Nantian, standing aside, began explaining the powers of the Ethereal Pearl. As he spoke, everyone's eyes lit up with excitement, focusing intently on Tianxingzi. The Ethereal Pearl? A magical artifact?
Everyone's gaze turned to the sect leader, filled with intense desire. Of course, this yearning was solely for the Ethereal Pearl. Only those with advanced cultivation levels showed such longing, while those progressing slowly could only sigh in disappointment.
"Now, we need to determine the three strongest among you. If anyone below the fourth level of innate cultivation believes they have the strength, they may challenge those above them. If victorious, they too can earn the Ethereal Pearl," Tianxingzi announced, looking around at the crowd.
At that moment, a man in white robes stepped forward from the group. Approaching the four cultivators at the fourth level of innate cultivation, he clasped his hands in respect towards the sect leader and the peak masters, saying, "Although I am only at the third level of innate cultivation, I am willing to give my all in this fight."
"Good," Tianxingzi responded.
Seeing this man step up, Zhongshan also slowly emerged from the crowd.
"Disciple Zhongshan, willing to give my all," Zhongshan respectfully declared.
"Good," Tianxingzi repeated, his eyes shining as if he had thought of something.
No one else dared to step forward. The cultivators understood the significance of each level, knowing they couldn't defeat someone at the fourth level of innate cultivation.
"You two at the third level, choose your opponents. The remaining two at the fourth level will then fight each other. We will determine the winners in a single round," Tianxingzi ordered.
"Yes," the six of them replied in unison.
The white-robed man quickly chose one of the women, perhaps believing that even though she was at the fourth level, her strength might be less than his. Zhongshan looked at the remaining three men.
Unfamiliar with their skills and knowing nothing about them, Zhongshan randomly pointed to the man holding an axe. In Zhongshan's mind, a longer weapon held an advantage, and his large saber was longer than the axe.
The chosen man seemed pleased, as if he had just gotten a great deal. He thought it would be easy to defeat someone at the third level.
"Good. Spread out and begin," Tianxingzi commanded.
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, they moved to three different spots in the plaza. Zhongshan and the man with the axe headed to the west. The other two pairs took the central and eastern areas.
Tianling'er and Nantian moved close to Zhongshan, cheering him on.
"Please," Zhongshan said, holding his saber horizontally.
"You first," the man with the axe replied with a dismissive smile, clearly looking down on someone at the third level.
"Then, excuse me," Zhongshan said.
With a leap, Zhongshan swung his saber fiercely at his opponent.
"Mountain-Cleaving Strike!"
Putting his full strength into the attack, Zhongshan knew he had to give his all, especially against a formidable opponent at the fourth level of innate cultivation.
Seeing the ferocity of the attack, the man tightened his grip, realizing he had underestimated Zhongshan. He raised his giant axe to meet the saber.
"Boom!"
The saber, brimming with murderous energy, struck the axe forcefully, causing the man to stagger.
"Crack!"
The stone slab beneath his feet cracked like a spider web.
Seeing his initial strike fail, Zhongshan's ferocity intensified. He swung his saber again.
"Slay Them All!"
The second strike came quickly. Although the man wielded an axe, he was surprisingly agile, blocking Zhongshan's saber again. Using his superior strength, he deflected the saber, his abundant innate energy giving him an edge over Zhongshan.
"Hmph," Zhongshan grunted coldly, his saber continuing to dance, each strike fierce and relentless. His attacks came like a torrential storm, each one faster and more violent, appearing almost mad to the onlookers. To those watching, it seemed like Zhongshan had gone berserk. Any third-level cultivator facing him would have no choice but to surrender.
But his opponent was at the fourth level, stronger and faster. The only thing he lacked was Zhongshan's ferocity. Zhongshan seemed wholly immersed in the battle, utterly determined.
Yet, ferocity alone wasn't enough. The man gradually turned the tide, shifting from defense to offense. The stone slabs beneath their feet shattered further as the duel became more intense, each displaying their skills to the fullest.
Zhongshan knew he couldn't keep this up. His understanding of saber techniques and his fighting spirit allowed him to match his opponent, but he lacked the energy reserves of a fourth-level cultivator. The longer the fight dragged on, the worse it would be for him.
"Devil Body Refinement Technique!"
"Mountain-Cleaving Strike!" Zhongshan roared, his muscles bulging, the murderous aura of his saber surging. His eyes reddened as he struck down fiercely.
Seeing the impending danger, the man used all his strength to meet the attack with his axe.
"Boom!"
With a resounding crash, the man was sent flying, his giant axe knocked from his grip. As Zhongshan landed, he glared menacingly at his opponent, whose wrist was now bleeding profusely.
Defeated. The man had lost. Such an injury would take at least half a month to heal.
"Huff..."
Zhongshan exhaled deeply, calming his breathing as he slowly turned around. When he did, he noticed that the new batch of disciples was staring at him in disbelief. A cultivator at the third level of innate cultivation defeating one at the fourth level?
On the other two battlegrounds, the fights had already ended. The other third-level cultivator had been defeated, and one of the fourth-level cultivators had also lost.
Seeing this, Tianling'er whispered to Zhongshan, "Well done."
Nan Batian merely smiled without saying much. Though surprised, he didn't regard the prowess of third or fourth-level cultivators as particularly noteworthy.
Meanwhile, the second-generation disciples of the Kaiyang Sect furrowed their brows, casting curious glances at Zhongshan. Suspicion flickered in their eyes.
The sect leader and the two peak masters exchanged glances, a strange look passing between them. Finally, Tianxingzi smiled peculiarly, his eyes brightening as he gazed at Zhongshan.
The three defeated contestants naturally retreated into the crowd of new disciples. Zhongshan, along with the other two fourth-level cultivators, approached the sect leader.
"Good. You three are the top disciples of this batch. Here are three Ethereal Pearls," Tianxingzi announced.
As he spoke, three fist-sized, translucent pearls appeared before him. Gently picking one up, Zhongshan found it surprisingly soft. Ethereal Pearls?
Without examining it closely, Zhongshan tucked it into his robe, deciding to study it later.
"Good. The Ethereal Pearls have been distributed. In fifteen days, the three of you will come to the Kaiyang Hall. I have something for you," Tianxingzi said.
"Yes," Zhongshan and the other two responded in unison, though puzzled.
"Return to your quarters or choose a new cultivation technique," Tianxingzi instructed.
"Yes, Sect Leader," all the disciples replied immediately.
The disciples then approached the second-generation disciples standing behind the sect leader to discuss their cultivation progress. The Golden Core stage experts offered guidance.
"Zhongshan, you did great!" Nan Batian said with a smile. Tianling'er also approached Zhongshan with a smile.
"Yes, I need to look at some techniques. Tonight, come to my pavilion by the water, and we can discuss more," Zhongshan said to them.
"Okay," they agreed readily.
Zhongshan immediately headed towards the library.
As Zhongshan's figure receded, Tianxingzi furrowed his brow, a bright glint flashing in his eyes before he and the two peak masters flew away.
In the library, Zhongshan found another innate cultivation technique.
"Shadow Assault Technique."
Zhongshan had noticed this manual before. The name alone suggested it was a technique focused on ambushes. Zhongshan didn't intend to practice it himself but planned to give it to someone else.
Three hours later, in the Great Kun Kingdom, his hidden body copied the manual while Zhongshan himself returned to the waterside pavilion. The reason he hadn't copied it earlier was that he wanted to memorize it first. Zhongshan knew that memorizing a text the first time provided different insights compared to later reflections. If he copied it and then memorized it, it wouldn't be the same as memorizing it word by word first and then reflecting on it. Though the difference might be slight, those subtle nuances could offer significant insights.
Back at the pavilion, Zhongshan gently took out the Ethereal Pearl.