Chapter 220 - Enormous Pressure

Chen Fan looked up, catching sight of a gray-robed elder soaring through the air, traversing multicolored light as he approached.

Upon reaching the skies above Tianmen Mountain, he promptly landed on its peak.

“This elder is... the Spring Autumn Sect’s Grand Elder, Chen Muyang!” Someone nearby immediately recognized this gray-robed elder. [1]

Intrigued, Chen Fan looked at the gray-robed elder closely. Recollections of a past feud in the outer sect involving Chen Changfeng and the three tigers resurfaced in Chen Fan's mind. Chen Changfeng, with a prominent status, was supported by his grandfather, who was none other than Grand Elder Chen Muyang.

Although Chen Fan had heard of him before, this was his first time seeing the man himself.

Chen Muyang belonged to the neutral faction in the inner sect and seldom made appearances.

Subsequent to his arrival, a group of Core Formation realm experts joined him, flying from a distance toward the mountain peak. This group, consisting of about a dozen individuals, exuded formidable auras that stirred the wind and clouds, all experts at the Core Formation realm.

This dozen or so people were all elders of the Spring Autumn Inner Sect but were in the Sect Leader’s faction.

Since Duan Jingtian was one of the main characters of this event, the elders of the Sect Leader’s faction naturally came to show their support.

In the Great Chu Empire, Core Formation realm martial artists were considered the pinnacle of existence, each of them enjoying widespread renown. They were either Grand Elders of the various sects or territorial overlords with formidable reputations.

Those who surpassed the Core Formation realm and reached the Divine Nascent realm, such as the sect leaders, served as stabilizing forces for their respective sects. They could exert tremendous influence across the entire Great Chu Empire with a mere step.

Although Duan Jingtian and Zhong Ya were influential figures of the Great Chu Empire and were young geniuses at the top of the Geniuses of Heaven Leaderboard, no Divine Nascent realm powerhouse had shown up yet.

In the past, Wei Buyu and Duan Jingtian had an altercation on Dragon Mountain Peak, which nearly escalated to them exchanging blows. However, the intervention of the Spring Autumn Sect's Sect Leader—a mere will from him—averted the crisis.

So, up until now, Chen Fan hadn’t seen the Spring Autumn Sect’s Sect Leader either.

“It’s the Spring Autumn Sect’s Grand Elders who are in the Core Formation realm. The ten or so of them arrived together. How majestic, how truly spectacular.”

“Chen Muyang is also a Grand Elder of the Spring Autumn Sect. Why didn’t he come with them?”

“Hehe, the waters here are very deep. Them not coming together means that they belong to different factions.”

“Look, more Core Formation realm powerhouses are here.”

“......”

The arrival of the Core Formation realm powerhouses heightened the excitement on Tianmen Mountain.

Qi Grandmasters were as common as dogs on the mountain, and Yuanfu realm experts were also abundant.

Normally, a Yuanfu realm martial artist would be considered an expert—an existence that would be the center of attention. However, how could they stand out on the mountain when there were already more than thirty Core Formation realm experts here?

Yuanfu realm martial artists were like ants in front of Core Formation realm powerhouses.

The Yuanfu realm experts had concealed their auras to avoid inadvertently provoking the esteemed Core Formation realm powerhouses.

“Look, that’s Wanderer Xuanhan, a rogue cultivator at the third level of the Core Formation realm. The powers of his ice cultivation are unparalleled. He once sealed a mountain in ice with a palm!”

“And there, that’s Reverend Zishan! Although the Violet Daoist Temple doesn’t count for much in the Great Chu Empire, Reverend Zishan's cultivation is exceptional, reaching the fifth level of the Core Formation realm. Additionally, the Eastern Violet Qi Cultivation Technique he practices is a lower-earth tier cultivation technique.”

“There, elders of the Beast Profundity Sect. Rumors have it that their cultivation involves controlling beasts, allowing them to tame ferocious demon beasts for combat. Their strength is extraordinary.”

“......”

Although Chen Fan didn’t recognize the newcomers in the Core Formation realm, someone in the crowd was always ready to provide information about their origins and practiced cultivation techniques.

A youth with a slightly chubby figure eagerly shared these details as if he were counting his family's treasures whenever a Core Formation realm powerhouse appeared.

Jingtian and Zhong Ya were young. They were the junior generation and were as young as the grandchildren of the older Core Formation realm experts there.

Even so, these people had come to watch this battle, hoping to comprehend some things from Duan Jingtian and Zhong Ya’s fight and improve.

One after another, Core Formation realm experts descended upon the peak of Tianmen Mountain, turning it into a congregation of formidable individuals. Standing on the mountain peak symbolized not only their strength but also their status.

The martial artists below the Core Formation realm weren’t qualified, nor did they dare to go there. They could only watch from afar.

“Quick, look, that’s Lu Daoming, ranked fifteenth on the Geniuses of Heaven Leaderboard. He’s come, too!”

“Look, there, that’s Flying Snow Fairy Chi Feixue, ranked twentieth on the Geniuses of Heaven Leaderboard. She’s a proud daughter of the heavens, having both strength and beauty. I am willing to lose ten years of my life if I could spend a night with her.”

“......”

Chen Fan saw a continuous stream of young experts soaring through the air, their auras matching or even surpassing those of the older Core Formation realm powerhouses.

These individuals, as informed by the talkative youth, were all listed on the Geniuses of Heaven Leaderboard, with their rankings below that of Duan Jingtian and Zhong Ya. The men exuded handsomeness and elegance, while the women possessed beauty and graceful temperaments.

These people had also come to watch the battle, eager to see Duan Jingtian and Zhong Ya’s strengths and compare them to theirs.

Time passed gradually; half an hour later, another group of about fifteen or sixteen experts came flying.

These people all had a common feature: a radiant symbol embroidered on their chests. This group of people were the Core Formation realm powerhouses from the Divine Light Sect.

Among them, a youth in a golden robe stood out, radiating divine light and carrying a solemn demeanor. His appearance captivated onlookers, evoking a sense of reverence.

The crowd immediately cheered wildly when they saw this youth.

“It’s Zhong Ya! Zhong Ya has come!”

“All the stars cup themselves around the moon. Even though Zhong Ya’s status is that of a disciple, the Grand Elders of the Divine Light Sect are willing to act as leaves to highlight the flower that is Zhong Ya. It looks like the position of the next Sect Leader of the Divine Light Sect will be going to Zhong Ya.”

“So, this is Zhong Ya, the man ranked eleventh on the Geniuses of Heaven Leaderboard? What powerful aura, what dazzling radiance!”

“Geniuses of Heaven Leaderboard... Those listed on it are all proud children of heaven. They truly deserve their name.”

“Since Zhong Ya is here, I suppose Duan Jingtian will also be arriving soon.”

“This battle really leaves one looking forward to it and makes one’s blood boil!”

“......”

Chen Fan looked toward Zhong Ya and had to narrow his eyes due to the dazzling divine light.

What a powerful aura!

Chen Fan had to admit Zhong Ya’s strength in his heart.

This kind of strength left him feeling a sense of powerlessness.

If he were to fight Zhong Ya, the latter only needed to exhale to kill him.

If Zhong Ya was this powerful, would Duan Jingtian be weak?

Chen Fan felt he was too weak. He was like an ant in front of them.

He even doubted he could reach Duan Jingtian’s height in three years and fight him.

1. In 181, Wei Buyu said he would take up the position of Grand Elder after Chen Fan entered the inner sect. Together with the information in 218, it seems “Grand Elder” is a higher rank of elder instead of a single position like “the first elder.” ☜