Before Lonesoul Island were the massive ships of the four academies that had arrived from different directions. Each ship was filled to the brim with people. It was fortunate that these ships were large enough, each capable of carrying at least 200 passengers without issue. This was purely a competition between the new generation. Each academy would send its top 100 disciples, two elders, and several overseers.

The elders leading the Dragon Phoenix Academy's group were Shadowflash and Feng Huosuo. Shadowflash was a powerful high-level elder, while Feng Huosuo was an ordinary elder. His severed arm had regrown, a product of a flesh-growing saint medicine he had consumed.

Behind them were the geniuses of the Dragon Phoenix Academy. Baili Yixiao, Zhan Wushuang, Yu Caidie, Ouyang Chuanqi, Yu Ziyang, Ye Linshan, Huang Tianji, Xiao Xie, and the others were all present.

Members of the Overlord Legion such as Han Chenfei, Tang Longfei, Xuan Yuantian, and Yuan Xuefen were present as well. Their cultivation levels had all grown, with the weakest of them being a sixth-stage Dragon Ascension Realm cultivator. Xuan Yuantian had reached the seventh stage, and he had obviously grown quickly after consuming some spiritual treasures and the draconic aura Xiang Shaoyun had gifted him.

The two elders from the True Martial Academy's side looked much younger but didn't seem any weaker than Shadowflash and Feng Huosuo. In fact, they seemed even stronger. This was proof that the two had broken through into the Heaven Battling Realm at a much younger age than Shadowflash and Feng Huosuo, which was how they had maintained their youthful looks.

The two looked to be around 30, as though they were at the prime of their lives with plenty of room to still grow. Standing behind them were 100 young geniuses in high spirits. The men were extraordinary and handsome, while the women were charming and beautiful.

Their overall strength was incredibly shocking, as all of them had reached at least the sixth stage. Not one of them was a fifth-stage Dragon Phoenix Academy cultivator, and 18 of them had even reached the ninth stage. Their number of ninth-stage Emperors was definitely double what the Dragon Phoenix Academy had. The True Martial Academy lived up well to its reputation of being the first ranked academy among the four ancient academies.

The Nine Palace Academy also had a similar number of people present, but something about them stood out from the rest. Their men were all dressed in martial uniforms with nine palaces embroidered on their backs. The women weren't dressed uniformly, but they all had the emblem of nine palaces pinned to their chests. From this, one could conclude that the Nine Palace Academy had incredibly good unity.

As for the Sacred Deer Academy, the majority of them were women. In comparison with the other academies, they had far fewer male disciples. Each female disciple had outstanding looks, causing the male disciples of the other three academies to look at them with burning eyes. At this moment, they were filled with envy toward the Sacred Deer Academy's male disciples.

The disciples of the four academies were the best of the young throughout the dominion. Thus, the competition between them had naturally caught a lot of attention. The elders of all four academies flew to the air and started briefing the disciples about the competition. Basically, they had to rely on themselves to get through the furred claw crabs on the island and reach the island's center.

There, they would have to find a secret space that would serve as their final battleground. Numerous treasures awaited them in the final battleground, and the disciples would remain there for half a year. After six months, the disciples would leave the space, return to the island, and battle each other for the final rankings to determine the strongest disciple.

Anything could happen during the competition. The disciples had only themselves to rely on if they wanted to stay alive. No outside help would arrive.

"We've told you all you need to know. True Martial Academy disciples, ready yourself!" said the True Martial Academy elder.

"Nine Palace Academy disciples, ready yourself!"

"Dragon Phoenix Academy disciples, ready yourself!"

"Sacred Deer Academy disciples, ready yourself!"

The disciples' battle intent surged; each of them wanted nothing more than to be the first to charge to the island and reach the secret space. But just as they were about to set off, Xiang Shaoyun's group arrived.

"Who dares approach Lonesoul Island? This place has been placed under lockdown by the four ancient academies," snapped one of the elders.

The disciples also looked over, and the Dragon Phoenix Academy disciples exclaimed in surprise when they saw who the newcomer was.

"Isn't that Xiang Shaoyun? I thought he had been expelled? Why is he here?" exclaimed a Dragon Phoenix Academy disciple.

With that exclamation, the disciples of the other academies also learned of Xiang Shaoyun's identity.

Someone said with derision, "So it's an abandoned disciple of the Dragon Phoenix Academy? What is he doing here? Is he here to stir trouble?"

Most of the disciples remained silent as they believed the Dragon Phoenix Academy elders would give them an explanation.

When Ouyang Chuanqi saw Xiang Shaoyun, an odd look covered his face as he muttered, "This fellow slipped off before fighting me. What is he doing here? Is he here to slap the academy's face?"

"Overlord!" Han Chenfei, Tang Longfei, Xuan Yuantian, and Yuan Xuefen cried out in excitement.

When the True Martial Academy disciples heard them, one of them said in a displeased manner, "Who dares to address himself as Overlord in front of our Little Overlord? Is he courting death?"

The overlord was an overbearing title that many powerful youths loved to have. Thus, it was unavoidable that many people would use it as their own title. A top-10 disciple of the True Martial Academy was also a self-proclaimed little overlord, and the disciple who had just spoken was his loyal attendant.

Tang Longfei replied unyieldingly, “Your leader is the Little Overlord, while our leader is the Overlord. From that, it is obvious your little overlord is only fit to be our overlord’s little brother.”

"Haha, you're right. I believe our overlord won't mind that," said Xuan Yuantian as he roared with laughter.

"You're courting death!" shouted the furious True Martial Academy disciple.

"There is no need to get all worked up over the Dragon Phoenix Academy's abandoned disciple," said a young man from the True Martial Academy indifferently.

"Bastard, what did you just say?" Tang Longfei, Xuan Yuantian, and Yuan Xuefen were infuriated.

At this time, the True Martial Academy elder said to Shadowflash and Feng Huosuo, "This is the internal affairs of your Dragon Phoenix Academy. Deal with it quickly. Don't waste everyone's time."

"Don't worry. Since this is an expelled disciple, he no longer has anything to do with us. All disciples may enter. If he dares to get on the island as well, you are free to kill without mercy," said Feng Huosuo.

Everyone understood what Feng Huosuo meant. Evidently, the newcomer was not welcomed by the elders of his own academy. In fact, they were hostile toward him. In that case, this became much easier to solve.

"I would like to see who has the guts to kill my master's disciple," a voice suddenly rang out.