Chapter 2402: Centennial Little Rival, Refining Ceremony

Qinglian Island. A ten-thousand-acre plaza was teeming with tens of thousands of clan members, their faces alight with excitement.

At the center of the plaza stood a colossal red tower, over a thousand zhang tall, shimmering with spiritual light and glowing runes. The words "Lihuo Demon Refining" were inscribed on its surface. Today marked the once-in-a-century minor competition, open to all clan members below the Soul Transformation stage.

The rewards varied depending on the cultivators' different cultivation levels.

The top 500 Qi Refining cultivators, top 500 Foundation Establishment cultivators, top 300 Core Formation cultivators, and top 100 Nascent Soul cultivators would receive prizes.

All clan members queued up to challenge the tower. Qi Refining cultivators competed only against other Qi Refining cultivators, and Foundation Establishment cultivators only against other Foundation Establishment cultivators. This ensured fairness by preventing conflicts between different cultivation stages.

On the twenty-fifth floor, in a spacious and brightly lit hall, Wang Yuanjiang brandished a blue-glowing long staff, striking at a crimson seagull.

Wang Yuanjiang had already advanced to the Core Formation stage, and his return to Qinglian Island this time was to participate in the centennial minor competition.

During his visit to the Zhao family, he had won first place in a sparring match, earning Wang Yiyan a sum of wealth. Afterward, Wang Yuanjiang was rewarded with a portion of Golden Core Jade Liquid.

Over the years, Wang Yuanjiang had frequently sparred with other cultivators and possessed extensive combat experience. He regularly undertook missions, hunted demon beasts to earn merit points, and used these points to exchange for cultivation resources.

Every century, the Wang family hosted a minor competition, and every millennium, a major competition. These were significant family events and excellent opportunities to select elites.

The Wang family had a system of "Eighteen Prodigies," "One Hundred and Eight Heroes," "Three Hundred and Sixty Talents," and "Seven Hundred and Twenty Virtuosos," corresponding to the Soul Transformation, Nascent Soul, Core Formation, and Foundation Establishment stages, respectively. Among the "Three Hundred and Sixty Talents," thirty-seven had already advanced to the Nascent Soul stage, leaving thirty-seven open positions.

If Wang Yuanjiang could join the "Three Hundred and Sixty Talents," his chances of advancing to the Nascent Soul stage would significantly increase.

Wang Yuanjiang hoped to use this minor competition to be selected as one of the "Three Hundred and Sixty Talents."

The crimson seagull spewed forth a stream of fiery red flames, which were shattered by the relentless barrage of staff shadows.

With a gentle flap of its wings, the crimson seagull transformed into a scattering of red light and vanished, utilizing the Fire Escape Technique.

A flash of red light later, the crimson seagull abruptly reappeared directly above Wang Yuanjiang. A pair of sharp, crimson talons darted towards the crown of his head, while it simultaneously unleashed a jet of fiery red flames from its mouth.

The crimson flames struck Wang Yuanjiang, engulfing him in a torrent of fire. However, a dazzling blue light swiftly erupted from his body, causing the fierce flames to instantly dissipate.

Wang Yuanjiang moved his fists, striking the crimson seagull's talons.

With a muffled thud, the crimson seagull was sent flying backward. Before it could land, a flurry of staff shadows descended from above, striking its body.

The crimson seagull let out a piteous wail before dissolving into scattered points of spiritual light.

A blue light illuminated beneath Wang Yuanjiang's feet, engulfing his figure.

He felt a blur before his eyes and suddenly found himself in a spacious and brightly lit hall, its stone walls carved with dragon patterns.

Roar! Roar!

After two deafening dragon roars, two massive flood dragons flew out from the stone walls, pouncing on Wang Yuanjiang.

Both flood dragons were third-tier demon beasts, and Wang Yuanjiang dared not be careless. While employing movement techniques to evade, he wielded his blue long staff, striking at the two flood dragons.

On the twentieth floor, Wang Yuanwei was locked in fierce combat with three third-tier demon beasts: a Golden Thunder Eagle, a Fiery Jewel Shrimp, and a Wind Howling Wolf.

Decades ago, seven hundred and twenty individuals had collectively studied musical cultivation. Now, seventy-two of them had distinguished themselves, advancing to the Core Formation stage and becoming primary cultivation targets for the family. The rest had either given up midway, switched cultivation methods, or lacked the talent.

The family had divided them into eight teams, each with nine members, and appointed one person as captain. Wang Yuanwei was one such captain.

With thirty-seven open positions among the "Three Hundred and Sixty Talents," Wang Yuanwei hoped to be selected.

She held a red-glowing pipa, her slender fingers gliding across its strings, unleashing waves of crimson sound. Her body was enveloped by a thick, crimson light screen, its surface covered with countless profound musical notes.

While the individual strength of sound cultivators was generally not formidable, it was sufficient to deal with three third-tier demon beasts.

As time passed, the three demon beasts were consistently blocked by the crimson sound waves whenever they approached within ten zhang of Wang Yuanwei. Their spell attacks also proved ineffective against her.

The pipa's melody grew more rapid, and the three demon beasts emitted piteous cries, successively falling to the ground and struggling.

After a stirring pipa melody, a hazy red sound wave swept over their bodies. The three demon beasts then dissolved into scattered points of spiritual light and vanished.

A spiritual light emanated from beneath her feet, engulfing Wang Yuanwei's figure.

Soon after, Wang Yuanwei appeared on the twenty-first floor. This time, her opponents were five third-tier demon beasts: a Hedgehog Eagle Beast, a Lihuo Falcon, a Black Water Turtle, a Green Flame Tiger, and a Purple Crystal Scorpion.

The five demon beasts simultaneously cast spells to attack Wang Yuanwei, cutting off all her escape routes.

Wang Yuanwei remained calm, her fingers gliding across the pipa strings, unleashing crimson sound waves to meet the attack.

On the nineteenth floor, Wang Yuanhong commanded two third-tier puppet beasts against a Lihuo Falcon and a Green Wind Wolf, both of which were third-tier demon beasts.

Wang Yuanhong had been stationed on Golden Clam Island alongside Wang Yuanjiang. Both had reaped the benefits of the family's development, successively advancing to the Core Formation stage.

An ape-monkey puppet beast attacked the Green Wind Wolf, while a flying eagle puppet beast engaged the Lihuo Falcon.

In addition to the two third-tier puppet beasts, Wang Yuanhong also manipulated three shimmering golden flying daggers to attack the Green Wind Wolf.

It wasn't long before the Green Wind Wolf was at a disadvantage. The ape-monkey puppet beast's right fist struck the Green Wind Wolf, sending it flying backward. As soon as it landed, three golden flying daggers shot towards it.

With a flash of golden light, the three golden flying daggers merged into a single golden greatblade, about a zhang long, and sliced into the Green Wind Wolf's body. The Green Wind Wolf let out a piteous howl before dissolving into scattered points of spiritual light and vanishing.

Having dealt with the Green Wind Wolf, the golden greatblade transformed into a golden rainbow, heading straight for the Lihuo Falcon. Simultaneously, the ape-monkey puppet beast opened its mouth and spat out a hazy golden sound wave.

The Lihuo Falcon was no match and was defeated shortly after.

A spiritual light illuminated beneath Wang Yuanhong. He felt a blur before his eyes and suddenly appeared in a spacious and brightly lit hall. This time, his opponents were a Golden Thunder Eagle, a Fiery Jewel Shrimp, and a Wind Howling Wolf, all third-tier demon beasts.

Wang Yuanhong dared not delay and immediately commanded his puppet beasts to attack the three demon beasts.

Outside the Lihuo Demon Refining Tower, Wang Yiyan sat on the main platform, watching the younger generation challenge the tower alongside several clan elders.

Wang Yiyan, currently at the late Nascent Soul stage, was responsible for presiding over this minor competition.

In the council hall, Wang Qingcheng was discussing something with dozens of clan elders.

"Patriarch, the invitations have been delivered to the designated powers. Our family hasn't been this lively in a long time."

A clan elder said with some excitement, noting that the Wang family was holding a celebration for Wang Mengbin and had invited many influential forces to attend.

Wang Qingcheng nodded and said, "Increase patrol personnel and activate some of the defensive restrictions. Absolutely no mishaps can occur; ensure the celebration proceeds smoothly."

"Yes, Patriarch."

The clan elders all readily agreed.

Wang Qingcheng gave a few final instructions before dismissing them.