Chapter 854 - 852: Heaven’s Edge Pavilion, Wind and Cloud Platform

Seven days later.

At the edge of the Teleportation Array behind the Tianya Tower Manor, a group of cultivators gathered. There were many of them—over thirty people in total. These people were all the upper management and core strength of Celestial Sword City's Heaven's Edge Tower. Moreover, as long as they secured a top-three finish, basically all of them would be able to enter the Grotto Heaven and gain the opportunity to cultivate in the treasure pool.

"Whoa, why are there so many people this time?"

"Thirty-three! In the past, there were at most a dozen or so. If we can't get into the top three, bringing so many people is just for show."

"Could the Tower Master be bringing us just to watch the battle?"

Most cultivators found it inconceivable. Heaven's Edge Tower had many affairs to handle. Although the Dragon and Tiger Battle was a grand event within Heaven's Edge Pavilion and worthy of attention, bringing so many people was undoubtedly a waste. For those who ultimately failed to qualify for entry, it would be extremely uncomfortable. Compared to previous Dragon and Tiger Battles, almost all the experts and core forces were deployed this time. It was truly baffling.

"Mr. Lu, you should know, right? The core forces at the Late Stage of Celestial Immortal Realm and its peak, along with us Golden Immortals, are all going. What's going on?" a Golden Immortal cultivator asked as he approached Lo Peng. He knew that Lo Peng was one of the combatants.

Lo Peng grinned and said mysteriously, "I'm not too sure about that."

"Hmm? Aren't you a combatant? How could you not know? By the way, who is the other combatant? I haven't heard a single piece of news about it until now."

"Heh, my spot as a combatant was taken," Lo Peng chuckled playfully.

"What?"

"Who else could defeat you, Mr. Lu?"

Several Golden Immortal cultivators paled in shock. This was too astonishing. It must be known that Lo Peng was the strongest among the cultivators at the Middle Stage of Golden Immortal present—bar none. Furthermore, since outside help was forbidden, who could possibly defeat him?

"You'll know once the Tower Master announces it," Lo Peng shrugged, having no intention of telling anyone else.

"Sigh, Mr. Lu, why are you being like this?"

"I'm dying of anxiety here, just tell us already."

"Mr. Lo, please."

No matter what they said, Lo Peng remained silent.

Just then, two figures flew over. Leading them was none other than Chen Yingchuan.

"Tower Master."

"Who is that?"

In an instant, everyone looked at the black-clad figure behind Chen Yingchuan. He wore a black patterned mask over his face.

"Could he be the combatant?"

"That's not right. There are supposed to be two combatants, why is there only one?"

"Damn it, I can't even pry into his cultivation base."

"Silence!" Chen Yingchuan gave a low shout, and the area immediately fell quiet. He swept his gaze over the crowd and said in a deep voice, "For this Dragon and Tiger Battle, our Celestial Sword City's Heaven's Edge Tower will dispatch thirty-five people in total. If we can secure first place, everyone present will be qualified to step into the Grotto Heaven. If we place second, only four or five will lose this opportunity. This time, our goal is the top three."

As his voice fell, everyone except Liou Sanqian and Lo Peng was dumbfounded. Top three? Isn't that too crazy?

"Tower Master, this is one of the combatants, right? Where is the other one?" a Golden Immortal cultivator couldn't help but ask, pointing at Xu Yang.

Chen Yingchuan grinned. "The other combatant is also him."

"What?"

The crowd was once again stunned, their minds going blank, unable to process this information. One person taking up two spots?

Chen Yingchuan's brimming-with-confidence voice echoed. "As for his identity, you will naturally find out once the Dragon and Tiger Battle begins. For this Dragon and Tiger Battle, the minimum expectation is the top three."

However, the crowd fell dead silent; you could hear a pin drop. They were shocked and doubtful. It was simply too much of a shock for everyone. One person taking two spots was completely unprecedented—not just for Celestial Sword City's Heaven's Edge Tower, but for all thirty-six Heaven's Edge Towers.

What did it mean that Chen Yingchuan was so confident in vowing for at least the top three? This person's strength must be unimaginable. Even stronger than Lo Peng.

The crowd stared blankly at Lo Peng, but there was not a trace of dissatisfaction on his face. Everyone's hearts trembled as they grew even more curious about Xu Yang's identity.

Hidden beneath the mask, Xu Yang's face was full of helplessness. This disguise was naturally not his idea, but Chen Yingchuan's. According to Chen Yingchuan, being mysterious would bring about a stronger impact and shock in the end. This time, he wanted to make Celestial Sword City's Heaven's Edge Tower the most dazzling among all thirty-six towers. Since it was within Heaven's Edge Pavilion anyway, Xu Yang had no reason to refuse.

"Alright, let's set off," Chen Yingchuan gave the order, leaving no opportunity for the crowd to ask further questions.

Everyone quickly stepped into the Teleportation Array. The Teleportation Array here could transport them directly to the headquarters of Heaven's Edge Pavilion—the Heaven's Edge Mountains. The battleground for this Dragon and Tiger Battle was located precisely on the Wind and Cloud Platform within the Heaven's Edge Mountains. Once the rankings were decided, they would be immediately moved into the Dual-Color Grotto Heaven.

As Chen Yingchuan activated the Teleportation Array, immortal light rose, engulfing everyone instantly like a tidal wave.

WHOOSH!

When the immortal light dissipated, the array patterns at the edge of the Teleportation Array dimmed and fell silent. Not a single person remained on it.

Wind and Cloud Platform, Heaven's Edge Mountains.

A lone mountain stood tall, holding up the sky. Its peak had been cleanly sliced off, leaving a flat, broad surface that was majestic and imposing. Above it, wind and clouds intertwined unpredictably. Standing there felt like being placed in the origin of the starry sky. The profound mysteries of the stellar canopy scattered among the surging sea of clouds and rushing winds, making one feel viscerally insignificant, yet simultaneously inspiring a sense of heroic grandeur.

It was Xu Yang's first time at the Wind and Cloud Platform, and he was struck by the scenery at first glance. It was like an immortal sacred land within the black-and-white starry sky. The sea of clouds surged and the roaring winds swept through, partially obscuring the endlessly majestic mountains that towered formidably, shaking one's very soul.

Others who were also here for the first time were equally shocked and amazed.

"Celestial Sword City's team is here."

"Whoa, they brought so many people? What are they trying to do?"

"The first-place prize only covers thirty-five people, and they brought exactly thirty-five. Are they aiming for first place?"

"Stop joking. Celestial Sword City taking first place is pure wishful thinking. In the past few decades, their best result was entering the top ten just once."

"Chen Yingchuan came prepared. If they bring so many people and fail to secure a high rank, it'll be a massive humiliation. This guy has always been quite cautious; he wouldn't act so recklessly."

A wave of commotion and discussion arose all around. Xu Yang only then realized that many teams had already gathered on one side. The larger ones had about twenty or thirty people, while the smaller ones only had four or five. Clearly, they were all from various Heaven's Edge Towers.

He also noticed many people's gazes repeatedly sweeping over him. Evidently, his incredibly mysterious masked appearance made the experts from the other Heaven's Edge Towers realize something.

A combatant.

"Chen Yingchuan, you're trying to snatch first place in this Dragon and Tiger Battle, aren't you?"

An old man walked out, staring at Chen Yingchuan with a smiling face, yet giving off the aura of a sly old fox. That smile sent chills down one's spine.

"This is the first-place winner of the previous Dragon and Tiger Battle: Yuan Tong, the Tower Master of Dao Yuan Ancient City's Heaven's Edge Tower. He's very strong. Basically, he has placed in the top three in every Dragon and Tiger Battle, and at his absolute worst, he's never fallen out of the top five," Liou Sanqian secretly sent a voice transmission to Xu Yang beside him.

Xu Yang nodded slightly, quietly assessing the cultivators in the team behind Yuan Tong.

"Hahaha, I wouldn't dare. I just felt that having more people boosts our morale. Who knows, we might just secure a good rank this time," Chen Yingchuan laughed heartily, feigning utmost humility.