Chapter 65 Trial Grounds

Chu Nanxing had originally intended to display his might, but he never expected that after just one exchange, his Flying Sword would be corroded by Murong Wan's cold energy.

Although he wouldn't necessarily lose if they continued fighting, he didn't want any mishaps with the Heavenly Pride Assembly approaching, so he could only choose to endure for now.

“Either the Cultivation Technique she practices is special, or there's something strange about the Flying Sword in her hand.”

“I didn't expect the Joyous Union Sect to produce such a troublesome character; it seems this year's Heavenly Pride Assembly truly has hidden dragons and crouching tigers,” Chu Nanxing thought with a grim expression.

Li Qing didn't dare say much from the side, but seeing his Senior Brother's dark expression, he knew he wouldn't let the matter rest.

Once they encountered each other in the Heavenly Pride Assembly, Murong Wan would certainly become his target for the kill.

As for that trash Ye Fan, he would probably die in some corner within a day.

...

The various Sect Heads discussing in the main hall had a clear view of everything that happened on the square.

However, disputes between juniors were too commonplace; they wouldn't lower their status to intervene.

Seeing his own Disciple gain the upper hand, Qing Mingzi's face showed some smugness.

In contrast, Dao Xuan, the Sect Head of the Qingyun Sect, looked rather displeased, inwardly cursing Li Qing for being an embarrassment.

The other Sect Heads had varying expressions, each calculating in their hearts how their own Prodigies would fare against Murong Wan, subconsciously treating her as the greatest opponent of this trial.

The Heavenly Pride Assembly had been held many times before, and everyone was well aware of the procedures; this meeting was merely a formality.

However, the Sect Head of the Kunlun Palace suddenly spoke up at the end.

“Have you all heard recently that the Demonic Path is stirring again?”

The Sect Head of the Kunlun Palace appeared to be around forty-five years old, with his cultivation restrained so much that not a single ripple could be detected.

If someone didn't know him, they might mistake him for an ordinary middle-aged man.

But those present knew that among the three great Sects—Kunlun Palace, Heavenly Thunder Temple, and Qionghua Sect—it was hard to say whose overall power was strongest.

But if it came down to a one-on-one fight, nine times out of ten, it would be this Sect Master Rechung.

As soon as the words 'Demonic Path' were mentioned, the atmosphere in the hall instantly turned uneasy, as if everyone was very wary of it.

“Amitabha, this old monk has indeed received news regarding this, but after sending people to investigate, there were only a few insignificant stragglers. It shouldn't be a major issue.”

The speaker was Great Master Sorrowless, the abbot of the Heavenly Thunder Temple. He looked like nothing more than a withered old monk, his gaunt frame draped in an unremarkable kasaya; it was hard for outsiders to imagine that this was a Peak powerhouse of the Core Formation Realm.

Including Qing Mingzi, many Sect Heads seemed to have received similar intelligence.

But after verification, they were just some small fry who couldn't stir up any trouble, so they hadn't taken it to heart.

However, with Sect Master Rechung bringing it up now, the situation seemed somewhat different.

It turned out that some time ago, the Kunlun Palace had captured a Demonic Path Cultivator. To save his life, he wanted to reveal certain things, but before he could speak, he suffered a backlash from a curse and died with his Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering.

Although it seemed like a minor incident, combined with the recent movements of the Demonic Path, a bad premonition quietly arose.

“Could it be that those demonic Cultivators want to take advantage of the Heavenly Pride Assembly, while the high-level members of the major Sects are away and defenses are relatively weak, to do something nefarious?”

But this thought was immediately dismissed by everyone. After all, the foundations of the major Sects were extraordinary; even if the remnants of the Demonic Path joined forces, it would be difficult to shake them.

Unless their brains had been kicked by a donkey, they would never do such a stupid thing.

The group discussed for a long while without any clear leads. To be safe, they could only send orders back to their Sects to tighten security and ensure that the Demonic Path remnants wouldn't cause trouble during this period.

After half a day of rest and reorganization, all the Disciples and Cultivators participating in the trial had gathered. Under the presidency of the various Sect Heads, the Heavenly Pride Assembly officially began.

As the host, Sect Head Dao Xuan personally explained the rules of the trial.

Ye Fan listened carefully; it was almost no different from the Battle Royale games he had played in his previous life.

After all participants stepped into the Teleportation Array, they would randomly appear in some corner of the Trial Grounds, each carrying a special competition token.

Losing the token by any means would be considered a failure, resulting in being teleported out of the Trial Grounds, and their survival ranking would be calculated.

Those who defeated an opponent or seized a token would earn one point, which would determine the final 'kill score.'

This Heavenly Pride Assembly would last for thirty days. The entire Trial Grounds were surrounded by a massive special barrier, and every night at midnight, the 'circle would shrink' in a random location and range.

The competition token could sense the range of the barrier. If a holder remained outside the barrier for more than one minute, they would also be disqualified for failing the trial.

To ensure as much fairness as possible, all Magical Artifacts, Talismans, and other methods capable of sensing the positions of both parties were rendered ineffective.

If anyone was caught using such means, they would be directly expelled from the Trial Grounds.

The Teleportation Array at the venue was also equipped with a special Formation; anyone with a cultivation exceeding the Core Formation Realm or over thirty years of age could not enter the Trial Grounds.

Furthermore, the Nine Great Sects had jointly placed many treasures within the Trial Grounds, such as Medicinal Pills, Magical Artifacts, Divine Abilities, and so on. These rewards all depended on one's luck.

They had even set up a 'Spectating System' with over a hundred special projection Formations to observe the Trial Grounds at all times.

Although they couldn't achieve monitoring with zero blind spots, it was sufficient for observing the progress of the trial.

After Dao Xuan's explanation, countless Disciples couldn't help but feel their blood boiling, each seemingly considering themselves the protagonist of this trial.

Only Ye Fan had no interest. If not for worrying that Murong Wan might encounter danger, he had even considered getting eliminated early on.

It wouldn't be easy to meet in the vast Trial Grounds, but Ye Fan wasn't particularly worried.

“Wan'er and I have a telepathic connection; we will definitely meet early on.”

“You... talk less,” Murong Wan said, her face turning slightly red.

Ye Fan's public display of affection caused many people to look over, inwardly cursing that people from the Joyous Union Sect always went around in pairs wherever they went; it was simply too infuriating.

“Alright, all Disciples may now enter the Teleportation Array.”

With Sect Head Dao Xuan's command, countless Disciples flooded into the Teleportation Array like a school of carp crossing a river. Ye Fan and Murong Wan also entered with the main force.

On the stands, Su Ningxue's beautiful eyes flickered, her gaze fixed on the two of them, her pretty face filled with a complex expression.

“Be sure to come back alive.”

The moment they entered the Teleportation Array, another familiar white light flashed, and the two who were holding hands were forced apart.

By the time Ye Fan came to his senses, he found himself in a large forest, surrounded by lush, towering trees.

He instinctively activated his Divine Sense to check his surroundings, but it could only extend ten meters, far short of its usual hundred-meter range; it was better to just use his eyes.

“It seems these barriers have the effect of blocking Divine Sense. Is this intended to weaken the advantage of Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivators?” Ye Fan thought secretly.

The moment everyone appeared in the Trial Grounds, sounds of intense fighting already began to ring out from various places, signaling the official start of the Heavenly Pride Assembly.

Just as Ye Fan thought of this, a cold flash emerged from the woods behind him.

“You're the first one!”