Five Aggregates Sect Sect Tournament

"Come on, Old Bull. Let's go watch the excitement too."

"Moo."

Chen Xun led the Black Bull in a mad dash after the crowd. The Sect Tournament was being held atop another high peak, quite a distance from here.

As they neared the tournament peak, more and more Five Aggregates Sect disciples appeared. With his straw hat and the Black Bull in tow, Chen Xun no longer stood out at all.

There were not only spirited senior brothers, but also delicate junior sisters, their sweet laughter ringing out without end and making quite a few disciples secretly swallow.

At the summit lay an enormous plaza ringed by nine stone pillars. More than a dozen elders sat in meditation atop the pillars, looking down upon the disciples with peerless bearing.

"Whoa!" Chen Xun led the Black Bull around to look about. Countless disciples were seated all around, taking out golden tokens to register their names.

The plaza buzzed with noise and was packed with figures, yet it did not feel crowded in the slightest. Clouds and mist drifted past, lending the place an ethereal immortal air.

"Moo~" The Black Bull nudged Chen Xun. Why weren't they signing up?

"Let's see how things go this year first. No rush." Chen Xun smiled. He wanted to see what level the top five hundred on the rankings were at.

The Black Bull nodded, stretching out its head to look everywhere at the cultivators, its bovine nose sniffing at something unknown.

Three days later, divine light suddenly flashed from the major peaks of the Five Aggregates Sect. A resounding bell tolled across the land, followed by the low roars of disciples throughout the mountains.

Boom—

Boom—

Nine tolls rang in succession, their echoes unceasing as they swept through the Jade Bamboo Mountains. Several figures even shot into the sky, traveling on escaping light with no magical artifacts beneath their feet.

The annual Sect Tournament had officially begun. It was also an opportunity for countless disciples to see the sect's great figures.

The fog surrounding a giant peak dispersed, and all the disciples respectfully made their way uphill. None dared fly on swords. Looking down the mountain, they saw a vast sea of black-clad figures, so numerous it made one's scalp tingle.

Chen Xun led the Black Bull at the very back of the crowd, scarcely daring to breathe. He had seen someone walking through the air!

The vast magic power surging from that person made both him and the Black Bull feel that a single glance from them could blast them to pieces.

Across the giant peak, rows of dark viewing platforms had been erected, overlooking more than a hundred fighting stages. A Foundation Establishment elder stood beside every three stages.

Their expressions were calm as they sat cross-legged, quietly awaiting the younger generation.

"Greetings, elders! Greetings, Sect Master!"

"Greetings, elders! Greetings, Sect Master!"

All the disciples clasped their hands and lowered their heads. Their thunderous voices echoed all around, churning the clouds and mist with majestic momentum.

On the viewing platform, thirteen great figures rose to their feet. Their expressions and attire varied as they looked toward the tens of thousands of disciples.

Their transcendent bearing was such that even if they stood among a crowd, they could never be overlooked. One glance was enough to pick them out.

"The younger generation is truly formidable. The Five Aggregates Sect's Sect Tournament now officially begins!"

Sect Master You Yuanhua smiled faintly, his robes fluttering though there was no wind. His deep, powerful voice spread in every direction, making every disciple feel as though he were watching them.

There was no unnecessary talk. All the disciples flushed with excitement as they looked toward the various fighting stages, magic power surging within them.

A sharp glint flashed through the Foundation Establishment elders' eyes. A jade slip unfurled into the sky. "In the Sect Tournament, Life and Death are decreed by fate. If you cannot defeat your opponent after taking the stage, you may concede."

The Foundation Establishment elders stepped upon magical artifacts and rose into the air, though none dared fly higher than the viewing platforms.

Expressionless, they looked at the disciples and sent streams of magic power into the jade slip. "Begin!"

As soon as the words fell, the talismans in the hands of countless registered disciples glimmered faintly. Opponents were completely randomized; the first match depended entirely on luck.

Below the viewing platforms, more than a hundred inner sect disciples stood at the front. Dressed in white, their eyes shone brightly as they watched the fighting arenas.

The gazes of the thirteen great figures on the viewing platform also swept toward the various stages. These juniors were the sect's future; they did not wish to see fine jade and precious pearls buried in dust.

Under their watchful gazes, the battles on the stages rapidly heated to a boiling point. Everyone wanted to show themselves and exerted every ounce of strength.

On one stage, two disciples in green robes faced each other. One of them broke out in a cold sweat, his heart trembling. Why did I have to run into him?!

"Bai Shi... Senior Brother, please enlighten me." He was at the Qi Refining Eighth Level. Though his strength was limited, he still had the power to fight. He could not let others look down on him.

"If you lose, Junior Brother, there is no need to be discouraged. There will be another chance next year."

Bai Shi wore an approachable smile, his whole body radiating a gentle temperament. Coupled with his chiseled face, he was simply flawless.

A wave of cheers and commotion rose from outside the stage. Countless junior sisters were utterly captivated, crying out for Senior Brother Bai!

Quite a few junior brothers also gathered around that stage to cheer on their senior brother, placing tremendous pressure on the other contestant.

"Oh, damn."

A voice that spoiled the atmosphere suddenly rang out. Chen Xun led the Black Bull beneath the shade of a tree and clicked his tongue as he looked at the junior sisters.

"Handsome and capable—popular in any world."

"Moo moo!"

The Black Bull shook its head and nudged Chen Xun. It thought Chen Xun was the best-looking; Chen Xun simply never bothered to tidy himself up.

Chen Xun leaned beneath the tree's shade, fanning himself with his straw hat. Every so often, he picked his nose, his eyes fixed on the match with great interest.

On the stage, Bai Shi's gaze suddenly sharpened. A Wind-Riding Technique empowered his feet as he stomped fiercely onto the stage, sending a tremor through it.

Ripples of magic power surged outward in all directions. A suffocating aura bore down directly on his opponent as a slender sword slowly appeared in his hand.

His opponent was no slower. He activated a talisman in his hand, and several streaks of white light flashed across the stage before suddenly appearing beneath Bai Shi's feet.

"An Earth Spike Talisman. Junior Brother, you really spared no expense."

Bai Shi smiled faintly. His body twisted in an eerie manner, perfectly evading the earthen spikes. His eyes remained utterly at ease.

"What?!" The opposing disciple's eyes were filled with disbelief. He had not even touched Bai Shi's robes.

"Clang."

Bai Shi slashed out with a sword strike infused with Sword Qi and magic power. The disciple drew a deep breath, gritted his teeth, and forcibly received the Sword Qi, staggering several steps back from the impact.

A sweetness rose in his throat, but he forcibly swallowed the blood back down. Steadying himself, bloodshot veins appeared in his eyes as he threw out another talisman.

"Giant Strength Talisman!" The disciple's eyes were full of unwillingness. Since he could not compete in magic power, he would compete in physical techniques.

His muscles swelled explosively, and a Sha Qi spread from his body. With a roar, he raised his sword and charged forward.

A trace of seriousness entered Bai Shi's eyes. He patted his storage pouch, and another flying sword shot out, raising a piercing howl.

Yet it came to an abrupt halt half a zhang before the disciple. A golden curtain of light blocked the flying sword outside it. He chuckled softly. "Vajra Talisman!"

Beneath the tree's shade, Chen Xun and the Black Bull stared wide-eyed. Other people fought with magic power; this man fought with Spirit Stones.

"A rich disciple." Chen Xun blinked and looked at the Black Bull. "When will we have that many Spirit Stones too?"

Those talismans were being hurled out one after another, actually irritating that senior brother beyond measure.

"Moo~" The Black Bull gave a perfunctory call, its eyes round as saucers. These people's methods of fighting were endlessly strange; it could barely take it all in.

"Oh, movement techniques!" Chen Xun perked up. He also wanted to learn one. Only then could he make full use of his speed.

On the stage, Bai Shi did not clash head-on with the man either. He kept evading with movement techniques, and once the Giant Strength Talisman's effect wore off, the disciple immediately went limp.

Bai Shi won this battle without any surprise, but this was not his true strength. His opponents were those inner sect disciples.