Chương 87: Battle of the Sects, Reversing Heaven and Earth Alone (5)

The Divine Sense of a Golden Core cultivator is a vast, all-encompassing net, sharp enough to catch even the faintest ripple of a whisper in the air. As the surrounding cultivators began to murmur amongst themselves, their hushed gossip reached the ears of Qingxiaozi and Dan Chenzi with stinging clarity. Their expressions darkened instantly, a cold gloom settling over their features.

If they were truly defeated today and banished from their own sect mountain for a decade, the Xuanxiao Sect's reputation would be utterly decimated. Even with two Golden Core masters at the helm, they would become the laughingstock of the entire North Yue State.

"Do any of you have the courage to step forward and fight for the honor of our sect?" Qingxiaozi's gaze swept across the gathered disciples like a cold wind. Wherever his eyes landed, the disciples of the Xuanxiao Sect would invariably turn ashen, their heads bowing in a desperate attempt to avoid his scrutiny. Not a single one dared to utter a word of assent.

"Is it possible that my Xuanxiao Sect is devoid of even a single soul brave enough to share the sect's burdens? Are we truly reduced to sitting idly by while our legacy is snatched away?" Qingxiaozi's voice was heavy with a mixture of simmering fury and a profound, hidden helplessness.

He knew the grim reality of the situation; given the prowess Ming Diao Zhanchen had displayed—a strength that rivaled an Early Foundation Establishment cultivator—none of the disciples currently standing before him were likely to be his match.

"Sect Master, this disciple is willing to try." Just then, a feminine voice rang out, clear and melodic as the song of a yellow oriole emerging from a valley. Yet, beneath its sweetness, there was an unmistakable aura of nobility and resolve. Ji Yueli stepped forward, her movements fluid and graceful. She offered a respectful, elegant bow, her expression a mask of tranquil serenity. There was an ethereal, otherworldly quality about her, as if she were a celestial being momentarily gracing the mortal realm.

"This..." Qingxiaozi hesitated, his brow furrowing. Ji Yueli was not only a possessor of exceptional spirit root talent but also a prodigy who could independently refine the Grade 3 Dragon-Tiger Pill. Her potential was immeasurable, and he was loath to see her come to any harm that might stifle her future growth. Dan Chenzi's eyes flickered with a calculating light. He spoke up suddenly, his voice steady.

"Yueli, if you take the stage, what are the chances you can truly overcome Ming Diao Zhanchen?" Ji Yueli paused for a fleeting moment, her cherry-red lips parting slightly as she replied, "Provided he has not concealed his true cultivation level, this disciple has at least a fifty percent chance of victory."

"Very well. Go then," Dan Chenzi nodded.

"But remember: if you find yourself overwhelmed, concede immediately. I would rather lose this sect struggle than see any misfortune befall you." A flash of warmth crossed Ji Yueli's eyes. She bowed once more, her gaze briefly sweeping over a certain figure standing behind her before she transformed into a streak of light. She descended upon the Ascension Terrace with the poise of a descending goddess, her ethereal beauty leaving the spectators momentarily breathless.

"Ji Yueli of the Xuanxiao Sect. I have come to seek guidance from Senior Brother Ming Diao." Ming Diao Zhanchen's eyes erupted with a sudden, scorching heat. His gaze locked onto Ji Yueli, roving over her with a hunger he made no effort to conceal. The desire in his eyes was naked and predatory.

"Why has Junior Sister Ji come to the Ascension Terrace? Has the Xuanxiao Sect truly run out of men?" He chuckled, his voice dripping with condescension.

"If my hand should slip and I were to accidentally injure such a delicate flower, my heart would surely be filled with regret." Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. Upon hearing these mocking words, the younger generation of the Xuanxiao Sect felt their faces burn with a humiliated flush. The disdainful looks from the disciples of other sects felt like physical blows, making them wish they could simply vanish into the earth.

Even Qingxiaozi and Dan Chenzi felt a wave of heat rise to their faces, though they maintained their stoic facades through sheer force of will.

"Senior Brother Ming Diao is mistaken," Ji Yueli replied, her voice calm and dismissive, effortlessly parrying his taunt.

"I am a disciple of the Xuanxiao Sect. On this day of competition between our two sects, it is only natural and right that I represent my home. As for our upcoming clash, I assure you I shall not hold back. I suggest you remain on your guard." Her words acted as a balm to the wounded pride of the Xuanxiao Sect disciples. Their gratitude was instantaneous, and their gazes toward her grew even more fervent.

"Go, Senior Sister Ji! Show this brat that the Xuanxiao Sect isn't to be trifled with!"

"Avenge Senior Brothers Hei Feng and Hei Shi! Make sure he's the one being carried off the platform this time!"

"Hey, you! What are you looking at? Do you really think someone like you is worthy of Senior Sister Ji? Give up on those delusions!"

"A toad lusting after swan meat! You from the Qingyan Sect—if you keep staring like that, I'll personally settle the score with you!" The previously cowed Xuanxiao Sect cultivators were now revitalized, shouting with a bloodthirsty intensity as if Ming Diao Zhanchen were their mortal enemy. Their killing intent surged, looking for all the world as if they were ready to charge the platform themselves.

"Heh, it seems Junior Sister Ji is quite popular," Ming Diao Zhanchen remarked, a flicker of something unreadable crossing his eyes before he smiled again.

"How about we add a little wager to our duel to make things interesting?" Ji Yueli's brow knit slightly.

"What sort of proposal does Daoist Ming Diao have in mind?" Displeased by his lingering, heated gaze, her tone had turned noticeably frostier. Ming Diao Zhanchen, far from being offended, found her cold, aloof demeanor even more intoxicating. It only fueled the fire in his heart, making him want to conquer her all the more.

"If we fight and you emerge victorious, my Qingyan Sect will immediately concede this entire sect struggle. Furthermore," he paused for effect, "I will personally offer up an Earth-grade Mid-tier cultivation technique as a prize. What do you say?"

"Earth-grade Mid-tier?!" Shock rippled through Ji Yueli's beautiful eyes. She frowned, momentarily caught in a state of indecision. The cultivators surrounding the Ascension Terrace were equally stunned. Their jaws dropped in disbelief, which quickly transformed into a feverish, covetous heat.

"Impossible! How could he possess an Earth-grade technique?"

"No wonder he has such a terrifying cultivation at such a young age. His True Essence and supernatural abilities are on par with a Foundation Establishment master... it's because he's practicing an Earth-grade Mid-tier art!"

"The boy must be incredibly lucky. He likely stumbled upon the hidden abode of some ancient cultivator and plundered it."

"Ming Diao Zhanchen is playing for high stakes. To wager an Earth-grade technique... he must be after something specific..." In the world of cultivation, techniques are strictly categorized into four grades: Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow. Yellow-grade techniques are the most common, offering mediocre cultivation speeds and weak abilities; they are the staple of rogue cultivators and minor clans.

Profound-grade techniques, even at the Low-tier, are vastly superior, allowing for rapid Qi absorption and the manifestation of powerful techniques. While rare, they occasionally appear at high-end auctions once every few decades. Earth-grade techniques, however, are treasures usually guarded by major sects, reserved only for Core Disciples. Any unauthorized leak of such a manual is met with the most brutal punishment.

Most Earth-grade manuals currently in circulation were found by lucky individuals in primordial grottos, and every time one surfaces, it triggers a bloodbath as sects fight tooth and nail to claim it. As for Heaven-grade techniques, they exist only in legends. It is whispered that only the superpower entities in the five central provinces of the Great Continents possess them. In a backwater region like the North Yue State of the Zhao Kingdom, such a thing had never even been seen.

Thus, Ming Diao Zhanchen's sudden offer of an Earth-grade Mid-tier technique was nothing short of a seismic event, sending the entire assembly into a state of collective frenzy.