Chapter 103: Three Years and Then Three More... (Please Subscribe)

Chapter 103: Three Years and Then Three More…

After resting for a few days, disciples from the Seven Sects gathered at the Huabing Pavilion’s Celestial Realm.

Some rode fiery cloud gourds, others sailed aboard colossal sea vessels, some appeared as drifting white clouds, while others took the form of a single peach…

Regardless of their forms, the seven sects convened.

The Celestial Sage of Huabing Pavilion was known to be in long-term seclusion, tirelessly pursuing the path of the Golden Immortal and rarely appearing before others.

The assembly was presided over by the pavilion’s master, the venerable Chang Jing, a terrestrial immortal.

The competition was divided into four parts: Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, and Primordial Spirit.

The Foundation Establishment level was the lowest and thus began first. Many immortals attended, observing the younger generation’s battles with appreciation.

Each sect fielded three Foundation Establishment disciples, totaling twenty-one participants across seven sects.

Ten rounds of matches were arranged, with one participant resting each round, leading to six-on-six duels and culminating in three decisive final rounds.

Immortal cultivators had the luxury of time, so the matches proceeded at a leisurely pace.

Unfortunately, Luo Feng’s luck was poor, and he was scheduled for the sixth match. Thankfully, the Foundation Establishment level did not demand long, drawn-out battles of hundreds of rounds.

After about half a day, it was Luo Feng’s turn.

Tai’er Sect’s Daoist Tianyi faced off against Guihai Daoist from the Beihe Sword Sect.

Luo Feng stepped onto the stage calmly, his gait steady and composed, grasping his sword as he bowed politely.

His opponent, Guihai Daoist, was equally refined and exchanged a courteous Daoist salute.

“Take care, fellow Daoist,” came a polite warning.

In an instant, Luo Feng drew his sword, water light soaring skyward and enveloping the surroundings.

Guihai Daoist was startled, realizing this young man was no inferior.

He hastily unleashed the Beihe Sword Sect’s Three Wave Saber Technique to defend himself.

Suddenly, a plain voice rang out:

“Fellow Daoist, you have lost.”

Luo Feng tilted his head slightly, a water sword appearing at the opponent’s throat, closing in—just a bit closer and death would be certain.

Guihai Daoist was momentarily stunned, then sighed, “Thank you.”

Luo Feng returned the bow with quiet grace: “I concede.”

Amidst the surrounding gasps and the elders’ expressions of admiration, Luo Feng remained indifferent.

If he could lose, he would swallow his iron sword on the spot.

Of course, his gaze was constantly searching for Senior Sister Yun Ruo’s figure, his attention fixed on her.

After all, he was playing the role of a pure-hearted youth.

A subtle exchange of glances and secret signals followed, before Luo Feng resumed his journey of overwhelming weaker opponents.

One moment of triumph after another—always victorious, always exhilarated.

Two rounds of sparring passed in this manner, effortlessly clearing the path and securing first place in the Foundation Establishment tournament.

His swift and decisive single-move victories earned Luo Feng great renown.

He was soon hailed as the Water-path Sword Immortal and a future seed of the immortal way.

Yet, as a pure-hearted youth, he cared little for such empty fame; his heart belonged entirely to Senior Sister Yun Ruo.

Everything unfolded exactly according to Yun Ruo’s script.

Life is a play, reliant on acting skills; the key is to reap benefits from the performance.

With the martial assembly concluded, the millennium event came to an end. Four champions were chosen from the four divisions: Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, and Primordial Spirit.

For Foundation Establishment: Luo Tianyi of Tai’er Sect, the Water-path Sword Immortal.

Golden Core: Daoist Canghai of the Milky Way Sect, foremost in Water Magic.

Nascent Soul: Daoist Zhengxin of Tianyi Pavilion, having attained Nascent Soul within a few years of entry, a bright hope for the future.

Primordial Spirit: Lingyuan Venerable of Huabing Pavilion, poised to transcend tribulation and become an immortal.

When collecting their prizes, aside from the steady elders and the soon-to-ascend Lingyuan Venerable, the young champions chatted and laughed together, showing no airs of their realms, as if longtime friends.

Half a day later, Luo Feng received a magical flying sword as a reward. Daoist Huoyun earnestly reminded him, “The other three may well become your future rivals or allies. Get to know them well.”

Luo Feng smiled knowingly—understood, of course he understood.

Among this year’s four champions, three were his own.

Huabing Pavilion’s puppeteers cultivated earth magic; Tianyi Pavilion’s Zhengxin cultivated metal magic; Youlong Sect’s puppeteers cultivated fire magic; Milky Way Sect’s Canghai cultivated water magic; Xuanyuan Valley’s puppeteers cultivated wood magic; Tai’er Sect’s Luo Tianyi cultivated concealment and breath suppression arts; Beihe Sword Sect specialized in swordsmanship.

Who understands themselves better than themselves?

Ten years later, after the Seven Sects’ martial gathering, Luo Tianyi secluded himself in arduous cultivation and eventually forged a Water-path Golden Core.

After confessing to Yun Ruo without success and feeling disheartened, he unexpectedly obtained a mountain descent token and set out on a journey.

During a hundred years of wandering, he encountered fierce demon kings, met immortal cultivators, witnessed the bustling Chen Tang Pass, and saw the common people’s deep hatred for demons. He befriended a dragon offspring and explored secret realms.

His safe return was owed to a white snake Nascent Soul demon king.

Having perished during tribulation and then adopted by Luo Tianyi, the snake now served as his protector in gratitude.

This became a celebrated tale within the Seven Sects of Xuanyuan.

By the time Luo Feng returned to his sect, he had reached the Nascent Soul realm and prepared to seek Yun Ruo’s guidance again.

Unexpectedly, Yun Ruo had perished under heavenly tribulation.

Luo Feng silently muttered, “These days, besides death escape, is there any other trick? Why not just die beautifully?”

Of course, as a dedicated and professional actor, he had to continue the performance.

The lovesick youth Luo Tianyi was not broken by this misfortune; instead, he transformed grief into power and continued his seclusion.

Within three hundred years, he attained Primordial Spirit Immortal status!

His achievement astonished the immortals of Tai’er Sect, and he was appointed junior sect leader, set to ascend as sect master.

The current master, Immortal Jiulian, planned to retire and pursue the celestial path in seclusion due to his limited lifespan.

Two thousand five hundred years later, Luo Tianyi traveled once more, returning as a terrestrial immortal.

Only three days remained before he would assume the sect’s leadership.

Seated atop the central peak where inner disciples lived, Luo Tianyi sighed softly.

“Three years, then three more… nearly three thousand years have passed, and even a puppet like me has become sect master.”

“Oh, my true self, if I weren’t a puppet clone, I’d surely betray you!”

From an unknown location, the true Luo Feng smiled faintly: “Enough. It’s time to close the net.”

Except for Tai’er Sect’s cautious approach to testing Luo Tianyi’s immortality, the other six sects had long since passed down their leadership.

Luo Tianyi nodded, murmuring, “This is just the first step—the alliance of the Seven Sects of Xuanyuan.”

Luo Feng had schemed for three thousand years to reclaim the seven sects for his own use.

Wanderers and sect disciples were treated differently by Heaven’s Court!

Today, what does any Great Heavenly Lord in the heavens desire?

Personnel? Subordinates? Immortals?

No, no, no.

Certainly not. Although Great Heavenly Lords of the Heavenly Court are not as lofty or grand as the Three Teachings’ sages, they are far from ordinary.

When they speak, not only terrestrial immortals and celestial immortals but even the undying Golden Immortals flock to them.

Born of Purple Cloud Palace and acquainted with countless worldly guests, if they cared to lose face, recruiting several Great Luo immortals would be trivial.

But is that what a Great Heavenly Lord truly seeks?

No, absolutely not.

Analyzing the Investiture of the Gods, who gains most? The Alchemy Sage? The Jade Ruyi Sage? Or the two from the West?

No, none of these.

Before the Investiture, the Heavenly Court’s reputation was known; after the Investiture, the Court became the orthodox power of Heaven and Earth, stepping onto the stage.

After the Shang dynasty, whose people do not worship the gods?

All fortune and merit belong to the Heavenly Court—that is the greatest resource between Heaven and Earth.

Immortals ascend to the Heavenly Court due to fortune and merit, no longer knowing the Three Teachings.

Even disciples of the Three Teachings serve as divine officials within the Court, stationed there and worshiped by billions.

This forms a virtuous cycle.

Therefore, Luo Feng believed what a Great Heavenly Lord truly seeks is power!

A force through which the Heavenly Court replaces the Three Teachings and becomes the legitimate authority of Heaven and Earth.

[Update: Emm, it will come.]

(End of chapter)