The day of the decisive contest.
Little Bamboo Peak was covered in a type of bamboo no thicker than an arm, black from tip to root yet exceedingly tough.
This bamboo was called Ink Jade Bamboo. Older stalks were even first-rank precious materials.
However, no one knew how this bamboo grew, but its material was truly far too tough, to the point that ordinary magical artifacts could scarcely break its defenses.
Yet aside from its toughness, it had no other merits.
Moreover, this place was remote and had scarce spiritual qi.
Thus, few cultivators settled on Little Bamboo Peak, and even fewer were willing to go through the trouble of gathering materials here to refine magical artifacts.
Only the mountaintop remained, its terrain level and open, where one could easily admire the sunrise.
After a small spirit mine was discovered on Little Bamboo Peak, the Azure Profound Sect, the Chen Family, and the Luo Family joined forces to establish many houses and cave dwellings atop the mountain.
They were for the mortal workers and cultivators mining the spirit mine to live in.
The site of the decisive contest between the Chen and Luo Families had been set atop this mountain, in an open clearing with a broad view.
At this moment.
Among the forests and pavilions surrounding Little Bamboo Peak's summit, cultivators could be seen everywhere in shadowy clusters, numbering no fewer than several thousand.
There were both local cultivators who originally lived on or near Little Bamboo Peak and outsiders who had specifically rushed over to watch the show and join the excitement.
Yet the best place to watch the battle was a magnificent pavilion, with only a few people inside.
After all, it had been specially prepared for Azure Profound Sect cultivators. The other cultivators did not dare enter rashly.
However, the decisive contest was set for the afternoon, so it was still early.
At present, the relevant members of the two competing sides, the Chen and Luo Families, had yet to arrive.
Elsewhere.
Jade Spring Mountain, Chen Family.
Chen Heng had long since finished nourishing the first-rank low-grade magical artifact Water-Fire Cudgel for the contest and prepared ten first-rank low-grade talismans.
Beyond that, no external items could be used during the decisive contest.
He tightened his grip on the Water-Fire Cudgel in his hand. To obtain this magical artifact, he had worked as free labor in the Chen Family's artifact-refining workshop for three months.
Only then had the Chen Family's first-rank mid-grade artifact refiner been willing to craft this Water-Fire Cudgel, concealing mysteries within it according to Chen Heng's requirements.
Chen Heng carefully ran his fingers over the Water-Fire Cudgel in his hand. Things had come to this; all he could do was go all out.
Not long after.
The old servant, Uncle Fu, shook the bronze bell hanging on the wooden door. Unable to bear it, he said, "Young Master Heng, it is time for us to depart."
There was a trace of regret and sorrow in his voice, perhaps because one creature mourned another of its kind.
He likely understood in his heart that this was little different from sending Chen Heng to his death.
No one in the Chen Family believed that the utterly ordinary Chen Heng could defeat the Luo Family's favored daughter of heaven, Luo Yuyan.
Chen Heng, however, looked as calm as ever as he strolled out of the wooden hut.
The old man and the youth exchanged a glance without saying a word, then headed one after the other straight for Jade Spring Mountain's ferry landing.
For this journey, they would ride a flying demonic bird specially raised by the Lineage to Little Bamboo Peak for the decisive contest.
Only four people stood on the level, spacious ferry landing.
Though Chen Heng was the last to arrive, he was not late to depart. The landing was simply located halfway up the mountain.
The others were all direct descendants of the Chen Family, and their cave dwellings were basically located halfway up the mountain, so naturally they had arrived before him.
Of the two standing in the center, the burly bald elder was the Chen Family's Great Elder, Chen Xingzhou, while the lean middle-aged man with gloomy eyes was the Chen Family's Fourth Elder, Chen Xinshen, whom Chen Heng had met not long ago.
Their auras were both deep as the sea. They were undoubtedly late Qi Refining cultivators.
The somewhat older man beside them wore an ink-green Dharma robe and had a face as still as an ancient well. He was surely the Chen Family's Ninth Elder, Chen Xingyuan.
The other wore a green robe. His face was like polished jade, his spirits were high, and he brimmed with confidence. Even as he looked at Chen Heng, his eyes were full of arrogance.
Without question, this had to be Chen Mingyun, the Foundation Establishment Seed in whom the Chen Family had placed great hopes, who had entered the Azure Profound Sect early on.
"Great Elder, Fourth Elder, Ninth Elder, Cousin Mingyun!" Chen Heng greeted the four with cupped hands, his expression unchanged.
Great Elder Chen Xingzhou gave a faint nod, while Fourth Elder Chen Xinshen forced out a slight smile.
Upon hearing this, Ninth Elder Chen Xingyuan looked Chen Heng up and down without speaking, though his brows furrowed slightly.
He had devoted himself wholeheartedly to cultivation and knew nothing of the clan elders backing down or the drawing of lots.
He only felt that the person before him did not seem qualified to take part in a decisive contest among early Qi Refining cultivators.
But the contest roster had to be reported to Steward Li of the Azure Profound Sect and could no longer be changed.
Chen Mingyun, on the other hand, gave Chen Heng an interested once-over. Seeing how utterly ordinary he was, he quickly lost interest.
After a short while, seeing that everyone had arrived, Chen Xingzhou delivered some perfunctory words of encouragement, saying they must not disgrace the Chen Family during the decisive contest.
Then, without further delay, he lowered his hand and lightly patted the spirit beast pouch hanging at his waist.
As a flash of spiritual light passed, a gale swept backward, and a massive demonic bird with an over-three-zhang wingspan and feathers all over its body appeared before them.
It was unmistakably a late first-rank demonic beast, the Sky Wind Vulture raised by the Chen Family.
Great Elder Chen Xingzhou said, "All of you, get on! Mm... Chen Fu, you come along too."
Without waiting for Chen Fu's reply, his figure flashed, and he was already atop the Sky Wind Vulture's broad, level back.
The others leaped up in turn without the slightest hesitation.
Chen Heng, however, glanced at the old servant Chen Fu beside him before leaping onto the Sky Wind Vulture.
Bringing this old servant along... could they be planning to have him collect my corpse, unwilling to dirty their own hands?
Once everyone was aboard, Great Elder Chen Xingzhou reminded them, "Stand firm. The Sky Wind Vulture will be very fast."
Hearing this, Chen Heng did not dare be careless. Of the six present, his cultivation was the lowest.
He silently circulated his true essence. His feet seemed to take root, and he stood immovable as a mountain.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...
Its wings beat fiercely several times as though gathering strength. Then the Sky Wind Vulture kicked hard with both legs and shot into the sky like an arrow, swiftly leaving Jade Spring Mountain behind.
It plunged into the high clouds and swept toward Little Bamboo Peak.
Elsewhere, atop Little Bamboo Peak.
A sizable white cloud slowly flew in from the horizon. Only six or seven people stood upon it, all Qi Refining cultivators.
"They're here. The Luo Family of Golden Luo Mountain has arrived."
A sharp-eyed cultivator immediately recognized the origin of that white cloud. It was the White Cloud Pouch, a flying magical artifact commonly used by the Luo Family.
Judging by its quality and the number of people it carried, this White Cloud Pouch should be a first-rank top-grade magical artifact.
The most conspicuous person atop the cloud was undoubtedly the sword-bearing female cultivator on the left, nearly blending into the white cloud itself, valiant and heroic in bearing.
"Quick, look! That woman in the white dress on the left must be the Luo Family's favored daughter of heaven, Luo Yuyan, who possesses a top-grade wind spirit root!"
"Where, where? Let me see..."
"Don't shove your grandpa! If you like her so much, go marry into the Luo Family..."
"I'm just afraid the Luo Family wouldn't want a toad like you..."
"Are you looking for your mother's funeral..."
The Luo Family's arrival, especially Luo Yuyan's appearance, instantly stirred up a commotion among the watching crowd.
Not long after.
A low roar passed through the floating clouds and reached the ears of the watching crowd.
The next moment, a massive demonic bird with an over-three-zhang wingspan and feathers all over its body burst through the clouds and entered everyone's sight.
"That's a Sky Wind Vulture. The Chen Family of Jade Spring Mountain has arrived as well."
With both sides of the decisive contest present, the atmosphere on Little Bamboo Peak immediately came alive.
Some had even begun setting up betting tables, wagering on which family would win and what the score of victory or defeat would be...
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