The morning of the Martial Intake Challenge arrived beneath a clear sky over Guan Capital, yet the atmosphere throughout the city was anything but peaceful. Before the sun had fully risen above the distant rooftops, countless cultivators had already begun gathering around the enormous competition grounds.
From every direction, young cultivators who had passed the preliminary selection arrived in groups, accompanied by elders, sect representatives, family members, and various powerful figures who had come specifically to observe the event. The vast grounds that had seemed almost excessive when they were constructed now appeared barely sufficient to contain the gathering before them.
The atmosphere was completely different from the days when the younger generation had first arrived in Guan Capital. During those days, they had still possessed the freedom to explore the city, visit the markets, observe the powers gathered from the five regions, and slowly understand how different the Central Region was from the places they had grown up in.
Today, however, none of that mattered. Every gaze was directed toward the competition grounds because this was no longer a period for observation. The Martial Intake Challenge was finally beginning, and every contestant who had managed to reach this point understood that the opportunity before them would determine how the powers of the five regions viewed them. It would also determine how far they will walk on the path of immortal cultivation!
The competition grounds themselves were enormous. A vast circular area occupied the center, while several elevated platforms had been prepared around it for the major sects, families, and other powers that had come to observe the younger generation. Banners belonging to different forces moved gently in the morning breeze, and although the representatives seated beneath them remained mostly composed, their attention was firmly fixed on the thousands of young cultivators gathered below. Northern, Southern, Eastern, Western, and Central Regions were all represented, bringing together people who might otherwise never have had an opportunity to stand in the same place.
Among the Northern Territory contestants, Feng Li stood beside Feng Xue while his gaze slowly swept across the surroundings. Wan Lin was also nearby, standing among the other young cultivators from the Northern Territory, while further away were contestants whose names Feng Li had only recently heard.
There was excitement in some faces, nervousness in others, and a few people had already begun quietly observing the strongest contestants from the other regions. Feng Li himself remained relaxed, his expression carrying none of the tension that could be seen among some of the younger cultivators around him.
He had expected this! He had seen far much bigger crowds than these in his first life.
After everything he had experienced since leaving Emerald City, there was little reason for him to feel intimidated simply because thousands of people were gathered around him. In fact, seeing so many powerful young cultivators only made him more interested. He had not accepted Yun Li's invitation to the Myriad Dao Sect simply because he wanted another place to cultivate.
The world outside Emerald City had already shown him that there were countless things he had yet to see in this world, and Guan Capital had made that feeling even stronger. If anything, today's challenge was another opportunity to discover just how large this world truly was.
Yun Li stood beside him, calm as ever, his posture relaxed despite the countless gazes occasionally falling upon him. He dicided to stand next to him until when the trial was about to start that's when he would go sit in his designated area. His identity as a disciple of the Myriad Dao Sect's sect master had naturally attracted attention, and the presence of the sect insignia on Feng Li made it inevitable that some people would wonder about the relationship between the two. Feng Li noticed several such gazes and turned slightly toward Yun Li before quietly remarking, "It seems that quite a few people are more interested in watching us than listening to whoever is about to explain the rules."
Yun Li followed his gaze toward the surrounding spectators and gave a faint smile. "The rules can be heard once they are announced. People are harder to understand, especially when everyone is trying to figure out who might become their opponent later." Feng Li considered that for a moment before nodding. "That makes sense, although I would rather listen to the rules first. At least they won't pretend to be something they aren't." Yun Li glanced at him with a trace of amusement and asked, "You agree with me that easily?" Feng Li smiled and answered, "I simply don't see a reason to argue with you before the competition has even begun." Yun Li's smiled instead.
Not far from them, several elders had already taken their positions. Among those gathered at the front stood an elder dressed entirely in white. His robes were simple and carried none of the excessive decorations that many powerful figures liked to display, but his presence alone was enough to gradually quiet the surrounding conversations. He did not release any overwhelming aura, yet the invisible pressure naturally surrounding him was enough to make even some of the stronger contestants become serious.
The elder belonged to the Guan Imperial Clan!
That identity alone was enough to explain why he had been chosen to officiate an event of this scale. He slowly stepped forward, and as his footsteps came to a stop, the countless discussions around the competition grounds gradually disappeared. Even the spectators who had been quietly discussing the various geniuses fell silent. The elder's gaze moved across the gathered contestants before he finally spoke, his voice neither loud nor forceful, yet somehow reaching every corner of the enormous grounds with perfect clarity.
"This old man represents the Guan Imperial Clan and has been appointed to officiate the Martial Intake Challenge. Before the competition begins, there are several rules that every contestant must understand clearly. Once you enter the trial, ignorance of these rules will not be accepted as an excuse for breaking them."
His words immediately drew the attention of the younger generation. The elder continued without wasting time on unnecessary formalities, explaining that the Martial Intake Challenge would consist of two major rounds. The first would take place inside a secret realm prepared specifically for the competition, while the second would be a combat competition involving the contestants who managed to survive the first round. He did not elaborate on every detail of the second round because it was not yet relevant. The immediate concern of everyone present was the secret realm that would soon open before them.
As the elder raised one hand, the space behind him suddenly began to distort. Spiritual energy gathered in the surrounding area before an enormous circular portal slowly emerged, its surface covered by rippling spatial fluctuations. The sight immediately caused countless eyes to turn toward it. No one could see clearly what existed beyond the portal, but even from outside, the strange spiritual fluctuations leaking from within were enough to make the stronger contestants realize that this would not be a simple treasure-hunting expedition.
"The first round will take place inside this secret realm," the elder announced. "Within it, hidden tokens have been placed throughout different areas. Every token has the same value, so there is no distinction between one token and another. Your ranking in the first round will be determined by the number of tokens you possess when the round ends."
A murmur quietly spread through the gathering. Some contestants immediately began considering what that meant. Since every token had equal value, there would be no reason to waste time searching for a particular grade of token. The only thing that mattered would be the total number they managed to obtain. The elder allowed the discussion to continue for only a moment before adding that the tokens would not simply be placed in safe locations where anyone could collect them without resistance.
"The secret realm contains both demonic beasts and spirit beasts of different strengths," he explained. "Their strength varies considerably, and among them are beasts whose cultivation has reached the Peak Nascent Soul Realm. Some tokens may be located in dangerous territories, some may be guarded by beasts, and others may be hidden in places where finding them will require more than simply searching the ground beneath your feet."
The atmosphere changed immediately.
Peak Nascent Soul Realm was a level that most of the younger contestants could not confront directly. Even among the strongest geniuses present, there were very few who could confidently claim that they could fight such a beast without risking their lives; of cause that is by relying on treasures but still that wil be a brush with deat, not worth it just for a token. Yet the elder's next words made the nature of the trial even clearer. "You are permitted to fight the beasts. You are also permitted to fight other contestants."
Several young cultivators exchanged glances.
"The token belongs to whoever possesses it," the elder continued. "If you defeat another contestant and take their tokens, those tokens become yours. Likewise, if someone defeats you and takes yours, you will have no grounds to complain. The Martial Intake Challenge is not designed to protect your possessions from your opponents."
Feng Xue's expression became slightly more serious as she listened. She glanced toward Feng Li, who had remained relaxed despite the announcement. Noticing her gaze, Feng Li turned toward her and asked quietly, "What is it?" Feng Xue looked toward the secret-realm portal before saying, "You don't seem surprised by the rules." Feng Li smiled and replied, "I expected something like this. Five thousand people searching for hidden tokens in the same secret realm would never remain peaceful if everyone were forced to cooperate."
Feng Xue considered that for a moment and admitted that he had a point. Feng Li then added with a faint smile, "Besides, if they wanted everyone to cooperate, they probably wouldn't have called it a challenge." That finally drew a small laugh from her, easing the seriousness that had settled over the two of them.
The white-robed elder then explained the one safeguard that had been provided to the contestants. With a movement of his hand, a simple talisman appeared between his fingers. "Every contestant will receive one participation talisman before entering the secret realm. If you encounter a situation in which your life is genuinely threatened and you cannot continue fighting, you may break this talisman. Once it is broken, the power contained within it will activate and teleport you out of the secret realm."
Several contestants visibly relaxed at those words, but the elder immediately added the condition that mattered most. "However, the moment you leave the secret realm, your participation in the Martial Intake Challenge will end. Breaking the talisman means accepting elimination. Do not use it simply because you are frightened or because you encounter an opponent stronger than yourself. Once you leave, there will be no return."
The meaning was simple enough. The talisman provided a path of escape from death, but it was not a second chance. Anyone who broke it would survive, but they would also surrender their place in the competition. No one could later claim that the organizers had failed to provide them with a way to retreat.
The elder then revealed the condition that would determine exactly when the first round ended. "The first round will not be restricted by a fixed period of time. It will continue until only one hundred contestants remain inside the secret realm." The words immediately created another wave of discussion, but the elder raised his hand and waited until the grounds became quiet again before continuing. "The instant the number of surviving contestants inside the secret realm reaches one hundred, the first round will end. Every contestant who remains inside at that moment will be teleported out."
There would be no final battle after that point and no additional period during which someone could attempt to increase their token count. Once the hundredth survivor remained, the first round would be over. The number of tokens possessed would determine the rankings from the trial, while survival itself would determine who advanced. A contestant with a large number of tokens could still be eliminated if they were forced to break their talisman, while someone with fewer tokens could advance simply by surviving until the realm reached its final hundred.
"The one hundred survivors will then participate in the second round," the elder announced. "That round will be conducted within the combat arena. The specific arrangements for the combat matches will be announced after the first round concludes."
That was enough for the moment. There was little reason to explain a battle system to contestants who had not yet survived the secret realm. The immediate task before them was far simpler and far more dangerous: enter the realm, collect tokens, and remain alive long enough to become one of the final hundred.
Before the contestants could be sent inside, however, the elder addressed one final matter. "There is another issue concerning the preliminary selection in the Northern Territory. The talent measurements of some contestants from that region were not completed during the earlier proceedings. Those measurements will be handled according to the arrangements already made with the participating powers."
Several gazes naturally shifted toward the Northern Territory.
The elder did not dwell on the matter or publicly question why the measurements had remained incomplete. He merely explained that the remaining procedures would be completed according to the arrangements made with the sects and powers involved. His gaze eventually passed over Feng Li before settling briefly on Yun Li. "As for Feng Li, his talent measurement has already been arranged. He will complete that process after arriving at the Myriad Dao Sect."
A number of people immediately looked toward Feng Li, but he showed little reaction. He had already accepted Yun Li's invitation to the Myriad Dao Sect, and the sect insignia he carried was enough to make the arrangement understandable. There was no need for the circumstances surrounding his previous talent measurement to be explained publicly, nor was there any reason for the elder to reveal matters that did not concern the competition itself.
The only people from the Myriad Dao Sect who had come to Guan Capital for the event were an elder and his disciple. Neither had yet revealed their names publicly, and neither did anything to draw unnecessary attention to themselves while the officiator continued with the preparations.
Once the matter was settled, the verification of the contestants began.
With five thousand people participating, there was naturally no need to spend an unreasonable amount of time announcing the details of every individual. Their ages, cultivation realms, and eligibility were checked systematically, while the contestants whose cultivation or identities were particularly notable naturally attracted more attention from the surrounding spectators. The strongest geniuses from each region gradually became the focus of discussion, allowing everyone to gain a clearer understanding of the level gathered in Guan Capital.
The Central Region naturally possessed several frightening young cultivators, including some who had already stepped into the Nascent Soul Realm at an age that caused many spectators to react. Yet the other regions also possessed their own exceptional figures. One after another, cultivators whose cultivation stood above the ordinary Soul Transformation Realm were verified, and the more powerful contestants soon understood that they could not afford to underestimate anyone simply because they came from one of the weaker regions.
When Wan Lin's cultivation was verified as the ninth rank of the Soul Transformation Realm at only twelve years old, considerable attention immediately fell upon the Northern Territory. Wan Lin himself did not react much to the surrounding gazes. He simply completed the verification and returned to his position as though the attention had nothing to do with him.
Feng Xue's verification produced a similar reaction. At eleven years old and with cultivation at the seventh rank of the Soul Transformation Realm, she was already among the younger contestants who attracted considerable attention. When she returned to the group, Feng Li looked at her with a smile and remarked that she seemed to have attracted quite a few people. Feng Xue immediately asked whether he wanted her to give that attention to him instead, and Feng Li shook his head without hesitation, saying that he was perfectly satisfied with people leaving him alone. Her quiet laughter followed, and the small exchange made the otherwise tense atmosphere around them feel slightly more natural.
When Feng Li's turn finally arrived, his age and cultivation were verified as eleven years old and eighth rank Soul Transformation Realm. The surrounding area became noticeably quieter for a moment. An eleven-year-old possessing such cultivation was already extraordinary, and the presence of the Myriad Dao Sect insignia only made people more curious about him. Feng Li paid little attention to their reactions and simply returned to Yun Li's side once the verification was completed.
Yun Li glanced toward him and calmly said, "Not bad." Feng Li looked at him with amusement and asked whether that meant Yun Li had expected something worse. Yun Li answered that he had merely been polite, causing Feng Li to stare at him for a moment before laughing. Their conversation was short, but neither of them paid much attention to the surrounding eyes.
Fatty Chen's verification came later. His age and ninth rank Soul Transformation Realm cultivation were announced, naturally drawing attention from some of the spectators. When he returned to the contestants, Feng Li looked at him for a moment. Fatty Chen noticed and immediately asked what he was looking at. Feng Li simply shook his head and said it was nothing, which caused Fatty Chen to stare at him suspiciously for a moment before deciding that there was nothing worth asking about. He then returned his attention to the food he had somehow managed to keep with him, leaving Feng Li with no choice but to smile at his behavior.
The verification continued until the cultivation and ages of all five thousand contestants had been confirmed. The process had revealed just how wide the gap between the ordinary contestants and the true geniuses could be, but it had also demonstrated that the Martial Intake Challenge had genuinely gathered the younger generation from across the five regions. There were cultivators Feng Li had never heard of, people whose cultivation exceeded what he had expected, and others who appeared ordinary at first glance but possessed a depth that could not be judged merely from their appearance.
Eventually, the white-robed elder returned to the center of the competition grounds and announced that the verification was complete. "Five thousand contestants have fulfilled the requirements for the Martial Intake Challenge," he said, his voice once again spreading clearly across the entire gathering. "You will now receive your participation talismans. Once you enter the secret realm, remember the rules that have been explained. Find the tokens, protect what you possess, and survive until the end."
The talismans were distributed among the contestants, and Feng Li lowered his eyes to examine the one that had appeared in his hand. It looked ordinary, almost too ordinary considering that it represented his only guaranteed escape from a situation that could otherwise end in death. He slipped it away carefully and then looked toward the enormous spatial portal that had remained open throughout the verification process.
The portal suddenly expanded.
A tremendous spatial fluctuation swept across the competition grounds as the entrance to the secret realm stabilized completely. Beyond it lay a vast wilderness filled with mountains, forests, and faint spiritual fluctuations that could not yet be clearly identified from outside. The contestants gradually began moving forward, and the enormous stream of young cultivators slowly disappeared through the portal.
Feng Xue moved alongside Feng Li while Wan Lin was not far away, his expression as composed as it had been during the verification. Fatty Chen looked toward the secret realm with considerably more curiosity than fear, as though he were already wondering what kind of beasts and treasures might be waiting inside.
Yun Li remained outside with the other observers and representatives of the various powers. His gaze rested on Feng Li for a moment, and Feng Li noticed it before giving him a small smile. Yun Li returned the gesture and said, "Try not to make the elders regret allowing you to participate." Feng Li looked toward the enormous portal and laughed softly before answering, "I will try, although I make no promises about how much trouble I find."
With that, he stepped forward and entered the secret realm.
The moment his foot crossed the spatial boundary, the familiar sounds of Guan Capital disappeared behind him. The enormous competition grounds vanished from sight, replaced by an unfamiliar wilderness stretching into the distance. Mountains rose beyond a vast forest, and powerful spiritual fluctuations could be felt scattered throughout the surrounding area. Then, from somewhere deep within the wilderness, a low roar suddenly shook the mountains, followed shortly afterward by another roar that answered from farther away.
Feng Li's eyes slowly brightened.
The Martial Intake Challenge had finally begun.