Gu Boji winning first place in the Qi Condensation group was no surprise to Yang Hong. If he hadn't, Yang Hong would have doubted if Gu Boji’s twenty-seven years of cultivation had been wasted.
How did Kuang Jingyun, who was escorting the child and blessed with golden fortune, encounter Gu Boji so early in the arena?
His defeat was inevitable, but this failure was precisely what he needed to temper his arrogance, to let him understand that a Heavenly Spiritual Root was not omnipotent.
He directly bypassed Gu Boji, intending to further humble Kuang Jingyun after he left the stage.
Gu Boji, already sixty-three years old, quickly understood Yang Hong's intention. He took Kuang Jingyun and lectured him once again with paternal affection, causing Kuang Jingyun to storm out of Qingfeng Mountain in a rage.
"This child still needs a good thrashing."
Gu Boji, unsure of Yang Hong's whereabouts, shook his head in helplessness.
Yang Hong briefly sent a telepathic message to praise him: "You understand me perfectly."
Following that, Yang Hong shifted his attention to the other four arenas.
The Foundation Establishment disciples' competition had only reached its third round, with over 130 contestants still locked in fierce battles.
However, their spells and martial skills were neither here nor there. Though their clashes were visually spectacular, the damage they inflicted on each other, having both cultivated the "Five Elements Seamless Art," was limited.
Therefore, Foundation Establishment battles required the most time.
After watching for a long time, Yang Hong shook his head. This batch of disciples lacked flexible thinking and imaginative combat. Forget tactics; they even rarely performed basic evasive maneuvers that a normal person would employ.
"They still lack experience. If other sects attacked, that would be a chance for practical combat."
Even the battles of the Golden Core disciples left Yang Hong unsatisfied. They engaged in missile-like exchanges of spells, devoid of any flair, a mere test of whose magical power was purer.
Moreover, since their spells were largely identical, their exchanges were quite uninteresting.
However, the Golden Core disciples were mostly the middle and upper echelons of the three major sects of Guli Kingdom and the [Shengyu Sect]. They possessed considerable combat experience. Although their battles were just spell bombardments, they were quite discerning in terms of tactics and strategy.
The cycle of the five elements, the generation and overcoming of yin and yang, and遁法 (escape arts) and secret techniques frequently appeared.
"Fortunately, the minds of the Golden Core disciples haven't completely ossified. It's just that their spells, sword control, and martial skills aren't coordinated. This is something that needs to be taught later."
The competition among the Nascent Soul disciples was the most intense. Flying swords shattered spells, artistic concepts broke flying swords, and martial skills severed artistic concepts. A dazzling array of attacks repeatedly caved in the arenas, only for them to be repaired time and again.
Nascent Soul disciples had already begun to grasp artistic concepts, leading to diverse combat styles.
Among them, Zhang Zhengyan was the most eye-catching. It was unexpected that besides his excellent management skills, his combat artistry was also formidable.
Unlike Gu Boji, who favored decisive blows and finishing enemies with a single punch, Zhang Zhengyan was a veritable schemer.
In every battle, seven flying swords would immediately manifest around him, quickly forming the Seven Stars Sword Formation. While the enemy was preoccupied with his sword formation, he would rapidly form hand seals and cast spells, unleashing a torrent of magic upon his opponent.
If the enemy attempted a rapid advance, he would unleash a Seven Stars Convergence burst to repel them. If the Seven Stars Sword Formation couldn't encompass them, he would bombard them with an endless sea of spells!
What was most infuriating was that this schemer never unleashed his full power, only using fifty percent, or even less, of his strength to force opponents to surrender.
"Is Zhang Zhengyan here at the sect grand competition to practice his spells?"
Finding it amusing, Yang Hong chuckled and shook his head, but he placed greater importance on Zhang Zhengyan.
The Fusion Realm disciples' battles were simpler, primarily involving martial skill exchanges.
This was because Fusion Realm disciples were at the crucial stage of converting true qi into true essence. They tried to avoid using true qi as much as possible to prevent impacting the strength of their future true essence.
This was also a rule that Yang Hong had reminded Ye Yudong about, which he then announced.
Consequently, exquisite martial skill clashes met powerful physiques, resembling duels between martial arts masters.
After patiently watching for a day, although he identified several issues, Yang Hong was generally satisfied.
In just one day, all five groups of sect battles concluded.
Given the hasty organization, there were no elaborate ceremonies or commentaries, only victories and defeats.
The spiritual plant planting competition for the Soul Transformation stage was somewhat awkward. Apart from six seeds that had sprouted and broken through the soil, the other twenty-one seeds had yet to show any signs of germination.
"May all plants be blessed by the rain..."
As Yang Hong's gentle voice sounded, a spiritual rain, filled with vibrant life force, drifted over the sect's grand training grounds.
Only after all the competitions had concluded did he reveal himself in the air.
"Greetings, Sect Master."
The disciples of Qingfeng Mountain Villa, still brimming with excitement and passion, bowed with fervent emotions and greeted him loudly.
"You have all done exceptionally well; your cultivation has not faltered. Continue to strive in the future."
"You have shown me many surprises and revealed the future prosperity and strength of Qingfeng Mountain Villa."
"Look at your fellow disciples beside you. They are so powerful. They are your confidence and support for dominating the immortal cultivation world. Strive to become stronger, and you too will become the support and pride of your fellow disciples!"
Without lengthy platitudes, he offered a few simple words of encouragement. Then, rows of treasures materialized beside Yang Hong and, as the disciples of the five groups voluntarily lined up, these treasures flew to their respective recipients.
For the awkward Soul Transformation group, Yang Hong only awarded Marrow Cleansing Fruits to the six disciples whose seeds had sprouted. The other disciples received a stern look, implying they would be dealt with later.
Watching a group of disciples excitedly take out their Marrow Cleansing Fruits, swallowing hard but not daring to eat them, Yang Hong felt happy for them.
"Consume the Marrow Cleansing Fruits first. I will help you refine the medicinal potency."
Upon hearing Yang Hong's words, the fifty-six disciples did not hesitate. They quickly ate the fist-sized Marrow Cleansing Fruits and then sat cross-legged.
Yang Hong's power was evident to all, and the disciples had a blind faith in him.
Moreover, Yang Hong had never disappointed them. The Law of Creation directly enveloped the fifty-six individuals, and the power of creation dissolved the medicinal potency of the Marrow Cleansing Fruits. The spiritual roots hidden within their meridians began to grow slowly.
Concurrently, their cultivation was gradually declining, yet the purity of their true qi was slowly increasing.
"Spirit Gathering Technique!"
As the spiritual energy grew thinner, Yang Hong directly employed the eighth-order secret technique he had recently learned, [Spirit Gathering Technique], to draw in spiritual energy from a radius of ten thousand li.
[Spirit Gathering Technique] had the same effect as a [Spirit Gathering Formation], but to cast it as a spell required an extremely high eighth-order secret technique, demanding the comprehension of certain law-level rules.
Yang Hong himself could only begin learning it after comprehending the Law of Creation.
...
Time flew by. Before these fifty-six disciples could adapt to their new spiritual roots, cultivators from the [Dharma Boundless Alliance] and the [Immortal Alliance] descended upon the grand training grounds aboard two flying ships.
"Sect Master Yang, have you made up your mind? Are you willing to join our Immortal Alliance?"
The emissary from the Immortal Gate was Patriarch Chaoyang, whom Yang Hong had met once before. It was unexpected that this influential figure would personally come to persuade Yang Hong's [Qingfeng Mountain Villa].
"Amitabha, Benefactor Yang, our Buddhist sect is also very sincere. As long as Benefactor Yang is willing to join my [Dharma Boundless Alliance], our Buddhist sect will grant you the position of Deputy Alliance Master!"
"Deputy Alliance Master!"
"Deputy Alliance Master?"
Yang Hong and Patriarch Chaoyang exclaimed in unison.
Had the position of Deputy Alliance Master in the Buddhist sect become so devalued?