“First, those who sign up to compete must have reached at least the seventh layer of the Five Elements Foundation. This is the minimum requirement for consuming a Foundation Establishment Pill. Second, applicants must be under forty years old. Those exceeding this age should not even think of sneaking through, as the officials responsible for registration will use Bone Observation Art to verify each applicant’s true age.”
“As long as these two conditions are met, anyone can sign up—there are no other restrictions! But because of this, the tournament becomes even more brutal!”
“Do you think it’s normal for so many people to be gathered in Tai Nan Valley right now? Most of them are actually here for the Ascension Fair. You must understand that our Tai Nan Gathering was originally just a trade fair for young cultivators from Lan Province. In previous years, only a few hundred people attended! But now, as you can see, the valley has gathered at least a thousand people, and in the coming days, even more will arrive from farther away. That’s when the Tai Nan Gathering will reach its peak.”
“Many of these people come to Tai Nan Valley not only to trade for items they need but also to observe their potential opponents in the Ascension Fair, hoping to gauge their strengths and weaknesses.”
Hu Pinggu spoke these words with a bitter smile.
Upon hearing this, Wu Jiu Zhi’s face turned pale, and he exclaimed in shock, “According to what you’re saying, Madam Hu, those experts I’ve seen in the valley who’ve reached the tenth layer are also here for the Ascension Fair? Then what’s the point of competing? Wouldn’t it be suicide for those at lower levels to step onto the stage?”
“Not necessarily,” interjected Hei Jin, who had remained silent until now. His sudden remark drew everyone’s attention. “Who says a higher-level cultivator will always defeat a lower-level one? If someone with weaker spiritual power uses high-powered talismans or carries powerful magical tools, they could still easily overpower a stronger opponent.”
“Exactly,” agreed Qing Wen, the Taoist priest. “Brother Hei Jin makes a valid point. In battles between us cultivators, the depth of one’s spiritual power isn’t the most critical factor. What truly matters is the potency of the spells one masters, how flexibly they’re employed, and the power of the magical tools at their disposal.”
“Brother Hei Jin and Priest Qing Wen have hit the nail on the head,” Hu Pinggu chuckled. “Otherwise, there would be no need for the Ascension Fair—we could just have everyone stand in a line and compare their spiritual power levels.”
Despite their reassurances, Wu Jiu Zhi did not look relieved. Instead, he frowned and muttered under his breath, “Powerful magical tools… high-powered talismans…”
Ignoring him, Hu Pinggu continued, “Because so many people participate in the tournament, the Ascension Fair sets up seven arenas, each representing one of the Seven Major Immortal Sects of Yue Kingdom. Those who wish to join a specific sect can compete in its corresponding arena. The selection process follows a two-win advancement system: two competitors face off, the winner advances to the next round, and the loser is immediately eliminated. Then, another pair steps up. This continues until no one else challenges the arena, at which point the next round begins among the winners. This cycle repeats until only ten victors remain. These ten will become new disciples of the sect and earn the right to consume a Foundation Establishment Pill without having to face the fierce internal competition within the sect. It’s like soaring to the heavens in a single step! That’s the general process of the Ascension Fair’s tournament. But don’t be fooled by how simple it sounds—the actual brutality on those stages is beyond description.”
As she spoke, Hu Pinggu grew emotional. “I remember in the last tournament, over a dozen tenth-layer cultivators died. There was even a pair of eleventh-layer experts who faced each other and ended up perishing together! As for ninth and eighth-layer cultivators, the number of deaths was even higher—I heard it was no less than a hundred. After all, by the final rounds, no one is willing to give up their chance at success, so the casualties become even more severe.”
A look of sorrow crossed her face.
“Would someone who has reached the eleventh layer of the Foundation even need to compete?” a soft female voice suddenly asked. It was the usually silent Hong Lian, the Scarlet Lotus Practitioner. “I’ve heard that immortal sects automatically accept such exceptionally talented individuals. Why would those two risk their lives on the stage?”
Hu Pinggu laughed at this. “I had the same question years ago, Sister Hong Lian, and I couldn’t figure it out. It wasn’t until an elder from our scattered cultivators community enlightened me that I understood.”
“Brother Wu and Brother Han probably have the same doubt, don’t you?”
“Not just them—even we brothers find it puzzling,” Hei Mu frowned, looking perplexed. “Why would eleventh-layer geniuses forsake a smooth path to immortality and instead squeeze onto this narrow, dangerous bridge where one misstep means death?”
“Priest Qing Wen seems calm and composed—I suspect he already has the answer. Perhaps it’s best if he explains,” Hu Pinggu giggled, deftly passing the question to the Taoist priest.
Qing Wen looked slightly surprised but soon nodded in acknowledgment. After a moment of contemplation, he said, “Actually, those two were from cultivation families. Their eleventh-layer attainment was likely achieved through heavy reliance on elixirs.” He shook his head, seemingly disapproving of their methods.
“But isn’t using elixirs to advance quite normal? They could still join an immortal sect!” Wu Jiu Zhi widened his eyes in confusion.
“Brother Wu, you’ve forgotten something,” Qing Wen replied. “To those major sects that have been established for millennia, someone who reaches the eleventh layer before forty might seem talented to us, but to them, such individuals are merely average—just barely meeting the requirements for reserve disciples. Otherwise, they would have been recruited as formal disciples in their childhood. Their families likely realized that even if they joined a major sect, they wouldn’t stand out among disciples with better innate talent and would have little hope of obtaining a Foundation Establishment Pill. So, they kept them within the family, providing specialized training. These cultivators bide their time for decades, aiming to make a stunning debut at the Ascension Fair and directly secure the right to a Foundation Establishment Pill—a alternative shortcut. Their families never expected that two such individuals would end up facing each other and perishing together. Otherwise, they might have succeeded.”
As Qing Wen spoke, he sighed repeatedly. Wu Jiu Zhi and the others listened in stunned silence.
“No wonder the recent Ascension Fairs have become so intense,” Hei Mu murmured. “Tenth and eleventh-layer experts, whom we rarely even heard of in the past, are now appearing one after another.”
The young woman and Wu Jiu Zhi fell silent, clearly taken aback by this revelation.
“Just think about it,” Hu Pinggu said coldly, with a hint of self-mockery. “On one side, we have experts meticulously trained and fully equipped by cultivation families. On the other, there’s us scattered cultivators, lacking resources and support. How many of us do you think can actually succeed in the tournament?”
“If that’s the case, then the immortal sects’ apparent joy at acquiring ideal disciples through the Ascension Fair is just an act—a facade to save face?” Han Li rubbed his nose, deep in thought.
“Brother Han is right,” Hu Pinggu said, shooting a glance at Hei Mu, who blushed slightly. “There’s no such thing as a perfect scenario where everyone benefits. Being able to satisfy two parties is already an achievement.”
“Are we rogue cultivators truly inferior to those from cultivation families?” Hong Lian asked indignantly. “Even those rejected by the major sects are still stronger than us ordinary rogue cultivators?”
“Though it pains me to admit it,” Qing Wen said with a tinge of bitterness, “the likelihood of a scattered cultivator becoming a top expert is indeed much lower. Moreover, as individuals, we simply can’t compete with the collective resources and manpower of an entire family. In terms of external conditions, we’re already at a significant disadvantage.”
“I’ve also heard from friends,” Hei Mu added gloomily, “that even if a scattered cultivator is fortunate enough to become a sect disciple, very few succeed in establishing their foundation after consuming the Foundation Establishment Pill. The number is pitifully small.”
“Alright, everyone, don’t lose heart!” Qing Wen encouraged. “We’re still young. If we fail this time, there’s always the next fair in ten years! Who knows—maybe a sect disciple status awaits us in the future! For now, let’s discuss traveling together after the gathering.”
After lifting the spirits of everyone in the room, he skillfully changed the subject.
“Nothing much to discuss,” Wu Jiu Zhi said, still looking dejected. “I’ll go with everyone. After hearing about all these powerful figures in the cultivation world, I don’t dare travel alone anymore.”
Qing Wen shook his head helplessly and turned his gaze to Hong Lian, the Scarlet Lotus Practitioner.
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