Chapter 183: The Martial Exhibition Ceremony Begins

The surrounding waves of exclamations did not alter the clear-eyed girl's expression in the slightest.

She walked calmly through the portal glowing with red spiritual light, entering the mysterious array ahead, where the previous several who had passed were already waiting.

This was a teleportation array leading to the Secret Realm.

The sudden eighteen-year-old Foundation Establishment completion was naturally Friend Friend Friend Meng Xuan, reborn.

For her, no bottleneck would arise before merging with the Dao.

'Must walk slowly…'

Though a Jin Dan would be within reach with just a few more days of focused cultivation, Friend Friend Friend Meng Xuan still intended to linger longer in Foundation Establishment completion.

As the Sword Ancestor and Xiang Yuanjun had said, accumulate more.

Nearby, some disciples who had passed wished to approach and strike up a conversation, leave an impression, and so on.

But seeing her distant, preoccupied expression, they gave up.

As time passed, more and more people passed through.

This was, after all, the final inspection before entering the Secret Realm; failure was virtually unheard of.

Just as this group of teleportees neared full capacity.

"Look! It's Chen Yuanlin!"

No one knew who spoke first, but everyone looked up to the sky.

There came a figure walking through empty air, clad in attire strikingly similar to Yuan's, bearing an extraordinary bearing and calm demeanor.

"It really is Chen Yuanlin!"

"Lord Chen Yuanlin!"

Chen Yuanlin's debut immediately revealed his terrifying popularity.

The foremost young genius of this generation, surpassing even the Xian Sect disciples, a peerless prodigy crowned with countless halos.

He had become a living legend in the eyes of the younger generation of the Alliance of the Righteous Path.

He landed at the rear of the line and waited quietly, lining up for inspection.

Those ahead wished to swap places with him, but he politely refused with a smile, calmly handling the surrounding commotion.

Every movement and gesture exuded the demeanor of a leader.

Yet Friend Friend Friend Meng Xuan cast him a faint glance and turned her gaze away.

The Xuan Realm brims with prodigies; eras change, and she has seen too many geniuses.

But… without merging with the Dao, all is ultimately empty.

And if brilliance is the measure, who could rival Yuan of the Thousand-Year Cave Truth? If legend is the standard, who among humanity or the myriad beings of the Xuan Realm could surpass those few 'Immortals' upon the cloud peaks?

Sigh~ Perhaps her thoughts stirred, and she could not help but recall the scene of the Immortals' final gathering…

"Teleportation is about to begin. Prepare yourselves."

The voice at her ear pulled her mind back; light gradually brightened before her, and she smiled faintly.

Even in rebirth, she had grown increasingly sentimental.

Hum~ A soft hum, accompanied by a distortion, filled her vision with light.

Long moments passed before the light faded.

Whoosh~!

The sound of surging waves reached her ears; a faint wine fragrance entered her nostrils and throat, refreshing and invigorating, stirring her internal true qi.

Before her stretched a vast wine lake, with platforms suspended within seven-colored auroras born of swirling spiritual energy.

Looking upward, she saw towering Xianshan peaks.

Amidst the clouds, ten cloud platforms were faintly visible atop the summits.

Yet Friend Friend Friend Meng Xuan, now only at Foundation Establishment completion, could not discern who sat upon which cloud platform.

Thus, after a short while, she lowered her gaze and turned toward the distant expanse of emerald waves.

Flowing clouds painted the sky; waves surged, breathtakingly beautiful.

Once, a single glance revealed all phenomena and pierced through to the truth.

Now, viewing it from the perspective of a Foundation Establishment cultivator, she felt new insights stir within her.

Quietly, silently, a realm as pure as clear blue water spread outward; all cultivators beside Friend Friend Friend Meng Xuan felt their hearts cleanse, their lingering ailments vanish, and all distracting thoughts dissolve.

Even Jin Dan cultivators above her felt a gentle breeze brush their hearts, leaving their spiritual platforms untarnished.

The principle of purity—the meaning of a dim mirror regaining clarity.

…………

Upon the cloud platforms, nearly everyone gazed downward. Friend Friend Friend Meng Xuan's display made it impossible to ignore; aside from those who knew her identity, all others were astonished.

"Such a peculiar 'principle,'" sighed the emissary from Jishi Valley. "The Alliance of the Righteous Path truly teems with prodigies in this generation."

First, there was Chen Yuanlin, a Soul Transformation at merely twenty-four; now, here is a prodigy of such youth who has achieved Creation Foundation Establishment—and at full completion.

"Hah! Not at all, not at all!"

The current Council Chairman, seated to Yuan's right—sixth position—laughed heartily.

As the saying goes, joy lifts the spirit; since this began, his smile had not ceased.

Yuan glanced at him with pity, sighing inwardly.

He himself worried about the day the man learned the truth.

"Do you know what has happened to Friend Friend Friend Meng Xuan, Brother Gu Mo?"

The voice of his fellow villager reached his ear.

Yuan paused, then replied: "I asked Master Friend Friend Friend Meng Xuan's permission beforehand; she did not wish me to tell Master Gu Mo, so I said nothing."

Xu Xing nodded and asked no further, turning instead to resume speaking with Xiang Yuanjun.

As time passed, the younger generation of the Righteous Alliance who were to participate in the Martial Exhibition all arrived.

Chen Yuanlin stood by Jiuhu, his gaze burning as he stared intently at the Cloud Platform, looking down upon Yuan.

A surge of heat stirred within his heart.

A true man ought to be like this! Since childhood, Chen Yuanlin had deeply admired Yuan—the most brilliant figure in a thousand years…

At nearly every moment, he strove toward Yuan as his goal!

Yet…

Yuan, for his part, found Chen Yuanlin's burning stare somewhat baffling.

I'm not some beauty—why are you staring at me like that?

But as the founding Chairman, a legend of the Alliance, he still had to maintain the demeanor of a senior master.

Thus, he remained calm and unperturbed.

Soon.

After exchanging a few words with Yuan, the current Chairman left the Cloud Platform and stepped forward.

"Today's Martial Exhibition is no ordinary affair!"

His voice reverberated through the clouds and mist, echoing in layers, the surging air currents lifting his sleeves.

But the content…

It was just the usual spiel about not being arrogant in victory or discouraged in defeat.

Still, the vast majority of participants reacted with great excitement upon hearing these words.

"The path of cultivation is long, the Dao fraught with obstacles—I hope all of you gain something from this Martial Exhibition!"

With this closing remark, the current Chairman returned to his seat.

It also signaled the beginning of the Martial Exhibition.

Chen Yuanlin moved first, stepping forward and landing upon one of the fighting platforms.

His figure stood tall and composed, then he bowed respectfully to those on the Cloud Platform.

"I humbly ask all senior masters for your guidance."

In past Martial Exhibitions, the victor could choose to seek instruction from the ceremonial envoys or senior members of the Alliance.

But now, among the younger generation of the Righteous Alliance, there was no one who could serve as his opponent.

Thus, he always directly sought guidance from the Xian Sect envoys who had come to observe.

Of course, this was entirely voluntary.

For instance, Jiang Yujiu, who was only at the Nascent Soul stage, had merely come to watch the spectacle and bask in the spotlight.

In past years, the Huanhe Sect's ceremonial envoys rarely descended to the arena themselves.

【Streamer, get up there! The No. 1 Heavenly Prodigy is asking you for guidance! / Grabbing popcorn】

【Go! Defeat him and you'll replace Chi Jiuyu as the Xian Sect's top figure! / Side-eye grin】

【Come on, the streamer's only Nascent Soul—ten of her wouldn't be a match for Chen Yuanlin】

The live stream's comments were densely packed, most egging her on to "instruct" Chen Yuanlin.

Jiang Yujiu rolled her eyes.

Can't fight at all! First chapter—please subscribe!

(End of chapter)