What was a Myriad Phenomena True Person?
If the Purple Mansion Realm meant opening a Purple Mansion Origin Sea in one's dantian and transforming the Xiantian True Essence within one's body into Purple Mansion Origin Power, granting a lifespan of five hundred years, then one had truly set foot on the path of cultivating immortality and earned the right to be called a "cultivator."
The Myriad Phenomena Realm, on the other hand, meant boiling the Purple Mansion Origin Sea and condensing the sun, moon, and stars from an immense amount of Origin Power. Through a connection with the stars beyond, one could evolve the myriad phenomena of day and night, move mountains and fill seas with a turn of one's hand, and wield mighty divine powers. Countless cultivators revered those who reached this realm as "True Persons."
Zhou Hao gazed at the general, True Person Muxuan, flying toward them on the wind, his eyes filled with longing.
His master, True Person Daoyi, was also called a True Person, but this True Person was not the same as that one. To reach the Myriad Phenomena Realm was to become a mainstay even among the immortal-cultivation sects.
The few dominant clans of the Great Wild Plains, for instance, didn't have a single Myriad Phenomena True Person.
Now this was what a cultivator should be, Zhou Hao thought.
In the eyes of ordinary people, Xiantian Lifeforms were like gods and devils. Xiantian Qi Refiners could project their True Essence beyond their bodies, while Xiantian Body Refiners could regenerate severed limbs.
But in the eyes of true cultivators, Xiantian Lifeforms had only just qualified to begin cultivating immortality. They were stronger than ordinary people, but not by all that much.
Still, Zhou Hao's longing was only for the higher realms along the endless path to immortality.
With the Sea of Consciousness Blue Flower, this heaven-defying opportunity, his goals reached far beyond that.
Besides, judging by the Dharma Image manifested by True Person Muxuan, it was only the weakest kind in the Myriad Phenomena Realm: the Star Dharma Image.
The Myriad Phenomena Realm was an extremely special realm.
There were three types, determined by the Dharma Image manifested when one displayed one's power.
True Person Muxuan's Dharma Image revealed only countless brilliant stars. That was the Star Dharma Image, the weakest among Myriad Phenomena True Persons.
Slightly higher than the Star Dharma Image was the second-ranked Bright Moon Dharma Image. It manifested not only brilliant stars, but also a bright moon.
The legendary, most supreme Dharma Image manifested countless stars, a bright moon, and a blazing sun all at once.
Only with the most supreme Dharma Image could one possibly nurture, upon reaching "Myriad Phenomena Perfection," the foundation of a perfected Dharma Image: the scene of the Moon Rabbit emerging from the bright moon and the Golden Crow appearing in the blazing sun.
That was the "foundation of a celestial immortal," and the only path that offered true hope of becoming one.
With the Sea of Consciousness Blue Flower, I can produce Blue Flower Water Vapor and Blue Flower Mist to aid my enlightenment and raise my strength beyond my realm. My future Dharma Image must be the most supreme perfected one. Otherwise, I'll have wasted the opportunities fate granted me in both my lives.
Zhou Hao stared at the viewing stand and secretly steeled his resolve.
...On the viewing stand, True Person Muxuan took a seat in the middle.
The two deputy generals sat down on either side of him, while the four captains stood nearby.
"Elder Ji, Baili."
True Person Muxuan glanced around. Seeing that the two Purple Mansion Cultivators and all four captains had changed into their new armor, he asked, "Are you satisfied with the power of this Jade Dragon Armor?"
"General, Baili and I spent all of last night getting used to it. The power of the two of us fighting together has more than doubled," the silver-haired elder said with a smile. "Baili even said that once the Xiantian Battalion has all changed into the new armor, he'll personally lead a force to wipe out those fanatics in the Fire Worship Sect."
"They're nothing but a bunch of mind-warping rabble. They've seized a few Vassal Cities and already dare reach for our Jade Dragon City. General, if we're going to strike them, I, Ren Baili, will gladly lead the charge."
The burly man who looked like he was made of metal, Ren Baili, spoke in a voice that rang like blades clashing.
"It's good to have the spirit," True Person Muxuan said with a smile. "The Fire Worship Sect's presence here in the Great Wild Plains is only one of their branch altars. Wiping them out would be easy.
"But our sect recently fought their main altar on Luoyan Island in the East Sea, and both sides suffered losses. It's not yet time for a decisive battle. All we need to do is keep Jade Dragon City safe."
"What? The mere Fire Worship Sect is beyond even the sect's ability to handle?" The silver-haired elder and Ren Baili exchanged a startled look.
Although the Fire Worship Sect had been building up its power throughout Guangling Prefecture and establishing branch altars, it had risen to prominence only recently. How could its foundations possibly compare with the countless years of accumulated strength behind their sect, the Jade Dragon Sect?
And the Jade Dragon Sect wasn't alone in the East Sea. The Three Sects Two Islands Five Immortal Gates stood united, and outsiders even referred to all Five Immortal Gates collectively as the "East Sea Sect."
After cultivating their influence in the East Sea for countless years, they had even helped the Great Xia Dynasty maintain its rule over the region.
How could a top-tier power like that be rivaled by an "evil sect" like the Fire Worship Sect? And how could both sides have suffered losses?
"The Fire Worship Sect itself can't, but the force behind them can." True Person Muxuan shook his head, then sent a telepathic message to the two deputy generals. "This time, even the Upper Sect has been stirred into action."
"The Upper Sect?"
The silver-haired elder and Ren Baili were no longer merely startled. They were aghast.
"Otherwise, who do you think could have every Xiantian Dao Soldier in the hundreds of coastal cities belonging to the Five Immortal Gates switch to Jade Dragon Armor? Even the Five Immortal Gates couldn't afford to make such a grand gesture."
True Person Muxuan let his two deputies in on a little more of the news.
"All right. The elders and immortals of the sect can worry about those major affairs. If we keep Jade Dragon City safe, we'll have done our part for the sect."
"Yes." The silver-haired elder and Ren Baili nodded.
"This time, the Xiantian Battalion will be renamed the Jade Dragon Army. We'll establish a Fifth Squad and select its captain. Elder Ji, follow the arrangements we discussed earlier and preside over the proceedings."
This time, True Person Muxuan didn't send a telepathic message. He spoke aloud to the silver-haired elder beside him.
"Yes, General."
The silver-haired elder stood up, surveyed the grounds below, and announced loudly, "Today's martial competition is being held under the general's orders. The Xiantian Battalion will be renamed the 'Jade Dragon Army,' and its four squads will be increased to five."
"The positions of captain and squad leader in the original four squads will remain unchanged. The newly established Fifth Squad will have one captaincy, to be contested by twenty squad leaders and seven new Xiantian late-stage soldiers. The strongest will become the new captain."
As soon as the silver-haired elder finished speaking, quiet discussion broke out among the more than six hundred Xiantian Lifeforms.
"The Xiantian Battalion is actually going to be renamed the Jade Dragon Army."
"Haha, Jade Dragon Army. Not bad, not bad! It sounds a lot more impressive than Xiantian Battalion."
"Wait a second. Aren't there only six Xiantian late-stage experts among the newcomers? Where'd the seventh come from?"
"That's right. I haven't heard that anyone broke through."
At first, everyone discussed the sudden renaming of the Xiantian Battalion. Then they turned their attention to the Xiantian late-stage expert who had seemingly appeared out of nowhere.
The formation of one hundred and twenty newcomers also looked around, and their gazes soon converged on the most unfamiliar face among them: Zhou Hao.
"Brother Zhou Hao, are you at the Xiantian late stage?" Shangguan Yun, standing beside him, couldn't help asking.
The other newcomers watched with curiosity, eager to learn the strength of this lucky fellow who had only joined the day before.
"More or less." Zhou Hao nodded.
By the strict measure of realms, his fourth level of the Redbright Nine Heavens Map was only at the early Xiantian stage.
But the Redbright Nine Heavens Map was the foremost God-Devil Body Refining cultivation method. It made one invincible against others of the same realm. Even at the early Xiantian stage, it could match the late Xiantian stage of other cultivation methods. So the military classified him as late Xiantian.
Thus Zhou Hao would join the seven new Xiantian late-stage soldiers and the twenty squad leaders from the other four squads whose realms were at least late Xiantian in contending for the new captaincy.
"You're not very honest, are you? You were at the late Xiantian stage and didn't tell me. And here I thought we were friends." Shangguan Yun glared at him.
"Brother, don't say so much." Shangguan Yu tugged at Shangguan Yun's arm and said helplessly, "We never asked him. You can't expect him to just come right out and tell us."
"True." Shangguan Yun paused, then laughed. "Brother Zhou Hao, I was wrong to blame you."
Watching Shangguan Yu's helpless expression, Zhou Hao smiled and shook his head, assuring them it was nothing.
He was a bit of a simpleton, but not unpleasant.
It wasn't just the Xiantian Lifeforms below who were discussing things. The captains and deputy generals on the viewing stand were also talking.
"Elder Ji, when did we get another newcomer at the late Xiantian stage? How come I didn't know?"
Ren Baili scanned the newcomers' formation, soon settling on Zhou Hao, who had become the focus of everyone's attention. "That kid?"
"Yes. His name is Zhou Hao, and he only joined the Xiantian Battalion yesterday." The silver-haired elder nodded. "He cultivates the Redbright Nine Heavens Map. Although he's only at the fourth level, just entering the Xiantian stage, by his strength, he's still classified as late Xiantian."
"The Redbright Nine Heavens Map?"
Ren Baili and the two captains all shifted their gazes from Zhou Hao to the aloof young man standing nearby.
Cao Rong, who already knew what cultivation method Zhou Hao practiced, had been watching the aloof young man's expression from the start, anticipation in his eyes as he waited for the fun to begin.
"Li Zhan, looks like you'll have a rival from now on," Ren Baili said with a laugh.
Ever since the aloof young man had arrived at the Drill Ground and taken his place on the viewing stand, he had kept his eyes closed, except when he opened them to bow as General Muxuan arrived. The rest of the time, he stood there as if immersed in cultivation, indifferent to everything around him.
Only when Ren Baili spoke to him did the aloof young man, Li Zhan, open his eyes.
He glanced at Zhou Hao, then closed his eyes again. "He's only at the fourth level. He's not a rival yet. Besides, right now, I only want to break through the Xiantian bottleneck and enter the Purple Mansion Realm. I don't want to be distracted by anything else."
"Good. It's best that you think that way, Zhan'er." True Person Muxuan looked at Li Zhan with warmth. "If you can break through to the Purple Mansion Realm, your master will grant you a great opportunity."
"Thank you, Master." Li Zhan opened his eyes and bowed respectfully to True Person Muxuan. Then he closed them again and paid no further attention to everyone's interest in him.
"What's he so smug about?" Cao Rong muttered under his breath. "Brother Zhou Hao killed the Ape Demon as soon as he entered the Xiantian stage. Once he reaches the sixth level too, surpassing you will be a piece of cake."
"What did you say?" Yang Yun, the only woman among the four captains, stood beside Cao Rong. Hearing his quiet muttering, she asked, "What will be a piece of cake?"
Noticing that the general and the deputy generals were looking at him, Cao Rong quickly changed his tune. "I said it'll be a piece of cake for Brother Zhou Hao to win the captaincy."
"A piece of cake?" Yang Yun scoffed. "You think everyone else is just standing around?"
"Yun'er, dare to make a bet with me?" Cao Rong hurriedly said. "I bet Brother Zhou Hao will win the captaincy. If I lose, you can name any condition you like. If I win, all you have to do is let me kiss you once."
"Get lost." Yang Yun raised her willow brows. "I'm not betting with a beast like you. You're only looking for a chance to take advantage of me."
"If you really let me take advantage of you, I promise I'll never take advantage of another woman again," Cao Rong swore.
"Like I'd believe you." Yang Yun gave a cold snort. "Not one of you Four Beasts is any good."
Ren Baili and the others all laughed. The nickname "Four Beasts" for Cao Rong and his subordinates Yang Qiong, Miao Ying, and Zhao Hu had spread throughout Jade Dragon City from Yang Yun herself.
And Cao Rong's fruitless pursuit of Yang Yun was no secret in the Xiantian Battalion.
Every captain in the Xiantian Battalion was an expert at the peak of the Xiantian stage, capable of standing against ordinary early Purple Mansion Cultivators. Li Zhan, ranked first, had even killed a Purple Mansion Cultivator.
In the eyes of True Person Muxuan and the two deputy generals, all four would likely become inner disciples of the Jade Dragon Sect. They usually treated them as special, rather than as ordinary Xiantian Lifeforms.
"That's enough discussion. Let's begin." As soon as True Person Muxuan spoke, everyone stopped chatting.
"Yes." The silver-haired elder walked to the front of the viewing stand.
"Hu Yong, Yang Qiong, Miao Ying, Xi Qianshui... Nan Ming, Shangguan Yun, Shangguan Yu, Zhou Hao."
The silver-haired elder called out the names of twenty-seven people in one breath.
"Those whose names were called, step out and come to the front."
At once, twenty veteran soldiers from the four Xiantian Battalion squads stepped forward.
"Brother Zhou Hao, let's go too." Shangguan Yun's voice was full of excitement.
"Let's go." Zhou Hao, the Shangguan siblings, and the other four newcomers also went to the front of the viewing stand.
"In this contest, the strongest will become the Fifth Squad's captain. The others will serve as squad leaders."
The silver-haired elder looked over the twenty-seven late Xiantian soldiers before the viewing stand, pausing briefly on Zhou Hao. Then he turned to True Person Muxuan. "General, please begin."
True Person Muxuan nodded and looked at the center of the Drill Ground, where the formations of the Xiantian Battalion squads had left an open space.
"Rise!"
Rumble!
The earth shook. Five platforms suddenly rose from the ground at the center of the Drill Ground, each twenty zhang long and wide, and half a meter high.
Once the platforms were built, True Person Muxuan waved his hand. Five streams of green light flew toward them, each transforming in the blink of an eye into a towering puppet, its body seemingly formed of knotted vines. Each stood nearly three meters tall.
"The contest is simple!" The silver-haired elder pointed at the platforms. "There's a Purple Mansion Realm Vine Wood Puppet on each of these five platforms. They'll only use as much strength as an expert at the peak of the Xiantian stage."
"The squad leaders from the four squads and the newcomers' squad will each be assigned a platform. One person from each squad will fight the Vine Wood Puppet at a time. The five people who last the longest will advance to the next round and face off in pairs."
"The strongest in the second round will become the new captain. The others will become squad leaders."
"Remember, no external aids such as talismans are allowed in the platform matches. Anyone who uses an external aid will be disqualified."
"Yes." Zhou Hao and the other twenty-six all bowed in agreement.
Aside from magic treasures and weapons, talismans were the most common way to increase one's strength.
Common ones like the Light Body Talisman, Godly Travel Talisman, and Great Strength Talisman could all boost one's strength by several tenths. Using them in battle was nothing unusual.
But this was a contest to determine the captain. They had to pass the trial using their own strength.
"Are the rules clear to everyone?"
Seeing that no one below had any more questions, the silver-haired elder ordered, "Go to your assigned platforms."
The first round of the Xiantian Battalion's contest for a new captain had officially begun.
Before you continue