THE RULE KING

"What's that?" Xu Shan looked confused.

Jin Yangqiu spoke unhurriedly, "Well, it's a long story. In the northern part of the cultivation world, there are seven cultivation regions. Each region has activities like this sect competition.

"More than three thousand years ago, in the world of cultivators, there were endless disputes. The cultivation world was in chaos. Cultivators fought each other for resources, resulting in countless deaths and injuries. Even ordinary people were widely affected, and the number of cultivators kept decreasing. Later, many powerful sects reached an agreement on the Ancient Covenant and jointly established the Ancient Pavilion to rebuild and maintain the order of the cultivation world in the northern region.

"Most of the top sects in each cultivation region are members of the Ancient Pavilion. They are responsible for calling on and organizing the sects in each region to compete and allocate resources within the rules. That's how the Centennial Competition came about. It's also the best opportunity for all sects to obtain resources.

"Even a small sect like ours has a chance to get a share of the pie, although the hope is slim.

"Our strength is no match for those big sects anyway. Replacing you in won't have any worse consequences.

"However, you're a smart kid. You managed to hide under the eyes of the entire sect for so long, and that's your greatest advantage.

"When you're not as strong as others, you have to learn to use your brain. Also, I heard that your Heaven's Luck Divine Ability can briefly cloud people's minds, and you can assist your senior brothers and sisters in hunting down demonic beasts and such during the competition."

Xu Shan pondered. It seemed that the cultivation world wasn't as chaotic as he had imagined. But then again, this wasn't surprising. Cultivators were inherently stronger than ordinary people. It was impossible that they had evolved as a whole while their organizational behavior regressed to a beastly state, remaining in a state of无序 competition.

"Master, what are the seven cultivation regions, and how strong is the Water Mirror Region?"

Jin Yangqiu patiently explained, "The Tianxin Region is the strongest overall. It's said that there's even a cultivator dynasty there. The sects in the Lingmu Region are known for their alchemy skills. The Jingang Region excels in artifact refining. The Huntian Region is good at formations, and the Danmo Region is known for its talismans.

"There's also the extremely special Tiegu Region. The environment in this region is extremely harsh, and ordinary cultivators don't like it. But it's particularly favored by body-refining cultivators. It's the best place to temper the body.

"What about the Water Mirror Region?" Xu Shan asked curiously.

"The Water Mirror Region is mainly for cultivators to retire.

"....."

"The Water Mirror Region is the weakest of the seven regions. Many scattered cultivators whose lifespan is coming to an end and have no hope of breaking through run back here to establish sects and spend their remaining days in peace. Or there are those who are being hunted down in the other six regions and come here to hide.

"It's not just righteous cultivators. The Water Mirror Region borders the sea on one side. It's called the Chenling Sea, which connects to the place where demonic cultivators gather in the southern border. Many desperate demonic cultivators risk their lives to cross the sea and come here for refuge."

Jin Yangqiu leaned back and smiled, "Don't think the Water Mirror Region is no good. Among these seven regions, I think the Water Mirror Region is the best. The pace of life is slow, and there's not so much intrigue."

Xu Shan's expression froze. Isn't this just like those who can't make it in big cities when they're young and run back to small towns? And they even put it nicely, saying they like the slow-paced life.

"Alright, I've told you everything I needed to. Do you dare to participate?" Jin Yangqiu looked up and asked.

"I dare! Since Master takes such good care of me, I dare to do anything... But, I still know nothing about the content and format of this competition."

"That's right. You've just entered the inner sect..." Jin Yangqiu thought for a moment and then said, "The Zixiao Sword Sect is the leader of the Water Mirror Region. They've hosted the competition every time in the past, and this time is no exception.

"The Zixiao Sword Sect discovered a small secret realm. The trial will be held inside this secret realm, and it can only accommodate Foundation Establishment stage cultivators. Each sect will send twenty disciples. The trial is simple. They need to enter the secret realm to compete for resources, and they'll be ranked according to the resources they obtain. Of course, killing is allowed in the secret realm, but since it's a public competition, most people will hold back out of face. One shouldn't die unless they encounter an accident or are really asking for it.

"Er... I still have one thing I don't understand. The Centennial Competition in the Water Mirror Region distributes resources according to the results. Why would they entrust such an important matter to Foundation Establishment stage disciples..."

"Hmm!" Jin Yangqiu nodded. "You've really hit the nail on the head. This situation is very special. Otherwise, we wouldn't be participating either.

"This is also a long story. The Zixiao Sword Sect changed the competition rules for a person. His name is Diwu Lianfeng, and he's the young clan leader of a famous family in the Tianxin Region. He's said to be a genius in the way of the sword.

"They not only changed the competition system for him but also specially opened the Immortality Seeking Platform for him alone."

"The Immortality Seeking Platform?" Xu Shan asked.

"The Zixiao Sword Sect is a sect passed down from ancient times. Although it has declined, some of its inheritances still remain. The Immortality Seeking Platform is a magical tool left by their ancestor, which is specially used to find suitable successors. As long as one is recognized by the Immortality Seeking Platform, they can obtain the inheritance within it.

"The Immortality Seeking Platform was previously opened once every fifty years. All cultivators affiliated with sects in the entire Water Mirror Region would gather at the Zixiao Sword Sect at the appointed time and try to get recognized for the inheritance. They've facilitated countless collaborations through the Immortality Seeking Platform.

"The Zixiao Sword Sect used to be a sect in the Tianxin Region. Later, they couldn't hold their ground there and moved to the Water Mirror Region. Their ability to quickly establish themselves in the Water Mirror Region and lead the other sects is partly due to their strong strength and partly due to the Immortality Seeking Platform. However, no one has obtained the inheritance in the past thousand years.

"Aren't they worried that people will covet such important inheritances that are openly revealed?".....