Chapter 200

Chapter 200: Heguan Sect, Like a Flower?

Atop Yuanwu Mountain, the Immortal Gate appeared.

The true甲子大比 (Jiazi Grand Competition) was about to begin.

This was the moment closest to the inheritance of Sacred Martial Arts for northern martial cultivators, happening once every sixty years.

Xiao Yang was set to step onto the path of ascension again, climbing the问仙台 (Wenxian Platform).

Yet at this moment, he felt an unusual calm.

In his last life, he narrowly survived, bringing home the first prize in the Jiazi Grand Competition for his sect, successfully planting the Supreme Dao Sect in the Yuanwu Immortal Domain, becoming the number one sect in the north.

But what was the outcome?

Even after achieving such great merit for the sect, his master, Jiang Qitian, still treated him like a backup option.

Jiang Qitian didn’t he persistently groom Qin Fei?

Wasn’t Qin Fei just someone with an Innate Dao Body?

What was so special about that?

Wasn’t Qin Fei just good with words?

Wasn’t he just good at acting?

So what?

In his past life, during the final battle with Qin Fei, if it weren’t for his little junior sister Jiang Ting’s desperate protection of Qin Fei, Qin Fei would have been done for.

Xiao Yang knew very well that hard work after the fact is what truly matters.

Though his cultivation physique may not match Qin Fei’s, hard work could make up for it.

In fact, that held true.

Without hard work, even having a heaven-defying cultivation physique is useless.

He had obtained the Futian Sword Technique and genuinely looked down on the Sacred Martial inheritance from the Yuanwu Immortal Domain.

Because he knew that the inheritance of Emperor Futian was vastly superior to the Sacred Martial inheritance within Yuanwu’s realm.

While he had dismissed the Yuanwu Immortal Domain’s inheritance, the thought of all the hard-earned resources and martial inheritance potentially benefiting Qin Fei, Jiang Qitian, and the entire Qingyang Sword Sect still left a sour taste in his mouth.

But there was nothing he could do. He needed to leave the Qingyang Sword Sect and cut ties with the Xiao family, meaning he had to win the first place in the Jiazi Grand Competition.

Otherwise, Jiang Qitian and the others would undoubtedly stop him from leaving.

The Xiao family would continue to entangle him endlessly.

At this point, he was still not strong enough to challenge the entire Qingyang Sword Sect.

Most importantly, he wanted a clean break, not wanting a messy parting.

After all, the Qingyang Sword Sect had nurtured him.

Without the Qingyang Sword Sect, he wouldn’t have become a swordsmanship genius.

Helping the Qingyang Sword Sect win the Jiazi Grand Competition was his way of repaying all their kindness.

From then on, he would have nothing to do with the Qingyang Sword Sect.

And the Xiao family too.

Soon, he would be free.

Soon, he would be liberated.

Soon, he wouldn’t be bound by these people.

From then on, the sky was high and birds could fly freely, the sea was wide and fish could leap unrestricted.

In his previous life, he was trapped in the north by the Qingyang Sword Sect, the Xiao family, and Qin Fei.

The world was so vast; he wanted to go out and see it.

A broader world was waiting for him!

“Let’s go!”

Xiao Yang waved his hand, striding toward Yuanwu Mountain.

Ye Ling’er hurriedly followed him.

There was a spark in Xiao Yang’s eyes.

This made her a little smitten.

In the Sacred Martial Forbidden Domain, flying was not permitted.

On his way to Yuanwu Mountain, Xiao Yang split from Ye Ling’er.

This was another move he made in secret.

No one would suspect that Ye Ling’er was his disciple.

Whether it was Chu Guixi or Ye Ling’er, both were his trump cards.

With Xiao Yang’s pace, it still took him three hours to reach the foot of Yuanwu Mountain.

At this point, countless people had already gathered at the mountain gate.

In front of the steps, everyone was hesitant.

The four gates of Yuanwu Mountain each had a set of steps leading directly to the summit.

That was the path of ascension.

When Xiao Yang arrived, someone had just stepped onto the internal steps.

However, as soon as that person’s right foot landed on the first step, a bolt of lightning struck down from nowhere, instantly turning that person into ashes.

“…”

Everyone was dumbfounded.

The entire place fell silent.

“What happened?”

Those who had intended to step onto the stairs were mortified.

“How could this be?”

Someone exclaimed.

“Only those under sixty bones can ascend this path.”

A middle-aged man sighed.

“The Jiazi Grand Competition is for the younger generation.”

Someone else explained.

“This…”

Many people’s expressions changed at those words.

A lot of young martial cultivators were unfamiliar with the rules of the Jiazi Grand Competition.

“The people from Supreme Dao Sect have arrived.”

Someone shouted loudly.

In front of the mountain gate, people parted to let a group pass by.

At the forefront was the leader of the Supreme Dao Sect, the Supreme Dao Master.

Behind him was the Supreme Dao Child of the Supreme Dao Sect.

In the hands of the Supreme Dao Child was the sect’s ultimate treasure, the Supreme Sword.

Following the Supreme Dao Child were ten of the strongest successors selected by the Supreme Dao Sect.

The Supreme Dao Master stepped onto the path of ascension.

Everyone was left stunned.

Wasn’t it said that only those under sixty bones could ascend the path?

The Supreme Dao Master had dominated the north for a thousand years, and his bone age was way over the limit.

The younger martial cultivators whispered among themselves.

“Poor knowledge! The Supreme Dao Master carries the sect’s grand seal, so of course he can ascend.”

Someone explained.

The top ten sects in the north were all recognized by the will of the Yuanwu Immortal Martial Arts, and the sect’s grand seal in their hands was the key to enter the Yuanwu Immortal Domain.

The people from the Supreme Dao Sect were the first to step onto the path of ascension.

Once they knew the rules of the Jiazi Grand Competition, those eligible began to rush to the path.

Xiao Yang mixed into the crowd, stepping onto the path as well.

“Hey, young man, alone? How about joining our Heguan Sect?”

Suddenly, as Xiao Yang walked, a fragrant scent wafted by. He turned to look.

“Whoa!”

He saw a rugged “woman” with a bushy beard grinning at him while digging her nose.

“Heguan Sect?”

Xiao Yang was shocked.

“That’s right! I’m the senior sister of Heguan Sect, Nie Ruhua.”

The rough-looking woman chuckled, her voice reminiscent of an old cow.

“You’re really a woman?”

Xiao Yang was suspicious of her gender.

“Absolutely!”

Nie Ruhua puffed out her chest.

Taking a closer look, Xiao Yang could indeed see some substance.

He was convinced she was a woman.

“Your beard…”

Xiao Yang found it hard to believe how a woman could have a beard.

“Ha ha, just a bit of practice gone wrong.”

Nie Ruhua shrugged it off.

“Thanks for the offer, but I’ll have to pass.”

Xiao Yang declined outright.

The Heguan Sect, huh? Just the name alone suggested it was no ordinary sect.

Having a beard from practice gone wrong really sounded incredible.

“My group of junior sisters, they’re all like flowers, dazzling in beauty! Young man, think it over!”

Nie Ruhua didn’t give up.

“I think I’ll pass!”

Xiao Yang looked at Nie Ruhua’s “flower-like” face and felt chills run down his spine.

Visions of a group of women like Nie Ruhua swarming around him sent shivers down him.

Way too terrifying.

“Young man, so gallant, a true dragon among men. Not joining Heguan Sect would be a real loss.”

Nie Ruhua sighed regretfully.

“Not a loss, not at all! I’ll take my leave now.”

Xiao Yang said, quickening his pace, leaving Nie Ruhua behind.

“Wha—”

Others couldn’t believe their eyes as they watched Xiao Yang dash up the steps.

The moment they stepped onto the path, an invisible pressure enveloped them.

The higher they climbed, the greater the pressure.

Weaker cultivators couldn’t even reach the summit of Yuanwu Mountain.

Even Nie Ruhua was shocked, watching Xiao Yang’s retreating back.

The Jiazi Grand Competition, happening once every sixty years in the north, was indeed a selection for successors in Sacred Martial Arts.

This was no secret among the bigwigs in the north.

And it was far from a secret as far as Xiao Yang was concerned.

He had already participated in the Jiazi Grand Competition in his past life.

Moreover, he had become the most remarkable dark horse at the competition.

The Fuyiao Sword Sect was yanked down from its position as the number one in the north by him.

This path of ascension was just the beginning; it was the first hurdle of the Jiazi Grand Competition.

This very hurdle would directly eliminate countless competitors.

Such was the cruel reality.

In the Yuanwu Immortal Domain, real Sacred Martial inheritance was hidden.

Who could easily access such supreme inheritance?

Soon, Xiao Yang had outpaced most of the crowd, closing in on the group from Supreme Dao Sect.

“Hmm?”

The people from Supreme Dao Sect hadn’t expected someone could catch up with them.

“Who is he?”

They looked at Xiao Yang with surprise.

If he could keep pace with them, it meant his cultivation wasn’t lesser than theirs.

The Supreme Dao Child tightened his grip on the Supreme Sword when he saw Xiao Yang.

Xiao Yang didn’t surpass these individuals; instead, he leisurely followed behind them.

Just then, someone came rushing up from behind.

Xiao Yang was taken aback upon seeing the newcomers.

It was Hua Mengli and a crowd of female disciples from the Carefree Palace.

He had previously engaged in close combat with Hua Mengli while wearing a mask.

“Heard that Xiao Yang’s Holy Maiden got herself knocked up; seems the rumors weren’t true!”

One of the disciples from the Supreme Dao Sect suddenly laughed.

“What did you say?”

A female disciple from the Carefree Palace shot a furious glare at the Supreme Dao Sect disciple.

“I see your Holy Maiden’s belly isn’t growing either!”

The Supreme Dao disciple brazenly scrutinized Hua Mengli’s abdomen.

“You’re outrageous!”

The Carefree Palace team was incensed.

“Trying to die?”

The female disciple from the Carefree Palace yelled, leaping up and smashing down on the Supreme Dao disciple.

A phantom of a flying phoenix erupted from her.

This was the Carefree Palace’s Flying Phoenix Palm.

“Hmph!”

The Supreme Dao disciple snickered, sending out a palm strike to meet hers head-on.

“Bang!”

A dull sound echoed, sending the Carefree Palace disciple toppling back, nearly falling.

“Are all Supreme Dao Sect members such slanderous and rude wastrels?” Hua Mengli said coldly.

Hearing this, the people from the Supreme Dao Sect were unhappy.

However, the Supreme Dao Master said nothing, proceeding onward without looking back.

Ahead lay an endless staircase.

“Be sensible and take your leave!”

The Supreme Dao disciple halted, blocking Hua Mengli and her group’s way.

The other disciples from Supreme Dao Sect continued their advance unimpeded.

Understood!

Xiao Yang paused.

That Supreme Dao disciple was deliberately provoking them.

Was the Supreme Dao Sect cleaning house already?

The Carefree Palace was ranked eleventh in the north.

It was surprising that the Supreme Dao Sect would try to force the Carefree Palace members down the mountain with just one disciple left.

Xiao Yang had participated in the Jiazi Grand Competition in his previous life.

The competition was incredibly fierce.

However, he didn’t expect the Supreme Dao Sect would start clearing the field right on the path of ascension.

“Unbelievable, how dare you look down on the Carefree Palace like this?”

Hua Mengli glared, her anger boiling.

The Supreme Dao Sect was truly too arrogant!

“Take him down!”

With a command from Hua Mengli, ten female disciples from the Carefree Palace immediately fanned out, surrounding the Supreme Dao disciple.

Xiao Yang noticed the formation they were standing in was strategic.

It was a combined attack array.

The Carefree Palace disciples formed a martial formation.

“Kill!”

The leading female disciple shouted, unleashing ribbons from their hands that shot towards the Supreme Dao disciple.

“Supreme Sword Technique, One Sword Shocking the Immortals!”

The Supreme Dao disciple waved his right hand, unleashing a deadly sword light that instantly shredded the oncoming ribbons into shreds.

Tattered cloth flew everywhere.

A powerful sword qi surged forth, sending the ten Carefree Palace disciples flying apart.

“Carefree Palace is nothing; you might as well retreat!”

The Supreme Dao disciple stood arrogantly.

True experts reveal their prowess with a single blow.

Once that Supreme Dao disciple showed his skills, he deeply intimidated the crowd.

Hua Mengli was both shocked and furious.

However, the Jiazi Grand Competition, taking place once every sixty years, was crucial to the rise and fall of sects, determining the fate of countless within the sect. She wouldn’t easily give up.

Hua Mengli stepped forward.