118: rule

Mu Wanqing and Xiao Lingxian held hands and looked around, dazzled by the sights.

Li Pingan asked curiously, "Revered Master, are we going to find a place to stay now?"

Chen Xuan shook his head. "No need. We'll go straight to Heavenly Secret Pavilion. I'm fairly familiar with that Elder Fang."

It happened that he could also ask for some help regarding the registration for the ceremony.

Led by Xiao Yun, the group arrived at the main gate of Heavenly Secret Pavilion with ease.

Mu Wanqing looked up at the magnificent pavilion and let out a soft "Eh?" before saying, "It's still a bit inferior to our Sect's Divine Ability Pavilion."

Qi Yue, standing nearby, couldn't help but chuckle upon hearing this.

Her own Dao Seeking Sect... was truly unreasonable in many aspects.

After two guard Disciples reported their arrival, a burly old man with graying temples rushed out in a hurry.

He was startled upon seeing that familiar white robe.

His gaze then fell upon the very much alive Xiao Yun nearby.

Could my guess have been wrong? Was it not this kid Xiao Yun who offended Senior Qin and caused the Zixia Holy Land to be annihilated?

Elder Fang stepped forward quickly with a smile on his face. "Fellow Daoist Chen, please come in, come in!"

Chen Xuan and his group were soon invited into Heavenly Secret Pavilion by Elder Fang.

As they walked, Chen Xuan took out a bottle of sixth-grade elixirs and handed it to Fellow Daoist Fang. "I've brought a few Disciples to participate in the Heavenly Selection Grand Ceremony. I'll have to trouble Fellow Daoist Fang to help handle the related matters."

Chen Xuan felt no psychological burden spending these low-grade pills.

After all, they were sponsored by a warm-hearted Fellow Daoist!

Elder Fang's eyes lit up when he heard this. He reached out to take the pills, and the smile on his face became even more sincere.

"Of course, of course!"

After speaking, he sized up the Disciples following Chen Xuan.

"Hiss!"

Is it because I've been too tired organizing files lately that my eyes are failing me?

Elder Fang blinked and took another look.

Good heavens, they really are in the Golden Core Realm! Such young Golden Core Realms would be considered prodigies even within those Great Holy Lands!

Although the other Disciples were only around the Foundation Establishment Seventh Layer, they were still one-in-a-million cultivation geniuses.

While these people couldn't compare to the three freaks inside the pavilion, there were sixteen spots for the Heavenly Selection Grand Ceremony.

They might actually have a chance to win a spot or two.

If Elder Fang knew that Mu Wanqing and the others had only been cultivating for less than four months, who knows how shocked he would be.

Elder Fang steadied his internal shock and then glanced at the Woman in White Dress beside Chen Xuan.

She wore a white veil, which was one thing, but he couldn't even perceive her Realm.

This left him slightly bewildered!

The veiled Qi Yue glanced back, and Elder Fang immediately retracted his gaze.

The reason Qi Yue wore a veil was mainly because there were far too many Cultivators in the Central Region who admired her.

To avoid causing unnecessary trouble for the Sect Master, Qi Yue had chosen to do this.

Elder Fang asked in a deep voice, "I wonder what the name of Fellow Daoist's Sect is?"

"Dao Seeking Sect!"

"Dao Seeking Sect... a fine name! The two words 'Wendao' point directly to a Cultivator's original heart."

After praising it sincerely, Elder Fang waved his hand and summoned a Heavenly Secret Pavilion Disciple.

After giving the Disciple a few instructions, the Disciple nodded and left.

"There are still a few hours before the ceremony begins. Why don't you come to my place for a seat? I can also introduce the rules of the Heavenly Selection Grand Ceremony to you."

Chen Xuan nodded slightly. "If you use tea to entertain your guests again this time, it won't be pleasant."

Elder Fang burst into hearty laughter upon hearing this!

In an elegant room on the seventh floor, sandalwood incense curled upwards.

Mu Wanqing pulled Xie Xingyao to the balcony to look into the distance, gazing down at the densely packed Cultivators below.

Ye Hao found a spot to sit cross-legged, looking as if he was about to start cultivating again.

Xiao Lingxian, Li Pingan, and Xie Xingchen sat obediently beside Chen Xuan, listening to the rules of the Heavenly Selection Grand Ceremony.

Qi Yue extended her slender jade hand to gently hold the wine pot, tilting her wrist slightly to fill a cup for Chen Xuan.

"Sect Master, please!"

Chen Xuan was somewhat speechless; there was no need for this.

It was lucky Qi Yue was wearing a veil; if she took it off, the sight of her pouring wine for a man would surely scare Elder Fang half to death.

After drinking a cup of wine, Elder Fang said, "There are three requirements to participate in this Heavenly Selection Grand Ceremony."

Chen Xuan nodded slightly, signaling him to continue.

"First: Age must not exceed thirty. If one is over the age limit, even with excellent Aptitude, the Mysterious Realm Emissaries will see no value in further cultivation."

"Unless one is truly a Child of Destiny who breaks through the Nascent Soul Bottleneck within sixty years."

Not exceeding thirty years old?

Chen Xuan was stunned for a moment. Doesn't that mean I'm also eligible?

However, while he had the eligibility, Chen Xuan had no such intention. It would be quite improper to participate in a competition alongside his own Disciples.

"And the second point?" Chen Xuan asked curiously.

"Second: One's cultivation base must be at the Foundation Establishment Fifth Layer or above. This is considered the first threshold for filtering out prodigies!"

A Foundation Establishment Fifth Layer at age thirty—if this were in the Eastern Region, the former Five Great Hegemon-level Forces would have fought to snatch them up.

Chen Xuan glanced at the Yellow-Skirts Girl not far away.

His Founding Senior Disciple had only just crossed the passing line!

Elder Fang took a sip of wine to moisten his throat before continuing, "The final point: You are responsible for your own life and death!"

Chen Xuan didn't need this explained; it was easy to understand!

Cultivating was already an act of defying the heavens; wasn't one responsible for their own life and death at every moment?

It was simply a matter of seeing who could survive until the end.

Elder Fang placed his wine cup back on the table, glanced at Chen Xuan from the corner of his eye, and reminded him:

"Fellow Daoist should think this through. The talent of these Disciples of yours is indeed good, but if they fall in this Heavenly Selection Grand Ceremony, it would truly be a waste."

"Although the Profound Realm is vast and desirable, there's nothing wrong with continuing to stay in this Lesser Exquisite Grotto-Heaven as a local tyrant."

Chen Xuan replied calmly, "Thank you for the reminder, Fellow Daoist, but I have great confidence in these poor Disciples of mine."

If any accident really happens, I'll just use a teleportation talisman to save the day!

Chen Xuan naturally wouldn't watch his Disciples come to harm. No matter how important this Heavenly Selection Grand Ceremony was, it couldn't compare to the lives of his Disciples.

Even if doing so might anger the Sects behind the Profound Realm.

After a brief chat, a sudden commotion came from below the pavilion.

A Heavenly Secret Pavilion Disciple ran in quickly and reported a few words to Elder Fang.

Upon hearing this, Elder Fang had no choice but to take his leave.

Qi Yue said softly, "It seems the ceremony is about to begin."

"Sect Master, let's head over as well!"

Chen Xuan nodded slowly... Passing through the Heavenly Secret Pavilion and several layers of halls behind it, a vast Arena Square spanning several miles came into view.

Around the Arena Stage, Cultivators were packed as densely as a tide, with Disciples from various Sects lined up according to their Sect's positions.

The noisy waves of discussion almost threatened to overturn the sky.

Around the arena, there were ten towering and magnificent Golden Cloud Platforms. These were the seats for the Ten Great Sacred Lands of the Central Region, though one spot was currently empty.

In addition, in the sky above the arena, four high platforms carved from thousand-year-old profound jade floated in the air.

With sixteen flashes of spiritual light, the Mysterious Realm Emissaries from four different forces took their seats one after another!

Qin Tianxing, Wang Er, and the other two scanned the crowd below, searching for the figure of Senior Chen.