Maitreya turned around to see Ksitigarbha. "Senior Brother?"

"I'll go," Ksitigarbha said.

"No, allow me to go. Senior Brother, it would be better to save your strength to face an inner disciple than an outer disciple," Maitreya said.

Ksitigarbha shook his head. "You can't defeat her. I sensed a great danger in her body. It may not be her abilities, but a treasure she carries. It's better for me to face her."

Maitreya widened his eyes. Ksitigarbha was a peak Golden Immortal. If even he felt danger, then it was definitely unlikely that Maitreya could win. Although cultivation was not the end all be all, Maitreya definitely stood at a disadvantage with his Intermediate Golden Immortal Realm cultivation base.

Dressed in plain robes with a khakkhara staff in hand, Ksitigarbha walked up to the stage. "Apologies for the wait. Shall we begin?"

"Hmpf, if you want to leave faster, just say so," Yunxiao said.

"Please," Ksitigarbha said. Although he was a shura, he didn’t revert to his original form. Rather, he kept his human form and knocked the bottom of his khakkhara onto the floor, producing a ripple effect that spread throughout the arena.

A horsetail whisk appeared in Yunxiao's hand. With a wave, particles exploded out of the strands, streaming toward Ksitigarbha. The particles seemed harmless, but Ksitigarbha could sense the power of decay within those bright silver particles.

Ksitigarbha raised his khakkhara and tapped the ground, and the stone under his feet turned a dark gray. The radius of the change didn't stop and enlarged. All the silver particles that entered the radius disappeared.

Yunxiao backstepped several times. While she did so, she unleashed several more instances of the silver particles, but all of them fell to the power of Ksitigarbha's domain.

"I didn't want to use this so soon," Yunxiao muttered. Her horsetail whisk turned blurry and was no longer composed of individual strands. Instead, it resembled a white mist attached to a handle.

She waved it, and white clouds exploded forth. Where the clouds touched, the expansion of Ksitigarbha's domain slowed. Yunxiao created more clouds that pushed back the domain.

Ksitigarbha tapped the khakkhara several more times, and the dark gray color of his domain turned black. The domain affected not just the stone, but also Yunxiao's clouds. The darker their color became, the faster they sank into the ground and merged with Ksitigarbha's domain.

From the spectators' seats, Kong Xuan narrowed his eyes. From his side, Jinchi asked, "Is it just me, or is there something special about Ksitigarbha's spell?"

"Look closer. He infused a preliminary understanding of a law into his attacks. Yunxiao is bound to lose," Kong Xuan said.

Most spells and attacks relied on the user's qi, but if the user infused their understanding of a law, they would achieve greater output with less qi. So, whoever had the higher mastery of the law had the greater advantage. This was also why spiritual artifacts were so sought after. Of course, some laws might be more advantageous against certain types of laws, but that was semantics.

"What? But he's only a Golden Immortal!?" Jinchi nearly shouted. He stared at his brother and then back at Ksitigarbha. "Doesn't this mean he's more talented than us? We were Golden Immortals of the Great Firmament before we started comprehending the laws."

"He's more talented than you," Kong Xuan mercilessly said. As if feeling that wasn't enough, he further impaled Jinchi with his words. "I started comprehending the laws in the Great Firmament Realm. You had to become a Quasi-Saint first."

"Besides, don't forget that we only had the Dao Ancestor's guidance after we became Golden Immortals," Kong Xuan added. "Ksitigarbha probably had the guidance of two Saints since he was at least a Sky Immortal or Profound Immortal. And I can tell he could break through to the Great Unity Realm at any moment."

"Thank you for explaining, but was the first part really necessary?" Jinchi asked, nursing his wounded pride.

Kong Xuan didn't answer and focused on the battle. He muttered under his breath, "The Law of Death, quite a troublesome mystery he comprehended."

Yunxiao had been forced to the edge of the arena. She could fly, but as it was a competition, to do so was admitting her inferiority. When she turned to gaze at Ksitigarbha, she saw no surprise or shock in his eyes, only certainty.

As anger rushed to her head, Yunxiao's horsetail whisk disappeared from her hands. In its place was a golden scissor composed of two parts seemingly formed from coiled dragons. It was the Goldhorned Dragon Scissor Redcloud Ancestor had refined using the corpse of those two impudent dragons that attacked him. Although it was only an acquired spiritual artifact, its power equaled that of a high-grade innate artifact.

The tiny scales on the Goldhorned Dragon Scissors shimmered to life as draconic roars echoed in the air. Yunxiao raised it above her hand and slashed it down. A white mist sliced forward, cutting through Ksitigarbha's domain of death through power alone.

Knowing that he had no time to dodge, Ksitigarbha cloaked himself in a thin layer of black mist and held his khakkhara in front of him with both hands. The mist struck his khakkhara and caused him to skid back. Just before the white mist knocked him out of the arena, he managed to steady himself and deflect it, but it was not without cost.

Cracks littered his khakkhara, and it looked like it would break into pieces at any moment. Still, Ksitigarbha paid no heed. He no longer stayed in the same spot but charged at Yunxiao. He was extremely fast, almost exceeding the limits of the Golden Immortal Realm.

Before Yunxiao knew it, Ksitigarbha appeared in front of her. "Please forgive my offense."

Yunxiao felt something slam into her stomach, knocking her out of the arena with no resistance. When the sky stopped spinning, she realized she was in her brother's arms. "Brother."

Zhao Gongming smiled at her. "Take a rest and leave the rest to me."

Although unwilling, Yunxiao complied. When she returned to her seat, she discovered that a misty black substance had appeared in her body. Whenever she tried to circulate her qi, the black substance would impede her. Her face darkened. Although it wasn't life-threatening, she would need years to expel the black substance.

Yunxiao turned her gaze onto the stage and silently cheered for her brother. Her brother saluted Ksitigarbha and said, "Go down. I don't want to take advantage of your worn state to win."

The khakkhara crumbled in Ksitigarbha's hands. He clapped his hands together and gave a light bow to Zhao Gongming. "Thank you for your concern, but I would like to continue."

"Fine, but don't say I didn't warn you," Zhao Gongming said. With a wave of his arm, a nine-segmented truncheon appeared in his hand. "Here I come!"

Even without his khakkhara, a radius of death spread out from Ksitigarbha. However, the aura was pure black, and black lines started to creep up on him from his feet. Clearly, he couldn’t control the power of death easily, and without a medium to channel it, the domain of death affected him first.

Despite seeing this, Zhao Gongming charged straight into the domain, clad in a valiant aura. Black mists started to erode at his vitality, but Zhao Gongming paid it no heed as he slashed out with his truncheon.

Seemingly not expecting Zhao Gongming's foolish move, Ksitigarbha only had time to raise his arm up in defense. With a sickening crack, his arm bent at an unnatural angle, and he was sent flying. He flipped in the air and planted his feet on the arena, skidding to a stop a few meters away from the edge.

Ksitigarbha didn't have time to nurse his injuries as Zhao Gongming was already upon him. He dodged to the best of his abilities, but the truncheon still grazed him. Where the truncheon touched, a crack of thunder echoed in the spectators' ears, and another bone in his body broke.

He continued to dodge Zhao Gongming's attacks, but it was clear that Ksitigarbha was on the losing end. Suddenly, his skin turned blue, and two faces appeared on both sides of his face, one wrathful and one sorrowful. Simultaneously, he grew two pairs of arms.

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However, those arms only served as additional meat shields in the face of Zhao Gongming's assault. Each strike from his truncheon shattered bone, and soon, Ksitigarbha was only left with one working arm.

Still, Zhao Gongming wasn't in a better state. Continuously entrenching himself in Ksitigarbha's domain of death had its consequences. The power of death bypassed the protective layer of qi and attacked his life force. His skin had gone past the point of paleness and gained a purple tint, appearing closer to a living dead than alive.

Suddenly, Zhao Gongming collapsed onto his knees. His body had gone limp, but his hands still clenched his weapon, unwilling to admit defeat. His pallor continued to worsen, and just as it seemed that he would keel over, the domain of death disappeared.

"Fellow Daoist, give up," Ksitigarbha said. He had reverted to his human form. One arm hung limp while his other hand formed a half-prayer position. He didn't dare to get close for fear of Zhao Gongming going crazy.

"You'll have to force me off, don't think about making me give up!" Zhao Gongming forced through labored breaths.

"If that's the case, forgive my heavy hand," Ksitigarbha said. However, before he could fully unleash his domain of death, Zhao Gongming disappeared from the arena. Then, he heard Redcloud Ancestor's voice.

"I'll accept this defeat in place of my disciple." Ksitigarbha bowed toward Redcloud Ancestor and the other Saints before returning to his seat. Continuing to stay and battle would do nothing but shame the Liberation Sect.

From his seat, Redcloud Ancestor turned toward and looked at Zhao Gongming. "Remember, death is the end of all. It's not wrong to swallow a loss temporarily to survive. As long as you survive, everything is possible. That goes for all of you, too."

Zhao Gongming and the other disciples saluted Redcloud Ancestor. """Disciple will remember Master's teachings!"""

Redcloud Ancestor nodded in satisfaction. He waved his hand and dispelled the foreign energy lingering in Yunxiao's and Zhao Gongming's bodies. He turned toward Jieyin, pointedly ignoring Zhunti. "Daoist Jieyin's teaching abilities are very admirable."

"You overpraise," Jieyin said, deflecting the compliment. "In my eyes, your disciple is also outstanding. His talent in combat is nearly unmatched, able to contend with someone who had started comprehending the law."

"He's still not as amazing. As long as Ksitigarbha doesn't fall, your Liberation Sect will have a new Quasi-Saint," Redcloud Ancestor said, shaking his head. Then he asked, "Shall the competition continue?"

Jieyin hesitated. As a Saint, he could clearly perceive their cultivation, but he couldn’t discern if they had embarked on comprehending the law yet. He couldn't discount the off chance that they were like Ksitigarbha. As the one most knowledgeable about his two disciples, Jieyin turned toward Zhunti. "What does Junior Brother think?"

Zhunti opened his mouth to speak, but someone cut him off. "It'll be boring if they continue to fight. How about one last battle? Dishitian against Wudang?"

Zhunti and the other Saints turned their gaze toward Lingbao, wondering why he interjected. The Saints focused their gaze on Dishitian and Sacred Mother Wudang, and both were at the Advanced Golden Immortal Realm. At least on the surface, it was an equal match.

"Since Daoist Lingbao has spoken, let's do as you suggested." Redcloud Ancestor turned toward Sacred Mother Wudang without even glancing at Zhunti. "Go, disciple."

"Disciple obeys." Sacred Mother Wudang saluted her master and flew onto the stage. She crossed her arms, hugging her sheathed sword to her chest.

Zhunti sighed. He turned toward Dishitian and said, "Show the East the profundities of the West."

Dishitian saluted. "Yes, Master."

She jumped onto the stage and landed across from her opponent. Silence descended between the two. Despite this only being the first time she had seen Sacred Mother Wudang, Dishitian felt an intimacy that she couldn't quite place, akin to meeting a long-lost sister or mother for the first time.

The feeling was mutual as Sacred Mother Wudang imperceptibly frowned. Still, that did not stop her from expressing her discontent toward Dishitian. In this battle, there was no other option but victory for her. She unfurled her arms and pulled out her sword. The bright silver blade released an audible sharpness as it slid out.

In the face of hostility, no matter the emotions Dishitian felt, she didn't want and would not lose. She glanced toward Zhao Gongming before focusing on Sacred Mother Wudang again. With a wave of her hand, a single-headed vajra appeared in her hand.

If possible, she still wanted to keep her possession of the Thirty-Six Sea Calming Pearls a secret. Only now, she planned to take the Heaven Measuring Ruler from Daoist Randeng to transform them into thirty-six minor worlds.

Light shot out of the vajra's headless end, turning into a blade of condensed qi. Dishitian named the artifact the Vajra Saber. She brandished it and stared into Sacred Mother Wudang's eyes.

On an unspoken signal, Dishitian and Sacred Mother Wudang attacked simultaneously. Their blades locked as they stared into each other's eyes. Black electricity crackled from the Vajra Saber and traveled across the silver blade. A silver light encased it and repelled the electricity.

Again, the two separated and retreated at an equal distance from each other. Their faces were impassive, but the thirst for victory flared from their gazes. They clashed again, sparks from blade colliding against blade echoed into the air.

A silver light shrouded Sacred Mother Wudang, and her figure blurred. She turned into faint phantoms that could and would appear anywhere on the battlefield, attacking Dishitian from every angle. Even the Golden Immortals of the Great Firmament began to have trouble perceiving her figure.

Dishitian received numerous injuries all over her body. Blood gushed out of her wounds, but it only appeared serious. In truth, all the wounds were superficial, and Sacred Mother Wudang could not land a single decisive injury. However, if this continued, Dishitian would lose.

Her skin turned violet as two faces appeared on both sides of her head, one of an innocent little girl and one expressing motherly warmth. However, all three faces expressed wrath at this moment. Two pairs of arms grew from her shoulders. Not only that, but two more single-headed vajra appeared in their hands.

The black qi condensed from the headless stumps of all three Vajra Sabers no longer resembled a forged blade but an erupting geyser. An aura of destruction coated them, and wherever Dishitian swung, space crackled as if it would shatter at any moment. Should Sacred Mother Wudang receive one attack, her loss would be sealed.

The battle raged on between the immortal swordswoman and the shura swordswoman. All the while, the guests above the Golden Immortal Realm couldn't help but question their own existence. The two Golden Immortals' strength has already reached the Great Firmament level. How powerful would the two be when they truly entered the Great Firmament Realm?

The guests' gazes grew passionate as they stared at the Saints. If they could join a Saints' sect, they would have access to miraculous spells and techniques that would allow them to achieve the same height as Sacred Mother Wudang or Dishitian.

"Imbeciles," Kong Xuan muttered.

"Hey, Brother?" Jinchi called out with his mouth agape. "Am I hallucinating, or did those two also already embark on the path of comprehension?"

"No, you're not blind," Kong Xuan said. "If I'm not wrong, Dishitian should have comprehended a portion of the Law of Destruction while Wudang comprehended a fragment of the Law of Time."

Jinchi turned silent. After a solid five minutes, he spoke. "Brother, after this, I'm going into secluded cultivation. I won't leave until I enter the Advanced Quasi-Saint Realm."

Kong Xuan snorted. "You finally have some self-awareness."

Jinchi ignored his brother's words and focused on the battle between the two Golden Immortals, attempting to glean inspiration or an epiphany.

Back in the arena, Dishitian panted as she dropped to one knee. Two of her Vajra Sabers had crumbled into dust from the destructive blade of qi they condensed. Still, she clutched the last Vajra Saber, biding her time.

A flash of silver later, Sacred Mother Wudang appeared tens of meters away from Dishitian. She, too, collapsed onto one knee. Cracks littered the blade of her sword, and black smoke emitted from the wounds that the Vajra Saber had grazed.

Both of them were on their last legs, only propped by their sheer will to win. As Dishitian's qi diminished, the Vajra Saber flickered away.

"You've lost," Sacred Mother Wudang forced out.

"That," Dishitian took a moment to compose her breathing, “remains to be seen."

She stumbled onto her feet and gripped her fingers. Pops crackled from all six of her fists as she stumbled forward, blue blood trailing behind her. Sacred Mother Wudang also forced herself onto her feet and limped forward, sword hanging loosely at her side.

None of the guests spoke a word as the two neared each other. Dishitian raised her fist and Sacred Mother Wudang her sword. They unleashed their final attacks.

Dishitian's fist connected with Sacred Mother Wudang's body, while her sword embedded itself onto Dishitian's shoulder. The two fell backward, and Sacred Mother Wudang's grip on the sword loosened while Dishitian's fist uncurled.

With both of them on their backs, a hushed discussion erupted. Who won, and who lost?

As the host, Zhen Yuanzi took this moment to step up. "Liberation Sect's Dishitian and Interception Sect's Wudang are no longer able to battle, so I announce the battle is a draw!"

Neither Zhunti nor Redcloud Ancestor objected to Zhen Yuanzi's judgment. Both retrieved their disciples and returned them to their seats after healing them. Zhunti and Jieyin were especially pleased. Although it ended in a draw, it showcased the might of a Saint's sect. They could feel the heated gaze of the guests, and they could expect a bountiful recruitment soon.

However, at this moment, Zhen Yuanzi made another announcement. "Originally, I planned to announce this at the end of the banquet, but the marvelous battle has ignited a fire in my heart."

"So, I announce the establishment of the Earth Celestial League!" Zhen Yuanzi's grand and clear voice spread not just in Wuzhuang Temple but to all of Longevity Mountain and beyond.

From the Human Temple on the Earthly Realm, Wutian turned his gaze toward Longevity Mountain. From the Heavenly Realm, Haotian, Yaochi, and Luya's gazes pierced the clouds onto the Earthly Realm, and from the Nether Realm, Empress Pingxin and Daoist Randeng gazed upward. All of them could sense a change that would irrevocably change the Three Realms.

A massive amount of merit descended from the skies and onto Zhen Yuanzi. His realm began to rise rapidly. Advanced Quasi-Saint Realm, Peak Quasi-Saint Realm, and finally... a supreme coercion emanated from his body.

The Three Realms welcomed a new Saint's birth.