429: Chapter 429 Gathering of Prodigies

Time flew by, and half a month passed in the blink of an eye in Taiyi Immortal City.

As one of the oldest and most deeply rooted top-tier immortal cities in the vast Daluo Heaven, Taiyi Immortal City was experiencing an unprecedented grand occasion today, with the noise and bustle reaching its peak.

This incomparably massive immortal city floated above the Nine Heavens, formed by splicing together dozens of undulating floating divine mountains.

Within the city, there were countless jade towers and pavilions, spirit spring waterfalls descended like galaxies from the high sky, and the sky was interwoven with dense, multicolored defensive and spirit-gathering array patterns.

Today, because of this unprecedented "Prodigy Exchange Tournament," ancient clans from all over Daluo Heaven, powerful Sect forces, Loose Cultivators who had been in seclusion for years, and countless young Prodigies eager to make a name for themselves in one battle, all gathered here like crucian carp crossing a river.

In the sky, ancient flying ships as large as mountains and nine-headed exotic beasts pulling gorgeous chariots streaked by from time to time, making the entire immortal city exceptionally lively.

On the streets, every large restaurant and teahouse was packed.

Although many older-generation powerhouses and sharp-minded individuals present knew full well that there were inevitably undercurrents surging behind this sudden exchange tournament, and it was even highly likely a death trap set by the two major Sects against the Qingyun Dao Sect.

However, the temptation of the "innate purple qi" as the final reward was simply too great and too fatal; even knowing that there was a bottomless abyss ahead, it still attracted countless self-proclaimed Prodigies who came with red eyes to try their luck, just for that one in a billion chance to seize that supreme destiny capable of Heaven-Defying life-changing results.

And today, everyone was craning their necks in anticipation, waiting to see if that Qingyun Young Sect Master at the center of the storm would truly dare to step into Taiyi Immortal City.

Above the firmament, auspicious clouds were like the sea, and immortal music drifted; in the center of Taiyi Immortal City, a massive arena cast from a solid piece of starfall meteor iron supplemented with ten-thousand-year mysterious ice floated in mid-air.

Around the arena, ninety-nine dragon-coiled white jade pillars pierced straight into the clouds, each pillar densely engraved with complex and obscure ancient defensive array patterns, slowly circulating a soul-stirring deep blue light, firmly protecting the entire arena within.

And directly above the arena, a resplendent white jade viewing platform floated.

The high-level figures of the Taiyi Immortal Sect and the Taixuan Immortal Sect, like gods looking down on all living beings, sat on thrones carved from Nine Heavens thunder-cloud wood, their bodies surrounded by the power of Laws, unfathomable.

"Sect Master, does that Lu Li... really dare to come?" An Elder of Taiyi with white hair and beard leaned forward slightly, his eyes fixed on the empty center of the arena below, and asked in a low voice.

His tone carried a hint of undisguised nervousness; after all, that Lu Yuan of the Qingyun Dao Sect was a veritable madman. If anything happened to Lu Li here, no one knew what crazy actions that malevolent star would take.

Yuan Xuji, the Sect Master of the Taiyi Immortal Sect sitting in the first seat, had his face hidden in the swirling Immortal Qi, making it impossible to see his expression.

He subconsciously reached out, covering his right arm tightly through his wide sleeves.

Although that arm had been reshaped using countless Heaven And Earth Treasures and supreme secret techniques, deep in his Divine Soul, the destructive Sword Intent left behind when Lu Yuan severed it with one sword stroke remained like maggots on a bone, aching faintly whenever Yin and Yang alternated, constantly reminding him of the great humiliation he had once suffered.

"Hmph." Yuan Xuji's gaze was so cold it seemed capable of freezing the surrounding air, and he gritted his teeth and snorted coldly: "That fellow Lu Yuan is extremely arrogant and looks down on everyone; the son he raised is naturally also a reckless fool who doesn't know the immensity of heaven and earth.

This brat will definitely come! As long as he dares to step onto this arena, he has signed a life-and-death contract, and life or death will be up to fate; even if Lu Yuan comes personally, he won't be able to find any fault!"

He tilted his head slightly and transmitted his voice to the shadows behind him: "Tell Changkong, there is no need for any scruples, and no need to hold back; beat him to death for me! I want to make that Lu Li wish he were dead, unable to survive and unable to die!"

"Yes!" A cold voice without the slightest emotional color responded respectfully from the shadows.

Just as undercurrents were surging on the viewing platform.

"Qingyun Dao Sect Young Sect Master, Lu Li has arrived—!"

A long shout mixed with thick Immortal Qi, like thunder from the Nine Heavens, instantly tore through the tranquility above Taiyi Immortal City and exploded in the ears of countless Cultivators.

Countless gazes, whether from high-ranking Sect powerhouses or Loose Cultivators squeezing in the street corners to watch the excitement, were cast toward the distant horizon at this moment.

Just hearing a "clang" of sword resonance shaking the heavens, a brilliant cyan stream of light, like a comet striking the moon, streaked across the sky at a terrifying speed that tore through the spatial barrier.

In that cyan light, Lu Li wore a long cyan robe, his sleeves fluttering in the wild wind.

He stood with his hands behind his back, his figure as straight as an unparalleled immortal sword just unsheathed from a divine furnace, his sharpness exposed, arrogant and unconquerable.

"Bang!"

With a muffled boom, Lu Li landed steadily on the starfall meteor iron in the center of the arena.

The hard ground, which was said to be unable to even leave a white mark from a full-strength strike of a Profound Immortal, actually groaned under the unbearable weight the moment his feet landed, and a circle of visible transparent air waves rolled outward from him, causing the defensive light curtain at the edge of the arena to ripple violently.

Lu Li slowly raised his head, his deep eyes, which seemed to contain endless stars, swept casually across the dense crowd, and finally fixed his gaze on the gloomy face of Yuan Xuji on the viewing platform.

The corners of his mouth curled up slightly, pulling into a smile of extreme arrogance, and he spoke loudly, his voice like a great bell, spreading throughout the venue: "Qingyun's Lu Li is here; I wonder which of the so-called young Prodigies of this Daluo Heaven dares to come and offer some pointers?"

Once these words were spoken, the vast Taiyi Immortal City was first dead silent, and then, like a drop of cold water falling into a pot of boiling oil, it instantly ignited the entire venue!

"Arrogant! Simply arrogant beyond measure!"

"Who does this brat think he is? Does he really think he can walk sideways in Daluo Heaven just because he has his father protecting him?"

"Too rampant! This is the home turf of the Taiyi Immortal Sect; today we must let him know what it means to have heavens beyond heavens, and people beyond people!"

The countless young Prodigies off the stage were so angry that their eyes were spitting fire, and public indignation was aroused.

"What an arrogant brat! Since you are in such a hurry to die, then I will grant your wish!"

Accompanied by an angry shout, a figure like a gust of wind soared into the sky from the viewing area of the Taixuan Immortal Sect.

"Core Disciple of Taixuan Immortal Sect, Lin Feng, comes to learn some moves!"

The person who arrived was Lin Feng, an outstanding talent of the new generation of the Taixuan Immortal Sect, whose cultivation had reached the Early Stage of Profound Immortal, and who was particularly adept at the Law of Wind, with sword strikes like a storm, making him impossible to guard against.

He looked livid at this moment, feeling that he had received a great insult, and while still in mid-air, he suddenly drew the cyan longsword from his back.