Hunting Competition

In the eastern part of the Tianwu Continent, there are three major empires: the Nangong Empire, the Yufeng Empire, and the Youming Empire.

Within these three major empires are four major powers, namely the Nangong Family, the Yufeng Pavilion, the Youming Hall, and the Zangyao Manor.

The four major powers have been in a form of alliance for hundreds of years, and every three years they would hold a "Hunting Contest." This was meant to promote friendly relations, but it was in fact a hidden competition to test each other's strength.

The Hunting Contest is actually a beast hunting event. Each power can send five disciples to participate, but the participating disciples must have a cultivation at the Martial Venerable level.

The reason for this rule is that within the territories of the three major empires, the levels of beasts are relatively low. The slightly stronger ones are only at the Venerable level.

While Divine level beasts also exist, they are extremely rare. So, to make the hunt more interesting, the selection of disciples at the Martial Venerable level is the most suitable.

The location of this Hunting Contest is in a large mountain range known as "Beast Mountain Range" between the territories of the three empires.

As its name suggests, the Beast Mountain Range has a large number of beasts, which are also very fierce. Most of the beasts are at the Venerable level, making it the best location for the Hunting Contest.

At this moment, in the sky above the Yufeng Empire flying towards the Beast Mountain Range, a strange, giant beast was flying at high speed.

This is a Venerable level beast, very large in size, and it flies extremely fast. Since its appearance is close to that of an "eagle," it is known as the "Swift Eagle Beast."

Swift Eagle Beasts are relatively gentle, so they can be used as transportation after training.

However, due to their scarcity, they are only owned by the four major powers within these three empires.

On the back of this Swift Eagle Beast sat the Yufeng Pavilion group, who were going to participate in the Hunting Contest.

For this Hunting Contest, Yufeng Pavilion sent five disciples.

They included:

• Hu Bin, the disciple of the Second Elder of the Yufeng Pavilion's Inner Chamber, a Mid-level Martial Venerable and ranked No. 2 on the Elite List.

• Zhao Yue, a beautiful woman, a Mid-level Martial Venerable and ranked No. 3 on the Elite List.

• Gao Hao, a chubby guy, a Mid-level Martial Venerable and ranked No. 4 on the Elite List.

• Ma Qiang, a skinny guy, a Low-level Martial Venerable and ranked No. 5 on the Elite List.

• Xing Jue, ranked No. 6, replacing Gao Le after defeating Gao Le.

And their leader, Luo Tengyun, the Grand Elder of the Yufeng Pavilion's Inner Chamber.

At this time, Grand Elder was sitting at the front of the Swift Eagle Beast, while Xing Jue sat beside the Grand Elder, engaged in a light-hearted conversation.

"Grand Elder, this Hunting Contest is held every three years. Who was the champion last time?" Xing Jue asked with curiosity.

"This Hunting Contest has a history of hundreds of years. By this time, it has been held no fewer than a hundred times. The results have been similar, however," said the Grand Elder.

"The Nangong Family has always been first, then our Yufeng Pavilion has always been second. Third and fourth have always rotated between the Youming Hall and the Zangyao Manor." The Grand Elder said with a smile.

"So in all these years, Yufeng Pavilion has never won first place?" Xing Jue asked again.

"Yes, that's right. The Nangong Family's strength is unfathomable. Even their younger generation has always been ahead of our Yufeng Pavilion." The Grand Elder stated with some resignation in his voice.

"Oh?" After hearing the Grand Elder's words, Xing Jue felt a bit conflicted. He had seen the disciples of the Nangong Family at the Zangyao Manor, and they weren't particularly strong.

"Hehe, Xing Jue, don't underestimate the Nangong Family. Although your talent is excellent, the Nangong Family has never lacked for talented and excellent disciples."

"Especially 20 years ago, a disciple appeared in the Nangong Family that can be called a prodigy. His growth rate was truly frightening."

"Even in our entire Yufeng Pavilion, his achievements are unmatched." Seeing Xing Jue's slightly skeptical look, the Grand Elder reminded him again.

"A prodigious disciple?" Hearing this, Xing Jue also became more serious towards the Nangong Family.

A prodigy that appeared in the Nangong Family 20 years ago, doesn't that mean that this disciple grew to the point that he was unrivaled in the Yufeng Pavilion within 20 years? Xing Jue was in awe of their cultivation talent.

"Yes, however, speaking of which, your girlfriend, Li Xiaohan, can keep up with him." The Grand Elder then looked at Xing Jue and said with a smile.

"Uhm... hehe." Hearing the Grand Elder's words, Xing Jue just smiled sheepishly. Xiaohan's cultivation talent was indeed terrifying.

"Hmph, this kid, his flattering skills are not bad. " Just as Xing Jue and the Grand Elder were chatting happily, Hu Bin, who was sitting behind them, mumbled quietly. His resentful eyes stared at Xing Jue the whole time.

"You're jealous, aren't you?" Zhao Yue, ranked No. 3 on the Elite List, heard his remarks and retorted sarcastically.

"What am I jealous about? It's a joke!" Hu Bin replied unhappily.

"Jealous that his talent is better than yours," Zhao Yue replied straightforwardly, hitting the nail on the head.

"Ugh, talent? I could take him out in three moves." Hu Bin said with extreme displeasure after hearing Zhao Yue's words.

"Hehe." However, Zhao Yue just smiled slightly and said nothing. Her meaning was clear: just brag.

"You…" Seeing Zhao Yue's disbelieving look, Hu Bin was even more irritated. He gritted his teeth and said nothing more.

After ten days of travel, a magnificent mountain range finally appeared before them.

Looking at the vast mountain range in front of them, Xing Jue couldn't help but exclaim, "This Beast Mountain Range is several times larger than the Ancient Mountain Range of the Youming Empire."

After the Swift Eagle Beast had flown for a few hours in the Beast Mountain Range, a small city appeared in their sight. This was their destination.

Although the city wasn't large, it was very exquisite. There was a large square in the middle of the city, with a large hall in the middle of the square. There were smaller pavilions surrounding the square.

The pavilions were divided into four areas, which were obviously the locations for the four major powers. The outer periphery of the city was built of giant walls made of special rocks. The walls are very tall. The reason for building it this way is to prevent beasts from the mountain range from invading.

The Swift Eagle Beast circled over the city a few times and then slowly landed on the square in the center.

At this moment, Xing Jue and the others discovered that there was already a Swift Eagle Beast next to the square, sleeping soundly in the corner. Apparently, someone had arrived before them.

"Hahaha, isn't that Elder Luo of the Yufeng Pavilion? I didn't expect you would be here personally this time," a booming laugh came from the hall in the middle of the square as soon as Xing Jue and the others dismounted the Swift Eagle Beast.

Looking over, they saw a black-haired elder, dressed in a black robe, walking towards them with a smile. However, for some reason, Xing Jue always felt that his smile was too forced.

Behind the elder were five young men around 20 years old, all dressed in the same black robes and with a "Master" character inscribed on their chests.

Clearly, these five disciples were from the Youming Hall's Main Hall, and all five were at the Mid-level Martial Venerable level. In terms of surface strength, they seemed more powerful than Yufeng Pavilion's lineup.

"It's Elder Liang of the Youming Hall," Grand Elder said with a smile, nodding in greeting.

"They actually sent out Main Hall disciples. How shameless," Zhao Yue mumbled after seeing the five disciples.

Hu Bin, Gao Hao, and Ma Qiang also nodded in agreement, only Xing Jue looked indifferent.

Mid-level Martial Venerables posed no threat to Xing Jue.

But on the other hand, it also reflected the difference in strength between Yufeng Pavilion and Youming Hall. There were apparently no disciples at the Martial Venerable level in Youming Hall's Inner Chamber, so they had to send out disciples from the Main Hall.

However, the only thing that made Xing Jue uncomfortable was that the five disciples all had a sneer on their faces, as if they looked down on Xing Jue and the others.

So, Xing Jue secretly made a decision to give those five disciples from Youming Hall a taste of their own medicine when he had the chance.

"Awoo…"

Just then, a bird call suddenly came from the sky. Looking up, they saw another Swift Eagle Beast circling in the air. After circling for a while, it also slowly landed.

Six people got off the Swift Eagle Beast when it landed.

Besides the leading elder, the other six were all wearing white robes with the image of pills and gourds embroidered on them. Seeing this image, everyone knew that the Zangyao Manor had arrived.

Xing Jue recognized the leading elder from the Zangyao Manor. He was the one who gave Xing Jue the "Soul Gathering Pill" when he participated in the New Talent Grand Competition.

However, there was another person who also caught Xing Jue's attention.

It was a female disciple who was following behind the elder.

This female disciple had flowing black hair and a fair face that gave off an otherworldly aura. Even the humble white robe on her seemed to be filled with elegance.

Although they were still far away, the fragrance on her came wafting over to them. It was the fragrance exclusive to high-grade medicinal pills.

But what attracted Xing Jue was not her beautiful face, but her high-level Martial Venerable strength.

If Mid-level Martial Venerables weren't a threat to Xing Jue, then this High-level Martial Venerable was another matter.

However, at this moment, a "Three-Star" badge on her chest caught Xing Jue's eye.

"Three-Star Alchemist?" Xing Jue exclaimed in shock as he gazed at the badge.

Xing Jue wasn't unfamiliar with the badge. It represented the status of an Alchemist, and this Three-Star Alchemist was at the top level of alchemy in the eastern part of the Tianwu Continent.

To reach the level of a Three-Star Alchemist at such a young age and also have the cultivation of a High-level Martial Venerable. This woman is not simple.

But apart from this female disciple, the other four male disciples from the Zangyao Manor seemed weaker. They were all at the Low-level Martial Venerable level.

But on the whole, they were still much stronger than Yufeng Pavilion. After all, a High-level Martial Venerable was not something three Mid-level Martial Venerables could compare to.

Unlike Xing Jue, Hu Bin and the others frowned when they saw the female disciple from the Zangyao Manor.