Normally, the journey to the sect would take longer, and as usual, Cloudsoar City would be the last to arrive. However, this time, Fang Xiong wanted to break the pattern.
Standing atop the dragon's head, he turned to his son, and everyone was filled with joy. It was their first time travelling on such a majestic creature, and for many of them, it would also be their last.
In this lifetime, they had achieved something worthy of stories, even if they won't reached higher realms of cultivation.
"Listen up," Fang Xiong interrupted the excited whispers, his expression turning serious. "As I mentioned earlier, those who must undergo the trial will face challenges similar to those from other sects before gaining admission." He narrowed his eyes and continued.
"We have the momentum, and we will use it. Upon our arrival at the sect, the others will be waiting in the arena for the fights to commence." He smirked as if he had devised a clever strategy.
Hao, standing beside him, had a feeling that something ominous was about to unfold. The dragon Long Chen let out a resigned sigh.
"We'll be flying above them. I want all of you to unleash your auras at the peak of your power," Fang Xiong instructed. A few children wore puzzled expressions, but the woman from earlier spoke up.
"City Lord, are you suggesting that we unleash our fighting intent?" Her eyes gleamed with understanding as she grasped the plan.
"Yes, precisely. I want you to shake their determination. This will make your initial fights easier," he said with a faint smile. Hao then spoke up.
"Father, are you certain this isn't considered cheating?" Hao questioned, concerned about the consequence of their actions.
Long Chen, nodding in agreement with Hao, wondered why he seemed to be the only rational one here. Observing the people on its back, the dragon knew that a spectacle was about to unfold.
"Hao, this is to offer a helping hand to the cultivators of Cloudsoar. We are weaker because of our shorter history," he added, turning to address the others.
Recognizing that this approach could indeed improve their chances, they all nodded in agreement. Fang Xiong instructed them to meditate and wait for the right moment.
Six days flew by as the dragon journeyed at incredible speed. Fang Hao dedicated his time to cultivation while occasionally gazing below.
The countless mortal kingdoms and plains they traversed became too numerous to count, leading him to eventually give up. The distance they covered was truly immense.
He wondered how long it would take for him to come back. Unbeknownst to him, returning alone would eventually prove impossible, as his lifespan would run its course.
Fang Xiong chimed in, "Once we arrive, let's announce, 'Cloudsoar City is here,'" and the excited expressions on the children's faces lit up. This was bound to be a memorable experience.
A colossal mountain came into view, leaving Hao in awe. He had thought the city's mountain was big, but this one was at least twenty times larger, its full extent beyond his vision.
"Wow, this is massive," he murmured, observing as a display of lights and rainbows formed around it. In the sky, lightning struck down in various places before receding.
"What's that?" he pointed to a substantial cloud, and his father replied, "A tribulation cloud. Someone has broken through to the Core realm."
Fang Hao understood that it was some form of test and watched as the cloud dissipated.
"We are here," Fang Xiong declared, his own anticipation evident. He could already envision the expressions that would cover the faces of those present, especially the sect master.
The sect's immense arena featured several platforms in the centre, while the outer regions were divided into four sections.
Each city had its designated area, and the last section was reserved for those who had specifically come to the sect for the trial.
Most people gathered in the sect's section, while the other two cities had a slightly larger number of participants compared to Cloudsoar City.
Everyone sat cross-legged in meditation, waiting for the arrival of the last city and the start of the trial.
They had arrived earlier and were getting ready for the trial, while more talented members were observing from outside the area.
Many cultivators were watching, as this was an annual event where they could identify talented disciples and were anticipating the upcoming fights.
--
Several outer sect elders directed their gaze towards the spot where Cloudsoar City should have been, their brows furrowing. They had more important matters to attend to. Usually, this was a routine annual event, but little did they know, this time, a surprise awaited them.
"Hm?" The inner sect elder, who was in charge of sect recruitment, suddenly stood up and gazed into the sky, a sense of unease gripping him.
His reaction prompted the other elders to follow his gaze, and soon, everyone's attention was drawn as they sensed that something was amiss.
Fang Xiong stood on the dragon's head, his eyes fixed on the mountain before him, a subtle smirk gracing his lips. He then nodded to the cultivators from his city who were positioned behind him.
One by one, they slowly stood up, their individual realms might be small, but the combined force they exerted was strong enough to make the other contestants step back. However, an unexpected twist occurred—one that Fang Xiong hadn't seen coming.
The dragon, Long Chen, decided to join in the excitement and let out a powerful roar. The sound was directed toward the sect and caused the formations to ripple gently, like a soft wave.
"I might have gone a bit too far," Fang Xiong muttered, while Hao stood speechless. Was this an attack? Worries began to fill Hao's mind as he questioned the sanity of these cultivators.
In the arena, the spectators turned pale as an intense beastly roar reached their ears, causing their faces to drain of color. Even the inner sect elder, the most powerful figure present, stood up and hastily erected a barrier.
The sheer force caused the barrier to crack, and he coughed up blood. His gaze locked onto the dragon and the infamous city lord standing upon it. This situation had escalated far beyond what he could handle.
"CLOUDSOAR IS HERE!" The resounding voices of all the cultivators echoed in unison, their powerful cries sending ripples through the other participants. This unexpected interruption caused some of them to take a small step back, and their momentum shattered.
The spectacle before them was striking: a dragon, an imposing aura, and cultivators who were about to engage in combat in the arena.
Could this even be considered a fair fight? While a few of the stronger contestants managed to hold their ground, their faces still turned pale at the awe-inspiring sight.
As the dragon landed within their sect's designated area, a faint tremor rippled through the ground, causing the spectators to momentarily lose their balance.
One by one, the cultivators then stepped forward, gradually emerging in front of the majestic dragon.
The entire audience had already shifted their focus to them, their eyes locked in amazement.
The spectacular entrance left them completely speechless, likely the most breathtaking and unforgettable one, and it might very well be the last of its kind because...
"FANG XIONG, ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?!" A voice filled with intense anger erupted from within the sect.