Chapter 1187 - Disciples of the Heavenly Dragon Sect

A silent storm swept across the Indigo Bamboo Astral Domain, spreading from planet to planet. The bounty for Liu Wuxie's capture soared to five million astral stones, along with the promise of a seventh-grade spiritual pill.

Only Void Realm experts could refine seventh-grade spiritual pills, and the bounty sponsors listed additional rewards, temptations powerful enough to drive even Origin Conversion Realm cultivators into a frenzy.

The actual reason for the madness, however, was Liu Wuxie's cultivation. If the target had been a powerful expert, few would have dared to act. But Liu Wuxie was only at the Heaven Profound Realm, with no backing and no status. Capturing him meant securing wealth and resources enough for a lifetime.

......

All of this unfolded beyond Liu Wuxie's knowledge. His focus remained fixed on Zhang Cheng.

"How do you want to die?" Liu Wuxie asked, his voice devoid of emotion. No one stepped forward to mediate; their feud had already escalated beyond reconciliation—it was now a matter of life and death.

"Liu Wuxie, must you really take it that far?" Zhang Cheng faltered, his earlier bravado giving way to regret.

"That's right," Liu Wuxie replied coldly. His decisiveness left no room for compromise, and the words made those nearby draw sharp breaths. None expected him to be so ruthless, even when Zhang Cheng begged for mercy.

"You forced me!" Zhang Cheng roared, summoning his longsword in desperation as he charged forward.

He told himself the earlier humiliation came only because Liu Wuxie had caught him off guard. Now that he held the initiative, he believed he had a real chance to kill.

But there was no fear in Liu Wuxie's eyes, only a mocking smirk.

"Trash like you dares provoke me?" he sneered. In the next instant, his figure blurred and vanished. He reappeared directly in front of Zhang Cheng, moving at a speed even peak Transcendent Realm cultivators could not track.

Zhang Cheng's heart sank. He tried to pull back into a defensive stance, but it was already too late. Liu Wuxie had drawn the Heretic Blade.

"Die," Liu Wuxie said flatly.

Everyone expected a duel, but the moment the Heretic Blade descended, space rippled. A boundless shockwave swept out like a gale, forcing the crowd to retreat.

"Holy shit! What terrifying strength!" someone exclaimed. Only then did they realize Liu Wuxie's combat strength already rivaled the pinnacle of the Transcendent Realm.

Liu Wuxie unleashed his full power without restraint, determined to end it in one strike. His blade ray was unpredictable, giving Zhang Cheng no chance to counter. In the brief moment of hesitation, the Heretic Blade had already slid across his neck.

The elders' expressions shifted, and they moved to intervene, but they were too late.

Zhang Cheng's head soared skyward, blood spraying like a fountain. The severed head spun several times before crashing to the ground beside Mu Heng's feet, its eyes wide and bulging.

"ARGH!" Shen Yue screamed. Standing beside Mu Heng, she froze as Zhang Cheng's lifeless eyes seemed to stare straight at her.

"Liu Wuxie, you're courting death!" Mu Heng roared. The act was blatant provocation, and worse, it had terrified Shen Yue, the woman he had pursued for years, now his fiancée.

"Do you want to die?" Liu Wuxie's glare pierced forward like twin blades. Ghost Eye flared to life, forcing Mu Heng to stumble back unwillingly, unable to meet his gaze.

The crowd fell silent, stunned. How could such a dreadful aura emanate from someone at the Heaven Profound Realm?

"He's too terrifying... that gaze isn't human. It's like a god," muttered peak Transcendent Realm experts, retreating instinctively, unwilling to make an enemy of him.

Mu Heng froze in place. He knew that if he dared to move, Liu Wuxie would cut him down without hesitation. The glare had already left a hairline crack in his dao heart, his hands trembling as he smelled death itself looming over him.

The tension thickened, and battle seemed moments away. But Liu Wuxie had no reason to fear. He had already secured his entry into the Heavenly Dragon Sect; he no longer needed to bow to anyone.

Mu Heng trembled with rage, but his voice caught in his throat. Everyone knew now—Liu Wuxie was a man of his word. If he said he would kill, he would kill.

"That's enough. The assessment is over. It's time to distribute the rewards," Elder Ding's voice cut through the chaos. With a wave of his hand, invisible pressure descended, quelling the storm.

Mu Heng drew a deep breath, forcing his anger down, though the murderous glint in his eyes did not fade. He swore silently that once inside the sect, he would find a way to eliminate Liu Wuxie.

The three elders descended from the sky, their gazes sweeping across the remaining participants. Everyone stiffened, knowing the elders were about to announce the rankings.

"You four are ranked seventh to tenth," Elder Ding said, pointing at four youths. Light enveloped them, pulling them forward. Four porcelain bottles floated into view, each containing a Heart Purification Pill.

𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

"Thank you, elders!" the four said in unison, bowing joyfully before storing the bottles away, their expressions radiant with triumph as others looked on enviously.

Next came the fourth to sixth place: two men and one woman.

"Your reward," Elder Ding said, producing three more porcelain bottles, each holding a Heart Purification Pill and a Great Clarity Divine Pill.

"Thank you, elder!" the three bowed excitedly. With these pills, they could break through to the Origin Conversion Realm, saving over a year of cultivation.

Then came the top three. As expected, the names were Liu Wuxie, Mu Heng, and Shen Yue.

"The third place, Shen Yue," Elder Ding announced. There was no suspense; everyone already knew the order.

Shen Yue stepped forward and bowed.

"Your rewards," Elder Ding said, handing her two porcelain bottles and a book containing the Nine Heavenly Dragon Forms.

"Thank you, elders," Shen Yue said coldly. Unlike the others, her expression held no joy. Disdain flickered in her eyes, as though the reward failed to meet her expectations.

The elders noticed her attitude but said nothing.

Next was Mu Heng. His face remained grim as he stepped forward, took the rewards in silence, and returned to the crowd without a word of thanks.

Jeers erupted immediately. None expected him to be so arrogant as to slight the elders. But many also understood; Liu Wuxie's killing of Zhang Cheng had publicly humiliated Mu Heng, and the three elders had not punished him.

The elders frowned. If not for his father's influence, they might have slapped him then and there. But they didn't act out on the spot.

"First place, Liu Wuxie," Elder Ding declared, his tone softening.

Liu Wuxie walked forward with steady steps until he stood before them.

"Junior Liu Wuxie greets the elders," he said, his voice calm, showing neither arrogance nor servility.

The three elders nodded approvingly. Unlike the groveling of those ranked fourth to tenth or the disdain of Mu Heng and Shen Yue, Liu Wuxie's bearing struck a perfect balance.

"You've done well. Here is your reward. Cultivate diligently," Elder Ding said, handing him porcelain bottles and a scroll.

"Thank you, elders. I will remember your guidance," Liu Wuxie replied respectfully. He had no intention of slighting Elder Ding, who had saved his life once.

With that, the assessment officially ended.

"From this moment on, you are disciples of the Heavenly Dragon Sect," Elder Ding announced. His voice grew stern. "You must obey the sect's rules. You must never leak the Nine Heavenly Dragon Forms or the Heavenly Sacred Dragon Scripture. The sect will punish any violation!"

The warning clearly targeted Mu Heng and Shen Yue. Everyone knew they had come to the sect for its supreme arts. They lacked neither resources nor teachers, and their motives were obvious.

Every force guarded unique arts, and the consequences would be dire if anyone leaked them.

Though the copies they received were incomplete and useless if anyone leaked them, Elder Ding still had to give his warning. Only through contributions to the sect could one earn access to the complete versions.

The weight of his words silenced the crowd. Only Liu Wuxie remained calm.

"Come with us to the Heavenly Dragon Sect. We will place you randomly, and no matter where you end up, you must obey the rules. Now is your last chance to turn back if you regret it," Elder Ding said.

No one spoke—no one left.

Elder Ding nodded to the other two elders. Together, they formed seals. A gale swept the valley, lifting the three thousand disciples into the sky, carrying them toward the depths of the Dragon Expanse Mountain Range.

An hour later, their bodies grew light. They descended slowly, landing on solid ground. A vast, invisible pressure pressed in from every side. They had finally arrived at the Heavenly Dragon Sect, standing before a massive martial arena.

"Here are three thousand tokens, each bearing a mark. Once you receive one, we will assign you to your institute," Elder Ding said, pointing at a massive chest filled with tokens. Luck would decide their allocation.

One by one, disciples stepped forward to claim their tokens.

"I've joined the War Dragon Institute!"

"Dharma Institute for me!"

"I'm at the Heavenly Martial Institute!"

Excited voices rose across the arena, echoing one after another.