EFB Chapter 2194 The Grand Competition Begins
Chapter 2194 The Grand Competition Begins
On the arena, the battle between Ge Chuan and Cheng Zhengchu has reached a fever pitch.
Both fighters were clearly fighting with their lives on the line, unleashing a barrage of their most powerful techniques. The clash of swords and the shadows of their blades nearly engulfed the entire arena. Even through the array's light barrier, the terrifying energy fluctuations caused some of the weaker spectators on the periphery to turn pale and retreat in disarray.
Behind Ge Chuan, a colossal phantom, towering and imposing, faintly appeared, its broadsword merging with the phantom, each strike carrying the power to cleave the heavens and earth.
Countless distorted mirrors and phantoms appeared around Cheng Zhengchu, his true form constantly flickering and shifting within them, sword light attacking Ge Chuan from all angles.
The two fought their way from the center of the arena to the edge, and then back to the center. Wherever they went, the incredibly solid ground of the arena was plowed with deep furrows, which were then quickly repaired by the formation.
The fierce battle lasted for about fifteen minutes.
Finally, after an earth-shattering clash, the two figures suddenly separated, each sliding backward hundreds of miles.
Ge Chuan's chest heaved violently, his arm holding the knife trembled slightly, and his tiger's mouth was already split open, with blood dripping down the hilt of the knife. The domineering sword intent around him was still strong, but a trace of fatigue flashed deep in his eyes.
Cheng Zhengchu was in no better shape; his face was as pale as paper, and his once spotless white robes bore several cuts from the sword energy. The phantoms and mirrors around him had vanished, and his aura had weakened considerably.
The two stared intently at each other, their eyes still brimming with killing intent and fighting spirit, but neither dared to make a move rashly.
After a long silence, Ge Chuan spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva and sneered, "Cheng Zhengchu, your Thousand Illusion Sword Domain has improved a bit, but it's still far from breaking my Heaven-Splitting True Body."
Cheng Zhengchu wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and said coldly, "Your brute strength has improved, but you are still as stupid as an ox. That's enough for today. We'll see who comes out on top in the Grand Tournament of Ten Thousand Sects."
"I'm not afraid of you." Ge Chuan sneered.
The two stared at each other for a moment, then turned around almost simultaneously, jumped off the stage, and left in different directions, without any clear winner or loser.
A huge uproar and discussion erupted from the surrounding crowd. Some were amazed by the two men's strength, some analyzed the details of the battle, some regretted not seeing the final result, and some were excited by the two men's boastful words.
A draw?
"Judging from the situation, both of them have expended a lot of energy and have been holding back. After all, the Grand Tournament of Ten Thousand Sects is just around the corner, and neither of them wants to fight to the death here."
"Tsk tsk, no wonder he is a powerhouse on the Great Dao Ranking."
"The Grand Competition of Ten Thousand Sects is going to be interesting."
Chen Fei gazed intently at the departing figures of the two men.
Neither of them were clearly going all out; at the very least, they certainly didn't use their most desperate trump cards.
This duel was more of a test, a deterrent, and a final warm-up before the big battle. The result wasn't important; what mattered was that they understood each other's current level of strength.
"Let's go too," Chen Fei said softly to Cao Feiyu. Having witnessed this level of combat, they had gained a clearer understanding, and their objective had been achieved.
There's not much point in staying here.
Cao Feiyu nodded, and Chen Fei took her hand as they walked out of the still bustling crowd.
Leaving the bustling martial arts arena, the two strolled along the prosperous streets of Huangji Tiandu.
The intense battle and the slight oppressive feeling brought about by the terrifying difference in strength gradually faded away under the influence of the dazzling array of shops, the bustling crowds, and the rich spiritual energy in the air.
The prosperity of Huangji Tiandu far surpassed any city they had ever seen before.
There's the Rare Treasure Garden, specializing in all sorts of exotic flowers, rare herbs, and exotic birds and animals. There's the Ancient Treasure Pavilion, displaying relics of ancient cultivators, broken magical artifacts, and unidentified ores. There's even the Wind Herald Pavilion, which provides information on various secret realms and hires cultivators to explore.
Many rare and precious materials and treasures that are hard to find elsewhere seem to become commonplace here.
Snow Jade Lotus, Earth Core Fire Jade Marrow, Void Star Sand, Soul Nourishing Wood... a dazzling array of precious treasures shimmered in the air. Of course, their prices were enough to deter ordinary cultivators.
As Chen Fei accompanied Cao Feiyu on a casual stroll, he paused slightly when they passed a jewelry shop called Linglong Pavilion.
The shop is small, but elegantly decorated. The jewelry displayed in the counter is not ordinary; most of it is made of materials containing vital energy, such as jade, pearls, and rare wood. It is not only exquisite but also has some minor auxiliary effects such as calming the mind, soothing the spirit, and gathering spiritual energy.
His gaze was drawn to a hairpin, which was carved entirely from warm and lustrous jade. It resembled a budding lotus, with natural light blue patterns on the petals, exuding elegance and refinement, and brimming with vitality.
Chen Fei's heart skipped a beat, and he pulled Cao Feiyu inside. With the shop owner's enthusiastic recommendation, he bought the blue lotus jade hairpin.
Stepping out of the shop, Chen Fei gently handed the jade hairpin to Cao Feiyu and smiled, "This hairpin is elegant and suits your temperament. With the great battle imminent, consider this a lucky charm."
Cao Feiyu paused slightly, looking at the exquisitely carved blue lotus jade hairpin in front of her, then looked up at Chen Fei's smiling gaze. Two barely perceptible blushes instantly appeared on her fair cheeks, and her usually cool eyes softened with warmth.
She took the jade hairpin; its smooth texture warmed her skin, and her heart was filled with warmth as well.
"Okay," she said softly.
Her fingertips traced the hairpin, then she gently lifted her hand and removed the wooden hairpin that had been holding her hair up. A few strands of her dark hair cascaded down like a waterfall. Then she carefully inserted the blue lotus jade hairpin into her hair bun.
The jade hairpin and her dark hair complemented each other perfectly, further highlighting her beautiful face and ethereal气质. She looked up at Chen Fei, her eyes questioning.
"It's beautiful," Chen Fei said sincerely, her eyes gentle.
Cao Feiyu's lips curved into a smile as radiant as melting snow. The gap and pressure she had felt in the training ground seemed to have been completely forgotten at this moment.
She was even somewhat dazed, as if she and Chen Fei were not here to participate in the cruel and intense Grand Competition of Ten Thousand Sects, but were just an ordinary couple, leisurely strolling and enjoying themselves in this bustling capital.
The two continued strolling through the streets, Cao Feiyu occasionally raising her hand to lightly touch the jade hairpin in her hair, a faint smile playing on her lips.
Five days passed in a flash amidst the tense yet enthusiastic atmosphere of Huangji Tiandu.
During these five days, Chen Fei and Cao Feiyu spent most of their time in quiet meditation at their residence, adjusting their state of mind. When they occasionally went out, they avoided crowded and noisy places, instead strolling through some scenic spots in Tiandu to soothe their minds.
That blue lotus jade hairpin has always been worn in Cao Fei's hair.
As the official start of the Grand Tournament of Ten Thousand Sects drew near, the atmosphere throughout Huangji Tiandu reached its peak. In the streets and alleys, in teahouses and taverns, everyone's conversation revolved around the upcoming grand event.
"Have you heard? The seventeenth prince of the royal family, Yuwen Xuan, defeated Lu Da, who was ranked twenty-ninth, in just three moves at the Great Martial Arts Arena the day before yesterday. His Purple Extreme Heavenly Fire is said to have been refined to the highest level and can burn everything."
"The Ice Soul Palace Fairy Ling Qingxue is truly formidable. Yesterday, at the Cold Pool in the east of the city, she froze tens of thousands of miles of lake surface with a single sword strike, her Daoist charm was innate."
"Zhan Wuji of the Heavenly Battle Sect is a madman. Yesterday, he challenged three experts on the Great Dao Ranking in one go and defeated them all."
"Do you think the battle for the top spot in this competition will be between His Highness Yuwen, Fairy Ling, and Zhan Wuji?"
"It's hard to say. Don't forget about those reclusive ancient clans and the inheritors of ancient Taoist traditions. They rarely appear in the martial arts arena, but every time they emerge, they cause a huge uproar."
"I'm optimistic about Poison Prince Li Wuxin. His poison skills are unpredictable, and he might pull off an upset."
"I'm betting on Fairy Liu Ruyan of the Flowing Clouds. Her Flowing Clouds Illusionary Body Technique has reached a state of perfection..."
The rankings on the Great Dao Ranking have also undergone significant changes in the past few days, with powerful figures constantly stepping onto the stage at the last moment to challenge, whether to hone their skills or to intimidate their opponents. The ups and downs of the rankings have sparked heated discussions and speculations among countless people.
Of course, many people are discussing whether there are any hidden dark horses who can make a name for themselves in this competition, break into the top ranks, or even challenge the status of the established prodigies.
After all, the Grand Competition of Ten Thousand Sects brings together young geniuses from the entire Immortal Dynasty, and it's hard to guarantee that there won't be those who were previously unknown but possess extraordinary skills.
The atmosphere was equally somber within the Dan Chen Sect's headquarters.
Elder Zhang Duchuan summoned all the disciples for another address, emphasizing safety, doing their best, and not tarnishing the sect's reputation.
The nine participating disciples, including Chen Fei, Cao Feiyu, Xu Ziqian, and Feng Butong, were all doing their final breathing exercises in the quiet room, adjusting themselves to their peak condition.
Finally, amidst the anticipation of countless people, the day when the Grand Tournament of Ten Thousand Sects officially began arrived.
On this day, the sky was clear and the breeze was gentle.
However, a chilling yet intense fighting spirit permeated the sky above Huangji Tiandu.
At the hour of Chen (7-9 AM), the morning sun rises, casting golden rays in all directions.
Suddenly, in the center of Huangji Tiandu, above the most majestic Huangji Hall, a dazzling golden pillar of light shot into the sky, reaching straight into the clouds.
Immediately afterwards, a second, a third... a total of one hundred and eight golden beams of light, centered on the Hall of Supreme Harmony, lit up in a ring, piercing through the heavens and earth.
A vast, majestic, and overwhelming aura, capable of suppressing all realms, swept across the entire Imperial Capital like a tidal wave. All cultivators, regardless of their location or activities, couldn't help but raise their heads to gaze at the breathtaking scene.
After reaching a certain height, the 108 golden beams of light suddenly expanded outwards from their tips, transforming into 108 dazzling golden clouds of light.
The light clouds surged and rolled, with endless golden runes appearing and disappearing within them, emitting a heart-palpitating fluctuation of rules.
"Congeal!"
A voice from the heavens resounded in everyone's minds.
With this command, the 108 golden clouds of light suddenly contracted, condensed, and took shape. Under the gaze of countless eyes, they transformed into 108 enormous martial arts arenas.
Each training ground floats silently high in the sky, gleaming under the morning sun, like one hundred and eight golden stars guarding the central Hall of Supreme Harmony.
At the edge of the training ground, golden runes hung down like chains, forming an invisible barrier whose sturdiness far surpassed that of the arenas in the Great Dao Training Ground.
"The Celestial Martial Arts Arena has 108 seats."
"The Grand Competition of Ten Thousand Sects has finally begun."
The entire Imperial Capital instantly erupted in excitement.
Countless streaks of light shot into the sky from all parts of the city, like a meteor shower flowing against the current, heading towards the 108 celestial martial arts arenas. Those were young geniuses from various forces, preparing to participate in the competition.
At the Dan Chen Sect's headquarters, Elder Zhang Duchuan waved his sleeve, and a gentle force enveloped the nine participating disciples: "Let's go."
The next moment, everyone transformed into a stream of light and merged into the sky full of escape lights.
As Chen Fei stood within the flowing light, gazing up at the 108 martial arts arenas suspended in the heavens, his heart swelled with pride and fighting spirit.
A grand competition of ten thousand talents, a battle of geniuses.
This stage, which brings together countless young powerhouses from the Immortal Dynasty, has finally begun.
According to previously obtained information, tens of thousands of young cultivators have registered to participate in the Grand Tournament of Ten Thousand Sects at the Tai Cang Realm level.
The participants come from tens of thousands of sects, families, and independent cultivators. This first round aims to select 1,296 winners from among these tens of thousands to qualify for the next round.
The attrition rate is frighteningly high.
Chen Fei and the others followed Elder Zhang Duchuan and landed in a specially designated area.
The place has already gathered powerful leaders and participating disciples from various forces. The noise is deafening, the auras are mixed, and the strength varies, but without exception, they all exude a high fighting spirit.
In the sky, the 108 golden martial arts arenas floated silently, radiating a majestic light.
"quiet."
That grand and majestic voice rang out again, instantly silencing all the noise.
"The Grand Competition of Ten Thousand Sects, the first round of elimination, is now beginning. All participants, concentrate and await instructions."
As soon as the words were spoken, a soft golden beam of light shot out from the center of the 108 training arenas, intertwining and changing in the air, eventually transforming into countless tiny golden streams of light, which, as if possessing a spirit, flew towards the dense crowd of contestants below.
Each golden streak flew precisely towards a contestant.
Chen Fei felt a golden light fall upon him, merging into his identity token. Instantly, a message flowed into his mind: "Jiazi Area, Martial Arts Arena No. 7, waiting area."
At the same time, he also felt that he had established a vague connection with a certain martial arts arena in the sky, and it seemed that he could be directly teleported there by means of his identity token.
"The draw has started. Look, someone has moved."
Among the crowd, contestants were constantly being teleported, their figures disappearing from their original spots and reappearing in their corresponding golden arenas.
"Senior sister, be careful." Chen Fei looked at Cao Feiyu beside her.
Cao Feiyu nodded to him, her eyes resolute. She had drawn "Bingwu Area, Martial Arts Arena No. 22".
Soon, Cao Feiyu's body lit up with light. She glanced at Chen Fei and then disappeared from the spot.
Chen Fei watched her leave, without feeling too much worry.
He knew Cao Feiyu's strength; as long as she didn't encounter those prodigies, passing the first round shouldn't be a problem. He focused more on observing the contestants who were constantly being teleported away.
One can roughly judge their strength from their aura and demeanor.
About fifteen minutes later, the identity token on Chen Fei's body became slightly warm, and a guidance message came through.
Chen Fei activated the communication token with a thought.
Instantly, he was enveloped in a dense golden light, and a spatial fluctuation emanated from him. The scene before him shifted, and the next second, he found himself in the center of a magnificent martial arts arena.
The training ground was as smooth as a mirror, reflecting the sky. A golden barrier of flowing runes surrounded it, isolating the inside from the outside. The arena was incredibly spacious, allowing cultivators of the Tai Cang Realm to unleash their full potential.
A hundred miles away opposite him, a golden light flashed, and a figure appeared simultaneously.
He was a tall, thin young man wearing a Taoist robe embroidered with silver runes. His sharp eyes scrutinized Chen Fei.
He held no weapon, but his ten fingers were long and slender, with a faint spiritual light emanating from their tips, and his body was surrounded by a wave that made people feel slightly sluggish.
Fu Xiu!
Moreover, judging from the style of his Taoist robe and his aura, he is not from an unorthodox background, but should come from a sect specializing in talismanic arts.
Their eyes met in mid-air, and their invisible auras began to collide and probe.
"Danchen Sect, Chen Fei." Chen Fei clasped his hands in greeting and introduced himself, a proper etiquette for a competition.
The tall, thin young man opposite him nodded slightly, his voice a little hoarse: "Tianfu Sect, Li Mo."
"please!"
"please!"
After a brief opening ceremony, their eyes simultaneously sharpened, and the battle erupted instantly. (End of Chapter)