A terrifying aura spread, like a colossal giant standing tall, overlooking the world.
The entire Nihility boiled over.
Countless wanderers stared fanatically at the ancient warship hovering above the Five Phoenixes. Every single rune etched upon it drove them mad with obsession.
It came from the Upper Realm!
It represented the will of the Upper Realm—and signified that the Heavenly Grand Tournament was about to begin.
These wanderers lost in the void had waited far too long.
Nearly ten years. Finally, the Heavenly Grand Tournament had arrived!
Rumble!
One warship after another slowly sailed through the Nihility. Runes glowed on each, resisting the rules of this realm.
Many were mighty, but compared to the ancient warship representing the Upper Realm, they paled.
Of course, the experts from various High Martial worlds aboard those ships were in no hurry to rush to the Five Phoenixes.
Instead, they watched with great interest as the ancient warship reached its destination.
In Pingyang Heaven, the Venerable Joyful, Saint Lord Qingling, Saint Lord Tuoba, and others all observed.
Upper Realm emissaries were supremely domineering. Even the Great Venerable had to bow before that ancient warship.
Would Saint Lord Lu bow?
They were extremely curious.
…
Origin Lake, gentle breeze.
Lu Fan rolled up his sleeves, holding a chess piece, about to place it—when his hand suddenly paused.
“Hm. They’re here.”
Lu Fan said.
On Lake Heart Island, Qi Liujia, who had been circulating his qi, abruptly opened his eyes, aged gaze filled with gravity.
“Young Master… they’ve come.”
“Though the ten-year deadline has not yet arrived, if I’m not mistaken, they are here early for the profession side-competitions.”
Qi Liujia said.
Lu Fan leaned back in the Thousand-Bladed Chair and nodded slightly.
The profession side-competitions?
A warm-up before the main Heavenly Grand Tournament?
Breaking sounds filled the air on the island. Ning Zhao brought Ni Yu. Li Sansui and A’lu also rushed over.
“Old Qi, go take a look.”
“As for the competition venue—just use the Bloodstained Battlefield.”
Lu Fan said.
Qi Liujia was stunned.
Then he gave a wry smile. Young Master was stirring trouble again.
But he said nothing more. He stepped forward and soared into the sky.
Lu Fan picked another piece from the box and placed it on the board once more.
…
Over the Vast Sea, calm as ever.
Behind the nameless tombstone, the ancient tomb.
In a dim chamber, an ever-burning lamp flickered.
Outside the hall, four skeletons stood in the four directions, heads raised to the sky, ghostly flames dancing in their eye sockets.
“General, someone has come.”
The skeleton in the pink dress spoke.
Her voice echoed around the ancient hall.
After a long while,
A faint voice emerged from within.
“The Heavenly Grand Tournament is to be held in the Five Phoenixes… Those old monsters have finally set their sights on the Nihility.”
“The birth of a High Martial in the Nihility means the seal on the ‘Imperial Weapon’ is loosening. It’s no surprise they’re making moves.”
“No matter… As long as they do not invade, let them be.”
The voice was calm, tinged with contemplation.
The pink skeleton’s ghostly flames flickered.
“Understood.”
The four skeletons returned to motionless silence. The ever-burning lamp inside steadied, and the oppressive aura slowly dissipated.
…
The ancient warship exuded terrifying pressure.
Rumbling filled the air.
“To use the ‘Lin’ Character Array Word to construct a time formation… Even among the nine secret words of Ancient Emperor Hao, this usage is remarkable.”
A light laugh drifted from within the ancient warship.
A servant stepped out. His aura was powerful, his face shrouded in mist—features indiscernible.
He walked step by step from the warship.
Buzz…
From the Five Phoenixes,
Qi Liujia shot forth and cupped his fists toward the servant.
“We represent the will of the Upper Realm. Though the ten-year period has not yet arrived, the profession side-competitions shall first be held in the Five Phoenixes.”
The servant spoke arrogantly. Though his face was hidden, his natural superiority and haughtiness were palpable.
Yet to the surprise of the watching wanderers and experts from other High Martial worlds,
The servant did not press aggressively. He did not question why only Qi Liujia had come to greet the Upper Realm emissaries.
After all, the Upper Realm and the Nihility were as gold to sand.
Even the Great Venerable of the Sixth Evolution Little Thunder Buddha World in Pingyang Heaven had personally come to greet them.
“Where will the profession side-competitions and the subsequent Heavenly Grand Tournament be held?”
The servant, body wreathed in mist, spoke with an ethereal, noble air.
Qi Liujia took a deep breath and cupped his fists.
“Young Master says… the honored extraterrestrial battlefield of the Five Phoenixes shall serve as the venue for both the side-competitions and the main tournament…”
As he spoke, he stepped back and waved a hand.
The clouds below instantly parted, revealing the vast, boundless Bloodstained Battlefield.
At the same time, under Lu Fan’s will, the time formation ceased operation.
Crimson sand rolled, exuding thick blood qi.
The moment the Bloodstained Battlefield was revealed,
You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
The servant was shocked.
Though his face was hidden, Qi Liujia could feel his shock—quickly turning to fury.
“Insolence!”
The servant roared.
Rumble!
The rules of the Nihility itself seemed to stir. This servant’s cultivation was terrifying!
Whoosh whoosh whoosh…
With his shout,
More servants appeared at the prow of the ancient warship, each with aura no weaker than the enraged one.
“The Heavenly Grand Tournament is of utmost importance. Your world’s saint not appearing is one thing, but since you accepted the hosting duty, show some respect!”
“As a High Martial world, do you lack famous mountains or blessed lands? Why choose such a desolate, wretched place as the venue?”
The servant’s voice was cold as a blade, slicing relentlessly.
Qi Liujia felt immense pressure, his face paling slightly.
He knew it…
Young Master’s decision would definitely enrage the Upper Realm emissaries.
Was Young Master planning to tear faces with them before the tournament even began?
Just as Qi Liujia opened his mouth to speak in Lu Fan’s defense,
A light laugh seemed to drift from the ancient warship.
Then a primordial spirit fluctuation transmitted something to the servant.
The mist-shrouded servant bowed and listened.
Then he straightened and cupped his fists.
“Understood.”
He turned back to Qi Liujia.
“The emissaries are magnanimous and understand the Five Phoenixes is a newly ascended High Martial world. They agree to use this desolate extraterrestrial battlefield as the venue.”
“Lead the way.”
The servant said coolly.
Qi Liujia’s prepared defense died in his throat.
These Upper Realm emissaries… were surprisingly reasonable?
Without another word, he turned and flew toward the Bloodstained Battlefield.
Rumble!
The ancient warship shifted sideways, massive as a towering palace.
Heavy. Ancient.
Qi Liujia and the servant flew ahead, the warship following behind.
After a long while, they reached the Bloodstained Battlefield and landed on the cold, blood-soaked ground.
The many wanderers in the Nihility who thought conflict was inevitable were dumbfounded.
No clash occurred.
Not only them—even the spying experts rushing to the Five Phoenixes were stunned.
Most of these experts came from Yuanci Heaven and Xuesha Heaven—realms controlled like Pingyang Heaven.
In their understanding, the Upper Realm was mysterious, noble, and powerful. For the Five Phoenixes to be chosen as host yet pick such a barren land as venue—the Upper Realm emissaries surprisingly did not erupt in anger.
Boom!
The ancient warship descended onto the Bloodstained Battlefield.
It carved a chasm-like furrow through the ground.
The servant also landed on the crimson earth.
Qi Liujia felt slightly embarrassed. The Bloodstained Battlefield… was truly too desolate.
If any other world had been chosen, they would have shown off their most glorious landscapes.
Yet Young Master Lu just tossed the whole tournament into this lifeless wasteland.
The ancient warship was enormous, towering a hundred zhang, its cold hull radiating ancient aura.
Buzz…
A powerful primordial spirit wave surged from the warship.
It instantly swept across the Bloodstained Battlefield.
Boom!
The entire Five Phoenixes seemed to change.
Every cultivator felt crushing oppression—like some terrifying existence was emerging. An overwhelming noble aura forced many to their knees.
The powerful primordial spirit swept past.
The nameless tombstone over the Vast Sea instantly released a terrifying aura.
It shot into the heavens.
An equally powerful fluctuation spread from the ancient tomb.
The two primordial spirit forces clashed silently in the void, whipping up a spiritual energy storm.
The probing spirit from the warship rapidly withdrew.
The ancient tomb fell silent once more.
On Lake Heart Island,
Lu Fan suppressed his own primordial spirit force. He hadn’t expected the mysterious “General” in the tomb to act faster.
Lu Fan was happy to let it be. Things were growing more interesting.
On the Bloodstained Battlefield,
The powerful primordial spirit withdrew. Light laughter once again drifted from the ancient warship.
“Some tidying up will do.”
A faint voice rang out.
Servants flew forth, hovering above the battlefield.
In their hands appeared cyan orbs.
The orbs were dropped like rain.
Plink plink plink!
Each orb transformed into a cyan brick. The bricks spread across the Bloodstained Battlefield, forming three massive plazas.
They surrounded the ancient warship.
Boom!
One servant flung out a black stele that smashed into a corner of the three plazas.
Dust fell from the stele, revealing flowing script of different professions:
Alchemist, Array Master, Artifact Forger.
Three plazas—three different profession competition zones.
Qi Liujia watched, dumbfounded.
Then the corner of his mouth twitched…
Even the Upper Realm emissaries couldn’t stand it anymore? They personally sent servants to tidy the venue?
Atop White Jade Capital’s pavilion,
Lu Fan held his bronze wine cup and chuckled.
Once the servants finished, they returned to the front of the ancient warship.
Qi Liujia stood awkwardly—there was nothing for him to do.
After a long while,
A servant drifted over.
“The venue is prepared. Over the next three days, participants who passed their world’s preliminaries will arrive.”
“Three days hence, the profession side-competitions begin.”
With that, the servant vanished like teleportation, returning to stand before the ancient warship.
A bronze ancient bell appeared.
The servant struck it hard.
DONG!
The bell’s toll echoed as though through all realms.
Warships drifting leisurely through the Nihility suddenly changed expression and accelerated toward the Five Phoenixes.
In Pingyang Heaven,
Saint Lord Qingling leaped aboard a spirit boat, bringing Qingling Small World’s alchemist, array master, and artifact forger to the Five Phoenixes.
A fierce bird spread its wings—Saint Lord Tuoba laughed heartily as he set off with his people.
Buddhist light flashed, lotus spun—the Little Thunder Buddha World also departed.
The entire heavens seemed to come alive, bustling with activity.
The once-deathly silent border between the Nihility and Pingyang Heaven now saw countless figures entering the Nihility.
The Nihility, once a quiet ruin, suddenly became the center of attention.
This was the charm of the Heavenly Grand Tournament—even the Nihility, called the ruins of the heavens, became the focus of all realms when chosen as host.
…
Qi Liujia returned to Lake Heart Island.
After the ancient warship representing the Upper Realm settled on the Bloodstained Battlefield, it showed no further activity.
Nor did it probe the Five Phoenixes further.
“The Nihility has its own rules, so the Upper Realm cannot send supreme experts. Whoever is aboard that warship may be strong, but not excessively so.”
Qi Liujia said.
Lu Fan nodded slightly.
“Young Master, shall you not meet them?”
Qi Liujia asked.
Lu Fan shook his head.
“This Young Master has hit a cultivation bottleneck and is in a foul mood. Besides, I may break through any day now—so I will not see them…”
Qi Liujia said no more.
“Take Ni Yu and the others to compete…”
“By the way, how exactly are these profession side-competitions conducted?”
Lu Fan asked curiously.
But Qi Liujia shook his head.
“The profession side-competitions are a major attraction as warm-ups to the main tournament, and the rules change every time. Even I do not know. We must wait for the competition day when the Upper Realm emissaries announce them.”
Lu Fan nodded, leaned back in the Thousand-Bladed Chair, and closed his eyes.
Qi Liujia descended from the pavilion and walked the island.
He gathered Ni Yu, Li Sansui, and A’lu and gave them a serious pep talk.
Though he wasn’t competing himself, Qi Liujia was far more nervous than if he were.
…
The disturbance on the Bloodstained Battlefield naturally drew the attention of the Five Phoenixes’ cultivators.
The cultivation world instantly erupted.
Some went to investigate and discovered countless terrifying experts had appeared outside the Five Phoenixes, their auras making hearts tremble.
But Qi Liujia soon appeared and explained.
When cultivators learned that a competition—alchemists, array masters, and artifact forgers—would be held on the Bloodstained Battlefield, interest surged.
Many cultivators rushed to the battlefield to watch.
Of course, anyone who got too close to the three competition plazas was driven back by the cold gazes of the ancient warship’s servants.
The Five Phoenixes cultivators could only watch from afar.
The Great Xuan Divine Dynasty also learned of the news and was shocked.
Now the world knew there were many realms beyond the Five Phoenixes, and for the Five Phoenixes to host such a grand event—excitement filled many hearts.
The new emperor was quite interested.
Protected by Black Tortoise Guards, he ascended the Bloodstained Battlefield and had viewing platforms specially constructed to enjoy the profession side-competitions.
Mo Tianyu arrived with Lü Mudui of Tianji Pavilion. The two chatted and laughed.
Gongshu Yu came with Xie Yunling and several old friends from the Hundred Schools era—how could they miss A’lu and Li Sansui’s competitions?
Three days passed in a blink.
On Lake Heart Island,
Qi Liujia’s face was grave and serious.
He repeatedly instructed Ni Yu, Li Sansui, and A’lu. Though he wasn’t competing, he was far more anxious than if he were.
“Young Master, we’re off!”
Qi Liujia said.
“Go.”
Atop White Jade Capital’s pavilion, the white-robed youth remained calm as still water.
Qi Liujia felt a surge of admiration—only Young Master could remain so unflustered.
The next moment, he led the three straight to the Bloodstained Battlefield.
On the Bloodstained Battlefield,
What had been an empty wasteland was now bustling.
Besides Five Phoenixes cultivators who came to watch, the rest were all participating alchemists, array masters, etc.
A sea of people.
The three competition plazas, however, remained empty—no one dared step inside under penalty of death by the Upper Realm emissaries.
Thus, alchemists, array masters, and artifact forgers all waited outside the plazas.
These were the finalists who had passed their worlds’ preliminaries—powerful experts whose crisscrossing auras created suffocating tension above the battlefield.
Through the hazy mist array, one could clearly see countless warships, flying palaces, spirit boats, fierce birds…
Experts from myriad worlds watched the Bloodstained Battlefield.
DONG!
A deafening bell toll rang out, as though echoing through all realms.
A servant stood aboard the ancient warship.
“First event: Alchemy Side-Competition, Round One. Total participants: 13,872.”
The servant announced.
Seated alchemists opened their eyes, gazes instantly sharpening.
“The Upper Realm has prepared a sixth-grade pill recipe. Each participant has one attempt. Success advances to Round Two. Failure—elimination and forfeiture of wagered Dao Intent.”
The servant swept his gaze across the crowd.
Breathing instantly grew rapid.
The competition was brutal.
The very first round was a threshold—weed out the unqualified.
“Now… ascend the stage.”
At the servant’s command,
The many alchemists outside the plaza erupted with powerful auras and shot toward the plaza like streaks of light.
“Go.”
Qi Liujia patted Ni Yu’s head.
Ni Yu’s eyes gleamed. She tightened the black pot on her back.
Took a deep breath.
Then, with small running steps, she trotted toward the plaza, pot bouncing.
It looked rather comical.
The Upper Realm emissary’s servant glanced at Ni Yu.
His eyelid twitched.
This little girl… was the Five Phoenixes’ alchemist representative?
The Nihility’s sole participant?
Were they giving up already?
On the plaza, Ni Yu’s cheeks flushed with excitement. She waved at the surrounding alchemists, but everyone ignored her coldly.
The servant scanned the plaza.
Once all 13,872 were in position,
His gaze sharpened.
He raised a fist, robes fluttering.
Then slammed it into the floating ancient bell beside him.
DONG!
“Alchemy Side-Competition, Round One—Begin!”
BOOM!
As the words fell,
Heavy breathing swept the plaza.
Then—dazzling lights erupted.
Alchemists from countless High Martial worlds summoned their personal cauldrons.
Clang clang clang!
The sound of cauldrons hitting the ground echoed endlessly.
Ni Yu jumped in fright.
The little girl pursed her lips, looking left and right.
Finally, she grabbed the black pot from her back and slammed it down, baby-fat cheeks quivering.
Momentum!
Who didn’t have momentum?!
