Staying Alive Cautiously in the Celestial Realm and Becoming the Strongest

The venue, holding nearly two thousand Cultivators, was bustling with noise.

These Inner Sect Disciples of Sunset Peak, some were engaged in animated discussions; others were playing and laughing.

There were even people verbally sparring with each other!

In such a scenario, the two individuals cracking sunflower seeds in a corner hardly attracted any attention.

But now, an Elder from Purple Mansion had just ascended the Lecture Platform.

The Divine Sense of the Purple Mansion Superior was extremely powerful; any movement on the scene could not escape his Perception.

Therefore, under the Elder’s watchful eyes, it was best to behave oneself.

Otherwise, if singled out to be made an example of, one had no right to complain of injustice!

The whole venue quickly became quiet.

Everyone sat earnestly on the cushion, listening intently to the Elder’s speech.

No one dared to stand out as a sore thumb at this time.

A stick of incense time had just passed when a rumbling sound entered the ears of all Disciples.

The Lecture Platform trembled violently, and the rocks that were a major part of it began to shift positions.

The sound was from the friction between stones.

In a moment, the upper half of the Lecture Platform slowly unfolded in all four directions.

Its height decreased, while the area of the top platform continued to expand.

In the end, it formed an inverted pyramid structure still standing firmly atop the venue!

According to the rules of Sunset Peak’s Lecture Platform, Disciples wishing to contest for a spot in the top ten needed to climb this gigantic Lecture Platform and then issue a challenge to the representatives who participated in last year’s Sect Competition.

If successful, one could replace the original holder of the spot.

If defeated, one had to pay five hundred Merit Points to the victor!

The challenged could also refuse, but only if they voluntarily relinquished their representative status.

The top ten spots belonged to the most capable!

Moreover, Disciples who entered the ranks of the top ten would automatically gain the status of True Disciples, enjoying corresponding privileges.

In short, for Cultivators with ambition and strength, the Sunset Peak Lecture Platform and the Sect Competition undoubtedly offered a Path to the Heavens!

“Lu Hong!”

What no one expected was that the moment the Purple Mansion Elder announced the start of this year’s Sunset Peak Lecture Platform, a Cultivator in a blue robe leaped onto the platform and shouted in a deep voice, “Come up and face your death!”

The entire venue erupted into an uproar!

Who was Lu Hong?

He was the chief True Disciple of Sunset Peak and one of the representatives in the Sect Competition last year.

He was a direct descendant of the Purple Mansion Lu Family, having reached Great Perfection in Qi Cultivation at just twenty-two years old, and it was said he had a good chance to achieve a Breakthrough Mansion this year.

Many speculated that Lu Hong would attempt his first Breakthrough Mansion after participating in this Sect Competition.

Regardless of whether he succeeded, there was no doubt about his extraordinary talent for cultivation.

Because of his noble birth and exceptional talents, Lu Hong was very popular among the more than two thousand Inner Sect Disciples of Sunset Peak, garnering a large following.

There had been those who challenged Lu Hong during previous Lecture Platforms, but all had ended in defeat.

Who would have thought that the first of the top ten Disciples to be challenged this year would be the one reputed to be the strongest—Lu Hong!

However, when everyone saw the appearance of the challenger, many faces changed.

“It’s Zhao Huaian.”

Sitting next to Wang Chen, Pang Zitong chuckled and said, “Now we’ll get to see a good show!”

The grievance between Zhao Huaian and Lu Hong was an open secret among Sunset Peak.

It was well known that Lu Hong repressed this “fortunate” Disciple!

All along, it had been Zhao Huaian who was kept down, unable to raise his head.

He even disappeared from the Sect for some time.

There was no way around it, no matter their cultivation level or status and power, Lu Hong could crush Zhao Huaian.

However, the sect’s rules were strict, and the Sect Leader had once given his word for Zhao Huaian.

Thus, he had managed to cling on to life.

But everyone believed that this Loose Cultivator from the Outer Domain was bound to vanish completely sooner or later!

When he appeared again, he boldly stepped onto the Lecture Platform to slap Lu Hong in the face!

And no cultivator present was a fool.

Since Zhao Huaian dared to publicly challenge Lu Hong, who was far stronger than himself,

unless he was tired of living,

he must have some kind of trump card capable of dealing with a Cultivator at the level of Complete Qi Cultivation!

And Zhao Huaian’s display of momentum and will to fight when he called out on the Lecture Platform confirmed such speculation.

“Well done!”

In such a situation, Big Senior Brother Lu of the Lu Family could no longer sit back and relax!

He immediately let out a fierce shout and leapt onto the Lecture Platform.

Confronting Zhao Huaian head-on!

“Big Senior Brother is mighty!”

The Inner Sect Disciples following Lu Hong shouted and cheered for him.

However, no matter how many they were, they couldn’t help Lu Hong gang up on Zhao Huaian on the platform, making their messy yelling somewhat laughable.

Zhao Huaian gave a cold laugh, meeting Lu Hong’s gaze, their eyes hiding who knew how many flashes of sword light!

The Elder from the Purple Mansion presiding over the Sunset Peak Lecture Platform said in a deep voice, “Let the debates be guided by principles, and stop at the first touch.”

No sooner had his words fallen than a nearly transparent barrier appeared at the edges of the Lecture Platform.

The protective array inside the platform was already activated!

This Array could protect the spectators around the platform and ensure the combatants on top did not suffer a deathly catastrophe.

And in the instant the protective array was activated, Lu Hong and Zhao Huaian moved at the same time!

A brilliant sword light momentarily dazzled the eyes of all cultivators present.

Before everyone could react, Lu Hong was sent flying backward like a kite with a broken string, spewing blood from his mouth.

He crashed heavily against the Array’s barrier, rebounded, and fell in a total mess!

Hm?

The venue fell silent, with countless cultivators staring in disbelief, unsure if they could trust their own eyes.

Big Senior Brother Lu had been defeated just like that?

He hadn’t even managed to withstand a single move from Zhao Huaian and was directly ousted from the match!

The robe worn by Lu Hong was shattered, and he lay on the ground, struggling to stand but failing miserably after several attempts.

It wasn’t until a few of his subordinates snapped out of their daze that they quickly ascended the platform and escorted Lu Hong to the hall for treatment.

Now everyone’s attention was focused on Zhao Huaian.

They saw the young Cultivator standing tall on the Lecture Platform with his long sword, his demeanor cold and his aura astonishing,

stirring the hearts of countless female Cultivators present!

“Zhao Huaian wins.”

As the Elder from Purple Mansion announced the result of the match, the disciples present suddenly realized that the power structure of Sunset Peak was likely to undergo a significant change!

And at this moment, Wang Chen, too, was looking at Zhao Huaian, who had just won a splendid victory.

He felt that the Zhao Huaian he knew from before seemed a bit different now.

This person seemed to be shrouded in a dazzling aura,

making it hard to see his true face!

Wang Chen had an inkling, a sense of something known as “fate.”

———

The third update is here.