Nine Dragons Saint Ancestor

Chapter 360: 360 Hidden Dragon Conference slots

”Sect Master, shall we start now?”

Elder Su He, the Sixth Elder in charge of the Outer Sect and also the Arena Hall, is presiding over this Spiritual Chick Battle List, just as he has done with previous Outer Disciple competitions.

”Let’s wait a little longer.”

Yu Shu cast a glance at the gate of the Arena Hall and didn’t nod in agreement but quietly uttered this sentence. After these words were spoken, Su He did not dare to ask further and could only sit down.

Luzhan and Lishan of the Medical Pulse faction had no objections, but the two from the Poison Vein faction were somewhat dissatisfied. After catching a glance between Fu Du and Mo Li, they had already roughly guessed Yu Shu’s thoughts.

”Sect Master, you don’t still think Yun Xiao could make it back in time, do you?”

Fu Du’s eyes flickered as he bluntly broached the subject without any attempt to sugarcoat his words, implying that Yun Xiao’s chances of arriving were nearly nil.

”Second Elder, nothing is absolute. Since entering the Jade Pot Sect, has Yun Xiao ever done anything that adheres to common sense?”

Great Elder Lu Zhan, not getting along with Fu Du and having a good relationship with Yun Xiao, naturally argued with reason, although what he mentioned could hardly be called evidence.

”Great Elder, perhaps you’ve become senile? That’s the Xuanyue Imperial Family’s Xuan Kill Order we’re talking about. Now, I just hope Yun Xiao doesn’t drag our Jade Pot Sect into trouble!”

Ever since Fu Du advanced to become a Spiritual Rank Intermediate Meridian Refining Master, he no longer held the same regard for Lu Zhan as before, and his words were absolutely unreserved.

”Yes, our Jade Pot Sect has always stayed out of conflict with the Xuanyue Imperial Family. If Yun Xiao causes the Royal Family to harbor resentment towards our sect, that would truly be a loss not worth the gain!”

Although Elder Mo Li bore no deep grudge against Yun Xiao, at this moment, he still kicked someone when they were down. According to these two, the best course of action would likely be to expel Yun Xiao from the Sect immediately to prevent any repercussions for the Jade Pot Sect.

”Hmph, Yun Xiao is my disciple in the Jade Pot Sect, and how he should be dealt with is not for others to meddle with!”

While the Medical Pulse and the Poison Vein factions were at loggerheads, a cold voice cut through from the middle – it was from Yu Shu, the Sect Master of the Jade Pot Sect, and his comment silenced both factions.

However, a hint of shame and anger flashed in Fu Du’s eyes; he could clearly feel that lately, Yu Shu seemed to favor the Medical Pulse faction more, which was somewhat inconsistent with the Sect Master’s previous actions.

Unsure whether his identity had been exposed during the night assault on Yun Xiao at the Cold Jade Hall, Fu Du, who had a guilty conscience, dared not say much. However, Elder Mo Li, free from such a burden, took over the conversation: ”Yun Xiao’s matter can be set aside for the moment, but Sect Master, so many disciples are waiting, and we simply can’t drag out the Spiritual Chick Battle List indefinitely, can we?”

Although Yu Shu could assert his dominance regarding Yun Xiao, Mo Li’s latter point was sound – it wouldn’t do to make all the disciples and elders wait inexplicably just for Yun Xiao.

Moreover, Yu Shu was well aware that the chance of Yun Xiao returning in time was virtually zero. Yun Xiao might even be languishing in the Xuanyue Imperial Family’s dungeons at this very moment, his life in jeopardy, let alone participating in the Spiritual Chick Battle List.

After glancing again towards the entrance of the grand hall, Yu Shu sighed helplessly and finally turned his head, nodding toward Elder Su He, the Sixth Elder.

Su He understood and immediately stood up. As his right hand was raised high and the hall quieted down, he announced loudly, ”I declare the annual Spiritual Chick Battle List to officially begin!”

Anticipating that many new Outer Disciples might be unfamiliar with the rules, Su He continued to explain, ”For the Spiritual Chick Battle List, in addition to the original ten on the Spiritual Chick List, six challengers will be added; they will draw lots to determine their opponents, and the winners will advance to the next round.”

Though Su He’s explanation was brief, he made it exceedingly clear, swiftly acquainting the multitude of new Outer Disciples with the rules of the Spiritual Chick Battle List.

The original ten on the Spiritual Chick List were naturally not absent; after all, they too aspired to advance further, and the Spiritual Chick Battle List was their sole pathway.

As for the six challengers, each was a supremely confident genius in their own strength, with some even surpassing the Inner Sect Disciples on the Spiritual Chick List, awaiting to make a spectacular debut in this year’s Spiritual Chick Battle List.

These six spots were not decided today; registration was open to more than six, but after review by the elders and even the Sect Master, the final slots were determined. While it might seem unfair, no one dared to voice objections.

”Please quiet down. This Spiritual Chick Battle List also pertains to another critical matter!”

Su He raised his right hand once more, waiting for the noise in the arena to settle before an unrestrained fervor swept across his face as he announced, ”The top three in this Spiritual Chick Battle List will represent our Jade Pot Sect in the battle that will take place at the Countries Hidden Dragon Conference, ten months from now!”

”What? The Countries Hidden Dragon Conference?!”

Upon hearing this name, regardless of whether they were the many talented Inner Sect Disciples or the Outer Disciples, all were taken aback for a moment, then, like Su He, exhibited an unhideable zeal.

It seems this name is familiar to any Cultivator Family on the Hidden Dragon Continent; even young geniuses from the great clans are born with the preparation for this prestigious decade event in mind.

The Countries Hidden Dragon Conference, held every ten years, is a grand competition for cultivating geniuses under the age of thirty from across the Hidden Dragon Continent.

Each session of the Countries Hidden Dragon Conference witnesses the rise of many highly talented youths. Such a genuine battle of dragons and tigers—if one were to become the champion of any session of the Countries Hidden Dragon Conference, it could truly be said that they would become world-renowned in a single battle.

Past champions of the Countries Hidden Dragon Conference have either grown to rule a nation or have been noticed by major powers in the Middle Three Realms, soaring to great heights and truly becoming the ”Hidden Dragon Emerges.”

Which young genius wouldn’t yearn to shine as the brightest star at such a universally watched event?

And which Hidden Dragon Continent genius wouldn’t want to be noticed by influential figures from the Middle Three Realms? That would likely elevate not just the status of their family but also possibly of an entire Empire.

Look at the likes of Yue Qi and Bi Luo there; aren’t they all incredibly excited? Even the usually cold Mo Qing couldn’t help but kindle a flame of combativeness in her beautiful eyes—to battle with geniuses from every major empire on the Hidden Dragon Continent is genuinely one of life’s great joys.

But each session of the Countries Hidden Dragon Conference, besides being limited to Cultivators under thirty, also strictly restricts the number of participants.

For a somewhat powerful empire like the Xuanyue Empire, the Royal Family and the three major Sects each have three slots. In contrast, some of the smaller and medium-sized empires combined might not even have three slots.

”Disciples, this session of the Countries Hidden Dragon Conference will be hosted by the Xuanyue Empire. If you manage to stand out, the entire Empire will take pride in you and your family!”

Su He spoke persuasively, his words seemingly magical, stirring the hearts of many young Disciples to even greater heights, to the point where they boiled with enthusiasm, wishing they could immediately represent their families in battle and seize the championship of this session’s Countries Hidden Dragon Conference.

”However, if you wish to compete with the thousands of prodigies from across the Hidden Dragon Continent, you must first secure a top three rank in this Spiritual Chick Battle List, or all such talk is in vain!”

Toward the end, Su He finally threw a bucket of cold water on the crowd, dampening their ardor slightly. After his words fell, many gazes converged on a few key individuals.

In one area stood a Green Robe youth brimming with fighting spirit—Yue Qi, the top talent of the Poison Vein. In another direction stood a young girl in a black dress, her face frosty yet her sparkling eyes revealing an indomitable flame.

These two were widely acknowledged as the strongest pair among the young generation of the Jade Pot Sect, and although Mo Qing still held the top position on the Spiritual Chick List, many knew that Yue Qi had broken through in the past year, making the ownership of that top rank uncertain.

In comparison to these two, the Medical Pulse and Poison Vein had many other exceptional talents, like Bi Luo and Xue Gong. Although they might not be too confident about surpassing Mo Qing and Yue Qi, they were quite optimistic about vying for the third spot.

After all, the top three of this Spiritual Chick Battle List would represent the Jade Pot Sect at the Countries Hidden Dragon Conference, and with ten months to go before the event, who knew what could happen in that time?

Almost simultaneously, a fearsome glint shot from the eyes of Xue Gong and Bi Luo, sparks seemingly flying as their auras interwove in the air, a demonstration of astonishing battle intent.

Perhaps in the minds of these two, aside from Yue Qi and Mo Qing, only the other was their most formidable rival, and amid such soaring battle intent, this session of the Spiritual Chick Battle List finally reluctantly commenced.

”Disciples participating in this Spiritual Chick Battle List are...”

Su He ignored the provocation among the young Disciples and called out directly, but the names he recited were not of the original ten on the Spiritual Chick List but rather the six challengers.

”Liang Kan!”

As the first name was read out, everyone’s gaze shifted to somewhere within the ranks of the Inner Sect Disciples, to see a young man in a light green robe slowly stepping forward.

”It seems that this Liang Kan must be a genius from the Poison Vein!”

From Liang Kan’s attire and the faint unusual aura emanating from him, many Outer Disciples had their speculations, which largely matched the truth.

The next four names, familiar to the Inner Sect Disciples, were split evenly between the Medical Pulse and Poison Vein, all of whom were super-geniuses with reputable names within the Inner Sect of the Jade Pot Sect.