders, and they all felt an unprecedented sense of ease.

Then, amidst the commotion, the crowd gathered in front of the college gate gradually began to disperse.

"Alright, those of you who have passed, come with me into the academy."

As Hong Yun finished speaking, the academy gates opened again, and everyone was led inside. Upon entering the academy's towering gates, hundreds of meters high, Bai Cheng was astonished by what he saw.

Upon entering the White House Academy, the first thing that catches the eye is a huge open space in front of you, while on the hillsides on both sides of the open space, various kinds of spiritual plants and herbs grow in a disorderly manner.

In front of the open space, stone steps led up the mountain. Unlike the steps in front of the gate, these steps were covered with the marks of time, with tender green grass stubbornly growing from the cracks, as if the old man time had inadvertently sprinkled greenery upon them. Each stone step was etched with the marks of wind and rain erosion, extending continuously up the mountain path, the steps seemingly leading passersby to an ancient sanctuary.

In the distance, the mountains stand majestically, with one peak in particular standing out. It not only soars into the clouds but is also surrounded by a faint aura of light, which is the direction the stone steps lead to.

Looking at the seemingly endless stone steps, everyone's eyes were filled with complaints. After all, they had already gone through the so-called staircase trial today, and most of them felt dizzy and uncomfortable after seeing such a long staircase.

"Seriously? Do we have to keep climbing the stairs?"

"Yes, we've just gone through such a trial, do we really have to climb such a long staircase again?"

Listening to the constant chatter around him, Bai Cheng felt a little excited.

'Finally, I can truly begin my cultivation. After such a long time, I've finally taken my first official step. No matter what hardships lie ahead, I must become stronger. Only in this way can I avoid being looked down upon by others, only in this way can I act without having to consider others' opinions, and only in this way can I face their threats without fear.'

Upon seeing this, the five elders of the academy exchanged glances, nodded, and then flew vertically up the mountain peak at the end of the stone steps.

Bai Cheng took a deep breath, his gaze firm, and stepped onto the steps in front of him. This scene attracted the attention of the others, who also followed suit and walked up the stone steps.

"Damn it! What are you pretending for?"

Si Nanchen wore a disdainful expression and quietly followed the crowd.

In the distance, on the edge of a waterfall cliff, an old man sat cross-legged, scanning the crowd of people who had just entered the academy with his divine sense. When he saw Bai Cheng's figure, he smiled slightly.

"It seems there are quite a few promising talents among those who entered the academy this year. We need to prepare for the next season's Illusory Sea Secret Realm."

After the old man finished chanting those words, his figure rose into the air and disappeared into the mist rising from the waterfall.

As time passed, Bai Cheng, walking on the stone steps, looked around and found that there weren't many students in the White Palace Academy. He had only seen less than a hundred people on the way here. Most of them were flying on their swords above the hillsides on both sides of the stone steps, while some were tending to the spiritual herbs in the visible spiritual fields, and others were constantly shuttling back and forth as if they had some urgent business. The students who passed by only glanced at Bai Cheng and his group briefly.

"I heard that the White Palace Academy is the largest cultivation academy in White Maple City, and it's also known as one of the top ten academies in the entire Fire Cloud Kingdom. But now it seems like there aren't many people in the academy?"

After Bai Cheng said those words, a reply came from behind him.

"The White House Academy is a cultivation academy that has existed for hundreds of years. The academy's principle is to accept elites and not just ordinary people. To date, there are only a little over a thousand formal students in the academy."

Upon hearing this, Bai Cheng turned his head and saw a man dressed in gorgeous clothes. The man then introduced himself and the person next to him.

The man's name was Jia Yue, the same age as Bai Cheng, and the other man beside him was his younger brother, Jia Guan, who was only one year younger than his brother.

After learning more about it, Bai Cheng also asked a question.

"What does that mean? What do you mean by only accepting elites and not just anyone? And what are these formal students? Aren't we already students? We've already entered the academy, haven't we?"

Faced with Bai Cheng's question, another voice came from beside him.

"Looks like you really are a country bumpkin who doesn't know anything. The Bai family actually managed to recruit someone like you as a disciple. I really don't know what kind of luck you had?"

Upon hearing this, Bai Cheng turned around and found that it was Si Nanchen scolding him. Bai Cheng's face immediately turned visibly embarrassed.

"My friend, we're complete strangers, why are you targeting me like this?"

"Ha! Targeting you?! I'm just stating the facts. Do you dare say that what I said before wasn't true? If Elder Bai hadn't spoken up, given the mistakes you've made, you probably wouldn't have been able to enter the academy today."

Bai Cheng was speechless upon hearing this.

"I'm too lazy to waste my breath explaining to you. I've already said before that I had no choice but to do it. Whose life isn't a life? Does it mean you can let his family set fire to his house but you won't let my family light up?"

"What do you mean by arson and lighting lamps? If you hadn't joined a cultivation family like the Bai family, who would be willing to speak up for you? Besides, I heard you're called Bai Cheng. I'm afraid you changed your name specifically to curry favor with the Bai family, didn't you?"

Upon hearing this, Bai Cheng's expression turned extremely ugly. He suddenly stopped in his tracks, exuding a murderous aura, and then glared fiercely at Si Nanchen.

Si Nanchen showed no fear upon seeing this.

"What? You want to fight? Although I'm not afraid of you, it seems you really are as vicious as the file says."

Upon hearing this, Bai Cheng felt a surge of anger. However, he quickly suppressed it.

'No, judging from the previous situation, Elder Si Nan in this academy seems to be this guy's great-uncle, and his cultivation level is also at the mid-stage of the Meridian Opening Realm. Offending him now doesn't seem to benefit me in my current state. Although I've nominally joined the Bai family, based on what I've experienced these past few days, the Bai family probably isn't very reliable either. In the end, I still have to rely on myself.'

Having thought this through, Bai Cheng ignored Si Nanchen's provocation and continued walking upwards without saying a word.

Seeing that Bai Cheng didn't react, Si Nanchen continued to recount Bai Cheng's disgraceful deeds to those around him. Although this infuriated Bai Cheng, he didn't have a good solution. If it weren't for the fact that this person was from the Si Nan family, he would never have let this fellow spout such nonsense.

Fifteen minutes later...

The group finally saw all the buildings of the White House Academy, which was built near the top of the mountain.

Towers of various styles were nestled among the mountains and forests, while in the distance, the magnificent palace's silver-white glazed tiles shimmered in the sunlight. The palace's outline appeared and disappeared in the mist, like a celestial palace in a fairyland, both solemn and mysterious.

The main buildings of the academy were built along the mountainside, arranged in a staggered and orderly fashion, each exuding an ancient and solemn atmosphere. As the group approached step by step, the stone steps beneath their feet led directly to a huge square in front of the academy.

As the group arrived at the center of the square, Bai Cheng was surprised to find a huge black stone monument, over thirty meters tall, standing in the very center of the square, with people dressed in White House Academy uniforms walking around it from time to time.

"Isn't this a spirit-testing stone tablet? Why is it so big?"

"This is not a spirit-testing stele, but a spirit boundary stele. The so-called spirit-testing stele can only test a person's cultivation physique, while the spirit boundary stele can test both cultivation realm and physique."

As Yang Zhi finished speaking, Hong Yun stepped forward to the front of the crowd.

"It's getting late today. The physical fitness test will begin tomorrow. I will arrange for you to rest in your respective student quarters. We will meet here at 3:45 AM tomorrow morning."

After saying that, several other students led Bai Cheng and the others in batches toward the academy's housing area.

As the curtain fell, Bai Cheng and the others followed the lead student to an area.