The elders of the Purple Firmament Palace looked at each other with disdain and indifference.
He spoke calmly.
"The disciples of your Cinnabar Cloud Sword Sect in the last three years have truly been incredibly weak."
"I think it would be better if they all joined my Purple Firmament Palace. Although their aptitude isn't the best, it's still better than them not making any progress in your Cinnabar Cloud Sword Sect for several years."
Not far from him, another elder also spoke up.
"I thought that Great Saint Yantian's legacy would be somewhat troublesome."
"I didn't expect it to be this easy."
"My Purple Firmament Palace has already defeated seven disciples of your Cinnabar Cloud Sword Sect. Fellow Daoists, is there any need to continue this contest?"
Upon hearing this, Cao Zhengyang and the other elder did not look too pleased.
With the great formation beneath their feet, they were locked in a stalemate, reaching an agreement that the formation would serve as the basis for their battle, with the strongest members of both sides acting as guardians, mutually restraining each other.
The contestants, naturally, are disciples from their respective sects.
But as the elder of the Purple Firmament Palace said, they had already lost seven people in a row, and the gap between them was quite large. This was not only humiliating, but also exhausting, and they felt that they could not see any hope.
"But..."
A boy from Ximu Peak had a blank expression on his face.
He touched the gourd at his waist, tilted his head, and looked utterly bewildered on his slightly childish face.
"Senior sister, I still don't understand why we insist on competing against them?"
"Why not just seize the fortuitous opportunity directly?"
"Even if we assume we can't beat them... why don't they just steal the fortuitous opportunity? Why bother with a duel? It's weird..."
Cao Chun glanced at the young man.
He didn't lose his temper.
She simply stated, "Because this place has been set up with the Heavenly Net Scarlet Pattern Formation."
"This is a formation created by the Great Saint Yantian to select disciples, but it has long been lost. Since the Great Saint Yantian, no one has been able to set up this formation."
She wanted to say something more, but seeing the boy's blank expression, she figured that no matter how much she said, he probably wouldn't understand. So she simply said, "In other words, if two or more beings enter the formation at the same time, the inheritance won't randomly select one person. Instead, these beings will be required to compete, and only the winner can take the inheritance."
If I'm not mistaken...
Cao Chun thought about what she had just heard about the cause and effect, and pursed her lips.
"I'm afraid that Princess Chunyang of my Cinnabar Cloud Sword Sect received the recognition of the inheritance first, but before she could complete the inheritance, people from the Purple Firmament Palace entered the formation."
"Due to the passage of time, this formation has long lost its vitality and spirit; it is merely barely functioning. Therefore, when the disciples of the Purple Firmament Palace began their struggle, Chunyang was defeated..."
She explained the story in detail to the boy, and also to the others from Ximu Peak who had come with her, so that they would take it more seriously.
The so-called Princess Chunyang refers to the junior sister of Danfeng who was injured.
She was the last disciple of the peak master of Zuzi Peak. She was formerly a princess in the mortal realm named Chunyang. She was loved from birth, was clever and mischievous, and had excellent luck.
When the peak master of Zuzi Peak was traveling, he encountered Chunyang. Almost immediately upon seeing him, he calculated that the two had a master-disciple relationship. After informing his father and mother, he took Chunyang away.
Ten years have passed since Chunyang came to the Cinnabar Cloud Sword Sect.
She is only fifteen years old now.
Not only did he possess exceptional luck, but he also displayed alchemy talent that rivaled that of the peak master of Zuzi Peak.
It's fair to say that she is absolutely Zouzi Peak's darling.
However, his foundation was maliciously damaged and his opportunity stolen. Now he is seriously injured and unconscious. One can imagine how furious the peak master of Zuzi Peak would be if he found out.
It's not just a matter concerning the peak master of Zuzi Peak; in fact, Chunyang himself is indeed innocent and carefree, with a gentle nature, and treats all disciples, whether inside or outside the peak, equally.
Her current state of beating has genuinely angered many of her disciples, who now yearn for revenge.
Cao Chun's guess was actually not much different.
Chunyang's talent in formations is second only to his talent in Dao of Alchemy. If he can receive the inheritance of the Great Saint Yantian, his dual cultivation of alchemy and formations will definitely make him one of the cornerstones of the Cinnabar Cloud Sword Sect in the future.
This is something that the people of the Purple Firmament Palace absolutely cannot tolerate.
Therefore, they didn't hesitate to seize it—not only because they couldn't stand by and watch the Cinnabar Cloud Sword Sect grow stronger, but also because it was the Great Saint's inheritance, and who wouldn't want it?
However, the existence of the Heavenly Net Scarlet Pattern Formation, while harming Chunyang, also indirectly prevented Purple Firmament Palace from succeeding.
During the struggle, Cao Zhengyang arrived and firmly established himself at the heart of one side's formation.
Next was another elder from the Cinnabar Cloud Sword Sect.
However, the Elder Gong arrived very quickly.
A power struggle has ensued between the two sides.
The dispute remained unresolved.
Therefore, rules are established.
Using the Heavenly Net Scarlet Pattern Formation as a benchmark, the disciples of both sides were allowed to compete.
Within three years of joining the sect, disciples under the age of twenty can compete against each other, and the winner can take one step forward in the formation.
Disciples aged twenty and above compete, and the winner can take two steps forward in the formation.
In the end, the side closest to the center of the legacy wins and obtains the legacy.
Currently, neither of the two members of the Cinnabar Cloud Sword Sect has made a move.
The two people from the Purple Firmament Palace moved forward seven steps!
Seven steps!
They were just three steps away from approaching the inheritance and collecting it!
It's not just about inheritance.
Before the battle, Cao Zhengyang even made an agreement with the other side that if Cinnabar Cloud Sword Sect won, Purple Firmament Palace must hand over the person who injured Chunyang.
Let them decide what to do with it.
Provide compensation.
Two-thirds of the treasures they obtained in the secret realm were to be given to Chunyang as compensation for Chunyang's injury and inability to fight for a long period of time.
They even demanded that they hand over half of the Pill Furnace containing the Half-Step Saint Weapon.
certainly...
If the Cinnabar Cloud Sword Sect loses...
These inanimate objects must be returned to the Purple Firmament Palace intact.
In addition, Chunyang must join Purple Firmament Palace!
This is an utterly unreasonable demand.
However, after taking the elixir, Chunyang briefly regained consciousness and agreed to it.
At that moment, she spoke with unwavering resolve. Though her lips were pale and she appeared weak, she gripped the hands of her senior brothers and sisters beside her and whispered, "I believe in everyone... we won't lose to you."
"I believe in the Cinnabar Cloud Sword Sect, and I'm willing to take this bet."
believe.
But now, they're about to betray that child's trust!
How could Cao Zhengyang feel good about this?
Initially, they agreed because they believed they could win.
After all, they arrived early, accompanied by a newly joined disciple of Quail Head Peak, whose talent was exceptionally monstrous.
He possessed the cultivation level of an Emperor Realm cultivator, was favored by the Peak Master of Quail Head Peak, and even inherited his legacy, cultivating secret techniques. Among his peers, he was extremely powerful.
I thought that with this in mind, victory was practically assured.
Alas...
He was severely injured in one blow and immediately suppressed!
Since then, the Cinnabar Cloud Sword Sect has suffered six more defeats.
Up to now...
The bet is now in its final stage, and no one else can step up.
After that, only the senior disciples could play, but if they lost two more matches, everything would be over.
Everything else is negotiable, but Chunyang is the last disciple of the peak master of Zuzi Peak, and moreover, the future alchemy master of the Danxia Sword Sect!
How could we lose?
Can...
Who else can play?