Was He Not Like a Dragon?

Some people were simply born extraordinary. In a boundless sea of faces, you could spot them at a glance, drawn by their looks or their bearing. One encounter was enough to make you feel that they were no ordinary person.

Some inspired even greater awe, as when Confucius met Laozi and exclaimed, "Was he not like a dragon?"

That was how many people in the ancient grounds had felt when they saw Li Wangxian outside Tianyuan City after he awakened that unfathomable, wondrous power. Even though he had never made a move, every cultivator instinctively believed he was a peerless Heavenly Prodigy.

The beautiful woman had been shaken to her very soul. Just as Confucius had felt upon meeting Laozi, seeing Li Wangxian was like beholding a true dragon. After returning, she felt that heaven and earth were undergoing great changes, with exceptional talents springing forth in droves. That was what gave her the idea of using this grand gathering to find a few pearls lost in the vast ocean.

Of course, the people of the Ziwei Divine Dynasty understood that there were only a handful of true dragons on Li Shenzhou's level in this era, and they did not ask for so much. But talents a tier below him, such as those with king bodies or divine bodies, might well be found.

After all, Ziwei Ancient Star was enormous. Even an immortal lineage could not gather every exceptional talent beneath the heavens.

Yet tigers and leopards hid deep in the mountains, and qilin lay in the fields. In this vast world, some extraordinary Heavenly Prodigies would always be buried amid the crowds and passing years by all manner of chance and circumstance.

These exceptional talents did not necessarily possess special constitutions such as king bodies or divine bodies, but once they matured, they were not necessarily weaker than those who did. Such cases were hardly unique. Every so often in the cultivation world, a few dazzling independent cultivators would rise, rivaling the Saint Sons and heirs of the great holy lands.

Although Li Wangxian did not know the Ziwei Divine Dynasty's plans in full, he had vaguely guessed a little of their intent. With a Saint Weapon in hand, he had nothing to fear anyway. Thus, merely letting a trace of his invincible spirit show had drawn waves of attention from those around him.

He had become far too extraordinary, far too removed from the mundane. Though he wore the Longevity Lock he had recently refined and deliberately restrained himself, he had been born near the Dao. Now that he had successfully cultivated both yin and yang, he seemed like an incarnation of the Great Dao itself. He was simply too exceptional, possessed of an indescribable air that he could not conceal.

It was no use. A man as striking as him was like a firefly in the pitch-black night, wherever he went-so vivid, so outstanding.

Thus, along the way, countless people had already taken notice of him in secret.

Even after those armored Divine Generals arrived, Li Wangxian could sense them watching him, sometimes openly, sometimes discreetly.

Now that I have a Saint Weapon I can awaken at any moment, what does it matter if I become the center of attention? As long as I don't reveal my identity as a member of the Sun God Sect, where in this vast world could I not go?

Li Wangxian felt utterly assured and did not mind drawing a little attention. Or rather, he had come out to gain experience precisely to temper himself, so stirring up some wind and clouds would do no harm.

"Of course, finding the Sun Scripture comes first. This is a good chance to make some inquiries." Having made up his mind, Li Wangxian did not stand on ceremony and began questioning the Divine Generals.

"A hundred victories will let me cultivate in the inner city?"

"That's right. In fact, you don't actually have to fight a hundred matches."

The leader of the Divine Generals nodded, answering Li Wangxian's questions with great care.

"How does that work?" Li Wangxian asked.

"Quite a few Heavenly Prodigies can defeat a hundred cultivators of the same realm, but winning a hundred matches in a row is another matter. It consumes far too much divine power, and among so many cultivators, there are bound to be some tough opponents. After a desperate fight, your injuries may be serious. Even some Saint Son-level figures might not manage it."

Li Wangxian nodded. That was indeed true. Even if someone with a king body could win ninety-nine matches in a row without injury, if an opponent of equal strength-or even slightly weaker-stepped into the final match, he might still lose. Only someone truly invincible, with the makings of an emperor, could be assured of victory.

Of course, Saint Son-level figures had already received invitations from the Ziwei Divine Dynasty and were cultivating in the inner city. They would not come out to compete with the other cultivators.

"Then what exactly do you mean by a hundred victories in a hundred battles?" another cultivator nearby could not help asking.

"Win ten matches first to advance to the next round, then face cultivators who have also advanced and win another ten matches. That counts as a hundred victories in a hundred battles as well."

The armored Divine General's answer prompted quite a few silent complaints. That hardly seemed much easier than winning a hundred matches in a row!

After all, anyone capable of winning ten rounds in succession was already one in a hundred, surely?

Even someone who had won ten matches through good fortune, because their opponents had not been particularly strong overall, would be no simple character.

Winning ten consecutive matches against such one-in-a-hundred cultivators of the same realm-compared to winning a hundred matches in a row, did that merely mean fewer fights and less divine power consumed?

At that thought, quite a few people grumbled inwardly. It might not even consume less. There were fewer matches, but the quality of the opponents was higher!

Seeing this, the leading Divine General frowned and rebuked them, "It is already an exceptional act of grace from the Imperial Mother that you are allowed to cultivate here in the Divine City. If you are not champions of a hundred victories, how could you enter the inner city and feast alongside the Saint Sons?"

Everyone's expression stiffened at those words. They realized that, because this Divine General had seemed easy to talk to, they had unwittingly begun taking a mile after being given an inch.

At once, some older cultivators spoke up to express their gratitude.

"The Imperial Mother is indeed benevolent and cares for all beneath the heavens, but how could anyone who is not a champion of a hundred victories win her favor?"

"Exactly, exactly! That is only right!" Everyone nodded incessantly like chicks pecking at grain.

"A hundred victories? That won't be difficult!" Ignoring the farce, Li Wangxian merely smiled faintly and nodded after hearing the leading Divine General's explanation.

His words drew everyone's attention. Given his extraordinary bearing, no one mocked him. They merely marveled at his confidence. Could he truly be an extraordinary Heavenly Prodigy?

The leading Divine General looked Li Wangxian over again and again upon hearing this. For some inexplicable reason, he felt that this man was not boasting, but genuinely possessed the ability that gave him such confidence.

"I look forward to it!" The leading Divine General nodded and spoke meaningfully to Li Wangxian. He had become deeply interested in the coming battles.

No one spoke for the rest of the journey. Only after they had been led to gardens and other buildings specially prepared within the city and assigned rooms where they would rest over the next few days did everyone begin to grow excited.

Seeing this, the leading Divine General wasted no words and went straight to the subject that interested everyone most.

"The Battle Arena is just ahead. All of you may give it a try. Though you might not make it into the inner city, if you perform well and catch the eye of the dynasty's higher-ups, you may also join our Ziwei Divine Dynasty."

At these words, many of the young cultivators felt their hearts stir. They had long since had their fill of the hardships of independent cultivation. Not only did they lack cultivation resources, they were frequently bullied as well, and their lives could be in danger at any moment.

But joining an immortal lineage would change everything! Even if they could not swagger about unchecked afterward, they would at least have a powerful backer and no longer be rootless duckweed.

At that moment, not only the younger cultivators but even some middle-aged and elderly ones could not suppress their excitement. They dearly wanted to swallow their pride and ask whether they too could join the Ziwei Divine Dynasty.

"So that is the Battle Arena?"

Li Wangxian paid no attention to the others' conversation. His gaze shifted, and he saw a vast plaza straight ahead, filled with fighting platforms and crowds of cultivators.