It was early in the morning and the atmosphere was gray. Some people were walking up already to break the eerie silence.
The entire mountain chain was filled with people.
Only seven of the eight strange mountains were occupied. People couldn't help but looked at those seven geniuses, they were real geniuses… It was possible to see that from only looking at their Qi.
Besides them there were many other cultivators on those eighty-one mountains which looked like stone pillars. They were either chatting or sitting cross-legged or standing proudly.
Apart from those eight mountains and eighty-one stone-pillars, the other mountains surrounding the area were filled with people who looked like little insects in the far distance. There were too many people.
Many hung off the slopes of the mountains. They would still be able to see the vast area that way, especially the flat area at the feet of the mountains. Everyone had guessed that the first round was going to start down there.
Lin Feng opened his eyes and took a deep breath. He felt particularly well, like a newborn.
He raised his head and looked at the sky, it was getting bright. It was finally going to start.
Jun Mo Xi, Tang You You, Qing Meng Xin and Yun Fei Yang also looked excited. They had been waiting for this day for such a long time. The Great Competition of Xue Yu, that wonderful event was going to start and they had the chance to participate in it.
There were only a few others with Jun Mo Xi on his mountain. Yet, nobody dared to take the final 8th strange mountain that was unoccupied.
The sun gradually unveiled the entire area. Everybody looked at the sky, they couldn't wait for the competition to start. They couldn't believe it was about to start.
Suddenly a hurricane appeared in the air.
Rumbling sounds spread in the air. In the flat area at the bottom of the mountains, a silhouette appeared.
It was an old man whose skin was as white as snow. His air was snowy-white. He looked very particular, after the first glance one could never forget his odd appearance.
That person then stood in the air above that flat area and looked at the crowd. People had the impression that time had stopped when the old man looked at them. He was particularly intimidating.
"He belongs to Shen Gong."
People from Mi Cheng had immediately guessed that he was a strong cultivator from Shen Gong.
"Let me introduce myself, I am an envoy of Shen Gong. My name is Xue Wu Chang. I will be the one in charge of the first round of the Great Competition of Xue Yu."
When he had began speaking everybody had started whispering.
Shen Gong? What was Shen Gong? Most people had never heard of Shen Gong, was it a sphere of influence in Xue Yu?
It seemed like Shen Gong was quite famous in Xue Yu!
"Now, the four empires have chosen some outstanding disciples to participate at the competition of Xue Yu. All of those geniuses will stand in front of me so that I can see you." said Xue Wu Chang. In a flash, he rose high up in the air and moved to the east.
"People from Dragon Mountain, come next to me!" said Jun Mo Xi. In a flash, a myriad of silhouettes flickered and they gathered behind and next to Jun Mo Xi.
"Xiao Ya, please be careful and take care of yourself." said Lin Feng. Xiao Ya nodded and said, "Bro, don't worry about me, just take of yourself and be careful."
"Alright. I'm off." said Lin Feng. His body emitted whistling sounds while he rose up in the air. In a flash, he was in the middle of all the other people from Dragon Mountain.
At the same time, the seven geniuses at the top of the mountains also started rising up in the air and moving towards their respective groups in the south, north, east and west…
The geniuses from all the other countries and empires also meticulously joined their groups.
The crowd raised their heads and looked at the geniuses, they were one hundred and forty-four. They were the most outstanding geniuses of Xue Yu. They were all very young and were going to play important roles in the future of the Xue Yu.
Finally, the cruel competition was going to start. Some geniuses would die but for others it would be a great opportunity. After the competition, some of them would be able to reach beyond the clouds.
Xue Wu Chang glanced at them, nodded and said, "One hundred and forty-four, very good. Please give your best during the competition. It can determine your future. Good luck." said the old man. They had to give their best, the competition would determine their future… Those words were resonating in people's heads… It wasn't an ordinary competition…
"Alright. First, let me tell you the rules. Under your feet there is a precipice, and down there is the Demonic Area. If you go there, no matter how high your real cultivation level is, your cultivation level will fall down to the first Xuan Qi layer. Your spirit, soul, physical strength and skills will also be restrained, you won't be able to use them. You will only be able to use basic magical powers." said Xue Wu Chang slowly. The crowd was stunned.
Their cultivation level would only be the first Xuan Qi layer down there…? And they wouldn't be able to use their skills or other things…?
That was really too cruel!
"Indeed. It's exactly the way you think it is. Inside, you will all be of the same level. No matter how high your cultivation level is, the competition is fair so everyone will have a chance. What we value most during the competition are those with high natural abilities."
"Everybody will be of the same level…!" Those who were weak were excited to hear that. They obviously had faith in their natural abilities but the cultivation level was important. This way they wouldn't get killed by the strongest cultivators directly at the beginning.
"Alright, let me give you all some seeds. These seeds will teach you skills which you will be able to use in the precipice. Besides that hey will have many more benefits. Everybody give your best. Those seeds have extremely beneficial effects on your health. You will be pleasantly surprised." said Xue Wu Chang, and then stretched his hand in which appeared magnificent and bright seeds. He threw one of them to everybody.
The crowd remained there motionless and the seeds all landed between their eyebrows.
In a flash, all the geniuses had a shiny seed between their eyebrows.
"Alright. Jump into the precipice now. It's been waiting for you for ten years. The opportunity is rare, cherish it. Dangers and benefits coexist, remember that, give your best and you will seize all those great opportunities." explained Xue Wu Chang indifferently. Everybody was excited. The Great Competition of Xue Yu was about to start!
Would it be dangerous or would it be a great opportunity? It depended on each person!
"Demonic Area, here I am!" said Duan Wu Dao while jumping into that precipice and disappearing inside.
Di Ling, Xue Sha, Lin Xiao and all the others all jumped into the precipice. All these geniuses' silhouettes were flickering and jumping into the precipice. Very quickly, Xue Wu Chang was the only one left in the air. A hundred and forty-four geniuses had ended up inside. They were going to show what they were capable of!