138: The Holy Land Grand Competition and the Sweeping Disciple

The periphery of the Cloud Court was now filled with an unprecedented bustle. The formerly cold floating islands were now teeming with halls and pavilions, bathed in myriad rays of light. Major Holy Lands had not only established branches here but had also relocated their most core Legacies and most precious resources, practically treating this place as the new core of the Holy Land.

As the population grew, so did the ambition of those within. Although the Cloud Court had clearly stated that it would not provide sermons or guidance, the competitive spirit that had existed among the Holy Lands since ancient times did not diminish because of this. Instead, it became even more intense because they were all in the same 'school district'.

Whose Disciples were more outstanding? Whose Legacy improved faster under the nourishment of the cloud court dao rhyme? This became a question lingering in the hearts of every Holy Land Leader.

Finally, led by the Heavenly Secret Martial Arts Pavilion and joined by dozens of top Holy Lands such as the Myriad Grass Everlasting Spring Valley and the Thousand Illusions Sound and Rhythm Mansion, they jointly initiated the 'First Cloud Court Periphery Holy Land Exchange Friendly Match'. They called it 'mutual verification and common progress', but in reality, it was just to rank themselves and see who had 'mooched' the most light from the edge of the Cloud Court.

Once the news was out, the major Holy Lands responded one after another, eager to show their strength. This was a great opportunity to flex their muscles right under the nose of the Cloud Court! If they could perform outstandingly, perhaps they could catch the Dharma Eye of the Lord of the Cloud Court? Even if they couldn't, surpassing other Holy Lands was still a matter of great Face.

The competition venue was set on a newly opened, massive floating martial arts arena. The rules were simple and brutal: Disciples would fight, the winner would advance, until the final champion was decided. Participants were limited to the younger generation of Disciples, with cultivation levels ranging from Legendary to Peak.

For a time, the area around the martial arts arena was packed with people. The banners of the major Holy Lands fluttered in the wind, and the Disciples were all high-spirited and bursting with energy, clearly having benefited greatly under the influence of the cloud court dao rhyme. At the judges' table, the Holy Land Leaders sat upright with smiles on their Faces, but their eyes hid sharp edges.

Long Qianyuan, as the current 'facade' of the Cloud Court, was also invited as a special guest to watch the battle. He sat in the position with the best view, with spiritual fruits and immortal brews offered by the various Holy Lands laid out before him. While cracking 'Star Melon Seeds' containing Dao Rhyme, he watched the scene below with great interest.

The competition started quickly. The geniuses of the various Holy Lands were indeed extraordinary. All kinds of Divine Abilities, secret techniques, and Daoist Magic emerged one after another, fighting with brilliant light and the roaring of Laws, drawing rounds of cheers from the onlookers.

The Disciples of the Heavenly Secret Martial Arts Pavilion had every move containing Heavenly Secret deductions, anticipating the enemy's moves; the Disciples of the Myriad Grass Everlasting Spring Valley waved their hands to send out myriad grasses, with vitality and killing intent coexisting; the Disciples of the Thousand Illusions Sound and Rhythm Mansion turned melodies into forms, confusing hearts and minds, killing invisibly; the Disciples of the Indestructible Golden Body Palace used their Physical Body to shake Magic Treasures, their fists shattering the Void Realm...

The battle was intense and exciting, fully demonstrating the profound foundation of these ancient Holy Lands. The Holy Land Leaders looked at the outstanding performance of their Disciples, showing satisfied smiles on their Faces, occasionally glancing at Long Qianyuan, wanting to see a trace of approval on his Face.

However, Long Qianyuan was just eating melon seeds with relish, occasionally commenting:

'Hmm, the power of this 'Star Meteor Fist' is okay, but the exertion technique is a bit rough, losing thirty percent of its force.'

'Yo, this illusion is interesting, but unfortunately the core rune structure is unstable. If they encounter someone with a stronger Divine Soul, they will suffer a backlash.'

'This Physical Body... is not tempered evenly. The Meridians in the left leg are half a notch weaker than the right. It will definitely become a flaw in a prolonged battle.'

His voice was not loud, but it clearly reached the ears of every Leader. At first, everyone was dismissive, thinking this kid was talking nonsense relying on his background, but upon closer inspection, they found that the problems he pointed out were all hitting the nail on the head! Some were even subtle flaws they hadn't noticed themselves!

The smiles on the Leaders' Faces gradually stiffened, replaced by shock and uncertainty. This Long Qianyuan, his eye for detail was this vicious? Could it be that every 'connected' Disciple of the Cloud Court had this kind of insight?

The competition reached a fever pitch. In the end, the ones who made it to the finals were 'Xuanji Zi', the chief Disciple of the Heavenly Secret Martial Arts Pavilion, and 'Shi Potian', the Young Palace Master of the Indestructible Golden Body Palace. Both were at the Peak of the Heavenly Fate Realm, and they used all their means, fighting in a deadlock; the aftermath of the Law collision caused the protective Formation of the entire martial arts arena to vibrate violently.

Just as it was about to end in a draw, a sudden change occurred!

The two unleashed their strongest attacks, energy spiraling out of control. A destructive energy ripple, condensed to the extreme and enough to severely injure an ordinary Dominator, shot like a wild horse towards the edge of the martial arts arena, where a cyan figure was slowly sweeping fallen leaves!

The figure was wearing the lowest-level Utility Disciple uniform of the Cloud Court, holding a seemingly ordinary bamboo broom, and was concentrating on sweeping a few yellowed spiritual leaves on the stone steps. They seemed completely unaware of the terrifying energy roaring towards them.

'Careful!'

'Get out of the way!'

Several Holy Land Leaders exclaimed, and some even made a move to intercept, but the energy was too fast and too fierce, and it was already too late!

Everyone thought that this unfortunate Cloud Court Utility Disciple would be turned into ashes by the aftermath of the two geniuses' out-of-control duel in the next moment.

However, the next scene made the entire noisy martial arts arena fall into dead silence instantly.

Only to see that the Utility Disciple seemed to think that the wind raised by the energy ripple had messed up the fallen leaves he had just swept, and he frowned slightly. Then, he very casually waved the bamboo broom in his hand towards the destructive energy.

No brilliance, no sound, no Law fluctuations.

It was just like an ordinary person sweeping away a speck of dust.

The terrifying energy that was enough to tear the galaxy apart, the moment it was touched by the bamboo broom, vanished and dissipated like ice in the sun, without leaving a trace. Even the chaotic Spiritual Qi and broken Laws caused by the energy collision in the center of the martial arts arena were 'swept' flat, restoring the previous clarity.

The Utility Disciple looked at the clean ground, nodded with satisfaction, and continued to sweep his fallen leaves slowly. From beginning to end, he didn't even look up at the earth-shattering duel once, as if he had just brushed off a bit of insignificant dust.

The whole scene was so quiet that a pin drop could be heard.

Xuanji Zi and Shi Potian froze in mid-air, maintaining their fighting posture, dumbfounded.

At the judges' table, the Holy Land Leaders had their mouths open, their eyes wide, like ducks being strangled by the neck.

All the watching Holy Land Disciples had frozen expressions, their brains completely blank.

Long Qianyuan threw the last Star Melon Seed kernel into his mouth, clapped his hands, and shouted to the Utility Disciple below: 'Hey, the one sweeping the floor, be gentle, don't break the floor tiles. They are paved with the offcuts of 'Star Cores'.'

Upon hearing this, the Utility Disciple quickly stopped, carefully checked the floor tiles, confirmed there was no mistake, and then bowed respectfully in the direction of Long Qianyuan before continuing to sweep the floor even more carefully and gently.

'...'

The dead silence lasted for a full ten breaths.

'Thump!' An Elder with slightly weaker psychological endurance collapsed directly to the ground.

The Master of Heavenly Secrets Pavilion swallowed, his voice as dry as sandpaper: 'Long... Young Friend Long... wh... who was that just now...'

Long Qianyuan waved his hand dismissively: 'Oh, him? He's a Utility Disciple responsible for cleaning the periphery of our Cloud Court. His score in the entrance exam was at the bottom, his Aptitude is mediocre, so he can only do sweeping work. Why? Did he disturb your competition?'

U... Utility Disciple?!

Score at the bottom?!

Mediocre Aptitude?!

Can only sweep?!

The crowd of Holy Land Leaders felt their Dao Heart cracking! A monster who could annihilate the aftermath of a full-power collision of Peak Heavenly Fate experts with a casual wave of a broom was just a bottom-tier sweeping Utility Disciple in the Cloud Court?!

Then what kind of terror must the real Cloud Court Disciples be?!

And what kind of Realm must that Lord of the Cloud Court, who had never officially taken an apprentice, be in?!

They had previously been complacent about their Disciples' 'outstanding' performance and wanted to compete for superiority in front of the Cloud Court... Now that they thought about it, it was like a frog at the bottom of a well looking up at the sky, absolutely ridiculous!

This originally grand 'Holy Land Exchange Friendly Match' ended hastily in a way that caused all participants' Dao Hearts to suffer heavy damage. There were no winners, only a group of Holy Land Leaders and Genius Disciples doubting their lives.

As the news spread, the periphery of the Cloud Court did not become deserted because of this; instead, it attracted more secretive, ancient existences who had previously held a wait-and-see attitude towards the Cloud Court. They all hid their identities and came to 'feel the atmosphere'.

And in the Cloud Court's treasury, the 'environmental maintenance fees' received every month had unknowingly multiplied several times over.

In the Star Gazing Hall, Nie Li reported this matter to Yun Feng.

Yun Feng was adjusting the lighting angle of the 'Void Star Pattern Bamboo' for that pot, and only gave an 'Hmm' when he heard it.

'Tell those below, be careful when sweeping in the future. Don't always accidentally 'clean up' other people's competitions.'

He paused and added:

'After all, we are a civilized unit.'