Dongbo Xueying followed the crowd and took his seat, quietly sipping wine and sampling the exotic delicacies before him while discreetly observing his surroundings.
“So many Cosmic Gods.” There were over a hundred guests attending this banquet. Aside from the young Chaos Realm cultivators like Dongbo Xueying, who were participating in the “Three-Clan Contest,” the weakest among the other attendees were at the level of Monarch Huozhao or Monarch Wofeng. Ordinary Cosmic Gods of lesser strength had no place here!
Even the Monarch Kuichen, who had escorted him here, was seated in a corner.
“The Venerables?”
Dongbo Xueying noticed the auras of these figures—some domineering, some transcendent, others eerie and unpredictable.
Those addressed as “Venerables” were second only to the invincible existences! In terms of strength, they were not much weaker than Monarch Nan Yun. Though the latter was wealthier, the treasures, supreme techniques, and resources of the Xiafeng Ancient Kingdom far surpassed what Monarch Nan Yun could offer. Yet, it was Monarch Nan Yun’s creation of the “Great Void Transference Art” that gave him the confidence to challenge even the invincible existences.
“These Venerables all feel nearly as formidable as the Sacred Lord,” Dongbo Xueying mused inwardly. “As for the three invincible existences, they seem even stronger than the Sacred Lord!”
There was no helping it.
The Chaos Void was far poorer in powerful treasures. He had never even seen a treasure capable of allowing one to fight above their level—clearly, the refinement techniques there were far cruder than those of the Heart Realm Continent.
Even in terms of pure knowledge, the gap was vast. Something as simple as the “Void Transference Art” had made the Sacred Lord covetous.
“The Cang Clan’s Chaos Realm cultivators have arrived.”
Dongbo Xueying looked over.
Five experts from the Cang Clan arrived alongside a Cosmic God. Though the five bowed respectfully, their auras carried an unmistakable air of arrogance and unrestrained freedom. This was the natural result of the Cang Clan’s upbringing—raising their disciples with a “free-range” approach. While some inevitably failed, those who rose to prominence did so with dazzling brilliance. Though the Cang Clan did not recruit outsiders, their overall strength remained on par with the Fan Clan, proving that their methods had merit.
“The Xia Clan, the Cang Clan, the Fan Clan.” Dongbo Xueying observed them carefully. “The Xia Clan disciples are all refined and disciplined. The Cang Clan is more self-centered. The Fan Clan is colder, with a heavier killing intent.”
Personally, he found the Xia Clan disciples the most likable.
They were courteous and restrained, and according to intelligence reports, they were also the most righteous, hating evil with a passion.
…
By the time Dongbo Xueying had finished most of his wine and a fair share of the fruits, a white-robed man beneath the Xia Emperor stood and announced in a clear voice, “I am Venerable Fengchen, the overseer of this Three-Clan Contest. The contest consists of three rounds of different trials, through which the Chaos Realm disciples of the Xia, Fan, and Cang Clans will compete to determine superiority.”
Dongbo Xueying listened intently.
Though it was called a contest among the three clans, it wasn’t strictly limited to the three great families.
For example, the Xia and Cang Clans, though they did not recruit outsiders, did accept native talents. Many experts pledged allegiance to them, even adopting their surnames!
The Fan Clan, on the other hand, recruited outsiders. Had Dongbo Xueying chosen to become a disciple of Patriarch Fan back then, he would have immediately become a core member. If he had accepted the surname “Fan Xueying,” his benefits within the clan would have increased significantly. But at the time, for the sake of the “Doppelganger Art” and an earlier return to his homeland, he had directly pledged himself to his master, Monarch Nan Yun.
Had he joined the Fan Clan, no matter how talented he was, treasures like the “Five-Phase Pearl” would never have been granted outright—he would have had to earn them through significant contributions. After all, the Fan Clan was filled with experts, and their rules were far stricter.
“Each round will award golden tripods,” Venerable Fengchen said with a smile. “After three rounds, the clan with the most golden tripods will be declared the victor.”
Immediately, the fifteen Chaos Realm cultivators, including Dongbo Xueying, held their breaths.
“The first round tests the heart and willpower,” Venerable Fengchen continued. “The further one walks the path of cultivation, the more crucial these qualities become. All fifteen of you will simultaneously face attacks targeting your heart and will. The longer you resist, the better. The one who lasts the longest will rank first, earning three golden tripods. Second place earns two, and third earns one. The rest? Nothing.”
Dongbo Xueying felt reassured.
A test of heart and will?
As a master of the Illusory Realm, he had nothing to fear.
Only the top three among the fifteen would receive golden tripods in this first round. There were three rounds in total, each with different challenges.
“This first round is the easiest. Now, all of you, rise and stand at the center of the hall,” Venerable Fengchen commanded.
“Yes.”
In unison, the fifteen Chaos Realm Tenth Layer experts—five from each of the Xia, Cang, and Fan Clans—stood up. They had all been meticulously selected. Thirteen were natives of the Xiafeng Ancient Kingdom, where internal competition was even fiercer than in external nations.
“Guest Elder Flying Snow, let’s see your strength later,” Fan Sanyuan transmitted with a chuckle.
“I’ve heard the Formless Mirage Art is quite adept at mental techniques,” Dongbo Xueying replied via transmission.
Fan Sanyuan, Dongbo Xueying, Fan Yiqian, Fan Mozhu, and King Salong—the five from the Fan Clan—stood in the hall. The five from the Xia Clan stood in the center, while the five from the Cang Clan stood on the other side.
“Hahaha…”
First, laughter echoed through the hall.
Then, the sound of a pipa arose.
Finally, a hazy illusion descended, its twisted scenes visible even to the naked eye, luring forth the deepest desires of the heart.
Clearly, the three clans each had their own experts in illusion techniques.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh…
Within a single breath, six of the fifteen Chaos Realm cultivators collapsed to the ground. Fan Yiqian was the only one from the Fan Clan to fall.
“This batch is about the same as usual—six fell right at the start. Hmm, the Fan Clan is doing well this time, with only one down?”
“Only one from the Fan Clan? They must be up to something.”
“Fan Yiqian?”
The guests murmured among themselves.
The higher-ups of the Fan Clan shook their heads slightly at the sight of Fan Yiqian, sprawled on the ground with a foolish grin. Among the three core disciples they had selected this time, the other two were decent, but Fan Yiqian had glaring weaknesses alongside his strengths. His willpower was lacking, and his temperament was violent and unrestrained. Yet, he had resonated with a supreme technique left behind by “Yuan,” making his combat power terrifyingly formidable.
“I knew he’d fall immediately in this first round,” Venerable Sitian sighed, lifting his wine cup. “But with Sanyuan, who has mastered the Formless Mirage Art, and Ying Shan Xueying, we might still have a chance in this round.”
As time passed, more Chaos Realm cultivators succumbed.
Fan Mozhu, who appeared as a young girl, wore an expression of agony, her face twisting with hatred and sorrow before she, too, collapsed.
King Salong’s face contorted in a snarl, his body trembling.
“No, no—”
He muttered weakly, struggling to resist.
But as the three Cosmic Gods intensified their techniques, even King Salong fell. Now, only five remained standing—among them, Dongbo Xueying and Fan Sanyuan, both appearing utterly composed.
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