Chapter 271 - 268: Four Out Of Five Involved

Chapter 271 - 268: Four Out Of Five Involved

While Wei Wuyin recuperated, the three forces instilled their entire focus on nurturing a group of young elites that could clinch victory, reigning supreme in the Grand Spirit Trials. The news of this couldn’t be hidden as the Demonic Abyss Mountain, Sacred Light Palace, and San Clan had heard about it and the wagers within.

While the information about Wei Wuyin and the Alchemist Association was kept confidential, the three items being given to the winner had poked their curiosity and interest. They were even said to send witnesses to this trial, watching the events unfold as a winner was inevitably declared. News of this event spread like a contagious virus that couldn’t be stopped as people ceaselessly transmitted it with no regard. Before long, everyone, their mothers, and the infants listening to the adults talk knew.

It had been a very long time since the forces had gathered together and tested the mettle of their young genius elites in a healthy and competitive environment. This competition gained an immense amount of hype. There was even a list of those who would participate, and numerous betting stations had been established by the Golden Coin Pavilion, the number one merchant force in the starfield.

The Golden Coin Pavilion was similar to the Alchemist Association in its neutrality, being stationed in all five Astral Territories and dealt with the trading of numerous rare and precious materials used for cultivation, alchemy, or forging. They sold armaments, tools, alchemic products, and more with a rightful and fair attitude. Their reputation was exceptional.

With their stellar reputation that upheld fairness and a belief in stable business, they were allowed to entrench themselves in all the Astral Territories. While they had to pay a small fee for all sales conducted on that territory to these hegemons, it was pennies compared to the amount they earned.

If the Alchemist Association could be considered the richest and most influential force outside of the five hegemonic forces, then the Golden Coin Pavilion was the second. They often worked hand to hand to distribute products and make profits. Their relationship was quite good.

During the second month of preparation, four month before the Grand Spirit Trials official start, the numerous forces that existed in various territories were already seeing if they could introduce themselves into this competition. Even if they couldn’t win, they could hone their juniors with this competition and see how they fared against two of the five hegemonic forces.

The requests were endless, enough to drown the Myriad Monarch Sect, Elemental Heaven Pavilion, and Alchemist Association. Of course the Elemental Heaven Pavilion and Alchemist Association had pushed all decisions in regards to this to the Myriad Monarch Sect. Many believed they would be unwilling to accept this, as more competition would be disadvantageous to claiming the prize, but they were startled by the Myriad Monarch Sect’s declaration:

All at or beneath the age of three hundred can freely participate.

Entry Fee: First Stage, Astral Core Realm - 1 Astral Stone.

Second Stage, Astral Core Realm - 3 Astral Stones.

Third Stage, Astral Core Realm - 10 Astral Stones.

Be warned; your life is not guaranteed.

The young man took a deep breath, exhaling out a breath of turbid air as he felt lighter. He turned to the young woman with a slight smile, "Why should I, Senior Sister Lin? Master left me with enough resources."

The young woman reminded, "You shouldn’t call him Master yet, you haven’t obtained his official recognition. As for me, I’m not your Senior Sister just yet." While she said those words, she seemed to be quite careless with it and unbothered as if she was merely teasing the young man. Indeed she was and the young man knew it.

He laughed and revealed a dazzling set of white teeth, "I’ve birth high-level Intents for three advanced elements and developed Elemental Origin Intent. I have already obtained three fragments for his disciple token. I just need to obtain the others within that Gateway above the Auric Sea, and I’ll be your Junior Brother soon enough. Then you’ll have to take care of me."

The scarlet-haired woman shook her head. "Lin Ming, you still have to overcome the trial. Master’s realm isn’t ordinary. You’ll learn more there, but there are those of exceptionally high cultivation within that pose a serious threat. Obtaining the fragments and opening the Gateway are not the same, and it’ll be dangerous. Furthermore, you’ll be on your own." Her words were tinged with a bit of worry.

The young boy named Lin Ming’s face grew serious. He knew that overconfidence often met with unexpected failure, so he reined it in. He had to take this matter seriously. "I’ll give it my all. I promise."

Seeing the determined expression, the scarlet-haired woman released a breath of relief internally. She had confidence in this little boy that grew from nothing, obtaining the first fragment from her and then having obtained the other two with his own efforts. To her, he truly was worthy enough to become that man’s disciple.

"You should participate in the Grand Spirit Trials," she said.

"Hm? Why? Is there something special about it?" He grew curious why she mentioned this twice. He didn’t need cultivation resources, having a sufficient enough amount from the two legacy caches he obtained alongside the fragments. He was waiting for the fated day the Gateway opened. Then, he would enter there using the fragments power to explore and obtain the other fragments.

"You don’t know this, but the Gateway has been discovered by this branch and the sect called the Myriad Monarch Sect. When the day the Gateway opens, they intend to send others through it to explore. The Grand Spirit Trials are to select those with the qualifications as the restriction prevented those without permission from entering unless they are beneath three hundred years of age," She explained.

"What?! That’s suicide!" The Gateway led to a realm that was mystical and dangerous. Sending those beneath three hundred years of age was practically suicide. After all, they would at most be at the Third Stage of the Astral Core Realm in his opinion. If it was during the King of Everlore Era, the elite geniuses then wouldn’t have any fear.

Not only would they be at the Fourth or Fifth Stage of the Astral Core Realm, their foundations would at least be at the seventh-ring Soul Idol and seventh-ripple Spatial Resonance. These were the elite genius standard of that era, but now...having a five-ring Soul Idol was considered monstrous.

The scarlet-haired woman didn’t answer. She too felt the same way, but it wasn’t her responsibility to inform them of this danger. They weren’t her geniuses nor were they her people.

"The rewards aren’t too bad. Even where I come from, an eighth-grade Spatial Spirit Pill isn’t easy to acquire. Also, you can enter properly with your sect members. Consider this as a way to hone yourself," she advised once more.

He frowned. He didn’t think this starfield was nothing more than a stepping stone to the path of the grander Dao. The geniuses here were not at his level, especially those below three hundred years old. But seeing how insistent his Senior Sister was, he nodded. "Okay, I’ll use this to earn my way in properly. At least I can protect certain people this way without coming off as suspicious."

His declaration elicited a nod from the scarlet-haired woman. She vanished abruptly, leaving Lin Ming to resume his cultivation.