Chapter Thirty-six: The First Round

Yang Xiao ceased his cultivation, gathering his aura within. At this moment, he presented only an ordinary appearance to others, yet appeared all the more enigmatic and unfathomable. Only cultivators whose power far surpassed his could truly perceive his exact realm through their spiritual sense. Ordinary disciples could only sense that his cultivation was elusive and unpredictable, making it difficult to fathom him.

Nevertheless, his emergence from the Earthfire Vein this time still startled the two guards present. They gazed at Yang Xiao in speechless astonishment, unable to believe that he had remained within the Earthfire Vein for two months without coming out—a feat that had never occurred before. Not to mention disciples at the Spiritual Perception stage, even cultivators at the Qi Condensation stage would find it nearly impossible to endure the vein's extreme heat for two months.

Moreover, when Yang Xiao emerged, his manner was composed and tranquil, showing not the slightest sign of injury. This was even more inconceivable—was it possible that the searing temperatures of the Earthfire Vein had no effect on him at all?

Of course, the two guards had no idea that Yang Xiao had cultivated the Ninefold Golden Body. His physique was far stronger than any ordinary Qi Condensation cultivator; after all, most cultivators at that stage only trained their true qi, paying scant attention to physical refinement, leaving their bodies relatively fragile. Once their protective qi was broken, even an ordinary spiritual tool could be deadly. Yang Xiao, however, focused primarily on physical cultivation; in terms of resilience, his body was likely superior to most spiritual artifacts. Thus, it was hardly surprising that he could withstand the Earthfire Vein's heat with his body alone; indeed, his time within was itself a kind of tempering, and his Ninefold Golden Body had made further progress. Though these advances still fell short of the requirements for the second tier of the Ninefold Golden Body, the first tier had become more consolidated, and his physical strength had further increased, greatly enhancing his overall power.

Yang Xiao handed the two guards a sufficient amount of spirit stones and, ignoring their amazement, turned and departed. This time, he made his way to a training ground atop the mountain—the very site where the Giant Spirit Sect held its annual disciple competition.

The two guards discussed Yang Xiao as if he were some kind of monster, but ultimately concluded that he must possess a unique constitution, capable of resisting high temperatures. Such things were not unheard of, and, according to legend, some people were born with special attributes—for example, a body attuned to fire, granting them high resistance to heat and making it much easier for them to cultivate fire-based techniques. Such individuals were considered prodigies in the cultivation world. It seemed reasonable to classify Yang Xiao among them, which would explain his prolonged stay in the Earthfire Vein. If that were the case, then Yang Xiao was undoubtedly a rare talent—perhaps one seen only once in a hundred years. After some deliberation, the two guards resolved to curry favor with Yang Xiao in the future; befriending someone so promising could only benefit them.

Upon arriving at the training ground, Yang Xiao found that many disciples had already assembled. At the center was, of course, the arena for the matches, surrounded by onlookers.

The central arena was a massive platform, divided into several areas. Any disciple wishing to participate in the competition could register and ascend the stage, while those who felt their own talents insufficient could only watch from below.

Although disciples at the fourth tier of Spiritual Perception were eligible to compete, by the time of the final rounds, those at the fourth or fifth tier were generally outmatched. Their main purpose in participating was to gain practical experience; achieving a high ranking was out of the question. Only those at the sixth tier of Spiritual Perception could hope to make it into the top eight, and the sect only rewarded the top eight. Thus, lower-level disciples mostly watched from below, wisely avoiding the risks of the arena, for once on stage, danger was inevitable and the weak were bound to be injured. It was safer to simply observe.

This time, however, Yang Xiao was determined to participate. He made his way to the registration area, which was also where disciples ascended the stage. A few disciples guarded this spot, verifying the eligibility of those wishing to compete.

When Yang Xiao reached the registration, he was stopped as a matter of course. But when he revealed a portion of his cultivation, the disciple in charge let him pass and gave him a number token.

Yang Xiao glanced at the token, which bore the number "Thirty." Clearly, he was to compete in area thirty of the arena.

The vast platform was divided into dozens of sections. Yang Xiao, holding his token, found his way to section thirty. His opponent had not yet arrived, so he waited patiently.

As Yang Xiao ascended the stage, the disciple who had approved his registration shook his head and muttered, “He’s practically asking for trouble. Daring to sign up with only fourth-tier Spiritual Perception—doesn’t he know he’s in for a beating?” Earlier, when examining Yang Xiao’s cultivation, Yang Xiao had only revealed part of his power, appearing to be at the fourth tier. Naturally, the disciple believed that was his true level, which meant he would merely be cannon fodder and soon knocked out of the competition. Shaking his head again, the disciple turned his attention to the other participants.

Yang Xiao waited in section thirty for a while before his first opponent arrived: another disciple, older in years—perhaps nearly thirty—who appeared honest and solid, yet unfamiliar to Yang Xiao. Clearly, he was a fellow recluse, rarely seen about the sect.

The opponent announced his name, saying, “I am Ji Ben. Please give me your guidance, junior brother.” As he spoke, he released his aura, revealing himself to be a fifth-tier disciple of Spiritual Perception.

Yang Xiao cupped his fists in return and replied, “I am Yang Xiao. Please instruct me, senior brother.”

Since his opponent was so courteous, Yang Xiao responded in kind. After all, they were fellow disciples of the same sect; even if the contest became fierce, as long as the other did not resort to deadly force, Yang Xiao had no intention of gravely injuring him.