Chapter 236 - 236

Chapter 236: The Three Hundred Forces Grand Tournament (Part 1)

The ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Lu Family's Desolation Branch main territory.

Lu ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Xunxian slowly opened his eyes, their depths swirling with dense Dao Resonance, as though he had drawn one step closer to the true Great Dao.

"What ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍a shame. Relying on my own cultivation alone, who knows when I'll be able to break through to the Late Dao Venerable Realm."

Lu ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Xunxian's tone was laced with frustration.

Once ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍one touched upon the level of the Dao, advancing further was no simple matter.

Just ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍then, a voice called from outside his Dao Peak.

"Brother Xuanxian, are you ready? It's time to head out."

With Lu Fenggu's reminder, Lu Xunxian recalled that the Three Hundred Forces Grand Tournament was upon them.

Figuring it wasn't a bad thing, Lu Xunxian rose and went outside to meet Lu Fenggu.

But the instant he laid eyes on Lu Fenggu, he sensed something, and his expression turned grave.

"This could be a problem. I didn't expect that guy to be participating in the Three Hundred Forces Grand Tournament too."

Within his perception, he had detected an unmistakably familiar aura--Lu Xuanyuan's.

This complicated things.

If Lu Xuanyuan spotted him, he would immediately recognize Lu Xunxian's true identity.

But having already promised Lu Daoqian he'd participate, refusing now without a good excuse would be difficult.

"I'll just have to play it by ear."

After a moment's thought, Lu Xunxian turned to Lu Fenggu with a curious question.

"How long does the Three Hundred Forces Grand Tournament last?"

Hearing the question, Lu Fenggu's face lit up with his usual pride.

"Glad you asked--you've come to the right person."

"The Three Hundred Forces Grand Tournament is divided into three stages. The first stage is the preliminary round."

"In the preliminary round, all participants are thrown into the Ghost Realm together. Anyone who survives seven days passes the first stage."

"The Ghost Realm? If I'm not mistaken, the Ghost Realm is one of the Dao Realm's five great superior worlds, isn't it?"

Lu Xunxian mused aloud.

"That's right. The Ghost Realm is shrouded in ghost qi and home to countless specters of terrifying strength."

Lu Fenggu nodded. "Because of the Three Hundred Forces Grand Tournament, the Dao Realm's top ten forces collectively negotiated an agreement with the Ghost Realm's ruler."

"They secured permission to hold the tournament's first stage within the Ghost Realm."

"And the specters inside the Ghost Realm are also allowed to hunt and kill the prodigies who enter for the tournament--without any repercussions afterward."

"As for the second stage, the surviving participants are fitted with specialized identity jade pendants, then paired against opponents. Survive ten rounds, and you advance."

"This stage is also a fight to the death."

"And the third stage?"

"An all-out melee among all remaining participants. The last one standing claims the title of champion. Rankings are determined by the order in which participants surrender."

"But all three stages carry no restrictions on killing, so you need to be extremely careful."

Lu Fenggu's expression turned solemn as he finished.

Even as a Peak Immortal Venerable, he couldn't guarantee he'd survive under these conditions.

During the past fifty years, he'd also gathered considerable intelligence and learned that the other nine of the top ten forces had also produced Immortal Emperor-level prodigies under a hundred thousand years of age.

Relations among the top ten forces were far from friendly--at best, they maintained a state of not openly going to war.

But if presented with a legitimate opportunity to slaughter a rival faction's prodigies? They surely wouldn't let it slip.

Lu Xunxian, however, wasn't particularly worried. Though he appeared to be merely an Early Immortal Emperor on the surface, if it truly came down to a fight, even a Peak Immortal Emperor wouldn't be his match.

And that was without revealing his true cultivation.

If he unleashed his full power, even a Late Dao Venerable might not be his equal.

"By the way, is it possible to use a disguise during the Three Hundred Forces Grand Tournament?"

"Why would you want to know that?"

Lu Fenggu looked puzzled. After all, most participants in the Three Hundred Forces Grand Tournament were prodigies eager to make a name for themselves, so virtually no one disguised their appearance.

But he answered honestly.

"You can, but I wouldn't recommend it. This is a rare opportunity for you."

"I'll disguise myself anyway. I'd rather not be recognized everywhere I go in the Dao Realm."

Hearing that disguises were permitted, Lu Xunxian finally breathed a sigh of relief.

As long as he could wear a disguise during the tournament, all he had to do was avoid crossing paths with Lu Xuanyuan beforehand.

"All right, get ready. Then we'll head to the Clan Hall and travel to the Ghost Realm with the Clan Elder."

Lu Fenggu said.

At the mention of traveling with the Clan Elder, Lu Xunxian immediately recalled Lu Tianyuan from before--and the remark about bearing the shadow of an old friend. He quickly asked.

"So, is it the same Clan Elder from last time who'll be taking us?"

"Mm. Though our Desolation Branch has five Clan Elders in total, the others are all in seclusion. Only Clan Elder Lu Tianyuan is available, so he'll be escorting us to the Ghost Realm."

Dao Venerables from every major force would never leave seclusion lightly unless absolutely necessary.

Hearing it was Lu Tianyuan, Lu Xunxian resolved to ask about whose shadow he bore during the journey.

Before long, Lu Xunxian followed Lu Fenggu to the Desolation Branch's Clan Hall.

Upon arriving, they found eight other prodigies already present.

"These eight are also Direct Disciples of our Desolation Branch. They're participating in the Three Hundred Forces Grand Tournament as well."

Lu Fenggu explained.

Lu Xunxian surveyed the eight. Their cultivation levels were plain as day to him: six at the Late Immortal Venerable Realm, one at the Peak Immortal Venerable Realm, and one at the Early Immortal Emperor Realm.

The Early Immortal Emperor was considerably older than him--over eighty thousand years old.

But even so, compared to the other eight Immortal Venerables, his talent was still far superior.

As Lu Fenggu and Lu Xunxian arrived, the eight turned to look at them.

They regarded Lu Fenggu with respect, given his formidable talent.

But when their eyes fell on Lu Xunxian, shock flashed across their faces.

They clearly hadn't expected another Immortal Emperor to exist among this generation of the Lu Family.

"Fenggu, who is this?"

A young man stepped forward to Lu Fenggu. Though he addressed Lu Fenggu, his eyes were locked firmly on Lu Xunxian.

He was the sole Immortal Emperor prodigy of the Lu Family's Desolation Branch--Lu Zhengfeng.

"This is Lu Xuanxian, a Direct Disciple personally acknowledged by the Branch Master. I recruited him into the Desolation Branch myself!"

"Xuanxian, this is Lu Zhengfeng. He's also an Immortal Emperor."

Lu Fenggu announced with visible pride, then turned to Lu Xunxian to make the introduction.

Upon hearing this, Lu Zhengfeng visibly relaxed, then turned to Lu Xunxian with a smile and extended his hand.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Lu Zhengfeng."

Lu Xunxian could clearly sense the hostility beneath Lu Zhengfeng's smile, but he showed no fear. He extended his own hand and clasped Lu Zhengfeng's.