Chapter 424: Chapter 423: The Battle for the Slots Begins
Three days passed in the blink of an eye. Three days later, at the first light of dawn, the Celestial Spirit Sect was abuzz with activity. Countless disciples rushed toward the Central Martial Arts Arena. Today was the day of the Sect’s qualifying tournament, a competition that all the powerful disciples would be participating in. It was a rare and spectacular occasion!
"I heard a lot of the older disciples rushed back from outside the Sect just for this qualifying tournament! It looks like this competition is going to be a good show!"
"Those older disciples have probably all reached Tier Nine Spirit Marquis Peak by now, right? I wonder if any of them will be able to qualify directly?"
"Probably not. They’ve been away from the Sect for a while, after all. Besides, there are only ten slots for the Desert Ancient City. With Xue Shitian and Shen Haoran already taking two, there are only eight left. The Sect still has to look out for us new disciples!"
"I was fine until you brought him up. Now I can’t stop thinking about Shen Haoran. I heard that kid is only a Tier Five Spirit Marquis and has only been in the Sect for a little over a month, but he got to qualify directly. It’s so unexpected!"
"To be honest, I wasn’t convinced by him before, but after he took out Lin Feng with one punch in the Central Martial Arts Arena three days ago, I’m completely won over. Lin Feng still hasn’t recovered from his injuries and won’t even be able to participate in this tournament! That kid is the real deal. I bet even those older disciples couldn’t seriously injure Lin Feng with a single punch."
"Is he really as strong as you say? I’d really like to see this Shen Haoran for myself!"
A constant stream of chatter rose from the plaza, with most of the discussion revolving around the qualifying tournament.
BONG... BONG... BONG...
Just as the crowd’s discussion reached its peak, a few melodious bell chimes rang out, and the entire Celestial Spirit Sect instantly fell silent. Everyone raised their heads, their eyes filled with fervent adoration. They watched as Tian Ao strode through the air, while several Elders leaped up from below to join him. These were the Sect Leader and Elders of the Celestial Spirit Sect—the most powerful people within the Sect, and the ones most admired by the disciples.
Tian Ao stood in mid-air, his hands clasped behind his back. He looked down at the disciples, who were brimming with youthful energy and vigor, and nodded in satisfaction. Then, he spoke in a clear, resonant voice, "Today is the day we select those who will earn a place to enter the Desert Ancient City. I’m sure you all know about the Desert Ancient City. It is filled with countless opportunities, Cultivation Techniques and Martial Skills, and even the legacies of powerful experts are not uncommon. This is the best opportunity for all of you. If you want this chance, then show me your strength! Only those who pass the qualifying tournament will earn this privilege! I now declare that the qualifying tournament... officially begins!"
ROAR...
As Tian Ao’s voice faded, a deafening cheer erupted from the entire plaza. The powerful sound wave pierced the clouds and soared into the heavens.
"The rules of the qualifying tournament have been explained to everyone before. It will be a single-elimination tournament. The final eight who advance will earn the right to go to the Desert Ancient City. Good luck!" Tian Ao said with a smile.
However, upon hearing Tian Ao’s words, some of the Martial Artists below were displeased. Someone immediately shouted, "Sect Leader, aren’t there ten slots for the Desert Ancient City? Why are there only eight now?"
"Yeah, why only eight?" After that voice faded, several others echoed the sentiment. A quick glance revealed that the ones voicing their dissatisfaction were the older disciples of the Celestial Spirit Sect. They hadn’t returned to the Sect in years and were naturally unaware of the matter concerning Shen Haoran and Xue Shitian.
"There are ten slots. However, two individuals have earned the right to bypass this qualifying tournament based on their strength," Tian Ao said flatly.
"Two people? Xue Shitian? And who’s the other one?" the older disciples pressed. As senior disciples, their strength was naturally greater than that of the younger ones. ’Why don’t we get to qualify directly, while some new disciple does?’
"Shen Haoran!" Beside the older disciples, some of the new disciples couldn’t wait to say his name.
"Shen Haoran? Never heard of him. Is he very strong? I haven’t seen his name on the Hidden Dragon List." Upon hearing the name, the older disciples all furrowed their brows. They had no recollection of this Shen Haoran whatsoever.
"In terms of strength, not really. He’s only a Tier Five Spirit Marquis. But he can take out a Tier Nine Spirit Marquis Level disciple in one punch!" someone recounted Shen Haoran’s battle record.
Hearing this, the older disciples were stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing. "Haha, a Tier Five Spirit Marquis? Trash like that gets to qualify directly? And he one-shot a Tier Nine Spirit Marquis disciple? Are the new disciples all this pathetic nowadays? Or has the Celestial Spirit Sect gotten less picky with its recruitment? They’ll let just anyone in?" The older disciples’ laughter was filled with unconcealed contempt for the new disciples.
"Hmph, what’s there to be so arrogant about? So you’re a few years older than us and have had a few more years of Cultivation? Aren’t you still relying on the Sect’s resources to get by? And you have the nerve to mock us!" Hearing the older disciples’ taunts, the surrounding new disciples were all quite displeased.
"Sect Leader, I object to Shen Haoran qualifying directly! He isn’t worthy!" the older disciples shouted in unison.
Hearing this, Tian Ao couldn’t help but frown. ’Shen Haoran just managed to subdue the new disciples a few days ago, and now another defiant group pops up. These disciples are truly restless.’
"Sect Leader, please call out that kid, Shen Haoran! We want to see just what he’s capable of!" the older disciples clamored.
"Go, bring Shen Haoran out here. It’s time to knock these little brats down a peg!" Tian Ao said to an Elder beside him, seeing the arrogant look on the older disciples’ faces.
"Sect Leader, that boy Shen Haoran is in the back mountains cultivating a Martial Skill. I doubt he has the time," the Elder said helplessly.
"It will only take a few minutes. Have him come deal with this mess first," Tian Ao said again.
"Alright then!" Hearing this, the Elder could only nod and prepare to head for the back mountains. But just as he was about to move, a heaven-shaking roar suddenly echoed from the back mountains.
ROAR...
The next moment, a tangible sound wave spread out like lightning. Space itself began to tremble wherever it passed. Under the force of this sound wave, two of the peaks in the back mountains exploded and were instantly flattened. The once lush, green forest fell in unison, like wheat being reaped. An entire half of a mountain peak in the back mountains was transformed into a bare, rocky mountain by that single sound wave!
Even so, the sound wave continued to spread outward, soon covering the plaza. When the disciples in the plaza heard this sound wave, their faces instantly turned pale. They felt as if their very souls were about to shatter. The throbbing pain in their heads made them want to die. The weaker disciples fared even worse; thin streams of blood trickled from their eyes, ears, nose, and mouth—a horrifying sight...
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