"Finally, after cultivating for almost 40 years, I've stepped into the Middle Layer of the Nascent Soul realm!" Bai Xing exclaimed, a subtle ripple of satisfaction passing through his usually stoic demeanor. He gazed out from his secluded cultivation chamber, the faint glow of spiritual energy still clinging to him. The path of cultivation was indeed a vast and winding one, a journey he had committed to with unwavering resolve.
He recalled the ancient texts and the tales of cultivators who had reached pinnacles once thought unattainable. The first step of cultivation, also known as Mortal Realms, encompassed Body Refining, Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, and the revered Golden Core – felt like a distant memory now. Then came the second step of cultivation, also known as Soul Transformation Realms: Nascent Soul, Transformation, and the mythical Divine Lord. And beyond that, the whispered legends of the third step of cultivation, also known as World Creation Realms: Celestial, Nirvana, and the half-step into True Immortal. Even the mighty Tai Bing Chi, a Nirvana realm cultivator, had never witnessed a true Half-step True Immortal.
"Still too far," Bai Xing mused, a faint sigh escaping his lips. "Cultivation truly is a never-ending journey, but even if it's endless, I will cultivate it till the very end and achieve true immortality."
"Let's check out what's happening in the sect before sleeping to rest," Bai Xing murmured to himself, stretching his limbs. Old Tai had mentioned something important, something about the Three Great Spirit Sects Competition. "He told me to participate; said I would learn something very important."
As he stepped out, a lively buzz filled the air. Disciples swarmed around a small stand, their faces alight with a mixture of excitement and fierce determination as they eagerly penned their names onto a long list. Intrigued, Bai Xing approached a familiar face, a Nascent Soul realm cultivator he recognized from the outer courts.
"Excuse me, fellow cultivator," Bai Xing began, a polite nod accompanying his words. "May I ask what has everyone so enthralled about this competition?"
The young cultivator, his eyes wide with fervor, practically bounced with enthusiasm. "Oh, you must be new to this! They're all joining the trials to participate in the Three Great Spirit Sects Competition! This time, the grand reward is something truly extraordinary – The Dao Comprehension Pill!" He leaned in conspiratorially, his voice dropping to an excited whisper. "If it were just made by a Transformation realm cultivator, it won't be that much useful, but this one... this one was crafted by a Divine Lord cultivator! It's a true treasure! If graded, it would be a Quasi-Void Grade treasure!"
A flicker of understanding passed through Bai Xing's mind. Is this why Tai Bing Chi told me to join the tournament, or is there some other reason? I will know when I join the tournament.
He made his way to the stand, where a sect elder, his face lined with years of overseeing countless sect affairs, was meticulously writing down names. When it was finally Bai Xing's turn, the elder's gaze sharpened, a hint of recognition in his eyes.
"You are that Liang Tianyu, aren't you?" the elder asked, a slight frown creasing his brow. "The disciple who made those breakthrough pills?"
"Yes, I am Liang Tianyu, and I wish to participate in the Three Great Spirit Sects Competition for the sect's honor," Bai Xing replied, his voice calm and clear.
"To participate in the competition, you have to first make it to the top 15 in the disciple trials," the elder stated, his voice firm, and with that, he added Bai Xing's name to the already extensive list.
The disciple trials commenced with an air of electric anticipation. Cheers erupted as the first few matches unfolded.
"Next up! Liang Tianyu versus Lin Feng!" the sect elder's booming voice announced.
Bai Xing, disguised as Liang Tianyu, calmly stepped onto the platform. His first opponent was Lin Feng, a Nascent Soul Early Layer cultivator known for his agile footwork and a flurry of short-range spiritual strikes. Lin Feng, though outwardly confident, inwardly trembled at the thought of facing a more advanced Nascent Soul realm cultivator.
Match 1: Liang Tianyu (Middle Nascent Soul) vs. Lin Feng (Nascent Soul Early Layer)
The sect elder signaled the start. Lin Feng immediately darted forward, a shimmering spiritual dagger appearing in his hand, aiming for Bai Xing's vitals. Bai Xing merely tilted his head, the dagger whistling harmlessly past his ear. Lin Feng pressed his attack, a whirlwind of strikes, but each one was either subtly parried by an invisible force or simply dodged with minimal movement from Bai Xing. Bai Xing, with a faint, almost imperceptible wave of his hand, sent a ripple of spiritual energy that gently but firmly pushed Lin Feng back, causing him to lose his footing. Lin Feng, realizing the immense gap in power, landed awkwardly, his face paling.
"I... I concede!" Lin Feng stammered, bowing deeply.
The crowd murmured, impressed by Liang Tianyu's casual display of power. He hadn't even unleashed a single active technique.
"Next! Liang Tianyu versus Ye Jin!"
Match 2: Liang Tianyu (Middle Nascent Soul) vs. Ye Jin (Nascent Soul Early Layer)
Ye Jin, another Nascent Soul Early Layer cultivator, specialized in defensive earthen spells. As the match began, she immediately raised a series of sturdy earth walls around herself. Bai Xing paused for a moment, observing the intricate layering of her defense. Then, with a single, unhurried step, he seemed to phase through the first wall. Ye Jin's eyes widened in alarm as he appeared inside her seemingly impregnable fortress. Before she could react, Bai Xing gently tapped her forehead. A faint golden light pulsed for a second, and Ye Jin felt her spiritual energy momentarily seize. She understood the implicit threat.
"I yield!" Ye Jin cried, her voice trembling slightly.
Another swift victory for Liang Tianyu, showcasing not brute force, but an unnerving understanding of spiritual mechanics. The senior sect elders in the viewing platform exchanged intrigued glances.
"Next! Liang Tianyu versus Lin Han!"
Match 3: Liang Tianyu (Middle Nascent Soul) vs. Lin Han (Nascent Soul Middle Layer)
Lin Han, a Nascent Soul Middle Layer cultivator, entered the ring with a cautious but determined expression. He knew of Liang Tianyu's reputation for effortless victories, but as a cultivator of the same realm, he felt he had a true fighting chance. He immediately conjured a swirling vortex of wind blades, sending them spiraling towards Bai Xing. Bai Xing remained still, and as the blades approached, they seemed to lose cohesion, dissipating into harmless gusts of air before they could reach him. Lin Han, surprised, tried a more direct spiritual assault, firing bolts of pure energy. Bai Xing simply raised his hand, and the bolts seemed to bend around him, curving into the air and harmlessly vanishing. Lin Han's face contorted in frustration; his attacks, though powerful, simply couldn't touch his opponent.
"How... how are you doing that?" Lin Han stammered, his spiritual energy reserves already dwindling from his fruitless efforts. "I surrender!"
The crowd gasped. A fellow Middle Nascent Soul cultivator, renowned for his offensive prowess, had been completely negated without a single overt attack from Liang Tianyu.
"Next! Liang Tianyu versus Qin Yue!"
Match 4: Liang Tianyu (Middle Nascent Soul) vs. Qin Yue (Nascent Soul Middle Layer)
Qin Yue, a fierce Nascent Soul Middle Layer cultivator specializing in fiery martial arts, stepped onto the platform, his fists already crackling with crimson spiritual flame. He had witnessed Liang Tianyu's previous matches and knew this was no ordinary opponent. With a battle roar, Qin Yue unleashed his 'Blazing Dragon Fist,' sending a massive, serpentine flame hurtling towards Bai Xing. The heat radiating from it was intense, making the air shimmer.
Bai Xing didn't move. As the flaming dragon approached, he extended an open palm. Instead of clashing, the spiritual fire seemed to flow around his hand, swirling harmlessly before dissipating into the air. Qin Yue, his eyes wide in disbelief, poured more of his spiritual energy into another flaming strike, but the result was the same. His powerful attacks were rendered inert, his spirit energy quickly depleting without effect.
"What kind of technique is that?!" Qin Yue exclaimed, his voice laced with frustration as he lowered his fiery fists. "I concede! Your methods are beyond my comprehension."
The crowd erupted in a mix of awe and bewildered applause. Liang Tianyu had just neutralized a formidable Middle Nascent Soul cultivator with what appeared to be pure spiritual redirection.
"Next up!" the sect elder's booming voice announced, "Liang Tianyu versus Xiao Zheng!"
A hush fell over the arena as Bai Xing, disguised as Liang Tianyu, stepped onto the platform. His opponent, Xiao Zheng, a Late Nascent Soul cultivator known for his lightning-fast movements and unpredictable techniques, smirked confidently. The crowd, expecting a drawn-out battle between a middle-layer and a late-layer cultivator, leaned forward in anticipation. This was finally a proper test for Liang Tianyu.
"Ready, Liang Tianyu?" Xiao Zheng sneered, his body already shimmering with nascent spiritual energy. "Don't think just because you made some breakthrough pills you can stand against a real opponent!"
Bai Xing simply nodded, his expression unreadable. The sect elder signaled the start of the match. Xiao Zheng vanished in a blur, reappearing behind Bai Xing with a dagger of solidified spiritual energy aimed at his back. But Bai Xing was faster. He merely shifted, an imperceptible movement that caused Xiao Zheng's attack to miss by a hair's breadth.
Xiao Zheng, surprised by the agility, spun around, launching a volley of sharp, wind-attributed spiritual blades. Bai Xing raised his hand, and a shimmering, almost invisible barrier flickered into existence, deflecting each blade with ease. The crowd gasped. Xiao Zheng pressed his attack, his movements becoming more desperate, his techniques more complex. He conjured spectral beasts made of spiritual energy, all lunging at Bai Xing.
Bai Xing, however, moved with an almost ethereal grace, sidestepping, ducking, and weaving through the onslaught. He wasn't merely evading; he was observing, calculating. Finally, with a single, precise movement, he extended his palm. A small, almost imperceptible ripple of spiritual energy shot forth, striking Xiao Zheng directly in the chest.
Xiao Zheng froze, his eyes widening. He coughed, a hint of blood rising to his lips, and then stumbled back, his spiritual energy suddenly chaotic and uncontrollable. He looked at Bai Xing, a mixture of disbelief and utter defeat in his eyes.
"I... I concede," Xiao Zheng croaked, collapsing to one knee.
The crowd erupted in a roar of astonishment and excitement. A Middle Layer Nascent Soul cultivator had defeated a Late Layer Nascent Soul one with such seemingly effortless grace! Murmurs swept through the stands, disciples debating the nature of Liang Tianyu's hidden power.
Above, in the elder's viewing platform, a group of senior sect elders, their faces usually impassive, exchanged surprised glances.
"Did you see that?" one stern-faced elder grumbled, his eyes fixed on Bai Xing. "That wasn't just raw power; that was control, absolute precision. And such subtle energy manipulation!"
"Indeed," another more jovial elder stroked his beard thoughtfully. "His spiritual energy felt... different. Deceptively calm, yet incredibly potent. He barely seemed to exert himself against Xiao Zheng."
"This Liang Tianyu... he's no ordinary middle-layer Nascent Soul," a third elder, known for his keen eye for talent, added, a spark of intrigue in his gaze. "He might be a hidden gem. Keep an eye on him."
"And now, for our final match of the trials!" the sect elder's voice thundered, cutting through the excited chatter. "Liang Tianyu versus Mei Ling!"
Mei Ling, a formidable Peak Nascent Soul cultivator, stepped onto the platform, her aura radiating immense power. She eyed Bai Xing with a respectful but firm gaze, recognizing the power Bai Xing had just displayed. The crowd was on the edge of their seats, anticipating a truly epic showdown between a Middle Nascent Soul and a Peak Nascent Soul cultivator.
The sect elder raised his hand, about to declare the start of the match.
"I concede," Bai Xing stated calmly, his voice clear and unwavering, before the elder could even drop his hand.
A collective gasp swept through the arena. Then, a wave of disappointment washed over the crowd.
"What?!"
"He conceded?"
"But he just defeated Xiao Zheng so easily!"
"Why would he give up against Mei Ling? It would have been an amazing fight!"
Disappointment morphed into a cacophony of groans and frustrated shouts. Many disciples felt cheated out of the climactic battle they had anticipated. They had seen Bai Xing's prowess against Xiao Zheng and were convinced he could give Mei Ling a run for her money, perhaps even win.
Mei Ling herself looked surprised, a slight frown on her face. She had braced herself for a challenging fight.
Bai Xing, however, paid no mind to the disgruntled crowd. He simply nodded respectfully to Mei Ling, then turned and calmly walked off the platform. His goal was not to win the trials, but to participate in the main competition. And to learn what Tai Bing Chi wanted him to learn. Winning the trials was merely a means to an end, and pushing himself unnecessarily now served no purpose.
Soon after, the final ranking list was unveiled, generating a fresh wave of discussion and speculation among the disciples.
Top 15 Heaven Spirit Sect Cultivators for the Three Great Spirit Sects Competition:
* Guang Li (Peak Nascent Soul)
* Chen Wei (Peak Nascent Soul)
* Su Fang (Peak Nascent Soul)
* Qing Ya (Peak Nascent Soul)
* Hong Xiu (Peak Nascent Soul)
* Mei Ling (Peak Nascent Soul)
* Ming Yue (Late Nascent Soul)
* Zhen Dao (Late Nascent Soul)
* Xuan Yi (Late Nascent Soul)
* Liang Tianyu (Bai Xing) (Middle Nascent Soul)
* Xiao Zheng (Late Nascent Soul)
* Qin Yue (Nascent Soul Middle Layer)
* Lin Han (Nascent Soul Middle Layer)
* Lin Feng (Nascent Soul Early Layer)
* Ye Jin (Nascent Soul Early Layer)
Despite conceding the final match, Bai Xing's raw talent and the effortless display against Xiao Zheng and the others had cemented his place among the top contenders. The whispers continued, now with a new undercurrent of respect and curiosity surrounding the mysterious Liang Tianyu. What exactly was he capable of, and what would he bring to the Three Great Spirit Sects Competition?