In the center of the martial arts arena stood ten imposing combat rings, each measuring a hundred zhang across.
The perimeters of the rings were reinforced by array formations, casting a transparent curtain of light that enveloped the arenas.
This not only buffered the impact of falls but also prevented spiritual energy from leaking out and accidentally injuring the spectators.
By now, the participating disciples from the various main peaks had gathered below the rings. At the forefront of each team stood the personal disciples of the respective Peak Masters.
Li Xuanfeng of Qingyun Peak, Lu Chenyu of Zhenyue Peak, Lin Mochen and Shi Jingxian of Qingyue Peak, Lin Xiaowan of Danding Peak, Mu Chenyu of Jianxiao Peak, Yun Qingjue of Feiyun Peak, Su Qingyuan of Luoxia Peak...
All the talented disciples of the Qingxuan Sect's younger generation had gathered here. Even those who had been out gaining experience had rushed back early for the grand competition.
The annual sect competition was a major event for the Qingxuan Sect.
The spectator stands were already packed. The roaring clamor of nearly ten thousand disciples almost overturned the heavens.
Outer sect disciples stood on their tiptoes, leaning forward as they pointed at the core disciples near the rings, whispering among themselves and occasionally letting out gasps of awe.
Those who could stand at the edge of the rings were all carefully selected experts from each peak; the weakest among them was at least in the middle stage of the Foundation Establishment realm.
When Gu Changge's figure appeared at the entrance of the martial arts arena, many people turned to look at the trio.
His plain white Daoist robe was too eye-catching. Even amidst the crowd, he looked as if he were bathed alone in moonlight.
Gu Changge walked forward absentmindedly. A small black bird perched on his shoulder, preening its feathers and occasionally tilting its head to peck at his hanging strands of hair.
It is Peak Master Gu of Zizhu Peak! someone in the stands recognized Gu Changge and exclaimed in a low voice.
Those two behind him... are they going to participate in the competition?
The murmurs rippled outward like stones tossed into a lake.
Everyone's gaze landed on Xiao Ruobai and Fang Hanyu.
The two of them had utilized a profound concealment technique, keeping their cultivation bases completely hidden so that others could not discern their true strength.
The former carried a long halberd on his shoulder, its tip gleaming with a dark glint in the sunlight.
The latter gripped an inconspicuous longsword, yet his gaze was incredibly sharp.
Gu Changge headed straight for the highest viewing gallery, where Xuanyangzi had already stood up with a smile to welcome him.
Meanwhile, Xiao Ruobai and Fang Hanyu weaved through the crowd and walked straight toward the waiting area beside the rings. Compared to the neat formations of the other peaks, the silhouettes of these two seemed exceptionally sparse.
Isn't that Xiao Ruobai? a young disciple from Danding Peak suddenly cried out.
He joined the sect with me three months ago. At that time, he only had a low Mortal-grade aptitude!
Someone with a low Mortal-grade aptitude dares to enter the ring?
A burly man from Qingyue Peak could not help but question, Peak Master Gu himself is only at the Core Condensation realm. He cannot possibly turn a stubborn rock into a precious jade, right?
Daring to crash the grand competition after only being in the sect for three months, he is probably just here to make a fool of himself.
The female disciples of Luoxia Peak covered their mouths and giggled.
What was even more surprising was Fang Hanyu.
Who is this kid? When did Zizhu Peak take in another disciple?
Never seen him before. He does not even have a decent Dharma robe. Was he just recruited from the foot of the mountain?
The discussions grew louder, and even the personal disciples of the various peaks could not help but cast sidelong glances.
However, since these personal disciples spent all year round by their Peak Masters' sides, they knew a bit about Gu Changge's mysterious nature.
Junior Brother Xiao, over here!
Lin Mochen from Qingyue Peak was the first to spot the two. He had just walked out of the preparation area on the other side of the arena, still weighing his customary dark iron axe in his hand. Seeing Xiao Ruobai and Fang Hanyu approaching, he immediately smiled and waved.
Last time, he had been strung up at Zizhu Peak for half the night. Although it was a miserable experience, he had obtained a heaven-defying opportunity that could alter his destiny. Naturally, he felt a bit closer to this personal disciple of Martial Uncle Gu.
The personal disciples from the other main peaks also nodded in acknowledgment, serving as a greeting.
Greetings, Senior Brothers, Xiao Ruobai responded, cupping his hands. His voice was clear and bright.
Shi Jingxian asked, Junior Brother Xiao, who might this be?
His eyes fell on Fang Hanyu. Seeing him appear alongside Xiao Ruobai, he had already guessed most of the answer.
This is Junior Brother Fang Hanyu, the newest disciple taken in by our Master, Xiao Ruobai introduced, stepping slightly to the side.
Please grant me your guidance, Senior Brothers! Fang Hanyu replied.
His fingertips unconsciously caressed the hilt of the Absolute Beginning Sword, the chaotic patterns on its scabbard faintly visible in the sunlight.
So it is Junior Brother Fang. I have heard much about you.
Lin Mochen laughed heartily. Although he had never met Fang Hanyu, he had heard some rumors from his master, Shi Wanshan. He knew that Martial Uncle Gu had recently taken in another disciple.
A few days ago, I heard my Master mention that Martial Uncle Gu had accepted a new disciple. Seeing you today, you truly possess an extraordinary bearing.
The group of personal disciples gathered around the two, chatting with a familiarity as if they were fellow sect members who had known each other for years. They showed absolutely no contempt toward them just because they had recently joined the sect.
This scene, witnessed by the spectator stands, immediately left many disciples scratching their heads in confusion.
Who exactly is that guy surnamed Fang? From what Senior Brother Lin said, he is also Peak Master Gu's disciple? Since when did Zizhu Peak have two personal disciples?
The discussions gradually changed flavor, growing more doubtful and inquisitive.
In the stands, Gu Changge took all of this in.
Junior Brother Changge, how much of their strength do your two disciples plan to reveal... Xuanyangzi hesitated to finish his sentence.
Gu Changge took a sip of tea and said indifferently, We will see.
As soon as he spoke, the bronze gong in the center of the plaza was suddenly struck. The deep, resonant sound pierced through all the clamor, and the spirit-gathering array patterns on the ten combat rings lit up simultaneously—the sect competition was about to begin.
On the high platform in the center of the martial arts arena, the Great Elder of the Qingxuan Sect cleared his throat. Spiritual energy slightly surged around him, projecting his voice across the entire plaza: Quiet down, all disciples!
The noise instantly subsided, and all eyes focused on the high platform.
The Great Elder looked around and announced loudly, After the selections from each peak, a total of sixty-four participants will compete in this sect competition. All of them are carefully chosen, talented disciples from their respective peaks.
He paused for a moment before continuing, This competition will adopt a one-on-one duel format. The winner advances, and the loser is eliminated, until the final rankings are decided.
During the matches, you must stop before causing fatal harm. Malicious injury is strictly forbidden. However, weapons have no eyes, so everyone must be fully prepared.
The rules were simple and clear. The disciples had already anticipated them, and looks of expectation appeared on their faces.
The Great Elder shifted the topic, his tone carrying a touch of solemnity: Next, I will announce the rewards for this competition!
The disciples in the plaza instantly held their breath, their eyes wide open, not even daring to gasp.
First place will be rewarded with one Heaven-grade weapon and ten Heavenly Spirit Pills!
As soon as the words fell, the martial arts arena instantly exploded into an uproar, with discussions rising and falling.
What? The first-place reward is a Heaven-grade weapon?
Did I hear that right? It is actually a Heaven-grade treasure!
Heavens, that is a Heaven-grade weapon! The entire Qingxuan Sect only has a few of them, yet they are actually bringing one out as a competition reward!
How could the Sect Master be so generous this year?
Every disciple wore a look of astonishment, and the discussions surged like a tidal wave.
One had to know that Heaven-grade treasures were incomparably precious. In the Qingxuan Sect, they were existences akin to peak-suppressing treasures. Normally, it was hard to even catch a glimpse of one. Now, being offered as the first-place reward for the grand competition, how could it not leave people astounded?
pression Bureau] Transported to a fantasy world overrun by demons and monsters, Gu Qingfeng becomes a jailer in the Demon Suppression Prison of the Great Yan Dynasty's Demon Suppression Bureau. From this point on, bizarre cases frequently occur in the Demon Suppression Prison, once known as hell on earth and infamous for its gloomy, terrifying atmosphere! Why do the demons and monsters in the prison wail miserably every night? Why has the corpse demon, capable of transforming into various beauties, donned black stockings and switched careers to become a foot massage therapist? Why has the eye demon, expert in soul-snatching and illusions, turned into a VR headset? Why is the fox spirit performing otaku dances? Are all these occurrences a twisted expression of demonic nature, or a descent into moral depravity? After peeling away layer upon layer of mystery, all clues ultimately point to a jailer named Gu Qingfeng. Gu Qingfeng: "Hehehe... My dear demons and monsters, whose card shall we flip today?"
s + Rent Collection Wealth】 At the start, he inherited a rundown house in the urban village from his grandfather. The house had no tenants, but the moment he was diagnosed with a terminal illness, a self-proclaimed empress from the Tianxuan Continent arrived as his first tenant. Ye Chuan soon discovered that with every new tenant moving in, not only did he receive massive daily payments, but he also obtained unique items related to their backgrounds. 【Acquired Bai Qianshuang’s related item: Tiger Strength Pill—dramatically enhances physical power!】 【Acquired Bai Qianshuang’s related item: Deer Blood Pill—significantly boosts vitality!】 …… From that day on, all sorts of bizarre tenants began appearing in the house: the empress from Tianxuan Continent, an apocalyptic sorceress from the Magic Realm, a mysterious scientific girl who fell through a spacetime rift… Every single day, he received strange, powerful items and endless money. Then one day, he suddenly realized—he had become invincible. Enough, enough! Stop giving me more!
ive and Ruthless] Before his transmigration, Ye Xuan was playing a game called "Severing Emotions to Attain the Dao." The game's core wasn't about leveling up by fighting monsters, but about conquering various "bad women" with wicked personalities and cold, fickle natures. There was only one method to conquer them: stay unwaveringly by their side, then die at a critical moment, driving them to madness after losing the protagonist. The higher their level of regret, the higher the player's score. To dominate the server, Ye Xuan conquered all the bad women. In the early stages, he showered them with boundless tenderness, only to choose to sacrifice himself for them later, making them weep bitterly and drown in regret. Among them were: Xia Lengyue, the unfaithful immortal wife who chased after powerful men and discarded her husband like trash. Ye Qingcheng, the Demonic Venerable of the Joyous Union Sect, who appeared pure and innocent but was, in reality, promiscuous. Wu Lingxiao, the Empress of the Great Xia Dynasty, who lusted after men and loved maintaining a harem. Bai Qiangu of the Endless Demonic Sect: a bloodthirsty mass murderer. However, when the protagonist transmigrated into the game world, he made a horrifying discovery. Eight hundred years had already passed. The bad women he had conquered had now each become deities and revered ancestors. Faced with the endless stream of toxic women coming for him, Ye Xuan could only rely on his god-tier acting skills to carve a path of survival through this world of treacherous women.
nd fell into a coma while saving his younger sister from an out-of-control car. He became a vegetable. No one knew that his consciousness had crossed into a world of cultivation. Over the course of sixty years, he began as the lowest kind of mine slave, struggling to survive amid mountains of corpses and seas of blood. By sheer chance, he eventually obtained the complete memories of a fallen Immortal King. Alchemy, medicine, formations, feng shui, physiognomy, artifact forging… Every great inheritance of the cultivation world was now his. But when he opened his eyes again, he discovered that ten full years had passed in the modern world. To pay for his treatment, his father had sold the family’s shop and house, leaving himself covered in lasting injuries and illness. His mother had cared for him day and night, and more than half of her hair had already turned white. His younger sister, who had been only fifteen back then, was now twenty-five. To help repay the family’s debts, she had been forced to lower her head and put on a smiling face in places of glittering lights and endless revelry. Only then did Chen Xuan understand that what he had lost was not merely ten years. He had lost the life his entire family was meant to have. The good news was that he had brought back the memories of an Immortal King’s entire lifetime. The bad news was that his soul had returned alone—his cultivation had not come with him. Spiritual energy was scarce, resources were depleted, and the modern world still had firearms, surveillance, capital, and laws. If he wanted to protect his family, break free from everyone’s control, and become truly invincible beneath the heavens, he would have to start all over again.
