59: Competition Registration

As expected! As his Divine Sense probed inward, he could read more content from the Jade Slip this time.

This Cultivation Technique primarily focused on the Dantian, using one's own spiritual power and Divine Sense as a foundation to condense and nourish a breath of "Natal Sword Essence."

One needed to comprehend and condense their own Sword Intent. There were many types of Sword Intent; it could be hard or soft, offensive or defensive, swift or heavy.

One could also draw in Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi of different attributes to temper the Sword Essence, granting it corresponding elemental characteristics.

The technique mentioned that if one could Cultivate this art to Perfection, the Natal Sword Essence would be peerlessly sharp. The protective spiritual light, defensive Magical Artifacts, and even the Formation barriers of Cultivators of the same rank would all be like paper before it, truly achieving the feat of "One sword to break ten thousand laws."

Lin Feng's heart surged with excitement as he read, filled with yearning.

However, the subsequent content still seemed to be locked by a powerful Restriction, making it impossible to investigate.

'It seems I can only see it after my cultivation level improves further.'

Lin Feng's heart settled, and he began to circulate the technique according to the methods of the Nine Profound Sword Heart Art.

The residual medicinal power was quickly guided by the technique, obediently following the route to be refined, absorbed, and merged into his Dantian.

At the same time, he followed the method and attempted to condense the "Natal Sword Essence" within his Dantian.

This was a process of slow, painstaking work. He mobilized his spiritual power and Divine Sense, constantly compressing, condensing, and shaping...

Several days passed in a flash.

Inside the secret room, Lin Feng's aura became increasingly steady. The residual medicinal power in his body had been completely refined and absorbed, and all hidden dangers were gone.

At the very center, the phantom of a "small sword," only as long as a little finger, completely translucent and flickering with a faint white glow, had preliminary taken shape.

It floated quietly, slowly rotating on its own.

'This is... the Natal Sword Essence.'

With a slight thought, Lin Feng tried to activate the newborn "Natal Sword Essence" within his Dantian.

The translucent phantom of the small sword trembled slightly, letting out a clear, high-pitched sword hum. A streak of white light flowed through his Meridians in an instant, reaching his right palm.

The light converged, and a sword about three feet long, shimmering with flowing light, appeared out of thin air in his hand.

Lin Feng gripped the hilt and casually thrust it forward.

Ssh.

The tip of the sword did not touch the stone wall, but a streak of white Sword Qi had already sunk into the hard stone, leaving a thin and deep sword hole.

'This Sword Essence... is indeed incomparably profound!'

Lin Feng cast a Cleansing Spell to remove the impurities from his body and changed into a clean set of green robes. He took a deep breath and pushed open the stone door.

The scene outside made his steps pause slightly.

In the corridor that was originally somewhat deserted, seven or eight Outer Sect Disciples were now standing scattered about, their gazes all falling on him.

The two Outer Sect Disciples responsible for guarding this place walked forward quickly to meet him.

One of the younger Disciples was the first to cup his hands: "Cong-Congratulations on completing your seclusion, Senior Brother. You... you are..."

Before he could finish, his gaze met the unfathomable Foundation Establishment Spiritual Pressure around Lin Feng. His eyes widened instantly, and he swallowed the rest of his sentence, leaving only a trembling exclamation:

"...You succeeded in Foundation Establishment? The astonishing phenomenon of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi gathering a few days ago startled nearly half of the secret room area."

The other older Disciple was also filled with shock and awe. He swallowed hard and hurriedly bowed to join in:

"Congratulations, Senior Brother. For Senior Brother to achieve Foundation Establishment in this rented quiet room is truly a model for us all."

The surrounding Outer Sect Disciples who were watching also began to discuss.

"Someone actually succeeded in Foundation Establishment here? I thought that day's phenomenon was some Elder performing Alchemy or Artifact Refining."

"Looking at his bone age, he's so young. Which Elder's Personal Disciple is this?"

"A few days ago... the Spiritual Qi in my cultivation room was instantly drained for a moment... was it triggered by this Senior Brother?"

Lin Feng's expression was calm and non-committal, only nodding slightly: "It was just luck."

The two Disciples echoed in agreement, actively stepping aside to clear the path: "Senior Brother, please."

Lin Feng said no more and flew toward the martial arts arena on his sword. Calculating the days, the Sect Grand Competition was about to begin.

In the center of the plaza, the noise was deafening, yet everyone's gaze focused simultaneously on a massive spiritual wall named the "Hundred Arts Heavenly Rankings."

This wall was neither stone nor jade, colored like the dark blue sky. Upon it, as if naturally formed, spiritual power runes written in a bold and powerful style displayed the names of the contestants, their respective peaks, and the events they had registered for.

The rankings flowed with spiritual light, and the positions shifted and changed. Every flicker tugged at the hearts of the countless Disciples below, drawing bursts of low exclamations and praise.

A Disciple stood solemnly beneath the rankings, his hands performing hand seals. He was clearly controlling this Sect treasure with his mind, updating the latest information.

The Grand Competition was divided into many events: Alchemy, Talisman Drawing, Formation Array, Artifact Refining, Sword Dao, Beast Taming, Puppets, and so on. Basically, all the common methods of the cultivation world were covered, with the goal of comprehensively assessing the Disciples' abilities.

The registration rules were simple: Disciples could choose a maximum of two events based on their strengths. Hardly anyone dared to register for more than three, for the simple reason that biting off more than one could chew was unwise. Each competition was extremely taxing on the mind; registering for too many would surely lead to neglecting one for the other, and one would definitely be eliminated early, appearing on stage only to lose face and be laughed at.

Lin Feng's gaze swept over the Hundred Arts Heavenly Rankings. After a slight deliberation, he walked to the registration desk and said directly to the Disciple in charge: "Senior Brother, I am registering for four events: Sword, Alchemy, Talismans, and Formations."

The Disciple was looking down while recording. Hearing this, his pen paused, and he looked up: "How... how many? Four? Junior Brother, you're not joking, are you?"

"I'm not joking, just register these four."

Now, not only was the Deacon Disciple stunned, but even the Disciples queuing nearby or watching the excitement heard him, casting suspicious and shocked glances.

"Four events? Did I hear that right?"

"Who is this person? So arrogant?"

"I've never seen anyone register for four. Even Senior Brother Lu Chenyuan from Heavenly Solitary Peak only registered for 'Sword' and 'Talismans'!"

"Qi Refinement Stage? No... this Spiritual Pressure... it's Foundation Establishment Stage. But even for Foundation Establishment, participating in four events at once is unheard of."

"He's probably just here to seek attention, right?"

Seeing that Lin Feng didn't seem to be joking, the Deacon Disciple frowned and confirmed again: "Junior Brother, have you thought this through? Four events running simultaneously is extremely taxing. In the past, no one has ever..."

"I've thought it through. Please register me, Senior Brother."

Seeing his persistence, the Deacon Disciple could only shake his head. He took out four different registration jade talismans and entered Lin Feng's information one by one. With each entry, the corner of his mouth twitched.

When the final jade talisman representing "Formation Dao" also lit up with the spiritual mark of confirmation, the way he looked at Lin Feng was like looking at a madman.

The Deacon Disciple placed the four glowing jade talismans into a specialized transmission Formation and said helplessly:

"Alright, the information has been entered. It will appear on the 'Hundred Arts Heavenly Rankings' shortly. Junior Brother... good luck to you."

Lin Feng nodded and turned to leave, leaving a buzz of discussion behind him.

A short while later.

On the area of the jade wall near the edge representing new registrants, the spiritual light flickered rapidly, and several new pieces of information appeared almost simultaneously.

[Lin Feng - Outer Sect Disciple - Sword]

[Lin Feng - Outer Sect Disciple - Alchemy]

[Lin Feng - Outer Sect Disciple - Talisman]

[Lin Feng - Outer Sect Disciple - Formation]

Four rankings, the same name, appearing side by side.

The originally noisy plaza seemed to have been hit by a collective silence spell; all sound vanished instantly.

Countless gazes froze upon the jade wall, their faces filled with disbelief.

"That... what is that?"