"No wonder they're famous for body cultivators and wind techniques!"

The ship descended with a dramatic gust of wind that sent half the disciples stumbling backward.

A tall man jumped down from the bow—barefoot, shirtless, muscles like sculpted stone, hair blowing wildly.

He landed with a thud, cracking the reinforced arena floor.

"HAHAHA!! FANTASY LIFE SECT!!" he roared. "YOUR GRAND COMPETITION BETTER BE WORTH MY TIME!"

Tian Lei narrowed his eyes.

"…Why is he shouting?"

Su Mingyue whispered, "That is Pavilion Master Lei Hong. He… only has one volume setting."

"Hmm." Tian Lei shrugged. "Fine. If he breaks something, he can fix it."

Before Lei Hong could take another breath—

BOOOOMM!!!

Another streak of light tore across the sky—this time a blazing phoenix-shaped arc.

The disciples gasped again.

"The Scarlet Flame Temple!"

"Those crazy fire cultivators came too?!"

A beautiful woman stepped out of the flaming light, robes fluttering, crimson eyes sharp.

Her aura was scorching enough to make the nearest disciples sweat.

She landed gracefully, glaring at Lei Hong.

"Lei Hong, control your voice. Not every entrance needs to be barbaric."

"WHAT WAS THAT?!" Lei Hong shouted back.

She sighed. "Exactly."

Tian Lei watched the two bicker and scratched his cheek.

"…Are they going to fight here?"

Su Mingyue shook her head politely. "They always argue like this."

Tian Lei nodded. "Alright. As long as the arena doesn't catch fire."

But the heavens weren't done yet.

WHOOOOOM—!

A shadow fell over the entire mountain.

Everyone looked up.

A colossal beast—half lion, half eagle—glided across the sky with majestic wings spread wide. Dozens of robed disciples stood on its back, gazing down with solemn expressions.

A banner unfurled behind them:

Beast God Valley

The beast landed gently, creating only a soft ripple of pressure. An old man with a beard like a waterfall stepped forward, hands clasped politely.

"Tian Lei, old friend. I've brought my disciples. I trust there will be no… accidents this time?"

Tian Lei snorted.

"Accident? You mean the time your brat tried to tame my spirit furnace and exploded it?"

The Beast God Valley disciples trembled.

The old man coughed. "…Ancient history. Let us not speak of it."

Tian Lei shrugged. "Fine."

More sects began arriving—some on sword boats, some wrapped in starlight, some riding spirit cranes.

The mountain was now buzzing louder than a festival ground.

Finally, Su Mingyue turned to Tian Lei.

"Master, shall we greet them officially?"

Tian Lei stretched lazily.

"No need."

Su Mingyue blinked. "No need?"

"I'll announce it once they're all gathered."

"Announce… what?"

Tian Lei smiled faintly.

"That I won't be taking one or three disciples anymore."

The elders nearby froze.

"W-Wait, Sect Master— how many will you take?!"

Tian Lei cracked his neck, gaze sweeping over the countless incoming geniuses from all directions.

"Depends," he said calmly.

"On how many survive."

The entire sect trembled.

And the Grand Competition had yet to even begin.

Moments later, the sky dimmed again—

but this time, not from beasts or ships.

It was from pressure.

A wave of spiritual might swept across the mountain, so heavy that some outer disciples nearly kneeled.

Su Mingyue's eyes widened slightly.

"Master… this aura… it's from the Eternal Ice Palace."

Tian Lei blinked.

"They actually came? I thought they hated traveling."

"Normally, yes. But rumors say their Saintess wanted to see you… personally."

Tian Lei frowned.

"…Who?"

Before Su Mingyue could respond—

CRACK—!!!

The air split open.

A massive ice lotus drifted down from the clouds, each petal carved from pure spiritual frost. The temperature plummeted instantly—disciples' breaths turned to mist.

From atop the lotus, a woman walked out.

White robes.

Snow-pale skin.

Eyes colder than winter itself.

And behind her, dozens of disciples followed with frozen-environmental calm.

The woman's gaze landed on Tian Lei.

"Tian Lei," she said lightly. "its been two years"

He paused.

"…Who is she again?"

Several disciples choked.

Elders nearly fainted.

Su Mingyue whispered urgently, "Master—that's Saintess Qing Xue, the woman who challenged you two years ago."

Tian Lei scratched his cheek.

"Oh. The one who lost."

Qing Xue's icy aura trembled.

"I did not lose. It was a strategic retreat."

"You fainted," Tian Lei reminded her.

"That," she said with a frosty sniff, "was due to insufficient breakfast."

Lei Hong laughed loudly nearby.

"HAHAHA! SHE FAINTED! GOOD ONE!"

A blast of icy wind slammed into him.

"SHUT UP," Qing Xue said without emotion.

Lei Hong froze into a block of ice up to his neck.

"WHY AM I LIKE THIS—?!" he shouted.

Tian Lei waved a hand.

"Don't freeze my guest list. The competition hasn't even started."

Qing Xue narrowed her eyes.

"If they irritate me, they deserve it."

The disciples around her nodded fervently.

Before another argument could break out—

A booming gong echoed across the sect.

The Grand Arena lit up with layers of formations.

Floating runes aligned themselves like stars.

Spirit pillars rose toward the heavens.

The air vibrated.

Elders took positions around the stage.

Millions of whispering voices quieted.

All sects, all geniuses, all monsters-in-human-skin gathered in one place.

An Elder's voice thundered:

"OUR SECT MASTER WILL NOW SPEAK!"

Tian Lei stepped forward to the main platform.

Every gaze locked onto him.

Tian Lei stretched lazily, as if about to take a nap instead of addressing thousands of cultivators.

Then—

He smiled.

"Welcome to the Grand Competition."

Straight. Simple.

But his aura rippled out like a collapsing mountain.

The platforms trembled.

Some disciples' knees buckled.

A few geniuses felt their pride crack.

Tian Lei continued:

"This year, I'm not taking one direct disciple."

Disciples leaned forward.

"Not three, either."

The crowd buzzed.

Across the floating platforms, countless young cultivators tensed in excitement.

Then Tian Lei raised a single finger.

"I will take," he said calmly,

"as many as I want."

Silence.

Complete, terrifying silence.

Then—

"HOW MANY?!" someone shouted.

Tian Lei grinned.

"Whoever survives the trials."

The moment Tian Lei's words fell, an invisible shockwave rolled across the entire mountain.

Many geniuses straightened their backs.

Some swallowed nervously.

A few regretted even coming.

The Beast God Valley youths stiffened.

"Survive…? Survive what exactly…?"

Scarlet Flame Temple disciples looked way too eager.

"Good! Fire burns the weak anyway!"

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