Within the headquarters of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, nestled on the colossal Dragon Star, stood a mansion that sprawled like a small world in its own right.
Within a grand hall, a refined middle-aged man sat cross-legged on a jade platform, laughing heartily. “Haha, well done! Those fools who mocked me before must be eating their words now.”
His laughter carried beyond the walls of the hall, causing a stir among the Golden Core and Amethyst Cradle cultivators stationed outside. What could have brought such joy to this immortal?
“When Li Xia declined the challenges from the hereditary disciples, the gossip spread, and I became the subject of mockery for vouching for Li Xia.”
The refined middle-aged man was none other than Earth Immortal Qing Feng.
“Back then, those ignorant fools who didn’t know the whole picture dared say it was a mistake on my part to endorse Li Xia’s admission into our sect,” Earth Immortal Qing Feng shook his head.
The fools he referred to were none other than Earth Immortals of equal standing to him.
The Dragon Star Immortal Sect’s territory spanned a vast space, and they reigned over numerous worlds. It was the birthplace of countless immortals throughout the ages.
Where there were people, there were conflicts. In the absence of external threats, competition among the immortals would inevitably arise!
The lofty immortal ancestor paid no heed to the squabbles among Earth Immortals and High Immortals. Immortals were always competing, whether for resources or influence.
“It’s only been eight years since he joined the sect, and he has already conquered level fifty-seven. What an unbelievable prodigy! He is certainly eligible to enter the Moonsilver World now,” Earth Immortal Qing Feng marveled.
He was unaware that Wu Yuan had inherited the Great Eldritch legacy. Had he known, his astonishment would have reached new heights, elevating his appraisal of Wu Yuan even further!
Nonetheless, he was aware that Wu Yuan possessed nine lifebound flying swords. This was something ordinary sword cultivators could only dream of.
“At this pace, he is likely to clear level sixty of the one-star tower in the future,” Earth Immortal Qing Feng predicted with his years of accumulated knowledge.
Though the one-star tower purportedly had a hundred levels, the final twenty were more moonshot goals, and immortal cultivators were scarcely expected to actually clear them.
The most formidable leap in difficulty lay between level fifty-nine and sixty! Clearing level fifty-nine before the age of one hundred was a feat reserved for the top-tier geniuses.
Clearing level sixty would elevate one to the status of a peerless genius, someone with the potential to reach the Archimmortal level.
“The Dao comprehension level of the level fifty guardian is equivalent to the fourth-level True Intent stage.”
Earth Immortal Qing Feng made a sweeping gesture, and a projection of Wu Yuan’s battles in the one-star tower materialized before him.
“The two guardians of level fifty-eight possess a Dao comprehension level at the sixth-level True Intent stage, whereas the guardians of level sixty possess a Dao comprehension level at the ninth-level True Intent stage.”
It was truly frightening.
At the later stages of Dao comprehension, each increase in level was like a huge chasm.
To advance to the late-stage Amethyst Cradle phase, one must comprehend True Intent. To advance to the Void Refiner or Elysian Field phase, aside from the immortal root prerequisites, one had to reach the seventh-level True Intent stage of Dao comprehension.
This was the minimum requirement.
In other words, a majority of Void Refiner Eminences might not be able to clear level sixty of the one-star tower if their souls weren’t strong enough to compensate for their lacking Dao comprehension.
As for level seventy? Earth Immortal Qing Feng did not expect Wu Yuan to clear it at all. It was simply far too difficult. Such a monstrous genius had yet to be born in the Redmoon Immortal Continent in hundreds of millions of years.
“However, the likelihood of clearing level sixty is high,” Earth Immortal Qing Feng smiled.
“The abbot’s foresight is as unparalleled as ever, he was actually able to identify Li Xia’s potential from the beginning.”
“Mm,” Earth Immortal Qing Feng pondered briefly. “Given the abbot’s directive, I will refrain from informing Zhuo Haiyue; the news will reach her in due time.”
Though he wanted to maintain a good relationship with Zhuo Haiyue, Earth Immortal Qing Feng understood that his roots lay within the Dragon Star Immortal Sect.
…
“This Li Xia is truly a monster.”
“Is it true that he has yet to reach fifty years old?” Rumors concerning Wu Yuan began circulating among the Earth Immortals of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect in no time.
“A monstrous prodigy. Our sect has not witnessed such talent in years.”
“He’s indeed impressive,” many Earth Immortals marveled. Having trodden the immortal road from a weak, low-level cultivator to their current level themselves, they understood the difficulty of clearing level fifty-seven.
“Don’t overestimate him. After observing his fights, his Dao comprehension seems to hover around the third or fourth-level True Intent stage, not particularly deep.”
“He relied solely on his robust soul to clear level fifty-seven. Whether or not he can clear level sixty remains uncertain,” a skeptical Earth Immortal interjected.
“Old Ghost, stop being so stubborn. We all know that you didn’t think highly of Li Xia before and now you’re being slapped in the face.”
“You’ve been slapped in the face many times, one more time doesn’t make a difference, Old Ghost.”
“A resilient soul is also a form of talent. On top of that, he is still young and only joined the sect eight years ago. As long as the sect nurtures him well over the next few decades, breaking the past ten thousand-year record of the immortal continent is an entirely plausible feat,” other Earth Immortals promptly countered.
The Earth Immortals of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect engaged in spirited discussions. While disagreements arose, the prevailing sentiment leaned towards optimism regarding Wu Yuan.
As high-ranking figures within the sect, the Earth Immortals naturally hoped that the sect would prosper, as long as it didn’t compromise their individual interests.
…
The numerous satellite worldlets surrounding Dragon Star were residences of the hereditary disciples, the cream of the sect’s talent in the last one thousand years.
In one of these worldlets, on a training ground stretching nearly ten thousand li.
A figure sighed, “I lost again.”
Kuang Long now stood several dozen zhangs tall. His top was bare, muscles rippling as he towered over the earth below. “I got defeated by another inner disciple in the True Dragon Arena.”
His personality was unlike that of Wu Yuan’s. Having received the best training since youth, he was someone with great pride in his abilities. And as a body refiner, his nature leaned towards combat, leading him to frequent the True Dragon Arena.
In the last eight years, he battled both Golden Core hereditary disciples and inner disciples, even facing off against some Amethyst Cradle cultivators.
He had some wins and some losses, making great progress overall.
The Dragon Star Immortal Sect truly lives up to its reputation as the number one sect on the immortal continent. Kuang Long thought to himself. Talented and powerful individuals are a dime a dozen, far surpassing the cities of my homeland.
Considered a genius from an early age, he found himself humbled by the superior talents of his peers after arriving at the Dragon Star Immortal Sect.
Battles conducted in the True Dragon Arena are voidrealm battles.
I have recently broken through to the eighth-stage Spiritual Body phase. In the upcoming Dragon Star Tournament, my low ether reserves will be a disadvantage. He shook his head ruefully. My first Dragon Star Tournament is sure to end in defeat.
However, as a new disciple, I can still retain my hereditary disciple status even if I lose. I must work hard. Determination blazed in Kuang Long’s eyes.
It is not defeat that should be feared, but the crippling of the heart.
I must be strong enough by the second Dragon Star Tournament. That’s the only way I can maintain my hereditary status. Kuang Long resolved in silence.
One firm step at a time. I will strive to become the strongest among the Golden Core and Spiritual Body hereditary disciples, and then break through to the Shambhala phase. He had his ambitions as well.
Even in a sect brimming with geniuses, Kuang Long had faith in his abilities.
Hm? Senior Brother Jiu Xiao sent me a message? His thoughts were abruptly interrupted.