75: Chapter 75 Seeking the Way and Competing for Supremacy (Part 1)

"Clang—!"

The melodious morning bell rang through Tiandu Mountain again, scattering the last traces of the night.

Morning glow shone on the towering five Peaks, draping this fairyland-like scenic spot in a gorgeous golden rim.

However, the atmosphere at Tiandu Mountain today was completely different from yesterday's peace and focus on exchange.

The air was filled with an invisible murderous aura, solemnity, and a faint excitement.

The "Dao Questioning Contest" was one of the highlights of the "Five Regions Dao Discussion Conference" and an excellent stage for resolving disputes, distributing benefits, showcasing strength, and making a name for oneself.

Today would be the battlefield for Nascent Soul and Golden Core Cultivators, a direct collision of blood, fire, Dao, and Spells.

Countless young Geniuses and powerful leaders had long been eager, waiting to show their skills on this stage that attracted everyone's attention, striving for the glory of the top ten, as well as the accompanying rich rewards and qualifications for the Secret Realm.

The huge Dao Questioning jade platform, after a night of Formation reinforcement and adjustment, had been divided into ten relatively independent yet mutually visible circular combat areas.

Each area was covered by a powerful defensive light curtain, sufficient to withstand the aftermath of combat at the late Nascent Soul Stage.

The viewing stands around the platform were packed, even more crowded and noisy than yesterday.

On the main seat in the north, the Void Refining giants of the five major forces did not appear, but the leaders of their respective Sects and forces (such as the Sect Master of Yantian, Sword Master Jian Wuming, Fairy Yaoguang, Great Elder Danchenzi, Elder Xingyan, etc.) were already seated, their expressions solemn.

Master Liaoyin also sat in front of the Western Desert area.

In the East Pavilion, Lin Wan sat calmly with his wife and child.

But today, the gazes falling on him were filled with deeper awe, and hostility was better hidden, yet that cold, snake-like feeling of being watched was always there, present or absent.

Emperor Yan's entire body had his flames restrained, like a silent volcano.

In the Northern Plains area, those cold auras were also becoming increasingly obscure.

"The rules for the 'Dao Questioning Contest' are as follows."

Fairy Yaoguang's cold, melodious voice rang out across the entire venue again, suppressing all the noise.

"Participating Cultivators are limited to the Nascent Soul Stage and below; Golden Core Cultivators may also register.

The competition will determine opponents by drawing lots.

It is a single-elimination system until the top ten of the Nascent Soul and Golden Core Realms are decided.

During the competition, it is forbidden to intentionally cause death, forbidden to use one-time external forces that exceed one's own control (such as forbidden artifacts, summoning Spirit Beasts far exceeding one's own cultivation, etc.), and forbidden to use large-scale, indiscriminate attacks that may affect the audience.

Offenders will be disqualified and severely punished.

Actively conceding, losing combat ability, or being knocked out of the combat area will be judged as a loss."

"The order of the competition will be the Golden Core Realm first, followed by the Nascent Soul Realm.

Now, all Fellow Daoists who have signed up for the 'Dao Questioning Contest', please go to the center of the platform and draw your number plates at the 'Sign Formation'."

As her voice fell, in the center of the platform, a profound Formation composed of countless small jade talismans, slowly rotating, suddenly shone with a soft light.

The Cultivators who had been prepared for a long time turned into streams of light and shot toward the center of the platform.

Among them, Golden Core Cultivators accounted for the vast majority, nearly ten thousand!

There were also hundreds of Nascent Soul Cultivators, all elites of various regions, with powerful auras and sharp eyes.

Lin Jingyun looked at Lin Wan, his eyes full of eagerness to try.

"Go ahead, be careful.

Remember, safety first, winning or losing is secondary.

Just do your best and leave no regrets."

Lin Wan patted his son's shoulder and urged him gently.

With Lin Jingyun's Early Stage Golden Core cultivation, it was extremely difficult to break into the top ten among nearly ten thousand Golden Core Cultivators.

But Lin Wan did not force it; he only hoped that he could take this opportunity to hone himself and increase his knowledge.

"Don't worry, Father!

This child will definitely give it his all!"

Lin Jingyun nodded heavily, smiled at Liu Ruyan and Chu Qingyao, moved his body, turned into a cyan sword light, and also fell into the Sign Formation.

Liu Ruyan and Chu Qingyao also had encouragement and a trace of worry in their eyes.

Soon, the drawing of lots was completed.

Nearly ten thousand number plates were distributed to all participants.

The competition in the Golden Core Realm officially began.

Ten combat areas lit up simultaneously.

The first batch of twenty Golden Core Cultivators stepped into their respective areas.

The battle erupted instantly!

"Boom!" "Clang!" "Whoosh!"

In an instant, inside the ten areas, Spell light soared to the sky, Sword Qi crisscrossed, Magic Treasures collided, Spirit Beasts roared, and the battle was extremely intense.

The Golden Core Cultivators who could come to participate in the "Five Regions Dao Discussion Conference" were all elites of their respective regions, and there were no mediocre ones.

The excitement of the battle far exceeded that of ordinary Sect competitions, drawing gasps, admiration, and cheers from the viewing stands, which were endless.

Lin Jingyun's number plate was "Bing-Seven", scheduled to appear in the third batch.

He stood in the waiting area, watching the battle in the arena with full concentration, analyzing the fighting styles and characteristics of the Cultivation Techniques of different opponents, and silently deducing countermeasures in his heart.

Although he was young, he had Lin Wan's careful guidance and practiced the "Five Elements Guixu Sword Scripture", an supreme sword classic.

His Foundation was solid, his Sword Intent was clear, and his vision and Heart-Nature were far superior to his peers.

Soon, the first two batches of battles ended; the winners Advanced, and the losers retreated gloomily.

Despite the rules set by Fairy Yaoguang, the battle was dangerous, and there were still people who were seriously injured, and one person even had their Physical Body destroyed by accident, leaving only the Golden Core to escape, which caused a sigh.

"Bing-character area, number seven, against, Gui-character area, number nine!"

Following the loud announcement of the Elder in charge, Lin Jingyun's spirit was lifted, and he leaped into the "Bing" combat area.

His opponent was a sturdy man from the Eastern Wasteland, tall, with a rough face, holding a pair of red copper giant hammers, and his cultivation was at the late Golden Core stage.

"A little brat from the Southern Region?"

Seeing Lin Jingyun so young and his cultivation only at the early Golden Core stage, the sturdy man flashed a trace of contempt in his eyes and said in a muffled voice, "Looking at your tender skin, you'd better hurry up and concede, lest Grandpa here loses control and smashes you into meat paste with one hammer!"

Lin Jingyun was unmoved, just slowly pulling out the "Starfall Sword" from his back.

The sword body flowed with a chaotic dark silver luster, emitting a faint sharpness and spirituality.

He performed a standard starting posture and said calmly: "Qingyun Sect, Guixu Peak, Lin Jingyun. Please enlighten me."

"Ignorant of life and death!"

The sturdy man grinned hideously, and the twin hammers in his hands slammed into each other, bursting out a deafening sound of gold and iron clashing.

At the same time, a hot, violent fire-attribute spiritual energy erupted!

What he practiced was obviously a path combining strength and fire-type.

"Take this hammer of mine! Blazing Flame Bombardment!"

The sturdy man roared, his figure like a wild bull charging.

On the twin hammers, red flames burned fiercely, turning into two huge fireballs, carrying violent power and scorching high temperature, smashing at Lin Jingyun from left and right!

The momentum was so fierce that it far exceeded that of an ordinary late Golden Core stage; he was clearly trying to end the battle quickly and even give Lin Jingyun a show of force.

Facing these two heavy hammers that blocked his left and right, a flash of light appeared in Lin Jingyun's eyes.

He did not take them head-on.

The footwork under his feet changed, his figure like willow catkins in the wind, light and fluttering, unexpectedly flashing through the gap between the two hammers at the last second!

At the same time, the Starfall Sword in his hand turned into a swift, chaotic dark silver sword light, like a snake sticking out its tongue, stabbing directly at the exposed rib gap of the sturdy man due to his exertion!

"Huh?!"

The sturdy man was shocked, not expecting this young man's footwork to be so strange and his move-changing so fast!

He hurriedly turned his hammers to block, but Lin Jingyun's sword was fast, accurate, and ruthless, and the angle was tricky.

Within the sword light, a tearing, penetrating sharp Sword Intent was faintly contained.

"Swoosh—!"

The sword light swept past, although it was barely blocked by the hammer handle of the sturdy man, it still left a deep, charred sword mark on the tough leather armor on his ribs, with blood faintly seeping out.

If it weren't for his tough Physical Body and quick reaction, this sword might have injured his internal organs.

"Good boy! You have some tricks!"

The sturdy man was both shocked and angry.

He put away his contempt, roared repeatedly, and waved his hammers like a windmill, with flames soaring to the sky, his attack becoming more violent, trying to suppress Lin Jingyun with absolute power.

However, Lin Jingyun carried the "Five Elements Guixu Sword Scripture".

Although he only practiced the basic chapter, the exquisiteness of his sword technique, his application of the Five Elements power, and his grasp of battle opportunities were already far superior to those of the same rank.

He did not compete with the sturdy man in power, but relied on his flexible and swift footwork and exquisite sword moves, like a butterfly passing through flowers, shuttling through the violent hammer shadows and flames, occasionally delivering a sword, all of which were attacks that the enemy had to defend against, or weak points in their defense.

Within the sword light, the Five Elements power flowed, sometimes sharp as gold, cutting flames; sometimes soft as water, unloading power and dissolving force; sometimes thick as earth, guarding the gate steadily; sometimes swift as wood, with endless vitality; and there was even a thread of Guixu's deathly silence contained within, making the sturdy man's protective spiritual energy and flames faintly show signs of being eroded and weakened.

After dozens of rounds, the sturdy man roared repeatedly but was unable to touch a corner of Lin Jingyun's clothes.

Instead, he added several sword wounds to his own body.

Although they were not serious, they made him more irritable, and his spiritual energy consumption was quite large.

"Damn it! Little brat, you only know how to hide! If you have the ability, take a hammer from Grandpa!"

The sturdy man was panting, his eyes red.

Lin Jingyun's breath was steady, his eyes calm.

He knew the opportunity had come.

Just as the sturdy man raised his twin hammers again, gathering strength to launch his strongest attack, the moment his old strength was exhausted, new strength had not yet been born, and his center was wide open—

A chaotic sword light flashed in Lin Jingyun's eyes, and the Starfall Sword in his hand suddenly erupted with unprecedented brilliant light!

On the sword body, the Five Elements brilliance flowed, faintly forming a miniature Five Elements roulette phantom.

A more refined, sharper, as if it could cut through everything, chaotic Sword Intent soared into the sky!

"Five Elements Returning to Ruins — Breaking the Army!"

He drank lowly, his figure and sword light seemed to merge into one, turning into a chaotic beam, not retreating but advancing, facing the giant hammer that was about to smash down, carrying the sky-high flames, and stabbed with one sword!

This sword was no longer a skirmish, but a dignified, point-breaking-face attack, stabbing directly at the core where the flames and the power of the giant hammer gathered, which was also the place where his defense was relatively weak!

"Ding—!!!"

The extremely crisp sword sound and the dull hammer strike sound rang out at the same time!

The chaotic sword light hit the center of the red giant hammer with extreme precision!

"Crack..."

A faint cracking sound came from the hammer body.

The sturdy man's face changed drastically.

He felt that his Lifebound Treasure giant hammer, which had been refined for many years and was indestructible, was receiving a strange, irresistible power at the point of contact with the opponent's sword tip, as if it could decompose and annihilate everything, causing the internal structure of the hammer to be damaged instantly and losing its spirituality!

At the same time, a cold, deathly, as if it could end everything, Sword Intent, followed the hammer handle, crazily poured into his arm Meridians, and attacked his Dantian Golden Core!

"Not good!"

The sturdy man's soul was frightened, wanting to let go and retreat, but it was too late.

Lin Jingyun's sword momentum did not stop, and the Starfall Sword, like a maggot on a tarsal bone, followed the damaged hammer body, gently twisted and picked!

"Clang!"

The red giant hammer was actually picked away directly, spinning and being thrown far out of the combat area!

The sturdy man's right arm was in severe pain, his Meridians were damaged, and his aura was instantly chaotic.

Before his left-hand giant hammer could be withdrawn, the tip of Lin Jingyun's sword was already against his throat, and the cold Sword Qi made his skin ache.

"You... lost."

Lin Jingyun's calm voice sounded.

The sturdy man's face was pale, feeling the cold sword tip in front of his throat and the strange Sword Intent rampaging in his body, he finally let go of the left-hand giant hammer and said hoarsely: "I... concede."

"Bing-character area, number seven, Lin Jingyun, wins!"

The Elder in charge announced loudly.

On the viewing stands, a burst of exclamation and cheers erupted.

"What an exquisite sword technique! What a strong Sword Intent!"

"Who is this boy? From the Qingyun Sect of the Southern Region? Lin Wan's son? A tiger father has no dog sons!"

"He actually defeated the Eastern Wasteland strength Cultivator of the late Golden Core stage by crossing ranks with an early Golden Core cultivation! Amazing!"

"The sword he just used seems to contain the Five Elements generation and restriction and some kind of higher-level deathly silence, not simple!"

In the Eastern Wasteland area, many Cultivators looked ugly.

The flames around Emperor Yan flickered slightly, obviously not expecting that Lin Wan's son would also be so outstanding.

Lin Wan looked at his son, who was standing with his sword put away, breathing slightly, but with bright eyes on the stage, a trace of approval flashed in his eyes.

Liu Ruyan and Chu Qingyao also breathed a sigh of relief, with smiles on their faces.

Lin Jingyun bowed to the four directions, flew off the stage, returned to the waiting area, and silently adjusted his breath, preparing for the next round.

The competition in the Golden Core Realm continued.

The battles were more intense one after another, dark horses appeared from time to time, and famous Geniuses fell accidentally.

With his solid Foundation, exquisite sword technique, and calm mind, Lin Jingyun defeated two Mid-stage Golden Core and one late Golden Core opponents in a row, successfully breaking into the top 128 of the Golden Core Realm!

His performance had already attracted more and more people's attention.

"This Lin Jingyun, his talent, Heart-Nature, and strength are all top-notch, with his father's style!"

"The Southern Region is afraid that there will be two Prodigies this time!"

"Let's see how far he can go. The later it gets, the stronger the opponents will be."

Just as the Golden Core competition was in full swing, the "Dao Questioning Contest" for the Nascent Soul Realm was also about to start drawing lots.

And at this moment, in the Eastern Wasteland area, Emperor Yan gave a few low-voiced instructions to a young man behind him who had a calm aura, eyes as sharp as an eagle, carrying a red long knife on his back, and whose cultivation had reached the Peak of the Mid-stage Nascent Soul.

That young man was the first person of the younger generation of the Skyfire Sect, Emperor Yan's personal Disciple, known as "Burning Heaven Blade" — Yan Jin!

A trace of coldness and killing intent flashed in Yan Jin's eyes.

He nodded slightly, then moved his body, turned into a fire light, and shot toward the Sign Formation in the center of the platform.

In the Northern Plains area, there were also several cold auras that quietly disappeared into the crowd and began to draw number plates.

Central Plains and Western Desert also had top Nascent Soul Prodigies entering the venue one after another.

Everyone knew that the real highlight, the "Dao Questioning Contest" of the Nascent Soul Realm, was about to begin.

And this contest would probably become even more... bloody and cruel because of Lin Wan killing Old Monster Jiuyou with one finger yesterday.

Because many people wanted to see if this son of "True Monarch Guixu" could be as invincible as his father?

They also wanted to see how those forces that held grudges against Lin Wan would target Lin Jingyun in this "Dao Questioning Contest", or even... target Lin Wan himself, who might come down to the arena (although the hope was not high).

The storm was brewing.