264: Chapter 264 Ecstasy

Just as Li Muchen was feeling uneasy due to Li Yunyi's abnormality, an elder wearing the robes of a Li Clan Elder, with an Aura as vast as the abyss and sea, slowly rose from the cloud platform high above the square.

He did not intentionally release any pressure, yet the noisy square instantly fell silent as everyone's gaze turned toward him with reverence.

"Silence."

The elder's voice was calm, yet it reached everyone's ears clearly, carrying an unquestionable authority:

"Today is the once-in-a-millennium Coming-of-Age Ceremony of our Li Clan Immortal Family. You are all the outstanding Talents of our clan, its future pillars. This ceremony is both a test of your past cultivation and an expectation for your future path of the Dao."

His gaze swept over the gathered young Disciples below as he continued:

"The rules of the Coming-of-Age Ceremony remain as they have always been. Through arena battles, the final rankings will be decided. Those who rank at the top will receive generous rewards from the clan!"

As his voice fell, a scroll condensed from brilliant immortal light slowly unfurled in the center of the square, listing the rewards for this grand competition. Every single item was enough to make the young geniuses present breathe heavily!

"The top-ranked shall be granted a hundred years of cultivation rights in the Purple Cloud Grotto-Heaven! One top-grade immortal essence stone vein! The qualification to comprehend the first three volumes of the 'Taixu Derivation of the Dao Records'! And one Nine-Revolution Soul-Returning Pill!"

"The runner-up shall be granted..."

Once the reward list was revealed, everyone in the square gasped.

The Purple Cloud Grotto-Heaven was one of the top cultivation Secret Realms of the Li Clan Immortal Family. The flow of time within was different from the outside world, the Dao Rhyme was dense, and the concentration of Immortal Qi was a hundred times higher than outside.

A top-grade immortal essence stone vein was an extremely rare resource.

Branch family Disciples only possessed a single Low Grade immortal essence stone vein each.

The 'Taixu Derivation of the Dao Records' was a supreme Cultivation Technique that led directly to the Golden Immortal realm.

The Nine-Revolution Soul-Returning Pill was a life-saving divine object; as long as the Divine Soul had not completely dissipated, one could be brought back.

Such lavish rewards instantly pushed the atmosphere of the scene to a climax.

A raging Battle Intent ignited in the eyes of all the young Disciples, and even the gazes of the main family prodigies became sharp.

"Now, the Coming-of-Age Ceremony competition officially begins!"

The clan elder announced:

"Draw lots to determine your opponents!"

Soon, the results of the draw were announced. When they saw the two sides for the first match, everyone's gaze focused once again.

One side was the main family Young Lord, Li Xingchen, who possessed the Five-Colored Dao Rhyme and was at the height of his power.

His opponent was a Disciple from a side branch named Li Rui, who also had decent Talent, having refined a metal-attribute top-grade origin fruit, and possessed a cultivation at the Early Stage of the True Immortal realm.

The two of them stepped onto the grandest arena in the center.

Facing Li Xingchen, Li Rui could not hide the nervousness on his face, but he still bowed respectfully:

"Young Lord Xingchen."

Li Xingchen wore a gentle smile and acted with composure, showing no slight toward the other party for his side-branch origin, and returned the bow with cupped hands:

"Cousin Li Rui, please."

His humble attitude immediately won the favor of many side-branch Disciples and observers.

"Cousin, you go first."

Li Xingchen even made a gesture of invitation, giving the opening Move to his opponent.

Seeing this, Li Rui took a deep breath, knowing this was his only chance. The Gengjin immortal essence within his body erupted with full force, and a massive golden sword shadow appeared behind him, its sharp Sword Qi tearing through the air.

"Golden Astral Break!"

He shouted, and the golden sword shadow, carrying an indomitable Aura, slashed toward Li Xingchen.

Facing this sharp strike, Li Xingchen remained smiling, neither dodging nor avoiding, but simply raising his right hand.

The Five-Colored Dao Rhyme wheel behind him turned slightly, and the yellow Dao Rhyme representing 'Earth' suddenly lit up, as a Concept as heavy as the earth and capable of carrying all things permeated the air.

That incomparably sharp golden sword shadow slashed against the invisible earthy-yellow glow, only causing a few ripples to appear on the glow before it could no longer advance an inch. Finally, its energy was exhausted, and it dissipated into nothingness.

Li Xingchen had not even moved his feet.

"Cousin's cultivation is exquisite; you have already attained fifty percent of the Metal element's sharpness."

Li Xingchen nodded slightly, his tone encouraging:

"Keep up the good work."

Li Rui's face turned pale, knowing the gap between him and the other party was far too wide.

He gritted his teeth and urged his immortal essence again, performing an even stronger Move, but the result was the same. He could not shake Li Xingchen's seemingly casually placed defense at all.

After several consecutive failed attacks, Li Rui's immortal essence was mostly consumed. With a dejected look on his face, he withdrew his sword and cupped his hands, completely convinced:

"Young Lord Xingchen's cultivation is heavenly. Li Rui... admits defeat."

"You were too kind."

Li Xingchen returned the bow with a smile. From beginning to end, he was graceful and gave his opponent plenty of face, not letting him lose in an ugly manner.

"First match, Li Xingchen, victory!"

The referee announced loudly.

Warm applause and praise instantly erupted from below the stage.

"Not only is Young Lord Xingchen peerlessly talented, but his magnanimity is even broader!"

"This is the true style of a Prodigy!"

Seeing this, the clan elders on the high platform also showed satisfied smiles one after another.

Li Xingchen's performance was impeccable, perfectly meeting their expectations for the heir of the main family.

In the subsequent battles, several other prodigies from the main family who had refined multiple top-grade origin fruits also took the stage. The powerful strength and deep Foundation they displayed drew endless praise, as if everything was only natural.

However, when the competition reached the middle stage and it was the branch family Disciples' turn to take the stage, some unexpected situations began to occur.

The first to take the stage was Li Muchen.

His opponent was a Disciple also from a branch family, named Li Yufeng, who had refined a wind-attribute top-grade origin fruit and was at the Early Stage of the True Immortal realm.

Li Yufeng's movement was as agile as the wind, and his attacks were swift and eerie. As soon as they engaged, he used his speed advantage to leave several deep-to-the-bone wounds on Li Muchen, drawing bursts of exclamations from below the stage.

"Li Muchen really isn't good enough. With only the Foundation of a High Grade origin fruit, how can he compete with a top-grade one?"

"It looks like he will be defeated within a few Moves."

Many people shook their heads secretly, believing the outcome was already decided.

However, just as Li Muchen felt the sharp pain from his wounds, the pain vanished without a trace in the next moment, as if it were just his imagination.

He looked at the original site of the wounds and saw that no trace had been left behind at all.

Even his consumed immortal essence was instantly replenished.

"This... this is?!"

Li Muchen's heart was deeply shaken as a thought suddenly appeared in his mind.

Could that Lower Realm Cultivator have been telling the truth?!

This body really possessed the trait of immortality?!

Ecstasy, disbelief, and a hint of fear were mixed in his heart.

But he quickly suppressed his stray thoughts, and an unprecedented Battle Intent erupted in his eyes!

"Again!"

He growled. Facing the sharp wind blades Li Yufeng sent his way again, he no longer chose to defend with all his might but instead opted for a style of trading injury for injury.

Squelch!

A wind blade sliced across his shoulder blade, and blood sprayed out.

But at the same time, Li Muchen's punch, which condensed all his immortal essence, also slammed heavily onto Li Yufeng's protective immortal light.

Li Yufeng was shaken until his blood and Qi surged, and he retreated repeatedly.

He looked in shock at the terrifying wound on Li Muchen's shoulder that had almost taken off half of it, which had already disappeared in the blink of an eye.

"How is that possible?!"

Li Yufeng cried out in loss of voice.

The crowd below the stage was also in an uproar!

"What a terrifying recovery speed!"

"What kind of healing secret technique is this? It's so overbearing!"

Li Muchen fought more and more bravely, completely letting go of his inhibitions.

Every time he was injured, he recovered as before in the next moment.

Every time his immortal essence was consumed, it was instantly replenished.

He was like a tireless, injury-defying combat machine, completely giving up on defense, using all his power for offense.

Li Yufeng was completely dazed by this almost rogue-like fighting style.

His attacks could indeed injure Li Muchen, but they could not cause any substantial threat at all.

Meanwhile, Li Muchen's seemingly endless immortal essence and his death-defying attacks left him struggling to cope, his immortal essence consuming rapidly.

Finally, after Li Muchen once again endured his ultimate Move, the 'Gale Wind Sunder',

and instantly recovered despite his half-crippled body, sending him flying off the arena with a punch, Li Yufeng was defeated, his face full of grievance and disbelief.

"This battle, Li Muchen, victory!"