Ming Tian’s true cultivation was at the peak of Mortal Realm second heaven, nearly breaking into the third.
Leng Hao’s was at the early stage of Mortal Realm second heaven, his progress equally astonishing.
Seeing their levels, Ling Xiao breathed a sigh of relief.
Though they had the advantage of entering the inner sect first, they hadn’t pulled far ahead.
If he hadn’t insisted on advancing all three potentials together, his cultivation might surpass theirs by now.
There seemed no rush to join the inner sect. The resources as the outer sect’s top disciple rivaled those of inner disciples, only slightly less than the ten core disciples’.
At this moment, neither Leng Hao nor Ming Tian viewed Ling Xiao as a rival—or even took him seriously.
…
Soon, the inner sect’s deputy hall master, a true Heavenly Venerable—a genuine Heavenly Human Realm expert, not a half-step like One-Eyed Heavenly Venerable—appeared.
Ling Xiao didn’t know his name, only that his surname was Zhang.
“Since most of you are here, I’ll begin,” Zhang said, hands behind his back. His voice, though soft, carried clearly with robust energy.
“I have three matters to announce today.”
As the chatter died down, he continued, “First, regarding joint training. The top three outer disciples will stay in the inner sect for a time. Those wishing to spar with them, act quickly. They’ll return to the outer sect in as little as a month.”
“I’ve heard about Jian Renwang. He’s at fault for breaking sect rules by using a banned pill—knowingly violating the law, his crime is worse. Anyone who tries to trouble Ling Xiao over this, don’t blame me for being ruthless!”
Meng Yuan’s face paled. He’d planned to make a fuss about it, but Zhang’s words shut him down.
As the tenth-ranked core disciple, he wouldn’t dare cross the deputy hall master.
Not only was Zhang a figure of authority, but his power far exceeded even Meng Yuan’s master, Demonic Flame Heavenly Venerable.
Zhang glanced at Ling Xiao, offering a kind smile.
He owed Yang Hao many favors, having received numerous elixirs from him.
When Yang Hao asked him to look after Ling Xiao, he agreed without hesitation.
As deputy hall master, failing to protect an outer disciple within the sect would be unthinkable.
Ling Xiao didn’t know why Zhang was friendly but guessed someone had intervened—likely Yang Hao or Guanghan Heavenly Venerable.
Yang Hao, as an alchemist, was the most probable, given his influence over someone of Zhang’s stature.
“Second, as the year-end approaches, the annual contest for ‘Young Sect Master’ and core disciple positions will soon begin. This is open to the entire Yuehua Sect—even outer disciples can compete, if they have the ability!”
Zhang’s gaze lingered on Ling Xiao.
He was curious about Ling Xiao’s limits, how enigmatic he truly was.
Ling Xiao gave a wry smile.
He could handle inner disciples below Mortal Realm third heaven, but vying for a core disciple spot, let alone Young Sect Master, was daunting.
With only a few months left, even rapid progress wouldn’t match the slower pace of Mortal Realm advancement compared to the Martial Vein Realm.
Competing for a core disciple spot required a long-term plan.
His immediate focus was the “Moon Advent Festival’s Tower-Climbing Ceremony.”
“Lastly, the Moon Advent Festival’s Tower-Climbing Ceremony,” Zhang announced, sparking eager looks from many.
Indeed.
Unlike the core disciple contest, this was more suited to most inner disciples—a golden opportunity to leap forward.
The core disciples showed little reaction.
Rumor had it the ceremony allowed only three attempts per lifetime, and all ten core disciples had exhausted theirs, rendering it irrelevant to them.
“The festival is two months away. As usual, there’s no limit on participants or status, only an age cap of thirty. Sign up eagerly, but whether you make the final list to enter the Yuehua Treasure Tower depends on passing the selection!”
Zhang smiled. “The selection method will be set by the tower itself—even I don’t know it yet. Historically, the stronger you are, the better your chances. No more than twelve will enter the tower. Prepare well!”
Choosing twelve from over a thousand disciples seemed slim.
But excluding the thousand-plus outer disciples and those who’d used their three attempts or were overage, only about a hundred would compete.
A one-in-ten shot was decent.
Ling Xiao calculated silently. Even with his current strength, he had a chance, but more effort would boost his odds.
The stronger he was, the better his shot at entering the tower—and the greater the rewards inside.
Hei Suo, Ming Tian, Leng Hao, and many inner sect experts would vie fiercely for those twelve spots.
Among the crowd was a youth, about sixteen, barely older than Ling Xiao, known as the “Inner Sect’s First” below the core disciples.
Named Shen Tianlin, he was entering the tower ceremony for the first time, brimming with excitement.
“The core disciple spot is mine, and first place in the tower ceremony too!”
Shen Tianlin vowed silently.
Zhang was pleased with the disciples’ fervor.
A sect thrived on fierce competition. Complacency and lack of ambition spelled doom.
Among the inner sect elites, Xiao Yan and Lin Feng sighed, overwhelmed, not even considering signing up for the ceremony.
But Ling Xiao thought differently.
He knew his strength.
His potential was immense.
Without fully merging with the Ancient Golden Dragon, he’d already gained terrifying power.
What if he integrated the aura of a primordial beast?
How terrifying, how mighty would that be?
Having just acquired this fearsome power, he’d never used it in battle. He was eager to see its impact.
