NOVPUB"I understand," the Third Elder nodded in agreement.
"In addition, I’m well aware of Zimo’s strength. Reserve a spot for him as well," Xu Qingshan said indifferently.
The Third Elder was taken aback but still nodded in assent. The other Elders around did not say much either.
All of their direct disciples were over thirty years of age, many of them had participated in the previous grand competition.
Only the Great Elder’s face looked unsightly; in fact, he had wanted to recommend his grandson.
But considering Shao Xingyu’s recent state, he knew it was unlikely; his grandson had completely missed the opportunity to become the Saint Heir.
......
The day after Xu Zimei returned to Goose Southern Peak, the Third Elder came to visit and tested Xu Zimei’s strength personally.
When he found out Xu Zimei had already reached the pinnacle of the Empty Vein Realm, the Third Elder’s expression was almost frozen.
Although Baili Xiao had cultivated alongside Xu Zimei, it was understandable that her realm had advanced by leaps and bounds since she received the inheritance of the Empress.
But for someone like Xu Zimei, who usually kept a low profile within the sect, to have secretly reached this realm was astonishing.
He didn’t know whether the Deputy Sect Master had forcibly boosted him or if Xu Zimei’s talent truly defied the heavens.
Regardless, Xu Zimei now qualified to participate in the grand competition.
After the Third Elder left, Yan Buhui also made a special visit to Goose Southern Peak to see Xu Zimei.
Upon seeing Yan Buhui again, he seemed much more mature than before, his Sword Qi was restrained, his white clothes whiter than snow, far from the sharpness he radiated when they first met.
"You seem to have changed a lot," Xu Zimei smiled.
"I have received the inheritance of the Sword God," Yan Buhui did not hide it and admitted openly.
Xu Zimei smiled, drew Tyrant Shadow from his back, and slashed; a torrent of water lifted endless Blade Qi, splitting a chasm in front of them.
Yan Buhui hurriedly drew his sword in response. His aura had been calm, but the moment he drew his sword, sharp Sword Light swept around him, the Sword Qi bursting with blinding white light, painful to the eyes.
Blade met sword, Yan Buhui’s expression changed, he grunted and stepped back several paces, while Xu Zimei remained calm and unmoved.
Xu Zimei chuckled softly, sheathed Tyrant Shadow, and turned to walk out of the courtyard.
"Strive to chase after me; otherwise, you’ll lose even the right to look up to me."
......…
In the past few days, the rankings on the Hidden Dragon List of the Inner Gate had changed drastically, with fierce competition.
Many of the veteran Inner Sect Disciples were squeezed out of the top ten, while some previously unknown or unheard-of disciples climbed to the top one by one.
Three days later, the True Martial Holy Sect confirmed the list of disciples participating in the grand competition between the seven sects.
...…
A few days afterward, on an early morning, purple hues emanated from the east as a gentle breeze stirred the yellowing fallen leaves, whispering gently through the skies above the True Martial Holy Sect.
The willow trees on either side of the Sect Gate swayed gently in the breeze, with leaves turning yellow in autumn and departing, the bare branches standing alone, reminiscent of past prosperity.
A piercing cry shattered the comfortable tranquility, as on the eastern side of the True Martial Holy Sect, a sun tumbled down from the sky.
Boundless flames engulfed the entire sky, crimson flames like the drapery of the evening’s afterglow, turning half of the horizon a fiery red.
If you look carefully, you’ll realize it’s not the sun but a Golden Crow that is even more blazing and brighter than the sun itself.
The Golden Crow emanates dazzling golden light, and atop its back, there stands a group of youths in golden robes, with their heads held high and chests puffed out.
They have bright, piercing eyes and their expressions are calm yet faintly tinged with excitement.
Bathed in the golden radiance, they appear as warriors clad in golden armor.
Meanwhile, another sharp cry rises from the west of the True Martial Holy Sect.
A white Cang Luan flaps its wings slowly as it flies in from a distance, its pure white body looking extremely sacred.
A holy light radiates around it, and each time it flaps its wings, a few feathers flutter down gracefully.
On the back of the Cang Luan stand a group of women dressed in white, their garments as white as snow and their skin surpassing the whiteness of the snow itself.
Their long hair flows in the wind, and each carries an aura of celestial spirit, as if they are fairies descended from heaven.
"Look, those are people from the Immortal Spirit Sect," a disciple exclaimed upon seeing the scene above the Cang Luan.
The Immortal Spirit Sect, a sect known for its beautiful women, is the dream destination for many male disciples, but unfortunately, that sect does not admit male disciples.
......
A Demonic Sword cuts through the silent expanse of sky, its piercing sound exploding at the edge of the heavens.
In the south, Demonic Qi rises, shrouding the firmament in black. That Demonic Sword, a hundred meters long, bears a group of youths in black robes, their gaze indifferent as they ride on the sword.
An endless aura of killing intent emanates from them, and staring too long, one might envision a Sea of Blood in Purgatory before their eyes.
On the back of the black robes worn by these disciples, an embroidered character for ’prison’ can be seen.
This sect is the strongest in the Extreme West Region after the True Martial Holy Sect, the formidable Purgatory Holy Sect, home to not one but two emperors.
Under the sky tainted with Demonic Qi, the pleasant sound of flowing water suddenly rises.
A waterfall cascades from the ninth heaven, plunging straight down three thousand feet, its waters bursting with endless divine light.
The water, formless and colorless, rushes through the void, transforming now into Sky-reaching Ancient Trees, now into towering Giants, now into an Ancient Divine Beast.
In the end, the waterfall’s waters cover the vast seas, returning to their original form, and a group of youths in blue robes stand at its peak.
On their blue robes, embroidered at the back, is the character for ’spring,’ marking them as members of the Holy Spring Sect.
"The only ones left are the people from the Yin-Yang Sect," murmurs a disciple.
As the disciple’s voice fades, a resonating "hum" sound fills the space between heaven and earth, as if something has been awakened.
There, a black and a white point of light appear at the very center of this universe, the two points intertwining with each other, and in an instant, the Principle flows, and the light blazes forth magnificently.
It’s as if the entire sky has been split in two; half turns black while the other half turns white.
The black and white extremes blanket the entire canopy of the sky; it’s as if a resonating sound from the Great Dao descends, as if the sun and moon have begun to invert, with a long river rising from nothingness and turning into a sea of flames.
Atop these black and white points, stand a group of youths in black and white robes, marked on the back with the dual symbols of Yin and Yang, surveying their surroundings.
The leader among them is Wu Shaoqing, the current Sect Master of the Yin-Yang Sect.
As everyone’s hearts race with the shocking entrance of these six major sects, a loud laugh emanates from within the True Martial Holy Sect.
"Welcome to our Holy Sect, all of you who have traveled from afar," as the laughter rings out, Xu Qingshan steps from the void, each step encompassing heaven and earth.
