The Imperial City was the center of the Great Xia Country. This was the place where the underground Dragon Veins converged, and the Dragon Dao Power was at its most formidable. When Lin Xuan arrived, he felt the Dragon Vein within him begin to boil.
If I could cultivate here, my speed would increase imnsely, Lin Xuan thought.
But that was impossible. Normally, outsiders were not allowed to train in the Imperial City; only mbers of the royal family could enter. Other Martial Artists were only permitted inside when the Hidden Dragon Chart competition began.
At this mont, the Imperial City was imnsely bustling. Martial Artists filled every street and alley. There were young disciples and veteran elders alike. So ca to participate in the Hidden Dragon Battle, while others ca rely to watch.
These people gathered together, excitedly discussing this year’s Hidden Dragon Battle. One by one, the nas of top-tier prodigies were brought up and discussed with great excitent. Soon, a consensus was reached on the division between first-tier and second-tier participants.
The crowd paid the most attention to the first-tier geniuses. In their view, any of these individuals could make it into the top ten, and the champion would certainly be one of them.
Lin Xuan listened as he walked, eventually arriving before a palace. This was the gathering place for the Celestial Academy. Lin Xuan’s arrival brought a sigh of relief from the Wangyue Pavilion Master.
"You’ve finally arrived."
The others also turned their heads to look. The people from the Star Pavilion snorted coldly, while a trace of murderous intent glinted in Chu Yue’s eyes.
If I et Lin Xuan in the competition, I’ll torture him ruthlessly!
"So, how are things?" the Wangyue Pavilion Master asked. "Just how strong are you now? Are you in the second tier or the first?"
Lin Xuan shook his head. "I am neither in the first tier nor the second.
"My true strength is that of a Grandmaster!
"I have already surpassed the first tier!"
"What?"
Hearing this, the Wangyue Pavilion Master was stunned, and everyone else in the hall was completely dumbfounded. Then, they all frowned.
This guy is bragging again. A Grandmaster? Surpassed the first tier? Is he kidding? The people in the first tier are all half-step Grandmasters. Who could possibly surpass them? Only a true Grandmaster could. But who under the age of twenty can beco a Grandmaster? Even Chu Zhongtian couldn’t do it. How could Lin Xuan?
"What an idiot," Chu Yue sneered, choosing to ignore him.
Even I, who have mastered the Dragon Palm, wouldn’t dare make such a boast. How dare he speak so arrogantly? What a joke.
"I’m serious," Lin Xuan chuckled. He glanced around and his gaze paused when he saw Chu Yue. He sensed a familiar aura from her, but it was so weak that it left him slightly puzzled.
Forget it, Lin Xuan shook his head, not giving it much more thought. After all, he didn’t consider Chu Yue worthy of his attention.
Next, Lin Xuan rested in the palace.
「Three days later, the Hidden Dragon Chart officially began.」
During those three days, the Imperial City grew increasingly lively. On the third day, a thunderous sound erupted from deep within the Imperial City. The sound was like a clap of thunder, yet also like a dragon’s roar, and it echoed throughout the entire Imperial City.
Instantly, the Imperial City fell silent. Monts later, the crowd erupted into a frenzy. They knew the Hidden Dragon Battle had comnced.
"Let’s go," the Dean of the Celestial Academy said with a smile from within the palace. He had been in secluded training but had now co in person.
Under the Dean’s lead, everyone stepped out of the palace and headed toward the depths of the Imperial City.
Deep within the Imperial City stood a mountain called Purple Mountain. It had an extraordinary origin and was said to have existed for over ten thousand years. The Dragon Gate was located within Purple Mountain. Entering the Dragon Gate was, in essence, entering Purple Mountain itself. The interior of Purple Mountain was even more mysterious and unpredictable; even those who entered the Dragon Gate could not fully explore its secrets.
The area around Purple Mountain was bustling with activity, with people everywhere.
The arrival of the Celestial Academy caused a stir in the crowd. They hurriedly parted to make way. The Dean led Lin Xuan and the others forward, found a spot at the foot of Purple Mountain, and they temporarily sat down to rest and wait.
Next, more and more families and sects arrived.
"Look, a prodigy is coming!"
"Isn’t that Wan Tianming? The fiery aura around him is terrifying!"
"And that’s Ouyang Changfeng, isn’t it? Good heavens, he can already fly?"
"Truly unbelievable."
"These are all first-tier prodigies, all of them half-step Grandmasters."
"They’re all top contenders for the championship!"
The crowd buzzed with constant exclamations.
Soon after, more people arrived, this ti from the Celestial Sword Sect.
"Sword Wushuang! It’s Sword Wushuang!" the crowd cried out in astonishnt.
A man with a Treasure Sword strapped to his back strode forward. A monstrous Sword Qi surged from his body, causing the longswords held by the crowd to hum and vibrate as if in submission.
"Damn, Sword Wushuang’s Sword Qi is incredible! Could he have already comprehended Sword Intent?"
Elsewhere, the world seed to dim as if a vast, black sea was sweeping in.
The crowd exclaid, "The Bei Ling Sect is here!"
Within that dark sea, a man in a black robe appeared to walk upon the water.
"It’s Beichen!" soone shouted.
"Has he already cultivated the Beiming Technique to such a terrifying level?"
The Bei Ling Sect possessed a peerless Martial Art known as the Beiming Technique. Once mastered, it granted the user the power of Beiming. This black sea was an illusion conjured by Beichen using his Beiming Power, and it seed capable of engulfing everything.
Besides him, Cangyun Dragon, Yan Chitian, Du Xuaner, and others also arrived. Each one was an outstanding figure with a formidable aura.
These were all first-tier individuals!
At this mont, Chu Yue also stood up and walked forward. The crowd gasped again. "It’s the Moon Fairy, Chu Yue!"
"Although she’s only at the peak of the nine-star realm, her strength is said to be no less than that of a half-step Grandmaster."
"She’s a peerless prodigy capable of fighting opponents at higher cultivation levels."
"She is another supre genius of the first tier!"
The crowd was truly ecstatic. When had they ever seen so many prodigies gathered in one place? It seed this trip was not made in vain!
Soone else comnted, "There was a rumor that Lin Xuan had reached the first tier, but now that seems completely unreliable."
"Lin Xuan is just a five-star Martial General. How could he possibly compare to people like them?"
Another person argued, "Even if he can’t match the first tier, he’s definitely in the second."
"He’s only sixteen! He’ll have another chance at the next Hidden Dragon Chart competition.
"His future potential is boundless."
"True, he’ll have his chance to shine next ti. But this year, he has no hope of entering the top ten.
"At most, he’ll make it into the top thirty."
Following that, more family clans and sects arrived one after another. Finally, the mbers of the royal family arrived. The entire crowd rose to their feet and paid their respects.
Several ancestors of the royal family joined forces to activate Purple Mountain. A purple light illuminated the heavens and the earth. All around them, visions of the four Divine Beasts appeared: the Cyan Dragon, the White Tiger, the Vermilion Bird, and the Black Turtle. Various streams of auspicious light, like the fabled purple qi said to herald the arrival of a sage from the east, filled the air with an unfathomable mystery.
The crowd exclaid in awe. They had long heard of Purple Mountain’s mystique, and seeing it now, it was clear the legends were true. The sight of these visions alone was a breathtaking, eye-opening experience.
The purple light then began to gather on the mountain itself, coalescing into a series of steps that ford a staircase extending from the foot of the mountain all the way to its peak.
Is this the legendary Dragon Ladder? If you climb to the top, can you leap through the Dragon Gate?
Lin Xuan also stood up, his eyes glowing as he stared at the Dragon Ladder before him. He counted a total of ninety-nine steps.
It’s a bit like the Celestial Ladder in the Celestial Spirit Ruins. I wonder how many steps I can climb?
With this in mind, Lin Xuan turned and asked, "Pavilion Master, what was Chu Zhongtian’s previous record?"
The Wangyue Pavilion Master replied, "Chu Zhongtian’s previous record was eighty-six steps.
"That was an exceptionally brilliant achievent."
Eighty-six steps, huh? Lin Xuan nodded. "I can surpass him!
"I will break Chu Zhongtian’s record."
Lin Xuan now possessed the strength of a Grandmaster. When Chu Zhongtian had participated in the Hidden Dragon Chart, he was only a half-step Grandmaster. Lin Xuan was certain he could surpass him.
But the others did not know this. Upon hearing his words, the surrounding crowd was stunned.
This guy is too arrogant! He’s completely mad!
The people from the Star Pavilion openly rolled their eyes. "You? Break Senior Brother Chu Zhongtian’s record? Dream on," one of them sneered.
Chu Yue also rolled her eyes when she heard him.
Break my brother’s record? What a joke! This Lin Xuan is all talk.
She didn’t believe him in the slightest. In fact, no one did.
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