The noble woman nodded slightly, then looked at the woman in red and said, “Hongli, your true strength is no less than your senior sister’s. Last time, we wronged you by making you lose to her. This time, you can unleash your full power.
If your senior sister cannot defeat the Holy Son, this task will fall to you!”
“I obey, Master!”
The girl in red revealed a resolute smile.
Last time, though young, she already possessed strength comparable to Bai Qianjiao. Now, several years later, at eighteen, her strength was far more formidable than before.
This time, in the Martial Arts Festival finals, she was truly aiming for first place.
“Good, confidence is key. You two must secure two of the six Young Masters’ spots. That way, the Heavenly King Sect’s fortune will be claimed by our Jade Water Divine Palace!”
…
At the Mysterious Fire Sect, all buildings stood amidst a sea of rolling flames.
All the plants here were incredibly resilient, able to survive in blazing fire.
All the animals here were fire attributed creatures.
In the main hall, three people were present.
One, a man in his fifties, wore a fiery red python robe, exuding immense authority.
Below him stood two others. One was a sinister looking man named Liu Taiyin, ranked fourth among the Holy Dynasty’s Six Young Masters.
The other was a child, seemingly only about ten years old, with an adorable appearance but an intangible air of dominance. His name was Hong Sanmei, ranked fifth among the Six Young Masters.
“Taiyin, Sanmei, I won’t say much more. You were still young during the last Martial Arts Festival. Now, not yet twenty, my expectations aren’t high. Maintaining your current ranks would be a victory!”
The authoritative middle aged man spoke in a gentle tone.
“Rest assured, Master. This time, we won’t just maintain our ranks, we’ll aim higher!”
At the level of the Holy Dynasty’s Six Young Masters, no one was content to stagnate, and these two were no exception.
If they could take first, no one would settle for fourth or fifth.
…
In the Holy City.
“Senior Brother Wuji, please don’t fight Ling Xiao. You can’t win! Ling Xiao has fully come into his own, even Master was killed by him.”
Chen Meng still couldn’t forget the scene of Chen Nanxing’s death.
She had narrowly survived but didn’t dare dream of revenge, knowing she was no match for Ling Xiao.
She also didn’t want Jian Wuji to throw his life away.
Jian Wuji looked at Chen Meng faintly, shaking his head lightly, “That useless Chen Nanxing, dead and gone, I won’t avenge him. But Ling Xiao must die!
Junior Sister, you’ve disappointed me greatly, thinking that Ling Xiao is stronger than me. If that’s the case, there’s nothing more to say between us.”
“Senior Brother!”
Seeing that cold, emotionless face, Chen Meng’s heart sank, aching and chilled.
Jian Wuji closed his eyes, no longer paying her any attention.
He was absolutely unwilling to remain the sixth of the Holy Dynasty’s Six Young Masters. This time, he aimed to climb at least one rank higher.
…
In the western part of the Heavenly Dragon Continent.
The Snow Mountain Sect.
This was a world beneath endless snow, the territory of the Snow Mountain Sect, one of the twelve sects.
The disciples of the Snow Mountain Sect excelled in ice attributed true essence. Though not particularly famous in the past, a remarkable disciple had emerged in the previous festival, breaking into the top ten.
Though he didn’t become one of the Six Young Masters, his strength was widely recognised.
This year, at nineteen, he was eligible to participate in the Holy Dynasty Martial Arts Festival again.
“Xuefeng, you are the most outstanding disciple our Snow Mountain Sect has seen in a thousand years. Among the three western sects, you’re unmatched. This Martial Arts Festival, don’t disappoint your master. Bring more fortune to our Snow Mountain Sect.
With the Sword King Sect, Tang Sect, Gu King Sect, and Poison King Sect in decline, our chance to rise has come!”
A handsome man in white, with flowing white hair, stood atop an iceberg, speaking to the youth beside him.
Li Xuefeng nodded, “Master, I will do my utmost and won’t let you down.”
“Don’t feel too pressured. I don’t expect you to achieve a top rank. Securing sixth place, among the Holy Dynasty’s Six Young Masters, will be enough.”
The handsome man smiled.
“I understand!”
But in his heart, the youth aimed for an even higher rank.
…
Also in the western part of the continent.
The Blood Blade Sect, another of the twelve sects.
Despite its crude name, this sect was not to be underestimated.
The Blood Blade Sect’s blade techniques followed a strange and ruthless path, their moves bizarre and vicious, causing headaches for anyone facing them.
At this moment, in the Blood Blade Sect, the sect master and senior elders were all smiling.
“It’s done. Bixue’s ‘Blood Blade Sacred Canon’ has reached the sixth level, the strongest among the older generation of disciples!”
“Exactly. Last time, Jian Wuji’s ‘Sword King Sacred Canon’ was only at the fourth level, yet he became one of the Six Young Masters. This time, Bixue will definitely break into the top six!”
“Hmph, you’re underestimating me, Qin Bixue. Top six? I’ll even drag the Heavenly King Sect’s Holy Son off his pedestal!”
The youth’s face carried an eerie charm, his entire being like an unrivalled blood blade, sending chills down one’s spine.
“Hahaha, well said! The Holy Son’s strength comes only from possessing one of the nine dragon souls, the Nature Dragon Soul. But against formidable blade techniques, he’ll fall!”
Qin Bixue smiled, “Sect Master, please keep this matter confidential. I want to shock everyone at the Martial Arts Festival, decisively defeating the Holy Son and claiming first place!”
“Such ambition! That’s the spirit. Your secret will be kept by the sect. Let’s set off now. I can’t wait to see the Heavenly King Sect’s mournful faces, hahaha!”
The Blood Blade Sect Master had never been so excited.
As for the preliminaries, he paid them no mind.
Those participating in the preliminaries were people unqualified to be seeded contestants. Why bother with them?
Qin Bixue didn’t take those people seriously either. His eyes were only on the Holy Dynasty’s Six Young Masters.
…
Also in the western part, the Elixir Manor, one of the twelve sects, was filled with the fragrance of herbs and fruits, like a paradise beyond the world.
In a deep valley stood a sprawling manor.
In the manor’s main hall, a woman was gently stroking her beloved daughter’s head, smiling, “Yaoling, your sister left in anger, and that was my fault. This time, at the Holy Dynasty Martial Arts Festival, you must not only secure a top six rank but also use this fortune to help me bring your sister back.”
The girl kneeling before her, dressed in emerald green, was like a finely carved piece of jade.
“Mother, rest assured. This time, I’ll bring Sister back no matter what.
Of course, I’ll also test myself against the title of the Holy Dynasty’s Six Young Masters!”
She gave a soft smile, her eyes gleaming with unwavering determination.
