Heaven-Reaching Peak, Square Arena.
On the square of Heaven-Reaching Peak, countless rays of light fell like fragmented gold upon the high platforms built of white jade. Within the area enclosed by eighteen dragon-coiling pillars, cloud patterns formed from true qi swirled in the air, gently carrying the clamor of the disciples from various peaks—still conveying the lively excitement of a grand event, yet never becoming deafening.
Among the Eighteen Peaks of the Profound Firmament Upper Sect, Heaven-Reaching Peak was the residence of successive Sect Masters, akin to the capital of a dynasty, holding immense significance.
Yet, the current Sect Master of the Profound Firmament Upper Sect, Feng Linyi, refused to reside here.
Heaven-Reaching Peak was full of people and complications, housing the sect’s important administrative halls—managing the various peaks, liaising with other sects, governing subordinate sects, receiving the royal families of the Ten Great Dynasties…
Even at two or three in the morning, one could see streaks of light shuttling across Heaven-Reaching Peak.
As an outstanding graduate of the Emotionless Sword Dao, the single-mindedly Dao-seeking Feng Linyi was naturally unwilling to deal with these troublesome mundane matters.
Thus, she directly invoked her authority as Sect Master, delegating all these affairs to others, implementing a system where Acting Sect Masters rotated the duty.
After all, the sect had quite a number of Divine Lords at the Void Comprehension Stage, most of whom had no hope of reaching the Dao Integration Stage and were fated to remain at the Void Comprehension Stage for life.
Under these circumstances, they naturally shifted their focus from pursuing the Dao to grasping the reins of sect authority.
Therefore, although managed by rotating Acting Sect Masters, each one wanted to achieve some results, so everyone was quite diligent. At times, they even managed the sect better than several previous Sect Masters had personally.
At this moment, the current Acting Sect Master, Limitless Divine Lord, stood in the center of the high platform, surveying the grand scene below.
Although today was only the opening ceremony, the number of honored guests arriving to observe was enormous.
The royal families of the Ten Great Dynasties and First-Rate Sects went without saying. Even quite a few Transcendent-Rank Powers had sent representatives.
In two days, when the Main Tournament began, people from the Five Great Immortal Sects might even come.
This was both a show of respect towards the Profound Firmament Upper Sect as a Transcendent-Rank Power and an opportunity to assess the quality of the new generation of Profound Firmament Upper Sect disciples.
Those invited to observe usually held a certain level of status, worthy of representing their own sect. Some also brought promising younger members along.
“Sect Master Ming of the Illusion God Sect has traveled from afar; this Poor Daoist apologizes for not greeting you sooner.”
Limitless Divine Lord said with a smile, his tone carrying a touch of emotion.
He had been trapped at the Late Void Comprehension Stage for nearly a hundred years and could only occasionally serve as Acting Sect Master. Yet Ming Mengmeng, who was around his age, had long since attained the rank of Dao Venerable and ruled over the Illusion God Sect, a vast Transcendent-Rank Power.
However, Limitless Divine Lord was slightly puzzled. Normally, for a Sect Grand Tournament, a Transcendent-Rank Power like this would at most send an Elder or an Inner Sect Steward. Why would their Sect Master personally visit?
The last time Ming Mengmeng had come in person seemed to have been thirty years ago.
Faced with Limitless Divine Lord’s welcome, Ming Mengmeng merely nodded slightly, then continued playing with the wisp of deep purple illusionary qi between her fingertips.
Her reason for coming this time was simply to see Xiao Qingxuan, and also out of curiosity about her little lover, Ye Luqing.
Also, she wanted to ask if Xiao Qingxuan’s Sword Qi Seeds were for sale. She had indeed become somewhat addicted these past few days.
Her crimson eyes swept across the surroundings of the square, finally landing on the faint, illusionary figure on the eastern side of the high platform.
It was a fragment of divine sense Feng Linyi had condensed from sword qi. Though maintaining the dignity of the Sect Master, it held less than a tenth of the real person’s spirit.
She even suspected this phantom figure didn’t even possess sentience and was simply here to make up the numbers.
Ming Mengmeng chuckled lightly, her tone carrying a hint of teasing as she said:
“It seems your noble Sect Master disregards her guests a little too much, sending only a phantom to grace the Grand Tournament’s opening ceremony? Could it be she’s at a critical juncture, breaking through to the Tribulation Transcendence Stage, and can’t even spare the time to show her face?”
She would never miss any opportunity to tear down Feng Linyi.
Several elders from surrounding Transcendent-Rank Sects immediately chimed in with laughter, though their gazes, seemingly casual, all drifted towards that phantom. They were clearly quite curious about Feng Linyi’s absence.
Any Heavenly Lord at the Spirit Transformation Stage, once they grasped the Power of Heaven and Earth, could see something was wrong with that phantom of Feng Linyi.
Hearing this, Limitless Divine Lord’s expression also became somewhat awkward.
Feng Linyi had told him she wouldn’t attend the Grand Tournament in person, at most sending a doppelganger to observe.
But this doppelganger was far too perfunctory, wasn’t it? She could have at least made one capable of fooling those at the Spirit Transformation Stage.
“My apologies, everyone. Our Sect Master just emerged from seclusion a few days ago and is still stabilizing her realm…”
Hearing this, Ming Mengmeng raised an eyebrow and glanced towards the seating area designated for Azure Sky Peak.
Just as she had expected, Bai Yuhan was indeed absent.
“Hah…”
There was no need to speculate. Knowing Feng Linyi’s temperament, she was most likely engaged in those improper matters. Where would she find the time to care about a trivial Sect Grand Tournament?
Watching Illusion God Sect Master Ming Mengmeng take her seat, Limitless Divine Lord finally breathed a sigh of relief.
He glanced somewhat guiltily at Feng Linyi’s phantom. The fingertips of that phantom, he noticed, trembled almost imperceptibly, as if someone far away were being teased by sword qi and stifling a moan.
Now, he could only pray that this Lord Sect Master wouldn’t cause any trouble, or else if that “Grand Elder” got upset, another huge fight would break out…
…
Meanwhile.
“Wow.”
Ying Qianqian looked at the magnificent scene before her, unable to suppress a soft exclamation.
Ye Luqing also seemed infected by the lively atmosphere, her amber eyes sparkling brightly.
Across the vast square of Heaven-Reaching Peak, disciples from the Eighteen Peaks formed over a dozen lines, led by their respective Peak Elders and Peak Lords.
Unlike the esteemed guest observers seated high above, even Direct Disciples were expected to spectate around the arenas.
The Peak Elders and Peak Lords gave a few instructions before flying up to the high platform, preparing to watch the performances of their disciples.
Although today was only the first day of the Grand Tournament, every single arena in the square was instantly packed, layers upon layers of disciples surrounding them.
Every match would receive the attention of numerous fellow disciples, ensuring that each round of advancement was witnessed under the eyes of their peers.
Although Direct Disciples didn’t need to participate in the two-day preliminary selection matches, it didn’t mean they wouldn’t come to observe.
And the arrival of Ye Luqing and Ying Qianqian drew considerable attention from the crowd.
“Did you hear? Azure Sky Peak’s Duo Tournament team of Direct Disciples this year is actually a Dual Formation Cultivator lineup!”
“Dual Formation Cultivators? Wouldn’t they just get their heads bashed in?”
“Yeah, even some of the Inner Sect Duo Teams are hoping to draw Azure Sky Peak’s duo. Facing them is basically guaranteed advancement.”
The Main Tournament for the Duo Event started from the round of thirty-two. Winning four consecutive matches meant claiming the championship; winning three would earn the reward of an Earth-Rank Dharma Treasure.
Among those thirty-two spots, Inner Sect Disciples typically occupied less than half.
Those Inner Sect Disciples were usually eager to avoid facing Direct Disciples from other peaks. Running into two Nascent Soul Stage cultivators—just the spiritual pressure alone was more than these Golden Core Stage cultivators could handle.
But according to rumors, the originally Late Nascent Soul Stage Ye Luqing had been severely injured during a recent mission, her cultivation dropping to the Golden Core Stage. The other Direct Disciple, Ying Qianqian, had only joined the sect for three years and had just broken through to the Golden Core Peak Stage.
Coupled with the Dual Formation Cultivator lineup, facing them basically meant a free pass to the next round.
Feeling the whispers of these people, Ying Qianqian bit her lip slightly and clenched her fists.
Even so, she would not give up.
On the other side, Ye Luqing wasn’t surprised by their reactions; she just found it strange.
How had their duo lineup been leaked?
Only her Shizun, Bai Yuhan, and Xiao Qingxuan knew on her end, and Little Ying was tight-lipped—she couldn’t have leaked it to others.
As if seeing through Ye Luqing’s question, Ying Qianqian sighed softly and spoke quietly:
“It was probably Tao Xiaoxian who said it.”
Knowing Tao Xiaoxian as she did, that person would stop at nothing to win.
After all, their bet was on who could advance further. If they were eliminated prematurely by another team, Tao Xiaoxian could win without even fighting.
