Chapter 265

"What Divine Ability does that junior brother cultivate? His cultivation speed is astonishingly fast."

In the alchemy chamber, Jialan was also cultivating, but she sensed the changes in the purple bamboo grove on Jialan Peak.

Normally, according to the cultivation speed of an average person, the spiritual energy contained in these eight hundred mu of purple bamboo would be enough for a Heavenly Man Realm cultivator to absorb for several days, even over ten days.

But now, in less than half an hour, the entire eight hundred mu of purple bamboo had withered, all its spiritual energy absorbed—could this cultivation speed possibly be too fast?

"That Senior Brother Yu has always had extraordinary fortunes. When I went on a pilgrimage with Senior Brother Fang Yu, I was stunned by his cultivation speed and his extraordinary luck—he even obtained a Top-Grade treasure, the Five Hell Wang Ding, on his very first journey outside the sect. It's unimaginable. Now Senior Brother Fang Yu's cultivation base has reached the Heavenly Man Realm; clearly, he is a man of great destiny. Why doesn't Senior Sister join Senior Brother Fang Yu on a pilgrimage?"

Long Xuan spoke up. "Perhaps Senior Sister could also go with Senior Brother Fang Yu to the Gui Xu region and explore it. I heard that Fang Qingxue of the Fang family obtained some relics of the Ancient Lei Di there and made tremendous progress in her Divine Abilities."

"The Gui Xu region? I've been there several times, but its situation is complicated. Back then, the ancient immortal-demon war shook heaven and earth, piercing open the passages between our world and other worlds. If I were to venture deep inside and travel to other worlds, the dangers would be immense. But if I only explore the periphery, it's useless."

Jialan shook her head, her gaze sweeping over Fang Yu, who was cultivating in the distance.

"Senior Sister has great ambition—after reaching the Longevity Secret Realm, you wish to emulate the Exalted Linglong Xianzun and establish your own Linglong Blessed Land. The Exalted Linglong Xianzun was originally a disciple of Rantaiyi Sect. Because she learned a heretical Dao art, Rantaiyi Sect hunted her relentlessly. She escaped, and in a fit of rage, founded her own sect, eventually establishing Linglong Blessed Land, one of the Xiandaoshi Sects, which even Rantaiyi Sect could not suppress. Three thousand years ago, there were only nine Xiandao Sects."

Long Xuan said.

"Precisely because of the Linglong Crisis three thousand years ago, modern Dao sects no longer strictly forbid disciples from cultivating other sects' techniques. Of course, Rantaiyi Sect remains as rigid as ever. But I've sensed that Hua Tiandu has grown increasingly close to Rantaiyi Sect and intends to import its rigidity into our Yuhua Sect, imposing even stricter rules. If this continues, Yuhua Sect will become unbearable—I'll face terrible restrictions. I will eventually emulate Linglong and establish my own sect. I sense Fang Qingxue has the same idea. But the Fang family has produced Fang Yu—truly enviable."

Jialan exhaled deeply.

"Senior Brother Hua Tiandu? How does his magic power compare to Senior Sister's?"

Long Xuan asked curiously.

"Hua Tiandu received the inheritance of Pan Wu Xianzun and obtained the legendary Pan Wu Great Strength Divine Ability. His magic power is truly boundless, far surpassing ours. In my view, even if all four of our Five True Disciples combined, we still might not be his match."

Jialan paused, her expression turning solemn. "I've heard the Pan Wu Great Strength Divine Ability can open nine brain seas. In the first level of the Divine Ability Secret Realm, his magic power is nine times that of others."

"Nine brain seas!"

Long Xuan's expression shifted sharply.

Ordinary cultivators entering the Divine Ability Secret Realm possess only one brain sea. How much magic power one brain sea can store is obvious.

But the Pan Wu Great Strength Divine Ability enables cultivators to open nine brain seas—that's nine times the magic power. When this multiplier accumulates across higher realms, the sheer terror of such power becomes unimaginable.

It's simply inconceivable.

"Our Yuhua Sect has a Senior Brother like this—one who is utterly devoted to Rantaiyi Sect—truly…"

Long Xuan also felt a heavy gloom.

Her spiritual sense suddenly turned toward Fang Yu, who was cultivating nearby, and a thought arose in her heart: Could this Senior Brother Fang Yu surpass Hua Tiandu?

"Difficult. Too difficult."

Ding, ding, ding.

Just as Long Xuan and Jialan were pondering, suddenly, the sound of Zhong Sheng rang out across Yuhua Xianshan.

Amidst the swirling snowflakes, the bell rang continuously.

This bell was different from the last "Heaven-Earth Alarm Bell"—it was not struck in Yuhua Tiangong, but came from Shanhe Academy.

One toll after another, slow and resonant.

This signaled the beginning of the Yuhua Sect's Shanhe Ranking Tournament.

The Shanhe Ranking Tournament is a contest among Yuhua Sect's nei sect disciples, but true disciples and outer sect disciples also come to watch, for the nei sect disciples stand between the true disciples and the outer sect disciples—they are candidates for true disciples and role models for outer sect disciples.

Thus, this tournament draws not only nei sect disciples, but also outer sect disciples and some true disciples.

"The Shanhe Ranking Tournament is about to begin. Senior Brother Fang Yu, let's go watch together."

Jialan stepped out of the alchemy chamber, followed by several female true disciples.

"Alright."

Fang Yu grunted, and the group flew off together.

Along the way, they saw disciples trudging through the heavy snow toward Shanhe Academy, the tournament's battleground, where the Shanhe Ranking List hung high.

Countless murmurs from disciples reached Fang Yu's ears.

"This time, the Shanhe Ranking is being redrawn, and I heard the sect's rewards are extremely generous—the first-place winner will receive a treasure weapon! Many powerful upper-grade spiritual artifacts as well. Rumors say there's even a Yin-Yang Wan Shou Pill—far more valuable than last year's rewards. Who on earth will claim such a precious prize?"

"The Qunxian Assembly of the Xiandaoshi Sects is coming in just a few years. This time, the sect wants more nei sect disciples to reach the Divine Ability Secret Realm, so they've invested heavily to cultivate disciples, hoping they'll bring glory to the sect at the Qunxian Assembly."

"There's one good thing this time: Senior Sister Long Xuan won't be dominating the ranking anymore—she's been promoted to true disciple and no longer needs to hold the Shanhe List."

"That's true. Senior Sister Long Xuan has held the top spot for several consecutive tournaments—her strength is undeniable. But now she's broken through to the Divine Ability Secret Realm, reached a new level, and won't compete with us anymore."

"Senior Brother Ye Nantian's strength is formidable. I heard he even visited Senior Brother Wan Luo's true disciple peak. He's clearly aiming for first place this time."

"The first-place reward this time includes a Yin-Yang Wan Shou Pill—even Senior Brother Wan Luo desires it greatly, which is why he's cultivated Ye Nantian."

"I wonder if anyone will break through into the Divine Ability Secret Realm during this tournament. Rumors say it's happened before—senior brothers and sisters have broken through mid-battle, entered the Divine Ability Secret Realm, and seized all the glory."

"Who knows? The Divine Ability Secret Realm is no small matter—step into it, and you ascend straight to heaven."

Many were discussing when Fang Yu, Jialan, Long Xuan, and others arrived. Instantly, someone spotted them.

"Ah, Senior Sister Jialan has arrived! Let's quickly pay our respects!"