Shen Yufeng whispered to Qin Keqin, "All the leaders of the top four celestial clans in the region are here today. They are the Heavy Moon Sect's Yu Bairen, Alluring Blossoms Palace's Murong Shanshan, Spirit Sword Manor's Gao Yishu and the Divine Nine Sect's Jiu You."
Qin Keqin nodded as she secretly glanced at where they were and saw that all these leaders were all golden celestials and in their company were several more golden celestials.
Golden celestials were the elite cultivators of the Celestial Realm and they were half-step immortals with great lofty status. Any cultivator that could cultivate to the fifth realm was a golden celestial.
In the world of the golden celestials, they were furthered differentiate into three cultivation realms, the fifth realm golden celestial level, the sixth realm golden supremacy level and the seventh realm sacred saint level.
The seventh realm sacred saint level was furthered differentiated by the saint and great saint level. In order to become a great saint, the cultivator must first overcome the life and death lightning tribulation in a breakthrough from the middle tier sacred saint level to the upper tier sacred saint level.
There were three types of lightning tribulations to overcome; the three-stage silver lightning tribulation, the six-stage golden lightning tribulation and the nine-stage purple lightning tribulation. Only when they could survive the lightning tribulation, they could advance to the upper tier sacred saint level and be a great saint. With that, their life span would also greatly increase based on the type of lightning tribulation that was faced.
When an upper sacred saint cultivator reached the peak sacred saint level, it was time for them to attempt a life and death ascension to the Immortal Realm and if they could ascend, they would be an immortal cultivator.
There were many seventh realm experts in the Nine Celestial Fraternity but no more than three dozen great saint and saintesses. And these great saint and saintesses were the peak echelon of the golden celestials.
In the presence of the great saint and saintesses, even a seventh realm expert who had not attained the upper sacred saint level would have to admit their inferiority and accorded their utmost humblest respect.
Qin Keqin aka Fan Yuqing, Feng Minyue and Xuan Danfeng were three of the great saintesses of the Nine Celestial Fraternity and they were among the most powerful cultivators in the Celestial Realm.
But as long as the golden celestial had not attained the upper sacred saint level, all the other golden celestials from the fifth, sixth and seventh realm could be best by profound arts and martial strength. It was not to say that a fifth realm expert could beat a seventh realm expert as the disparity in profound strength still existed between them but everyone would like to think that it was only a matter of time before they could reach the seventh realm level.
At least that was the thoughts of the cultivators from the elite celestial clans with formidable celestial resources at their fingertips.
At this moment, the four celestial leaders of the regional powerhouses of the Heavy Moon Sect, the Alluring Blossoms Palace, the Spirit Sword Manor and the Divine Nine Sect were all looking with somewhat disdain at Qin Keqin.
It was because Qin Keqin was only a 'lowly' fifth realm golden celestial cultivator from a lesser known celestial clan. What right did she have to become an elder of the Patriarch Clan Heavenly Fragrance Villa? With her cultivation level, she could even be considered to be the lowest ranking elder in the Heavenly Fragrance Villa as well.
There was a rumor that she was given the position of elder simply because her mother consort was a great saintess who had some links with the Patriarch Clan Heavenly Fragrance Villa and not because she was truly capable of become an elder.
That was why these powerful leaders of the regional powerhouses had a disdain look on Qin Keqin. In their hearts, they were mocking her and her disciple Lu Qingyun who was a first realm cultivator.
Qin Keqin had of course seen their disdainful looks but she did not mind at all. After all, she was not a real fifth realm expert and was just playing along with them.
Shen Yufeng had rose from her seat and her martial voice was echoing throughout the ringing mountains to the tens of thousands cultivators that were presented.
"Fellow cultivators, Fragrance Herald Yufeng greet you for coming to the Divine Fragrance Tournament. At this moment, the other regions of the Heavenly Fragrance Divine Realm are also having the same tournament."
She smiled as she looked below the sky platform, "And we have thousands of the brightest cultivators from our divine realm that will be competing against one another in this tournament. Handsome rewards await the outstanding cultivators and your names will resound throughout the divine realm."
All the cultivators from the sides of the mountains to the competitors at the sky platform were all listening attentively. They knew what the handsome rewards were and that were the rare cultivation resources and a chance to be admitted as a female protégé of the Heavenly Fragrance Villa for the female cultivators.
Therefore everyone was ready to do their very best to obtain the best possible outcome.
Among the competitors, there were also several hundred cultivators who had no clan backing. They were the autonomous cultivators and they were even more hungry to grab the rare cultivation resources than the cultivators who had the backing of their celestial clans.
"This year Divine Fragrance Tournament will be a little special. The top 100 competitors will be picked for a special expedition to the Moon Demon Forest. As for this, I will explain it later."
All of a sudden all the celestial cultivators were startled and they were suddenly muttering loudly in great confusion.
The Moon Demon Forest was a domain that was north of the Heavenly Fragrance Divine Realm and it was nearly as big as the Holy Ascension Divine Realm which was the biggest divine realm in the Nine Celestial Fraternity. It was a place that was heavily populated with many powerful devious beasts. Moreover, it was also the domain that divided the Nine Celestial Fraternity and the Desolate Celestial Fraternity.
From time to time, powerful devious beasts more powerful than the desolate beasts would invade the Heavenly Fragrance Divine Realm from the north. It was an area where many ruinous clan experiential missions had happened.
When it came to the Moon Demon Forest, there was a feeling of dread in the hearts of all the celestial cultivators. It was a place where even golden celestials could easily perish.
"The Moon Demon Forest?!"
"The top 100 competitors will be sent there? Isn't it better not to get into the top 100 this time round…"
"I've got a feeling that something serious has happened there…"
"I've got a bad feeling as well…"
"The desolate beasts are beasts with extremely strong life force and are difficult to kill but the devious beasts are considered to be more dangerous because they were more agile and have sharp talons that can rip through armors and profound auras like paper…"
"These reptilian devious beasts are extremely dangerous…"
"What do you think are happening in the Moon Demon Forest?"
"No matter what it is, I think it is not a good thing for us. The only celestial clan that will benefit from the trip there will be Heavenly Fragrance Villa…"
"Do you think that they are making use of our protégés to pave a path for them?"
Even Qin Keqin was startled as she turned to look at Shen Yufeng. This was not part of the script! But she had quickly calmed down as she thought, "Never mind. My Yun'Er will never be in the top 100 anyway…"
Shen Yufeng was smiling as she ignored the commotions, "So I hope that the competitors will do your best for this tournament. For the glory of your celestial clans and for the Heavenly Fragrance Divine Realm."
She then snapped her fingers and a golden bell had appeared in her hand. When she had rung the golden bell, the sky platform below was covered with a golden light.
Her golden eyes quickly scanned the competitors below for any cheaters. This golden bell would alert her to any cultivators that were above the fourth realm level.
After a while, she had withdrawn the golden bell, satisfied that there were no cheaters.
Below the sky platform, Qiuxiang Huan heaved a soft sigh of relief. She was a fifth realm golden celestial that had suppressed her cultivation level and strength with the Suppressing Mystic Profound Divine Pill.
She was not the only one who was cheating. Her mistress Yue Lingxi was the worst offender.
Yue Lingxi smiled and whispered to her, "This golden bell is indeed formidable. However, I have my immortal arts to conceal our profound auras from that artefact. Therefore, you don't have to worry."
Qiuxiang Huan nodded slowly.
Above the platform, Shen Yufeng had a satisfied look as she nodded to her protégés and the grand elders of the Heavens Ridge Villa. Usually there were always a few cheaters but this time round, surprisingly there were none.
Shen Yufeng triggered a celestial array and there was a large blue portal that had suddenly in the middle of the platform. This portal was actually a circular portal and it looked like a flat portal from where the competitors were standing.
She said coolly, her martial voice echoed. "May all the competing cultivators please step into the portal and wait inside."
Many of the thousands of competing cultivators were shaking their heads. It was because after they had heard that the top 100 of them would be sent to the Moon Demon Forest for a special expedition, they were a little afraid.
Even Nangong Yu and Cheng Wuzi were both shaking their heads as they walked toward the portal.
But Lu Qingyun was secretly delighted. He had heard that the Moon Demon Forest had many rare spirit plants and this was a perfect chance for him to search the Moon Demon Forest for it.
Right now, he was looking at the large blue portal that had opened.
Before the tournament had started, he had asked the Sisters Zhao Riyue and Zhao Xingye for some information about the tournament expectations.
They had told him that once the tournament had started, a powerful celestial array would be activated. In this celestial array, the only weapon that they could use was an array sword and nothing else.
Therefore he would not be able to use his divine sword to gain an advantage over his opponents.
They had also told him, "Although each celestial clan is able to field four candidates but this tournament is actually an individual tournament. Even your own team is your own competitor. As for the tournament, it is always part trial and part tournament. Even we have no idea what you will be expecting to see. The only person that knows will be Fragrance Herald Shen but she will never tell you the details."
Back to the present, his eyes were now beaming brightly at the sight of this blue portal. This would be his chance of showing off in front of Qin Keqin and let everyone knows that he was not a good-for-nothing cultivator!
"Senior brother…" Leng Qiuyue had suddenly called out to him.
Lu Qingyun was startled by her call and he had turned around to look curiously at her, "Junior sister, yes?"
Leng Qiuyue's eyes were melancholy as she walked quietly to him.
She said in a low voice, "Senior brother…"
She had seen him with Qin Keqin and knew that they were together. If anyone would to find out about it, it would be a major scandal in the sect and in New Empyrean City. Moreover, there were already some rumors that were flying around that Qin Keqin and Lu Qingyun had an unclean relationship.
In order to protect Senior Brother Lu Qingyun's reputation and to squash the rumors, she had to do something about it.
All of a sudden she had tiptoed to kiss Lu Qingyun on his cheek, stunning Lu Qingyun, Nangong Yu, Cheng Wuzi and many others.
Lu Qingyun stammered, "Junior sister…Qiuyue…"
Leng Qiuyue pulled him to the portal as she lowered her glances, "Please don't ask. Nothing has happened between us…"
Lu Qingyun: ???
Leng Qiuyue said nonchalantly, "Come senior brother, let's us enter the portal first."
She however, had a good reason for kissing him in full view of everyone.
In this way, he would be able to be with Qin Keqin while she would bore the blunt of the rumors. When the tournament was over, she would explain to Qin Keqin. Even if Qin Keqin would expel her from the sect or to punish her, she would be willing to accept any forms of punishments. It was because she had really love Lu Qingyun from the bottom of her heart…
Qin Keqin was gasping and she had nearly dropped her scrying crystal ball when she saw the scene while Shi Guanyin, Ouyang Xue and Yin Shisi were equally stunned.
Qin Keqin was trembling lightly and there were confusion in her golden eyes.
Shi Guanyin was muttering almost incoherently, "Qiuyue, what are you doing?"
Ouyang Xue was sighing with melancholy in her heart, "Unlike her, I can only keep it in the bottom of my heart…"
Yin Shisi was smiling as she thought, "She is braver than me. I am beginning to like this Leng Qiuyue…"
Half of the cultivators who were on the mountain sides as speculators were also startled that a couple was displaying their affections so openly.
The Three-Destinies Old Man was cursing loudly, "That fellow is such a lecherous man!"
Xuan Danfeng chuckled, "This is their business and why are you so bother by it? I think it is good to see a couple like that, don't you think so? You act like he is two-timing your daughter."
The Three-Destinies Old Man frowned, "I just don't like him. He has the face of a lecherous man."
Xuan Danfeng chuckled as she looked shyly at him, "So, how many consorts do you have? I saw you looking for a book on how to be a good father that day."
The Three-Destinies Old Man said coldly, "Why are you such a busybody? Why should I tell you?"
Xuan Danfeng laughed softly, "Maybe I will be able to help you? You just have to share with me more of your wines and I will be willing to help you."
The Three-Destinies Old Man was amused, "My daughter is someone out of control. You won't be able to handle her. Moreover, she doesn't like to make friends and she probably has your ass kicked even before you got a chance to speak. So you have better forget about helping me."
"Wahh, so fierce. I will like to see. There is no one in the Nine Celestial Fraternity that can kick my ass." Xuan Danfeng chuckled.
The Three-Destinies Old Man secretly glanced over to her butt as he muttered, "Yup…better don't kick it…"
"What are you saying?" Xuan Danfeng asked curiously, not understanding.
"Nothing. Better handle it with care."
Xuan Danfeng: ???