In a medium-sized galaxy of the universe, there was a gigantic planet that shone dazzlingly with multiple colors. That was the Sacred Rainbow Heaven Planet, a magical place known throughout the universe as a place any cultivator could visit.
There were no powers directly controlling that planet. Each generation, one of the greatest powers was assigned to take care of the place's security, so everything would remain in order.
Because of that, the Sacred Rainbow Heaven Planet was like a safe harbor and the capital of the universe. Normally, there was a grand trade there, and anyone in the universe could visit and spend time there, as long as they paid a not-too-high fee.
But this month, the Celestial Tournament would take place there. Because of that, the rules had changed a little, so the tournament could happen perfectly.
Countless flying ships crossed the galaxy toward the Sacred Rainbow Heaven Planet.
On one of those flying ships was a small delegation with fewer than a hundred people. Among them were five high-level cultivators: Gildor and his wife Minril, as well as the three queens of the Bakunawa Abyssal Triarchy.
These two powers, during those 19 months of preparation, chose to unite once again, like in the old days when they were great allies. All past conflicts were set aside, and the best young people from the four sides joined together to support each other in this tournament. Of course, the center of everything, the pillar that allowed all of this to happen, was a single young man from the Mortal Plane.
Darian was standing at the bow of the ship, watching the stars. A little behind him were six figures, radiating firm and powerful auras.
Besides the three direct disciples from the Bakunawa Abyssal Triarchy, Darian had also selected Herion, Lazaro, and Pyreus from the Golden Crow Sect.
He gathered those six... and then made them wish for death several times, but without ever allowing them even that tiny hope.
It was a simple and direct training tactic. First: the three women received the supreme Yin techniques. Meanwhile, the three men were helped by Darian to learn the complete Golden Crow Canon.
Darian managed to create easier and intermediate versions of the ten techniques; by learning them, it would become a thousand times easier to learn the complete version in the future. After a short time, the three managed to use the complete Golden Crow Canon.
Since Darian had given that pill to the people of the Bakunawa Abyssal Triarchy, greatly benefiting all their disciples, he also handed the ten intermediate techniques of the Golden Crow Canon to his sect, making everyone's average power rise explosively.
Even the Palace Masters and powerful figures benefited from it. In that way, he truly favored both powers equally.
Going back to the training, after the six were ready, the difficult part came. Darian sent the women to the Golden Celestial Lake, forcing them to cultivate while submerged in the lake, enduring that Yang. Meanwhile, the men suffered the opposite in the Abyss Lake.
But every month, they switched places. When they were in the lake they were compatible with, they discovered their cultivation and elemental control were several times better. But in the following month, they had to return to hell.
So from time to time, Darian would stop to give a few tips... and make their torture even harder.
It was a training method designed to push the cultivator to the absolute limit, leaving them constantly one step away from collapse and death. The Palace Masters and the Elders of the three Kingdoms had to stay beside the six at all times, saving them whenever they collapsed.
But right after recovering, they only had one hour to rest before going back. The pain and effort they all went through during the little more than nine months spent in the lake opposite their element was truly unforgettable.
In the end... they went through a complete rebirth.
In 19 months, Darian and all of them reached the ninth level of the Celestial King Realm, which was the maximum limit to participate in the Celestial Tournament.
Besides them, the two great powers also invested everything they had to train and select their best disciples. The best of the best were chosen and received the maximum investment.
In the end, besides the seven main ones, 20 people from each Kingdom of the Bakunawa Abyssal Triarchy were selected, as well as 20 people from the Golden Crow Sect. In total, 87 youths of this generation would fight in this tournament.
Returning to the present, the nervousness of all the young cultivators was palpable. Everyone was completely silent, their gazes distant. The only sense of security they felt was the calm figure at the bow of the flying ship ahead, watching the stars as if he were going on a relaxing trip.
After almost a day, the Sacred Rainbow Heaven Planet finally appeared before them.
The flying ship entered the central continent, landing softly in an open field. When everyone stepped out, they saw the city a few hundred meters ahead.
It was a very ancient city, rising imposing and majestic. The gates, as tall as the clouds, were filled with people entering and leaving. On top of that, an ancient aura emanated from the city.
Everyone got out and moved calmly.
Near the entrance, there was an immeasurable line of people. They were all those who had come to participate in the Celestial Tournament and needed to register. There were still about 25 days left, and every day millions upon millions of people arrived to register.
As soon as that new group approached, countless gazes instantly turned toward them.
Everyone, there were youths at the ninth level of the Celestial King Realm, coming from medium-level sects of the universe. Seeing the clothes of the newcomers, they knew exactly where they came from. Their eyes were filled with provocation. They observed Darian and the others in a predatory way, as if searching for their weaknesses.
Those people there were all competitors, accompanied by a few figures from the older generation of the powers that had raised them. The spectators of the Celestial Tournament were not yet welcome; they didn't even have the right to enter the planet.
People's gazes were full of hostility. It was the first time those young people behind Darian had experienced something at that level. They were moved and nervous at the same time. All those people before them possessed powerful auras like mountains and oceans. They were all young geniuses from across the universe.
In this universe, where countless inheritances still remained undiscovered, any ordinary person could surprise everyone. Because of that, those youths felt insignificant.
Darian sighed internally. Living life protected by the sect was a big problem. Those youths had never gone through real turbulence, where their lives depended on their own abilities and confidence above all else.
Feeling their auras, Darian was sure. The youths he had brought wouldn't be able to fight properly and use everything they had learned. The main reason was that they felt inferior. The mind was the main enemy.
'Well... looks like I'm being forced to put on a show...'
Darian reflected seriously. Soon, he remembered Niara and the last great adventure they had together. It was actually fun to cause chaos and mock the powerful people of that universe.
Back then, he couldn't use his power completely, so he was forced to act indirectly. Now the situation was different, but it was leading him down the same path.
At that moment, Darian felt three hands gently grabbing his clothes from behind. He sighed. Those three direct disciples were the most nervous, because the entire Bakunawa Abyssal Triarchy had placed their hopes on them.
They had to pass the great disciple test, then fight in the main arena and bring glory to their kingdoms. They held onto Darian's clothes as if only he could give them a sense of security.
During those months, their perception of Darian had completely changed. He treated them like his daughters and taught them everything calmly. Very quickly, they started feeling as if he was truly their older brother, someone they could trust with everything.
There was no stronger connection or strange feeling coming from him. So they truly considered him someone very close, like family, someone they could act like themselves around without any fear.
Darian turned slightly, looking at their nervous gazes. Their hands were covered in sweat.
"What are you afraid of? These chickens are nothing more than beasts with a strong appearance. If you started fighting any of them, you'd defeat them with a single strike," Darian said slowly as they gradually approached the crowd.
"Really?" Vymara didn't dare believe it. She was even a Divine Candidate, but she still lacked many important things.
"You don't lack combat experience, but you're being deceived by their appearances. That's a serious taboo for a cultivator. If you want to ascend to the top, you'll have to face danger and life-or-death situations many times. Because of that, you must always cultivate your will and your instincts, even above raw power. Otherwise, at the first setback, you'll die miserably." Darian replied calmly, then smiled.
"It was the right choice bringing you here. You need more experience to increase your confidence. You don't need to fear anything or anyone; any problem I'll solve. So just focus on showing everything you've learned. Winning or losing is irrelevant. What will actually change because of your final ranking? If you end up in last place by chance, will your three kingdoms stop growing, even after everything they've gained recently?"
The three took a deep breath and nodded in understanding. Then they let the air out of their lungs, along with their insecurities. In fact, their kingdoms were destined to grow greatly, no matter their results.
All the young cultivators heard that and also took a deep breath. The three Queens and Gildor nodded approvingly, seeing the expressions of those three young women completely change after hearing those words.
They continued walking until they finally reached the end of the line.
"Haha, the Golden Crow Sect and the Bakunawa Abyssal Triarchy! Oh? You only brought this few people? Did you simply give up?" While they were observing the surroundings, a group of people approached them.
All of them were large and had intense vitality. Their bodies looked humanoid, but in truth, they were demons from a very unique and rare race.
"Oh? They're already starting?" Darian murmured with a faint smile. They had just arrived, yet there were already people trying to provoke them.
On the way to this planet, Darian had already heard that many powers were very hostile, and some liked to provoke others, taking advantage of the lack of confidence and security of young cultivators. It was a very simple intimidation tactic, but extremely effective against flowers raised in greenhouses.
There were more than two hundred people in that demon group. Their leader was a thin elder with a cane. His eyes were red and demonic. At that moment...
...Darian's eyes shone greedily.
Gildor looked at the old man and said a single word.
"Scram."
It was simple, direct, rude, and domineering.
The elder smiled sinisterly. His gaze then swept across Darian and the others until it stopped on the three girls standing close to him.
"Not bad. Your bloodlines are pure, and your fluctuations are strong. I have three sons of marriageable age. Since your three kingdoms have a good relationship with us, demons, why don't you three come to our Spiritual Demon Alliance after this tournament?"
"Scram!"
The three spat that single word in perfect sync, their faces full of disgust. Then they didn't bother wasting more words on that detestable man, instead moving even closer behind Darian's back.
"You're quite arrogant, huh? That just makes it more fun." The elder still didn't get angry. He smiled, very satisfied, as he slowly walked toward the group.
When he got close to Darian, seeing the three practically using him as a shield while standing behind him, he looked him up and down.
Just as he was about to speak...
"What are you looking at?"
*BANG!*
Darian suddenly punched him in the face.
He was as fast as lightning, attacking without any warning. Considering the distance between them, even if the elder's cultivation was incomparably higher, it was impossible to react.
It was a thunderous punch, as loud as thunder itself. The sound of bones breaking echoed everywhere.
As a result, the elder was thrown into the air. Teeth and blood flew through the sky.
The sudden shock startled everyone. The noisy crowd fell silent as people turned to look, stunned.
Meanwhile, Gildor and the three Queens right behind him...
They turned completely pale in horror.
Was he insane!?
