Chapter 402 - 1: A Golden Core Swallowed, My Fate Is Mine, Not Heaven’s

Mingxu Mountain.

The mountain range stretched on for a thousand li, an unbroken chain of majestic and beautiful peaks.

The mountain backed onto the Void—one of the Three Calamities of the Ten Thousand Mountains. Shaped like a reclining dragon, it was a convergence point for the Earth Vein Spiritual Mechanism.

Due to its proximity to the Void, all life had vanished from the area. For a thousand li, the land was desolate and uninhabited, with almost no Cultivation Sects daring to establish themselves there.

The Bright Void Sect was hidden among these mountains, concealed by an Array that made it nearly impossible for outsiders to detect.

「On this day.」

Over a thousand disciples had gathered together.

A Female Cultivator at the Dao Foundation Realm, her white robes fluttering and her aura ethereal, stood suspended in midair. Her beautiful eyes, sharp as swords, swept across the crowd.

Wherever her gaze landed, the whispers died down.

"The Sect Grand Competition is a millennium-old tradition in the Cultivation Realm."

Seeing that all noise had ceased, Shui Qianning finally spoke. Her voice was not loud, yet it entered everyone’s ears with perfect clarity:

"Its establishment is not merely for showing off martial prowess or competing for glory, but is, in fact, fundamental to the Sect’s survival. With the collapse of the Great Dao and the rampage of Demons, a sect that has no disciples to protect its gates will eventually be annihilated in the face of calamity."

"Today, let us discuss the reasons for holding this competition. There are four main points: first, to select the wise and appoint the capable; second, to test the depth of one’s cultivation and encourage disciples to advance; third..."

"In addition to the established rewards, the top ten from the Outer Sect may enter the Inner Sect. The top three from the Inner Sect may become Core True Inheritance disciples."

A murmur swept through the crowd.

The moment she finished speaking, the entire arena erupted into an uproar.

The disciples of the Bright Void Sect were divided into Core True Inheritance, Inner Sect, and Outer Sect, and the difference in resources available to each group was as vast as the heavens and the earth.

Every Core True Inheritance disciple was expected to reach the Dao Foundation Realm, and the Sect would even prepare a Foundation Establishment Pill for them.

That Foundation Establishment Pill alone was something that Inner and Outer Sect disciples could only dream of but never hope to obtain.

Not to mention the other benefits.

Ordinary disciples didn’t aspire to become Core True Inheritance disciples, but becoming an Inner Sect Disciple also came with many great benefits.

To rise one tier.

One step closer to the Great Dao.

Coupled with the substantial rewards for the top ten in the Sect Grand Competition, it was a natural case of the strong getting stronger.

"Silence."

Shui Qianning’s voice deepened as she released her Foundation Establishment might, which fell upon the disciples like a tangible weight.

The arena immediately fell silent.

"Junior Brother Xu."

"I’ll trouble you to arrange the match pairings."

"Yes." The white-haired Xu Hanzhi took a step forward, his gaze sweeping over the crowd with a complex expression:

"The competition will last for half a month. The first five days are for the Outer Sect, the middle five for the Inner Sect, and the final five for the Core True Inheritance disciples."

"Now, we will distribute the pairings for the Outer Sect Disciples."

Xu Hanzhi had been exceptionally talented, succeeding in Qi Refining at a young age. Unfortunately, his obsession with brewing wine delayed his Cultivation, leading to an unstable foundation. He failed his breakthrough to the Dao Foundation Realm and was now relegated to the position of a Sect Steward.

In his youth, he had no regrets.

Now, however, watching his former martial brothers and sisters ascend to the Dao Foundation Realm, still youthful and vibrant, while he himself was white-haired and nearing the end of his life—how could he not feel regret?

Worse, because he had drunk too much in his youth, his three children were born dull and slow-witted. His wife complained about it daily, and there was certainly no joy of a happy family to speak of.

Composing himself, he waved his long sleeve and released several hundred motes of Spiritual Light, letting the Outer Sect Disciples choose one.

"The Martial Arts Arenas are arranged according to the Celestial Spirit sequence. Those with adjacent numbers on their lots will proceed to your designated arena under the guidance of the Outer Sect Stewards for your match."

"The winner advances to the next round!"

"Understood!"

The Sect Disciples replied in unison.

Above the Martial Arts Arena, a group of Dao Foundation Cultivators was seated.

They glowed with Spiritual Light, their auras transcendent, like Deities seated upon the clouds, looking down upon a crowd of Mortals.

Although they were all seniors of the Bright Void Sect, one could vaguely perceive different factions among them.

The original Bright Void Sect Dao Foundation Cultivators—Liu Huang’er, Shui Qianning, Ji Mingxi, and Xi Chen, plus Huang Xuan who had advanced a few years ago—sat relatively close to each other.

Opposite them sat two Dao Foundation Cultivators from the Hundred Flowers Sect who had sought refuge here: Dong Yuelan and Mi Chunyan.

There were also two Cultivators from Jade Void Cave Heaven.

Huike and Xiao Zifeng.

Unlike the others, these two possessed the bloodline of the Three-Eyed Divine Race and had a vertical eye on their foreheads.

Furthermore, the Cultivation Techniques they practiced were different from the norm; they followed not the Golden Core Path, but the paths of Body Refining and True Words.

Of course, after leaving Jade Void Cave Heaven and joining the Bright Void Sect, the two of them had switched to practicing the Primordial Heart Technique.

Leaving all else aside, the Primordial Heart Technique could greatly increase one’s lifespan. That benefit alone was too good to pass up.

As the Sect Leader of the Bright Void Sect, Pei Jingque sat in the center. Her gaze swept over everyone, pausing for a moment on Huike.

"Congratulations, Fellow Daoist. You have successfully established your Dao Foundation."

"The Sect Leader’s Dharma Eye is truly perceptive. This old one only just established my Dao Foundation a few days ago." Huike brought his palms together in a respectful gesture:

"It is all thanks to the resources provided by the Sect. Otherwise, I would not have succeeded."

The Three-Eyed Divine Race was neither Buddhist nor Daoist, but everyone was already used to Huike’s habit of calling himself ’this old one’ while performing Buddhist salutes.

Pei Jingque shook her head gently.

"The Sect’s resources are merely the icing on the cake. Your own solid foundation, Fellow Daoist, is the true reason for your success."

Although Huike had not been a Dao Foundation Cultivator before, his Cultivation and strength were so profound that they were comparable to a Late-Stage Dao Foundation or even a Fake Pill Cultivator.

Only with such a background could he have reached the Dao Foundation Realm in such a short time after practicing the Primordial Heart Technique. Given time, reaching Dao Foundation Perfection would be a simple matter, and he might even have a hope of advancing to the Golden Core Realm.

’Golden Core...’

Her gaze swept over the crowd.

Besides Huike, among all the Dao Foundation Cultivators present, the only one with the most hope of advancing to the Golden Core Realm in the future was Xi Chen.

The others would most likely stop at the Dao Foundation Realm.

As for the factional divisions within the Sect, Pei Jingque didn’t care, nor did she have any intention of addressing them.

As long as a Golden Core Grandmaster was present, they could control the entire situation.

"Sect Leader."

Ji Mingxi spoke up.

"In your opinion, which of the Core True Inheritance disciples will be victorious in this Sect Grand Competition?"

There were too many Sect Disciples.

There were several hundred Outer Sect Disciples alone, and a great many Inner Sect Disciples as well. It was impossible for Pei Jingque to know all of them.

Only the Core True Inheritance disciples were worthy of her notice.

In truth, nine times out of ten, those who managed to advance to the Dao Foundation Realm were Core True Inheritance disciples; the chances for Outer Sect and Inner Sect Disciples were extremely low.

"Xia Tong, Sunx Tianyou, Shir Sheng..."

After a moment of thought, Pei Jingque spoke slowly.

"Barring any surprises, the top three should be those three."

Xia Tong came from Jade Void Cave Heaven and also possessed the bloodline of the Three-Eyed Divine Race. Moreover, she was the legitimate daughter of a Marquis Mansion, possessing resources and a background that far surpassed those of ordinary disciples. She was currently at the Qi Refining Perfection Realm.

Then there was Sunx Tianyou.

He was a child Zhu Ju had found on his travels years ago. Exceptionally talented, he had become Shui Qianning’s disciple.

Shir Sheng’s Talent and resources were not on par with the other two, but he was older, had a deeper foundation, and possessed rich Combat experience.

"Tianyou?" Shui Qianning shook her head.

"Master, my disciple is still young. I’m afraid he won’t make it into the top three."

"I disagree," Xi Chen said, shaking his head.

"Sunx Tianyou is a one-of-a-kind genius of the Sword Dao who received my Master’s inheritance. He comprehended Sword Light Division at a young age, making him far stronger than we were at his age. And let’s not forget, he possesses an Innate Dao Body."

"That may be so, but he has too little Combat experience," Dong Yuelan said.

"Even if he doesn’t win this time, gaining some Combat experience is a good thing. That’s one of the reasons we’re holding this Sect Grand Competition, after all."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

The proposal for the Sect Grand Competition had come from Xi Chen. This was the first one, and it would be held every four years hereafter.

A smile graced Pei Jingque’s face.

She quite liked this harmonious atmosphere within the Sect. For a moment, it felt as if she had returned to a hundred years ago.

Back then, she was still one of the disciples below the stage...

Hm?

Her beautiful eyes shifted. Suddenly, her body transformed into a streak of fire and shot into the sky, hurtling toward a distant mountain peak. She moved as fast as lightning, completely ignoring the fact that the Sect Grand Competition was underway.

"What’s wrong?" Shui Qianning stood up in surprise.

"Where is Master going?"

"It seems Fellow Daoist Zhu has come out of seclusion," Huike said with a light laugh.

"Fellow Daoist Zhu has been in seclusion for several years. He’s finally out. I wonder what gains he made during this..."

"Hm?"

Before he could finish his sentence, his expression suddenly changed.

Dong Yuelan and Xi Chen stood up right after him, their eyes wide with astonishment as they stared at the mountain peak where Zhu Ju had been in seclusion.

"Is that..."

Dong Yuelan’s voice trembled.

"The sign of Core Formation?"

"That’s right!" Xi Chen’s face filled with ecstasy, and he couldn’t help but clench his fists tightly.

"Master is actually undergoing Core Formation!"

Zhu Ju was forming a Golden Core?

For a moment, everyone was stunned.

Among the Dao Foundation Cultivators of the Bright Void Sect, Zhu Ju’s Cultivation was the deepest. However, he wasn’t that old, and in everyone’s impression, he was still some distance away from Core Formation. How could he suddenly be attempting it?

Moreover, he had never said he was going into seclusion to attempt Core Formation.

"No wonder the Sect Leader rushed over so quickly," someone said.

"Our Bright Void Sect..."

"We’re about to have a second Golden Core Grandmaster!"