The Smell of Gunpowder Before the Match

Tongtian Peak, the very center of the Tianyuan Divine Sect's thirty-three peaks, holds the title of Lord of Ten Thousand Peaks.

The entire mountain peak soars into the clouds. From halfway up the mountain, one can feel as if they are in an immortal realm. The clouds drift ethereally, and the buildings on the summit resemble a celestial palace.

Daoist Sanyuan and his party of six descended halfway up Tongtian Peak and proceeded upwards along the mountain path. They walked for a full hour before finally reaching the summit.

"Welcome, Third Martial Uncle. Taihe Peak's position is at Grandstand Number Thirty-Three," a group of disciples dressed in Tongtian Peak attire greeted Daoist Sanyuan.

Daoist Sanyuan nodded, saying nothing more, and led Han Fei and the other four directly into the summit area.

The moment he stepped onto the summit, Han Fei was awestruck by its vastness. Even the imperial city where he lived in his childhood couldn't have been this large, could it?

As they walked, Wei Ying asked, "Master, the man just now called you Third Martial Uncle, so he's our senior brother, right?"

Daoist Sanyuan shook his head. "Strictly speaking, they can't really be considered your senior brothers anymore. You are still disciples of the Tianyuan Divine Sect, while they have truly graduated."

"You have all been cultivating in the Tianyuan Divine Sect for at least six years. After ten years, you will face a choice. Besides a limited number who can become core disciples of the Divine Sect, those who reach the Spirit Gathering Realm can become hidden guards, stewards, and so on."

"Of course, only a minority can remain in the Divine Sect. Many disciples return to their hometowns to become hermits or serve their own countries. Some become villains and commit evil deeds. Every year, the tasks for hidden guards and core disciples include a large amount of internal cleansing. You may face this in the future."

"As for the group you just saw, they have all graduated from being hidden guards. This means they served as hidden guards for ten years, and their cultivation is at least at the Martial Origin Realm."

Han Fei and the others gasped in shock. Martial Origin Realm again.

It was from this moment that Han Fei truly felt the power of the Tianyuan Divine Sect. If what was said was true, and the Tianyuan Divine Sect had hundreds of years of history, then wouldn't there be at least thousands of Martial Origin Realm cultivators?

Chiyou: "So what if there are tens of thousands? No matter how many ants there are, they are still just ants. Group Leader, your vision is currently too limited. When you reach a certain height, you won't think your sect is that powerful."

Han Fei: "But no matter what, right now, the Martial Origin Realm is my goal."

Chiyou negated: "You're wrong. Your goal now is to reach the Spirit Gathering Realm first. Don't aim too high. However, with our help, your cultivation speed certainly won't be slow."

Fuxi: "While that's true, don't rely on us entirely. You must understand that in our era, there was no concept of cultivation. Our era focused on enlightenment. The only one who could truly be called a cultivator was probably Pangu."

Yellow Emperor shook his head: "Although there has always been the saying of achieving the Dao through the physical body, how many have succeeded? Do you want the Group Leader to learn from Pangu?"

On a vast plaza, there were thirty-three stone pillars, nearly ten meters high, each with a number.

Han Fei and the six were located at Grandstand Number Thirty-Three. Although the grandstands were the same, their reputation and status differed greatly.

Even Daoist Sanyuan felt a great loss of face at this moment. But there was nothing he could do. Taihe Peak was the bottom-ranked main peak, and he was also helpless.

Whispers from a large number of disciples could be heard around them.

"Sigh, look, it's from Taihe Peak."

"What's the point of looking at them? They get eliminated in the first round every martial competition. Look around, not even the stewards on Tongtian Peak are paying attention to the people from Taihe Peak."

"There's no helping it. One wrong step leads to a cascade of errors. Every time the sect gates open, Taihe Peak can only pick disciples last, all the leftovers from other main peaks. If there are any exceptionally monstrous talents, they are taken away by Tongtian Peak in advance, so they never even reach the martial competition."

"Are you talking about the personal disciple the Sect Master took in a few years ago? I heard he was also from Taihe Peak. Is that true?"

"Why wouldn't it be? They say that person also had a Supreme Spiritual Root and reached the Innate Realm at thirteen. When the Sect Master found out, he personally went to Taihe Peak and took him as his personal disciple. The entire Tianyuan Divine Sect spread the word."

The surrounding discussions continuously reached Daoist Sanyuan and Han Fei.

Daoist Sanyuan was relatively fine, just a bit sour. After all, Fu Jiahao had a Supreme Spiritual Root, and if he had stayed at Taihe Peak, it would have definitely held him back.

Of course, now that he had Han Fei, Daoist Sanyuan didn't care as much. At the very least, after today, Taihe Peak would no longer be at the bottom. He had great confidence in Han Fei.

Han Fei, standing beside him, fell into silence. His childhood friend had now become the Sect Master's personal disciple, someone even stewards had to bow to. This had also changed his disposition, which was what pained Han Fei the most.

Second Senior Sister Qi Mengyu asked, "Master, I see that the spectators around us are also from other main peaks. Why didn't you let us from Taihe Peak come earlier? I suppose they've only just reached the foot of the mountain now?"

Daoist Sanyuan snorted, "Why should they come early? To listen to these idle gossips? The martial competition won't start for a while yet, and we have enough time."

Qi Mengyu stuck out her tongue and said no more.

Third Senior Brother Heran said, "Master, don't worry. Even if your disciple gives his all, he will at least win one match and not let Master lose face."

Daoist Sanyuan sighed, a look of relief on his face. "I am very happy that you have this intention, but during the actual combat, do not act rashly. Although the martial competition advocates for stopping at a touch, there are always those who are killed due to combat in every competition, so you must be extremely careful."

As soon as Daoist Sanyuan finished speaking, another group of people entered Grandstand Number Thirty-Two. These disciples had the word "Giant God" printed on their chests, indicating they were from Giant God Peak.

Giant God Peak was adjacent to Taihe Peak, but its ranking was one level higher, so Giant God Peak always suppressed Taihe Peak in every aspect. After all, based on their ranking, they could only bully people from Taihe Peak.

Furthermore, the Peak Master of Giant God Peak was named Daoist Yiyuan, who was also Daoist Sanyuan's senior brother.

"Junior Brother, you're quite early. You arrived even earlier than me."

Daoist Sanyuan: "Senior Brother is too kind. Who asked Taihe Peak to be ranked last? We can't make you, the higher-ranked main peaks, wait for me, can we? So it's better for us to be sensible."

Daoist Yiyuan frowned. Their ranking was thirty-two, which was actually about the same as Taihe Peak. Daoist Sanyuan's words were undoubtedly a veiled insult to Giant God Peak.

The confrontation between the two peak masters served to pass the pre-competition boredom for the disciples of various main peaks awaiting the start of the martial competition.

One by one, the peak masters of the main peaks and the disciples participating in the martial competition gradually took their positions. Familiar main peaks would greet each other, and the peak masters would also engage in casual conversation.

However, only Taihe Peak was essentially ignored by other main peaks, as if they were isolated.

Qi Mengyu, Heran, and the other Taihe Peak disciples clenched their fists, determined to win a ranking for Taihe Peak.

Daoist Sanyuan looked at Han Fei beside him. "Do you feel any pressure?"

Han Fei shook his head. "I have my own goals, but I will take the honor of Taihe Peak as my starting point."

Fourth Senior Brother Du Kun chuckled. "Little Junior Brother, we initially had some prejudice against you, but now we realize we were the frogs in the well. In just a few days, you've reached the Peak of the Fifth Level of the Innate Realm. Your achievements are something we senior brothers probably can't catch up to. We can only hope that when you become successful in the future, you won't forget that we were once your senior brothers."

Han Fei smiled. "I won't. And Fourth Senior Brother, you made one mistake. My cultivation is not at the Peak of the Fifth Level of the Innate Realm, but at the Sixth Level of the Innate Realm."

The few people were stunned. Daoist Sanyuan frowned, "In just one day and two nights, you... you broke through again?"

Han Fei smiled and nodded, "Just luck, just luck!"

After speaking, Han Fei began to scan his surroundings. He had also communicated with several Ancient Gods in the Primordial Group.

"Seniors, your souls are much stronger than mine. If you find that man in black, please be sure to tell me."

Fuxi replied, "He's already here, but I don't plan on telling you."

"Why?" Han Fei asked in confusion.

Yellow Emperor said, "You can't rely on us for everything, including revenge. Besides, you should be able to encounter him. If you can fight to the end, perhaps the two of you will have a battle. Wouldn't it be good to settle your grievances then?"

Han Fei clenched his fists, making them crackle, and closed his eyes, recalling all the details of the man in black. This way, he could recognize him immediately if they met.