Chapter 27: Child of Destiny

A burst of clamor interrupted Lu Chen's cultivation.

He stepped out of the room and glanced outside, seeing many disciples in the hall lining up to leave.

"Just joined the sect a few years ago, I don't even know what the Grand Competition is like."

"It's said that as long as you pass the first round of selection, you can receive a reward."

"Don't daydream; the first round can eliminate ninety percent of people, and we are just filler."

Lu Chen had already learned the basic rules of the Grand Competition from Su Qian earlier.

Because the Grand Competition is organized by the Heaven Demon Sect to select new Holy Sons and Holy Daughters, only inner-sect and core disciples are eligible to participate.

After three rounds of selection, one male and one female are ultimately promoted to become the Holy Son and Holy Daughter of the Nine Abyss Sect.

Holy Sons and Holy Daughters not only receive sect resources, but also gain the qualification to study at the Heaven Demon Sect.

"I vaguely recall that when I first joined the Myriad Slaughter Emperor Sect, it was also because I stood out in the Grand Competition, which allowed my cultivation to proceed smoothly all the way."

Empress Qi Luo's soul form flew to Lu Chen's side and spoke, slightly contemplative.

"Although it's not the same world, the method for selecting talented disciples is still universal."

"However..."

The Empress said, and suddenly her eyes turned cold, as if she had remembered something.

"You'd better be careful; displaying holiness in public isn't necessarily a good thing."

"Demonic cultivators have dirty hearts; maybe selecting the Holy Son is to serve as a furnace cauldron for someone from the Heaven Demon Sect—it's not impossible."

"Even if it's not a furnace cauldron, there are other possibilities."

"For example, the Myriad Soul Banner that can refine souls, or the Soul-Swallowing Avatar Grand Method that refines flesh and spirit into puppet avatars."

"Or perhaps the Poison Gu Immortal Cultivation Technique, the Great Nether Soul Drawing Technique, and so on..."

"I know." Lu Chen's eyes showed determination.

He too understands this principle.

Demonic cultivators are like that—you want their techniques, they want your body and soul.

At its core, it's merely the law of the jungle.

The reason he still wants to join the Grand Competition under these circumstances is largely due to the Six Great Demonic Arts of the Demonic Arts Pavilion.

As forbidden demonic arts of the same rank, the Heart-Soul Guiding Technique is so powerful that the other five are not much weaker.

Having said that, he followed the other disciples and flew toward the area above the sect plaza where the Grand Competition was held.

However, because of recent events, his fame among the inner-sect disciples has risen sharply.

Because his sword-flying technique is not very proficient, it has even attracted many curious glances.

"He seems to be that Lu Chen who explored the Three-Day Ancient Tomb, only to hide for three days out of fear."

"Look at his clumsy sword-flying technique; he probably just hastily practiced it these days."

Lu Chen didn't explain; upon arriving at the plaza, he quickly found Su Qian's location.

"Master."

In front of everyone, he approached Su Qian and performed a respectful salute.

"Hmm, rise."

As Su Qian spoke, a patch of red suddenly appeared on her face.

Although she showed no expression, her inner feelings at this moment must be very complicated.

Before Lu Chen arrived, his three senior sisters had already arrived.

The three of them stood behind Su Qian, and upon seeing that Lu Chen's cultivation realm had changed again, they couldn't help but look somewhat surprised.

"Late Foundation Establishment... just a few days ago, during dual cultivation, hadn't he just broken through to Foundation Establishment?"

Gu Xiangxiang's brows furrowed slightly, but her face showed some happiness for Lu Chen.

In her view, the Master naturally has his reasons for accepting disciples; since we are now fellow sect brothers, Lu Chen becoming stronger is a good thing.

Compared to her relief, Mei Qianxue's face showed a hint of jealousy.

"Just how many cultivation resources did the Master give him?"

"At his rate, won't he surpass me in just a few months?"

Originally, due to the Master's instructions, she hadn't gone to find Lu Chen for dual cultivation these past few days.

But seeing Lu Chen's cultivation realm surge, the thoughts in her heart began to stir again.

"Late Foundation Establishment... the efficiency of dual cultivation is dozens of times that of early Foundation Establishment."

"If we could keep dual cultivating, not to mention breaking through to Elixir Formation, reaching Spirit Transformation within five years would not be impossible."

"As long as we give him a bit more resources after dual cultivation and keep it from the Master, there won't be any problem."

As Lu Chen stood beside his three senior sisters, their gazes underwent some changes again.

Gu Xiangxiang's face still showed relief, but she seemed to be recalling something.

Gu Xiaoxiao was also lost in thought at this moment, but she seemed to be recalling the role-play from their previous dual cultivation; thinking and thinking, she suddenly left the Grand Competition site.

Meanwhile, Mei Qianxue looked at him with the gaze of someone eyeing prey.

Because the elders haven't all arrived yet, we still need to wait a while.

At this time, Lu Chen wasn't idle either; he chatted with Empress Qi Luo.

The Empress spoke thoughtfully: "Have you heard of the Power of Destiny?"

"Destiny?" Upon hearing her, Lu Chen's expression froze.

"Everyone's destiny changes moment by moment, but without a great opportunity, destiny almost directly determines a person's life."

"For low-realm cultivators, the strength or weakness of destiny hardly has much effect, but gradually it influences everything related to them."

"Look at your Mei Senior Sister; her destiny is much weaker than that of your other senior sister."

"If there are no major accidents, her future achievements will only be below your other senior sister."

Hearing the other party's profound and mysterious words, Lu Chen only felt a bit dazed.

However, he also clearly understands the importance of fortune for a cultivator.

He is not worried about his fortune being insufficient.

After all, the Myriad Slaughter Demonic Canon, after the system's reversal, can directly boost fortune during cultivation.

However, although he doesn't worry about his own fortune, he is also curious.

Since fortune represents future achievements, then within the Nine Abyss Sect, whose fortune is the strongest?

"Female Emperor older sister, among everyone present, whose fortune is the strongest?"

Upon hearing Lu Chen's question, Qi Luo the Female Emperor raised her brows, a hint of playful color flashing in her eyes.

She lightly raised her jade hand, a faint light glimmering at her fingertips, as if she could see the invisible force of fortune between heaven and earth.

She swept her gaze over the people present.

Immediately after, her expression changed drastically, the previously playful expression instantly retracted.

In its place came something unfathomable.

"How about it? Female Emperor older sister?"

Lu Chen asked impatiently.

Unexpectedly, the Female Emperor smiled slightly, seeming not intending to answer.

"What's the point of acting mysterious now..."

Lu Chen sighed, he knew that given the Female Emperor's personality, if she didn't intend to speak, she wouldn't.

What he didn't know was that the Female Emperor's inner turmoil was surging at this moment.

Because just now, she discovered that several heaven-defying fortune existences had appeared around her.

First is the woman beside her, Su Qian.

Also, Gu Xiangxiang beside Su Qian.

They both shimmered with purple fortune aura.

This is an omen of great opportunity.

However, this is not enough to shock her.

After all, as a demonic cultivator, she has seen and killed too many heaven-defying fortune's children of fortune.

The reason she is shocked is because she discovered that her own fortune, for some unknown reason, suddenly surged.

Originally practicing demonic techniques, her fortune had already fallen to a state worse than that of a mortal.

But now, her body actually shimmered with golden light.

The golden fortune that countless orthodox cultivators accumulate merit to achieve actually appeared on her.

"Could it be because of Lu Chen?"