Myriad Dragon Divine Sovereign

”Greetings, Vice Director, Mountain Masters.”

Around the Purple Stone Arena, everyone bowed in unison, their expressions deeply reverent.

Nie Qinglan slowly nodded and gave a slight raise of her hand. A gentle force emanated from her palm, spreading outward to help everyone to their feet. Her presence was as profound as an abyss, her composure absolute. Her blazing eyes, like twin flames, swept across the crowd, and very few dared to meet her gaze.

”The Four Mountains Martial Arts Gathering is about to begin. I hope the students of every mountain will treat this competition with the gravity it deserves, give it your all, and perform at your peak to bolster the prestige of our Qig Mountain Academy. Do not be timid or hesitant, losing your composure. You must not disappoint the Stewards, your senior brothers, and the Director!” Nie Qinglan said with a nod.

Next, the South Mountain Master, Huu Yucui, stood up, walked to the front, and slowly explained the rules and rewards for this Four Mountains Martial Arts Gathering.

Wen Qingye’s heart stirred upon hearing this. ’The first-place winner of the Four Mountains Martial Arts Gathering actually gets a Qianyuan Grass! That’s a Ninth-Grade Herb!’ If he consumed it directly, Wen Qingye was confident the treasure could help him break through from the Refining Essence Third Layer Heaven to the Refining Essence Fifth Layer Heaven within a month. At this thought, his heart began to pound with excitement.

Moreover, every student who participated in the Four Mountains Martial Arts Gathering would have another chance to enter the Celestial Essence Hall, which could be considered a consolation prize.

Nie Qinglan spoke slowly, ”Alright, before the Four Mountains Martial Arts Gathering begins, the Profound Light Mirror will be activated. I hope all of you will observe it carefully and comprehend your own Martial Arts or insights from it. From this moment on, you must give it your full and undivided attention.”

The Profound Light Mirror. Wen Qingye had heard Luo Tang mention it occasionally. It was a treasure obtained by the first Director of Qig Mountain Academy when the academy was founded, a mirror of incomparable radiance.

Legend had it that the mirror contained supreme Martial Arts, most of which were Sixth Grade or higher. However, only those with extremely high comprehension could grasp these techniques. For centuries, at every Four Mountains Martial Arts Gathering, the Profound Light Mirror would release the Primordial Qi it had absorbed over the year.

It was revealed before the Gathering to put pressure on the students and motivate them, in the hope they could comprehend some of the heaven-shaking Martial Arts within. Over the centuries, many students of Qig Mountain Academy had comprehended numerous Martial Arts from it, including Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh-Grade techniques, and even the Eighth-Grade Martial Arts that Yann Chuxue comprehended last year.

...

The East Mountain Master, Gong Tianshun, saw Wen Qingye in the distance and sighed, ”What a shame. A good sapling has been utterly wasted.”

”I heard that a new disciple from North Mountain has returned to participate in this year’s Four Mountains Martial Arts Gathering. Is that the student? I hear his strength and talent are quite impressive,” Zhangg Tai asked, a little puzzled.

The South Mountain Master, Huu Yucui, also looked over in that direction. She too had heard of Wen Qingye’s reputation, and had been secretly paying attention to him ever since he blocked the new students of East Mountain. Furthermore, his recent feat of directly breaking through to the eleventh floor of the Heaven-Reaching Martial Pavilion convinced her that this student was destined to become a towering figure in the Outer Courtyard next year.

Lil Ya’s brow twitched. He said with some dissatisfaction, ”Gong Tianshun, what do you mean by that? What do you mean, ’wasted’? Wen Qingye is a chosen son of heaven that my North Mountain has painstakingly nurtured!”

”Hmph, North Mountain nurtured him?” Gong Tianshun couldn’t help but snort coldly. ”Don’t make it sound so noble. We all know the truth.”

Lil Ya was momentarily at a loss for words. To be honest, he really hadn’t taught Wen Qingye much at all. Wen Qingye’s strength came entirely from his own cultivation. The only help Lil Ya had provided was giving Wen Qingye some cultivation resources, but every mountain’s students received such resources. The only thing special in Wen Qingye’s case was that Lil Ya had probably just given him a bit more.

At that thought, Lil Ya secretly resolved to guide Wen Qingye in his swordsmanship and cultivation when he returned.

Seeing the discussion among the masters, Nie Qinglan asked curiously, ”North Mountain has someone this year?”

The South Mountain Master, Huu Yucui, nodded and said, ”Yes, North Mountain recruited a student this year with excellent talent. He could rank in the top five, or even the top three, of the entire Outer Courtyard.”

Nie Qinglan asked with curiosity, ”Oh? Is North Mountain really planning to send this new student to participate in the Four Mountains Martial Arts Gathering this year?”

East Mountain Master Gong Tianshun laughed. ”That’s right. If it were next year’s Four Mountains Martial Arts Gathering, this Wen Qingye would surely shine. But this year, I think he’s still lacking.”

Lil Ya couldn’t help but stomp his foot in anger. ”Gong Tianshun, let me tell you, don’t you look down on people! Wen Qingye will definitely pass the first round this year, and next year he’ll fight for the top three! His aptitude is unmatched by anyone in your East Mountain!”

Gong Tianshun gave Lil Ya a cold smile and shook his head. He didn’t want to argue with him; actions speak louder than words. Once Wen Qingye was defeated, Lil Ya would naturally see the cruel reality for himself.

Huu Yucui said lightly, ”From what I can see, while the first round will be a challenge, it’s not impossible for him. If he were to face East Mountain’s Lu Hongfei or West Mountain’s Guu Xiong, I don’t think those new students would necessarily be a match for Wen Qingye.”

Hearing this, the West Mountain Master, Zhangg Tai, was immediately displeased. ”Master Huu, what are you trying to say? Are you implying that if your South Mountain’s Xia Moyu were to face Wen Qingye, he would surely win? Are you suggesting that among this year’s new students, your South Mountain is number one?”

Huu Yucui shrugged nonchalantly. ”If that’s what you want to believe, I won’t stop you.”

Gong Tianshun said, full of confidence, ”Let me tell you, I’ve seen Xia Moyu’s strength. Wen Qingye is no match for him. But Wen Qingye is also no match for my East Mountain’s number one new student, Lu Hongfei. I have faith in his strength!”

Lil Ya took a deep breath. He couldn’t be bothered to argue with these people anymore. He believed Wen Qingye could definitely pass the first round, and for now, that was enough.

Nie Qinglan frowned and interjected, ”Alright, that’s enough arguing. The Profound Light Mirror is about to be activated. Don’t disturb the students below.”

Upon hearing this, the masters of the various mountains all fell silent and stood quietly to the side.

BOOM!

Suddenly, the surrounding Primordial Qi began to frantically converge just ahead, directly behind the Purple Stone Arena. Streaks of white airflow churned restlessly, seeming to form a gigantic vortex.

Everyone’s Heart Spirit jolted, and they struggled to keep their bodies steady.

The white wave of qi seemed to become transparent, and a translucent trace gradually appeared before them. Suddenly, a flash of ultimate brilliance illuminated the entire plaza, and everyone couldn’t help but close their eyes.

An unknown amount of time passed before everyone slowly opened their eyes. Behind the Purple Stone Arena, a light had appeared—a clear, bright mirror. Within the mirror, specks of starlight shimmered, seemingly tracing faint, profound patterns.

With the exception of Wen Qingye, everyone stared silently at the Profound Light Mirror before them without blinking, as if they had fallen into a trance.