Three Days Later, at the Five Elements Holy Land
In the vast central square, surrounded by mountains and powerful spiritual energy, a young woman sat in meditation, her posture calm and composed. A voice from outside interrupted the tranquility:
"The selection is about to begin, my lady."
She opened her eyes and replied softly, "Hmm, let's go."
Outside the square, there was a sea of young people, both independent cultivators and members of various high and low-ranking factions. Nearly a hundred million had gathered here, creating an atmosphere full of excitement and tension, making conflicts easy to spark.
Suddenly, a handsome young man, with a woman in his arms, walked by with more than ten followers. He cast a disdainful glance at a group of people talking in front of him and said loudly, "You didn't move aside when I was walking. So, hand over your legs, and I will let you go."
The people there refused to comply and were severely beaten, crying out for mercy. Just then, another young man named Xiao Feng rushed in. Upon hearing everything, he declared firmly, "Let them go."
The arrogant young man ignored him and ordered his followers to kill everyone there. But before they could act, an overwhelming pressure bore down on the young man and his followers, turning them into a mist of blood instantly.
The incident occurred because an external elder from the Five Elements Holy Land intervened, shouting loudly, "No fighting is allowed without permission!"
Everyone was shocked and fell silent immediately. Jiang Yun's 5,410 clones were scattered throughout the area, blending in seamlessly due to Jiang Yun's command to suppress their power levels and conceal their unique physiques. The clones appeared to be at the Ninth Level of the Nirvana Realm, with their special physiques disguised as equivalent to Emperor, King, Heaven, and Earth bodies.
At that moment, a cold young woman walked out, followed by many followers — young men, women, and an old man brimming with power. A massive pressure enveloped the area, causing some to collapse or kneel on the ground. Some even coughed up blood, while others managed to stand without feeling any pressure.
She spoke sharply, "Anyone who has fallen must leave within five minutes, or don't blame me for what happens next!"
Everyone was frightened and greatly displeased but kept their complaints to themselves because the person standing there was Si Ling, the youngest Semi-Emperor and one of the Ten Beauties of the Tianyuan Domain, also the Second Elder of the Five Elements Holy Land. Nearly ninety million weaker people immediately left the square.
Si Ling glanced at the old man behind her and nodded. The old man created a formation that covered the remaining 10 million people. He then announced, "The first 100,000 people to escape this formation will proceed to the next round of testing."
Within the formation, it was a test of the mind — greed, honesty, and various virtues would be tested through illusions to challenge the resolve of the participants.
Jiang Yun's clones quickly passed the test because they had no emotions or feelings; they only followed Jiang Yun's commands. However, to avoid suspicion, the clones moved slowly and discreetly.
Before long, the first 100,000 had passed the test. Those who completed it but were not among the first 100,000 felt regret. The old man in the sky said, "Do not despair. You may still join the Five Elements Holy Land and fight for the chance to enter here." He pointed to the right. "You can register as disciples at that point."
Those who didn't make it rushed to register immediately. Even if they couldn't defeat the existing disciples of the Five Elements Holy Land, joining the sect was still considered a great opportunity.
The old man smiled to himself, knowing that hosting this event would cost some resources, but it would allow these people to showcase their abilities. They would gain disciples with potential, along with fame and trust from independent cultivators, in exchange for only a small amount of resources — all in preparation for the day when the world...
Then, a young man behind Si Ling stepped forward and waved his hand, causing numbers 1 to 200 to appear above the heads of those who passed the test. Everyone was confused because there were multiple people with the same number. The young man conferred with the old man, who then created another formation. The young man continued, "Those with number 1, enter the formation and fight until only ten of you remain to advance to the next round."
Five hundred people with the number 1 immediately entered the formation. In the first round, there was one Samsara clone, two Emperor clones, and five King clones. They fought fiercely but did not kill anyone, only causing injuries.
One elder commented, "These are truly promising seedlings."
Another elder remarked, "They possess strength beyond what should be possible at the Nirvana level."
All 200 rounds of fighting ended within half a day due to Jiang Yun's clones easily overwhelming their opponents. Even Si Ling herself was slightly surprised, wondering, "Are these people really at the Nirvana level?"
She asked the other elders, who all confirmed that this was the case. Si Ling's doubts subsided, and the Five Elements Holy Land invited those who had been eliminated to join them.
A total of 1,896 of Jiang Yun's clones made it through to the next round. All clones with physiques stronger than the Emperor Body advanced, while the rest were King-level and below. Si Ling then announced, "The final battle will be a one-on-one duel. Each will draw lots and have two chances to fight. Those who win the first round will fight against other winners, and those who lose the first round will fight against other losers. If you win both rounds, you will automatically be among the final 500. Anyone who loses both rounds will lose the right to enter the secret realm."
Si Ling gazed at everyone with a blank expression and said, "Those who win once and lose once will have the right to challenge the final 500 for a chance to claim a spot in the secret realm. Do you all understand?"
A heavy silence fell over the central square, filled with people. Everyone listened attentively, their eyes unblinking, ready for the battles that were about to commence...