Wanhuamen’s cloud ship arrived just one day before the Grand Competition.

After a short rest, the opening day arrived.

As Elder Mo’s direct disciple from Heavenly Travel Peak and Wanhuamen’s most talented new disciple, Yang Lingshu was seated alongside the elders at the highest observation seat of the Debate Platform.

“Junior! Sit here!”

Xiao Yize waved eagerly when he spotted Yang Lingshu trailing behind Mo Xian, having waited for this moment.

“Brat! Can’t even greet your master?”

Mo Xian’s eyes narrowed with irritation at being ignored.

Xiao Yize grinned shamelessly. “Master, we’re past formalities! Save your anger for later – you’ll need it.”

“Eh… What?”

Mo Xian’s eyebrow twitched at the ominous last remark. Before he could react, Xiao Yize yanked Yang Lingshu beside him as a human shield.

“Fine!” Mo Xian muttered. “At least Lingshu’s sensible, unlike this troublemaker.”

Yang Lingshu bowed formally. “Heavenly Travel Peak disciple Yang Lingshu greets Senior Brother.”

“None of that!” Xiao Yize appraised him with approval. “Fourth Level peak cultivation? Nearly reaching Fifth Level? Good! You belong here!”

He thumped his chest. “I’ll watch your back from now on!”

“Pah!” Mo Xian spun around. “You can’t even protect yourself!”

“Old man! Must you embarrass me?”

“WHAT did you call me?!”

Yang Lingshu chuckled at their bickering. Life here would never be dull.

Suddenly, his neck prickled. Turning, he saw Daoyuanshan’s contingent arriving. A blue-robed female cultivator with lightning-flecked golden eyes stared intently at him from behind Qiu Ran.

This must be the purple-gold talent Lv Fangxuan mentioned from Daoyuanshan’s Talent Testing.

She was also his greatest rival on this journey.

“Junior Brother, how confident are you this time?”

While Mo Xian chatted with Daoyuanshan elders, Xiao Yize turned and whispered.

Yang Lingshu pondered before replying softly: “Senior Brother, if I push myself, a draw should be manageable.”

“A draw…” Xiao Yize sucked air through his teeth. “Does that seem sufficient?”

“What? Senior Brother, you don’t mean…”

Yang Lingshu studied Xiao Yize’s unusually grave expression, recalling his earlier words to Master Mo Xian:

“You’ll have plenty of anger to spare later.”

His eyelid twitched in realization – this wasn’t empty boasting!

Well then.

He’d thought himself merely a side dish, but now found himself thrust center stage as the main course.

Yang Lingshu shuddered imagining Mo Xian’s thunderous expression if both he and Xiao Yize lost…

As sect members settled in, invited dynasty representatives filled the observation seats. He Shenglai, Su Lingyun, Wu Zhao and Shen Yue arrived with their elders.

In the first-class seating below, Lv Fangxuan navigated through crowds to the dynasty disciples’ section. His gaze landed on Yang Lingrui – a lone jade tree surrounded by flowering female cultivators.

“Second Young Master truly possesses an Extraordinary Appearance!”

Though familiar with Yang Lingrui’s features from family matters, Lv Fangxuan still marveled anew.

“Fangxuan pays respects to Second Young Master.” He bowed deeply.

With Yang Lingshu escorted to upper seating, companion duty fell to him.

Yang Lingrui’s divine awareness swept over Lv Fangxuan, noting his stable third-level Gathering Qi cultivation. “Your diligence in the sect shows, Fangxuan. Approach.”

As the assembly settled, two Condensing Essence cultivators from Daoyuanshan and Wanhuamen stepped forth to announce rules. The Dual Sect Competition would follow tradition – elite disciples versus new disciples, using challenge/response format.

Daoyuanshan would first send a disciple to either challenge Wanhuamen’s choice or name specific opponents. Victors could continue after healing, until one sect yielded.

All eyes focused on Qiu Ran and Xiao Yize during the elite disciple matches. Observers like He Shenglai sought insights from these top talents’ techniques. Though lacking life-or-death stakes, such displays offered valuable benchmarks.

The elders finished reciting rules.

BOOM!

Daoyuanshan trembled as three light beams erupted from its depths. Gasps rippled through the crowd as a crossing-continental celestial ship materialized above the protective large array – a spiritual treasure only the dynasty should possess in Tiger-Chasing Territory.

A bell-like voice echoed from the heavens:

“Ding Xiu of Lanyue Sect, accompanied by northwest three doors disciples, comes to pay respects!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep