159: Chapter 159: Peach Blossom Mountain

A moment later, a colorful cloud drifted across the sky.

Upon the colorful cloud.

An enchanting woman lay reclining; it was none other than the Poison Lady.

Her eyes lit up when she saw the poem on the cliff face.

"Oh? Junior Brother Xiao knows how to write poetry?"

"How come I haven't seen him perform at night?"

She leaped down from the colorful cloud and swayed her hips as she headed up the mountain.

Immediately following that.

More and more Cultivators arrived.

Inner Sect Disciples, Outer Sect Disciples, Elders from various peaks...

In the sky, streaks of light from escape arts were woven together like fabric.

On the ground, the flow of people was like a tide.

Some rode swords, some steered clouds, some rode beasts, and others walked.

Fellow Daoists of the Spirit Severing Stage arrived directly through the air, their Auras awe-inspiring.

Disciples of the Golden Core and Nascent Soul Stages either steered Magical Artifacts or used movement techniques, each displaying their divine abilities.

Meanwhile, those low-level Disciples of the Qi Refinement Stage could only honestly climb the mountain.

For a time.

Peach Blossom Mountain was bustling with the noise of people.

But everyone who reached the foot of the mountain would first look at that poem.

Some marveled, some fell into deep thought, some shook their heads, and others smiled.

"If this poem gets out, I don't know how many people will die of shame."

Amidst the discussions, the crowd headed up the mountain one after another.

The mountaintop was a flat, open space.

Xiao Ran had already made the arrangements.

Stone tables and chairs, spiritual fruits and wine—everything one could need was there.

In the center of the clearing, a high platform had been built, upon which various treasures were displayed.

Three Earth Rank Magic Treasures, ten foundation establishment pills, five Golden Core barrier breaking pills, and ten thousand Top-Grade Spirit Stones.

There were also several even more precious items.

One Nascent Soul Formation Pill, which could help those at the Great Perfection of the Golden Core stage Breakthrough to the Nascent Soul Stage.

One Medium Grade Earth Rank longsword, which Xiao Ran had unearthed from the White Emperor's Treasury.

One Medium Grade Earth Rank soft armor, also from the White Emperor's Treasury.

These three items were the true highlights of today.

When the crowd saw these things, their eyes went wide.

"Heavens! A Nascent Soul Formation Pill!"

"Earth Rank Magic Treasures, and three of them!"

"Demon Son Xiao is really emptying out his coffers!"

"So generous!"

Discussions rose and fell within the crowd.

Just then.

A strange fragrance suddenly drifted through the sky.

Everyone looked up to see a streak of blood-red light descending from the heavens.

Within the blood-red light, a middle-aged man stood with his hands behind his back, his Aura unfathomable.

Mo Yuan.

Void Refinement Peak!

The entire venue instantly fell silent.

Mo Yuan landed on the mountaintop and looked around.

"This Peach Blossom Mountain of yours is not bad."

Xiao Ran went to meet him and cupped his hands.

"The Palace Master has graced us with his presence; please forgive this Disciple for not greeting you sooner."

Mo Yuan waved his hand.

"No need for formalities. Today is your auspicious day; I have simply come to join the festivities."

He took a jade box from his sleeve and handed it to Xiao Ran.

"A congratulatory gift."

Xiao Ran took it and swept his Divine Sense inside; his pupils constricted slightly.

Inside was a Realm Breaking Pill.

This pill could help a Soul Transformation Stage Cultivator Breakthrough a minor Realm.

Its value was astronomical!

"Thank you, Palace Master!"

Mo Yuan nodded and found a place to sit.

Immediately following.

Several more powerful Auras descended.

They were Elders from various peaks, at the Late Soul Transformation Stage or Peak Soul Transformation Stage, each possessing a majestic Aura.

They presented their congratulatory gifts one after another, and Xiao Ran thanked them all.

A moment later, he looked out over the assembly.

Almost everyone had arrived.

It was time to begin.

Xiao Ran took a step forward, his figure soaring straight into the clouds.

He released the pressure of the Spirit Severing Stage without reservation!

In an instant, the winds and clouds changed color!

A massive vortex appeared out of thin air in the sky!

In the center of the vortex, grayish-black light swirled, as if it could swallow everything!

Below.

Thousands of Disciples looked up, utterly terrified.

"Heavens! This is the Spirit Severing Stage?"

"What terrifying pressure!"

"What is Demon Son Xiao trying to do?"

Xiao Ran stood in the air, looking down.

He raised his hand and gave a gentle wave.

In an instant, countless Spirit Stones flew out from his sleeves!

Mid-Grade Spirit Stones, each one of significant value!

The Spirit Stones fell like raindrops, shimmering with dazzling light in the sun.

"A Spirit Stone rain! It's a Spirit Stone rain!"

"Heavens! So many Spirit Stones!"

"Grab them!"

Thousands of Disciples rushed frantically toward where the Spirit Stone rain was falling.

Some jumped to catch them, some used spiritual power to attract them, and some simply crawled on the ground to pick them up!

For a time, the scene was chaotic to the extreme!

Some grabbed over a dozen, beaming with joy.

Some only managed to get one or two, feeling extremely frustrated.

Some almost came to blows over a single Spirit Stone.

Watching this, the corner of Xiao Ran's mouth curled into a smile.

This was exactly the effect he wanted.

The Spirit Stone rain lasted for a full ten breaths, scattering over ten thousand Mid-Grade Spirit Stones.

When the Spirit Stone rain ceased, a thick layer already covered the ground.

Some Disciples with low cultivation levels lay flat on the ground, picking them up frantically.

To the big shots, this might be a drop in the bucket, but to them, it was several days' worth of cultivation resources.

The Elders of the Spirit Severing Stage twitched their lips as they watched this.

"This kid..."

"This display is even grander than when Li Tianxing held a banquet."

Li Tianxing sat to the side, expressionless.

He had always been indifferent to such things.

Only after finishing all this did Xiao Ran slowly descend from the sky.

He landed on the high platform and looked around.

The entire venue instantly fell silent.

Everyone's gaze fell upon him.

"Everyone, welcome to my Soul Transformation Banquet."

Xiao Ran's voice wasn't loud, yet it reached everyone's ears clearly.

"Everyone, eat and drink your fill today."

He pointed to the spiritual fruits and wine on the tables.

With the groundwork laid by the Spirit Stone rain, everyone's excitement reached its peak.

A burst of cheering erupted from the crowd.

Xiao Ran raised his hand, signaling for silence.

"Furthermore, I have prepared some small gifts."

He pointed to the treasures on the high platform.

"These treasures, a portion of them will be distributed via drawing lots."

"Everyone has a chance, though it depends on luck."

"As for the other part..."

He paused.

"I will hold an Exchange Competition, where the winners can obtain even more precious treasures."

He pointed to that Soul Transformation Stage Pill and the Earth Rank Magic Treasures.

"These items are the rewards for the winners of the Exchange Competition."

The whole venue boiled with excitement!

"A Nascent Soul Formation Pill and Earth Rank Magic Treasures!"

"I must get them!"

"You? You haven't even reached the Golden Core stage; how can you get them?"

"How will the Exchange Competition be conducted? Are there rules?"

Xiao Ran raised his hand again, signaling for silence.

"The rules for the Exchange Competition are very simple."

"First, participation is limited to Disciples at the Nascent Soul Stage and below."

"Second, stop once the point is made; no killing allowed."

"Third, the last person standing on the stage is the winner."

He looked out over the crowd.

"Who wants to come up?"

No sooner had the words left his mouth...

...than a figure leaped onto the high platform.

It was an Inner Sect Disciple at the Nascent Soul Early Stage, burly in stature and wielding a giant axe.

"I am Deputy Commander Tie Xiong. Please grant me your guidance!"

Immediately after, another figure leaped onto the high platform.

It was a woman at the Nascent Soul Early Stage, holding a longsword with a cold expression.

"I am Captain Leng Yue. I look forward to learning from you!"

The two exchanged a glance and attacked at the same time.

The giant axe cleaved down as sword light crisscrossed the air.

Below the stage.

The cheering was deafening!