Chapter 72: This Is Called Making an Entrance!
Twenty days later.
Zhen Tian City.
This city was massive, its walls soaring a thousand meters high, majestic and ancient. It had stood for countless years, exuding a sense of history and grandeur. From afar, it looked like a primordial beast sprawled across the land.
Today, Zhen Tian City was especially lively.
Many people knew that a grand competition would soon take place in the city. Any genius within the Great Zhou's territory was eligible to participate.
Of course, that was just the official narrative.
In reality, if you lacked connections and were just a rogue cultivator, no one would pay you any attention.
After all, the Great Zhou royal family wasn't running a charity. The Phoenix Origin Secret Realm they controlled wasn't open to everyone. Even opening it to other sects was merely a means of scouting for outstanding talents among them.
Despite this, the competition still attracted countless onlookers. Their reasoning was simple: even if they couldn't participate, witnessing the spectacle was exciting enough.
"Roar!"
Outside Zhen Tian City, a dragon's roar echoed, resounding across the heavens and earth.
At the edge of the distant sky, a giant flood dragon, as vast as a mountain range, loomed over the land, casting a massive shadow in the void. Its sheer presence created an oppressive aura, leaving many people gasping for breath long before it reached the city.
On the dragon's head stood two figures side by side.
One was an elderly man with white hair. Despite his age, his vigor was evident, and his sharp eyes gleamed like an eagle's as he gazed ahead, exuding an unfathomable aura.
Beside him stood a young man clad in armor, exuding an air of valor and authority. His sharp gaze was as piercing as a sword's edge.
"Gasp! This flood dragon—it might be undergoing a reversion to its ancestral form! Its dragon might is terrifying. I estimate it's at least in the Life and Death Realm!"
"Using a Life and Death Realm flood dragon as a mount—only the Beast Taming Sect could pull off something so extravagant!"
"That's right. Look closely at the two people on the dragon's head. One is Elder Xu from the Beast Taming Sect, and the other must be their top genius, Ning Cheng."
"Ning Cheng? The one who, despite being only at the early-stage Profound Elixir Realm, managed to form a contract with a beast bearing the bloodline of the ancient Qiongqi?"
"Yes, him. It's said his contracted beast has already been nurtured to the mid-stage Profound Elixir Realm, with terrifying power. Even peak-stage Profound Elixir Realm experts struggle against it. Without a doubt, he's a top contender to take first place in the Phoenix Origin Secret Realm!"
The arrival of the Beast Taming Sect caused a stir throughout Zhen Tian City.
In particular, the young genius Ning Cheng garnered widespread admiration. Unlike other sects, the Beast Taming Sect relied primarily on their contracted beasts rather than personal combat strength.
Ning Cheng's contracted beast, bearing the bloodline of an ancient Qiongqi, coupled with his own notable strength, made him a favorite to win the competition.
Although the Great Zhou royal family had yet to announce the rewards for the winner, everyone could guess they would be extraordinary.
Just as discussions about the Beast Taming Sect reached their peak, the surrounding air suddenly chilled.
Despite the scorching heat of the day, snowflakes began to fall—a phenomenon that defied common sense and left many people stunned.
Quickly, they looked up and saw what was happening.
Indeed, in the sky, a spiritual treasure resembling a snow lotus floated by, carrying dozens of maidens. Each one was graceful, elegant, and breathtakingly beautiful, capturing everyone's imagination.
"It's the Ethereal Palace!"
"The rumors are true—the Ethereal Palace is an all-female sect. Look at the leading maiden; her beauty is truly heart-wrenching."
"Such a pity the Ethereal Palace is so mysterious. No one even knows who their leader is this time, let alone any significant accomplishments."
"Isn't it possible that their so-called mystery is just a cover for having no notable disciples to speak of?"
"That's highly unlikely. The Ethereal Palace is a sect with thousands of years of history. If they dare to participate, they must have some hidden cards!"
Following the arrival of the Beast Taming Sect and the Ethereal Palace, other sects began appearing one after another, as if by prior agreement. Each sect's entrance caused a wave of amazement in Zhen Tian City.
An entire hour passed.
Suddenly, a deafening sound pierced the air.
In the distant sky, a blazing sun rose, radiating divine light in all directions. Even the real sun seemed dim by comparison, forcing many to shield their eyes.
And so, the stage was set for a gathering of the titans.
Some people squinted hard, focusing on the sky.
They saw a faint purple figure standing atop the blazing sun. His tall, slender frame exuded elegance, his face was like polished jade, and his sharp eyebrows slanted upward toward his temples. His flowing robes made him seem like a banished immortal descending to the mortal world.
"Is that... the monstrous genius from Profound Sun Sect?"
"Monstrous genius? I've never heard of him."
"Brother, you're too out of touch! Recently, Profound Sun Sect produced a prodigy. He has cultivated for only two years but has already reached the mid-stage Profound Elixir Realm!"
"Not only that, but two months ago, he personally slew three Otherworldly Demons. Do you know what kind of existence those demons are? They're creatures from other world, notoriously hard to kill or destroy. Yet he killed three of them in succession! His combat power is simply beyond imagination!"
"If Ning Cheng is the most well-rounded contender for the Phoenix Origin Secret Realm, then the most naturally gifted must be Li Xun from Profound Sun Sect!"
"Given time, not even the entire Great Zhou will be able to contain such a true dragon!"
"Gasp—! The way you put it, this Li Xun really is terrifying!"
Aboard Profound Sun Sect's flying spiritual treasure, Li Xun listened to the discussions below. His lips twitched slightly.
Before his transmigration, he often wondered while reading novels how bystanders could know so much about the protagonists.
Now he understood.
It turned out that half a month earlier, Profound Sun Sect had deliberately spread news of his feats throughout Zhen Tian City. According to Elder Xie's words, this was called 'building momentum.'
But in Li Xun's eyes, it was nothing short of advertising.
If he won first place in the Phoenix Origin Secret Realm, Profound Sun Sect would seize the opportunity to promote itself.
Who knows? By the time they opened their doors to new disciples next year, they might attract a bumper crop of talent.
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