Ling Xiao looked at Tantai Lingzi with a slight smile, unsure why this woman seemed to harbor malice toward him.
But since she’d already thrown out threatening words, he naturally wouldn’t back down.
Even if he didn’t yield, with his current strength, it would be harder than reaching the heavens for her to kill him.
She wasn’t a Celestial Realm expert, so why act so high and mighty?
The rules for the Tower Ascension Ceremony qualification round were straightforward: a lottery-style duel where three consecutive losses meant elimination. Those who remained advanced until the final forty were decided.
The rules were simple and clear—keep winning, and even if you lost, never exceed three defeats.
Ling Xiao loved such rules; they were hassle-free. After all, it was just a qualification round, and making it too complicated would be pointless.
…
Soon, most of Moonlight Sect’s higher-ups gathered at the inner sect plaza.
The entire plaza was reinforced with arrays since inner sect disciples were all above the Mortal Realm, with considerable destructive power.
The arrays on the battle platforms were even stronger.
As long as one’s cultivation didn’t exceed Half-Step Heavenly Venerable, destroying the platforms was impossible.
There were twenty battle platforms in the inner sect plaza, allowing twenty duels to occur simultaneously.
This wasn’t slow, as early matches might involve significant strength disparities, potentially ending in moments.
As the rounds progressed, the disciples’ strengths would grow closer, and battles would naturally take longer.
Ling Xiao figured he was unlikely to face strong opponents early on. Though it was a lottery, the higher-ups could easily adjust matchups on the fly.
They’d never allow top-tier clashes to happen right at the start.
Many higher-ups attended today, both familiar and unfamiliar to Ling Xiao, including Sect Leader Chang Yueying.
However, the Moon Lady was absent.
That made sense—being the sect’s most mysterious figure, she had to maintain some mystique.
“Supreme Sect Leader arrives!”
Suddenly, the sky and earth shifted, winds roared across the plaza, and spiritual energy surged wildly.
An elderly woman, supported by a young girl, appeared.
She moved slowly, without an imposing aura.
Yet, true powerhouses could sense that she seemed to blend seamlessly with the surrounding world.
Her cultivation was terrifying!
Though below the Moon Lady, she was stronger than anyone else in Moonlight Sect.
Likely a Cave Heaven Realm expert.
“Master!”
Lan Yuer excitedly ran toward the elderly woman.
So, this was Lan Yuer’s master, the Supreme Sect Leader, likely the previous sect leader, Ling Xiao mused.
He couldn’t help but marvel—Moonlight Sect, founded by a woman, had its three strongest figures all women: the Moon Lady, the Supreme Sect Leader, and Sect Leader Chang Yueying!
Despite her age, the elderly woman had no wrinkles on her face, and her hands were smooth. Only her silver hair betrayed her years.
“Greetings, Supreme Sect Leader!”
Chang Yueying stood, joining the other sect leaders in bowing to the Supreme Sect Leader.
“Hehe, no need for formalities. Sit, sit. I’m just an old woman who’s stepped back from the front lines. I’m only here today to see how my second disciple performs,” said the Supreme Sect Leader, Chang Yueli.
Chang Yueli had taken only three disciples in her lifetime.
Her first was Chang Yueying, the current sect leader.
Her youngest was Lan Yuer, a strong contender for the next sect leader.
Her second disciple was Bai Feifei, rumored to be the adopted daughter of Demon Flame Heavenly Venerable.
This made Ling Xiao think of someone—Master Baiyun’s daughter.
Master Baiyun had a daughter late in life, but on the day of her birth, his wife was killed, and his daughter was taken.
It was now confirmed that Demon Flame Heavenly Venerable was behind it.
Both Master Baiyun and Demon Flame Heavenly Venerable shared the surname Bai, hailing from the same clan. Bai Feifei, also surnamed Bai and adopted by Demon Flame Heavenly Venerable, likely confirmed Ling Xiao’s suspicions.
On the surface, Bai Feifei’s cultivation was only early third-level Mortal Realm, but Ling Xiao sensed she practiced a secret technique to conceal her true strength.
Her actual cultivation was Half-Step Heavenly Venerable, surpassing even Lan Yuer!
Terrifying talent!
She might be slightly older than Lan Yuer, perhaps around twenty, but reaching Half-Step Heavenly Venerable at that age was astonishing.
It made sense, though—only someone with such talent could be taken as a disciple by Chang Yueli.
However, Bai Feifei had trained under Chang Yueli and never participated in sect ranking battles, so she wasn’t a true disciple.
This time, Chang Yueli hadn’t included her among the seeded contenders, likely intending to let her second disciple, long secluded in the divine palace, publicly display her strength.
As for deeper motives, Ling Xiao couldn’t guess.
Nor did he care to. He’d only promised to help Master Baiyun find his daughter. Seeing Bai Feifei alive and thriving would surely delight Master Baiyun.
Cold Hao, standing behind Golden Light Heavenly Venerable, glanced at Bai Feifei with a hint of worry.
His cultivation growth was already terrifying, a true genius, currently at early fourth-level Mortal Realm—contrary to earlier rumors among disciples.
Demon Flame Heavenly Venerable was absent, but Meng Yuan, Ming Tian, and Shen Tianlin were present, standing behind Elder Jin.
With Demon Flame Heavenly Venerable in seclusion for healing, Elder Jin had become their full backing.
Ming Tian’s cultivation was even more terrifying, having started stronger than Cold Hao and Ling Xiao.
Now at early fifth-level Mortal Realm, his progress was extraordinary.
But facing these so-called geniuses, Ling Xiao only smiled faintly.
He had once aimed to surpass Ming Tian, and now he’d easily outstripped him.
Of course, for geniuses like Ming Tian and Cold Hao, cultivation didn’t fully represent strength. They could likely defeat opponents a realm above them with ease.
Even so, Ling Xiao had left them in the dust.
His new goal was Demon Flame Heavenly Venerable!
Surpass him, and Ling Xiao was certain Moonlight Sect would treasure him, leaving no room for Demon Flame Heavenly Venerable to seek revenge.
“Ling Xiao, are you confident you can beat Ming Tian?” Dai Yuling asked.
“Ming Tian?”
Ling Xiao didn’t answer, just smiled faintly.
There were too many geniuses. Though Ming Tian was exceptional, Bai Feifei, Lan Yuer, Ren Xingtian, Yue Ren, Tantai Lingzi, and Meng Yuan were no less impressive.
Ming Tian was just one among them.
Defeating him? Ling Xiao was absolutely certain.
