(Extra chapter, asking for monthly votes)
On the square, the martial artists from the other major factions all fixed their gazes on the crowd from Flowing Cloud Sect, buzzing with discussion and clamor.
An elder from Sun Origin Sect, dressed in white robes and at the Spiritual Origin realm, stepped forward to greet them.
"Sect Master Liu, it's been a few years. Your cultivation has advanced quite a bit."
"Elder Li, you're still hale and hearty as ever."
Liu Wuyan replied with a smile.
The two exchanged greetings like old acquaintances.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Elder Li suddenly said, "Sect Master Liu, I hear your Flowing Cloud Sect has produced a top-tier genius named Lin Xuan. I wonder if I might have the honor of meeting him?"
"Of course."
Liu Wuyan said with a faint smile, pointing at Lin Xuan. "This is Lin Xuan, the number one genius of my Flowing Cloud Sect!"
"Junior Lin Xuan pays respects to Elder Li!"
Lin Xuan cupped his hands in salute, his demeanor neither humble nor arrogant.
As his gaze swept over, the attribute panel of this Elder Li appeared before him.
His cultivation had reached the fifth layer of the Opening Spirit realm, and his various talents were not far behind Liu Wuyan's.
Lin Xuan sighed inwardly.
An elder in charge of reception was only slightly inferior to the Sect Master of Flowing Cloud Sect.
Indeed, Sun Origin Sect was far stronger than Flowing Cloud Sect.
Meanwhile, Elder Li's gaze fell on Lin Xuan, and he couldn't help but be startled.
As a mid-stage Spiritual Origin realm cultivator, he could tell at a glance that Lin Xuan's foundation was far more solid than that of most disciples within Sun Origin Sect.
Even the sect's current公子-level geniuses, Zhang Yuchen and Wu Xin, might not have surpassed Lin Xuan when they were at the Opening Spirit realm.
"Lin Xuan, rumored to be the fifth公子-level genius of our Red Sun Domain. Seeing you today, you truly live up to your reputation!"
Elder Li praised him.
Yet a sense of disbelief welled up in his heart.
He couldn't fathom how the ordinarily unremarkable Flowing Cloud Sect could produce such a genius.
Could it really just be luck?
He then turned to Liu Wuyan: "Sect Master Liu, congratulations. It seems that one of the twenty spots in this competition is surely destined for your Flowing Cloud Sect."
"Mutual joy, mutual joy."
Liu Wuyan replied with a chuckle.
But there was a meaningful glint in his eyes.
It wasn't just about being in the top ten or a single spot.
You'll find out when the time comes.
Don't be too shocked.
"Sect Master Liu, let's go. The competition is about to start."
Elder Li said again.
Then, he gave Lin Xuan a deep, sweeping glance.
Such a foundation—terrifyingly solid.
If he broke through to the Spiritual Origin realm, he could very well become a major threat to Zhang Yuchen, Wu Xin, and the others.
Fortunately, Lin Xuan was still at the Opening Spirit realm.
At least in this competition, he shouldn't pose a threat to the prodigy Zhang Yuchen.
That was the only silver lining.
Elder Li sighed inwardly.
Then, he led the Flowing Cloud Sect crowd toward Sun Origin Sect.
Soon, they entered the gates of Sun Origin Sect.
Elder Li brought the Flowing Cloud Sect members to a vast square.
This square was at least two or three times larger than the largest core square of Flowing Cloud Sect.
As the strongest power in the Red Sun Domain and its de facto ruler, Sun Origin Sect hosted the triennial Red Sun Domain competition here.
This square was specially built for the competition.
At that moment, the square's surrounding stands and the area outside were already packed with people.
Elder Li guided the Flowing Cloud Sect crowd while explaining.
On the square stood five black arenas, each three hundred meters in diameter.
Around them were four stands: east, west, south, and north.
The southern stand was the gathering place for the five major factions of Cangyuan Nation, including Flowing Cloud Sect.
The northern stand housed representatives from the Red Flame Kingdom's royal family and the Wind Flame Valley.
The western stand was where major factions from the Red Sun Domain, excluding the eight great powers, that had Spiritual Origin realm cultivators, gathered.
Within the Red Sun Domain, there were not only the eight great powers but also various other trials of all sizes.
Only those with Spiritual Origin realm cultivators were considered first-rate factions, worthy of the eight great powers' notice.
And only they had the right to sit in the stands.
As for the other ordinary factions, they stood outside the square to watch.
They even had to pay a fee to enter.
As for the eastern stand, it held only one faction: Sun Origin Sect.
Its dominant position was unmistakable.
No faction dared to raise any objection.
Lin Xuan swept his gaze around, feeling a chill inside.
In this world, strength reigned supreme, and power was everything.
Then, Elder Li arranged the Flowing Cloud Sect members on the southern stand.
Lin Xuan's seat was just below Sect Master Liu Wuyan.
On the second tier of the entire stand.
As the current top genius of Cangyuan Nation, and vaguely hailed as the fifth公子 of the Red Sun Domain, Lin Xuan naturally attracted much attention.
He also used this opportunity to gather a fair number of energy points, nodding to himself.
Then, he ignored it and scanned the entire venue.
On the Cangyuan Nation side, there was still no change.
However, perhaps due to the large quantity of high-quality Cloud Pattern Pills he had provided, Liu Qianyu's cultivation aura had improved noticeably.
He had already surpassed Sun Yuwen, becoming the second-ranked junior disciple of Cangyuan Nation after Lin Xuan.
He continued scanning the other three stands.
Soon, Lin Xuan withdrew his gaze, a hint of disappointment on his face.
On the east, west, and north stands, only the four公子 who had broken through to the Spiritual Origin realm were worth noting.
But they were all at the early Spiritual Origin realm, posing no threat.
Including that prodigy Zhang Yuchen.
However, their treasures were decent enough; if they came close, he could replicate them.
As for the strongest in the Red Sun Domain, Sun Origin Sect's Sect Master Zhang Xing, he had also seen his attribute panel.
His cultivation was only at the first layer of the Yuan Sea realm, and in terms of talent and potential, he wasn't even as good as Zhang Yuchen.
It seemed this competition would only serve to gather energy points and the reward spirit stones.
Lin Xuan thought to himself.
At the same time, he gained more confidence in making it onto the Xuan Yuan List.
Even Zhang Yuchen, at the second layer of the Spiritual Origin realm, could make the list; it wouldn't be hard for him.
It was just a matter of how high he could rank.
The venue remained noisy.
Another half hour passed.
Swish!
Suddenly, a streak of fire shot across the sky.
It was extremely fast.
In an instant, it appeared above the arena.
Everyone turned to look, and saw that the streak of fire was actually a small red boat about ten feet long, hovering in the air.
On the boat stood a middle-aged man in a red robe.
Though this red-robed man emitted no aura, it made everyone in the venue tremble and fall silent.
Then, the high-ranking members of the major factions, all martial artists above the Spiritual Origin realm, stood up.
They bowed in salute.
At the same time, they signaled the younger disciples.
Instantly, everyone in the venue stood and paid their respects.
"We pay respects to Lord Fire Yuan!"
"We pay respects to Lord Fire Yuan!"
"..."
The red-robed middle-aged man, Lord Fire Yuan, nodded slightly.
"Hmm."
He responded with a single word, plain as it was, yet it suppressed all the noise in the venue.
It showed his authority.
Then, he landed on the eastern stand where Sun Origin Sect was located.
Even Sun Origin Sect's Sect Master Zhang Xing voluntarily gave up his seat, his attitude respectful.