Chapter 1624: Tumultuous Reaction

While the gossip about Fairy Chu was sensational, the Grand Sect Competition was a more important matter.

The disciples from various sects who were able to accompany their elders to Mount Zi were either outstanding individuals selected from within their respective sects or promising talents groomed for future potential, specifically brought along to broaden their horizons.

Regardless of their background, all of them highly valued this competition.

Today was the first day of the event, held at the Golden Summit of Cloud-Resting Peak, Mount Zi's main peak.

It was called the Golden Summit because at sunrise, the sunlight bathed the mountaintop, casting a golden hue over the entire peak and creating the beautiful scenery of "Sunlit Golden Peak."

Unlike typical mountain peaks, the Golden Summit was not a sharp, pointed apex but a vast, flat platform. Besides the Pure Yang Palace, where Wang Wuxie resided, and other important halls of the sect, there was also a sufficiently wide square used as a martial arts training ground.

Ordinarily, the Golden Summit was considered a forbidden area of the Pure Yang Sect. Only the Sect Master, the various peak masters and elders, and a few important successors were permitted to ascend. Other disciples could only visit briefly during significant ceremonies.

The reason for this was that, in addition to the "Sunlit Golden Peak" phenomenon, the Golden Summit had another unique feature: at sunrise, a misty purple energy would emanate around it, greatly aiding cultivation.

Such a precious cultivation resource naturally could not be made freely available.

For instance, even with the arrival of disciples from the other eight sects for this Grand Sect Competition, they had been unable to ascend until now.

However, today, for the decade Grand Dao Sect Competition, the Pure Yang Sect made an exception, opening the Golden Summit as the competition venue.

Naturally, the disciples from various sects were extraordinarily excited. They eagerly activated their respective cultivation techniques, greedily absorbing the surrounding misty purple energy. They felt refreshed and invigorated, their cultivation speed several times faster than usual. Overjoyed, each of them thought about how terrifyingly fast their cultivation would grow if they could remain here for extended training.

The sect masters and elders from various factions also secretly sensed the mysterious purple energy around them, secretly admiring Wang Wuxie's generosity for opening this place to all sects.

Zu'an said to Xie Daoyun, who was beside him, "Sister Ling'er, while it's crowded and chaotic up here, scout around and see if any deadly formations have been set up on this Golden Summit."

Previously, he had accompanied Xie Daoyun exploring various parts of the mountain without finding anything, but they hadn't had the chance to access forbidden areas like the Golden Summit.

Now, with disciples from all sects engrossed in absorbing the purple energy, the scene was somewhat chaotic, which would perfectly cover her movements.

Xie Daoyun hummed in acknowledgment and quietly blended into the crowd.

Zu'an, meanwhile, absorbed some of the surrounding misty purple energy to understand what it was. He was soon surprised because this purple energy was very similar to his Primal Chaos Qi, though much thinner. Even so, its quality was far superior to ordinary heaven and earth vital energy, which explained why everyone looked so intoxicated.

Within the Lihentian Sect's contingent, Guan Chouhai couldn't help but glance at his favored disciple: "Zhiyin, the battle is imminent, yet you're so despondent. It's just a woman, why are you like this!"

At this moment, Zhiyin no longer had his usual spirited demeanor. A fine circle of stubble had grown around his mouth and chin, and he had no mind to groom it, which was completely unimaginable for someone who previously paid great attention to his appearance.

His eyes were somewhat unfocused and dull. As a Grandmaster, Guan Chouhai naturally knew that a person's spirit and vitality best reflected their strength and condition. Currently, Zhiyin was likely not even at 70% of his peak, and he would certainly suffer a great loss in the upcoming competition.

As a seeded contestant of the Lihentian Sect, representing its reputation, how could Guan Chouhai not be anxious?

Zhiyin said weakly, "It's easy for you to say, Master. If you knew that Abbot Yan also has a man, I don't believe you'd still be so calm."

The surrounding disciples were all startled, wondering if Senior Brother Zhiyin had gone mad to dare speak to the Sect Master like that.

However, Guan Chouhai wasn't angered; instead, he laughed heartily, "Fairy Yan is different from ordinary women. How could a woman as distant and aloof as the celestial Milky Way ever fall for a mortal man? If there truly must be a man for her in this world, it must surely be me, Guan Chouhai."

Zhiyin rolled his eyes, utterly speechless. "Master, where does your confidence come from?"

Guan Chouhai patted his shoulder in encouragement, then looked towards Zhao Xiaodie, who seemed distracted on the other side: "Xiaodie, what's wrong with you?"

Zhao Xiaodie was startled and forced a smile. "Nothing's wrong with me?"

"Nothing?" Guan Chouhai scoffed. "For the past few days, I've noticed you've been a bit strange. Compared to your usual self, you've been overly quiet these days. Sometimes you seem to be silently shedding tears, and other times you're just giggling to yourself, as if someone has 'broken' you."

"Master..." Zhao Xiaodie instantly blushed deeply, but involuntarily, the scene of Zu'an fiercely hitting her that day flashed in her mind, and her legs instinctively pressed tightly together.

"Everyone, adjust your mindset. The competition will start soon. Your opponents on the first day shouldn't be too strong, so take this opportunity to get your condition back in order." Guan Chouhai dropped his smile. Besides Zhiyin, Zhao Xiaodie was his second most promising disciple, and given her special status, she was naturally much more important than other disciples.

Yet, these two had coincidentally encountered issues. Anyone unaware of the circumstances might have thought they were in a relationship and something had gone wrong.

"Yes!" Although Guan Chouhai was usually quite tolerant, his imposing aura was terrifying when he got angry. The two of them could only reluctantly brace themselves and assent.

Within the Biluo Palace contingent, Wan Guiyi retracted his gaze and scoffed coldly, "Zhiyin of Lihentian Sect is greatly renowned, yet he looks like this wasted mess. And that Lou Wucheng from White Jade Capital, he also looks half-dead. A swordsman whose spirit and vitality are so depleted – I doubt his Longevity Sword can be that formidable."

Wan Tongtian said gravely, "They are likely emotionally affected by the recent scandal. You must not be careless. This incident might actually be a test for them. If they can't overcome it, then so be it, but if they do, they could very well reach a higher level."

"Just a mere woman, and they're all acting like they're dying over it. How can women be as interesting as cultivation?" Wan Guiyi sneered disdainfully. "As the saying goes, for the first sword of cultivation, one must first slay the beloved. With no woman in one's heart, the sword strikes like a god!"

At this moment, Abbess Huoling's cold laugh came from nearby: "Oh, so, Wan, you teach him such things all day? So that's what you thought back then!"

Abbess Huoling was standing not far away, her face filled with anger, and the expression of Pei Mianman beside her was also rather displeased, as she, too, was a woman.

Wan Guiyi grunted and simply turned his head away, ignoring her.

Naturally, as her son, he had no affection for this legendary rival of his mother.

In contrast, Wan Tongtian wiped cold sweat and hurriedly apologized: "Junior Sister, I truly didn't teach him that way. This child is too extreme. Honestly, I'm worried he'll remain single his whole life and cause our Wan family to have no descendants."

"You should have had no descendants long ago," Abbess Huoling retorted, then pulled her disciple and moved to another spot.

Leaving Wan Tongtian alone, bewildered in the wind.

On the other side, an old monk and a young novice monk were silently observing everything unfolding. The chubby little novice remarked, "The Daoist sects are truly bustling. Every sect is so prosperous in terms of members. Master, do you think it's because they allow marriage and having children?"

The old monk beside him directly tapped his head with a wooden fish. "Are you suggesting that we Buddhists should also permit marriage and having children?"

"That's not what I meant. I was just wondering what Palace Master Wan meant by 'no descendants'," the chubby little novice asked curiously.

"It means not marrying or having children, so there's no one to carry on the family line. Naturally, there are no descendants," the old monk explained.

The chubby little novice exclaimed, "Then wouldn't everyone in our Buddhist sect have no descendants?"

The old monk's breath caught, and after a long pause, he finally exhaled, "Jiese, you truly have great spiritual understanding."

This old and young pair were naturally Grandmaster Jianhuang and the young novice monk Jiese from Wuyou Temple.

"I think so too," the chubby little novice proudly puffed out his chest. "Master, what's your view on women?"

"Jiese, that's not a question you should concern yourself with," the old monk said gravely. "You just need to remember that women are like tigers."

The chubby little novice mumbled, "Tigers eat people, but do women eat people too? Their mouths are so small, what could they eat with?"

His response was a knock from the wooden staff. The old monk said somewhat angrily, "What kinds of nonsense are you thinking about all day long?"

The little novice looked at him with an innocent expression. "Master, I think you're too attached to worldly forms."

The old monk paused, then pressed his palms together, "Amitābha, what a sin, what a sin."

After a period of chaos, Wang Wuxie saw that the time was right and stepped forward. He didn't even need to speak; everyone present felt an inexplicable pressure and involuntarily quieted down.

The sect masters of other factions frowned slightly. Wang Wuxie's cultivation had advanced further. It seemed Mount Zi was indeed a treasure trove.

"The significance and rewards of this Grand Sect Competition have surely been emphasized to you by your respective sects, so I won't waste any more time. I will only stress one point: stop when victory is apparent. Any act that causes another's death will result in immediate disqualification." Wang Wuxie's voice was not loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears.

At this moment, Wan Guiyi suddenly spoke up, asking, "Competitions are meant to be fought with full effort. As the saying goes, 'swords and blades have no eyes.' What if one accidentally injures an opponent?"

Disciples from various sects in the arena were filled with admiration. This fellow actually dared to directly question Wang Wuxie; they certainly didn't have such guts.

The little novice monk Jiese sighed, "Master, this person has such heavy malevolent energy."

Grandmaster Jianhuang didn't respond to him at all, merely closing his eyes and muttering Buddhist scriptures, as if he had just thought of something impure that needed purification.

Wang Wuxie gave Wan Guiyi a deep look before replying, "Regarding that, everyone needn't worry. We have specially invited sect masters and leading elders from each faction to serve as judges. Additionally, we have invited the highly esteemed Grandmaster Jianhuang from Wuyou Temple as a witness, and..."

At this point, his expression became somewhat unnatural: "...and Lord Zu from the imperial court as a special guest. Our collective presence is sufficient to ensure fairness and impartiality in every match."

As soon as these words were uttered, the arena immediately erupted in an uproar.