Chapter 177 - The Third Immortal
As the day progressed, two more large groups arrived at the central region within the Xuqi Sect. These two groups were naturally the Beast Domination School and the Blade Justice School.
Each superpower arrived with a spectacular treasure. The Xuqi Dynasty used the seven-colour palace, the Hukon Clan were accompanied by a giant grey cloud which sparkled with golden light, the Beast Domination School appeared riding on the back of a giant eel, whilst the Blade Justice School also rode in on a giant sword…
Of course, the Blade Justice School’s giant sword was not nearly as imposing compared to the Immortal Ancestor’s treasure. The Immortal Ancestor’s treasure was clearly a level higher than all of these other treasures, none of the other groups were accompanied by an immortal after all, their treasures were not immortal treasures.
It was clear even for Yaan, who remained standing beside the Immortal Ancestor atop his immortal treasure, that things were becoming quite lively across the lake. Old acquaintances were reuniting, old enemies re-encountering one another. New relationships were being established, including political, economic and even romantic relationships.
Despite all of this, Yaan remained silent, unmoved and with no intention of joining the others.
Those other cultivators all avoided the giant immortal sword beneath his feet, as they knew that an immortal was standing at this location. The respectfully kept their distance, they would not dare draw in any closer than ten miles.
“Don’t you wish to join your fellow sect members with the festivities?” The Xuqi Sect Immortal Lord asked Yaan with a smile.
Yaan lightly shook his head.
“It’s fine, I will naturally get to know the noteworthy individuals during the examination.”
“Well, that’s true.” The female immortal nodded. She then became silent, staring at Yaan once again.
When Yaan mentioned the coming exam, she couldn’t help but wonder if he really had the capability to pass the first round. Whilst she could feel a tremendous power stemming from his body, a unique power that was somewhat different to an ordinary Qi refiner, he was still clearly a Rank 4 cultivator.
Actually, when Gentle Butterfly Immortal first examined Yaan casually, she had already noticed that he was practicing the Four Paths Cultivation Technique. This had shocked her greatly, even though she didn’t show it on her face. She had only heard of this technique through her clan’s ancestor, this was the first time that she was seeing it in practice!
She had some suspicions regarding this…just how did this child cultivate this technique to such an extent? What body tempering method did he use exactly?
For ordinary humans, attempting body cultivation without undergoing a demonic transformation was extremely difficult. For this reason, she couldn’t help but feel uncertain.
However, despite her doubts, she did not say anything. She did not wish to offend Pristine Qi Immortal over this, so even if she felt dubious, she decided to drop this matter for now.
Anyway, when she looked at Yaan, she could clearly feel the depth of his strength, he certainly possessed the qualifications to battle against Origin Soul Realm cultivators. However, the Xuqi Sect standard required battle strength equivalent to around the mid stage of the Origin Soul Realm, leaving her feeling dubious. Based on Yaan’s cultivation alone, he did not possess this level of battle strength, she was sure of it.
So then, was he going to rely on a treasure, or a spell, or some other technique…?
‘Since Pristine Qi Immortal intends to temper his disciple using our entrance examination, he must have confidence that the boy will pass the first round. Hmm…’
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Whilst the female immortal pondered over her own thoughts regarding Yaan and his teacher, the final spectators and participants arrived, soon appearing above the lake. By now, it was not only the Southern Continent’s superpowers which were present, there were also many organisations affiliated to those groups, but there were also plenty of cultivators from other organisations, as well as lone and secluded cultivators.
The six superpowers dominated the Southern Continent, but that’s not to say that there weren’t other groups. The Southern Continent was too huge after all. Particularly towards the outer reaches of the continent, there were countless smaller sects, clans and schools, many of which contained Origin Soul Realm powerhouses.
The Xuqi Sect did not discriminate between lone cultivators and those belonging to organisations, either big or small. Anyone who believed that they had the qualifications to participate in the exam could approach a Xuqi Sect member, or any of their subordinates placed in one of countless stations around the Southern Continent, and so long as they were deemed worthy to participate, they would be able to enter the exam.
As for spectators, there couldn’t be too many spectators with every exam. The Southern Continent was too vast, if they allowed anyone and everyone to spectate, this entire region would become packed. As such, spectators were limited to those related to the participants, as well as those with sufficient power that the Xuqi Sect took notice of them.
Of course, any organisation with members currently placed within the Xuqi Sect would be given more spaces compared to others. As for the Fragment Sect, they were permitted to bring along 500 members to each examination.
With so many powerful cultivators from all wakes of life gathered in one place, you might expect there to be conflicts. However, even though many of those present had great enmity with others here, nobody dared to act out of place. Not only was this the Xuqi Sect’s home territory, but also…
They were being watched by immortals right now!
This fact was enough to immediately quell any aggressive thoughts that some individuals might be harbouring.
The reputation held by immortals was simply too overwhelming.
“Hmm?”
At this moment, less than an hour before the examination was set to begin, the Xuqi Sect Immortal Lord turned her head and looked into the distance. She showed a strange expression, before turning back towards the Immortal Ancestor.
“It seems that there will be three of us meeting today.”
“Hmm…” The Immortal Ancestor only hummed slightly, not showing any surprise, nor any other emotions for that matter.
The female immortal closed her eyes, then a moment later, reopened them. Just an instant after she opened her eyes, Yaan blinked, finding that there was now an old man standing right in front him. He was slightly startled, but didn’t show anything as he looked up curiously.
Based on the brief conversation between the two immortals just now, this person was likely to be a third immortal!
Yaan recognised him immediately, this person was the Hukon Clan Ancestor! Like the Xuqi Sect Immortal Lord, Yaan had seen this old immortal’s illustration presented in a book in the Fragment Sect’s Five Towers Library, but seeing this imposing figure in person was a different matter entirely…
Not to mention that this old man was releasing a portion of his aura, directing it towards Yaan!
Yaan furrowed his brows, but his expression did not change anymore than this. He quickly hid the frown from his face, and turned to meet the old immortal’s gaze calmly.
Perhaps if this person pressured him with his full aura, Yaan would struggle to endure it. This old man was not the Immortal Ancestor who shared a connection with Yaan. He was able to resist the Immortal Ancestor’s pressure without a trace of difficulty for this reason, though he still didn’t fully understand it.
However, the old immortal was only probing Yaan, this much was clear. With only this fraction of his aura weighing down on him, Yaan was able to remain calm, despite the discomfort.
Little did he know that even achieving this much left the Xuqi Sect Lord Immortal and the Hukon Clan Ancestor feeling completely stunned.
At first, the female immortal was startled by the Hukon Clan Ancestor’s actions. She knew that this old immortal shared a close relationship with Pristine Qi Immortal, but was it really so close that he could act like this? However, Yaan’s ability to resist the Hukon Clan Ancestor’s immortal aura completely diverted her attention away from this!
A Foundation Step cultivator with the ability to remain calm under an immortal aura? And he only possessed Rank 4 cultivation at that! And how old was this child, 30?
Even if it was only a subdued portion of an immortal aura, this was simply too shocking!
The Hukon Clan Ancestor immediately retracted his aura, showing a smile as Yaan blinked, readjusting himself.
“My apologies, I was simply too curious to test Pristine Qi Immortal’s new disciple for myself. I hope you don’t mind, Pristine Qi.” The old man laughed carefreely, his grey beard swaying as winds blew around him. These winds seemed to be generated as he spoke and laughed, making it feel as if the environment around this person distorted with every action he made.
“It’s fine.” The Immortal Ancestor replied, seemingly completely unbothered.
The Xuqi Sect Immortal Lord smiled wryly.
“You’re as carefree as ever, Harmony Immortal.”
As the female immortal spoke, the Immortal Ancestor’s words once again appeared in Yaan’s mind.
‘He is called Harmony Immortal amongst immortals, but you must refer to him as Hukon Clan Ancestor.’
Yaan glanced at his teacher briefly. It seemed that he was being quite cautious, he did not want Yaan to offend the other immortals. Not only that, but he didn’t even react when the Hukon Clan Ancestor pressured his own disciple…
This was quite strange, it suggested that either the Immortal Ancestor feared this old immortal and didn’t dare to step in, or that the two of them shared a deep relationship, to the extent that they could act quite casually with one another. From what Yaan gathered, the truth seemed to lie with the latter possibility.
The two immortals of the Xuqi Sect and Hukon Clan felt surprised by Yaan’s abilities, but they did not say anything, acting as normal, but keeping an eye on him secretly. In the end, the easiest way for them to probe this curious new disciple of the Fragment Sect’s Immortal Ancestor, was simply to spectate on his performance in the coming exam.
“Now then, shall we begin the examination?” The Xuqi Sect Immortal Lord turned to the other two immortals and asked with a pleasant smile. Seeing the other two nod, she glanced into the distance briefly. Yaan assumed that she was contacting the Xuqi Sect’s Grand Protector.
In the Xuqi Sect, there were elders, but above them were the protectors, and at the top stood the grand protector. Of course, the immortal lord stood above all these people, but she did not generally intervene in the sect’s day to day matters.
As soon as the grand protector received the go-ahead from the immortal lord, the examination commenced.