155: discuss

Yu Tianxiang narrowed his eyes slightly upon hearing this. After a moment of contemplation, he said, "Fellow Daoist Qin, we've known each other for many years. Are you unwilling to give me even this much Face?"

Qin Tianxing smiled and said, "If it were anything else, I certainly wouldn't compete with you, Fellow Daoist Yu. However, this concerns the Sect, and it wouldn't be easy for me to explain things back there."

"Fellow Daoist Yu, please don't make things difficult for me. Let's just act according to the rules!"

Yu Tianxiang let out a cold snort and scanned the other two high platforms.

This Lesser Exquisite Grotto-Heaven was jointly owned by four Sects. In every session, Disciples would be selected in a predetermined order. Even if he was unwilling, he could only abide by the rules.

At that moment!

Above the clouds, two more figures floated down from the other two suspended high platforms, drawing the attention of the Cultivators who were preparing to focus on the next match.

The one descending on the left was a woman. Her moon-white gauze dress was embroidered with delicate Spirit Dawn patterns. Her skin was as white as porcelain, and her features held a touch of gentleness. The surrounding Cultivators couldn't help but feel that she was someone to be admired from afar, but not trifled with.

The one descending on the right was a young man dressed in a brocade robe, playing with a folding fan in his hand. He smiled at the two and said:

"Fellow Daoist Qin was absolutely right just now. The Heavenly Selection Grand Ceremony has established rules; it's best we act according to them. If anyone thinks particularly highly of a certain Disciple, it won't be too late to discuss it privately. Let's not argue under the watchful eyes of everyone, lest we make the Profound Realm forces a laughingstock to the Cultivators of the Lesser Exquisite Grotto-Heaven."

The woman, Qu Yao, also spoke up, her voice as soft as flowing water. "Fellow Daoist Yu is too impatient. Just like our Bibo Palace, we have also taken an interest in two female Disciples this time."

"We are all restraining our desires and are in no rush."

Yu Tianxiang glanced out of the corner of his eye at the Arena Stage below. The women Bibo Palace could have taken an interest in were likely the Yellow-Skirts Girl and the woman in red.

Just what kind of power was this Dao Seeking Sect, to be able to nurture several individuals with such extraordinary talent?

"It was this humble Daoist who was a bit impatient," he said, looking at Qin Tianxing. "Since we are following the rules, let's not waste time here. Fellow Daoist Qin, follow me up to discuss matters so we can finalize the details for the subsequent Disciple selection. Let's not delay the matches below."

Qin Tianxing nodded in agreement. "I had the same intention."

The four figures flew toward the high platform where the Haotian Sect was located, and the matches on the Arena Stage below continued.

The surrounding Cultivators watching the scene were all filled with astonishment, and the sound of discussion rose and fell.

When they looked at that dark-skinned figure on the Arena Stage, every Face showed an expression of envy.

"My god, the competition hasn't even ended yet, and he's already been scouted by a Mysterious Realm Emissary. This kid will surely have a meteoric rise in the future."

"Sigh, how can the gap between people be so large? We struggle and Cultivate for our lives in the Lesser Exquisite Grotto-Heaven and might not even touch the threshold of the Profound Realm, yet he's being fought over by two great forces!"

"It seems the other Disciples of this Dao Seeking Sect are also highly regarded. Out of the five participants, can all five of them obtain a spot?"

"Where exactly is this Dao Seeking Sect? I must go and apply to join after the ceremony ends."

After Qin Tianxing, Yu Tianxiang, and the others went to the high platform to discuss, the matches on the Arena Stage continued for another hour. During this time, some Prodigies emerged, while other Cultivators suffered regrettable defeats.

Everyone's gaze was now focused on the five members of the Dao Seeking Sect.

It wasn't until the Pavilion Master of Tianji Pavilion, Fang Wuchang, slowly stepped onto the Arena Stage that the entire venue gradually quieted down.

"This Heavenly Selection Grand Ceremony has passed through three trials, including the Arena Stage matches, and has finally reached its conclusion. I shall now announce the final list of Prodigies to the public. There are sixteen in total. Please remain on the Arena Stage to await selection by the four Sects!"

The Dao Seeking Sect actually had five people remaining. Li Pingan, Mu Wanqing, Xie Xingchen, and the others were all among them. As the dark horses of this Heavenly Selection Grand Ceremony, such a result far exceeded everyone's expectations.

The only two remaining Saints of Heavenly Secret Pavilion were also among them, but their results were far inferior to before.

The most surprising was the Heavenly Fire Holy Land, which actually had four people remaining on the stage, making them the most successful among the Ten Great Sacred Lands.

The others were from various small and medium-sized Sects of different forces.

They mostly relied on good luck, as there were simply too many variables in this session of the Heavenly Selection Grand Ceremony.

Even the Medicine Pavilion among the Ten Great Sacred Lands didn't even make it to the third trial. Who would dare believe such a thing if it were told?

Chen Xuan slowly stood up, his gaze overlooking the high platform below.

Ding~

[Congratulations to the Host for leading the Dao Seeking Sect Disciples to shine brilliantly at the Heavenly Selection Grand Ceremony, successfully increasing the Sect prestige. Reward: 60,000 reputation points]

Chen Xuan was slightly startled, and then a faint smile played on his lips.

As expected, participating in this kind of grand ceremony definitely helps spread the fame of my Dao Seeking Sect.

Moreover, Mu Wanqing and the others performed exceptionally well. After today, who in the entire Central Region wouldn't know the name 'Dao Seeking Sect'?

60,000 reputation points were enough to take his strength up another level.

Chen Xuan unhesitatingly opened the System's virtual panel. Last time, there were 11,590 points left, and the Fourth Level of Soul Out-of-Body Stage required 10,000 reputation points.

It's so damn expensive!

While it felt great to get free Realms without needing to Cultivate, this stuff got more expensive the further it went.

The speed of improvement had also slowed down significantly.

[Congratulations to the Host for consuming 10,000 sect prestige points to obtain the Fourth Level of Soul Out-of-Body Stage cultivation base!]

[Congratulations to the Host for consuming 11,000...]

...[Congratulations to the Host for consuming 14,000 sect prestige points to obtain Nascent Soul Layer Eight cultivation base!]

As the System notification sound faded, Chen Xuan could clearly feel a majestic surge of spiritual energy pouring in from the Void Realm, rushing wildly through his limbs and bones.

Everywhere it passed, the Meridians that were originally somewhat sluggish were forcibly widened. Even the hidden tiny Meridians were burst open one by one, bringing waves of tingling, swollen pain.

When his Nascent Soul Layer Eight cultivation base thoroughly stabilized, Chen Xuan took a deep breath.

His previously restrained spiritual energy was now as deep as the abyss and as vast as the sea. A slight accidental leak caused Qi Yue beside him to subconsciously look over.

The feeling of breaking through in power is truly refreshing.

Sixty thousand reputation points, neither more nor less, was exactly enough to purchase five levels of Realm.

While Chen Xuan was happy, he was also somewhat troubled.

The ninth level of the Soul Emergence stage required 15,000 reputation points. In this Lesser Exquisite Grotto-Heaven, he didn't know what other methods there were to earn reputation.

It wasn't possible for him to go and incite other forces to attack his own Dao Seeking Sect.

Setting aside whether it would succeed, given the current fame of his Dao Seeking Sect, who would dare come looking for trouble?

It was like back in the Eastern Region; if someone had asked the Po Shan Sect to attack those five Hegemon-level Forces, even if they were promised several earth-rank magic treasures, no one would be so brainless.

Thinking of this, Chen Xuan narrowed his eyes slightly. It seemed that to quickly become stronger, he would have to bring the Sect to a larger stage.

On the other side!

On the suspended high platform where the Haotian Sect was located, a green jade round table had been temporarily set up, with the leaders of the four forces sitting around it.

Spirit tea and fresh fruits were placed on the table, but none of the people present were in the mood to taste them.

Yu Tianxiang couldn't help but be the first to speak.

"Fellow Daoist Qin, we are all straightforward people, so there's no need to beat around the bush. Just say it—what compensation do you need to be willing to let my Haotian Sect have that dark-skinned youth, Li Pingan?"

"Whether it's High-Grade Spirit Stones, Cultivation Techniques, or Divine Abilities, as long as my Haotian Sect can provide it, everything is negotiable!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Qu Yao beside him also said softly, "Bibo Palace highly regards those two women. I ask the three of you to do us a favor. If compensation is needed, you may also speak freely."

Dong Hao, who was sitting opposite Qu Yao, was playing with his folding fan. Just as he was about to speak, he was interrupted by Qin Tianxing.

"I'm afraid you all will be disappointed this time."

"My Yin Shen Sect's condition this time is very simple. Those five Disciples from the Dao Seeking Sect—I want all of them."