Wu Huang!

Just by looking at the humble attitude of She Zi and She Ling when facing him, Lin Xun could tell that this person held an extremely high status within the Holy Illumination Ancient Sect.

Shua!

Almost at the moment when Lin Xun looked at him, Wu Huang also looked back at Lin Xun, and their gazes collided.

Wu Huang’s gray-brown eyes shone a threatening and fierce light, as if he was trying to see through all the secrets of Lin Xun.

That gaze alone would have terrified other cultivators to the point of their spirits trembling.

However, Lin Xun’s expression remained indifferent, as if he did not notice, and he retracted his gaze.

“Imperial Apostle, that’s Jin Duyi!” She Ling sent a voice transmission to Wu Huang with a cold and unpleasant look on her face.

Wu Huang expressionlessly nodded and remarked, “He looks ordinary on the outside, but he actually is a character with hidden deep secrets. No wonder he was able to defeat the two of you so easily.”

She Ling and She Zi froze.

Meanwhile, Lin Xun also spotted Jiang Heng, Ji Qian, Jintian Xuanyue, and others, but they just exchanged glances and did not greet each other.

Facing the disciples of the seven major factions, Chu Qiu, Gu Jianxing, Gao Lingtian and others palpitated with excitement, as if itching to start the second round.

They were top figures who stood out in the first round of selections, but whether it was in terms of background, foundation, fame or influence, they were far inferior to Lu Dubu, Xie Yuhua, Wang Tu and the other renowned characters in Cloud State.

Now, it was understandable that they would be excited and anxious to face off against them.

Not only them, but experts from other participating zones such as Su Muhan, Lan Yunke, You Tianxing and Helian Qi were the same.

At the same time, the disciples from the seven major factions were also studying the candidates selected from the ten participating zones.

However, their focus was only on the ten champions.

“That’s Su Muhan, a genius who declined offers to join the seven major factions when he was a young child. He has a very terrifying foundation.”

“Lan Yunke controls the Great Dao Field called Lotus Treasure Vase Bottle which is of an extraordinary grade and must not be underestimated.”

“Everyone, please do not underestimate You Tianxing. His Nine-Colored Jade Hall is amazing and he is said to be a rare spirit cultivator seen only once every thousands of years.”

“Look, that guy is Jin Duyi, a dark horse who was a nobody before the first round, but now look at his fame. Yesterday, he defeated Helian Qi with one move in the Contention House.”

“So that’s Jin Duyi.”

The disciples of the seven major factions discussed in whispers.

Besides the peerless figures from the powerful sects such as Lu Dubu, Xie Yuhua and Wang Tu, the ones that received the most attention were Su Muhan and Lin Xun.

Su Muhan’s name had long been known throughout Cloud State. He was a truly dazzling character with a solid foundation, stronger than many disciples of the seven major factions.

It was natural that many people paid special attention to him.

Whereas Jin Duyi, Lin Xun’s disguise, was a dark horse who recently rose to fame after he won ninety-nine consecutive matches and even subdued Helian Qi with one move. Who would not take notice of him?

“That person is not deliberately hiding his strength. Instead, his cultivation has reached such a high level that he radiates an ordinary feeling, like a divine object obscuring their splendor.” Lu Dubu also noticed Lin Xun. After a pause, a ruminative look came onto his face.

“I hope he will be like what Madam Yu said: it’s impossible to overestimate him...” Xie Yuhua’s dreamy eyes shone with a ripple of light.

“I still think that guy must be very lonely.”

Wang Tu, who carried a huge sword on his back, was grinning innocently like a child.

At the same time, many eyes were sizing up Lin Xun, both intentionally and unintentionally.

Even so, Lin Xun maintained calm and indifferent.

When he noticed that Helian Qi was also looking over at him, he smiled and sent a voice transmission to him, “Last night, I had an unexpected visitor. Do you know about this?”

Helian Qi was startled, then his face darkened. “Jin Duyi, what are you talking about? Why don’t I understand you?”

Lin Xun said nonchalantly, “It doesn’t matter if you understand or not. I just want to tell you that the old guy died an ugly death in the end.”

Murderous intent rushed up Helian Qi’s heart, which he almost lost control of. He gritted his teeth and said, “Jin Duyi, I will never forget the shame I suffered yesterday!” His chilling voice was loaded with murderous intent.

Lin Xun simply replied with five words, “I’ll be waiting for you.”

He did not glance at Helian Qi again after that.

Clang!

The clear ring of a bell resounded from the jade platform above the Immortal Martial Peak, echoing far and wide.

The atmosphere instantly became solemn.

All eyes were directed towards the center of the jade platform, where the leaders of the seven major factions were standing together.

They were headed by a lean old man in an ancient costume matched with a tall hat. When his eyes opened, there seemed to be a majestic vision of the starry sky being cast from them.

𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

This person was none other than the sect master of the Great Void Sect—Guan Xu!

Many years ago, there were rumors that Guan Xu was one step away from the Emperor Stage. His foundation was unfathomably strong.

“The second round of selections will be held in the Great Void Dao Refining Pagoda, which is divided into nine floors, and each floor contains Dao Refining Battle Spirits.

“The goal of participants is to defeat those Dao Refining Battle Spirits and reach the ninth floor of the pagoda.

“You will have a time limit of one incense stick!

“After one stick of incense has finished burning, those who fail to make it to the ninth floor will be eliminated.”

Guan Xu’s deep voice reverberated throughout the area, causing many participants to quiver nervously, but many more were filled with anticipation and eager to give it a try.

Guan Xu waved his sleeve.

Boom!

A magnificent pagoda descended from the sky. Its simple and unadorned body was an azure color, with chaotic qi flowing around it and millions of divine light rays sprinkling forth.

Everyone couldn’t help trembling inwardly.

Great Void Dao Refining Pagoda!

This was the most precious and strongest treasure of the Great Void Sect. Rumor had it that it was an ancient treasure born from an uncharted land. It was not only mysterious but also boundlessly powerful.

At this moment, even the leaders of the other factions could not help but marvel. The treasure’s contribution to the Great Void Sect being hailed as the number one sect in Cloud State could not be ignored!

The Great Void Dao Refining Pagoda grew to thousands of feet tall, towering above the clouds, and a door slowly creaked open at the bottom of the pagoda.

“You may enter,” Guan Xu announced.

Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!

Before his voice died away, some participants could not help but speed across the air and quickly disappear into the door.

Lu Dubu, Xie Yuhua, Wang Tu and others from the seven major factions. Lin Xun, Su Muhan, Lan Yunke and others from the ten participating zones...

Altogether there were more than nine hundred people. All were racing into the Great Void Dao Refining Pagoda.

Finally, with a loud boom, the door at the bottom of the pagoda slammed shut.

Shua!

Guan Xu raised his hand, and a stick of incense was lit in midair and smoke began to spiral upwards in a delicate wisp.

This signified the commencement of the second round of selections.

When the stick of incense had burned completely, which would take around two hours, the second round of selections would come to an end.

At this moment, all eyes shifted to the Great Void Dao Refining Pagoda.

“I wonder which participant will be the first to reach the ninth floor of the pagoda and become first place in the second round of selections.”

“In truth, the ranking is not important. What’s important is how many of these participants can rise above the others and successfully pass.”

“I estimate there will be no more than fifty people!”

Higher-ups from the seven major factions as well as important figures from the ancient clans who came to watch the event had all taken their seats on the cloud platform, waiting for the results.

“Everyone, this challenge is not easy.” Guan Xu smiled slightly. “There are nine floors in the pagoda, and the level of difficulty and danger increase as you go up. Long ago, when I was still at the Supreme Saint-King Stage, I also challenged the pagoda and it took me almost one and a half hours to reach the ninth floor.”

Everyone was staggered to hear this.

One stick of incense was two hours[1] and Guan Xu’s record was one hour and a half!

Guan Xu was the sect master of Great Void Sect, but it took him such a long time to pass all nine floors of the pagoda when he was at the Supreme Saint-King Stage!

This meant that the participants must be as strong as Guan Xu was back then if they wanted to pass the second round of selections!

Anyone weaker than that would be in danger!

“But participating in the Dao Debate Contest this time are many experts who are much more extraordinary than I was. It’s hard to say how many will be successful in the end.

“This makes it all the more interesting.”

As Guan Xu said that, he made a flourish with his sleeve.

Hua!

The Great Void Dao Refining Pagoda started to glow before it projected a huge light screen that presented the scene inside the pagoda.

Nine hundred odd participants were now on the first floor. They seemed to be together, but they had actually been teleported to different secret realms.

This was one of the wonderful abilities of the Great Void Dao Refining Pagoda.

This prevented the participants from being disturbed by others inside the pagoda and thereby ensuring a fair challenge. The participants only needed to defeat the Dao Refining Battle Spirits on each floor of the pagoda to progress to a higher level.

All eyes were fixed on the huge light screen and conversations faded into a low murmur.

……

Meanwhile, inside the Great Void Dao Refining Pagoda….

The first level.

It was an endless stretch of golden desert. Scorching hot wind swept across, howling and whipping up sand and dust.

Yellow sand blanketed the world, as fierce and sharp as blades!

The scorching heat in the desert gave rise to a shimmering heat haze.

This was the first level of the Great Void Dao Refining Pagoda: The Yellow Sand Secret Realm.

Lin Xun paused as he sensed that this secret realm was filled with an aura as violent and fierce as a windstorm wreaking havoc.

However, this had no effect on him.

He soared into the air and moved forward.

The jade slip given to him by Heng Xiao, the sect master of Xuanji Dao Sect, also had some notes about the nine levels of the Great Void Dao Refining Pagoda.

Therefore, Lin Xun knew very well that to pass the Yellow Sand Secret Realm and advance into the second level of the pagoda, he only needed to kill nine Dao Refining Battle Spirits.

Rustle—

Just as Lin Xun made a move, yellow sand suddenly rolled up from the ground and condensed into a figure. It had a dazzling golden sheen as if it was crafted from real gold.

Dao Refining Battle Spirit!

It emitted a terrifying aura that was comparable to that of a supreme Saint-King. Its appearance threw the desert into turmoil as if the God of Sand had descended upon the world!

1. Usually a stick of incense represents ~15 minutes but I guess this particular stick burns longer ?