Who was that transmitting their voice just now?
Judging by that tone, they seemed to be quite formidable. The Dao Rhyme in the transmission was also obscure and profound. Li Ping'an guessed it was some Heavenly Immortal Elder within the sect who wanted to befriend his father and was looking for an opening through him.
Li Ping'an lowered his head and cupped his hands toward the air, indicating that he had heard it and would work hard going forward.
Li Ping'an did not take that transmission to heart.
It was merely some expert in the sect offering a reward. They could not possibly give him a Spiritual Treasure-grade item.
Magical treasures greatly enhanced a Qi cultivator's combat strength and were divided into six broad grades, from mundane to sacred:
Magic artifacts, magic treasures, Immortal Treasures, Houtian Spiritual Treasures, Xiantian Spiritual Treasures, and Xiantian Supreme Treasures.
For ordinary Origin Immortals, a few high-grade Immortal Treasures were enough to show off.
—Li Ping'an, who carried more than a dozen Immortal Treasures despite being in the Light Condensation Realm, was purely an exception and held no reference value.
Houtian Spiritual Treasures were, in truth, powerful Immortal Treasures that had developed spiritual intelligence. They were the goal pursued by most Heavenly Immortals.
In the ancient age, Houtian Spiritual Treasures had been even rarer than Xiantian Spiritual Treasures. Yet as living beings flourished, cultivation methods gave rise to artifact-refining techniques, and from antiquity until now, countless Houtian Spiritual Treasures had emerged between heaven and earth.
Because the definition of a Houtian Spiritual Treasure was overly broad—any Immortal Treasure that developed spiritual intelligence could be counted as one—the disparity between them was immense.
Most Xiantian Spiritual Treasures had been born around the Creation of Heaven and Earth. They were exceedingly rare, and the vast majority rested in the hands of ancient and primordial great powers. Any one of them possessed the ability to overturn heaven and earth.
As for Xiantian Supreme Treasures, they were even rarer.
It was said that only a few treasures of that grade remained in existence, all in the hands of six Sect Master-level titans. They rarely appeared in the world, and whenever they did, disaster inevitably followed.
Most of the Immortal Treasures on Li Ping'an's person had been taken by Li Dazhi from Old Daoist Kongming. Several had also been gifts from sect elders. Their preciousness lay in their expensive materials; True Immortals and Heavenly Immortals skilled in artifact refinement could create them.
For his Immortal Treasures to develop spiritual intelligence was not entirely impossible. It was simply incomparably unlikely.
A Houtian Spiritual Treasure required not only almost exacting standards for its material, but also long years of painstaking cultivation...
Li Ping'an gathered his thoughts and rose with the nearby disciples, looking toward the arena.
The Peak Master of Colorful Cloud Peak rode a cloud away from the stage. Four Outer Sect elders from Colorful Cloud Peak ascended the platform together, cupped their hands in salute in all four directions, and began announcing the detailed rules of the Earth Ranking battles, explaining the points system, round-robin groups, and elimination rounds.
When the disciples heard that it was not a matter of "one match deciding victory or defeat," but that rankings would be determined by the points accumulated in each match, their confidence soared.
After announcing the rules, the four elderly women acted together, laying down a full four layers of barriers around the arena. They then sat quietly at its edge in meditation, maintaining the Immortal Power barriers.
Li Ping'an inwardly called it extravagant.
Normally, a place like Xuyun Peak only needed to set up a few protective formations around the arena to keep the disciples from smashing it apart.
Colorful Cloud Peak had not only arranged formations, but had also deployed four True Immortals to guard the place.
There was an advantage to this as well—disciples could fight more freely, knowing someone would rescue them at any moment if danger arose.
Clang!
The second gong sounded, and the matches began.
The first to take the stage was unexpectedly Mu Ningning, who had shone brilliantly earlier. Her opponent was a Colorful Cloud Peak disciple at the middle stage of the Void Refining Realm.
This had probably been deliberately arranged by Colorful Cloud Peak.
Mu Ningning was a disciple of Colorful Cloud Peak and had fought her way up from the Human Ranking, leaving quite a deep impression on everyone. Having her open the matches was just right.
However, Junior Sister Mu had only been apprenticed for two years and was merely in the Light Condensation Realm. Her cultivation was far lower than that of the other Earth Ranking contestants, so they had selected a Colorful Cloud Peak disciple as her opponent.
That way, no matter who won or lost on the arena, Colorful Cloud Peak would claim the first prize.
It could not exactly be called match-fixing.
The two female cultivators on the stage had already begun fighting, and Li Ping'an watched closely.
Mu Ningning immediately brought out the Swallow Escape Stakes and relied on the advantage of her magical treasure to tangle with the Colorful Cloud Peak disciple.
The latter had likely watched the Human Ranking battles and had already devised a way to deal with the Swallow Escape Stakes. Though she could not break Mu Ningning's Swallow Escape Stakes, she steadily defended against wave after wave of attacks, turning the battle into a drain on Mu Ningning's mana.
This senior sister also possessed several fine defensive magical treasures, and Mu Ningning's attacks posed no threat to her at all.
As the years of apprenticeship increased, Inner Sect Disciples continuously improved their cultivation. At the same time, their masters and lineages bestowed several magical treasures or even Immortal Treasures for protection.
This was also the main reason the Earth Ranking was several times harder to fight through than the Human Ranking.
The situation on the arena fell into a brief deadlock.
Two beautiful female cultivators fighting naturally made for a pleasing sight, and the thousands of spectators did not find it dull.
Mu Ningning's attacks grew increasingly urgent. After a while, the mana in her body was already becoming difficult to sustain.
The senior sister spotted an opportunity and suddenly produced a bell. Accompanied by a crisp chime, Mu Ningning's circulating mana was immediately disrupted. She fell out of the Swallow Escape Stakes and crashed onto the arena.
A longsword rested against Mu Ningning's neck, then was immediately withdrawn. The senior sister hurried forward and pulled Mu Ningning to her feet.
Li Ping'an had thought Mu Ningning would lower her head in disappointment.
To his surprise, Mu Ningning cheerfully cried, "Senior Sister, you're amazing! My cultivation is simply too shallow!"
"You have been in the sect too short a time, Junior Sister. I truly feel ashamed of winning. Come over here. Let Senior Sister check your injuries."
The two female cultivators walked off the arena hand in hand to collect their Jade Tokens nearby.
Li Ping'an frowned as he watched from the side.
No, why had he never met such gentle senior brothers and sisters?
Oh, right. He had never lost.
As for the result of the opening match, that senior sister earned three points, while Mu Ningning earned zero.
The second group of disciples had already begun fighting onstage. This time, it was a middle-stage Void Refining Realm cultivator against a late-stage Void Refining Realm cultivator. The battle was grand in scale, their spells extraordinary. Various techniques appeared in succession, while several magical treasures flew about wildly.
Li Ping'an watched with great enjoyment.
He was not too worried about his upcoming matches.
First, his realm was already much higher than Mu Ningning's, and he could exchange a few moves with Earth Ranking disciples.
Second, under these points-based rules, he only needed to win four matches to securely enter the next elimination stage. If luck favored him, winning two and drawing two might even be enough to reach the elimination rounds.
Among the disciples participating in the Earth Ranking battles, only six or seven were at the late stage of the Void Refining Realm. It was unlikely that he would keep encountering late-stage Void Refining Realm disciples.
This was called making reasonable use of the rules.
Even though he had been the one to set those rules.
"Next match! Human Twelve versus Earth Forty-Three!"
An immortal onstage called out. Li Ping'an carried the Cloud Soaring Spear and leaped onto the edge of the arena, looking toward the senior sister before him, though he had no idea which peak she came from.
The two exchanged Daoist salutes before each displaying their abilities.
Li Ping'an used a combination of talisman arts and spear formations, suppressing the female cultivator from beginning to end. She could not even touch the hem of his robes.
Li Ping'an also had unique insights into sustaining mana, and his mana never ran dry throughout the match.
Even after the female cultivator conceded defeat, more than half of Li Ping'an's mana remained. After returning below the stage, he swallowed a spiritual pill he had refined himself and meditated for a while, quickly restoring his mana to fullness.
Just like that, Li Ping'an won two rounds in a row, drawing many eyes.
Mu Ningning and the third-ranked Human Ranking contestant each suffered two consecutive losses.
The difference in cultivation was simply too great, so their losses were only natural. Someone like Li Ping'an, who kept winning, was indeed somewhat abnormal.
In the third round, Li Ping'an encountered the second formidable opponent of this grand tournament.
He was a young male cultivator dressed in white robes. His long hair, tied beneath a Daoist headband, was meticulously groomed. He was handsome and tall, with two Immortal Treasure longswords on his back and a burning desire for victory in his eyes.
As soon as he stepped onto the stage, he cupped his hands toward Li Ping'an, then declared in a clear voice:
"I am Gu Qingcheng of Sword Cloud Peak! I have been apprenticed for nine years and ten months and am now at the eighth level of the Void Refining Realm! To face you today, Fellow Daoist, makes me feel rather ashamed! I will use my full strength to win, as a sign of my respect for you!"
Li Ping'an smiled and nodded.
The immortals of Sword Cloud Peak excelled in sword control. Today, he would experience it for himself.
Clang!
The bronze gong rang, and the battle began!
Li Ping'an lunged forward in a bow stance, skimming low over the ground with an unstoppable momentum!
A point of cold light arrived first, then the spear shot forth like a dragon!
"Good!"
Gu Qingcheng shouted steadily. His body swiftly shifted left as both hands formed sword fingers and pointed horizontally behind him. The two immortal swords on his back flew from their sheaths at once, their ringing cries resounding through the clouds!
In the next instant, the two immortal swords transformed into two Immortal Cranes and lunged at Li Ping'an, leaving trails of afterimages in midair.
Li Ping'an flipped backward, flinging out a stack of Yellow Paper Talismans with his left hand.
Amid rustling sounds, dozens of talisman papers shot forward like a rain of arrows, colliding head-on with the two white cranes before exploding into layers of mist.
The two white cranes spread their wings and charged through the mist while Li Ping'an flashed into the clouds.
"My Illusion Technique is useless against me!"
Gu Qingcheng shouted, soaring into the sky like a roc spreading its wings. His right hand pointed to heaven and his left to earth before he drew a circle and brought them together!
The mist surged upward. Tiger roars and dragon cries rang out within it as several mist-formed phantoms of Li Ping'an leaped forth with spears in hand!
Gu Qingcheng rapidly flicked his sword fingers, and the two white cranes formed from immortal swords spread their wings and flew swiftly, instantly shattering the phantoms that emerged from the mist!
Gu Qingcheng spread and closed his hands again. One Qi Sword after another, each swallowing green sword light, rapidly condensed before him and shot forth, bombarding every part of the mist without restraint.
"Hahaha! Is this all the power your spear formation has? Again! Again!"
So the Myriad Cloud Sword Dao was this sharp.
Behind Gu Qingcheng, within a wisp of mist drifting into a corner, Li Ping'an's true body crouched quietly.
He carefully observed Gu Qingcheng, trying to understand this fellow's sword-control technique.
Gu Qingcheng's sword-control art was exceptionally sharp. Those two Immortal Treasure flying swords were difficult to handle...
Although his father had said he could use more than three techniques when he was about to lose, Li Ping'an thought it over carefully. The chance of encountering more late-stage Void Refining Realm disciples later was not particularly high. He only needed to enter the next stage of the competition; there was no need to win all six matches.
Thus, Li Ping'an turned his head and quietly slipped off the arena.
Onstage, Gu Qingcheng continued driving his sword-control art. The two immortal swords flew through the mist while his trembling hands maintained a loosely joined posture, constantly using mana to create clusters of Qi Swords and bombarding the arena.
He continued shouting:
"Stop hiding! Come out! Hahahaha! Your spear formation has been perfectly suppressed by me! Though this victory is somewhat unfair, at least come out! I definitely won't hurt you!"
The immortal referee nearby frowned repeatedly, wanting to remind Gu Qingcheng but unable to get a word in.
This Sword Cloud Peak disciple talked far too much.
Below the stage, Li Ping'an had already retrieved his Jade Token. He cupped his hands to the old Deacon, then turned and left.
"Hehehe, interesting."
The Sect Leader narrowed his eyes with a smile and introduced Li Ping'an to several extraordinary immortals beside him.
"That Light Condensation Realm disciple who just stepped down is the only son of my Junior Brother Dazhi. He has only been cultivating in the mountains for three years."
The senior experts either stroked their beards with smiles or nodded to themselves.
Li Dazhi, seated behind the Sect Leader, maintained an honest smile and said nothing.
Gu Qingcheng bombarded the arena for a while longer before the immortal referee finally swept him offstage with a wave of his sleeve.
To everyone's surprise, Gu Qingcheng did not even collect his Jade Token. He directly leaped before Li Ping'an below the stage, frowning as he stared at the "Human Ranking's First."
"Ah, this! If you concede so directly, won't it damage your Dao Heart?"
Gu Qingcheng frowned and said:
"My Qi Swords did not have much power. At most, they would have lightly injured you if they struck you. Wouldn't you have known if you faced them head-on once?
"Now it's made me look like I bullied someone weaker.
"How are people supposed to see me now? Had I known, I would not have fought you at all. You really are something. Why did you just leave?"
Li Ping'an placed a Prayer Mat beside him and smiled. "I should be a few years older than you, though I began cultivating later. For now, I shall call myself your elder brother. Please, sit."
"Ah, I know about you! Everyone has been talking about it!"
Gu Qingcheng did not stand on ceremony. He plopped down and sat casually, watching the next match that was about to begin as he muttered softly:
"A few of us familiar disciples had discussed earlier that whoever encountered you should give your father some face and not beat you too badly.
"But speaking of which, you have only cultivated for three years. How do you know so many things?
"Formations, movement techniques, illusionary immortal arts... Good grief. I have not even mastered a single sword-control art. My master gave me nine immortal swords, but I can only control two of them right now."
Li Ping'an casually replied, "The sword path follows one; the miscellaneous paths are diverse. It is hard to distinguish superiority from inferiority."
"The sword path follows one... Hey, that's an interesting way to put it. The sword path follows one, the path of the sword..."
Gu Qingcheng blinked, turned to look at Li Ping'an, then saw the seemingly profound smile on Li Ping'an's lips and could not help lowering his head to ponder the words.
A short while later, Gu Qingcheng directly sat cross-legged in meditation, wisps of mist rising around him.
Before long, an immortal from Sword Cloud Peak descended beside them, cupped his hands to Li Ping'an in thanks, then set up a barrier around Gu Qingcheng.
Li Ping'an was also a little bewildered.
He truly had not meant to offer this fellow guidance just now!
Before you continue