Thus, the core disciples began one-on-one duels, and in the end, the strongest nine were selected.
"When the time comes, you nine will follow me to participate in the Northern Region Martial Arts Tournament."
Gu Changge said to the nine before him.
"Yes, Dao Child."
The nine answered in unison.
"Ding! Congratulations, Host, for triggering a random mission: Lead Tianyuan Academy's disciples to win first place in the Martial Arts Tournament (0/1)."
At that moment, the system's notification sounded.
Gu Changge then led the nine core disciples toward the venue of the Northern Region Martial Arts Tournament—the imperial city of the Lingxu Divine Dynasty, at the heart of the Northern Region.
Each Martial Arts Tournament was hosted in turn by the major powers of the Northern Region. This time, it was the Lingxu Divine Dynasty's turn to serve as host.
The powers of the Northern Region were interwoven and scattered throughout the land, great and small alike. Yet among those who held the bull by the ear were Tianyuan Academy, the Lingxu Divine Dynasty, the Longevity Huo Family, the Blazing Flame Sect, and the Ice Soul Sect. All five had once produced Great Emperors, though each had only ever produced one.
The rules of the Martial Arts Tournament were simple. All powers in the Northern Region could participate, with each faction sending ten disciples. An elimination tournament would determine the final one hundred victors. Individuals could receive generous rewards, while the factions behind them would be ranked for this Martial Arts Tournament according to the placement of their highest-ranked disciple.
"So this is the Lingxu Divine Dynasty."
"The imperial city is built with such grandeur. As expected of the Lingxu Divine Dynasty."
Upon arriving at the imperial city of the Lingxu Divine Dynasty and witnessing its magnificence, the nine core disciples could not help but sigh in admiration.
Although the Lingxu Divine Dynasty could not compare to the Qianyuan Divine Dynasty, it was still a power that had produced a Great Emperor. As the center of the Divine Dynasty, its imperial city was naturally majestic and magnificent.
Compared to the tranquil seclusion of the academy built upon spiritual mountains, the bustling mortal world here made the core disciples linger, intoxicated by the warmth and clamor of human life.
Holding the invitation to the Northern Region Martial Arts Tournament, Gu Changge arrived at a massive martial arena in the center of the imperial city.
At that moment, the area within a radius of ten li around the martial arena was packed with people. They were cultivators who had come drawn by its fame—sect disciples and Rogue Cultivators alike.
"There is one quarter-hour left before the Northern Region Martial Arts Tournament begins. All contestants, please make your preparations!"
A divine official of the Lingxu Divine Dynasty announced loudly.
All the contestants, whether disciples from various powers or Rogue Cultivators participating as individuals, secretly sat in meditation to restore their strength and prepare for the coming tournament.
"I declare that the Northern Region Martial Arts Tournament has now officially begun!"
The divine official shouted.
"The first round will be an elimination round. All contestants, come forward to draw lots. The two who draw matching lots will form a pair and duel."
There were tens of thousands of participants in this Northern Region Martial Arts Tournament, so the host, the Lingxu Divine Dynasty, had decided to use one-on-one elimination matches in the first round to first weed out half the contestants.
Gu Changge stepped onto the martial arena, where many maidservants of the Divine Dynasty stood holding small wooden tubes filled with wooden lots.
Gu Changge casually walked over to one of the maidservants and drew a wooden lot from her tube.
"Number one thousand two hundred and thirty-four."
Gu Changge read the number on the wooden lot in his hand.
Gu Changge went up to the spectator stands encircling the martial arena and watched the contestants with earlier numbers duel.
Most of the contestants were only at the Marrow Cleansing Realm, and no Dao Child-level contestants had appeared so far, leaving Gu Changge rather uninterested.
Very soon, it was Gu Changge's turn to fight.
"Contestant number one thousand two hundred and thirty-four, come forward to fight!"
The divine official shouted.
Gu Changge descended from the spectator stands and headed for the martial arena.
"Dao Child, good luck!"
"Dao Child, you can definitely do it!"
Lin Ni Yu and Ye Muqing had also accompanied Gu Changge to the Martial Arts Tournament this time, though not as contestants. They had come in their capacity as his maidservants.
Without another word, Gu Changge walked toward the martial arena.
"Core disciple of the Heavenly Punishment Sect, Su Feihong."
The opponent before Gu Changge introduced himself.
"Dao Child of Tianyuan Academy, Gu Changge."
Gu Changge said.
"What? A Dao Child? After the tournament has gone on for so long, a Dao Child has finally appeared!"
"Yes, now there is finally something worth watching."
Disciples from other factions discussed it in the spectator stands.
Su Feihong's expression turned somewhat grave as he looked at Gu Changge. Under normal circumstances, a core disciple stood virtually no chance against a Dao Child.
Su Feihong took a deep breath and said, "Hah... Though you are a Dao Child, I will not back down."
"I admire your courage."
Gu Changge said calmly.
"Heavenly Punishment Palm!"
Seizing the initiative, Su Feihong unleashed a Day Grade Top Rank combat technique, the Heavenly Punishment Palm.
"Tianyuan Imperial Hand!"
Gu Changge gave a low shout. A layer of wind spiritual power instantly covered both his hands, and his fingers shifted continuously as he blocked Su Feihong's attack.
"Mysterious Ice Sword Technique!"
Gu Changge drew the Emperor Grade Low Rank Azure Rainbow Sword and unleashed a sword technique at Su Feihong.
"Heavenly Punishment Imperial Skill!"
Su Feihong was greatly alarmed and hurriedly used the Heavenly Punishment Sect's exclusive imperial skill, barely managing to withstand Gu Changge's sword technique.
"White Flame Saber Technique!"
Gu Changge drew the Emperor Grade Low Rank Flowing Bright Saber and unleashed a saber technique.
"Heavenly Punishment Escape Art!"
This time, Su Feihong did not choose to meet the attack head-on, instead choosing to evade.
"Blood Surge Fist!"
"Qianyuan Seal!"
Gu Changge then unleashed two more offensive Emperor Techniques at Su Feihong in succession.
"As expected of Tianyuan Academy's Dao Child. You possess several Emperor Techniques. I admire you."
Su Feihong said.
Clearly, he had mistaken the Emperor Techniques Gu Changge had brought from the Qianyuan Divine Dynasty for Emperor Techniques collected by Tianyuan Academy.
A trace of envy flashed through Su Feihong's eyes. The Heavenly Punishment Sect was not an imperial lineage power; its strongest ancestor had only reached the Ninth level Quasi-Emperor Realm. Thus, the highest-grade Cultivation Methods in the Heavenly Punishment Sect were only Day Grade Top Rank.
Under Gu Changge's successive offensive Emperor Techniques, Su Feihong gradually found himself unable to hold on.
"I concede."
Su Feihong shouted helplessly.
"I declare the winner of the one thousand two hundred and thirty-fourth duel to be Gu Changge!"
The divine official announced loudly.
After finishing the duel, Gu Changge returned to the spectator stands, where one section was occupied entirely by Tianyuan Academy disciples.
"The Dao Child has returned."
"As expected of the Dao Child. He won his first duel with ease."
Upon seeing Gu Changge return, the core disciples spoke.
For the time that followed, Gu Changge and his group remained seated in the spectator stands. The other nine core disciples of Tianyuan Academy were called onto the martial arena one after another, and all of them secured victory in their duels.
During the duels that followed, Gu Changge spotted the Dao Children of the major powers. They had all previously been core disciples at Tianyuan Academy, and they too won their matches with ease.
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