416: Grand Competition Begins

Half a month later!

Burning Heaven Palace, Fentian Martial Arts Arena.

The massive martial arts arena was paved with Crimson Flame Stones, surrounded by nine giant stone pillars carved with Flame Totems.

On the high platform, the main seat remained empty.

The guest seating on both sides was filled with prominent figures from all over Xuan Province, as well as representatives from some small and medium-sized Sects who had come to observe.

The crowd was clamorous, and the atmosphere was buzzing with excitement.

When Burning Heaven Palace's Palace Master Lie Tianxiong stepped onto the high platform with a powerful stride, surrounded by a group of Elders, every eye in the venue focused on him instantly.

Today, Lie Tianxiong was dressed in a Crimson-gold Dragon-patterned Palace Master's Robe. His posture was upright, and with every glance, a majestic pressure radiated from him—intentionally or not—sweeping through the venue like an invisible tide.

“King Realm!”

“Palace Master Lie has made a Breakthrough?!”

“Hiss... This is the King Realm!”

An uncontrollable wave of gasps and exclamations immediately erupted from below the platform.

The faces of many Sect Masters and Elders from smaller Sects changed, their eyes filled with awe and wariness as they looked at Lie Tianxiong.

Even the high-ranking members of Sects like Cold Moon Valley and Tianyan Sect looked much more solemn.

Lie Tianxiong was very satisfied with this effect.

He slowly took his seat, his gaze sweeping across the venue to take in everyone's reactions, his heart swelling with pride.

After a long period of secluded cultivation, today, he, Lie Tianxiong, and his Burning Heaven Palace, would take back everything that belonged to them!

He specifically turned his gaze toward the seats reserved for Myriad Law Pavilion, which were still empty.

A faint, almost imperceptible sneer curled Lie Tianxiong's lips: “Yun Canghai, let's see if you can still maintain that haughty expression later!”

Just then, a clear and resonant crane cry echoed from the horizon.

A simple and unremarkable azure Flying Boat, led by several spiritual cranes, slowly landed at the entrance of the martial arts arena. The characters 'Qingxuan' were engraved on the hull.

“Azure Profound Sect has arrived.”

Everyone's eyes followed, filled with curiosity and a hint of scrutiny.

After all, Azure Profound Sect had been weak and declining in recent years; word had it that Lie Tianxiong had even taken his Disciples there to provoke them before.

However, a scene that left everyone dumbfounded occurred.

Lie Tianxiong, who was sitting in the main seat, suddenly stood up the moment he saw the newcomers from Azure Profound Sect, his face breaking into an incredibly warm and even somewhat grateful smile.

He strode down from the high platform and walked toward Xuan Yangzi and the others who had just disembarked from the Flying Boat.

“Sect Master Xuan Yangzi! Peak Master Shi! Fellow Daoists! I have been waiting for you for a long time!”

Lie Tianxiong's voice was like a resonant bell. He was all smiles as he took the lead in cupping his hands in greeting.

This scene caused the entire venue to fall silent instantly, so quiet that a pin drop could be heard. Everyone was stunned.

Lie Tianxiong actually personally went down to welcome Azure Profound Sect? And with such a humble and enthusiastic attitude? Has the sun risen from the west?

Even Xuan Yangzi was momentarily dazed. What game was Lie Tianxiong playing?

But then, his face broke into his usual honest smile. Leading Shi Wanshan and several other Peak Masters, he went to meet him and returned the greeting: “Palace Master Lie is too kind. I am unworthy of such a personal welcome.”

Lie Tianxiong, however, grabbed Shi Wanshan's thick arm, patted it firmly, and said with sincere emotion, “Peak Master Shi! In the Secret Realm, if you hadn't stepped in righteously to repel that powerful enemy, I might have met with disaster! This kindness is as great as giving me a second life!

Your business, Shi Wanshan, is my business! Azure Profound Sect's business is Burning Heaven Palace's business!”

He spoke these words with great force and without any reservation, making sure they reached the ears of everyone present.

So that was it! Everyone remembered; there did seem to be such an occurrence.

As soon as Lie Tianxiong finished speaking, the Grand Elder behind him immediately stepped forward and gave Xuan Yangzi a deep bow, his tone sincere to the point of exaggeration.

“Sect Master Xuan Yangzi is truly noble! Azure Profound Sect's conduct is upright and benevolent; it is truly a role model for the Sects of our Xuan Province!!”

The Third Elder also chimed in, his face full of admiration: “Indeed! Every Disciple of Azure Profound Sect has the grace of dragons and phoenixes and a solid Foundation. They will surely shine brilliantly in this Great Competition! We have looked forward to this for a long time!”

The other Elders also chimed in one after another, their words earnest and their praise unending.

Their enthusiasm made it seem as if Azure Profound Sect wasn't there for a competition, but was a savior coming to rescue them from dire straits.

Lie Tianxiong observed his Elders' performance, and the pride in his heart was practically overflowing!

Look! This was the team he, Lie Tianxiong, had built! How united! How grateful!

Once he set the tone, his subordinates could execute it so perfectly and handle the situation so beautifully!

He felt more and more that Burning Heaven Palace was now a solid, unified front, moving exactly as he commanded.

He looked at Xuan Yangzi with a smile, as if to say, “See? My people are sensible, aren't they?”

The muscles on Xuan Yangzi's face twitched imperceptibly, but luckily his acting skills were superb, and he immediately appeared overwhelmed by the favor, waving his hands repeatedly.

“Elders, you overstate things! You overstate things! A small Sect like Qingxuan doesn't deserve such praise. Under Palace Master Lie's leadership, Burning Heaven Palace is the one truly flourishing. We still have much to learn.”

With his arm held by Lie Tianxiong, Shi Wanshan could only nod with a simple, honest smile.

Li Muran, Ye Guying, and the others following behind tried hard to maintain calm expressions, but the slight twitching at the corners of their mouths showed they were struggling quite a bit to hold back their laughter.

Just then, a sharp eagle cry came from the sky, and a fierce, overbearing Aura approached from the distance.

A magnificent, silver-white Flying Boat shaped like an eagle with spread wings tore through the air. On the flag at the bow, the characters for 'Wanfa' shone brightly.

Myriad Law Pavilion had arrived.

The Flying Boat came to a steady halt, and the hatch opened.

Led by Pavilion Master Yun Canghai, with Grand Elder Mo Lingzi following closely behind, a group of Myriad Law Pavilion Elders and Disciples filed out.

Yun Canghai's face was calm and his eyes were deep, showing no sign of emotion.

His gaze swept over the crowd, and at the moment it met Lie Tianxiong's, invisible sparks seemed to fly in the air.

When he saw the people from Azure Profound Sect standing and chatting merrily with the Burning Heaven Palace group, his brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, but he quickly regained his composure.

Seeing Yun Canghai, the warm smile on Lie Tianxiong's face vanished instantly, replaced by a superficial, polite greeting as he cupped his hands from afar: “Pavilion Master Yun, I hope you have been well.”

Yun Canghai returned the greeting indifferently: “I appreciate your concern, Palace Master Lie.”

His gaze then turned elsewhere, not sparing Lie Tianxiong another look, as if even one more glance would be distasteful.

This disregard made Lie Tianxiong more furious than a direct provocation would have.

After the pleasantries, each Sect took their seats in order.

The main event arrived—the participating Disciples of each Sect made their appearance!

First, naturally, was the host, Burning Heaven Palace.

The Head Disciple, Lin Lie, wore a flame-patterned battle robe. His Aura was violent, and he made no effort to hide his Peak Core Formation Realm cultivation. He scanned the crowd with an arrogant gaze, pausing specifically in the directions of Myriad Law Pavilion and Azure Profound Sect, his Battle Intent burning fiercely.

The Disciples behind him were all in the Middle to Late Stage of Core Formation; their lineup was orderly and their Aura was extraordinary.

Next was Myriad Law Pavilion. Head Disciple Liu Chengfeng walked out slowly, dressed in green robes, with a handsome face and a calm expression.

However, when he came to a stop, an Aura as deep as the sea and far exceeding the Core Formation Realm slowly spread out!

“Purple Mansion Realm! It's the Purple Mansion Realm!”

“There's no suspense now! The Top Spot will definitely go to Myriad Law Pavilion!”

The entire venue was in an uproar, with exclamations rising one after another.

Liu Chengfeng's presence was like a crane among chickens, instantly overshadowing the brilliance of all other geniuses.

Lie Tianxiong's pupils constricted, and his face darkened slightly, but a cold curve appeared at the corner of his mouth, as if he had another trump card.

A trace of satisfaction flashed deep in Yun Canghai's eyes.

Afterward, the Head Disciples of Cold Moon Valley, Tianyan Sect, and Jade Clarity Sect made their appearances one after another. All were in the Late Stage of Core Formation Realm, with balanced lineups and strengths, making them favorites to compete for the top three.

Next was Formation Breaking Sect. When Sect Leader Chen Tieshan arrived with his Disciples, the atmosphere was noticeably more subdued.

The Head Disciple was only in the Middle Stage of Core Formation Realm, and their overall lineup was the weakest among the Seven Sects, drawing many sympathetic or contemptuous looks.

Finally, it was Azure Profound Sect. Li Xuanfeng walked out with Mu Chenyu, Lin Xiaowan, and three others.

All six had Core Formation Realm cultivations: Li Xuanfeng was at the Late Stage, three others were at the Middle Stage, and two were at the Early Stage.

The lineup looked solid, but compared to the entire field—especially Myriad Law Pavilion's Purple Mansion and Burning Heaven Palace's Peak Core Formation—it seemed unremarkable, even somewhat shabby.

Many people secretly shook their heads, feeling that Azure Profound Sect would likely continue its decline this year.