Vermilion Bird Formation

Vermilion Bird Formation...

Qin Wentian's battle robe became the focal point for everyone in the vicinity. No other manifestations appeared on the platform, signifying that Qin Wentian had passed the test.

The platinum battle robe—there was no one else who had earned it but him.

Regrettably, he had entered the ranking battle at an inopportune time.

"What a shame," many lamented. If he had given it another year or two, Qin Wentian's cultivation level would likely have reached the eighth or ninth level of Yuanfu. By then, his mastery of the Mandates would have progressed another level or boundary, giving him a fighting chance against Chen Wang and Shi Potian for the top spot in the Heavenly Fate Rankings.

However, even though his performance had been outstanding, earning him a platinum battle robe, the gap between him and the other two hadn't diminished at all.

Whether it was in terms of cultivation level, mastery of Mandates, or innate techniques, Qin Wentian was clearly overshadowed by the duo. There was no real competition.

Perhaps he should follow Chen Wang's path, endure three more years, and then rise to prominence.

Qin Wentian descended from the platform. The final warrior's spear strike, imbued with the Mandate of Gold, had even disrupted his recovery. He sat down cross-legged at the side, attempting to realign the flow of qi within his body when suddenly, a medicinal pill was tossed in his direction. Without hesitation, he caught it and swallowed it down, causing many to shoot curious glances at Mo Qingcheng.

The pill was from her. Did she aid Qin Wentian in his recovery because he had achieved the platinum robes? But that couldn't be the case, could it? Mo Qingcheng had no shortage of talented suitors, including the illustrious Hua Taixu, who she had rejected. Could Qin Wentian, a mere contender, truly replace someone like Hua Taixu in her heart? It must have been out of pure compassion for his injuries.

Yet Qin Wentian didn't show any signs of gratitude. After ingesting the pill, he continued his recovery without uttering a word of thanks.

As for the other contenders, they continued their tests at their own paces. Most of them wore yellow robes, and the only one among them who drew attention was an unfamiliar face. In the end, this stranger received a final assessment of violet-gold battle robes.

The color of a person's battle robes gave a clear indication of their combat prowess. However, there was one individual who stood out despite not having a place on the Heavenly Fate Rankings. This enigmatic man went by the name Si Qiong, and he was a complete mystery, with no one knowing his background or history.

Following him, several others also chose this moment to reveal their hidden strength, earning the respect and attention of their peers.

In the end, only one person obtained the coveted platinum battle robes, and that was Qin Wentian.

Three contenders received violet-gold battle robes: Chen Wang, Shi Potian, and Si Qiong. These three had shown incredible prowess, and their names were already known in the world of cultivation.

Additionally, five contenders earned violet battle robes: Yan Cheng, Leng Hong, Qin Zheng, Yao Jun, and Hua Shaoqing. While Yan Cheng and Yao Jun's achievements were expected, Leng Hong, Qin Zheng, and Hua Shaoqing surprised everyone with their remarkable performance.

Leng Hong was as mysterious as Si Qiong, with whispers suggesting that he might be a wandering martial artist from Grand Xia. Little was known about his origins.

Qin Zheng was a relatively unknown figure in Grand Xia, with his name only recognized by those who had ventured into the Unmatched Realm of the Azure Continent.

Hua Shaoqing, on the other hand, hailed from the prestigious Hua Clan. Many had assumed that Hua Feng would be the next strongest member of the clan after Hua Taixu, but Hua Shaoqing's exceptional performance proved them wrong. It seemed the Hua Clan had been harboring this hidden talent, indicating their ambitions to secure another victory in this ranking battle.

The combat prowess of Si Qiong, Leng Hong, Qin Zheng, and Hua Shaoqing had made them the dark horses of this ranking battle, leaving the crowd in awe of their abilities and potential.

The test of combat prowess had taken a heavy toll, with less than a thousand contenders remaining. Those who made it this far were no slouches, with even the lowest-ranked yellow battle robe holders possessing at least one Mandate at the Perfection Boundary. Many of them had reached the ninth level of Yuanfu, showcasing their true abilities in this gathering of Grand Xia's elite heroes in Ginkou.

The spectators along the winding pathways were buzzing with discussions, aware that the upcoming test would be even more grueling. This test would determine the 360 contenders worthy of a spot on the Heavenly Fate Rankings, marking a crucial turning point in their journey to plunder Grand Xia's ancient luck.

Old Man Tianji's gaze swept over the crowd before settling on Qin Wentian, and he announced, "As the one with the platinum battle robes, you have earned the right to enter the ancient gate first. Behind that gate lies the ancient luck of Grand Xia. Your goal is to acquire it. Only when 360 contenders obtain this ancient luck will this test conclude."

Qin Wentian's eyes were fixed on the ancient gate in front of him as he stood up, preparing to make his move. However, a sudden voice stopped him in his tracks. It was Chen Wang.

"Wait," Chen Wang's voice was heavy, causing Qin Wentian to turn back and face him. Chen Wang continued, not even bothering to look at Qin Wentian directly, "You are not suitable to be the first to enter the ancient gate."

Confusion flickered in Qin Wentian's eyes. "What do you mean?"

Chen Wang continued to avoid Qin Wentian's gaze, instead directing his question to Old Man Tianji. "Senior, if I understand correctly, the priority of entry into the ancient gate is determined by the color of one's battle robes. However, it should be possible for someone to voluntarily give up that priority, correct?"

Old Man Tianji took a moment to respond. "Yes, that's correct, as long as it's done willingly."

Members of the Great Solar Chen Clan wore smiles of anticipation. Chen Wang wanted the top spot. He wanted to be the very first to step beyond the ancient gate, the one to claim the ancient luck.

The spectators in the crowd watched with keen interest, wondering what decision Qin Wentian would make. It was no secret that Chen Wang aimed for the number one position, and he wanted to claim the lion's share of the ancient luck. In his eyes, Qin Wentian, despite his platinum battle robes, wasn't deserving due to his lower cultivation level.

Although the order of entry might not make a significant difference, Chen Wang wasn't willing to leave anything to chance. He was determined to be the first to enter because being number one held a unique significance.

Chen Wang finally turned his gaze to Qin Wentian and made a demand. "You will give up the priority, won't you?"

Qin Wentian met Chen Wang's gaze with silence for a moment. Then, he spoke calmly. "Your robe is violet-gold."

Chen Wang's brows furrowed in confusion. Did Qin Wentian mean what he thought he meant?

Qin Wentian continued, "While mine is platinum." Without waiting for Chen Wang's reaction, he turned and confidently proceeded towards the ancient gate, disregarding Chen Wang's threats and choosing to be the first to enter.

Chen Wang seethed with anger. What use was being second? It held no meaning to him.

Old Man Tianji turned his attention to the trio and declared, "Violet-gold robes, next." Chen Wang trembled with frustration. What was the point of entering second? It felt like a meaningless gesture.

Qin Wentian pushed open the ancient gate and stepped inside, immediately finding himself standing on an ancient mountain. It seemed like this place was some sort of spatial formation, as he sensed the fluctuations of spatial laws when he entered the gate.

Suddenly, a powerful and oppressive aura bore down upon Qin Wentian, causing his body to stiffen. He hadn't had a chance to survey his surroundings yet. He looked up at the sky, and what he saw left him astounded.

High above in the sky, a dazzling veil of light enveloped the entire celestial dome. Within this radiant shroud, torrents of fiery qi flowed and swirled, sketching out the colossal form of a majestic demonic beast. It eclipsed the sun, hovering imperiously in the heavens and casting a domineering gaze upon Qin Wentian.

The tips of its fiery golden wings exuded a dark scarlet luminescence, lending an eerie allure to its majestic appearance.

This demonic beast boasted a total of nine tails, and its sheer enormity made the formation below it appear like a mere extension of its very soul.

Its eyes possessed an uncanny sharpness that could pierce through one's very being. A single glance from it felt like a barrage of razor-sharp blades boring into Qin Wentian's consciousness, rendering him breathless under its overwhelming pressure.

This was none other than the divine beast, the Vermilion Bird, the sacred totem of Ancient Grand Xia.

In the distant past, the people of Grand Xia revered the Vermilion Bird as a divine spirit and held it as their sacred totem. But over the millennia, Grand Xia had transformed, distancing itself from the Grand Xia of antiquity. Consequently, the fervor for the Vermilion Bird had waned to the point where most contemporary residents of Grand Xia were oblivious to its significance.

The Vermilion Bird in the sky seemed so lifelike, as if it were a living entity. At that moment, its intense gaze bore down upon Qin Wentian.

"The first entrant is but a seventh-level Yuanfu cultivator," a cold, imposing voice reverberated within Qin Wentian's mind, pressing down on him like a mountain.

"I shall grant you the ancient luck of Purgatory," the Vermilion Bird declared, its beak opening to emit a beam of light that pierced directly into Qin Wentian. Moments later, an ethereal silhouette of a Purgatory Vermilion Bird manifested behind his back.