Yuan’s Ascension

Kuang Long had sparred with numerous hereditary disciples since joining the sect. With his straightforward character, he made quite a few friends.

Jiu Xiao was a Shambhala hereditary disciple, a fellow body refiner with great strength.

Kuang Long's consciousness entered the Dragon Star Immortal Realm, quickly checking the content of the message, "Golden Core hereditary disciple Li Xia has passed level fifty-seven of the one-star tower, setting a new current record!"

Kuang Long's eyes widened.

Li Xia? It’s him? Kuang Long remembered the black-robed youth who had entered the sect with him.

Back then, they had a decent relationship. However, as time passed, they no longer met as often, each focusing on cultivation. On top of that, they followed different cultivation paths, leading to minimal interaction in recent years.

Level fifty...seven? Heavens! Kuang Long struggled to believe what he was reading. He hasn’t cultivated for long, and he’s far younger than me! How can this be?

I've only just reached level forty-two. Kuang Long’s thoughts were in disarray.

...

The news of Wu Yuan clearing level fifty-seven of the one-star tower spread, causing waves of commotion among the Golden Core hereditary disciples.

Redmoon Immortal Realm, Greendragon City, the Hereditary Disciple Tower.

Despite being called a tower, it was actually an enormous complex. Aside from a few custodians and attendants, only the sect's hereditary disciples were allowed entry. It served as a meeting place in the voidrealm for the sect's hereditary disciples.

On this day, the Hereditary Disciple Tower was bustling with activity. More than ten figures gathered within one of the halls.

"Unbelievable! Level fifty-seven? That's beyond incredible!" exclaimed a youth in purple robes, his disbelief evident. "I've been cultivating for over a century, and even I doubt I could clear it."

"Stop howling like a ghost, Long Tao. None of us here can clear it either. " A silver-armored woman spoke coldly. "Out of the thirty-plus Golden Core hereditary disciples, only six have cleared level fifty."

At these words, the others grew even more despondent.

They were all Golden Core hereditary disciples.

While the sect's outer and inner disciples, as well as higher echelons, marveled at Wu Yuan's astounding talent, these Golden Core hereditary disciples felt immense pressure upon hearing the news.

That was because they had all challenged Wu Yuan to a duel in the past.

And this was the reason they were gathered here today.

"Truly, the ignorant are fearless," remarked a golden-armored youth, his voice tinged with resignation. "Li Xia wasn’t shying away from a match with us. He simply didn’t want to waste his time."

He turned his gaze towards a woman in white nearby and added, "Bei Hua, if memory serves me right, you were the first to challenge him."

The attention of the group shifted to the woman in white.

Bei Hua furrowed her brow. "So what if I was? Is it not the norm for disciples to pit their skills against one another?"

Gong Ling who was seated beside them interjected, "Everyone, Li Xia is a new disciple. No matter his strength, he will not be demoted in status given that this is his first time participating in the Dragon Star Tournament.”

Then, he smiled, “You need not worry about losing face. After all, the Dragon Star Tournament is a real-world battle.”

"From my understanding, Li Xia entered the sect at the first-stage Golden Core phase. Now, he has likely advanced to the second or third stage at most. His mana reserves are far smaller than ours."

“Our advantage in mana will surely allow us to overpower and defeat him!"

"Mm, indeed," came the murmured agreement.

"The Dragon Star Tournament is a real-world battle.”

"Li Xia won’t be able to win so easily. At least, he won't be able to suppress us in his first Dragon Star Tournament." The Golden Core hereditary disciples discussed softly among themselves.

Ever since they received the news, they knew that as long as Li Xia remained alive, their brilliance was destined to be overshadowed by this rising star.

Yet, the pride that came with their status as hereditary disciples left them unwilling to be bested by a newcomer in his first tournament. It was a prospect too humiliating to accept.

However, their thoughts were interrupted by a sudden exclamation.

"What's this? I’ve received a challenge request," a voice exclaimed with surprise. "It’s from Li Xia, he’s challenging me to a duel in the True Dragon Arena."

"What?" gasped another disciple. "I’ve received a challenge as well."

"Me too."

"I’ve received one as well." Soon, all fourteen hereditary disciples found themselves invited to a match in the True Dragon Arena.

Every single challenge had been issued by Wu Yuan alone!

"Li Xia dares challenge all of us singlehandedly? Wang Yu informed me that she did not receive a challenge request," a golden-armored woman shook her head. "Those Li Xia has sent challenges to are the same ones who have challenged him before."

"He certainly bears grudges," the disciples muttered, feeling a sense of helplessness.

They had not anticipated this turn of events. In just eight years, Li Xia had risen to a level of strength that none could have foreseen.

"Bad news," Gong Ling's expression shifted abruptly. "Word of Li Xia's challenge has spread throughout the sect. The audience at the True Dragon Arena has swelled to tens of thousands and continues to grow."

"He has challenged fourteen Golden Core hereditary disciples."

"I've received numerous inquiries from friends asking how I plan to respond to the challenge." The hereditary disciples each had their own information networks.

"Li Xia is already waiting at the True Dragon Arena," a black-cloaked hereditary disciple surveyed the group before speaking deliberately, "After stepping onto the arena platform, he issued a single question, 'Who is willing to spar with me?'"

There was a moment of silence. The fourteen Golden Core hereditary disciples exchanged wordless glances.

"'Who is willing to spar with me?’ How polite!" Bei Hua’s voice rang out, "What he truly means to say is ‘Who dares spar with me?'"

"This is a sure-lose battle."

"Whoever is willing to go, whoever dares to go…" Bei Hua, her gaze sweeping the room, announced coolly, "must be prepared for a humiliating outcome."

"It began with me, and it shall conclude with me!"

"I will take up the challenge." Bei Hua departed the hall swiftly, heading towards the True Dragon Arena.

The remaining thirteen hereditary disciples fell into silence.

"Everyone, Bei Hua has dared to answer the challenge. Are we truly more cowardly than her?" Gong Ling rose to his feet, speaking in a low voice, "It is just a loss."

"Losing to Li Xia is no dishonor."

Whoosh! Gong Ling departed as well.

"Haha, let's fight. We can't be like Li Xia. Challenges are part of our Dragon Star Immortal Sect’s tradition. We aren’t risking our lives anyway. Let's go."

"I refuse to believe that a kid who’s not even fifty years old can be such a monstrous prodigy."

"Let’s go!" The group of Golden Core hereditary disciples, spurred on by the challenge, rose in unison and made their way toward the True Dragon Arena.

…

The True Dragon Arena was a special spacetime within the Dragon Star Immortal Realm, accessible only through a specific passage in the Greendragon City.

On this day, platform 892 of the True Dragon Arena drew a crowd of tens of thousands of onlookers.

In just a quarter of an hour, the number of spectators swelled to a staggering thirty thousand. Virtual avatars crowded on all four sides of the platform, their eyes fixed on the figure seated in meditation in the center.

"I heard Li Xia challenged fourteen Golden Core hereditary disciples!”

"What a power move."

"These disciples once challenged Li Xia. Senior Brother Li Xia is just counter-challenging them." The crowd of inner and outer disciples discussed.

Such actions were highly offensive, thus similar events were a rare occurrence within the sect. Yet, none dared to question Wu Yuan's decision.

Suddenly, a figure cloaked in white materialized out of thin air at the edge of the arena.

"They’re here!"

"A hereditary disciple actually stepped up to the challenge? Such a battle can only end in defeat."

"It's Bei Hua. They say she was the very first person to challenge Li Xia all those years ago." The spectator stands erupted in a cacophony of excitement.

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