"Sword Sect is different. Though it has faded, it still retains its deep roots. Moreover, as long as the old Sect Leader of Sword Sect lives, who in the whole world would dare to belittle them? He is said to be a being above even the Tribulation-Crossing Stage!"

Throughout the streets and alleys of the Twenty-One Provinces, the same scenario was unfolding. Unlike the Sacred Land, Star Moon Sect and Sword Sect had set up information feeds in various places, with countless pieces of news rapidly scrolling across them in real-time.

Even ordinary folk had opened gambling dens because the Sacred Land hadn't concealed the Ascension Platform, and everyone in the world, mortals and cultivators alike, knew about it.

Countless people were betting on the rankings of these sects, flocking together, gazing up at the sky:

"The first online gambling house in Mo City has launched..."

"Beautiful dealers dealing live."

"..."

Just then, the mirror in the sky suddenly turned towards a disturbance in the Sacred Land, and everyone curiously watched the scene unfolding.

Beneath the high platform, it seemed that two groups were in fierce confrontation. One group, judging from their garments—a Daoist Robe with green mountains and white clouds—was easily recognized as from Wuhua Palace, a top ten sect in the world.

The other sect looked rather humble by comparison, dressed in plain clothes without any intricate adornments.

One Wuhua Palace cultivator squinted his eyes, looking at the man before him with words full of scorn, disdain sparkling in his eyes as he said,

"What is this shabby sect? Peach Blossom Sect? Have you ever heard of them?"

Another Wuhua Palace disciple beside him shook his head, laughing loudly as he said,

"Who knows where they popped up from? A bunch of trash daring to come to the Sacred Land to recruit?"

"You there, you bumped into me, apologize!"

The Peach Blossom Sect disciple's face was livid as he looked at the Wuhua Palace disciple before him, his fists clenched tightly, and he shouted,

"Why should we? It was clearly you who purposely bumped into us!"

The Wuhua Palace disciple looked at him with a derisive smile, stepped forward with contempt in his eyes, and said,

"Why should you? Then let this senior tell you why today!

"Every one of us here is in the Golden Elixir Realm, having passed through layers of selection within our sect. We can be considered the elite disciples of Wuhua Palace, qualified to attend the opening ceremony of this Sacred Land.

"Some of you are even still at the Qi Cultivation stage? Such trash, what's the use in cultivating? Cultivation of immortality is only for the elite geniuses, not for any stray dogs or cats to attempt to seek an Immortal's path.

"In these Twenty-One Provinces, in the Cultivation World, strength is everything, and you lot of trash are mere ants!"

The Peach Blossom Sect disciple's face turned livid in an instant, his fists clenched tightly. He felt a suffocating rage, an indignation he couldn't swallow, wanting to retort but finding himself without words.

"You! You insult people! That's too much!"

A female disciple from Peach Blossom Sect looked at the person before her, her eyes brimming with tears.

"Insulting people?"

Watching more and more cultivators gather, the Wuhua Palace disciple sneered, casting a cool gaze around and said,

"Just telling the truth, and I'm not just targeting your sect.

"What I'm saying is, all you other sects are just as trashy as Peach Blossom Sect—a bunch of wastes!

"Those with inadequate talent and strength might as well die off early. Why waste Spiritual Energy?

"..." "

The instant he finished speaking, the other smaller sects were all filled with rage.

What was Wuhua Palace implying?

The conflict gradually escalated. As an increasing number of small sects joined in, the situation rapidly grew more serious. The Sacred Land clearly noticed the commotion. In an instant, their people rushed over, shouting,

"Everyone, back off!"

It was hard to say who was right or wrong in this conflict. The disciple from Peach Blossom Sect had indeed accidentally bumped into a Wuhua Palace disciple. However, even after he apologized, the Wuhua Palace disciple refused to let it go and began insulting him.

The crowd from both sides numbered over a thousand, alerting even the elders of the Sacred Land. Two elders wearing gold-trimmed jade robes hurried over, looking at the scene before them.

The Sacred Land Disciples, unsure how to handle the matter and feeling overwhelmed, saw the two approaching elders, and their eyes lit up as they said,

"Elder Yumen, Elder Liu, you've arrived..."

The two elders who had arrived were none other than the Third Elder of the Sacred Land, Yumen Du, and the Seventh Elder, Liu Changqing, who once had a brief encounter with Su Bei.

After Yumen Du understood the situation, he glanced at Wuhua Palace and snorted coldly, saying,

"All sects, fall back!"