Chapter 430

He turned to look back; the hall was completely empty, devoid of its usual bustle.

The Xian Sect Grand Competition, a famous event in the Tai Xuan Realm, normally drew enough spectators to fill several such halls.

Aside from the main arena, which was a real venue, all other arenas displayed the entire event via virtual projection—but even then, they were always packed, with not a single seat vacant.

Today's virtual projection technology is already highly advanced, with astonishing realism, not to mention the broadcasting rights licensed to major powers across the Central Continent and even the Starry Skies…

These were all massive sources of income!

This year, not a single copper coin came in—just thinking about it hurt.

Sigh~

Back then, I never realized how precious firewood and rice were until I ran the household.

He'd only been sect master for a few years, yet he felt he'd lost at least several hundred years of life!

Hmm…

But so far, no one has ever heard of a He Dao cultivator dying of old age, because due to the He Dao's unique nature, their lifespan should theoretically be infinite.

But that's only in theory…

Fuck!

By the way, why haven't those bastards arrived yet? It's already so late!

None of them take this seriously, huh!

Du Ruoheng's mind churned with chaotic thoughts, yet his expression remained serene and otherworldly; with a sweep of his wide sleeves, he sat down upon the Cloud Platform.

The Ancestors might be watching right now—of course, he must maintain proper decorum.

Not long after he sat down, several simple teleportation lights descended from the sky, landing on various Cloud Platforms, transforming into figures with distinct demeanors.

They were the other six Liudaxian Sect leaders, along with Chen Shang, the Grand Councilor of the Righteous Alliance.

Du Ruoheng rose to greet them.

No matter what he thought inside, the surface atmosphere remained harmonious.

Then, everyone took their seats in order.

Aside from Chen Shang seated to Du Ruoheng's right, the other Xian Sect leaders arranged themselves on either side according to their final rankings from the last Xian Sect Grand Competition.

That meant, on the left, in order, were the Grand Master of Taishang Dao Sect, Cheng Junming; the Grand Master of Ling Yin Fang, Li Wanwan; and the Grand Master of Jishigu, Chang Yue.

On the right were the Grand Master of Long Xiang Qing Tian Sect, Qin Wei; the Grand Master of Shenji Lianbao Pavilion, Guo Hong; and the Grand Master of Hehuan Sect, Shen Qingjun.

'Fuck! Du Ruoheng's this old bastard deliberately arranged it this way!'

Looking at Chang Yue, seated several seats away, Qin Wei's inner monologue blared with 'Body Cultivator's Elegant Speech.'

Still, mindful that the Ancestors were watching, he showed no expression on his face.

Shen Qingjun sat upright on the Cloud Platform, her skirt spreading out beside her, making her appear as if immersed in a blazing fire.

Majestic, noble, peerless.

Upon closer inspection, one could even notice the pattern formed by her spreading skirt was perfectly symmetrical, exuding great beauty.

As for why…

When you have a master with advanced OCD and a terrible temper, you'll understand why.

Internally grumbling, Shen Qingjun swept her phoenix eyes across the front, her crimson lips parting: 'Begin.'

Holding this pose was so exhausting.

Let's finish early and go home.

Supposedly, her master will return soon—before then, she must find a good chance to rest.

Though each had their own thoughts, they all quietly suppressed their distractions upon hearing her.

Du Ruoheng immediately rose to announce the start of the Xian Sect Grand Competition, then sat back down.

The team leaders of each sect began leading their contestants into the arena.

This year's Xian Sect Grand Competition was special, so all unnecessary rituals were skipped.

In past years, warm-up events, opening ceremonies, and all sorts of nonsense took up plenty of time.

This year, following the Ancestors' orders, they handled it as an exceptional case.

Conveniently, it also saved a chunk of expenses…

Du Ruoheng thought to himself.

…

…

Inside the arena.

Each sect made final preparations; team leaders repeatedly reiterated competition guidelines and introduced their contestants to the unique traits of other sects' techniques, along with targeted analyses of their 'weaknesses.'

For example, Zhao Ruoming of Taishang Dao Sect had a fragile Dao heart—he was literally cried out in the last Xian Sect Grand Competition by Chi Jiuyu; exploit this.

Aside from the three 'Ben Wo' lineages and the group of Lang Mie Tianren, the rest of Hehuan Sect are a bunch of layabouts—strike directly if conditions permit.

Jishigu's alchemists are all old schemers; don't chase a desperate foe, and always watch for environmental changes to avoid falling into alchemical arrays.

Long Xiang Qing Tian Sect are all brutes, stubborn and hard-headed; if you encounter them, retreat first, prioritize self-preservation, lest Taishang Dao Sect's idiots snatch the victory…

In short, when facing contestants from Jishigu or Ling Yin Fang, use 'ambush' tactics—they both excel at manipulating the environment.

When encountering Hehuan Sect's charm cultivators and joy cultivators, strike directly.

As for Jian Sect and Long Xiang Qing Tian Sect, don't strike first unless you have absolute certainty.

Lastly, always guard against Taishang Dao Sect's lao liu.

Shenji Lianbao Pavilion had no special countermeasures—their last defeat was too devastating to glean anything useful.

Though they underwent special training, no one knows what they trained for.

What if they've invented something new?

It's better not to rely on past experience, or you might be caught off guard and killed.

Amid the gradually tense atmosphere.

The Taishang Dao Sect's competing team appeared noticeably more "massive" than the others. According to the Spirit Net, this is called 【Steady Syndrome】, a psychological disorder arising from years of "steady" cultivation.

Once without an incarnation, steady-path cultivators become extremely uneasy, grow agitated, and bite anyone they see.

Only after recreating an incarnation do they recover.

Later, this so-called 【Steady Syndrome】 was disproven.

It turned out that Taishang Dao Sect's steady-path cultivators merely become even more "steady" without an incarnation.

Agitation? Pure nonsense!

Zhao Ruohan was also in the team, her expression turning strange as she felt the spirit plant seed inside her storage ring—its entire body emerald green, adorned with purple patterns.

Each person's "initial resources" allowed into this grand competition are strictly limited.

A dedicated evaluation system was therefore established.

Items to be brought in are assessed: Soul Transformation competitors may not bring initial resources exceeding one million spirit coins; Nascent Soul competitors get half that; Jin Dan competitors get half again.

!

Otherwise, bringing in a jade talisman sealed with a full-strength Dao Union strike could obliterate the entire Xuan Phase Realm and both its time branches in one blow.

And this single spirit plant seed consumed her entire quota of three hundred thousand spirit coins…

Looking up ahead, she saw her brother Zhao Ruoming straining to gaze toward Jishi Valley, constantly staring at their female disciples—drawing furious glares from every member of Jishi Valley, including their leader.

Master Xiao Yu was mortified, so he turned away, pretending not to notice their hostile stares.

"…"

Zhao Ruohan also turned away, pretending she didn't know him.

Of course, Zhao Ruoming himself paid no attention to others' "strange" glances.

After scanning around, his gaze finally settled on a tall woman in Jishi Valley's team—also wearing a sleeveless green robe, with a alchemy cauldron pattern embroidered on the front.

She wore her hair in a high ponytail, two strands of bangs interwoven in crimson and azure, and a white mask over her face; her heterochromatic pupils—green and red—must have been the result of a divine art.

As if sensing her gaze, those striking heterochromatic eyes turned toward her.

In that instant, Zhao Ruoming's heart surged with excitement.

It must be her!

It has to be her!

There's no mistake!

…

…

In the Xiang Jianzong's team, many had noticed the heavy tension between Taishang Dao Sect and Jishi Valley.

At first, they thought Taishang Dao Sect's old bastards had finally grown a spine.

But after a while, they realized it was because someone from Taishang Dao Sect was staring at Jishi Valley's girls!

emm…

It couldn't even be called staring—he was openly staring!

Tsk tsk!

In broad daylight, under the clear sky, morals have decayed, and people have lost their virtue!

This guy's probably going to be poisoned to death by their alchemists' toxic pills once he enters.

Hey?

Isn't that the one who cried after being beaten by Xiao Shu Zu last time?

This guy… really is bizarre.

Interestingly, Chi Jiuyu, who usually loved to watch gossip and drama, merely glanced once, then returned to daydreaming.

She was feeling terrible right now.

Because according to the evaluation system, her primordial sword alone consumed seventy thousand of her quota.

And that was only because it was her "primordial sword," and she was the sole "exception" of this competition.

Otherwise, seventy thousand wouldn't have been enough—even a million might not suffice!

"Sigh~"

Actually, this was normal.

Chi Jiuyu's sword was forged from excellent materials from the start, and over the years its rank had continuously risen through cultivation.

Not to mention two years ago, when she went to Xuan Sword City to retrieve Xu Xing after his cultivation breakthrough, and strengthened it once more in Yueying's Sword Cultivation Secret Realm.

That was a True Immortal's Sword Cultivation Secret Realm!

Even a trace of its influence was an extraordinary blessing.

Now, Chi Jiuyu's primordial sword could be called one of the most promising spirit swords in the entire Tai Xuan Realm.

But potential is still potential—without sufficient time, it cannot become actual combat power…

"Rope always snaps at its thinnest point; misfortune always targets the unlucky Jiuyu…"

Her green-gold longsword trembled slightly, as if delighted that its master had finally gained culture, no longer the illiterate who mispronounced "waste heaven's bounty."

Chi Jiuyu's expression darkened.

Who the hell is an illiterate?!

She was a graduate of the best university in Jian Province—with honors!

Soon…

"The Xian Sect Grand Competition will officially begin in thirty seconds!"

Du Ruoheng's voice rang out across the venue, yet it stayed confined within the venue's bounds, not a single wisp leaking out, sounding with perfect clarity in the ears of every participant of the Xian Sect Grand Competition.

In but an instant, all the clamorous noise within the venue abruptly fell silent.

Everyone looked up, only to see that pellet-sized Xuanxiang Realm, suspended in midair, suddenly began to swell violently at a speed visible to the naked eye.

In less than five seconds, it had expanded to nearly a thousand meters, covering the entire venue.

The congealed scenery within the realm was laid bare without reserve before the many participants of the Xian Sect Grand Competition; everyone cast their gaze into it, looking at that 'world' that seemed to have been scaled down countless of times proportionally. (End of this chapter)