Everyone knew that this Eastern Continent Grand Competition was a showdown between sects and aristocratic families.
The rules of the Eastern Continent Grand Competition were divided into two rounds.
These were the Stairway to Heaven and the Ascension Platform.
The Stairway to Heaven was the only path to the Ascension Platform, and only by passing the Stairway to Heaven could one hope to successfully advance to the Ascension Platform. The Stairway to Heaven had a total of nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine steps, with a considerable trial every ninety-nine steps.
Each challenge would be more difficult than any previous one.
The tallest building in the entire Haoxing City was the Star Gazing Tower.
At this moment, a group of young boys and girls had been waiting in the Star Gazing Tower for a long time.
These young boys and girls were all dressed in new clothes, exuding a confident and spirited fighting will.
They were all prodigies at a young age, except for a few rogue cultivators.
The vast majority of them were disciples trained by families and sects.
Outside the Star Gazing Tower, there were many viewing seats.
A casual glance revealed a sea of people, about tens of thousands, all gathered here.
After all, the Eastern Continent Grand Competition was the most important event for all sects and forces in the Eastern Continent, and it naturally attracted many people to watch the competition.
Among them were many disciples participating in the grand competition.
On the high platform in the center of the Star Gazing Tower stood five elders. Four of them were strong cultivators at the Three-Star Heavenly Venerable realm or above, and the last one had reached the Five-Star Heavenly Venerable level.
These five were the rulers of Haoxing City. If it weren't for the Eastern Continent Grand Competition, they would absolutely not have appeared here.
"Even the five Heavenly Venerables of Haoxing City are here. This year's Eastern Continent Grand Competition is truly grand."
Liu Yuanhao exclaimed as he saw the situation inside the Star Gazing Tower through the giant screen outside.
The interior of the Star Gazing Tower was extremely spacious, and the more than 8,000 young geniuses participating in the Eastern Continent Grand Competition had all gathered here.
"I didn't expect the Eastern Continent Grand Competition to be so lively. So many people, much more interesting than that vain aristocratic family martial arts competition."
Liu Muming, still in his usual slovenly manner, chewed on a fruit, shaking his head and speaking.
"Aristocratic family martial arts competition? What's that?"
Mo Qian immediately asked, noticing the key point in Liu Muming's words.
Just as Liu Muming was about to explain, Bai Ting grabbed his ear and pulled him aside.
She glared at Mo Qian with her large, round eyes, "How can you still remember the aristocratic family martial arts competition? After this Eastern Continent Grand Competition ends, you'll have to go back with me."
"Ah! Go back for what? I still want to travel outside."
Liu Muming grimaced from the pinching, but still asked stubbornly.
"You idiot, if you don't go back, I'll tell your father."
Bai Ting glared at him speechlessly and then glared at Liu Muming fiercely again.
This guy actually didn't listen to her.
"Oh, my dear aunt, please spare me. I was wrong, okay? I don't want to go home."
Liu Muming trembled with fear and quickly begged for mercy.
Only then did Bai Ting release her hand.
Mo Qian still didn't understand what was going on. Listening to their conversation, it seemed that Liu Muming and Bai Ting had unusual identities.
Mu Qingqing, however, seemed to have caught something, and a hint of doubt flickered in her eyes.
"Aristocratic family martial arts competition, Liu Muming, Bai Ting..."
In an instant, Mu Qingqing understood and revealed a slight smile.
So that's how it is. Having read the original work, it wasn't difficult for her to infer that Liu Muming and Bai Ting must have come from the two great aristocratic families in the Central Continent.
This was an unexpected gain for Mu Qingqing, but for the main personality, Xin Ci, it was not a good thing.
"Xin Ci, don't space out. It's almost our turn."
Mo Qian reached out and patted Xin Ci, bringing her back to reality.
Mu Qingqing came back to her senses and looked at the people inside the Star Gazing Tower. She noticed that almost everyone in the Star Gazing Tower was lining up before a jade pillar inlaid with crystals.
Everyone had to strike the jade pillar before ascending the Stairway to Heaven.
This jade pillar was used to test a person's spiritual power. There were a total of one hundred dim crystals on the surface of the jade pillar.
Mu Qingqing saw a young man punch it, lighting up only 5 crystals.
He left with a look of disappointment, and a attendant from the Star Gazing Tower was recording.
"What a shame, only five crystals."
"What's a shame? To dare to participate in the Eastern Continent Grand Competition with such little strength is truly embarrassing."
Many people discussed, showing expressions of disdain.
"Next."
The attendant called out.
The young man in front walked to the stage and looked at the crystals before him.
He gathered his strength and punched it, actually lighting up 90 crystals.
"90 crystals."
"So high! Who is this person?!"
Someone exclaimed in surprise.
Mu Qingqing heard this and looked at the young man.
He was wearing a black tight-fitting outfit, and a faint smile graced his handsome face, with a confident aura radiating from his brows.
"That guy is the young master of the Iron Fist Sect, named Tie Liefeng."
"He's among the top ten on the Eastern Continent Heavenly Pride Ranking!"
The Iron Fist Sect was only a second-rate force in the Eastern Continent. In Mu Qingqing's previous readings of novels, the Iron Fist Sect did not have outstanding performances in the Eastern Continent Grand Competition.
Tie Liefeng achieving such results was slightly surprising to Mu Qingqing.
Besides Tie Liefeng, heavenly prides from other forces also appeared one after another.
Xue Qianwu of the Cold Snow Palace, Nan Yun Ting of the Nan Yun Family, Wan Shu Wen of the Ten Thousand Treasures Merchant Association, Zhou Teng of the Heavenly Star Pavilion, Xin Yan of the Fire Feather Sect...
The crystals lit up by these heavenly prides were all above 90, without exception.
This caused a wave of astonishment from the audience, who looked at those who lit up the crystals with reverence.
Mu Qingqing also noticed that among these people, there was a white-haired woman completely wrapped in bandages.
Although she was wrapped like a mummy, Mu Qingqing still recognized her.
She was the woman from the Puppet Sect whom the main personality Xin Ci had fought in the forest outside Dan Ling City.
She had not expected her to participate in the Eastern Continent Grand Competition.
The white-haired woman also noticed Mu Qingqing and glared at her with cold eyes.
Mu Qingqing awkwardly touched her nose and quickly averted her gaze, pretending not to notice the woman's stare.
Although it was the main personality Xin Ci who accidentally saw her bathing, it was now her, the second personality, who controlled Xin Ci's body, so it was better to avoid her gaze.
"Xin Ci, oh Xin Ci, look at the mess you left me. How am I supposed to clean it up?"
Mu Qingqing said to herself inwardly.
At this moment, another young man approached the jade pillar, lighting up 99 crystals.
Seeing this number, everyone present was shocked.
This was the first time anyone had lit up 99 crystals here.
Mu Qingqing was also somewhat surprised; this young man's strength was very high.
She noticed that his body was somewhat weak, and he seemed somewhat sickly, with a pale complexion.
At the same time, both she and Elder Han sensed a trace of冥气 (ming qi) emanating from the young man.