Chapter 64: The Fallen Blood Heaven Sect and the Test.

Chapter 64: The Fallen Blood Heaven Sect and the Test. Jiang Yun sat beneath the shade of a tree, sipping tea. In the blink of an eye, he disappeared, reappearing in a small, secluded world that was his private domain. Everything in this world was crafted according to Jiang Yun's imagination and desires. Seated atop a grand, imposing black throne, he gazed softly around, a sensation of complete ownership washing over him.

Sitting gracefully on the throne, his voice calm yet commanding, he asked, "How are our forces doing?"

Suddenly, a Samsara Clone emerged from the void, reporting in a solemn tone.

"Our forces are expanding rapidly. Many cultivators from various continents have been recruited—those abandoned by the heavens, geniuses rejected, or villains defeated by the sons of destiny. We've been selecting them into our sect steadily."

"Currently, counting both the clones and sect members, we have 18 Samsara Clones, each at the peak of Heavenly Immortal rank. Thanks to your previous experiments, some of our members or all of the clones have managed to upgrade their special physiques by four levels. Now, we have 3,113 bodies with Immortal Emperor Physiques, all at the peak of Heavenly Immortal rank. Additionally, there are 12,834 bodies with Supreme Physiques, also all at the peak of Earthly Immortal rank."

Jiang Yun nodded in satisfaction as the Samsara Clone continued its report.

"Furthermore, we possess 192,480 Dao Bodies, all at the peak of True Immortal rank, and 1,452,158 Immortal Bodies, almost all at Immortal rank."

The Samsara Clone carried on, "We also have over 10 million Sacred Bodies, with the lowest rank being peak Semi-Immortal. As for our intelligence unit, it numbers around 100 million, with the lowest rank being Semi-Emperor and the highest at Immortal rank."

Jiang Yun nodded again before asking, "Any important news lately?"

The Samsara Clone continued, "There's news about the upcoming Tianyuan World Tournament, set to take place in a month. Additionally, there's news about Ye Chen—he is currently at the Black Sea. I've also gathered information that Lin Qingyi has recently been appointed as the Saintess of the Lin Clan."

Jiang Yun listened with mild interest before reclining against the throne.

The Samsara Clone bowed slightly and continued, "As for your former senior and junior disciples, they've now joined the Immortal Emperor Frost Domain, a force under the Lin Clan."

Jiang Yun's lips curled into a slight smile. He didn't show any overt emotions, but a hint of anticipation gleamed in his eyes.

"The Immortal Emperor Frost Domain... let it be. Explain the details of the Tianyuan Tournament."

The Samsara Clone resumed, "This Tianyuan World Tournament is a competition for the new generation, with participants under the age of 40. Anyone wishing to join must first pass the selection stage by ascending 10,000 steps of the Golden Stairway. If successful, they qualify for the next round of battles."

Jiang Yun listened calmly as the Samsara Clone continued its explanation.

"The second round is a test of strength," the Samsara Clone continued. "All contestants must battle each other to stand atop one of the 128 large pillars. Only those who can hold their position on top of the pillar for one hour will advance to the third round. The fighting will continue until all 128 spots are filled. The final round will be a round-robin tournament, and the one with the most victories out of 128 rounds will be declared the winner."

Jiang Yun shifted slightly, his expression deep in thought.

The Samsara Clone nodded in acknowledgment. "This tournament will attract top-level cultivators from all factions. Even the sons and daughters of destiny may participate, as the prize is a treasure from an ancient Immortal Emperor, sealed for thousands of years. Many realms have shown great interest in it."

Jiang Yun gave a faint nod before letting out a soft laugh. "Prepare our people. Send ten peak lords under the age of 40, along with inner disciples. From the 3,000 peaks, have each peak lord select ten participants." Searᴄh the NôvelFire.nёt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

The Samsara Clone bowed deeply. "Understood, I will arrange everything as per your command immediately."

As the Samsara Clone vanished, Jiang Yun stood up, gazing into the void of his small world and muttered, "So, what business do you have with me..."

One month later...

In a vast city surrounded by lush green forests, beautiful houses were scattered across the landscape. The sky today was filled with millions of airships arriving nonstop, bringing unprecedented excitement to the city. People from all over Tianyuan World had gathered here for one purpose: to prove their abilities in this grand tournament.

Amidst the bustling crowd, a man spoke in a deep voice, "I really wonder, once this battle is over, whether there will be any changes in those rankings."

Nearby, a young boy dressed in black, exuding an intimidating aura, sat silently. His face was solemn, and his sharp eyes gleamed. "Would you mind explaining it to me?" he asked calmly.

The surrounding chatter immediately ceased, and all eyes turned to the young man, filled with fear and awe. The middle-aged man who had spoken earlier exchanged glances with another man before replying, "This is the greatest battle in Tianyuan World. The rewards for the winner are immense—fame, power, and resources."

The boy in black nodded slightly before asking again, "And what are these rankings you mentioned?"

The middle-aged man stared at him for a moment before explaining, "It's the ranking of the world's geniuses. The list is divided into four levels. The first level is Earth, then comes Heaven, followed by Emperor, and finally, Immortal. Each level has a limited number of spots. The Earth level has one million names, the Heaven level has one hundred thousand, the Emperor level has ten thousand, and the Immortal level has only one thousand names."

"Only those with great strength and a bone age under 40 can have their names on this list. The Tianji Tower is responsible for ranking these names every year. Today is the day everyone gets a chance to prove themselves and earn a place on those lists," the middle-aged man finished, his voice laced with excitement.

The young man nodded lightly, offering a faint smile as he tossed a spirit stone to the man. "Thank you," he said, turning and walking away.

Even as he left, the gazes of those who had been observing him remained fixed. They could sense a certain power emanating from the boy in black, but no one dared ask further or approach him too closely.

He made his way toward the vast arena, the heart of the competition. There, the atmosphere buzzed with excitement as individuals from various races—humans, dragons, beasts, and creatures from distant lands—had all gathered. Each one came with the same goal: to prove their worth and showcase their abilities to the world.

The arena teemed with anticipation and the thrill of competition. Everyone was ready, prepared to face the trials ahead.

The young man watched the scene before him with calm eyes, though his heart was filled with determination. He knew that this opportunity wasn't just a test of his abilities, but a turning point that would determine whether he remained ordinary or became a true genius.

Suddenly, an old man in a plain white robe, yet exuding profound power, appeared out of the void. His hoarse but commanding voice echoed across the entire arena.

"Alright, for those of you who wish to participate in the Tianyuan Tournament, step forward now."

His voice acted as a signal, unlocking the resolve and ambition within the hearts of the crowd. The arena thundered with the footsteps of millions as individuals from countless races, numbering in the tens of billions, stepped forward. Amidst the ensuing silence, only hope and the drive to pass the test remained.

The old man smiled faintly and waved his hand slowly, but the result of that gesture was beyond description.

A colossal golden staircase appeared in midair, stretching so far that its end was unseen. It gleamed brilliantly, as if forged by the heavens themselves. This staircase was a symbol of hope, but it was also the first grueling test.

The old man spoke once again, his voice resonating throughout the space. "This is the first step of your trial. Climb as fast as you can. There is no limit on how many may pass, but there is a time limit of three hours. If time runs out and you have not reached the top, you will be eliminated."

The old man chuckled softly, his laugh like a challenge to the contestants. "Begin!"

At his command, the entire crowd surged toward the golden staircase, like a rushing torrent of water. The urgency to climb faster than others created a palpable pressure that spread throughout the arena.

The young man in black, who had been silent and still earlier, gazed at the golden staircase with calm eyes. A faint light flickered in his gaze before he stepped forward slowly but steadily. While those around him hurried and scrambled, he displayed no signs of haste.

Many who rushed to climb found that as soon as they touched the first step, their power was suppressed. The profundity of the golden staircase caused their spiritual energy and strength to diminish drastically. Even some top-level experts felt an overwhelming fatigue and pressure the moment they stepped on the first rung.

Cries of frustration and cursing echoed as some failed before they had even started. Many realized that the immense power of the staircase was draining their strength from within. It wasn't just about climbing; it was a battle against themselves.

The old man watching all this merely chuckled softly, observing the struggle of the geniuses attempting to overcome this trial.

The boy in black, who had not stood out before, continued to ascend the stairs with a calm and composed demeanor. Each step carried the pressure of the golden staircase, but his movements showed no signs of exhaustion. His face remained expressionless, unfazed. As the wind blew past, his hair fluttered gently.