"It’s about to start."
At Heavenly Sword Peak, Wang Mu gazed at the treasure light in the sky. It was a signal that shone from Qianzhou.
Almost imdiately, the entire Sword Sect sprang into action. So disciples, eager to secure a good vantage point for the event, had already set out. Of course, most disciples accompanied their respective Sword Peak Masters to Qianzhou to attend this grand event.
Wang Mu, as usual, caught a ride, following Master Cheng on his Immortal Boat to Immortal Cloud Peak in Qianzhou.
There was no helping it. Master Cheng’s Immortal Boat was comfortable and could accommodate all the disciples of the Sword Sect. Moreover, during the journey, he could interact with many of the Sword Sect’s disciples, discussing their experiences and sharing what they had encountered over the past few years.
Of those in my cohort... it seems I’m the only one who has reached Golden Core.
After all, it had only been four or five years.
When I got right down to it, it was now about the end of my sixth year since joining the Sword Sect.
I spent a year in Ling Province, then after returning to the Sword Sect, a year passed with Mu Hongyuan. After coming back to the Sword Sect again, these recent days accounted for almost another year of Cultivation.
Unconsciously, six full years had already passed.
In the current Cultivation World, six years is actually quite insignificant. Of course, for so Cultivators, these six years could also bring about earth-shaking changes.
Sitting in a corner of the Immortal Boat and gazing down at the churning sea of clouds below, Wang Mu felt sowhat emotional. His experiences, year after year, always felt like walking a tightrope.
Of course, high risk ant high reward.
If he had just kept his head down and practiced hard within the Sword Sect, he might not even have reached the Foundation Establishnt Realm by now.
In fact, a few from his cohort, like Luo Qifang and Zhong Feng, were only at the Foundation Establishnt Realm Peak and had not yet crossed the threshold into the Golden Core Realm. By their estimation, they would likely need a few more years of consolidation.
This ti, the Sword Sect dispatched not only Wang Mu, a Golden Core Realm Cultivator, but also a total of thirty other disciples. Most of them were in the Golden Core Realm. Only two were at the Nascent Soul Early Stage, and they were nearing a hundred years old. They had joined the Sword Sect in the sa batch as the Eldest Senior Brother and were considered pillars of the Sect. Now, still under a hundred years old, they could still claim to be of the younger generation and hurried to participate in this one iteration of the event.
Speaking of the Eldest Senior Brother, he hadn’t joined the Sect by the ti of the last century’s Heavenly Pride battle, so naturally, he couldn’t participate. This ti, he had just missed the age/qualification window.
What defines a genius?
The Eldest Senior Brother is a true genius. If I cultivate fast enough, I’ll beco too advanced for these grand occasions before I even get a chance to attend!
Wang Mu stood up and paced for a bit, arriving at the center of the Immortal Boat. Master Cheng was currently explaining the details of the Heavenly Pride battle to the assembled disciples:
"The event is divided into three stages," Master Cheng began.
"The first stage is called the Immortal Cloud Competition. It’s the preliminary selection for the century’s Heavenly Pride battle. The ’Immortal Cloud’ refers to the one-hundred-thousand-li sea of clouds deployed around Immortal Cloud Peak."
He smiled faintly. "Each year’s Heavenly Pride battle has three stages. The first stage is the most crucial; it serves as a broad screening of participating Cultivators to eliminate those who do not et the basic requirents.
"This year, however, this stage is slightly more interesting. Immortal Cloud Peak is ten thousand zhang high, and the surrounding Cloud Sea stretches for a hundred million li. Within this Cloud Sea, the Dan King Sect has ingeniously placed many Spiritual Pills, Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, Spiritual Treasures, and unique Heavenly Pride Talismans.
"Moreover, various Spirit Beasts are suppressed within. They must be defeated one by one to obtain a Heavenly Pride Talisman, which grants official entry into Immortal Cloud Peak to participate in the Heavenly Pride battle.
"Profound Formations are set up within the Cloud Sea, along with special points for replenishing Spiritual Energy. Once inside the Cloud Sea, participants will be cut off from the outside world, imperceptible to external senses, and faced with special restrictions. It is an excellent opportunity for tempering."
"I’m not fully aware of all the specifics," Master Cheng admitted. "You should just have a general idea. If everything were known beforehand, this stage would lose its purpose. Also, it’s important to note that anything you obtain from the Cloud Sea is yours to keep.
"So, even if you don’t make it into Immortal Cloud Peak, as long as you participate, you’re guaranteed to gain sothing."
Everyone nodded.
"The second stage is called the Hundred Battles of Heavenly Pride."
At this, Master Cheng seed sowhat lancholic. "The term ’Heavenly Pride’ refers to the favored children of heaven, individuals so exceptional that even the heavens must acknowledge them. To beco such a figure, one must endure nurous challenges and tribulations, defeating enemies stronger than oneself. Success is impossible otherwise.
"This stage has always been where the true Heavenly Prides of each generation erge.
"The rules are quite simple. After the Immortal Cloud Competition, a preliminary ranking on the Heavenly Pride Rank will be determined based on the number of Spirit Talismans each person has obtained.
"The person at the top of this list will be designated the Heavenly Pride Champion."
Master Cheng paused. "Cultivators ranked lower can challenge those ranked higher than themselves. This continues until a hundred battles have been fought, or until no one dares to issue further challenges, lasting until the stage concludes."
Hearing this, everyone drew a sharp breath.
The Immortal Cloud Competition seed to involve an elent of luck, but the Hundred Battles of Heavenly Pride would reveal true strength. No matter how fortunate one might be, if their strength and foundation were lacking, they would undoubtedly be challenged and defeated.
The second stage was, in essence, the core of the century’s Heavenly Pride battle. It was also traditionally the most exciting series of Duels.
"The third stage is called the Ancient and Modern Discourse."
"Generally, this stage offers those nad on the Heavenly Pride Rank an opportunity to discuss the Dao with so Tribulation Crossing Level ancestors. Hmm... essentially, it’s a chance for them to receive pointers from these seniors."
Master Cheng stated, "This ti, it is hosted by the Dan King Sect. Their old ancestor is one of the few Ascension Realm powerhouses in the Nine Provinces and achieved Ascension through the Dao of Dan. If you could receive so guidance from her, it would benefit you for a lifeti."
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