Dozens of figures sat around a large oval wooden table, some of the strongest individuals in the Black Turtle Continent were here.
"We’ve found evidence suggesting the involvement of foreign cultivators in the beast stampede," Long Liu announced. "This proves Mao Hu wasn’t acting alone, and it’s clear they have no intention of honoring our agreement if we win."
She held up two orbs—one black and one white—the artifacts responsible for luring the beasts toward the Black Turtle Sect, and displayed them to the gathered elders.
An elder from the Black Turtle Sect slammed his hand against the table. Though he was a body cultivator, the table remained unscathed, proof of its durability.
"I see no reason to hesitate. Let’s invade and end this once and for all!"
"Dong Lin," a calm voice interrupted. It was Fan Ying, the sect master of the Dao Seeking School, who sat among them. "There’s no need to rush to conclusions. We should proceed with the selection process to determine which young cultivators will fight in the war."
"What’s the point?" Dong Yun scoffed. "We’d only be sending them to their deaths."
Long Liu’s lips curled into a faint smile. "Since they won’t honor our agreement, neither will we… but there are still ways to make use of this situation."
—
Two weeks after Mao Hu’s death, the Dao Seeking School and the Black Turtle Sect announced that the selection would proceed as planned. All those who had left the Black Turtle Sect were summoned back, except, of course, for those who had been killed or captured for colluding with the foreign cultivators.
Feng Fan once again found himself in the same room within the Black Turtle Sect. Beside him stood Huang Xue, Xue Qiang, and Su Xiaoli, all waiting for the selection to begin.
A knock echoed through the room. Elder Jiang stepped forward to open the door.
"The elders are calling everyone participating in the selection to the eastern gates. Please be there within half an hour," a Black Turtle Sect disciple announced before swiftly departing.
Elder Jiang turned to the White Crow Sect disciples behind him. "Let’s go."
As they made their way toward the eastern gates, Feng Fan couldn’t shake his unease.
’I thought they would cancel the selection. The foreign cultivators clearly won’t honor their side of the agreement if we win… so what’s the point?’
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His doubts remained unanswered as they joined the massive crowd of participants. More than one hundred thousand cultivators had gathered for the selection.
"Hello, everyone. I’m sure you’re all eager to begin," Dong Yun addressed the gathered cultivators. "The selection process will be straightforward—we will assess you based on direct combat power. Those at the Golden Core Formation or Organ Tempering realms, move to the left. Those at the Nascent Soul or Marrow Cleansing realms, move to the right."
The crowd quickly followed his instructions, dividing into two groups.
"Those on the right, follow me," Dong Yun said before leaving the eastern gate, leading them toward a peak within the Black Turtle Sect.
A massive wave of about twenty thousand cultivators took to the sky behind him, their numbers so great that they obscured the clouds above.
"The rest, come with me," another elder from the Black Turtle Sect announced. He had been standing beside Dong Yun and now led the remaining cultivators in another direction.
Among those following the second elder were Gong Long, Cao Zhu, and Yi Qiuyue from the White Crow Sect, as all three were in the Golden Core Formation realm. The rest of their sect members joined the group following Dong Yun.
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After a while, Dong Yun stopped midair and turned to face the cultivators who had followed him. "This is where the selection will take place. You will fight each other until only two thousand remain."
A golden, translucent barrier surged up around them, sealing the battlefield. Multiple screens appeared all around the barrier, showing the same number: 21.568
"Anyone who leaves the barrier or loses consciousness will be considered defeated," Dong Yun continued. "The elders will oversee the battle and intervene if necessary to save lives. However, if an elder steps in to protect you, you will be deemed eliminated."
As he spoke, dozens of elders clad in Black Turtle Sect and Dao Seeking School robes appeared at the barrier’s perimeter, ready to intervene at a moment’s notice.
"Begin!" Dong Yun commanded, wasting no time.
With twenty thousand cultivators clashing at once, the battlefield instantly descended into chaos. Blades clashed, spells erupted, and bodies were sent flying in all directions.
In this kind of melee, where attacks could come from anywhere, those with strong, durable bodies held the upper hand.
Of course, both the Black Turtle Sect and the Dao Seeking School understood this advantage. But this method was the most efficient way to select warriors. After all, they weren’t preparing for duels—they were heading into war, where dozens or even hundreds would clash at once.
Survival in such an environment was a necessity.
"Hmph. A mere 4th stage Nascent Soul realm cultivator dares to participate here? You must be a complete fool," a peak Nascent Soul realm cultivator sneered, his gaze locked onto Feng Fan.
Feng Fan responded with only a faint smile. ’This guy must be the idiot here…’
Stopping to gloat in the middle of such a chaotic battle? That was nothing short of stupidity.
Feng Fan didn’t bother with a reply. Instead, he closed the distance in an instant and drove his fist straight into the man’s abdomen.
The cultivator’s pupils shrank in shock—he barely had time to react before Feng Fan’s punch connected. The impact sent him flying through the air like a broken doll, blood spraying from his mouth as he crashed past the barrier’s edge.
"One less idiot who won’t die in the war. No need to thank me for saving your life!" Feng Fan said with a faint smile.
He turned his gaze to one of the floating screens displaying the number of remaining participants—nineteen thousand. The count was dropping fast.