“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the champions.h.i.+p.”

“I believe all of you have read the schedule of this compet.i.tion. Allow me to now explain the rules. We will first split each partic.i.p.ating orthodoxy into four groups, namely Group Alpha, Group Beta, Group Gamma, and Group Delta. Each group will be comprised of members from six orthodoxies, where only one orthodoxy will advance from each group into the next round.”

“In the end, the champion shall be determined from the four winners. The champion will be ent.i.tled to all the prizes that are sponsored by the sage orthodoxies!”

“Now, are there any further questions?”

The Thirteen Prefect said.

“How do we split the groups?”

One of the Sect Leaders asked.

“Simple, we'll determine the groups by drawing lots.”

Then, with a simple hand wave, twenty-four pearls suddenly appeared in the hands of one of the prefects. “Can each orthodoxy now send one representative forward to take one of these pearls?”

Cultivators began to step forward.

Chu Kuangren sent Nangong Huang to retrieve the pearl.

Once Nangong Huang received the pearl, the word “Delta” suddenly appeared on it. “It looks like we're a.s.signed to Group Delta.”

After that, the prefects arranged for the partic.i.p.ants to stand according to the groups they were a.s.signed to. Chu Kuangren glanced over and noticed that the other sage orthodoxies who were a.s.signed to the same group were Thunder Falcon Tribe, Linghu clan, Heaven Chord Sect, Daoist School of Dedication, and Eight Wind Palace.

In other words, the Black Heaven Sect had to defeat five sage orthodoxies to advance into the semifinals.

“Well, well, isn't this such a coincidence? Just in this small group alone we already have two rival orthodoxies.”

Murong Xuan looked to the Thunder Falcon Tribe and Linghu clan and noticed that they were also staring back with great hostility.

“Now, may the members in Group Alpha please remain where you are? As for the rest, please retreat to the spectator's area,” said the Thirteenth Prefect.

Chu Kuangren went to the spectator's area and looked at the battle arena before him, only to see one of the prefects placing an enormous golden bell in the middle of the arena.

The golden bell was surrounded by a mythical form of Daoist Rhymes. Chu Kuangren could immediately tell that the bell was a unique Sage Weapon.

“Introducing the first round of the champions.h.i.+p, Strike The Bell. Can the orthodoxies of Group Alpha now send two representatives each to attack this bell? For each time the bell tolls, one point will be awarded to the orthodoxy…” said the Thirteenth Prefect to the crowd.

Such was the essence of the entire champions.h.i.+p. Partic.i.p.ants would compete in several rounds for points, and whichever orthodoxy with the most points at the end would be crowned the champion.

“I'll go first!”

One of the sky-pride of Group Alpha came marching forward.

The cultivator possessed a strong body that flowed with a domineering burst of Daoist Rhymes. He lifted his fist and punched it at the golden bell.

His violent Daoist Rhymes exploded, sending the golden bell jerking to one side and the bell sounded a total of four times.

Four tolls for four points.

“This is the sky-pride of the Sky Emperor Palace. Although he possesses a strong combat strength, it was only enough to toll the bell four times.”

“Looks like the first round isn't as simple as it looks.”

The first round continued.

One by one, the cultivators from various orthodoxies came forward to strike the bell for points.

Some of the most excellent sky-prides had only managed to toll the bell five times, whereas the weaker ones only managed to toll it twice.

“Sect Leader Chu, it must be very sad that you're not allowed into the compet.i.tion.” At that moment, the Linghu clan's head came and sneered at Chu Kuangren.

Chu Kuangren eyed him and said, “There's nothing sad about it. It would be inappropriate for me to compete with the younger generations.”

“Heh, if you're not allowed to partic.i.p.ate, do you think these Black Heaven Sect members can even last long? I'm afraid they might not even make it past the first few rounds,” said the Linghu clan's head.

“Oh, am I right to a.s.sume that the members of the Linghu clan are looking down on the Black Heaven Sect disciples?”

Chu Kuangren smiled and stared down at the Linghu clan's head.

The mouth of the Linghu clan's head immediately twitched. “Sect Leader Chu, I'm afraid it's a misunderstanding. That's not what I mean, but I believe most orthodoxies present do share the same thought.”

The Linghu clan's head was right.

Chu Kuangren was the only reason why most would fear the Black Heaven Sect, whereas disciples like Nangong Huang and Murong Xuan were not even worth sweating over.

To rely on these disciples on winning the champions.h.i.+p was probably just wishful thinking!

“Heh, then they better be sure that their eyes are wide open to see how marvelous the Black Heaven Sect is!” Chu Kuangren said.

The Linghu clan's head looked deeply into Chu Kuangren's eyes and wondered where he had gotten such confidence from.

He then looked back at Nangong Huang and the other disciples. No matter how hard the Linghu clan's head looked, he could not fathom how these people could win the champions.h.i.+p.

“Then we shall sit back and enjoy the show,” said the Linghu clan's head.

Soon, the partic.i.p.ants of Group Alpha, Group Beta, and Group Gamma had completed the first round.

It was time for Group Delta.

The first to enter the arena was the Young Emperor of the Linghu clan, Linghu Teng. He walked towards the bell and immediately struck it with the long sword in his hand!

Ding, Ding, Ding…

The bell tolled five times.

It was the best result one could get so far.

Linghu Teng smiled satisfyingly before he smirked at the Black Heaven Sect members, seemingly to provoke them to beat his record.

Then, the Lingfu clan sent another sky-pride forward who ended up tolling the bell four times, ama.s.sing a total of nine points for the Linghu family.

“Hmph, Falling Thunder!”

A black thunder was summoned from above and it landed violently on the golden bell, tolling it a total of six times.

This performance had broken all previous records thus far!

The audience gasped in shock.

“It's the Young Emperor, Lei Mingtian from the Thunder Falcon Tribe! He's so powerful!”

“Even an Honorable would struggle with unleas.h.i.+ng such a move. That's the Thunder Flacon Tribe. Lei Mingtian is spectacular even when compared to the other Young Emperors.”

“Too strong.”

The Young Emperor Lei Mingtian looked smugly at the Black Heaven Sect.

Just like Linghu Teng, Lei Mingtian had a past with Chu Kuangren but did not dare offend Chu Kuangren himself.

However, they did not fear the other members of the Black Heaven Sect at all.

“These two b.a.s.t.a.r.ds are still so annoying.”

Chu Kuangren pouted.

“Lei Mingtian is truly extraordinary. I don't think I would've been able to defend against such a strong move myself.”

Nangong Huang said.

“It's all just for show. Many cultivators are still preserving their strengths considering this is only the first round. I bet he used up all of his strengths just to trigger our Sect Leader,” said Murong Xuan from aside.

“But since he's doing that to provoke us, we can't just sit back and take it.” Nangong Huang smiled and walked towards the golden bell.

A surge of sword qi circulated the tip of his sword. As Nangong Huang unleashed a single strike, a deadly sword qi came pouring out violently before it hit the golden bell.

Ding, Ding, Ding…

It was a total of six tolls!

The audience gasped, and even Lei Mingtian was caught by surprise. A hint of concern flashed across his eyes. “Did Nangong Huang have such capability?!”

Not only Lei Mingtian was surprised, but the other sky-prides were dumbfounded as well.

“He wasn't this capable during our previous encounter at the Swords Gauntlet. How did he improve so drastically within a year?!”

Other than being worried, Linghu Teng was also puzzled and confused.

Linghu Teng felt like he no longer deserved to be Nangong Huang's opponent.

Nangong Huang put his sword back into his spiritual mound. Then, he looked at the Linghu clan and Thunder Falcon Tribe before he exclaimed, “Not only does the Black Heaven Sect have our Sect Leader, but there's also me, Young Emperor Nangong Huang!”

Nangong Huang was on cloud nine.

All the while, he could only stand by the side while Chu Kuangren stood in the spotlight. Now that it was finally his turn to s.h.i.+ne, it felt so good!