On this morning, sunlight bathed the land in a warm golden glow.
Yet within the Holy City, the massive square spanning thousands of metres was already packed with a sea of people, their voices creating a deafening roar of excitement.
Today was a momentous occasion in the Holy City—the grand competition for the youth rankings. Shining in this event could propel one to greatness, earning the Holy Origin Academy’s attention.
“So lively! There must be six or seven thousand young participants. I wonder how many geniuses will emerge.”
“Every competition sees all sorts of talents rise to prominence. Most of the monstrous figures on the Star Ranking grew from the top hundred of this grand competition. It’s one of the grandest events in the Holy City.”
“Who’ll take first place this time?”
“I’d bet on Gu Xuanyuan. His Xuanyuan Sword Technique is profound and unpredictable, making him the likeliest to claim first.”
“Xiahou Jing, unfathomable. The Xiahou family’s swordsmanship is terrifyingly powerful—she has the best odds.”
“I’m rooting for Lei Kuang. His physical strength is monstrous, and with his thunder attribute power, no one can stop him!”
“What about Luo Zhong’s Nameless Bell? Its defense is unbreakable, its attacks are fierce, and it carries sonic waves. He’s the most well-rounded in offense and defense. First place should be his.”
“Gu Xuanyuan, Lei Kuang, Luo Zhong are all contenders, but Ji Chen, Mo Fei, Lei Kuang, Zhao Jing, Li Yuantuo—which of them isn’t exceptional? Whoever wants first will have a tough fight.”
As Lin Xiao entered the vast square, heated discussions filled his ears, names like Gu Xuanyuan, Lei Kuang, and Xiahou Jing mentioned most frequently.
These figures must be renowned in the Holy City.
“So many people!” Beside him, Hu Yue, dressed in a moon-white skirt, her delicate face flushed from the heat, grumbled with mild annoyance.
Hu Yue’s beauty drew many glances. Though young, she was undeniably a budding beauty.
Gazing at the bustling crowd, Lin Xiao couldn’t help but marvel.
There were likely tens of thousands in the square. The grand competition’s allure was immense—probably every faction’s disciples in the Holy City had shown up.
“Hey, Lin Xiao, it’s you guys!”
“Heh, looks like you’ve reached Martial King.”
At that moment, a sleazy voice and a flat one sounded. Lin Xiao followed the voices and saw two unremarkable men in green robes appear in his line of sight.
It was none other than Ma Bi and Niu Bi. With their looks, no one else could match their ugliness in the entire square.
“You’ve made breakthroughs too, haven’t you? So, in this grand competition, are you aiming for first or second?” Lin Xiao teased with a grin, eyeing their comical demeanor.
These two had boasted back at their academy that no one would dare claim first if they didn’t.
Let’s see if they’d still brag so boldly now.
At Lin Xiao’s words, some nearby onlookers couldn’t help but glance over.
First and second in the grand competition? Even Gu Xuanyuan and Lei Kuang didn’t dare claim first, yet these two unimpressive nobodies dared to aim for first and second?
Curious gazes turned toward Ma Bi and Niu Bi, following Lin Xiao’s line of sight.
Surprisingly, Ma Bi snapped, “First and second? In a competition this big, who’d dare claim first and second?”
Lin Xiao and Tianmen’s disciples shot them disdainful looks. Weren’t you two boasting like crazy before? Why so timid now?
The curious onlookers also scoffed. Just cowards, it seemed. They’d expected some bold arrogance.
But Ma Bi’s next words left everyone floored: “If even I, Ma Bi, don’t claim first, who’d dare?”
“Exactly, exactly. I, Niu Bi, haven’t claimed second either,” Niu Bi chuckled beside him.
The crowd rolled their eyes. Shameless braggarts, taking advantage of vague phrasing. No one knew their true thoughts, so their words were technically true but utterly meaningless—just empty boasting.
Lin Xiao and the others were speechless. These two were as shamelessly self-aggrandizing as ever.
Still, their auras surprised Lin Xiao. Both had reached first-rank Martial King, a testament to their considerable talent.
“As unreliable as their looks,” Hu Yue muttered.
“Hey, little girl, what’s that supposed to mean? Don’t judge by appearances. Wait till I’m on the stage—you’ll see how badass your Grandpa Ma Bi is. Besides, I’m suave and dashing…” Ma Bi launched into a tirade, only to be cut off by Niu Bi.
“You look like a hippo…”
“Damn it…”
The two started bickering, drawing stares from the crowd, who looked at them like they were lunatics, some even questioning their sanity.
As time passed, rows of figures finally appeared in the crowd’s view, heading toward the main platform.
Leading them was none other than Baili He, who took the central seat.
Baili He, not only the first core elder of the Holy Origin Academy but also the Holy City’s lord, was undisputedly the perfect host for the grand competition.
To Baili He’s right sat an elderly woman with white hair and wrinkled skin, clearly advanced in years.
“That’s Elder Xiahou Lan, one of the eight Martial Lord elders, ranked seventh, one rank above Elder Baili He,” someone remarked, eyeing the old woman with awe.
Lin Xiao was stunned. The so-called eight elders were eight Martial Lord elders?
Baili He, the first core elder, was only the lowest-ranked among them?
This meant above the core elders were the eight elders, with the first core elder being the weakest of the eight.
And the higher the rank, the stronger they were.
A faction with eight Martial Lord elders was terrifying, beyond Lin Xiao’s imagination. Such a force could dominate countless regions, no wonder they were a hegemon in the Chaotic Lands.
Not just the Chaotic Lands—across the entire continent, they’d hold a significant place.
“Xiahou Jing has a shot at first, so Elder Xiahou Lan naturally came to watch. The Xiahou family, one of the two Martial Lord factions brought into the Holy City by a Martial Lord elder, lives up to its status as a top-tier force. Every so often, they produce remarkable geniuses. Last competition, they had Xiahou Wanyu, the Mad Demon, who nearly took first.”
“If not for Ziling, Xiahou Wanyu would’ve won. But there was no helping it—Ziling was personally trained by Master An Miao, a genius spiritual controller with exquisite techniques. Xiahou Wanyu was just unlucky to face her.”
“Ziling was a monster, and Xiahou Wanyu was too. But sadly, the current top spot on the Human Star Ranking was taken by a dark horse from back then, Mo Jiutian, who only made the top ten in the grand competition. They’re stuck at second and third.”
“Absolute Sword Mo Jiutian is a phenomenon, blessed with incredible fortune…”
“But there probably won’t be another Mo Jiutian. Even a freak like Ziling is rare. First place likely belongs to Xiahou Jing, or Elder Seven wouldn’t be so confident to personally attend.”
The discussions flooded Lin Xiao’s ears, his brows furrowing. So the Xiahou surname came from a major family brought into the Holy City by a Martial Lord elder.
Xiahou Jing had such a massive backing, supported by a Martial Lord elder.
Plus, she had a monstrous clan brother ranked second on the Human Star Ranking. No wonder she was so revered, and even her friend Yu Xiang commanded such respect.
With one of the eight Martial Lord elders of the Holy Origin Academy backing the Xiahou family, who’d dare provoke them? Aligning with them would bring immense benefits.
Conversely, crossing the Xiahou family would likely bring endless trouble.
Lin Xiao felt he might have already stirred that trouble, having thoroughly offended Yu Xiang. It depended on how Xiahou Jing would react.
But if they insisted on making him an enemy, Lin Xiao wouldn’t flinch, no matter the family.
At the same time, he was shocked by Mo Jiutian’s strength, claiming the top spot on the Human Star Ranking. That position alone spoke volumes about his monstrous talent.
