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chapter-673

Chapter 673: Instant Internal Conflict

The generous rewards moved everyone. Those who participated also started to get to know their groupmates seriously. Right now, those in the same group lived or died together, thus they had to work with one another tightly.

Shi Shaogan looked up at Shi Tianhao and asked, “For those in the Aurous Core Stage, will their cultivations be suppressed to the Foundation Establishment Stage when they enter the pagoda?”

“That’s right.” Shi Tianhao nodded his head and replied, “After all, there are more Foundation Establishment Stage disciples in this gathering than any other cultivation realms. Thus, to be fair, the cultivations of all the disciples will be limited to the Foundation Establishment Stage.”

Not only most of the Successive Disciples from the Celestial Sect of Wonders were in the Foundation Establishment Stage, most of the participants in this gathering were also in the Foundation Establishment Stage.

“However, there’s an exception.” Shi Tianhao said. “If two Aurous Core Stage cultivators challenge each other, their cultivations will be restored in order to facilitate proceedings and allow them to exhibit their strengths to their fullest.”

Yang Likun’s fats on his face jiggled a little and his eyes flashed with a peculiar look, “So this means that we can attack one another during the ascension of the pagoda?”

Shi Tianhao laughed a little, “After every group has entered the pagoda, they will be assigned to different places in the pagoda. When the groups enter the pagoda initially, they won’t meet. But as things proceed, they may meet. When they meet, there will not be any restrictions on attacking each other.”

“But members of the same group cannot fight one another. Those who flout the rules will be disqualified.”

Xu Yunsheng creased his brows and asked, “Junior Uncle, if a member of the group is attacked and is gravely injured, while the Dharma Hall has a protective mechanism that will protect him, how will the scores of this group be computed?”

Shi Tianhao answered, “If only one person is left from the group, he will be the first and last to reach the top of the pagoda. Then the score of the group will be taken from his performance.”

Everyone was fearful. From what Shi Tianhao said, this made the competition much easier. But under the watchful eyes of everyone, no one dared to do anything funny, as the reputation of the sect or power they came from would be tarnished.

If different sects came together to bully a certain sect, the same logic would apply. It would seem as if they were bringing their conflicts into the competition ground.

The Celestial Sect of Wonders organized the social gathering. From a wider perspective, they wanted to allow for the different sects to spar and socialize, thus improving their relationships. He did not want them to fight and conflict with one another.

If they really wanted to do so, they couldn’t do it in the Dharma Hall. They could do it anywhere else they wanted, where death was possible.

There were many things that the rules did not restrict, but if anyone dared to do anything beyond the rules, they would suffer.

Besides the Nascent Soul Stage Elders in the Dharma Hall, there were also Immortal Soul Stage Elders in the Grand Heavens Pavilion watching them.

Everyone nodded their heads in unison, whereas some of them were pondering hard.

Shi Tianhao clapped his palms, “Okay, according to your groups, all of you shall gather here.”

As he finished speaking, the bottom level of the pagoda started to flash with a bright radiance. 16 doors were revealed.

Shi Tianhao looked around him and said, “The first stage begins.”

Everyone went to their respective doors.

Xu Yunsheng looked at the people around him and smiled, “We have to work together this time.”

Ying Luozha snorted and did not speak. He only raised out his right fist. Xu Yunsheng did the same thing too. Their fists lightly touched each other in space.

“First, other than first, there’s only first.” Ying Luozha said. Xu Yunsheng’s gaze scanned across the rest of the group and smiled, “Naturally so.” In this group, there was both Ying Luozha and Xu Yunsheng. The rest did not seem lousy too. They were heavy favorites to win.

Ying Luozha turned his head suddenly to look at another group. Over there, there was only one disciple from the Celestial Sect of Wonders. She was Zhuge Wanqiu.

Zhuge Wanqiu noticed Ying Luozha looking at her and she smiled, “Your group is so strong. I’m afraid that your group is going to be first.”

Ying Luozha passed her a Voice-Projecting Crystal secretly and he communicated with her using his mana, “After you enter the pagoda, contact me.”

Zhuge Wanqiu was stunned and hesitated while shaking her head, “I don’t think that this is very apt?”

“Then you shall remember these symbols. When you meet with difficulty, if we are already in front, I will leave hints for you.” Ying Luozha said and he looked at Zhuge Wanqiu. Before she could reply, he said, “Let’s leave it this way then!”

Zhuge Wanqiu looked at Ying Luozha as he turned and left. She bit her lips lightly and kept the Voice-Projecting Crystal. She lifted her head up to look at Xu Yunsheng. Xu Yunsheng opened his mouth and told her, “Take care.”

“Take care of yourselves too.” Zhuge Wanqiu nodded her head, “Zhenting is still a little immature. Besides Senior Yuting, we shall count on the both of you in this gathering.”

Xu Yunsheng nodded his head and turned his head and left. He passed through his group’s door and entered the Starry Treasure Pagoda.

At this point, a young cultivator came beside Zhuge Wanqiu and laughed, “Senior Zhuge, my name is Luo He. Please guide me along.”

His dressing revealed his identity. He was a cultivator from the Purple Clouds Sect. Luo He laughed, “The Master of my sect is Gu Lei. He should be quite familiar with Elder Shi.”

“So you are the disciple of Elder Gu.” Zhuge Wanqiu revealed a smile on her face, “Elder Gu and Elder Li Kuiyin are not here today? My Master has been talking about them and hoped that they would come.”

Luo He sighed, “My Master is also very regretful that he can’t come. After his wife overcame the Void Lightning Tribulations and formed the Nascent Soul, she is cultivating an abhijna now and needs Master beside her to protect her. It will take a long time, thus he can’t come. He also tasked me to apologize to Elder Shi.”

As compared to the friendly chat between Zhuge Wanqiu and Luo He, things were not so smooth on the other side.

A plump youth was mocking Zhao Huan on the other side, “I heard that you are like your Master, from the Arctic State?”

Zhao Huan creased his brows, “I am a descendant of the Arctic State, and you are?”

The youth touched the ground with his toes and looked at Zhao Huan, “I am Zhu Yong, the second son of the Marquis of Xuanji. Also, when the Great Zhou conquered the Arctic State, it was my first time following my father to the battlefield.”

He revealed a yearning look, “That was an unforgettable memory for me.”

Zhao Huan’s expression changed as he stared with Zhu Yong with a cold look. Zhu Yong laughed and turned his head slightly. He seemed to be unbothered as he looked at Zhao Huan, “Let me ask you something, since I have not met someone from the Arctic State in a long time.”

“Are those from the Arctic State blessed with stronger bones, that are not so easily snapped?”

Zhao Huan took in a deep breath and answered him, “At least they are stronger than yours.”

Zhu Yong laughed, “It’s a pity you won’t have a chance to experience that. You are too weak.” He was in the Aurous Core Stage. As he faced Zhao Huan who was only in the Intermediate Stage of the Foundation Establishment Stage, he was looking down on him.

Zhao Huan formed a fist fiercely.

Inside the Grand Heavens Pavilion, Yue Hongyan’s pupils were raging with flames. She stared at Zhu Hongwu. Zhu Hongwu remained indifferent, as if he did not see her.

Zhu Yi said, “That is the son that you value so much. He has poor upbringing.”

“You must call him as Elder Brother.” Zhu Hongwu said, “He has followed me in the military camp since young. His actions and thinking are all military-style. He only values anything that is practical. Indeed, he is lacking some righteousness. That is his weakness.”

“As a soldier, that’s enough. But to be a true leader, he still needs some training.”

Zhao Huan looked at Zhu Yong coldly. Ke Jing, who was a little triggered by Zhu Yong, said, “Zhu Yong, are you picking a fight?”

Zhu Yong laughed and only looked at Zhao Huan, “But for me, to test if your neck is strong enough, it’s easy. We can try when we meet outside Mount Kunlun.”

Zhao Huan lifted his hand to stop Ke Jing, “Don’t be impulsive. He is trying to provoke us. Since we are in the same group, the person who lays a move on anyone else will be disqualified.”

Ke Jing was jolted to her senses and she turned to look at Zhu Yong. She only saw him laughing, “Your reaction is not slow.”

Zhao Huan took in a deep breath and pointed his finger at Zhu Yong. He did not spew vulgarities at him, but only said crudely, “After this gathering, we will meet one day.”

“Of course, but when that time comes, the protective mechanism of this pavilion will not be around to save your life and suppress my cultivation.” Zhu Yong laughed, “If you want to seek me out for revenge, I don’t mind adding another achievement to my list.”

“Don’t block the way.”

At this point, an indifferent voice resonated from the side. Zhu Yong’s brows raised and he saw a charming but stern youth approaching. He was Zhou Yuncong.

He, Zhao Huan and Zhu Yong were in the same group. As he brushed past Zhu Yong, he walked towards the door of the Starry Treasure Pagoda.

Zhu Yong looked at him in disdain and commented, “The disciples of the Celestial Sect of Wonders are not ordinary. But the faction you are from seems a little shallow? Why don’t your Master participate too?”

Among Lin Feng’s Immediate Disciple, the one who was the least eye-catching was Yang Qing.

Yang Qing preferred a quiet life rather than one which was action-packed. He lived on Mount Yujing in simple conditions. Apart from the times when he left to pick herbs and medicine, he rarely left the mountain and did not spar with anyone.

It had reached a point where Luo Qingwu and Li Yuanfeng were more reputable than him.

As Zhou Yuncong heard what he said, he stopped in his tracks.

He turned around and maintained his indifferent look. But he stared at Zhu Yong coldly.

As he looked around, he saw the vast space in the Dharma Hall. Zhou Yuncong muttered, “I guess we don’t have to be afraid of killing someone here?”