65: Chapter 65 Tang Aotian, the Genius of Talismanic Arts

"For you True Disciples, the treasures rewarded by the ascending dragon ranking are precious items that can establish a Dao base and change your destiny."

"This time, the ascending dragon ranking is open to all True Disciples of the Duobao Sect—those from the Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow tiers are all eligible to participate."

"It is foreseeable that those veteran True Disciples who have been hidden for years, the geniuses in secluded cultivation, and even some experts who have been training abroad for a long time will all emerge for these resources."

The Master of Fubao Peak looked directly at Tang Aotian. "You are currently only at Foundation Establishment Completion Stage, and your cultivation time has been too short. Compared to those True Disciples at the Golden Core Late Stage, Golden Core Perfection, or even the Nascent Soul Stage, you are at an absolute disadvantage in terms of cultivation level."

"Therefore, regarding the ascending dragon ranking—as long as you can make it onto the list, regardless of the rank, it will be a massive success, enough to shake the entire Sect!"

Tang Aotian's eyes were as firm as iron. He cupped his hands and said in a low voice, "This Disciple understands. If my cultivation is insufficient, I shall supplement it with the Dao of Talismans. I will certainly fight for a spot on the ascending dragon ranking!"

"Good! As expected of my Disciple." The Master of Fubao Peak laughed heartily.

...

Danbao Peak, Alchemy Pavilion.

The Peak Master of Pill Treasure looked at Tang Yanrou before him with a solemn expression.

"Yanrou, your talent in the Dao of Alchemy is the most outstanding I have seen in nearly a hundred years."

"However..."

The Peak Master of Pill Treasure's tone shifted. "Compared to the cultivation and skills of the top Alchemy geniuses of previous sessions, you still have a significant gap to bridge."

"And this time, the dual rankings of the ascending dragon ranking and hidden dragon ranking are your opportunity."

The Peak Master of Pill Treasure added with emphasis, "As long as you can make it onto the rankings, you will gain access to rare resources that can greatly shorten the gap and enhance your cultivation and skills!"

Tang Yanrou took a deep breath, her expression solemn. "Revered Master, Yanrou understands. In this trial, I will definitely give my all to charge onto the rankings!"

"It's not just about giving your all."

The Peak Master of Pill Treasure's gaze was profound. "You must fight with your life. Alchemy Disciples are often not adept at combat, but this trial requires slaughter."

"You must transform all your fire control techniques, Divine Sense manipulation, and spiritual power micro-management from Alchemy into combat methods."

"Yes!"

...

Northern Continent, the edge of the Endless Desert.

Yellow sand filled the sky, and wild winds howled.

Above this restricted area, however, a carriage pulled by Qilins hovered quietly.

Those pulling the carriage were not real Qilins, but Puppet beasts refined from precious Materials and inscribed with Qilin Dao patterns. Each one emitted waves at the Golden Core level.

The carriage was carved entirely from white jade, with wind chimes hanging from its four corners. The chimes remained crisp and melodious even in the gale, showing it was no ordinary object.

Inside the carriage, a handsome man dressed in a plain white robe reclined on a soft couch, playing with a purple jade pendant in his hand.

His face was as fair as jade, and his eyes carried an inherent air of disdain, as if nothing in the world was worth his notice.

Suddenly, he raised his eyes and looked toward the desert ahead.

Several figures slowly emerged from the yellow sand, each with a powerful aura—they were actually Golden Core stage Cultivators!

"The Seven Fiends of the Yellow Sand?"

The man in white chuckled, his tone indifferent. "I will give you ten breaths of time to disappear from this Immortal Master's presence. Otherwise, these yellow sands shall be your burial ground today."

"Boom!!!"

Responding to him were seven majestic pillars of dharmic power soaring into the sky.

The seven Golden Core Cultivators attacked simultaneously. The sky and earth changed color, and the yellow sand swirled backward, intending to strangle the carriage and the person within!

"Truly overestimating yourselves."

The man in white shook his head and sighed, as if pitying them. "Merely Loose Cultivators, the lowest of the Golden Core stage. Instead of hiding in your Immortal Caves to cultivate diligently and improve your power, you come out to block paths and rob. Why seek death?"

The moment the words fell.

Thousands of sword lights suddenly erupted from within the carriage!

Each sword light was as solid as a physical object, with tiny runes flowing on the blades, echoing each other to form a profound Formation.

In the blink of an eye, the thousands of sword lights dispersed, hovering within a radius of tens of thousands of meters, enveloping all seven Golden Core Cultivators.

Immediately after, the sword lights intertwined and connected with each other, forming a massive sword Formation.

The moment the Formation was complete, an ancient and majestic beast's roar echoed between heaven and earth, as if from the primordial era!

"Roar—!!!"

The moment the seven Golden Core Cultivators heard the beast's roar, they all screamed in agony.

The Golden Cores they had painstakingly condensed within their Dantians now felt as if they were being squeezed by an invisible giant hand. They clutched their ears in pain, their bodies trembling violently.

"Pfft! Pfft! Pfft! ..."

Seven muffled pops followed in succession as the seven Golden Core Cultivators exploded from the inside out. Their flesh, bones, and even their Primordial Spirits shattered and were annihilated in that beast's roar.

In the end, not even a scrap of clothing or a single Magic Treasure remained; they were completely reduced to nothingness.

"Golden Cores from a small place, looking at the sky from the bottom of a well, arrogant and conceited. A pity that so many years of hard cultivation have gone down the drain today."

Just as he was about to drive the carriage away, his true disciple jade token suddenly vibrated.

Sending his Divine Sense inside, Senior Brother Ling Wuxiao's eyebrows twitched, followed by a look of joy.

"The trial opens tomorrow... I've finally waited for it."

A sharp sword light flashed in his eyes, as if it could pierce the heavens.

"Top ten of the ascending dragon ranking? No, the top three, or even the top spot—this Immortal Master has already claimed it!"

"Let those veteran True Disciples and hidden geniuses come. Let me see who among the younger generation of the Duobao Sect can compete with me, Ling Wuxiao!"

"Yah!"

The Qilin carriage transformed into a white streak of light, tearing through the yellow sand and vanishing into the horizon in an instant.

...

Almost at the same time.

The Eastern Continent, the Western Continent, the Central Continent, and even some Overseas Immortal Islands and dangerous Secret Realms...

All True Disciples of the Duobao Sect received the message:

"The Trial Assessment Space will officially open tomorrow at 9 PM. The ascending dragon ranking and hidden dragon ranking will be updated in real-time, with rankings based on trial performance. All True Disciples, please be prepared."

For a moment, undercurrents surged throughout the entire Duobao Sect.

Whether they were veteran True Disciples or newly promoted Genius Disciples; whether they were Alchemists, Talisman Revered Masters, or Tool Refiners focused on their crafts, or War Cultivators, Sword Cultivators, and Spell Cultivators skilled in combat...

Everyone was silently adjusting their state, waiting for tomorrow's arrival.

Within the Duobao Pavilion and the Sect, the Peak Revered Masters, Elders, and even some Grand Elders who had been in seclusion for years were all paying attention to the changes in the jade token rankings.

In the past, while True Disciples were valued, there had never been such a large-scale, high-specification tilt of resources toward them.

Therefore, as long as a Cultivator wasn't mentally impaired, they could sense that something unusual was afoot.

The Sect seemed to be preparing for a major move.

And this trial ranking might be the beginning of selecting "seeds."

Whoever could make the list would enter the sight of the Sect's higher-ups and receive more cultivation.

One step ahead means staying ahead at every step.

Everyone understood this principle.

Therefore, tomorrow's trial was destined not to be peaceful.

...

Nanyun City, Second Ring East Street, Courtyard No. 23.

In the quiet room, Jiang Miaoyi, sitting cross-legged on a prayer mat, opened her eyes and took out her Inner Sect Jade Token.

The jade token vibrated, and a familiar Divine Sense message came through:

"Junior Sister, the ranking lists are about to begin."

It was her Senior Brother, Luo Feng.

Jiang Miaoyi's expression turned solemn as she replied, "Senior Brother, I have already informed Chu Feng; he will give it his all."