CHAPTER 914: CHAPTER 910: YE FAN VS. LI ZHAOJUN

For all the cultivators present, the high-grade celestial artifact, Taining, was an overwhelming temptation, and the greed was evident in everyone’s eyes.

Possessing a high-grade celestial artifact was akin to a leap from an ordinary cultivator to a savior. All the cultivators in the Pangu secret realm would revolve around them, compelled to take on the duty of saving the world. Just the thought of it made the blood boil.

But, only Ye Fan, his eyes saw nothing but Li Zhaojun.

Hua Wu asked, "Whoever can lift the ban, can take this celestial artifact down the mountain?"

This again reminded those present that anyone who possessed a high-grade celestial artifact would be coveted. Whether Huang Ze would hand it over smoothly was one issue, and whether it could be taken down Emperor Mountain to return to the sect was another.

An innocent man gets into trouble because he possesses a precious jewel.

This time, Huang Ze’s answer was definite: "Whoever possesses this artifact will eventually climb Heavenly Peak Mountain, and that mountain’s spiritual energy net will not obstruct them. I, the Sect Master, will personally escort them up Heavenly Peak Mountain and impart cultivation techniques exhaustively. Before they achieve success, no one will go up the mountain to disrupt their cultivation!"

Someone discontentedly asked, "It seems that only members of the Li Fire sect can ascend Heavenly Peak Mountain. Does this mean that the prophesied person is from the Li Fire sect?"

"Have you ever heard of a female disciple from the Li Fire sect?"

Many were still entangled in the visions they had seen earlier, which resembled a young woman.

Hua Wu said, "Since that is the case, let us begin!"

The great hall fell silent instantly. It was a perfect opportunity to become famous. Acquiring the high-grade celestial artifact meant changing the path of celestial cultivation in the future.

Many were rubbing their fists and polishing their palms, but no one dared advance because, besides going through the process of accepting ownership of the high-grade celestial artifact, they also had to defeat numerous experts.

"Junior Brother, Senior Sister actually believes this high-grade celestial artifact is prepared for you," Wu Ding whispered with a smile, "You are a disciple of the Li Fire sect and can easily ascend Heavenly Peak Mountain. You are endowed with an Uncommon Spirit Root and a Pure Yang constitution, both incredibly rare attributes. Together, you are the chosen one."

Ye Fan, with an indifferent expression, said, "Even if it were for me, I wouldn’t attempt to lift the ban because my only purpose here is to take my wife back to Earth."

Wu Ding furrowed her brow, recalling Huang Ze’s words; whoever lifted the ban would be escorted to Heavenly Peak Mountain to complete their cultivation, possibly for tens or hundreds of years without descending the mountain.

"Foolish! If you achieve immortality, you will eventually have eternal life, and you can hardly be separated from her forever. Why rush it..." Wu Ding scolded.

Ye Fan shook his head slightly, "I believe that it’s better to envy a pair in love than to envy immortals."

Hearing this, Wu Ding was momentarily stunned, clearly immersed in the meaning of the words. All she sought was to roll around shamelessly with her loved one in a paradise on Earth.

In this, she shared common ground with Ye Fan.

"Oh, you blockhead!" Wu Ding scolded with her mouth, yet inwardly she accepted Ye Fan’s view.

At this moment, the central dueling in the great hall finally began. Within ordinary sects, reaching the Golden Core Stage already signified an absolute expert, but achieving it before forty was extremely difficult. In the Pangu secret realm, the average was around fifty. Even fast cultivators achieved it by around thirty-five.

Except for the disciples of major sects, which not only provided excellent cultivation techniques but also selected disciples strictly, choosing only ones with great spirit roots and physiques.

Several cultivators went up for the trials, all over thirty-five years old, mostly at the early Golden Core Stage. After several rounds, a slim young man finally secured victory, meeting the criterion of defeating five rivals and being eligible to attempt lifting the high-grade celestial artifact’s ban.

"What’s your name, young brother?" Huang Ze held Taining and moved toward the man.

Though the man wasn’t young, Huang Ze, being several hundred years old, was well-qualified to call him "young brother."

"I am Li Taining," the man said. "But Taining is from the Tai of Kangtai, not Taining’s Tai."

Nearby, someone cursed, "Did you just come up with that name? What Li Taining? Why not directly call yourself Li Celestial Artifact?"

Huang Ze simply chuckled and placed Taining on the ground, making Li Taining somewhat ashamed. Huang Ze looked down on him, assuming he couldn’t even lift a celestial artifact.

When Li tried to lift Taining, he found it truly immovable.

A person who has reached the Golden Core Stage already defies the natural course, can live five hundred years, and possesses significant cultivation. Still, he can’t lift a high-grade celestial artifact, let alone unlock its ban.

Sure enough, when Li Taining infused spiritual energy into the artifact, he was immediately thrown back, crashing straight into the heavy wall, and upon his fall, the spiritual energy within dissipated swiftly.

Ultimately, Huang Ze stepped in and used his cultivation power to halt the leakage of Li Taining’s spiritual energy.

"He isn’t seriously hurt, but his Golden Core is damaged. It will take ten to eight years of rest to recover vitality," Huang Ze said.

"What?"

Those who hadn’t gone up, including those defeated by Li Taining, felt somewhat relieved.

Thankfully, it wasn’t them. Going up would have been a losing deal, risking their ten-year cultivation. If they encountered an enemy in those years, wouldn’t they be doomed?

Huang Ze looked again at those present, "Anyone else?"

This time, even those who had initially entered the competition stopped completely. Hua Wu was retreating, and Li Taining had his Golden Core shattered. If Huang Ze hadn’t intervened, his core might have shattered completely.

A shattered Golden Core is irreparable.

The smaller sects stayed silent, leaving Huang Ze looking at the five major sects’ members.

"Since none wants to step forward, let each of the six sects send one person to compete. Whoever achieves victory may attempt!"

Before Hua Wu could voice an opinion, a young woman from Xinghe sect, one of the seven major sects, stepped forward with a cold face. "I will."

This woman looked incredibly cold. Her frosty demeanor was no less than Li Zhaojun’s, and most importantly, she exuded a killing intent. Despite being only around twenty, she was already at the Nascent Soul Stage.

Wu Ding softly told Ye Fan, "This is Min Shang, considered the most talented female cultivator in Xinghe sect for centuries. She is endowed with a superior heavenly spirit root and an Unusual Yin-Yang body... Do you know what an Unusual Yin-Yang body is? It means perpetual alternation between Yin and Yang, leaving her in constant pain. She is innately devoid of emotion."

Ye Fan glanced at Min Shang, then redirected his attention to Li Zhaojun.

By now, Li Zhaojun had received Fa Ying’s nod of approval and stepped forward. Her demeanor, like Min Shang’s, was icy cold, devoid of any warmth.

The two shared many similarities, one innate, the other acquired.

Seemingly, Li Zhaojun would lag because she had just advanced to the early Nascent Soul Stage, while Min Shang was already at the mid-stage.

"Who does Junior Brother hope will win?" Wu Ding asked.

Ye Fan focused intently, paying no heed.