Chapter 133: 惊闻

First, participants must have reached the seventh level of foundational Five Elements cultivation, which is the minimum requirement for taking the Foundation Establishment Pill. Second, applicants must be under forty years old. Those who exceed this age shouldn't try to sneak in, as the registration officials will use bone-gazing techniques to verify each applicant's true age.

As long as these two conditions are met, anyone can sign up; there are no other restrictions! However, this also makes the arena competition even more brutal!

Do you think it's normal for Tai Nan Valley to have so many people right now? Most of them are actually here for the Immortal Ascension Assembly. You should know that our Tai Nan Gathering was originally just a trade fair for young cultivators from Lan Prefecture. In previous years, when it was held, there were only a few hundred people in total! But now, look, there are at least over a thousand people gathered in this valley, and in the last few days, people from even more distant places will arrive, which will be the peak of the Tai Nan Gathering's trade.

The reason these people come to our Tai Nan Valley first to attend the Tai Nan Gathering is partly to acquire needed items, but also to take this opportunity to observe their potential opponents in the Immortal Ascension Assembly, to know themselves and their adversaries!

Hu Pinggu said these words with a wry smile.

Wu Jiuzhi's expression changed dramatically upon hearing this. He said in alarm, "According to Madam Hu, those masters I've seen in the valley whose cultivation has reached the tenth level are also here for the Immortal Ascension Assembly? What's the point of competing then? Isn't it suicide for cultivators of lower levels to go up against them?"

"That's not necessarily true. Who says a higher-level cultivator will definitely defeat a lower-level one? If someone with weaker magic power uses powerful talismans or carries formidable artifacts, they can still beat a higher-level cultivator until they're begging for mercy." Hei Jin, who had been silent since entering the room, suddenly blurted this out, making everyone in the room turn their heads.

"Exactly, Brother Hei Jin makes a very valid point. For cultivators like us, the depth of one's magic power isn't the most crucial factor in a fight. What truly matters is the power of the spells one has mastered and their flexible application, as well as the potency of any artifacts one can utilize," Daoist Qing Wen said, expressing strong agreement.

"Brother Hei Jin and Daoist Qing Wen are absolutely right. Otherwise, there would be no need for the Immortal Ascension Assembly; all participants would just need to stand there and compare who has deeper magic power," Hu Pinggu chuckled.

Hearing Hei Jin and the others' words, Wu Jiuzhi didn't cheer up. Instead, he kept mumbling dejectedly.

"Potent artifacts... powerful talismans..."

This time, Hu Pinggu ignored Wu Jiuzhi and continued.

"Because there are so many participants in the arena competition, the Immortal Ascension Assembly will simultaneously set up seven arenas, each representing one of the seven great immortal sects of Yue Kingdom. Whoever wishes to become a disciple of a particular sect can enter that arena for the competition. The arena selection uses a two-person elimination system: two people compete, the winner advances to the next round, and the loser is immediately eliminated. Then, two new people compete again. This continues until an announcement is made that no one else wishes to participate in that arena's competition. Then, the next round of competitions between the winners begins. This cycle repeats until the last ten remaining victors are the new inner disciples of that immortal sect. They can obtain the qualification to take the Foundation Establishment Pill without participating in the equally fierce internal competition. It's truly a single step to heaven! That's essentially the process for the Immortal Ascension Assembly's arena competition. But don't let my simple explanation deceive you; the actual brutal scene on those stages is indescribable!"

As Hu Pinggu spoke, she sighed with emotion.

"I remember that in the last arena battle, over a dozen tenth-level cultivators died, and even a pair of eleventh-level grandmasters clashed, resulting in a mutual destruction! As for ninth- and eighth-level cultivators, even more died on the stages; I heard no less than a hundred. After all, those who make it to the final rounds won't easily give up their path to becoming a dragon, so the casualties are even more severe!"

Hu Pinggu's face was filled with lamentation as she spoke.

"Those who've cultivated their foundational techniques to the eleventh level still need to compete on stage? I've heard that immortal sects automatically recruit such exceptionally talented individuals. Why would those two have to fight so desperately on stage?"

A female voice suddenly spoke up; it was the usually taciturn young woman, Cultivator Honglian, who had finally opened her mouth.

Hu Pinggu smiled upon hearing this.

"Sister Honglian, I had the same question years ago and puzzled over it for a long time. It wasn't until I met an old senior loose cultivator who gave me some pointers that I finally understood!"

"Brother Wu and Brother Han, I'm sure you both have the same question!"

"Not only do they not understand, but even my brother and I are puzzled. Why would an eleventh-level prodigy, with a clear path ahead, choose to cross a narrow log bridge where a single misstep could lead to death?" Heimu also frowned, his face full of bewilderment.

"Daoist Qing Wen, you seem so composed; I'm sure you've long had an answer for this. Perhaps you could explain it to them!" Hu Pinggu chuckled a few times, lightly tossing the question to the Daoist.

Daoist Qing Wen was somewhat surprised but then silently acknowledged it. After a moment of contemplation, he began to speak:

"Actually, both of them came from cultivation families. Their eleventh-level cultivation was likely achieved by forcing their way up with many pills." He shook his head, seemingly disapproving of their methods.

"Isn't it normal to use pills to advance one's cultivation? They could still join an immortal sect!" Wu Jiuzhi's eyes widened, somewhat confused.

"Brother Wu, you've forgotten something. While someone who can reach the eleventh level of cultivation before forty might be considered a prodigy to us, in the eyes of those great sects that have existed for countless years, such individuals only possess ordinary aptitude, barely meeting their basic entry requirements as probationary disciples. Otherwise, they would have been accepted as formal disciples by a major immortal sect in their childhood. Their families, realizing that such individuals would have little future even if they barely entered an immortal sect and no hope of winning the Foundation Establishment Pill qualification among more talented disciples, decided to keep them and provide specialized training instead. They lay low for decades, just to make a spectacular debut at this Immortal Ascension Assembly and directly secure the Foundation Establishment Pill qualification, which could be considered an alternative shortcut. It's just that their families never expected two people with the same plan to coincidentally run into each other and end up destroying each other. Otherwise, their wishes would surely have come true!"

Daoist Qing Wen sighed continuously as he spoke, while Wu Jiuzhi and the others listened, wide-eyed.

"No wonder the recent Immortal Ascension Assemblies have become increasingly fierce," Heimu murmured to himself. "Grandmasters of the tenth and eleventh levels, whom we'd never even heard of before, are appearing one after another."

The young woman and Wu Jiuzhi remained silent, clearly taken aback by this information.

"Think about it," Hu Pinggu said, her expression cold and tinged with self-mockery. "On one side, there are grandmasters meticulously trained and fully equipped by cultivation families. On the other side, there are loose cultivators like us, lacking money and resources. How many of us loose cultivators do you think can successfully win a spot?"

"So, by that logic, the earlier claims that immortal sects happily found ideal disciples through the Immortal Ascension Assembly were false? Were they just trying to save face and pretend to be strong?" Han Li rubbed his nose, appearing thoughtful.

"Brother Han is right. Where in the world is there truly a perfect situation that benefits all three parties? Being able to achieve two out of three is already good enough!" Hu Pinggu glanced sideways at Heimu, making his face redden slightly.

"Are we loose cultivators truly inferior to disciples from cultivation families? Even those whom the immortal sects deem 'leftovers' are so much stronger than ordinary loose cultivators like us?" Cultivator Honglian asked, unconvinced.

"While I hate to admit it, the probability of a master emerging among us loose cultivators is indeed far lower than among them. Furthermore, as individuals, we simply cannot compare to an entire clan in terms of manpower and resources. In terms of external conditions, we are far inferior!" Daoist Qing Wen's voice held a touch of bitterness.

"I've also heard friends say that even if some of us loose cultivators are lucky enough to become immortal sect disciples, very few successfully establish their foundation after taking the Foundation Establishment Pill," Heimu added dejectedly.

"Alright, everyone, don't be disheartened! We are all still young. If it doesn't work out this time, there's always the next time ten years from now! Perhaps the status of an immortal sect disciple is waiting for us in the future! For now, let's discuss traveling together after the gathering!"

After cheering up those in the room, Daoist Qing Wen changed the subject.

"There's nothing much to say. I'll just go with everyone then. After hearing about so many formidable individuals in the cultivation world, I'm honestly a bit afraid to travel alone!" Wu Jiuzhi remained somewhat dispirited.

Daoist Qing Wen shook his head helplessly and then looked at Cultivator Honglian.