Chapter 126: Chapter 126: Changes in the Lingyun Sect
Ji Chen sat by the window, momentarily stunned when he heard others discussing him.
He had not expected that, even four years later, people would still talk about him, who was once just a fleeting name.
"Extra! Extra!"
"The Dao Inference Saint Heir is making a move, challenging the Dragon Heir to a duel at the ’Celestial Venerable Mountain’!"
Suddenly, a voice came from the street outside the tavern.
"What?!"
"Is it true? Is the Dao Inference Saint Heir finally taking action?"
Many people, upon hearing the news, couldn’t help but be shocked.
"Great! The Dao Inference Saint Heir, as one of the kings of the young generation in Beiyou, will surely strike down the Dragon Heir and severely dampen his spirit!" someone spoke with a heated expression, anticipation in their eyes.
However, some frowned and said, "I’m afraid not necessarily. Who is the Dragon Heir? He is the next Ancient King of the Eastern Desolation Dragon Race. The Dao Inference Saint Heir may not necessarily claim victory."
"Anyway, at least a top young king is stepping forward. Regardless of the outcome, it will at least showcase the elegance of Beiyou."
"Challenging at Celestial Venerable Mountain... When will they duel?" someone asked.
"In a month’s time."
...
This piece of news didn’t only spread through Celestial Wave City but across all of Beiyou.
Many were surprised, and the anticipation for this peak battle was widespread.
Beiyou had not seen a confrontation of this level for countless years.
Both the Dragon Heir and the Dao Inference Saint Heir could be considered the strongest young talents of today.
This is a battle of titans, like a spear against a shield.
Most importantly, in this duel, the Dao Inference Saint Heir represents not only Beiyou but also the Human Race!
The news spread swiftly, and within just a few days, it had reached across the entire world, including Eastern Desolation, West Desert, and the Southern Region. Countless cultivators, upon hearing the news, immediately headed to Beiyou to witness this pinnacle battle between young kings.
Meanwhile, Ji Chen left Celestial Wave City, traveling northward, soaring over the mountains.
Seven days later, Ji Chen finally returned to the Profound Domain.
In the southern part of the Chu Kingdom, amidst an endless stretch of mountains, Ji Chen arrived here.
Looking around, he could see a sect’s mountain gate situated among the mountains, which was none other than the Lingyun Sect.
After leaving for four years, upon his return, Ji Chen couldn’t help but feel a sense of worldly impermanence.
Four years had passed, and the Lingyun Sect had undergone rapid development, becoming vastly different from before.
Back then, even Ji Xiaotian, the Sect Leader at the time, had only reached the third or fourth layer of the Spirit Transformation Realm. The entire Lingyun Sect had only a handful of Spirit Transformation Realm experts.
But now, after four years of development, its strength had increased by at least tenfold.
Over the past four years, due to the Holy Dragon Source Stone and the support of numerous elixirs, the cultivation of many disciples advanced by leaps and bounds.
Now in the Lingyun Sect, not to mention the Vein Condensation Realm, there are at least a hundred disciples at the Spirit Transformation Realm level.
As for Ji Xiaotian and the Grand Elder, they have now officially broken through to the Returning Ruins Realm.
In the past, in the Profound Domain, those in the Returning Ruins Realm were already called Venerables.
Besides Ji Xiaotian and the Grand Elder, the Lingyun Sect now has over a dozen individuals at the Returning Ruins Realm level.
After Ji Chen left, not long after, the Sword King Sect merged with them. Its sect leader, Lu Daoyi, once a dominant figure renowned in the Profound Domain, became the Supreme Elder of the Lingyun Sect.
In these four years, Lu Daoyi also made a breakthrough and reached the Celestial Essence Realm level.
This level of individual could sweep across the entire Profound Domain, yet chose to serve the Lingyun Sect, leaving many puzzled.
How would they know that with Nangong Ao overseeing Lingyun Sect, how could Lu Daoyi dare to defy?
Moreover, over the years since merging with the Lingyun Sect, Lu Daoyi always felt grateful for his choice.
Had he not, he might not have become a master at the Celestial Essence Realm level now.
Including the former disciples of the Sword King Sect, their cultivation progress over the years was much faster than before.
Ji Xiaotian stepped down, similar to Lu Daoyi, and he also became a Supreme Elder of the Lingyun Sect.
The position of Sect Leader was passed on to Fang Qingyao!
Fang Qingyao, now different from before, reportedly broke through to the Returning Ruins Realm a few months ago.
A Returning Ruins Realm expert in her twenties may not mean much in the current Beiyou, but within the Profound Domain, few could compare.
In recent years, the relationship between the Lingyun Sect and the Ye Family has changed significantly, no longer as before.
Ye Jinglan reunited with Ji Xiaotian, and now she resides in the Lingyun Sect.
With Nangong Ao, a Celestial Essence Realm master, and over a dozen Returning Ruins Realm experts, in today’s Profound Domain, no other force can compare with the Lingyun Sect.
Of course, excluding Nangong Ao, the Purple Cloud Sect is still far stronger than the current Lingyun Sect.
After all, they were already powerful four years ago, and now, after four years, their strength is even more formidable. It is said that the Purple Cloud Sect now has no fewer than a handful of Celestial Essence Realm experts.
Many say that within a year, barring any surprises, the Purple Cloud Sect will declare themselves a Sacred Land, becoming the Sacred Land of the Human Race in Beiyou.
...
Today, at the foot of the Lingyun Sect’s mountain, a vast crowd gathered, mostly young faces, estimated to be over a thousand, all young talents from various regions of Beiyou.
Ji Chen walked slowly, not attracting any attention.
He wondered why so many were gathered here.
After a brief inquiry, he learned that today was the admission test day for the Lingyun Sect.
These young people gathered here to participate in the test.
"I wonder what form the test will take this time? My cultivation has reached the Fourth Layer of the Spirit Transformation Realm; I should be able to pass, right?"
"Fourth Layer of Spirit Transformation Realm? That’s uncertain; I heard this test only admits twenty people, and there are more than twenty who have reached the Sixth Layer of the Spirit Transformation Realm here."
"Generally, these admission tests emphasize talent and potential more than strength, which is secondary. I consider my talent to be pretty good; I should secure a spot." someone confidently spoke.
"It’s only been four years; who would have thought that an obscure sect back then would develop to such a scale? Now, across the entire Northern Nether Realm, the Lingyun Sect is renowned."
"It is reported that the Lingyun Sect is protected by a Saint Master level expert, which is the main reason. Otherwise, why would the Sword King Sect willingly merge with them back then?"
"Not only that, I heard the Lingyun Sect possesses at least a hundred Dao Artifacts offered to the top one hundred disciples annually. That’s the reason I came to participate in the admission test!"
A hundred Dao Artifacts is a significant offer. Looking across the modern Beiyou, aside from a single Sacred Land, no other force can match it.
This is why the Lingyun Sect can attract so many talents from various places for the test.