Chapter 355: Under Great Rewards

Everyone—from the crowds on the ground to the ancestors of various sects and the elders of the Sword-Wielding Court—was closely watching this competition. The Sword-Wielding Court, in particular, had several elders seated, gazing intently downwards. They wanted to know who would claim the top spot in this sudden and intense race for ranking.

While this competition wasn't a direct qualifier for the trials, and a high ranking didn't necessarily equate to combat strength, success on the Primordial Spirit Severing Pillar offered insights. It helped them assess whose divine soul was more stable and whose resolve was stronger among the participants. The better one's performance, the more highly they would be regarded if they became a Sword-Wielder. Even those who performed exceptionally well but ultimately failed the final trial might still be granted an exceptional opportunity. Both observers and participants were well aware of this.

For the human disciples from various sects, the Primordial Spirit Severing Pillar was, in essence, a platform for individual display. However, very few managed to surpass a thousand zhang in height; most remained below that mark. The disparities were immediately obvious, much like the varying heights reached by different individuals on the Primordial Spirit Severing Pillar. Reaching between five hundred and a thousand zhang was considered ordinary, or simply passing. The Sword-Wielding Court paid particular attention to the exceptional talents who managed to exceed a thousand zhang. They also hoped to see if anyone this time could surpass two thousand zhang, or even break the historical record of two thousand seven hundred zhang.

“How interesting. This Xu Qing is quite remarkable. His current prominence and the attention he garners make him an excellent benchmark, inspiring others to try and surpass him.”

“Qing Qiu from the Litou Sect should be able to reach two thousand zhang this time; that girl is very promising. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, she should pass the Sword-Wielder trials. I've noticed her apparent hostility towards Xu Qing, and if that transforms into competition, it would be excellent.”

“And the young man from that minor clan—his bloodline is intriguing, showing signs of atavism. If Xu Qing can spur him on, he should also be able to exceed two thousand zhang.”

Inside the Sword-Wielding Court, the elders spoke with amused smiles.

“There's also a peculiar individual mixed in, insisting on disguising himself as a shifty-eyed middle-aged man. His body is riddled with strange anomalies. When I first saw him, I mistook him for an alien and nearly struck him down.”

“The Seven Blood Eyes sect is quite interesting this time, producing two promising talents. Xu Qing seems to have his own method for shattering vengeful spirits, and he’s been gaining significant prominence since his battle with Li Ziliang. We’ve also praised him, which has stirred up resentment among others. That’s why, when he makes a move, others follow suit, leading to this fiercely competitive atmosphere. If we utilize this young man well, the competition will only intensify.”

“And the Daoist Son from the Taisi Immortal Sect is also someone we should watch with anticipation.”

Under their watchful gaze, the competition on the Primordial Spirit Severing Pillar was unfolding fiercely. Over a dozen figures displayed incredible speed, rushing forward.

Xu Qing was not at the forefront. His goal wasn't merely a high ranking, but rather the benefits he could gain. Therefore, with every step, he absorbed all the lingering resentment into his sea of consciousness. Conversely, others leaped forward rapidly, trying to minimize the resentment they absorbed. Consequently, Xu Qing’s ranking naturally fell as he was successively overtaken by various figures.

The first to overtake him was Qing Qiu, the Red Maiden. Her eyes, visible beneath her mask, exuded cold indifference. Her speed was astonishing; she often covered over ten zhang in a single leap, seemingly unaffected by the pervasive resentment.

Next came the young man from a minor sect. He was not tall and somewhat thin, but his eyes were remarkably bright and piercing. What particularly stood out was the nose ring he wore. The nose ring emitted a reddish glow, lending him an unusual aura.

As the young man swiftly overtook Xu Qing, the stoic woman from the Taisi Immortal Sect, who had also previously surpassed a thousand zhang, calmly leaped. Her white Taoist robe billowed with her movements, resembling a white crane and exuding a sacred beauty. She, too, surpassed Xu Qing. Before this, the woman seemed to have no particular renown within the Taisi Immortal Sect, and outsiders had never heard of her. Yet now, among all Taisi Immortal Sect disciples present—apart from the Daoist Son who had yet to arrive—she was the highest climber. Aside from her, no other Taisi Immortal Sect cultivator managed to climb a thousand zhang; most reached heights of eight or nine hundred zhang. Originally, Li Ziliang could have ultimately surpassed a thousand zhang, but he met an untimely end. Nevertheless, as the foremost power in Yinghuang Province outside of the Sword-Wielding Court, the Taisi Immortal Sect naturally possessed deep foundations. Among all major forces, it had the highest number of disciples reaching eight or nine hundred zhang. The Litou Sect came next, with the Eight Sect Alliance being the weakest.

Watching figure after figure surpass him, Xu Qing remained unperturbed, his expression unchanged. He continued steadily forward, step by step. With each step, he completely absorbed the onslaught of resentment, making it easier for vengeful spirits to form within his sea of consciousness. As the Ghost Emperor Mountain suppressed and shattered them, these vengeful spirits crumbled, and the Ghost Emperor Mountain itself, along with its appearance, became increasingly corporeal. Xu Qing could feel that his Ghost Emperor Mountain, after absorbing the Essence Dao Blood and undergoing this tempering, was vastly different from its initial state. The club shadows gradually forming on its hands, in particular, filled Xu Qing with great anticipation.

Thus, he slowed his pace further, aiming to absorb even more resentment. Before long, Sima Ru’s figure appeared behind him, not even glancing his way as she instantly overtook him. Several other minor sect cultivators who had previously reached a thousand zhang behaved similarly, including the pockmarked middle-aged man who had quietly achieved surprising prominence. As he overtook Xu Qing, he cast a quick, somewhat smug glance. As the most recent top climber, he garnered no less attention than Xu Qing.

Xu Qing’s gaze swept over the man, and after receiving an affirmative reply from his shadow via divine sense, he took a long, thoughtful look at the middle-aged man’s retreating back. As Xu Qing was continuously surpassed by multiple individuals, murmurs began to spread among the spectators below. Yet, Xu Qing's expression remained unchanged; he continued his steady advance.

After shattering nineteen vengeful souls within his sea of consciousness, Xu Qing finally reached the thousand-zhang mark once more. Standing there, he felt completely satisfied as he sensed the rewarding aura emanating from the Primordial Spirit Severing Pillar. “The gains this time are greater than before,” he thought.

However, the Sword-Wielding elders observing the competition from above in the Sword-Wielding Court were somewhat dissatisfied.

“Xu Qing is moving too slowly and seems unconcerned by all the people surpassing him. This won’t do!”

“Exactly. Given his current reputation, if he doesn't actively engage, the competitive spirit among the others will significantly diminish. They’re all climbing too slowly now.”

“Only fierce competition can truly unleash their potential. It seems we need to offer substantial rewards. After all, the record of two thousand seven hundred zhang years ago emerged precisely this way, though it's a shame it never reached three thousand zhang.”

“The trials are about to begin, and we indeed need more individuals with resilient wills and powerful souls. Given this, we shouldn't always adhere strictly to conventions; appropriate rewards can be granted!”

“Furthermore, I eagerly await whether any trial participants will reach three thousand zhang this time.”

“Ah, three thousand zhang. According to our research, the runes at that height are formed from the only divine domain cultivator the Ghost Emperor ever slew in his lifetime.”

Thus, just as Xu Qing was preparing to continue his steady ascent, a majestic voice boomed from the Sword-Wielding Court, high above the Primordial Spirit Severing Pillar. “For a limited period of three hours, the first individual who meets the Sword-Wielder trial conditions and reaches the highest point on the Primordial Spirit Severing Pillar will be rewarded with a single opportunity to comprehend a human Emperor-tier cultivation method inheritance!”

The moment these words were uttered, the entire Primordial Spirit Severing City erupted in a tremendous uproar, with countless gasps and exclamations echoing in every direction.

“A human Emperor-tier cultivation method!”

“Such a reward is typically granted only when a Sword-Wielder has achieved significant merit. An Emperor-tier cultivation method—and a human one at that!”

“Human Emperor-tier cultivation methods are typically held by the orthodox human lineages. The smaller and larger sects across the seven counties and one region mostly possess Emperor-tier methods from other races or those not restricted by race. For us humans, cultivating a human Emperor-tier method yields the greatest power and even offers a chance to awaken latent bloodline talents!”

“This is a substantial reward designed to ignite fierce competition among everyone!”

Amidst the collective uproar, every individual on the Primordial Spirit Severing Pillar felt a profound jolt. Qing Qiu's eyes gleamed with an unusual light, the pockmarked middle-aged man raised an eyebrow, and the young man from the minor sect began to breathe rapidly. Most others reacted similarly.

It wasn't just them whose spirits were stirred; within the Taisi Immortal Sect, the Daoist Son Zhang Siyun, who had been meditating with closed eyes, slowly opened his phoenix-like eyes and gazed intently at the Primordial Spirit Severing Pillar.

Xu Qing, too, sharply raised his head. A human Emperor-tier cultivation method—it stirred his heart!

“If there’s a three-hour time limit, I can’t proceed slowly like before. I can shatter vengeful souls later. For now, I must vie for that first place!”

With a firm decision made, Xu Qing wasted no time. His body surged with power, unleashing his full speed. He ascended the Primordial Spirit Severing Pillar, rocketing upwards with a whistling sound. It wasn't just him; everyone else likewise unleashed their full speed. Immediately, the battle for rankings on the Primordial Spirit Severing Pillar intensified to its peak. At that moment, seven individuals were above Xu Qing.

Qing Qiu, the Red Maiden, was first; the young man from the minor sect was second; and the pockmarked middle-aged man, who had emerged as a dark horse, was third. The stoic female cultivator from the Taisi Immortal Sect was fourth, Sima Ru was fifth, and sixth was a young man from the Litou Sect, cloaked entirely in a black robe and exuding an icy chill. The seventh individual was also a minor sect cultivator, struggling greatly as he climbed. At a height of over one thousand three hundred zhang, he appeared to have reached his limit.

Despite his reluctance, it was futile. Within mere moments, Xu Qing surged past him from behind, his speed so incredible that he instantly reached the same height. With a single leap, Xu Qing suddenly overtook him, claiming the seventh position!

He wasn't finished. Xu Qing’s objective was clear, and he sprinted relentlessly. The onslaught of resentment transformed into piercing wails in his soul and formed ghostly images in his sea of consciousness, yet none of it fazed him. He ignored the wails, and the vengeful spirit manifestations were suppressed and shattered by him. He only accelerated, becoming faster and faster as he ascended.

This sudden surge not only drew the attention of the cultivators below but also startled those ahead of him. Each of them gritted their teeth and accelerated, unleashing their full power. This sight brought satisfied smiles to the faces of the Sword-Wielding elders in the Sky Sword-Wielding Court.

“Now that’s more like it.”

“At a young age, one should possess such drive! Let’s see who emerges as the victor this time!”