Chapter 367 – Sweeping First Place in the Grand Tournament, Leaving White Cloud Realm!
by spirapiraChapter 367 – Sweeping First Place in the Grand Tournament, Leaving White Cloud Realm!
Upon hearing Su Xing’s words, expressions of longing appeared on both siblings’ faces.
When had they ever been to a place so abundant in spiritual energy? The two of them had been cultivating in the White Cloud Realm, where their progress had been painfully slow — naturally related to the insufficient spiritual energy there.
After sending the siblings into the spirit field grotto-heaven, Su Xing returned to the White Cloud Sect.
“Over the next three years, I must constantly monitor intelligence on the foreign races and prevent any accidents, ensuring we can smoothly enter the Celestial Secrets Realm…”
With this thought, Su Xing continued his stay in the White Cloud Sect, using his identity as an outer Elder to gather information about the White Cloud Realm and the Heavenly Secrets Domain.
…
In the blink of an eye, three years passed.
This was already the final year of Su Xing’s immersive simulation.
By this year, Su Xing’s cultivation had recovered to the True Immortal realm, and his body tempering cultivation had recovered to the Great Shaman Body Forging Art, Fifth Layer.
This meant Su Xing’s combat strength had reached nearly ninety percent of his peak!
“Whew, three years have passed. It’s time to prepare to leave the White Cloud Realm!”
Su Xing’s figure flickered as he returned to the spirit field grotto-heaven.
In just three short years, both Bai siblings had made rapid progress in their cultivation.
Bai Xiaoxiao’s progress was still within the realm of normal — with the simplified version of the Zhengyi Breath Absorption Art and the abundant spiritual energy of the spirit field grotto-heaven, her cultivation had barely risen to Nascent Soul Peak.
But Bai Yutang’s progress was truly astonishing.
In a mere three years, his cultivation had actually reached Spirit Transformation mid-stage!
“Spirit Transformation mid-stage cultivation — in the upcoming sect tournament, that’s more than enough to claim first place and catch the eye of the Celestial Secrets Pavilion!”
Su Xing looked at Bai Yutang, who was still urgently practicing techniques and supernatural arts, and thought to himself.
Over these three years, the White Cloud Realm had undergone tremendous changes.
More than a third of the entire White Cloud Realm’s territory had already been occupied by the foreign races.
Su Xing’s earlier estimates had been conservatively optimistic…
At the current rate, in at most three to five years, the entire White Cloud Realm would fall!
As a result, panic had spread throughout the White Cloud Realm.
Both the Celestial Secrets Pavilion and the White Cloud Sect had begun cooperating, preserving their remaining strength and evacuating from the White Cloud Realm ahead of time.
Su Xing’s plan was to have Bai Yutang participate in the White Cloud Sect’s selection tournament, distinguish himself, and successfully join the Celestial Secrets Pavilion.
At that point, the Celestial Secrets Pavilion would personally dispatch powerful cultivators to receive these disciples and return to the Celestial Secrets Realm.
“Master, your disciple will absolutely not fail this mission! I will claim first place in the sect tournament!”
After hearing the plan, Bai Yutang swore with absolute confidence. Compared to several years ago, he had gained considerably more self-assurance.
Soon, the day of the sect tournament arrived.
Tens of thousands of White Cloud Sect disciples, along with many independent cultivators from outside, were all eligible to participate in this tournament.
And among the judges observing the competition were powerful cultivators from the Celestial Secrets Pavilion!
A figure sat perched above the White Cloud Sect Master’s seat, surveying the sect’s disciples. After a long while, he shook his head slightly and said:
“Sigh, the quality of cultivators in this realm is wildly uneven… it’s hard to find any true geniuses!”
“Among tens of thousands of cultivators, the truly promising ones number only one or two…”
As he spoke, the cultivator took a sip of wine, his tone carrying a hint of disdain.
Right in front of the White Cloud Sect Master and all the Elders, this cultivator spoke so bluntly, yet the Sect Master showed not the slightest intention of arguing back.
Instead, he wore a fawning smile and said:
“Senior, our White Cloud Realm is merely a minor realm… naturally we cannot compare with those Greater Worlds…”
“However, there is one matter I wish to know… how many disciples from our White Cloud Realm will be able to successfully escape and travel to the Celestial Secrets Realm?”
After hearing the Sect Master’s words, the cultivator pondered for a moment before speaking:
“This time, I’ve been ordered to receive talented disciples from various realms, ensuring that remaining vital forces return safely to the Celestial Secrets Pavilion.”
“It’s not only the White Cloud Realm being invaded by the foreign races — other worlds are also under attack. Therefore, the White Cloud Realm’s allocated quota is limited…”
After a pause, the cultivator continued:
“For the entire White Cloud Realm, approximately eight thousand cultivators below Tribulation Transcendence will be selected to leave this realm…”
“But as for those who would truly be accepted as peripheral members of our Celestial Secrets Pavilion, there are fewer than one hundred slots.”
Upon hearing this, the White Cloud Sect Master’s face went deathly pale.
The vast White Cloud Realm — and only a mere eight thousand slots!
This meant that in all likelihood, only eight thousand cultivators from the White Cloud Realm would survive, preserving their vital strength and returning to the Celestial Secrets Realm.
This number, relative to the entire White Cloud Realm, was nothing more than a drop in the ocean.
But facing the overwhelming onslaught of the foreign races, being able to save these eight thousand-odd people was already no small feat.
As for the rest, they could only be left to fend for themselves…
“Sigh, at this point… every person we can save counts!”
“These children are the future hope of our Heavenly Secrets Domain!”
The White Cloud Sect Master’s face was full of sorrow. He gazed down at the tens of thousands of disciples assembled in the arena, his heart filled with nothing but desolation.
The Celestial Secrets Pavilion cultivator fell silent upon hearing this, only drinking his wine noticeably faster.
Meanwhile, seated among the Elders, Su Xing also shook his head slightly upon hearing these words.
“The vast White Cloud Realm — how could its cultivators number fewer than hundreds of millions?”
“Yet only a paltry eight thousand can be saved… even this number already represents the full depth of the Celestial Secrets Pavilion’s resources!”
Su Xing shook his head slightly. It was the same foreign race invasion all over again.
After the Lesser Azure Cloud Realm was destroyed, virtually no major faction had come to recruit disciples and cultivators in advance to preserve their living forces.
The Lesser Azure Cloud Realm had endured centuries of conflict and still met such a fate.
Yet here the White Cloud Realm had only been invaded for a few years, and preparations of this scale were already underway — a testament to the Celestial Secrets Pavilion’s deep foundations.
Su Xing glanced at the cultivator seated above, a flash of something unusual in his eyes.
“This cultivator’s strength seems no weaker than Fairy Ziling’s!”
“A Peak Golden Immortal cultivator, or perhaps even a Supreme Unity Golden Immortal?”
“With this powerful cultivator as escort, as long as nothing unexpected happens, we should be able to reach the Celestial Secrets Realm smoothly!”
With this thought, Su Xing’s gaze shifted to Bai Yutang among the competing disciples, and he murmured:
“Well then, it all depends on Ah Yu’s performance now!”
As the tournament officially began, brilliant flashes of various techniques rippled across the arena.
Within the arena, every disciple gave their all. Before entering the tournament, they all knew this was a competition that would change their destinies.
And Bai Yutang, possessing Spirit Transformation cultivation, cut a path through the field of young disciples, defeating one opponent after another and rising above the rest.
Outside the arena, the White Cloud Sect Master had taken on the role of commentator.
“Senior, please observe — that man wearing the golden eagle Dao robe is one of our White Cloud Sect’s third-generation disciples. Not yet a hundred years old, he already possesses Spirit Transformation cultivation… his eagle-commanding technique has been refined to perfection.”
“And that young woman wielding the hundred-flowers technique — barely sixty years old, yet already at Nascent Soul Peak. Her potential is quite remarkable!”
The White Cloud Sect Master narrated enthusiastically, lavishing praise on the disciples in the arena, all for the sake of getting more of them noticed by this powerful Celestial Secrets Pavilion expert.
That way, the White Cloud Realm could secure more evacuation slots to the Celestial Secrets Realm.
But for talents of merely this caliber, the cultivator didn’t even lift his head — he simply continued drinking.
The Sect Master showed no anger at this and continued his enthusiastic commentary.
After quite a while of drinking, the bright daylight had given way to night.
The Celestial Secrets Pavilion cultivator suddenly looked up, pointed at a certain spot in the arena, and asked:
“Who is that young man? He seems rather interesting…”
The Sect Master raised his head and looked in the direction indicated. After racking his memory for quite some time, he said uncertainly:
“That young man appears to be Elder Ye’s personal disciple… I haven’t seen him for a few years, and his cultivation has already reached such heights?”
As the Sect Master, his attention was focused more on those who had long been established. In recent years, he hadn’t paid much attention to newly risen disciples.
Hearing this, the Celestial Secrets Pavilion cultivator took a swig of wine and said:
“In the entire White Cloud Sect, only this kid catches my eye.”
“Not yet twenty years old, yet he’s already cultivated to Spirit Transformation mid-stage! What’s more, he has a Nine-Revolution Golden Core, a Supreme Grade Nascent Soul… and his foundation is rock-solid, with impressive supernatural arts and techniques.”
“Talent like this would already be considered exceptional even in the Greater World!”
“If this old man isn’t mistaken, this young man should possess some kind of extraordinary physique…”
At this point, the Celestial Secrets Pavilion cultivator paused and looked toward the Sect Master, asking:
“Is that Elder Ye nearby? Could you invite him over for a chat?”
Upon hearing this, the White Cloud Sect Master’s face lit up with delight.
He had been working so hard to promote his disciples — for what purpose?
Wasn’t it precisely to catch the eye of this great figure?
As long as the White Cloud Realm demonstrated sufficient value, the number of cultivators who could successfully evacuate to the Celestial Secrets Realm would certainly not be limited to just eight thousand!
With this thought, the Sect Master hurriedly said:
“Quickly, invite Elder Ye over for a chat…”
Before long, Su Xing was invited over and made his acquaintance before this Celestial Secrets Pavilion Master.
“That young man — he’s the disciple you took in?”
The Celestial Secrets Pavilion cultivator took a sip of wine and asked with keen interest.
Su Xing heard this and nodded slightly, neither servile nor arrogant, and replied:
“I found this young man eighteen years ago. He possesses an innate severed meridians constitution — though unable to consume pills, his cultivation speed far surpasses that of ordinary people…”
“After more than a decade of nurturing, the boy has managed to do himself proud and broke through to the Spirit Transformation stage not long ago.”
“He also has an elder sister who has now reached Nascent Soul Peak.”
As Su Xing spoke, he pointed toward another graceful figure fighting in the arena.
The Celestial Secrets Pavilion cultivator nodded slightly, took another swig of wine, and said:
“You’ve got good luck! Talent like this would be considered impressive even in the top sects of the Greater World!”
“If he pushes himself in the future, his cultivation could surpass yours… even reaching Celestial Immortal wouldn’t be impossible!”
The White Cloud Sect Master listened quietly from the side, his heart brimming with joy. After waiting for a moment, he interjected:
“Elder Ye truly has deep fortune! With only Primordial Unity realm cultivation himself… yet he’s taken in such an outstanding disciple. This old man is truly envious!”
Upon hearing the Sect Master’s words, the cultivator’s expression turned peculiar, and he spoke bluntly:
“Primordial Unity realm cultivation? Sect Master Bai, I’m afraid you’re mistaken…”
“This Elder Ye’s qi cultivation has clearly already reached the Earthly Immortal realm, and he’s even a dual cultivator of qi and body — his body tempering cultivation is no weaker than his qi cultivation!”
Upon hearing the Celestial Secrets Pavilion cultivator’s words, the Sect Master froze for a moment, then looked at Su Xing with an expression of wounded reproach.
He himself was merely at Human Immortal realm cultivation… and yet the Elder Ye he’d taken in possessed Earthly Immortal cultivation?
That look clearly said: Elder Ye, you’ve been hiding this from me so cruelly!
Su Xing let out an awkward chuckle and said:
“In previous years, to evade enemies and to better look after the siblings, I concealed some of my cultivation. Please don’t hold it against me.”
How could the Sect Master possibly hold it against Su Xing? At this moment, he was too overjoyed to care.
The Celestial Secrets Pavilion cultivator, having finally found a promising talent in the White Cloud Realm, was in considerably better spirits.
After the Sect Master and the Celestial Secrets Pavilion Master chatted for a while longer, the Sect Master seized the opportunity to say:
“Senior, what do you think about the quota of cultivators from our White Cloud Realm who can travel to the Celestial Secrets Pavilion?”
The Celestial Secrets Pavilion cultivator nodded slightly and said:
“It’s not easy to cultivate talent in the White Cloud Realm. This time, let’s round it up to ten thousand slots. Once the tournament concludes, you may all return to the Celestial Secrets Realm with me.”
The Sect Master beamed from ear to ear upon hearing this.
Two thousand additional cultivators — that was two thousand more chances of hope preserved for the White Cloud Realm.
…
In the blink of an eye, three days passed.
The results of this White Cloud Grand Tournament finally emerged.
Combining factors such as age, aptitude, cultivation level, and combat strength, Bai Yutang had without question claimed first place in the tournament!
Even Bai Xiaoxiao had fought her way into the top ten of the tournament’s comprehensive rankings.
After the tournament concluded, it was time for the Celestial Secrets Pavilion cultivator to make his announcement.
The cultivator leaped into the air, hovering high above, and addressed the hundreds of thousands of cultivators below in a resounding voice:
“I am Xiao Zhanlong, a guest Elder of the Celestial Secrets Pavilion. This time, I am here to select ten thousand cultivators from the White Cloud Realm to travel to the Celestial Secrets Realm for early training.”
“I ask that all cultivators who have made the list complete their preparations within three days. Each person may bring up to five family members or close friends to depart together.”
After hearing his words, some of the disciples below showed expressions of elated surprise, while others were filled with despair.
In recent years, the White Cloud Realm’s war situation had grown dire, and some disciples already knew what was about to befall the White Cloud Realm.
If they could leave now, they could preserve their lives.
If they could not leave, their prospects were grim indeed…
Seeing the looks of despair on most of the disciples below, Xiao Zhanlong’s face showed a look of compassion as he said:
“Those who were not selected need not worry… our Celestial Secrets Pavilion will dispatch large numbers of cultivators to reinforce all realms as soon as possible!”
“I’m certain the White Cloud Realm will be able to hold out…”
With that, Xiao Zhanlong had no desire to linger and departed.
Though Xiao Zhanlong had said the Celestial Secrets Pavilion would certainly send reinforcements, every cultivator present understood in their hearts that the vast majority of cultivators and civilians in this realm would perish in the White Cloud Realm.
…
Meanwhile, after the tournament ended, the Bai siblings came to Su Xing’s side, eager to claim credit:
“Master, we didn’t embarrass you this time, did we!”
Achieving first place in the White Cloud Grand Tournament in just a few short years was naturally quite remarkable.
But Su Xing offered only a few words of praise before saying:
“You two should prepare as quickly as possible. We’re getting ready to leave the White Cloud Realm…”
“Remember, the Heavenly Secrets Domain is your true stage… you mustn’t confine yourselves to this small White Cloud Sect!”
The Bai siblings nodded, understanding some but not all of his meaning.
In the blink of an eye, three days passed.
On this day, a colossal vessel that blotted out the sky appeared above the White Cloud Sect.
It was an incomparably massive immortal ship!
Its hull alone stretched for thousands of meters, winding through the sky like a great dragon.
Su Xing could tell at a glance that this immortal ship’s quality was no less than a supreme post-celestial treasure!
But unlike Su Xing’s Stellar Sun-Moon Vessel, this immortal ship was better suited for carrying large numbers of lower-realm cultivators.
Tens of thousands of White Cloud Realm cultivators, including Su Xing and his two disciples, boarded the immortal ship.
Half a day later, the immortal ship transformed into a streak of light and soared toward the world beyond…