Desolate Devouring Art

Chapter 377 - Competition

The Heavenly Treasure Pavilion's status had been declining in recent years, far from what it used to be. So, to motivate the disciples, the sect offered generous rewards for the competition.

However, the rewards were too generous because only the Nascent Transformation Realm experts could refine the Meridian Purifying Pill. Most importantly, it was a supreme-tier pill, not just top or high-tier, thus making it extremely precious.

Liu Wuxie's alchemy skills were formidable, but he could only refine top-tier pills consistently. Producing a supreme-tier pill was a matter of luck, as it required not just skill but a fortunate alignment of conditions. He often had to refine a few hundred pills before achieving a single supreme-tier pill.

Furthermore, ten high-grade spirit stones were offered as a reward. One high-grade spirit stone was equivalent to one million mid-grade spirit stones.

Whoever became the champion would be able to gain a foothold in the inner sect swiftly. With such generous rewards, even a pig could advance several levels in cultivation.

However, this might not be the case for Liu Wuxie, as the world within his dantian was exceptionally vast. The resources he needed were exponentially greater, ranging from ten to hundreds of times more than what others required. Despite this, these resources could only help him advance about two levels at best.

Gasps could be heard coming from the surroundings, and no one spoke. The rewards were enough to drive inner disciples insane, and even elite disciples would be tempted by the high-grade spirit stones.

Shao Wendong's lips curled into a smile upon hearing the rewards, solidifying his determination to win.

Duan Hong also sneered. Even if he couldn't claim the championship, he was determined to secure at least third place to earn the opportunity to train in the Celestial Spirit Cave.

The masters of the six peaks quickly sought out their most promising disciples and gathered them to discuss strategies.

On the Heavenly Trigram Peak's side, Liu Wuxie wasn't considered as one of the strongest disciples. The ten disciples summoned were all in the Heavenly Dipper Realm.

Liu Wuxie seemed unremarkable as he concealed his cultivation in the eighth level of the True Core Realm. He rubbed his chin with a devilish smile.

“The rewards are alright. The Meridian Purifying Pill can strengthen my meridians, and the energy contained in the high-grade spirit stones is much purer. These are all things I need,” Liu Wuxie muttered to himself.

He didn't consider the opportunity to read in the Scripture Collection Hall or receive guidance from an elder valuable, as he believed no one in the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion was qualified to teach him.

The points were excellent, but they were just icing on the cake. If he wanted points, he could earn as many as he wished with time. Since he didn't know what the Celestial Spirit Cave was, he couldn't make a judgment on its value yet.

The Meridian Purifying Pill and high-grade spirit stones were the only valuable items to him. After absorbing so much ice and abyssal energy, his meridians were under strain, and he felt them tearing whenever he executed the Primordial Astral Fist.

Although the tearing sensation had lessened after transforming his body multiple times, his meridians would still have problems over time. However, he could resolve this issue with the Meridian Purifying Pill and freely use the Primordial Astral Fist.

"We need to ensure that someone from the Heavenly Trigram Peak reaches the top three, with at least three others securing spots in the top ten," declared the middle-aged peak master, eyeing the ten disciples he had gathered.

"Rest assured, we will give it our best," pledged the ten disciples, Shao Wendong among them.

"Those who make it into the top ten will receive additional rewards from me. They may not be as lavish as the sect's rewards, but they're still significant," the peak master of Heavenly Trigram Peak announced, scanning the gathered disciples and hoping to spur more of them to excel.

Only the strongest batch of disciples could compete for the top three, and entering the top ten was enough for them to prove their strength.

"Peak master, may we ask about the rewards?" They were all curious about the rewards the sect master would offer.

"If anyone makes it into the top ten, I will give you a quota to invite a friend or relative to join the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion." This was a good reward because everyone had relatives or friends with mediocre aptitude who couldn't join the sect.

This reward would allow them to join the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion.

Liu Wuxie's eyes lit up upon hearing that. He had many friends in the mundane world and didn't mind bringing them to the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion.

It was too exhausting to handle everything by himself. His friends and family were his strongest supporters, and it would be easier for him in the future with their help, such as collecting information and handling some chores that required trustworthy people.

Bai Lin and Tang Tian were busy cultivating and had little time. It was no wonder Duan Hong liked to take in lackeys and have them run errands for him.

"Peak master, isn't a quota too little?" An expert in the third level of the Heavenly Dipper Realm chuckled. For him, getting into the top ten wasn't an issue.

"If you can make it into the top ten, I'll offer three quotas. If you become the champion, I'll extend it to five," the peak master declared, showing his resolve to uphold Heavenly Trigram Peak's standing and outshine the other peaks.

Apart from the Heavenly Trigram Peak, the other peaks also offered corresponding rewards to encourage their disciples to achieve good results. After all, whoever could become the champion had a high chance of becoming a true disciple.

Establishing a good relationship with such talent early on was not disadvantageous because even some peak masters would have to flatter the true disciples.

"As in previous years, the competition will span five days until the champion is decided. Battles will be assigned through a lottery system, with each bout limited to fifteen minutes for the first two days."

It was time for the lottery after announcing the rewards. The deacons brought the lottery boxes to the six peaks, making drawing lots convenient for the disciples.

"There will be five thousand battles on the first day, and over twenty thousand numbers are in the lottery box. But only ten thousand will take the stage, and the next batch will be conducted tomorrow."

The rules were simple and relatively fair, commonly used by most sects. The ten envoys had copied and used the same method in the Dragon Battlefield to save time. The Battle of Hundred Nations seemed like child's play compared to this competition, where tens of thousands of people participated.

Everyone followed the order and took a number from the lottery box. Since Liu Wuxie had arrived late and stood towards the edge, he was the first to draw his number.

"Number 77!" As Liu Wuxie scanned the number plate, he turned to look at arena seventy-seven, wondering who his opponent would be.

Two hours later, everyone had drawn lots. Besides Liu Wuxie and a few others, most participants were old disciples, already familiar with the rules, and required no explanation from Elder Tian Xing.

There were three thousand arenas, each marked with a number. Platform one was on the left, and platform three hundred was on the far right.

The disciple who drew number one would stand on arena one, and so on. In the next round, the one who drew 301 would stand on arena one, and so forth. This process ensured there would be five thousand battles, spread over fifteen rounds.

People went to their arenas individually; some even stood on their spiritual artifacts. The three hundred arenas were filled with people in the blink of an eye, and the deacon activated the formations to prevent the fights from affecting other platforms.

Each platform had a corresponding spiritual array to block the surrounding shockwave.

Striding the Seven Dipper Steps, Liu Wuxie quietly landed on Arena 77 like a celestial crane. The youth standing before him was an old disciple with a cultivation at the pinnacle of the eighth level of the True Core Realm.

This youth had participated in the competition multiple times but had not achieved a good result. The youth frowned at the sight of Liu Wuxie as if he recognized the latter. He asked, "Are you a new disciple who joined recently?"

"That's right!" Liu Wuxie responded without a hint of emotion and stood with his hands behind his back. He was like an emperor standing there, exerting powerful psychological pressure on his opponent.

Elder Tian Xing's gaze never left Liu Wuxie for a moment since he went to the arena, observing his every move. He also wanted to know what was so special about Liu Wuxie that the young lady could praise him so much.

If he had known Liu Wuxie was someone recommended into the sect by the young lady, he would've taken him as a disciple that night. But it was a pity that he missed the opportunity.

"You're not bad, but you're just a new disciple. Come back next year!" the youth said and swung his sword down at Liu Wuxie's chest, aiming to kill right from the start. After all, the generous rewards alone were enough to drive everyone insane.

Liu Wuxie's eyes turned cold with murderous intent. Despite his fierce demeanor, he had no desire to harm anyone; his only goal was to secure first place smoothly. After all, this was a friendly competition, not a deathmatch.

As the sword approached and was about to reach Liu Wuxie's neck, he vanished and pushed his palm forward, unleashing a wind blade. The wind blade drew an arc in the air and struck the youth's chest, sending him flying away.

With that, Liu Wuxie defeated his opponent with one strike and was the first to advance.

The deacon raised the flag, signaling the end of the match. The loser had to leave and go to the spectator region while Liu Wuxie waited for the next round after his victory.

However, instead of returning to the Heavenly Trigram Peak's region, Liu Wuxie headed to his courtyard. Jian Xing'er followed him as he left the martial field.

"Senior Sister, do you know about the Celestial Spirit Cave?" Liu Wuxie asked. As everyone speculated, he was most curious about its connection to the Immortal Realm.

As for the other resources, he had plenty of ways to obtain them if he wanted.

"I don't know the specifics, but some senior disciples mentioned that the Celestial Spirit Cave is connected to the Celestial Realm, acting as a bridge. I'm not sure if it's true, and only those who have entered will know," Jian Xing'er shared everything she knew.

Liu Wuxie suddenly stopped. He knew he had to go to the Celestial Spirit Cave if that was true. As a bridge connected to the Celestial Realm, it could draw energy from the Celestial Realm.

Others didn't understand the Celestial Realm and were hesitant to absorb its energy, fearing their bodies couldn't withstand it. However, it was different for Liu Wuxie. Being familiar with the Celestial Realm meant he could refine any substance with ease.