Reputation

As noon approached, thousands of martial artists of distinguished status and formidable renown converged on the square before the Rising Dragon Pavilion from up and down the mountain.

Among these thousands, even those of the lowest standing had ties to martial masters of the Blood Exchange and Marrow Washing realm.

Those of higher status included no shortage of major sect leaders, court dignitaries, and Imperial Clan scions.

Of course, the most distinguished were the members of the royal family and the elders and sect-leader-level figures of the Three Great Forces waiting quietly in the pavilion.

But neither the major sect leaders nor the royal family members were the stars of the day.

Those whose names graced the Hidden Dragon Ranking...

Or rather, those ranked in the top ten or top five of the Hidden Dragon Ranking were the true stars at this moment.

Every arrival was bound to stir a wave of exclamations through the crowd.

Discussions about them were likewise incessant.

"Of the top five, Su Jianxing and Yue Longsha are already here. That leaves first-ranked Yan Yu, second-ranked Xiang Yangsheng, and third-ranked Qi Liang. So long as the competition format doesn't depend too heavily on luck, the five Dragon Gate Tokens should end up in their hands. As for the others... their chances are under thirty percent."

"I heard Yan Yu might be a notch weaker than Xiang Yangsheng? Why is she ranked first? Just because she's the Nineteenth Princess?"

"Shh! You can't go saying that. The Tai Xu Sword Palace may hold a transcendent position, but across this territory spanning six thousand li, with a hundred million subjects under its jurisdiction, the Yan Family ultimately reigns supreme. Unless the gap is obvious, the Rising Dragon Pavilion has to give the Yan Family some face."

"Why can't we say it? Never mind that Her Highness Yan Yu might not be weaker than Xiang Yangsheng-even if she really is half a notch below him, she's two years younger. The Hidden Dragon Ranking considers potential as well as strength. In that case, isn't Her Highness Yan Yu's first-place ranking well deserved?"

Amid these discussions, Li Xian, Zhou Juechen, and the others walked slowly down Asking the Dao Mountain.

Along the way, Zhou Juechen explained to Li Xian the possible competition formats used in previous Leaping Over the Dragon Gate events.

"In past Leaping Over the Dragon Gate events, cultivators have been required to find Dragon Gate Tokens in dense forests and bring them back, compete in formal matches, fight ferocious beasts, or compete for assignments to hunt down evil heretics. Last time, they had to find Dragon Gate Tokens on Asking the Dao Mountain, which measures several dozen li around, and deliver them to the Pavilion Master."

"Some entered the mountain early to try their luck, while others blocked the outer square to keep them from meeting the Pavilion Master," Zhou Juechen explained. "But one lucky fellow ranked twenty-sixth on the Hidden Dragon Ranking not only found a Dragon Gate Token early, but also broke through swiftly while everyone in the top ten was being held up. In the end, he delivered his token and completed his ascent as a fish leaping over the Dragon Gate."

With some envy, he said, "As Pavilion Master Shen puts it, strength comes first for cultivators, but fortune and opportunity are just as indispensable."

"I just hope this competition's format won't be so troublesome. Anything but hunting down evil heretics. Otherwise, just finding them will be enough to tie my brows in knots."

Li Xian spoke.

"The Rising Dragon Pavilion provides detailed intelligence when you hunt down evil heretics. Still... having outside help supplying intelligence certainly gives you quite an advantage..."

Zhou Juechen nodded.

But according to the Rising Dragon Pavilion, a cultivator's background also had some bearing on their future prospects and naturally belonged within the scope of the assessment.

"Master, this time there are thirty-two experts in the Body Without Leaks Realm alone, and in reality, only three Dragon Gate Tokens are up for grabs. It's much harder than last time."

Beside them, Hongyu glanced at Zhou Juechen with some concern.

"Thirty-two..."

Zhou Juechen was somewhat helpless about that too.

Unfortunately, time waited for no one.

Li Xian, on the other hand, felt some regret upon hearing that number.

Across all of Great Zhou, the registered population numbered sixty-six million. Including the unregistered population, it approached a hundred million.

Yet a grand Dragon Gate event like this had gathered only thirty-two competitors with impervious bodies.

Although there was an age limit of thirty, this still showed just how rare martial masters of the Body Without Leaks Realm were.

Especially since only six of those thirty-two had achieved blood and qi mastery, which showed that most had only recently attained impervious bodies.

With his current strength...

Probably only those six, including Qi Liang and Yue Longsha, could count as opponents. As for those capable of posing a lethal threat and pushing his potential to its limits, there were only Yan Yu and Xiang Yangsheng.

Ever since I awakened, I've spent most of my time figuring out how to achieve Blood and Qi Mastery. In the end, my accumulated efforts bore fruit through the Blood Refining Art, allowing me to cross that threshold. But as for spirit and qi as one, using the false to cultivate the true, I genuinely have no clue right now... The best way to break out of this impasse and find a lead is to experience True Qi entering my body firsthand.

A keen light gleamed in Li Xian's eyes.

So...

A fight with Yan Yu and Xiang Yangsheng was imperative.

Even if he ultimately lost, suffered serious injuries, and missed his chance at Fish Leaping Over the Dragon Gate, he would not shrink from the cost.

Improving his own strength came before everything else.

Just then, Li Xian noticed that many people seemed to be looking his way, accompanied by all sorts of discussions.

"He's Li Xian!? Ninth on the Hidden Dragon Ranking, known as the Gentleman Sword? Speaking of which, where did that title come from? I've looked into his background in detail too. His actions haven't exactly been honorable, have they?"

"They certainly haven't, but he's a scholar, and now he ranks ninth on the Hidden Dragon Ranking. A title ought to put him in a good light, naturally. So, the Gentleman Sword-you understand?"

"Watch your words! How can people like us casually insult an expert of the Body Without Leaks Realm? Especially given his potential. Even if he fails at Leaping Over the Dragon Gate this time, he'll certainly have a place in the top three of the Hidden Dragon Ranking next time! What are the intentions of whoever spread that title? Don't just parrot what others say and bring trouble down on yourselves!"

"But it's clearly the truth..."

"You think you're the only clever one? Are all those top powers that sent people to recruit him without hesitation fools who wouldn't investigate the whole affair thoroughly?"

"Exactly. Can you even guarantee that what you've heard is true? Don't forget, this Li Hidden Dragon offended a Marquis and a Commandery Prince. That Commandery Prince in particular has an extraordinarily broad network of connections for special reasons."

All manner of discussions rang out incessantly.

Hearing them, Zhou Juechen immediately offered a reminder. "Don't let other people's words affect your state."

"I understand."

Li Xian nodded slightly.

Back when he had tested the world with his fists, malicious slander of every kind had been beyond counting.

It had never disappeared, even after he swept the world clean.

Naturally, he would not waste his temper on people without opinions of their own, so easily fooled by outside information.

The stir caused by Li Xian's arrival lasted only a short while before an even greater commotion swept in from another direction.

"Qi Liang is here!"

"Qi Liang, the Marquis of True Martiality! A beyond first-rate expert just one step away from refining the void into reality and cultivating True Qi. With his exquisite swordsmanship and secret arts, I'd believe it if someone said he could fight a sect-leader-level expert! One of today's places for carp transforming into dragons is definitely his!"

"Huh? Where are those people who were talking about Li Xian earlier? Why isn't anyone standing up to say that Qi Liang was only made a Marquis because he's an imperial son-in-law, basking in the reflected glory of being half a member of the Yan Family?"

"Do you have a death wish? What status and background does Li Xian have? And what status and background does Qi Liang have? You actually dare say something like that?"

Amid the discussions, the strikingly martial Marquis of True Martiality, a longsword on his back, swiftly reached the square surrounded by a sizable crowd.

Beside him, naturally, were Lin Buzhi, who had likewise been courted by the Yan Family, and several experts who had accepted their patronage.

When these people traveled abroad, they were honored guests of one major sect after another.

But standing with Qi Liang now, they were like stars beside a blazing sun. Under his dazzling radiance, each of them paled into insignificance and naturally attracted little discussion.

With Qi Liang's arrival, counting Yue Longsha and Su Jianxing, who had arrived earlier, nearly all the competitors were present.

As for Xiang Yangsheng and Yan Yu...

The two had already transcended the ranks of ordinary participants and virtually secured their Dragon Gate Tokens in advance. Naturally, they would not mingle with the crowd, having long since gone to rest in the pavilion filled with royal family members and the elders and leaders of major powers.

As noon drew near, five figures arrived together and went straight to the raised platform in the square.

At the sight of their arrival, the discussions in the square quickly died away.

Shen Chenzhou, the Rising Dragon Pavilion Master at their head, wasted no words and announced directly.

"This Leaping Over the Dragon Gate now officially begins! The Five-Element Platform has been activated! Anyone may take the stage freely and become its champion. Once you overpower all rivals and no one dares challenge you, you shall be the owner of a Dragon Gate Token!"

(End of chapter)