Chapter 160 ·The Old Tradition, The Spell Fighting Tournament

Within ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍the Supreme Creation Lesser Luo Grotto Heaven, after several hundred years of development, it had long since lost its former desolate appearance.

Spiritual ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍peaks stood everywhere, palace halls layered upon one another.

Medicinal ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍fields stretched in great patches while spiritual beasts roamed freely.

Immortal ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍cranes soared amidst the clouds while disciples walked along mountain paths.

The ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍atmosphere of an immortal family flourished everywhere.

And ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍today, it was especially lively.

All because the Taiyi Dao Sect had once again revived its old tradition—the sect spell fighting tournament.

Speaking of which, the origins of this spell fighting tournament could be traced all the way back to Mortal Realm South Abyss No. 73.

At that time, the Taiyi Dao Sect had still been a martial arts sect. Every few decades, the disciples would hold martial competitions to determine superiority.

Later, after arriving within the Supreme Creation Lesser Luo Grotto Heaven, everyone felt that the term “martial competition” truly sounded too unsophisticated.

They were all immortal cultivators now—what kind of image would it give to still call it martial competition?

Thus, it was renamed the spell fighting tournament.

Although the name changed, the excitement remained the same.

After all, the path of immortal cultivation was long and endless. Without some form of entertainment, it would inevitably become far too dull.

Competing atop the spell fighting platform and exchanging techniques with fellow disciples—whether one won or lost, it was all part of the fun.

In the southeastern part of the Lesser Luo Grotto Heaven stood a spell fighting platform.

The platform spanned a hundred zhang in radius, entirely paved with green jade. At its four corners stood formation pillars carved densely with formation patterns.

Once the formation activated, even a Nascent Soul cultivator fighting with full strength would not be able to harm the spectators below in the slightest.

At this moment, the area surrounding the spell fighting platform was already packed with people.

Taiyi Dao Sect disciples occupied ninety percent of the crowd, while a smaller number of Great Love Alliance members were scattered among them.

However, members of the Great Love Alliance rarely stepped onto the stage anymore.

The reason was simple—they could not afford the embarrassment.

The people of the Taiyi Dao Sect had begun cultivating immortality earlier.

The Great Love Alliance members started much later, possessing weaker foundations and naturally lagging behind in cultivation realms.

Several years ago, some still tried stepping onto the platform.

The result was that they were beaten badly every single time.

Over time, they gradually abandoned the idea altogether.

Today, they merely came to watch the excitement.

Atop the spell fighting platform, a match was currently underway.

On the left side of the stage stood a young man in green robes, his face still youthful. His fingers formed hand seals while displaying Qi Refining Realm cultivation.

On the right side stood a woman in white robes, calm in expression, spiritual energy flowing around her body. She was at the Foundation Establishment Realm.

The spectators below discussed animatedly.

“Qi Refining against Foundation Establishment? What’s there to watch?”

“What do you know? That kid in green is Elder Chen’s great-great-great-grandson. He only entered the sect three years ago. Having the courage to step onto the stage is already impressive.”

“Elder Chen? Which Elder Chen?”

“Who else could it be? Naturally that Old Chen.”

Everyone immediately understood, and the way they looked at the green-robed youth changed somewhat.

While they spoke, the battle atop the stage had already begun.

The woman in white was fairly courteous and did not use any true methods, merely casually casting several spells.

Yet the green-robed youth was not afraid either. Though scrambling clumsily to defend himself, he occasionally managed to counterattack once or twice.

Although he was completely suppressed, he still managed to display some skill.

Scattered cheers rose from below the stage.

This was how competitions between low-realm disciples were.

Victory and defeat were unimportant. Participation itself mattered most.

After Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment came Golden Core.

After Golden Core came Nascent Soul.

After Nascent Soul came Transformation Spirit.

Match after match continued from morning until evening, the atmosphere lively beyond compare.

However, once it came to the Void Refinement Realm, nobody stepped onto the platform anymore.

Sect Master Xuanchenzi and Supreme Grand Elder Yunchenzi were both already advanced in years. Where would they still find the interest to engage in spell fighting with others atop a stage?

In Xuanchenzi’s own words:

“This sort of excitement is for the younger generation to enjoy. Why should two old fellows like us join in?”

As for Ye Chen—

At this moment, he leaned lazily against his chair, holding a cup of spiritual tea while narrowing his eyes at the matches atop the platform.

Beside him sat Xu Gang.

Xu Gang glanced at him and teased:

“Younger Brother Ye, not going up to show off a few moves? You’re at Void Refinement Realm after all. Let the younger generation broaden their horizons a little.”

Ye Chen took a sip of tea and replied lazily:

“Not going.”

Xu Gang laughed.

“You weren’t like this back in the South Abyss Realm.”

Upon hearing this, Ye Chen fell silent for a moment.

Back then?

Back then, he loved competing.

He wanted first place in everything.

He wanted the best cultivation techniques and the greatest fortunate opportunities.

But later, he gradually came to understand.

The world was vast. There would always be someone stronger than you.

Even if you became the strongest person in this world, there would certainly still be people outside this world stronger than you.

Continuously growing stronger for the sake of becoming stronger was exhausting.

Far too exhausting.

He glanced at the green-robed youth atop the stage, then at the lively crowd around him, a faint smile appearing at the corner of his lips.

“Things are pretty good like this now,” he said.

Xu Gang froze briefly before also smiling.

“Fine then. As long as you like it.”

The two said nothing more and continued watching the matches atop the stage.

At another corner of the viewing area—

An old man in gray robes stood with his hands behind his back, watching the green-robed youth atop the platform with a smile in his eyes.

The old man possessed an ordinary appearance and unremarkable aura, seemingly nothing more than a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Yet if someone observed carefully, they would discover that nobody approached within three chi of him.

It was not because they were forbidden to approach.

Rather, anyone nearing him instinctively felt that the person standing there was anything but ordinary.

This old man was naturally Old Chen.

By now, Old Chen had already reached the Integration Realm.

Ever since becoming accustomed to peace and quiet, he instead began to enjoy liveliness.

Especially watching these younger generations engage in spell fighting.

Sometimes, when he was in the mood, he would even conceal his identity, alter his appearance, and quietly step onto the stage to exchange a few moves with others.

Of course, he suppressed his cultivation, using only Qi Refining or Foundation Establishment methods.

Winning or losing did not matter. It was merely for enjoyment.

......

Within the Supreme Creation Lesser Luo Grotto Heaven, west of Longevity Hall, stood a tranquil palace.

This palace was called Qingyan Palace and was precisely Lin Wei’s residence.

The palace was not large, yet incomparably elegant.

Before the hall lay a clear pond filled with blooming lotus flowers.

Several stalks of green bamboo stood beside the pond, their shadows swaying gently.

Gu Yan’s figure landed before the hall.

He stepped inside.

Within the hall, Lin Wei sat cross-legged while spiritual energy flowed around her body. Clearly, she was cultivating.

Gu Yan did not disturb her and merely stood quietly at the side, watching her profile.

Speaking of which, Lin Wei rarely left these days.

Every day she cultivated in seclusion, every night she cultivated diligently.

Gu Yan understood her thoughts.

She did not want to fall too far behind him.

After a while, Lin Wei seemed to sense something and slowly opened her eyes.

Turning her head and seeing Gu Yan, a trace of a smile appeared within her eyes.

“You came.”

Gu Yan nodded and walked over to sit beside her.

“The spell fighting tournament is quite lively today.”

“Do you want to go take a look?”

Lin Wei shook her head gently.

“Cultivation is more important.”

Upon hearing this, Gu Yan reached out and held her hand.

Lin Wei froze briefly before gently returning the grip.

Neither of them spoke, merely sitting there quietly together.

Outside the hall, the moonlight flowed like water.

Within the pond, the lotus flowers swayed softly in the wind.

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