491: The stakes behind the competition

After drinking together that day, Xu Qing decided to find time to visit the City Lord, Sword Slaughter.

This was a Three-step Dao Ancestor who had already condensed his past self, hailing from the Sword Clan, a Peak race of the Chaos Sea. Members of this clan were born masters of the Sword Dao; even Sword Clan Disciples with low Aptitude were born with Sword Intent.

The strongest among the Sword Clan was a Disciple of Earth Sovereign, which is why the Sword Clan and the Human Race were on good terms.

Xu Qing's ability to Breakthrough peacefully this time was also due to the help of this City Lord!

City Lord's Mansion!

It was called a mansion, but it was more like a city!

Xu Qing arrived, stepping through the air, his green robe fluttering.

Though he had become a Dao Ancestor, facing this ancient Sword City, he still felt a sharp aura rushing towards him. The seemingly ordinary bricks on the city walls were in fact Sword Dao imprints left by generations of powerful Sword Cultivators.

“Dao Friend Xu, I have been waiting for you.”

A gentle voice sounded.

At the mansion gate, Sword Slaughter, clad in a dark red battle robe, stood with his hands behind his back.

His face was ordinary, but his eyes were astonishingly bright, as if they contained the purest Sword Intent in the world, a stark difference from how he appeared that day.

“Xu Qing greets the City Lord!” Xu Qing said, cupping his hands.

“Dao Friend Xu is too polite!” Sword Slaughter said with a smile.

Xu Qing bowed solemnly: “Junior Xu Qing has come specifically to express his gratitude for the City Lord's protection of his Dao.”

Sword Slaughter chuckled softly and raised his hand in a gesture of support.

This gesture seemed casual, yet it contained profound Dao charm. Xu Qing only felt a gentle Sword Intent lift him up, neither appearing overbearing nor lacking in courtesy.

“Fellow Daoist is too humble! You, as a One-step Dao Ancestor, were able to stir the resonance of Myriad Daos. Such Aptitude astounds even this Lord.”

Sword Slaughter’s gaze was burning, “Moreover, if not for your sudden intervention in this battle, we and the Tianyang aliens might have fought for decades, or even centuries.”

He spoke no falsehoods; if not for Xu Qing’s sudden move, both sides would likely have been in a stalemate.

The two walked side by side into the mansion.

On both sides inside the mansion, the maids and guards they encountered stood at attention.

These were all Juniors of the Sword Clan, natural Sword Cultivators.

At this moment, their faces could not hide their curiosity, secretly observing this newly advanced Dao Ancestor.

Young Sword Clan children hid behind their elders, their eyes full of admiration.

“The City Lord overpraises me.” Xu Qing shook his head, “If not for your timely restraint of that Three-step Dao Ancestor from the Tianyang Race, this Junior would not have been able to Breakthrough smoothly.”

Sword Slaughter laughed heartily, and with a flick of his sleeve, the two had already arrived at the Sword Viewing Platform, the highest point of the City Lord's Mansion.

From here, the entire Pass City Number Seven was visible, and further out lay the vast and boundless Chaos Sea.

“Dao Friend Xu, do you know why my Sword Clan and the Human Race have been on good terms for generations?” Sword Slaughter suddenly asked.

Xu Qing pondered: “I heard that the Sword Clan’s ancestor was once taught by Earth Sovereign...”

“Precisely.” Sword Slaughter’s gaze was distant, “Earth Sovereign taught without discrimination, and our clan’s ancestor was able to glimpse the true meaning of the Sword Dao. This kindness, the Sword Clan will never forget.”

As he spoke, he took out a sword-shaped jade pendant from his sleeve: “This item is for Fellow Daoist. I know that both you and your brother Cultivate the Sword Dao. With this jade pendant, you can enter my Sword Clan’s ‘Myriad Swords Abyss’ to comprehend three times.”

Xu Qing’s heart trembled.

The Myriad Swords Abyss was a Holy Land of the Sword Clan, said to contain the most Origin Sword Dao true meaning of the Chaos Sea. Normally, even Peak races would have to pay a great price to enter. This gift was indeed significant.

“City Lord, this...”

Sword Slaughter waved his hand, interrupting him: “No need to decline! You have already achieved Dao Ancestor status, so the Myriad Swords Abyss might not be of great help to you. However, I have seen your brother’s performance in the Tianyang Competition. His Sword Dao has already formed its own style, following the Dao of Myriad Swords. Some insights from the Myriad Swords Abyss might help him reach an even higher level.”

Five years had passed, and the Tianyang Competition had long since concluded.

Without surprise, the first place was none other than Xu Yuan.

And Ming Hao, who was first in the previous competition, despite unleashing the combat power of a Late Stage Dao Lord and even being able to contend with ordinary Immortal Giants, ultimately lost to Xu Yuan.

He couldn't even make it into the top five, as the top five were all taken by the Xu Family.

While the Xu Family didn't achieve first place on the Supreme and King lists, there were still Geniuses from the clan who broke into the top ten.

Xu Qing also learned from Zhan Tian Dao Ancestor and others that the Tianyang Competition was not that simple.

After all, so many Dao Lords died in one era-level war; how could the thousand Dao Lords from the Tianyang Competition alone fill that gap?

Behind the Competition was the allocation of resources and the defense of battlefields.

For example, races outside the top hundred in the Tianyang Competition were required to send people to guard the outposts beyond each Pass City.

This was inherently a world where the strong preyed on the weak; the weak had no right to choose, only the fate of being dominated.

In terms of resources, some areas of the Chaos Sea connected to the Xu River, and these areas would produce ruin river sand.

Currently, most of the Xu River lands outside Tianyang Pass were guarded by Tianyang aliens, so the Xu River lands controlled by the Southern Abyss became particularly important, serving as strategic materials for Tianyang Pass.

At present, Tianyang Pass controlled only forty-three Xu River lands. While this seemed like a lot, it was simply not enough when distributed among the various races of the Southern Abyss. Thus, the Xu River tide, which occurred only once every hundred cycles, became the prize for the Tianyang Competition.

The Competition was divided into three lists: the first place on the Immortal list could obtain three; the first place on the Supreme list could obtain two; and the first place on the King list could obtain one.

Below the first place, the top ten clans on the Immortal list would share three; the top ten clans on the Supreme list would share two; and the top ten clans on the King list would share one.

The remaining thirty-one Xu River lands would be jointly shared by the top hundred races across all three lists.

As for those outside the top hundred on the three lists, they would not be eligible to share.

Generally speaking, a living being needed three thousand grains of ruin river sand to Breakthrough to Dao Ancestor, and each Xu River tide would wash out tens of thousands to ninety thousand grains of ruin river sand.

This seemed like a lot, but when distributed throughout the entire Southern Abyss, the quantity became much smaller. Some powerful living beings even required more ruin river sand to Breakthrough.

This time, the Xu Family had already won three Xu River lands for the Human Race Holy Temple. Additionally, the next nine places could share Xu River lands, so the Xu Family alone won four independent Xu River lands and one-third of a Xu River land from the Immortal list.

According to previous rules, if the Xu Family took first place on the Immortal list, they would gain control of one Xu River land.

He had already seen the message from Xu Song after coming out of seclusion; several ancient clans had already contacted Xu Song, wanting to offer valuable treasures to cooperate with the Xu Family and share in the ruin river sand.

If he weren't a Human Race Holy Temple Elder and didn't have the record of slaying a Dao Ancestor, the Xu Family would probably have already faced coercion.

He didn't care about the Xu River lands; once the System upgraded, he naturally wouldn't lack them, so he could indeed take out a portion for trade and use the opportunity to foster good relations with other ancient Human Race clans.

For a power to remain prosperous, in addition to its own foundation, human relations were also an important reason. With allies, even if one offended a powerful enemy, the opponent would have to consider it.

Sword Slaughter then added meaningfully: “Dao Friend Xu, the situation is currently treacherous. My Sword Clan needs more allies like Fellow Daoist.”

Xu Qing regained his composure; at present, the Sword Clan was a reliable ally.

Thus, he solemnly accepted the jade pendant, feeling it cool in his hand, yet containing vast Sword Dao power within.

“City Lord’s kindness in protecting my Dao and gifting this jade, Xu Qing will never forget!”

Xu Qing clasped his fists and said.

Sword Slaughter nodded in satisfaction, then raised his hand to pour two cups of clear tea: “Come, try my Sword Clan’s unique Sword Dao tea. This tea even has a certain effect on Dao Ancestors who are drinking Sword Dao tea for the first time.”

Amidst the lingering tea fragrance, the two quickly discussed Dao and swords.

At times, Sword Qi soared to the heavens; at times, Dao charm flowed. Outside the city, Chaos surged; inside the city, Sword Intent pierced the sky. The figures of these two Dao Ancestors, one old and one young, stretched long, long in the setting sun...