"So, now that we've exchanged pleasantries, shouldn't you say something, senior brother?"
Perhaps Bai Yuanshi was too shocked to speak, so Lu Zhaozhao had to remind him. She wondered why he was so shocked when he had already basically reached a conclusion. Could it be that he had tricked her into coming here because of the news about Liaochou?
Just as she was wondering if the time she had calculated would be too long and arouse Yunxian's suspicion, and her patience was about to run out, Bai Yuanshi finally spoke.
"His cultivation has reached the early stage of the Nascent Soul realm."
"What!" Lu Zhaozhao was somewhat surprised. This didn't match what Jin Ke had said. Besides, Liao Chou had only cultivated for a little over five years. To enter the Nascent Soul stage in just five years was simply unbelievable.
"Senior brother, could you have heard some false information? Senior brother Jin made it very clear that before the new year, fellow cultivator Liao had only just reached the Golden Core stage."
Lu Zhaozhao asked with some skepticism.
"You said it yourself, it was before the New Year. Not long ago, someone in the sect unexpectedly fought him. He had indeed entered the Nascent Soul stage, but his realm was unstable, so he must have only recently broken through."
Bai Yuanshi calmly explained, without being annoyed by the suspicion he was being questioned.
"How is this possible? This speed is too fast..." Lu Zhaozhao still couldn't believe it. How could someone cultivate so fast? Was it just because of the Body of the Weapon Master?
"His physique is indeed rare, but he is not the only one over the past thousand years. The academy's records state that the cultivation speed of the weapon master in the early stages is like that of a ghost or god, extremely fast and powerful, but this is limited to before leaving the body. Leaving the body to seek the Dao is also seeking the heart. The weapon master is influenced by the hundred weapons, and his temperament is extremely unstable. Therefore, it is very difficult for them to break through this barrier. In addition, they are constantly bloodthirsty and warlike, making it even more difficult to find the Dao. All the weapon masters recorded in the past died from qi deviation. Therefore, it is unknown whether this physique is a blessing or a curse."
Bai Yuanshi slowly recounted his story, the contents of which were astonishing, leaving Lu Zhaozhao utterly shocked.
She remained somewhat lost in thought until she returned to her seat.
Seeing her appearance, Ying Che was a little worried and asked in a low voice. Lu Zhaozhao only said that she was a little tired from talking for a long time. Ying Che didn't know what to say, and could only glance at her with concern from time to time.
The conversation lasted quite a while, and when she returned, most of the sects and independent cultivators had already arrived.
After sitting for a short while, Qing Songzi led his disciples to the main seat, but it seemed that Master Bu Lu was not present.
Qing Songzi briefly described the competition process for this Golden Palace Banquet. After listening, Lu Zhaozhao pondered for a long time, and could only describe it as simple and brutal.
The competition has attracted over a thousand participants. The first round of the competition will take place in a secret chamber at Wenyuan Academy. The chamber contains testing mechanisms, and the time taken to exit the chamber will be the criterion for selection. The top 220 participants will be selected. These 220 participants will then be divided into 20 groups of 11 people each, based on their exit time. One person in each group will be left out, and the remaining 10 people will be randomly paired up to select 4 who will advance. These 4 will then be paired up again with the person who left out, and the final three will be determined. The three will then compete in a free-for-all, with one person emerging victorious.
Therefore, a total of 20 people from the 20 groups will participate in the final selection.
These 20 people are divided into five groups of four to determine the top five. The top five will then go to the Golden Terrace to undergo its test. The content of the test is unknown, but the one chosen in the end will be the champion of this year.
Admittedly, luck played a significant role in this process, but absolute strength was even more crucial.
In the preliminary rounds, cultivation ability, sect affiliation, opportunities and challenges will be amplified infinitely.
This is really...exciting!
The cultivators present had cultivated for many years, and despite being bound by various rules of etiquette, the hidden drive within them was unleashed today.
Looking at the pairs of bright eyes below the stage, filled with the light of stars, Qing Songzi couldn't help but sigh that heroes have always emerged from among the young, and that young people are like the rising sun, bright and dazzling.
"Now that the rules have been explained, if there are no objections, I hereby declare the Golden Palace Banquet officially open!"
The audience erupted in applause and cheers. Apart from the elders who remained seated, the younger generation was filled with excitement and anticipation for the unknown.
Led by disciples of Wenyuan Academy, the participating cultivators were divided into several groups and headed in different directions.
Those traveling with Lu Zhaozhao were not people she knew well, so they remained silent on the way. The group followed the disciple to a stone gate.
The stone gate opened, revealing ten paths leading inside.
"You'll have to walk the rest of the way on your own. Each path will lead to a secret room, and the way your strength is tested in each room will be the same. All you need to do is try your best to get out in the shortest amount of time."
After Wen Yuan's disciple finished speaking, he bowed and left, leaving the ten people looking at each other in bewilderment.
"Uh... in that case, I'll just wander off."
One person broke the silence, and the others nodded in agreement, heading towards different doors in tacit agreement.
The participating cultivators set off for the trials, and the elders of the remaining sects naturally worried.
During the banquet, a group of disciples brought over a large mirror, so large that even those on the far side could see clearly. They also brought over several smaller mirrors and placed them in various corners.
After the positions were set up, the disciples left one after another.
Qing Songzi stood up and cast a spell on several mirrors. Suddenly, images appeared on the mirrors, and upon closer inspection, they turned out to be the disciples who had just left.
"Due to space limitations, the first batch of participants consists of three hundred disciples. The mirror simultaneously projects the secret chambers where these three hundred disciples are located. If you are interested, you can also focus your spiritual sense on one place to see it more clearly."
Qing Songzi said with a smile, looking quite relaxed.
This year, all the disciples who enrolled in Wenyuan Academy were of superior talent, not to mention Master Bai Yuan, his junior brother, so he wasn't in a hurry.
The people from other sects at the gathering were not as relaxed as he was; some were searching for their disciples, while others were paying attention to the strong competitors.
Ying Che was also quickly browsing, searching for Lu Zhaozhao.
"Senior Sister Lu is over there!" A disciple behind him exclaimed softly, pointing to a corner. Ying Che quickly looked over and indeed saw a female cultivator in white.
"Where is Junior Sister Nian?" another person asked.
"Hiss, let me look... I found it! There, a few next to Senior Sister Lu."
Hearing the conversation behind her, Yunxian paused, her hand holding the teacup pausing. She put the teacup down without making a sound and turned her gaze to the mirror.
Two secret rooms not far apart, the same white clothes, the same Qing dynasty pattern.
Lu Zhaozhao and Nian Zhi, one ranked second and the other ninety-eighth on the list, both came from Emperor Huizong of Qing and were also disciples of the renowned Yunxian.
Many eyes were focused on the two of them.
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