"Fellow daoist Yu, this concerns the future of all wandering pract.i.tioners. To tell you the truth, I have already made the utmost preparations, and have already found the partic.i.p.ants for the Essence and Azoth category. Presently, a Foundation pract.i.tioner is all I'm missing." Hua Lin's expression sank, and then sighed. "I am aware that my lifespan is running out, and though I do not regret dying, I am unwilling to see wandering pract.i.tioners stay in such a low standing forever."

Zhu Yao was a little hesitant. Hua Lin's thoughts were good, and they were all for the sake of wandering pract.i.tioners as well. Just by looking at this Wandering City alone, he indeed had thoughts of expanding the wandering pract.i.tioner business into greater heights. Towards an elderly with such enthusiasm for public service, she really found it hard to reject him. However, unfortunately, the place where the Great Inter-Sect Tournament was being conducted in had to be Ness Cesary Sect out of all places.

Zhu Yao unconsciously tapped her fingers on the table, and after a moment of silence, she said. "I have to consider this matter for a while more, I can't give you answer right now."

Hua Lin's enthusiasm instantly extinguished, and he glanced at her with slight disappointment and regret. With a bitter smile, he nodded. "Alright! Three days later, the disciples and I will set off from Gathering Frust Mansion. Hua Lin shall patiently wait for fellow daoist Yu's good news." After saying that, he turned to look at little tyrant with a face filled with unwillingness. His mouth moved up and down, yet he still kept his words to himself and left through the door.  

Only after they were no longer able to see his figure, did an inquiry sounded behind Zhu Yao.

"Grandma, why didn't you agree to it?"

Zhu Yao turned her head around, looked at little tyrant for a moment, and lightly smiled. "Shouldn't I be asking you that? The one partic.i.p.ating isn't me, but you."

He was stunned for a moment. "But… You're my master." Shouldn't such matters usually be decided by one's master? This was why Hua Lin asked for her opinion earlier.

"A matter as huge as this naturally has to be decided by the one involved in it." She valued human rights greatly, after all. Zhu Yao immediately pulled him over to sit, and spoke in a serious tone. "Then tell grandma… are you truly prepared to return to Ness Cesary Sect once more?" As part of the wandering pract.i.tioners' faction.

Little tyrant was stunned. He slowly lowered his head, and his hands cycled between loosening and tightening. After a while, he finally spoke up. "I don't know either…"

"What? Are you afraid of losing?"

He shook his head. His brows furrowed, showing a complicated look.

"Then… Do you still hate Qu Jiang and the rest for ousting you out of the mountain?"

"Of course not!" He strongly shook his head. He had long since thought those things through. "I can't put them into words either." He just did not want to return to that place.

"I know now. Something like that is rather understandable." Zhu Yao nodded in a profound manner.

"…" I'm not even clear of it myself, grandma, just what did you understand?

"This is called post-traumatic stress disorder."

"Ah?" Little Bai was puzzled.

"This is a very professional term." Zhu Yao pondered for a moment. "To give an example somewhat…"

"What? Nut!?" The glutton Little Eighth who was sleeping on her shoulder immediately woke up. "Where?"

The corner of Zhu Yao's lips twitched, as she pressed Little Eighth's bird head back down.

"The meaning of post-traumatic stress order, is a condition when even after one has fully recovered from injuries, he or she would still unconsciously try to protect one's injured spot."

"…" Was grandma trying to tell him that there was a knot in his heart?

"Little tyrant!" Zhu Yao stroked his head. "I understand that you have already put behind those things from a few years ago, but a scar has already been formed in the depths of your heart. However, you can't possibly turn your eyes away from people of Ness Cesary Sect all your life, right?" You must not become a shut-in, alright? "To give an a.n.a.logy, let's say you once have accidentally fallen into a latrine, no matter how averse you are to latrines from then on, you can't possibly hold it in forever and never take a dump again, right?"

Little tyrant: (﹏)~

What kind of a.n.a.logy was that, hey?

"Grandma, I have already abstained from food." So there's no need to take a dump anymore.

"Uh…" Alright, she had forgotten that pract.i.tioners were all 'clean'. "Why don't I give you another a.n.a.logy?"

"No need, grandma!" Little tyrant immediately stood up, the corner of his lips twitching. "I already understood."

"Ou…" What a pity. She had actually wanted to use the taste of vegetables as an example!

Eh? Why did she say taste?

"Since you have already understood, then think about it carefully. No matter what your decision is, grandma will respect it." Zhu Yao gave him a thumbs up. After pondering for a moment, she added. "However, I hope that the decision you make is an outcome of your deliberation, and not just to vent out your frustration."

Little tyrant's figure twitched for a moment.

Zhu Yao had nothing else to add, so she turned around and left the room.

This time, little tyrant began to ponder about it seriously. Just like that, he stayed in his room for three whole days pondering about this issue. Zhu Yao was even planning to pack up and head on home, when he suddenly opened the door to her room. It seemed like the depressing atmosphere surrounding him had been swept away, as he looked more refreshed than before. It was as if the dark clouds had scattered, revealing the warm sun behind them.

"Grandma, I want to partic.i.p.ate in the tournament, in the name of Wandering City."

"You have decided? You're not going to change it?"

"Mn." He smiled, as though he had returned to being that sunny and handsome youth of five years ago. "I'm a wandering pract.i.tioner. No matter if I take a good position in the tournament or not, I just want to prove that penta spirit veins are not trash spirit veins."

"Then what are we waiting for?" Zhu Yao pulled him out. "Hurry and inform Hua Lin, he might even give us some money for taking part." After all, he was a star pract.i.tioner who had just become a champion in the recent tournament.

   "……"

   ————————————————

The Wandering City today was especially bustling, with people filling every corner of the streets. Most of them were in groups, just that those pract.i.tioners did not comprise of just wandering pract.i.tioners, but uniform wearing sect pract.i.tioners as well. Wandering City was located at a rather central position in the cultivation world. These sect disciples were heading to partic.i.p.ate in the Great Inter-Sect Tournament as well, and were here to take a break or to replenish their supplies.

As Zhu Yao and little tyrant made their way over, they saw several waves of people. Compared to the leisureliness of wandering pract.i.tioners, these uniform wearing disciples evidently looked more excited. Some would occasionally bring up the matters concerning the tournament, basically making it impossible for others to not recognize them as partic.i.p.ants for the tournament.

"I heard that an Azoth Core pract.i.tioner with penta spirit veins appeared in Ness Cesary Sect!"

Zhu Yao's feet stopped. Penta spirit veins? It couldn't be fellow student Ye Qingcang, right?

"Penta spirit veins, are you serious? Isn't it hard for penta spirit veins holders to even establish their Foundations?"

"I know right? And I heard that he had merely used twenty years."

"Isn't that even faster than heavenly spirit vein holders then? Who is it?"

"He seems to be called… Ye Qingcang."

"I have also heard that this senior-martial uncle Ye is proficient in the arts of pellet refining as well. Presently, he is already a fifth rank Pellet Refining Master."

"Isn't that a little too heaven-defying? Can a penta spirit veins holder truly become this incredible?"

"I have also heard that the Peak Lord of Talisman Spirit Peak has betrothed him his personal succeeding disciple."

"The personal succeeding disciple of Talisman Spirit Peak? Are you talking about junior-martial sister Qu Yi?"

"That's right! A hero is worthy of a beauty, after all! Even I want to get to know someone like him. That way, I will be able to rub off a cup of wedding wine from him too."

"Hahahaha…"

The people in front slowly walked far off, and in a few moments, Zhu Yao and little tyrant could no longer hear their voices. Zhu Yao could not help but glance at little tyrant next to her.

"Sad?" I can lend you my shoulder, you know.

Little tyrant was startled, and asked back. "About what?"

"Qu Yi…" Zhu Yao reminded him. His childhood friend was about to get married, and the groom wasn't him.

He instead smiled it off. Let alone any pain or dejection on his face, not even a hint of regret could be seen. He shook his head and said. "Grandma… I have long seen through that matter five years ago."

"Are you really alright? Not sad? Not frustrated?" Zhu Yao bore a suspicious look. "Don't worry little tyrant, no matter of you smack your love rival to a pulp, or spit at him with a mouth full of cola, I will always… cheer for you."

"…" Is she not going to help him? "I really am fine!"

"Really?"

"Really!" He nodded heavily, and sighed. "Actually, thinking back about it now, back then, I might not have truly loved junior-martial sister Qu Yi. Most of my feelings came from wanting to take care of her as my sister, just that it had already become a habit of some sort after being with her from young. Otherwise, I wouldn't have realized that she liked junior-martial brother Ye." His eyes shone, as he spoke with slight envy. "Though, junior-martial brother Ye sure has startled me. I never expected him to form his Azoth Core so quickly."

"Alright, I believe you now." It seemed like little tyrant truly did not love Qu Yi, and she suddenly felt things had become rather boring. "Why don't we still try to crash their wedding and steal the bride or something?"

   "……"

"…"

"I shall lay out the plans for you. I promise you that you won't get beaten to death~"

   "……"

"…"

"It will be perfect. It will be safe, reliable, and no damage to public properties will be made!"

Little tyrant immediately left.

Haah, as expected, the older he gets, the less cute he becomes.

   ————————————————

When they arrived at Gathering Frust Mansion, Hua Lin clearly broke down from happiness, as he left a trail of dust behind him to welcome them from afar.

"Dear…" When he recalled the addressing problem, a series of words appeared in his mind. From, little sister, to elder sister, to friend, and finally, he decided. "Daoist!"

"…" The h.e.l.l was 'dear daoist'? Why did she feel like he was calling out to a pair of fake fortune tellers!?

"I knew you two will definitely come." He was thoroughly moved. Just when he was about to start singing praises and give his leader's speech, Zhu Yao immediately stopped him from chattering.

"Let us just hurry to Ness Cesary Sect."

Hua Lin was startled. Looking at the sky, it was indeed getting late. Only then did he suppressed his tongue and turned to ask the Azoth Core pract.i.tioner next to him. "Has Wu Jia not arrived yet?"

That pract.i.tioner's face paled, as he replied with a bow. "To reply old ancestor, this… Wu Jia promised that he would send it over at this time. It should be soon… soon."

"What's wrong? Is there still a partic.i.p.ating disciple who hasn't arrived yet?" Zhu Yao asked.

Hua Lin's expression stiffened. "He's not actually a partic.i.p.ant."

Then what was he? Zhu Yao had yet to ask when suddenly…

A fatty came running over noisily from the other side of the streets. As he ran, he gasped heavily for air. "I'm… I'm… I'm here, old ancestor. This lowly one is here."

"Mn." Hua Lin nodded. "Where's the thing?"

"Here!" The fatty pulled out an item from the storage pouch on his body. It was a jade scepter embedded with various gems, and it was dazzling to the point of being overboard. Evidently, it was the mark of an arriviste.  

"It's this!?" Hua Lin opened his eyes wide with scorn.

The fatty chuckled, as he tried to fawn over him. "Old ancestor, this is the one and only eighth rank mystic artifact which this Wu has seen all these years. There isn't any other than this!"

Hua Lin stared at the jade scepter for a while with a complicated expression, and in the end, he simply gritted his teeth as he made a compromise. "Nevermind. With how things are now, there's no other way left."

After saying that, he received the scepter. Throwing it into the air, he chanted a sword flying art, and the jade scepter instantly turned several hundred times later. It looked even more luxurious and dazzling. Zhu Yao felt that she was about to be stabbed blind.

"Jiang Cheng, call over all of the partic.i.p.ating disciples now. We will depart immediately."

"Yes!" The Azoth Core disciple next to him nodded, and then left while leading the fatty to their destination.

Wait a minute!

The corner of Zhu Yao's lips twitched. "Old man, we can't be riding on this mystic artifact to Ness Cesary Sect, right?" Even if you beat me to death, I won't do it, alright? This will simply make me lose fans!

Hua Lin had a complicated expression as well. He glanced at his surroundings, and then spoke with a suppressed voice. "Daoist Yu, you should be aware of this as well. We wandering pract.i.tioners, since the start… do not have any sort of reserves. Furthermore, I can only refine talismans, and not artifacts. This mystic artifact is already the one with the highest rank which I can find." He had a dispirited look. In order to hold some face during their entry, he went through a great deal of trouble. "Furthermore, this one is merely a rental, and he had only managed to get it through his connections."

"…" He had to find a sponsor for something like an eighth rank mystic artifact!? "You guys are seriously not doing well at all!?"

"There's no other choice…" He shook his head. "We can't possibly have the wandering pract.i.tioners fly over on their own, right? That Scaled Dragon of mine is indeed shocking, but unfortunately, it isn't in a good condition recently. If something were to happen there later on because of it, in front of the various sects, the wandering pract.i.tioners will be even more…"

Zhu Yao: "…"

For this wandering pract.i.tioner business, he sure had taken quite intense pain and worry.

Raising her head, she looked at the jade scepter which was still emitting light and heat…

But she really did not want to lose any fans!

"Master, master! Emergency, please reply." Zhu Yao immediately transmitted her voice in order to look for support.

"Speak."

"Please a.s.sist me by sending a transportation tool which many people can ride, one that exudes a quiet extravagance, which looked as if there's meaning behind it. It would b best if it is of a higher rank." After pondering for a moment, she added. "Other than a brick!"

The moment her words fell, the storage pouch on her body shook.

"Master, I love you. Muuacks!"

Zhu Yao immediately pulled it out, and realized it was a green-coloured jade boat. He immediately pa.s.sed it to Hua Lin.

"Daoist Yu, this is…" Hua Lin was startled.

"The return gift for the spirit stones from before."

Only then did Hua Lin carefully inspect the article in front of him. As he looked, he took in a couple of few cold breaths. "Tenth… Tenth… Tenth rank mystic artifact."

"To be more precise, it is a tenth rank mystic artifact of the extreme grade." If her master was the one who created them, then their qualities were ensured.

Hua Lin's hands trembled, and was this close to dropping it with his unstable hands. Tenth rank. An extreme grade even. This was not logical. He had lived… for so long, and though he had seen a tenth rank mystic artifact before, one with an extreme grade was just a legend, right?

"Daoist Yu…" Hua Lin's eyes were a little red. I really want to cry, what to do?

"Uh…" Old man, do you have to be this moved? Wipe off your snot, hey!

Hua Lin sniffled. "Daoist, please feel at ease. Once this Great Inter-Sect Tournament ends, I will return this artifact with my own hands."

"No need." Zhu Yao waved her hand without a mind. "I have a lot of it at home."

"Ah!?"

"Uh… I'm speaking about reciprocity! You gave me something a few days ago, so I returned you a gift."

This gift is a little too expensive, isn't it!? I feel like I'm in a dream. Though he knew that she was a late-stage DemiG.o.d Sovereign, and that she would most certainly have several good items on her, he never expected that she would take out something like this so casually.

Hua Lin fiercely rubbed his nose. His heart was feeling a little sour, and even the hand he was holding the mystic artifact with felt slightly heavy. This was the friends.h.i.+p between him and Daoist Yu!

A moment later.

"Daoist Yu…"

"What is it?"

"Can I hug you?"

"Scram!"

The so-called Great Inter-Sect Tournament was actually a convention for the various clans and sects to display their strength. The ones who took the top three positions for each category were usually talented disciples from the first grade sects, and in these hundreds and thousands of years, disciples of Ness Cesary Sect always had the most abled people that could take the top spots. In every tournament, there would always be one or two incredible individuals making their names known.

However in the recent years, because of matters concerning Skybond Peak, many sects were dissatisfied with Ness Cesary Sect. Though Ness Cesary Sect now had five more Nascent Soul pract.i.tioners and their overall power had risen, this situation had even more so deepened the people's desires to obtain Skybond Peak. There would always be people wanting to s.n.a.t.c.h away the treasures within, be it openly or secretly.

As the Sect Master, Qu Jiang was piled with worries that could seriously shatter his heart. Just a few days before the Great Inter-Sect Tournament, he had even sensed the presences of heretic pract.i.tioners. Furthermore, he had no idea how they managed to sneak in, and all the formations protecting Skybond Peak had even lost their effects. Though the formations now were personally constructed by their DemiG.o.d Sovereigns, and their effects were naturally stronger than before, there would always be possibilities of leaks. Compared to constantly mending and patching the formations, he would have rather not be able to enter it like before!

Not to mention ,this Great Inter-Sect Tournament might looked the same on the surface, anyone would be able to figure out that the goal of the various sects was basically not the tournament itself, but Skybond Peak. He had no choice but to put forth hundred and twenty percent concentration to deal with the tournament while staying vigilant, afraid that a leak somewhere would cost them Skybond Peak.

Compared to these worrisome days, he would rather have the days when senior-martial aunt Zhu was still here!

Qu Jiang sighed deeply. He wondered just how his little martial aunt was doing now.

Eh? Was he hallucinating? Why was he seeing his little martial aunt flying over here?

Aaaaaaah! It really is her!

"Sovereign Hua Lin of Wandering City arrives!" A resounding announcement sounded, stunning the crowd on the grandstand.

In the sky that was clear of clouds for thousands of miles, s.p.a.ce suddenly distorted, and an enormous spiritual s.h.i.+p instantly appeared before everyone's eyes. The s.h.i.+p was jade green, and glossy lights were faintly flowing around its surface. It was enveloped by auspicious clouds, and abundant spiritual energy filled its surroundings. It was actually a tenth rank mystic artifact. Standing atop the deck of the s.h.i.+p was two people, one old and one young. The man had the cultivation level of DemiG.o.d, while the woman had the cultivation level of a Azoth Core Paragon.

For a moment, the entire crowd was stunned still by this overbearing entrance. Even the disciples who were fighting on the ring all looked up towards that spiritual s.h.i.+p one after another.

Hua Lin desperately maintained his might as a DemiG.o.d, but in actual fact, his heart was already blooming with flowers of happiness, and he could not wait to transmit his voice towards Zhu Yao. "Daoist, fellow daoist! What happened just now? How did we arrive at Ness Cesary Sect in a blink of an eye, the moment we entered the s.h.i.+p? This speed is too incredible."

Zhu Yao glanced at him. "Mystic ability."

Hua Lin's eyes shone even brighter, as though light itself could shoot out at any moment. "Mystic ability! You're talking about the special skills which all extreme grade artifacts above the seventh rank are born with? Then the mystic ability of this celestial s.h.i.+p is…"

"Void Break." The ability to slice through the void and immediately arrive at one's destination. Just that it required a considerably long casting time, and it even had a twenty-four hours cooldown as well. It could only be used once a day.

Hua Lin could not help but hold his breath. It was actually Void Break! It was a skill which only DemiG.o.d pract.i.tioners could use. This mystic artifact was actually able to use it! What to do? I really want to jump in excitement for a bit!

"Qu Jiang of Ness Cesary Sect, welcomes Sovereign Hua Lin." Qu Jiang stood at the spectator stand not far away from them and greeted loudly.

Only then did Hua Lin finally suppress the thoughts of jumping with joy. Mn. I'm an esteemed and mighty DemiG.o.d Sovereign. I can jump in excitement when we get back.

He controlled the spiritual s.h.i.+p and left it above the grandstand. Then, he shrank it into size of his palm, before leading his group of disciples towards Qu Jiang who came forward to welcome them.

Qu Jiang first bowed in front of Hua Lin. "May I ask for what purpose has Sovereign made his visit here for?"

Hua Lin stroked his beard, and said with a smile. "Today is the day of the Great Inter-Sect Tournament. This Sovereign has naturally brought disciples to partic.i.p.ate."

"Wandering pract.i.tioners wish to partic.i.p.ate in the tournament!?" Qu Jiang was startled.

"What? We can't?" Hua Lin frowned.

"Of course not!" Qu Jiang immediately recovered. "The Great Inter-Sect Tournament is but a means for the various sects to interact and learn from each other. If Sovereign has this interest, then Ness Cesary Sect will naturally welcome your partic.i.p.ation. Are these the disciples who will be partic.i.p.ating this time?" He turned to glance at the few dozen of people behind Hua Lin, and his line of sight stopped at Zhu Yao.

"Little… Daoist Zhu, long time no see." He quickly change his way of addressing her at the end. "Are you here to partic.i.p.ate in the tournament as well?"

"Nope." Zhu Yao shook her head. "I'm purely here as a spectator. The one truly partic.i.p.ating is little tyrant."

"Zhiyuan?" Qu Jiang then looked at little tyrant behind her, and his eyes instantly shone. A hint of excitement could be seen within his eyes. "You… Y-You established your Foundation!"

"Sect Master." Little tyrant bowed in front of him.

"Great, great, great!" Qu Jiang sized little tyrant happily. His face was filled with joy. He never expected that little tyrant would still establish his Foundation successfully, and he had even risen to the intermediate stages as well. He could finally heave a sigh of relief.

Qu Jiang instructed the disciples of his sect to arrange the wandering pract.i.tioners' partic.i.p.ants into the tournament, before leading Hua Lin and Zhu Yao onto the grandstand, onto the spectator stand where leader-level people are situated at.

Zhu Yao's appearance had made the entire place fall into a strange awkward atmosphere. A few Elders of Ness Cesary Sect especially, had incredibly darkened expressions. Most likely, other than Qu Jiang, there really wasn't anyone else who wished to see this former senior-martial aunt whom they had for only five years once more.

Though the other sects have heard rumours of her departure from Ness Cesary Sect in these five years, Ness Cesary Sect did not openly acknowledge these claims, so the other sects could do nothing about it either. Furthermore, when she formed her Azoth Core back then, Ness Cesary Sect had especially hosted an introduction ceremony. A large portion of the Nascent Soul pract.i.tioners all recognized her.

Now that she had openly made her way to the tournament with Hua Lin, this paper wall had finally been completely torn apart. The various sects were not saying anything on the surface, but their hearts could not help but scorn of Ness Cesary Sect's action of killing the donkey the moment it left the millstone.

Even Sovereign Wu Fu's face sank as well.

Hua Lin did not care about such details though. Along the way here, Zhu Yao had already informed him of these broken matters she had with Ness Cesary Sect. To Hua Lin, Ness Cesary Sect throwing away a late-stage DemiG.o.d, and he picking her up after that, was not just a bad thing, but a heavenly good fortune. He could not even wait to thank the eighteen generations of ancestors of Ness Cesary Sect. Thus, he openly brought her towards the highest seats, where the highest level of personnels were made to sit. There were already five Sovereigns sitting there.

Hua Lin sat right at the chair that was just added in, and unconsciously glanced at Zhu Yao.

Eh, this isn't right. If there's only one chair, what about my good friend?

Seemingly in the next second, he stood right up again.

Should I let her sit? But my good friend is presently concealing her cultivation level, wouldn't I be exposing her?

He had no choice but to sit back down again.

But, my good friend has already helped me so much. If I sit down here alone, while she remains standing, it still hits on my conscience a little.

Thus, he stood up again…

But, my good friend already mentioned that her cultivation level was a secret.

So he sat down again…

This continued on for seven to eight times.

The row of DemiG.o.ds… were all looking at this lunatic.

Zhu Yao finally could not hold it in any longer, and sent him a voice transmission. "Are you constipated or something?"

Hua Lin stopped, maintaining his half sitting posture. With a complicated look, he replied. "My good friend… why don't you… sit on my lap?"

"Scram!" You old pervert, are you trying to take advantage of me?

"But if I let you stand, my heart won't feel at ease! Why don't you…"

"Shut up!"

"Ou!"

He finally settled down and obediently sat on the chair, looking all awkward.

"Junior-martial sister Zhu, long time no see. I never expected that you would go under Sovereign Hua Lin's tutelage so quickly." Sovereign Wu Fu suddenly spoke up, as he looked at Zhu Yao with a kind face. However, the meaning behind his words was not as kind. He was clearly saying that she had betrayed her sect.

"Sovereign Wu Fu, not only have you grown older, have your eyesight worsened as well?" Before Zhu Yao could even speak up, Hua Lin rushed in head-on. He glared at Wu Fu, and then said with a cold smile. "Who told you that Daoist Yu is a disciple under my tutelage?"

Wu Fu was startled. "Is she not?" Then why did you parade her around?

"Of course not." Hua Lin said with a proud look. "Daoist Yu has an extraordinary apt.i.tude, and is furthermore a genius in the arts of beast taming. This Hua can't even compare, and to be able to friends with her, is already a blessing worth three of my lifetimes."

Wu Fu however did not take his words seriously, and had thought that he was merely speaking that way to protect her. "Why didn't I know she's capable of taming beasts as well?"

"I found it strange as well. Ness Cesary Sect had actually lost such a dazzling pearl." Hua Lin looked at him mockingly, and said that he was blind right in his face.

Wu Fu's expression stiffened, and he had no choice but to quell the fury in the depths of his heart. He turned back and continued to spectate the tournament, snorting coldly. "I sure wish to see just how bright this dazzling pearl of Wandering City can be." Though, he was still a little cautious of Hua Lin. However, this Great Inter-Sect Tournament pitted disciples with cultivation below Nascent Soul against each other. Mere wandering pract.i.tioners with trash spirit veins actually dared to partic.i.p.ate as well. They truly did not understand the difference between heaven and earth.

The other pract.i.tioners seated actually had the same thoughts as well, and had thought that Hua Lin was merely here to flaunt his might. Some even thought that he might be here for Skybond Peak. However, those disciples had nothing to be feared of.

However, just a few hours later, these proud, arrogant and famed sects finally felt the taste of being smacked right in the face.

The Essence category was the very first to end its battles. The one who won at the end, was not a disciple belonging to any clan or sect, but a quad spirit veins disciple at the level of Essence Paragon who was brought over by Hua Lin.

If this was just a fortunate victory, then the battles in the next Foundation category had stunned them even further. Among the two finalists, one was an earth heavenly spirit vein disciple with the late-stage Foundation cultivation level, but he was beaten into a pulp by a disciple with penta spirit veins. That earth wall which said to boast the strongest defense, was sliced like tofu by his opponent's spiritual sword. No matter was it speed, mystic arts, or strength, he was basically unable to gain even the slightest bit of advantage. Furthermore, his opponent's cultivation was a level lower than his, a mere intermediate-stage Foundation disciple.

"It sure is rare to see a disciple with such a robust figure. Could he possibly be a physical-type pract.i.tioner?"

"However he is especially proficient in mystic arts as well, so he can't be a physical-type pract.i.tioner."

"To think there's actually a talented individual in both the physical and mystical arts. Though he possesses the penta spirit veins, he can still be considered as a genius."

"To actually have such a helper, it's no wonder they would dare come to the Great Inter-Sect Tournament. I wonder who this person is? Does he has a master?"

The people of the various clans and sects began to look at this penta spirit veins disciple with s.h.i.+ning eyes. All of them had stunned looks, and had long forgotten that they were being slapped in their faces.

The people of Ness Cesary Sect were the only ones who had darkened expressions. Because the genius everyone was talking about, was exactly the disciple they personally chased out five years ago.

This was especially so for Qu Ying, who had an especially tough stance back then. The sound of a face-slap was ringing especially loudly in his ears.