Chapter 132: At Last We Meet, the Heavenly Pride's Battle Begins

Ning Yan's face was full of disbelief.

What's going on?

Xuan'er, why are you here!?

He merely glanced at the ten people walking over, and immediately spotted that familiar figure.

After searching the crowd a hundred times, he suddenly turned back—there she was, atop Azure Cloud Mountain.

"Hmm? Do any of these ten people know Senior Brother Ning Yan?"

"Just look at Senior Brother Ning Yan's expression—he must be here for his lover or an old flame."

"Holy crap! No wonder whenever they invite Senior Brother Ning Yan to do missions with the junior sisters, he always declines—damn!"

Ning Yan's shout stirred discussion among the sect disciples; they all strained to look ahead, wondering what kind of woman would appeal to Senior Brother Ning Yan, whose talent was the Eightfold Heavenly Pride, an imperial caliber.

Xiao Xuan'er, who had come with the crowd, heard that call, looked up, and saw that figure outside the Azure Cloud Sect gate.

"Brother Ning Yan!"

Xiao Xuan'er likewise exclaimed in surprise; she had originally planned to enter the Azure Cloud Empress to give him a surprise, but the surprise came so suddenly—her beloved was right before her—and she pulled Gu Qingcheng forward in quick steps.

Moments later, all ten had reached the mountaintop.

"We, the new disciples of the Azure Cloud Sect, pay our respects to the two elders."

The ten spoke in unison, clasping their fists.

Even if they failed the second trial, passing the first was enough to become Azure Cloud Sect disciples, so it's reasonable for them to call themselves that now.

"Just wait over there for now."

"The second trial will begin shortly."

Mu Shuixian said indifferently.

He swept his divine sense over them.

A few had decent talent and strength; they should be able to defeat the lower-ranked outer sect disciples and enter the outer sect.

After Mu Shuixian finished speaking, the six men and four women obediently stepped back to wait.

"Xuan'er, how did you get here?"

"Three years... three years..."

Ning Yan stepped forward and pulled Xiao Xuan'er into his embrace.

Both of their eyes brimmed with excited tears.

Three years have flown by—have you been well?

It's good to see you again, to hold you, to kiss…

"Damn, it really is!"

"Senior Brother Ning Yan's dao-companion is truly beautiful, her bearing extraordinary—indeed, heavenly prodigies match with heavenly prodigies."

"Just seeing this scene makes me happy for Senior Brother, yet I still feel a bit annoyed—what's going on?"

Seeing this, Inner Sect Senior Brother Qin Han felt a surge of sorrow.

Not long ago, he and Lin Yao were just like that.

But later… sigh! Heroes don't dwell on the past—Lin Yao, I, the Emperor, will surely cut you down!

The nine others who had passed also turned to look this way.

Only then did he see dozens of disciples in Azure Cloud Sect uniforms standing neatly behind him.

There were inner and outer sect disciples, each radiating a mighty aura, all extraordinary.

He couldn't help but wonder: what are these senior brothers up to? lining up to welcome the newcomers?

No! Absolutely not!

Imperial Sect geniuses have no leisure to waste on welcoming them.

All we can do is wait and see; relying on our talent to pass the second trial's talent test should guarantee entry into the outer sect.

Below.

The examination continues.

On the Heavenly Ladder, Lin family's heavenly prodigy Lin Bu Fan was struggling upward.

As one of the top hundred heavenly prodigies of the Five Regions, he believed passing this illusory realm ladder would be no problem.

Soon after sprinting onto the first step, he entered a new illusion.

"Xuan'er, you finally agreed to me!"

"There are a lot of people here, Xuan'er, we…"

Lin Bu Fan wore a pig‑brother grin; though his talent was his talent, his heart was clearly lacking, but he had a bit of perseverance—just enough ability to reach the hundredth floor.

In the illusion, he was confused by it; his wavering heart shattered instantly, and he was directly sent down.

"Mm, mm, mm!"

Lin Bu Fan, eyes closed below, had no idea what he was doing.

"Damn it! Young Master Lin, Young Master Lin!"

"Let go of me, you bastard!"

The man seized by the eyes‑closed Lin Bu Fan, after shouting a few times to no avail, was kicked to the ground and then scrambled backward.

"Hiss! Why does it hurt so much?"

"Huh? Why am I here?"

Lin Bu Fan, painfully opening his eyes after being kicked to the ground, looked around and wondered aloud.

Immediately he realized what was happening!

He should still be on the illusory ladder! Illusion… damn, it was all just an illusion!

I actually failed!

Lin Bu Fan unwillingly looked toward the mountain peak; he cannot just leave like that—if Xuan Er entered the Imperial Sect, he would have no chance left.

Wait and see.

Time passed, half a day later.

So far, hundreds of millions have been tested, but they keep coming in droves, and down below there are still large numbers untested.

But it doesn't matter; this time the Azure Cloud Sect's mountain-opening event still lasts ten days.

So there's no need to worry about not being able to make it in time.

At this moment, outside the sect on the mountain summit, two thousand cultivators who have reached the peak are already standing.

The area outside the sect is spacious enough; accommodating a hundred thousand people here is no problem.

Naturally, the area below the mountain gate is even more vast and boundless, which is why it can accommodate hundreds of millions of cultivators for simultaneous testing.

At this moment, outside the sect's central area, a huge dueling platform has been erected, personally crafted by the sect's Venerable Armorer Wu Xiao Ye; the formations on it can withstand a battle of Saint King Realm experts.

Such a minor formation, he can complete it with a wave of his hand.

The dueling platform is magnificent and imposing; its formations constantly flicker, filled with an endless stream of half-step Dao power.

The crowd looked bewildered— a martial arts platform?

Isn't the second round test supposed to distinguish inner and outer disciples by talent?

Could it have changed? Turned into an arena battle?

That's perfect; one can display their great strength before joining the sect.

Many strong heavenly-pride disciples thought likewise.

They were eager to give it a try.

"Congratulations to all who passed the first test; you are now my Azure Cloud Sect disciples."

"Then let this Saint explain the rules below."

"Behind this Saint are the Azure Cloud Sect's inner and outer sect heavenly-pride disciples, top-ranked on the leaderboard; now the second round test opens the heavenly-pride battle—defeat an outer sect disciple to enter the outer sect, defeat an inner sect disciple to directly enter the inner sect."

"Of course, if you don't pass, don't be disheartened; you can continue as a menial disciple—if your cultivation reaches Void Cave after a month, you may enter the outer sect; if it reaches God Transformation, you may enter the inner sect."

Inner Sect Elder Luo Chen stood before the two thousand disciples who had passed and spoke loudly.

Behind him were the forty inner and outer sect heavenly-pride disciples of the sect.

At this moment, the elder's words fell.

They simultaneously clenched their fists and said in unison: "Welcome, newcomers, to the challenge."

Each of their faces was filled with confidence, exuding a powerful aura.

They practice immortal arts and consume elixirs; unless one is a heaven-defying monster, who could defeat them at the same level? Moreover, each of them can fight across realms.

"What? Heavenly-pride battle!"

"Not a talent test? How great! With my strength, entering the inner sect should be easy."

This person exuded an aura—early God Transformation! A top heavenly-pride!

"Wu Cao! Shouldn't you? Boss, you're being so Versailles! In my view, you'll definitely enter the inner sect!"

The two thousand cultivators present all began discussing among themselves.

This news is fairly normal; many great sects recruit disciples this way, opening heavenly-pride battles— the strong rise, the weak fall!

What shocked them was that, at this age, only having cultivated to the fifth realm, Void Cave, qualifies one for the outer sect?

Moreover, those who can cultivate to God Transformation at this age are surely the top disciples of transcendent powers; coming to Azure Cloud Sect, they can only be inner-sect disciples?

Indeed, worthy of being the mighty Imperial Sect!

"This Saint declares: the heavenly-pride battle begins."

"Azure Cloud Sect heavenly-pride, take your positions!"