Chapter 1247 - Myriad Race Ceremony

When resources fell out of balance between sects or planets, the strongest decided the outcome. The Heavenly Dragon Sect's wilderness training illustrated this plainly: the sect allocated rewards according to results. The Heavenly Martial Institute's latest achievement had allowed every new disciple to share in those benefits.

"Besides blacksmithing, what other events are there?" Liu Wuxie asked. Because the ceremony distributed resources, he assumed it ran multiple contests.

"There's alchemy, talisman crafting, and martial duels," Elder Long explained calmly. "The toughest event is climbing the Divine Sun-Shooting Tower. Those who placed highly in any of these contests could claim enormous rewards."

The Myriad Race Ceremony carried enormous weight across the Indigo Bamboo Astral Domain. It reshuffled influence: forces that performed poorly lost not only resources but also leadership over planets. Because many planets remained unclaimed, cultivators shed blood yearly. The ceremony decided which factions would claim those worlds.

This year's Myriad Race Ceremony promised to be the fiercest in a millennium, drawing the strongest participants in living memory.

"Elder Long, did the sect master say anything about the True Martial Continent?" Liu Wuxie asked. He did not care to rule other planets; his concern focused solely on an interstellar teleportation array.

"He did," Elder Long said, his tone growing heavy. Only immortals could open an Astral Domain Path. However, the sect could construct an interstellar teleportation array from both ends to pull the True Martial Continent back into the Astral Domain.

If the sect master willed it, he could tear through the crystalline wall to send Liu Wuxie back; with the Han Clan's cooperation, the sect could then establish the array.

"What did the sect master say?" Liu Wuxie pressed.

"Everything depends on your performance," Elder Long repeated, relaying the sect master's reply.

In short, Liu Wuxie's results would determine whether the sect would pay such a price for him. He remained only an outer disciple with no contribution points or status. Even if the sect master were to approve, the council of elders would fiercely oppose the decision.

Constructing an interstellar teleportation array demanded a staggering amount of resources. Only three such arrays existed across the Indigo Bamboo Astral Domain, each linking to another astral domain. One could imagine the cost of the resource. Even the Heavenly Dragon Sect would have to commit its full strength to build one.

Liu Wuxie had anticipated that reaction. He had been pushing himself to display his talent to draw the attention of the upper echelons, but now, he realized talent alone would not suffice. The sect had watched prodigies rise and fall like meteors across its million-year history.

Silence settled over the hall. Elder Long's face carried deep bitterness. He understood Liu Wuxie's concern for his family, but there was little he could do.

Despite his high standing, he could not sway the upper echelons. Even the sect master could not authorize such a monumental decision alone: the construction of a teleportation array required unanimous council agreement.

"I'll strive to win the sect's acknowledgement within a year," Liu Wuxie declared, rising to his feet. "They will build the interstellar teleportation array for me."

He believed he could make the plan happen in that time.

As long as he could return to the True Martial Continent to save Han Feizi, the rest of the effort could focus on constructing the interstellar teleportation array. Building that array would not take days but likely years.

"Wuxie, your resolve is admirable, but do not become fixated," Elder Long advised gently. "Let things take their course."

He worried Liu Wuxie would resort to extreme measures.

"Thank you for the warning, Elder Long. I know what to do," Liu Wuxie replied. He understood Elder Long's concern, but his determination remained. No matter the cost, he would make the sect master see him differently within a year.

He also had to reach the Void Realm within the next few years and become a planet lord of the True Martial Continent.

Only by elevating the continent's status to that of a planet could it survive the activation of an interstellar teleportation array; otherwise, the True Martial Continent would collapse the moment the teleportation array was activated.

The road ahead would be long and perilous.

"Wuxie, we depart for White Moon Valley in a month. What will you do until then?" Elder Long asked. White Moon Valley was the residence of his ancestors; they could not stay here indefinitely. The Myriad Race Ceremony would take place at White Moon Valley, where countless races would converge.

"I plan to go to Mount Dragon City," Liu Wuxie said, not hiding his intent. One year was too short; he had to move quickly. If members of the Heavenly Dao Society attended, they could already begin operations.

"What will you do in Mount Dragon City?" Elder Long asked. He knew how dangerous it would be for Liu Wuxie to leave the sect with so many enemies hunting him.

"To conduct market research," Liu Wuxie replied calmly. He had a foothold in the sect, but he needed to quickly expand his other channels. Resources from the Heavenly Dragon Sect alone would never sustain his cultivation.

Crucially, the Myriad Race Ceremony required competitors to have at least Origin Conversion Realm cultivation, up to the Primal Origin Realm.

At his current level, he could die without warning. Hence, had to reach higher stages of the Origin Conversion Realm within a month and learn a few mythical arts to stay safe.

Missions would take too long, so he abandoned that option. He was racing against time and could not waste it. Without contribution points, he could not buy treasures; without treasures, his advancement would stall and trap him in a dead loop. The only way forward was to earn resources directly.

"Wuxie, what do you plan to do there?" Elder Long asked, frowning. He knew Liu Wuxie was hurrying against time, but he judged that the risks outweighed the benefits. Even he could foresee that Liu Wuxie's life might be in danger in Mount Dragon City.

"Plan to do whatever makes money," Liu Wuxie replied with a faint smile. In the cultivation world, alchemy, blacksmithing, and talisman crafting proved the most profitable, and conveniently, they were also his strongest skills.

He had been grooming He Yingwu to handle many future tasks so Liu Wuxie could focus on cultivation.

"The market on Indigo Bamboo Star is saturated; the various sects monopolize many goods. If you hope to earn astral stones through those channels, I advise against it," Elder Long said. He did not mean to discourage Liu Wuxie, but the Indigo Bamboo Astral Domain was not the True Martial Continent—systems here had developed and solidified over millions of years.

Back on the True Martial Continent, Liu Wuxie had exploited every loophole and rapidly expanded the Heavenly Dao Society. In the astral domain, the situation proved different: every major sect had immortals backing it, and competing against their markets amounted to courting death.

Alchemy, blacksmithing, and talisman crafting all remained tightly regulated. Each sect ran its own alchemy workshops and blacksmithing pavilions, leaving little space for outsiders.

The Heavenly Dragon Sect itself maintained a vast alchemy workshop; as long as a disciple had contribution points, they could buy the pills they needed.

Liu Wuxie understood these entrenched resource channels were immovable fortresses. Even after ten years, he could not easily shake them. But he had no intention of following the conventional path.

"I know, but I still want to try," Liu Wuxie said, cutting off Elder Long.

Determination burned in his voice. Although he lacked the strength to challenge the vested interests of powerful forces, he could walk the paths others had been overlooking.

If he could create something unique, he could amass resources without directly clashing with those markets.

In time, once his cultivation caught up, he could contend with those powers and claim a share of their domains.

Cultivation depended on four pillars: wealth, people, technique, and territory. Of them, territory proved crucial—the more land one controlled, the stronger the foundation. The Myriad Race Ceremony offered a grand example of how rival forces reassigned territories.

"I won't dissuade you now that you've made up your mind. Visit Eastern Street and look for someone called Old Blindie. He's an old friend; seek his help if needed," Elder Long said. That was the most he could offer Liu Wuxie.

"Thank you, Elder Long!" Liu Wuxie stood and bowed deeply. He knew no one in Mount Dragon City and remained unfamiliar with its streets; an ally would make things far easier.

With that, the two left the palace. When Liu Wuxie stepped outside, he drew in crisp air and lifted his face toward the sunlight he had long missed. His mood lightened.

At the very least, he now had a clear direction. Before, his only recourse had been to display talent to draw the upper echelons' attention. Now, he had a concrete path forward.

His month of effort had borne fruit, and he believed the Heavenly Dragon Sect's leaders would one day change their minds because of him.

"Be careful upon your return," Elder Long warned before parting. Liu Wuxie needed to head back to the outer sect's quarters.

Before leaving, Elder Long handed Liu Wuxie a book of detailed information about the Myriad Race Ceremony so that he could study its rules and history.

After they parted ways, Liu Wuxie activated his movement technique and shot toward his courtyard like a meteor.

Silence blanketed the courtyard for two days. Most assumed he had gone into hiding and would not return. The day before, He Yingwu emerged from the Primordial Pagoda with rich gains.

After taking several fifth-grade spiritual pills, he advanced to the ninth-level Transcendent Realm, a rise he himself found hard to believe.

He Yingwu's talent had always been extraordinary, as evidenced by his past achievements on the True Martial Continent. But he had been suppressed since entering the astral domain. Under Liu Wuxie's guidance, he had begun to flourish again.

Countless feet trampled the courtyard gate over the past few days, leaving it in ruins. He Yingwu retrieved his tools with steady hands and began repairing the damage. He and Liu Wuxie would likely live here for some time; it was worth restoring.

"What a surprise! We didn't expect your return while we waited for Liu Wuxie. Either way, we can cripple you first, then Liu Wuxie."

Just as He Yingwu began repairing the gate, two inner sect disciples stepped into the courtyard. Both radiated the aura of cultivators at the pinnacle of the Origin Conversion Realm. Judging by their age and bearing, they were veterans who had accumulated an astonishing reservoir of Origin Conversion laws.

He Yingwu's expression hardened. He raised his longsword instantly, bracing for battle.