181: Compete in the Tianjie Dojo!

In the blink of an eye, five days had quietly passed.

At the celebration banquet, the most discussed topics were undoubtedly the experiences of various powerhouses after visiting Li Shengyuan’s Heavenly Tribulation Dojo.

Everyone was sharing how far they had ventured and what insights they had gained…

For Fourth-Rank cultivators, advancing even a single zhang was a huge leap; the power of the Heavenly Tribulation and Inner Demon Tribulation they endured would be even stronger!

Often, it only takes one more straw to break the camel's back; even taking one more step might prove impossible…

This had, in turn, become a standard for measuring a cultivator's strength and talent.

Gradually, it also sparked competition among the various sects!

The major sects were quite happy to see this kind of bloodless struggle.

After all, currently, the major sects were united with the Great Gan Dynasty to resist the Demonic Cult. If they were to fight among themselves first, the repercussions would not be good. However, with so many people, friction was inevitable, and if suppressed for too long, problems would eventually arise.

Now, entering the Heavenly Tribulation Dojo had become a new way for disciples to compete among themselves!

The outcome was also very straightforward: whoever went further was stronger!

In these five days, no Fourth-Rank cultivator had managed to venture a full li!

However, currently, only Fourth-Rank and above powerhouses could enter. Although Fifth-Rank cultivators watched enviously, they could only obediently remain in Shanhai Pass, waiting for the Heavenly Tribulation power within to weaken.

But soon, Yue Xiyan was going to break through again, which would strengthen the Heavenly Tribulation Dojo, making it even more distant for Fifth-Rank cultivators to enter…

Nevertheless, keeping a multitude of powerhouses tied to Shanhai Pass was also quite beneficial.

Not only could it enhance the city's defensive capabilities, but it also significantly boosted consumption in Shanhai Pass, as cultivators are generally wealthy, and their casual purchases could amount to what many ordinary people earn.

Over the past year, Shanhai Pass’s economic growth had been remarkably impressive, delighting the Prefect of Shanhai Pass…

Due to the celebration banquet, the competition in the Heavenly Tribulation Dojo among the various sects ceased for a day, allowing them to rest and digest their experiences.

The next day, people gathered again in a bustling crowd, with excitement evident on everyone's faces.

Everyone was led by Li Shengyuan and Sect Leader Fang Xiaolin, both Second-Rank cultivators.

On the way to the Heavenly Tribulation Dojo, Sect Leader Fang Xiaolin looked at Li Shengyuan and sighed:

“Brother Li, your dojo is truly terrifying. Although I’ve ventured deep into it these past few days, even I, a Second-Rank cultivator, feel my heart palpitate in the very center. I have to move cautiously; a slight lapse in attention and I’m pulled into an illusion by the Inner Demon Tribulation…”

“I believe that in this world, apart from you when you were Third-Rank, there's simply no Third-Rank cultivator who could penetrate the innermost area when the dojo is at its peak!”

Sect Leader Chen Qingxuan, who was beside them, also gave a wry smile, “Sect Leader, forget about a Third-Rank cultivator entering the innermost area. At a distance of over ten li, I already felt very strained after only entering four li…”

Li Shengyuan smiled calmly, “Old Brother Fang still underestimates the people of this world. As for Sect Leader Chen, you’ve only just broken through to Third-Rank, so managing to go four li is already quite good!”

After sharing a few drinks at yesterday’s celebration banquet, the two had begun addressing each other as brothers.

Chen Qingxuan shook his head with a bitter smile upon hearing this. The time difference between his and Li Shengyuan’s breakthrough to Third-Rank wasn’t significant, yet in just over a year, the gap between them had already widened so much…

However, he also knew that Li Shengyuan was no ordinary person, so he felt no sense of defeat in his heart.

Li Shengyuan then continued with a smile, “The world is vast, and there are countless talented individuals and eccentric experts. Who knows, perhaps another person capable of killing a Second-Rank while being Third-Rank will emerge at any time.”

Although he said that, Sect Leader Fang Xiaolin merely smiled. How could the gap between a Third-Rank and a Second-Rank be so easily bridged?

In Li Shengyuan's view, only those extremely top-tier Sons of Fortune could achieve it, as only he, who had killed a Second-Rank while being a Third-Rank, truly knew how difficult it was to kill a Second-Rank!

An ordinary Third-Rank cultivator who managed to escape alive from a Second-Rank's presence would have enough to boast about for a lifetime.

Li Shengyuan looked at Linghu Chong in the crowd. He was currently with a Third-Rank cultivator from the Tianxing Sword Sect.

This Third-Rank cultivator had responded to the Great Gan Dynasty's call to come and guard Shanhai Pass and eliminate the Demonic Cult.

He wondered what kind of performance Linghu Chong, this top Son of Fortune, would display…

At this moment, Linghu Chong was also eager to move. He wanted to test how far he could go. In one year, his cultivation had already advanced to the peak of Fourth-Rank, and his development of the Eternal Sword Body was becoming increasingly strong!

Li Shengyuan was also curious to see how far Linghu Chong could go. With his talent and strength, venturing a li should not be a problem…

He withdrew his gaze. The Heavenly Tribulation Dojo was already within reach, and many people around Li Shengyuan also wanted to enter the dojo for some tempering.

Among them were Shen Xinrong, who had been at the peak of Fourth-Rank for a long time, as well as Liu Zhen, Zhang Mang, and Zhao Shanhe, the three Golden Uniform old brothers from the Demon Suppression Division who had followed him to the Northern Region.

There were also some Demon Suppression Envoys who had not been promoted to Golden Uniform but were also Fourth-Rank.

Li Shengyuan smiled at them and said, “This Heavenly Tribulation Dojo is indeed an excellent training ground for you all, but I still want to remind you, always act within your capabilities. Limits need to be broken little by little; too much is as bad as too little.”

“Don’t worry, Shengyuan, I know what I’m doing!” Shen Xinrong replied with a smile.

Liu Zhen, on the other hand, laughed excitedly, “We know what we’re doing too, we won’t mess around!”

Then he looked at Zhang Mang, Zhao Shanhe, and the six Fourth-Rank Silver-Robed Demon Suppression Envoy, and laughed heartily:

“Brothers, it’s been a long time since we’ve had a full-strength spar together. When we fight, we’re afraid of getting injured and affecting our missions. How about today we have a competition to see who can go further?!”

“No problem!” Zhang Mang clenched his fists, his eyes filled with fighting spirit.

Zhao Shanhe didn't speak, but nodded slightly, his eyes also full of fighting spirit.

The six Fourth-Rank Silver-Robed Demon Suppression Envoy also nodded excitedly in agreement, then said with a smile:

“Boss, competing like this is too boring. Shouldn’t there be some stakes for winning or losing?!”

“Naturally…” Liu Zhen nodded, pondered for a moment, then smiled:

“If you guys beat the three of us, you can be the Golden Uniform…”

The six men’s eyes lit up, and they nodded repeatedly, “Great, great!”

“Don’t get too happy too soon!” Liu Zhen snorted, “But if you lose, you have to serve us tea and water for a month, and also wash our underwear!”

“No problem, we accept!”

Everyone excitedly patted their chests in agreement, then looked at Li Shengyuan and said:

“Boss Li, would you please be our witness for this matter?”

“No problem.” Li Shengyuan nodded with a smile, “Within ten days, whoever goes further wins!”

“And for the top three, I have additional rewards!”