In an instant, blazing flames scorched the heavens, magma overflowed, emitting a terrifying heat wave, resembling a miniature sun. As the red eyes vanished, two pale white eyes slowly opened. Within the pitch-black space, five cracks crossed the void, emanating an aura of desolation and death that sent chills down the spine.
The miraculous phenomenon continued to unfold, and Li Sheng sensed the changes within. He was quite satisfied with the power of this manifestation, yet he felt something was lacking. After a moment of quiet contemplation, he realized it wasn't the phenomenon itself that was imperfect, but rather that with his current strength, he could only achieve this level.
Thinking this, Li Sheng opened his eyes, exhaled a breath of stale air, and slowly spoke: "This phenomenon is--Chaos Nurturing Sacred Spirit!" He reflected that this manifestation had only birthed two pupils; to fully cultivate it might require the Six Paths or Nine Extremes...
A sense of anticipation surged within him. Moving slightly, he left the Ancient Enlightenment Path. As soon as he exited the Black Tower, a notification sounded in his mind: **[Sect Promotion Completed]**. Half a day ago, all disciples had already been promoted to the fourth rank. He had entered the Black Tower before the promotion, and now it was completed just as he emerged.
**Host:** Li Sheng
**One-Star Sect:** Qing Ling Sect + (Promotion Condition: Third Rank Master Realm)
**Sect Points:** 255 + 50
**Cultivation:** Fourth Rank Spirit Nurturing Realm
**Martial Arts:** Heavenly Stage Divine Art: Three Talents Array (Chaos Nurturing Sacred Spirit)
**Training Talent:** Domain's Talents (Eternal Level)
**Comprehension:** Domain's Talents (Eternal Level)
**Skill Level:** Subtle Second Realm
**Martial Arena +**
**Transmission Hall +**
**Technique Repository +**
**Spiritual Spring Pool +**
**Special Secret Realm:** Black Tower
**Guardian Spiritual Beast:** Young Titan Turtle (Earth Affinity, Gigantification, Guidance)
**Alchemist's Room +**
**Spiritual Vein +:** Upper Tier (Can be Promoted)
**Guardian Grand Array +:** Third Tier Formation (Repairing)
**Base Buffs:** Training Talent +5, Comprehension +5
"The base buffs have improved slightly, and my talent and comprehension have reached Eternal Level" Li Sheng mused, feeling a sense of clarity wash over him. "Sect points 255 + 50"With fifty fourth-rank cultivators, that accounts for two hundred fifty-five points; where did these extra fifty come from?" He pondered, casting his thoughts forward.
**[Note: Each disciple who meets the conditions will increase by five sect points; exceeding one realm grants a tenfold increase, two realms grants a hundredfold, three realms a thousandfold, and so on.]**
"Exceeding one realm grants a tenfold increase? Could it be my senior sister?" Li Sheng realized, recalling that his senior sister had significantly surpassed the strongest masters without reaching the Grand Master Realm. "What a pity! If only she reached Grand Master, we would have gained five hundred more sect points"
Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
"Promoting sect levels through surpassing realms is indeed a viable path; following the genius route allows ordinary disciples to maintain a baseline while genius disciples raise the ceiling without conflict... While spiritual-level martial arts can alter one's qualifications, there's always a limit. Once one reaches the upper-tier talent, it becomes relatively fixed. Compared to ordinary individuals, they may be considered geniuses, but in the scope of a nation, domain, or the entire continent, they still fall short, remaining the backbone of a faction. After overcoming this tribulation, I must carefully scout for some exceptional talents to join us"
With these thoughts in mind, Li Sheng turned his attention to the Guardian Grand Array and selected the upgrade option.
**[Do you wish to spend fifty sect points to upgrade the Guardian Grand Array?]**
"Yes!"
**[Guardian Grand Array is upgrading, estimated time three hours.]**
"Now left with two hundred fifty-five points, based on the upgrade ratio for spiritual veins, to upgrade the Guardian Grand Array again, it might require a thousand sect points..." Li Sheng sighed. Though he had anticipated this, it was still better to wait, just in case the requirement was less.
Next, he opened the special task panel.
**[Special Task: Survival Battle (Task Difficulty: Nightmare Level)]**
**[Note: Special tasks are divided into three levels: Hell Level, Nightmare Level, and World Level.]**
**[Completing the special task randomly rewards one cultivation treasure ground. Failure penalty: No special tasks for ten years.]**
**[Task Completion Conditions: 1. The sect must be built within two months (Remaining Time: Seven Days). 2. More than half of the disciples must survive.]**
"Only seven days left... It seems the crisis is approaching quickly." Li Sheng's expression grew serious as he took out the black stone and projected a thread of his consciousness into it. In the dim room, his spiritual form emerged, appearing far more condensed than before, indistinguishable from a normal person.
On the walls, dozens of messages floated. Among them, the most striking was the content he had previously transmitted. The second message read: **"The strongest Grand Master of Divine Martial, Yu Jinsheng, has summoned the top two hundred martial artists to hold the Xuantian Conference."**
Upon seeing this, Li Sheng felt slightly relieved. The Xuantian Conference had only been held three times in ten thousand years: once eight thousand years ago when the Sword Saint of Ximen split the heavens with a single strike and invited martial artists to observe; again six thousand years ago during the massacre by the Demon Lord Pang Ban, when the heroes of the world united against him; and two thousand years ago, when the Lord of Snow Domain, Dantai Yanran, broke the void to ascend.
Now, this was the fourth Xuantian Conference, convened by Yu Jinsheng, set at the junction of the Great Yan, Great Zhou, and Great Li nations. The conference had been underway for three days, gathering renowned talents and Grand Masters from all over.
"What a pity! If it weren't for the special task hindering me, I would love to join the excitement" Li Sheng sighed. After scanning the remaining messages, he noted they mainly concerned the younger generation.
**"Top Talent List: First Place, Yu Huasheng, defeats the strongest Grand Master in ten moves. Snow Domain Saintess Dantai Qingqing, with a single song, forces the strongest Grand Master to concede without a strike. Jianzhong's Sword Child and Yu Huasheng battled over thousands of miles before both departed; the outcome remains unclear. The true successor of Divine Power Sect has declared that the mysterious genius of the Li family is welcome to come and die, stating he could easily suppress him alone, and if he fears, he could come with both hands."**
After reviewing these recent messages, Li Sheng's heart raced. Ten moves to overpower the strongest Grand Master--was it a regular one or an ancient powerhouse? If it was the former, it wouldn't be too surprising; he wouldn't be too far behind. But if it was the latter, he would need to be cautious. To overpower an ancient Grand Master in ten moves likely meant that this person had already condensed six Heavenly Stage Divine Art seeds and formed six arrays. He couldn't think of any other explanation.
"Is this Wind Sky's big brother... constantly provoking me, really treating me like a soft persimmon?" Li Sheng pondered, a surge of killing intent rising within him. Previously, he had denied the attack on Wind Sky through the black stone and white stone, but it seemed the other party still insulted and provoked him, clearly aiming to use him as a stepping stone for his own fame.
With the Guardian Grand Array on the verge of upgrading, Li Sheng felt a little less apprehensive about Grand Masters. He no longer feared them as he once did. If his sect were to develop an elite route, it needed to build a reputation to attract exceptionally gifted individuals. Whether it was for revenge or gaining fame, it seemed he would have to confront the true successor of the Divine Power Sect soon.