“Is Miss Yun truly that formidable?”
The other person immediately replied, “Of course she is. I was right there on the scene. That battle was thrilling to the core.”
“It’s my first time seeing a cultivator at the mid stage of Nascent Soul defeat someone at the late stage.”
“That’s not even the half of it. Miss Yun won two matches in a row and is now ranked twenty-first on the Nascent Soul Leaderboard.”
Listening to the two cultivators walk away, Su Mingyuan still held a touch of doubt in her eyes.
Twenty-first on the Nascent Soul Leaderboard.
That rank sounded quite high, but this was her first time visiting Tianque City, so she was unfamiliar with many of its rules and had no idea what this so-called Nascent Soul Leaderboard actually was.
She turned her head to look at He Zhou beside her.
“Senior Brother, what is this Nascent Soul Leaderboard?”
He Zhou glanced in the direction she had been looking and explained, “That refers to the rankings at the Martial Inquiry Arena in Tianque City.”
“The Martial Inquiry Arena is a place for cultivators to spar. Private fights are forbidden in the city, so if cultivators want to fight or resolve disputes, most go to the Martial Inquiry Arena.”
“There are five leaderboards in total, corresponding to the five realms: Qi Refinement, Meridian Condensation, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, and Nascent Soul.”
Su Mingyuan nodded thoughtfully.
He Zhou looked at her. “Since you’ve already reached Foundation Establishment, Junior Sister, you can also go fight a few matches for the Foundation Establishment Leaderboard.”
“You haven't been at Foundation Establishment for long. Although your realm has stabilized, you still lack actual combat experience. Sparring with fellow disciples within Xuanxiao Sect means everyone is familiar with each other's techniques and moves, so people inevitably hold back.”
“The Martial Inquiry Arena is different.”
“It gathers rogue cultivators, sect disciples, and noble clan scions from all across the Eastern Region. They practice different techniques and fight in completely different styles.”
“Going to see how cultivators outside Xuanxiao Sect fight will benefit your future cultivation as well.”
Su Mingyuan’s eyes brightened slightly.
“Alright.”
He Lansong led the group all the way to an inn reserved in advance by Xuanxiao Sect.
The inn was located not far from the city's main street and occupied a vast area, with private quiet rooms in the back set aside for cultivators to practice.
The inn shopkeeper had already received word.
Upon seeing the group from Xuanxiao Sect enter, he immediately brought his attendants forward to welcome them, checking in all twenty direct disciples according to the roster.
Once all the room tokens were handed out, He Lansong stood in the center of the hall and looked at everyone.
“The Qingming Secret Realm will open in half a month.”
“During these two weeks, you may move about Tianque City or socialize with disciples from other sects. However, this is not Xuanxiao Sect. Factions of all kinds mingle in this city, so exercise caution before you act.”
“Do not engage in private fights, and do not use your status as Xuanxiao Sect disciples to cause trouble.”
Saying this, He Lansong's gaze swept over everyone present one by one.
“Focus on your cultivation and properly prepare for the Qingming Secret Realm half a month from now.”
The disciples bowed their heads together.
“We understand.”
He Lansong said no more, dismissing everyone to their respective rooms to rest and recover.
The Martial Inquiry Arena was located in the west of Tianque City. When the two arrived, many cultivators had already gathered inside.
The sounds of clashing spiritual power echoed continuously from within, occasionally joined by cheers from spectators below the stages.
Su Mingyuan followed He Zhou into the Martial Inquiry Arena.
The space inside was even larger than she had imagined. Sparring platforms were arranged neatly, with Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, and Nascent Soul cultivators fighting in their designated areas without interfering with one another.
He Zhou first took her to the registration desk.
The deacon in charge of registration looked up at the two.
“Registering or challenging?”
Su Mingyuan said, “Registering.”
“Name.”
“Su Mingyuan.”
“Cultivation realm.”
“Early stage of Foundation Establishment.”
The deacon entered her name and spiritual breath into an array plate, quickly retrieving a black token.
“This is your Martial Inquiry Token.”
“With this token, you can enter the Martial Inquiry Arena and check your points, rank, and challenge information.”
Su Mingyuan took the Martial Inquiry Token.
Injecting spiritual power into it, the surface of the token glowed faintly.
【Su Mingyuan.】
【Early stage of Foundation Establishment.】
【Current Points: Zero.】
【Current Rank: None.】
Su Mingyuan put away the Martial Inquiry Token and then followed He Zhou to the Foundation Establishment area.
There were far more people in the Foundation Establishment area than in the Nascent Soul area.
Cultivators were fighting on several sparring platforms, with sword light, spells, and talismans constantly colliding. A crowd of spectating cultivators gathered below, occasionally discussing the techniques and flaws of those on stage in hushed tones.
Su Mingyuan watched a few matches and soon registered for her first match.
When she first stepped onto the stage, she was still a bit unaccustomed to it.
Her opponent's technique was completely different from those of Xuanxiao Sect disciples, and there was none of the probing caution seen during internal sect matches. The moment the referee announced the start, a spell was already right in front of her.
Su Mingyuan hurriedly dodged, but a slit was still sliced into her sleeve by the spiritual power.
She quickly steadied her mind.
As her Heavenly Destiny Spiritual Root operated, the surrounding spiritual energy rapidly gathered toward her. While fending off attacks, Su Mingyuan observed her opponent's combat habits.
After several exchanges, she finally caught a flaw and forced her opponent off the Martial Inquiry Platform.
First match: Su Mingyuan wins.
In the following matches, she fought with increasing stability.
Though it was by no means easy for Su Mingyuan, she won match after match nonetheless.
When the final match ended, her shoulder had been grazed by sword Qi, and a shallow cut remained on her wrist.
After the referee announced the verdict, the Martial Inquiry Token vibrated softly.
Su Mingyuan looked down.
【Su Mingyuan.】
【Early stage of Foundation Establishment.】
【Current Rank: 99th.】
She had made it onto the Foundation Establishment Leaderboard.
He Zhou had been standing below the stage the entire time. Seeing Su Mingyuan walk down, he first glanced at the injury on her shoulder, easing his expression only after confirming it wasn't serious.
“Impressive, Junior Sister.”
“To reach the Foundation Establishment Leaderboard shortly after entering Foundation Establishment is already better than many.”
A smile touched Su Mingyuan's lips.
“Thank you for the praise, Senior Brother.”
She glanced down at the Martial Inquiry Token in her hand, then as if suddenly remembering something, looked up and asked, “Senior Brother, what is your rank on the Nascent Soul Leaderboard?”
He Zhou said, “When I last left Tianque City, I was thirty-third.”
“Most cultivators on the Nascent Soul Leaderboard have profound cultivation, so rankings rarely change. However, as we entered the city earlier, people along the way were all discussing that Miss Yun who recently made the leaderboard.”
“She is currently ranked twenty-first, so the positions on the leaderboard should have all shifted down by one place.”
He Zhou pondered for a moment.
“Calculating it like that, I should now be thirty-fourth.”
A trace of curiosity surfaced in Su Mingyuan's eyes.
“Senior Brother, let's go take a look.”
The two left the Foundation Establishment area and arrived before the Nascent Soul Leaderboard.
Compared to the Foundation Establishment Leaderboard, there were far fewer people gathered in front of the Nascent Soul Leaderboard.
A tall black stone wall stood on the inner side of the Martial Inquiry Arena, rows of names emerging on the stone wall alongside the spiritual light of an array. Following each name was that person's current rank.
He Zhou looked up.
The name originally ranked thirty-third had indeed slipped back by one position.
【34th: He Zhou.】
“It really is thirty-fourth.”
Su Mingyuan's gaze followed the leaderboard further up.
【1st: Xie Wujiu.】
The corners of Su Mingyuan's lips curled up softly. Worthy of being the number one genius of the Eastern Region—his name stood firmly at first place on the Nascent Soul Leaderboard, and no one had ever been able to push him down.
Su Mingyuan watched for a moment before slowly shifting her gaze downward.
She read all the way down, finally stopping at the twenty-first position.
【21st: Yun Heng.】
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