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Chapter 1423: The Beginning
Qi Wen nodded with a smile, though her eyes remained on the document, which contained information on all the cultivators who would compete, with key points highlighted.
This was the information the siblings were looking for.
"Thank you, Martial Uncle."
"You’re welcome, you’re welcome."
After the three siblings left, only Feng Yan and Xiao Tongxuan remained.
"You really think highly of them?"
"Don’t you?"
"The Beast Taming Sect has a formidable Qi Refinement disciple."
"Don’t worry, that girl is incredibly cunning. Their eldest is particularly strong; I estimate they should be in the top three."
Xiao Tongxuan said nothing; beyond this mountain, there are taller mountains. Although he had never seen Tan Qiweng truly fight, aiming for the top three was certainly challenging.
"Do you have confidence this time?"
"I have confidence in Su Yuanyuan."
Feng Yan smiled upon hearing his friend’s words.
Five days later, Wansheng City was already packed with people. Their family had not ventured outside, focusing instead on studying their opponents.
Tan Shaoting sighed, "I think reaching the top fifteen will be good enough for me."
The Golden Core Stage cultivators were incredibly powerful.
"I’m not certain about first place either. We’ll see how it goes."
Tan Shaoting knew his wife would surely secure first place; she could discern the moves of Golden Core cultivators, not to mention Foundation Establishment, and her reservoir of Spiritual Power was certainly abundant.
The five family members all specialized in swordplay. Initially, Su Yuanyuan certainly wouldn’t use Xiao Shui, much to its dissatisfaction.
But there was no choice; though no one could tell it was an Immortal Artifact right now, with time, suspicions would arise.
The day before the competition, all cultivators were gathered together. Tian Yan Daojun advised them to try their hardest and, above all, to prioritize their lives.
"The ranking matches are different from our selection matches. Beware of the underhanded tactics of other cultivators.
If you’ve fallen for it, it’s a sign of your inferior skills; be vigilant yourself."
The next day, the competition began, featuring Qi Refinement, Foundation Establishment, and Golden Core stages. Only the Nascent Soul stage was at the back.
More than a hundred sects, amounting to over thirty thousand people.
The tournament rules were surprisingly brutal; the first match involved swarms of people, and those with low cultivation would undoubtedly be knocked out.
Just like the selection matches. Now, it was based on sects.
Feng Jingyuan oversaw the Foundation Establishment stage this time; the top three wouldn’t have to fight, to prevent their strategies from being exposed.
Su Yuanyuan suspected the arena had to be a space artifact; otherwise, how could it accommodate over thirty thousand people?
She calmly stood in the center, surrounded by fellow sect members.
"Junior Sister Su, you’re so calm," Yao Yichen said with a smile.
"Senior Brother, should I be holding my sword?"
Yao Yichen laughed. This Junior Sister Su really had a way with words.
The small sects were really at a disadvantage, but that’s just how the rules were; even in solo combat, they had no chance of winning.
Gradually, people began to fall from the arena.
Su Yuanyuan maintained her focus on the cultivators in the arena, just as the other five sects did.
She observed those surrounding her, swiftly gleaning their thoughts.
Su Yuanyuan heard plenty of valuable information; it turned out even ostensibly respectable cultivators harbored unsavory thoughts.
But actually, it wasn’t a big deal. The real test would come during the finals.
As she assessed others, they were assessing her, too. Initially, her captivating looks drew the attention of those from Xuantian Sect.
Seeing her standing calmly in the center, when someone attempted an underhanded move, she would swiftly retaliate.
Birou Fairy watched Su Yuanyuan and chuckled, realizing she remained as composed as always.
Finally, only the ten major sects remained on stage.
Just like before, it was always like this for several rounds; the remaining ninety sects would begin their ranking battles.
Similar to the selection matches. It was all about luck.
On the arena, the ten remaining sects became the top ten, just like before; their ranks hardly shifted.
After coming down, Su Yuanyuan spotted Tan Shaoting waiting for her.
The Golden Core ranking would be determined after the Foundation Establishment results. The Golden Core teams from the top ten Foundation Establishment sects followed suit, unlike Qi Refinement.
Essentially, the main strength lay in the Foundation Establishment stage.
Qi Refinement mainly decided the territories for recruiting disciples from the Mortal World.
The Foundation Establishment marked the range in Cultivation World cities. The Golden Core dealt with ore veins, while Nascent Soul concerned the sect’s position and speech rights.
With the Foundation Establishment matches concluded, the Golden Core stage lineup was set. The Nascent Soul could only determine its ranking after Golden Core finished.
Tan Shaoting held his wife’s hand as the two stood aside, with the ranking matches for the remaining ninety sects taking place in the afternoon.
"Should we return?"
Su Yuanyuan thought for a moment, "Let’s watch their moves."
Tan Shaoting knew his wife wanted to learn more.
As they stood there, both male and female cultivators couldn’t help but pay attention to them.
Birou approached them. "Senior Tan, fellow Su."
Su Yuanyuan returned the greeting with a smile. "How are you, fellow Birou?"
"Quite well. Let’s get together sometime."
Su Yuanyuan nodded with a smile, "Sure, I’ll wait for you, fellow Birou."
Birou returned to Piaomiao Sect. "Junior Sister, do you know them?"
"Yes, but not very well; we participated in the Undersea Secret Realm together."
"Junior Sister, introduce them to me if there’s a chance."
"Alright, if there’s an opportunity."
The couple rarely socialized.
She knew Nangong Xingyun had a son and felt anxious; she understood Nangong Xingyun was close with Tan Shaoting, but how could she ask a male cultivator such things?
If she left it to him, he certainly wouldn’t ask; she could only ask Su Yuanyuan herself.
Even at the cost of cultivation, she desired a child for both.
The draw had concluded, and the matches were about to start.
The Qi Refinement matches were over, similar to Foundation Establishment.
From the perspective of small sects, there was no need to attend; they were just there to make up the numbers, so it might as well be just the ten major sects competing. However, refusal to participate was not allowed, much to their frustration, but there was nothing to do but endure.
The competition was intense. Resources for the top ten were abundant.
The Beast Taming Sect, which Su Yuanyuan disliked most, had already left. Once their three children joined, the family departed as well.
News of their family spread quickly. Nobody could help but envy Tan Shaoting.
After returning, Su Yuanyuan set up a Protective Shield and shared the information she gathered with her husband and children.
"Mother, is it really so despicable?" Qi Yan asked with a furrowed brow.