Chapter 525 - Gathered at the Selection Platform

The qualifications required to participate in the Grand Sect Conference weren’t stringent; they extended beyond sects to include prestigious clans, provided participants were under forty years old.

Despite the lax entry requirements, a degree of self-awareness was crucial.

The gap between prestigious clans and sects was enormous. Consequently, ninety-nine percent of the prestigious clan members were merely here to spectate and enjoy. They had no plans to participate. Even if they did send someone, they would only be embarrassing themselves.

To put it into perspective, among the Spring Autumn Sect’s participants, no one was even below the fourth level of the Core Formation realm. However, even participants at the fifth or sixth level were only fodder in the Grand Sect Conference.

Those truly qualified to fight for the thirty slots had to have high-level Core Formation realm cultivation, which meant they had to be at the seventh level at the very least. In the imperial city, a seventh-level Core Formation realm could easily become the patriarch of a clan.

Take the previous number one great clan of the imperial city, the Qin Clan, for example. Their strongest member, Qin Pokong, was only at the eighth level, and their patriarch, Qin Wudi, was only at the seventh level.

As for the top-tier sects, there were at least thirty to forty of them across the entire Great Chu Empire and each had nurtured numerous geniuses that were at least at the seventh level of the Core Formation realm.

That was the difference in strength between clans and sects.

At the corner of the viewing gallery, the prestigious clans of the imperial city had pretty much all arrived, and the Chen Clan was also among them.

During this recent period, the Chen Clan had enjoyed unprecedented freedom in the imperial city, especially when news of the battle in the Spring Autumn Sect spread throughout the Great Chu Empire. The Chen Clan’s popularity reached a new peak.

Everyone now knew that Chen Fan had won the life-and-death duel against Duan Jingtian and saved the day at the Spring Autumn Sect, defeating the notorious Young Master Xue Jia, whose fierce reputation was well-known across the empire.

Young Master Xue Jia was a fearsome character who had killed Li Fan, the person ranked fifth on the Geniuses of Heaven Leaderboard, and Chen Fan had killed such a monster. What did that mean?

It meant that Chen Fan had the strength to be ranked within the top five of the Geniuses of Heaven Leaderboard at the very least!

Many people even had the opinion that Chen Fan was the number one figure among the younger generation in the Great Chu Empire!

“Brother Chen, now that your son has become famous in the Great Chu and is unofficially known as the number one person of the younger generation in the empire, he will surely be able to obtain a slot in this Grand Sect Conference.”

“Yes, Brother Yihai is right. With your son’s talent, he can enter the ancient ruin and encounter many fortuitous encounters. By the time he leaves, he might already be a Divine Nascent realm powerhouse—a true peak expert.”

The Su and Yang Clans sat together with the Chen Clan, sharing their smiles and high spirits.

Chen Zhengqing smiled, “You’re flattering him. While Xiaofan has gained some fame, it’s only within the Great Chu Empire. There are countless prodigies in the world, many of whom are more outstanding than him. I just hope that he returns from the ancient ruin safely; that is enough for me.”

On the other side, the Nangong Clan members watched Chen Zhengqing talking and laughing with Su Yihai and Yang Rong, feeling a pang of bitterness.

Although the Nangong Clan was still one of the four great clans, their decline was becoming increasingly evident. In contrast, the Chen Clan's prominence was on the rise.

Despite the Chen Clan's overall strength being equivalent to a quasi-first-rate clan in the imperial city, no one dared to underestimate them.

The patriarchs of the Su and Yang Clans, both significant clans in the city, had humbled themselves to engage in small talk with Chen Zhengqing. Why? Because of Chen Fan.

Currently, who in the entire Great Chu Empire did not know about Chen Fan?

𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

Watching the Chen Clan, the Nangong Clan members were feeling bitter inside.

Suddenly, the nearby crowd stirred.

“Look, the Donghua Sect is here!”

A rush of wind swept through the air as several figures appeared, led by none other than the Donghua Sect’s high elder, who came to the Spring Autumn Sect’s aid recently.

“The Donghua Sect is a top-tier sect ranked within the top ten of the Great Chu Empire. Unfortunately, Xue Jia killed their number one holy disciple, Li Fan. Now, their chances of securing a slot in this Grand Sect Conference are uncertain.”

“You’re wrong about that. Although Li Fan is the Donghua Sect’s strongest holy disciple, their number two holy disciple, Shen Fan, isn’t weak either. I’m sure the Donghua Sect has poured all their resources into him during this period. Obtaining a slot wouldn’t be a difficult task for them.”

Another group of figures descended. They belonged to the Great Mountain Sect.

“Great Mountain Sect’s people have also arrived. That is Wang Yue, isn’t he? Ranked seventh on the Geniuses of Heaven Leaderboard.”

The Great Mountain Sect was also a top-tier sect ranked within the top ten of the Great Chu Empire.

It was said that all of their disciples cultivated earth-attributed cultivation techniques and had boundless physical strength. Their defensive prowess was also shocking, so they were extremely troublesome to deal with.

“Look, the Ancient Sage Sect and Immortal Inquisition Sect have come together.”

“That’s Ao Xu and Pei Ce, ranked fourth and fifth on the Geniuses of Heaven Leaderboard. My goodness, such deep and rich cultivation. They’re at the ninth level at the very least!”

“The Grand Sect Conference truly lives up to its name as a once-a-decade grand occasion. Not only can we see the top geniuses of the various sects, but we can also see these Divine Nascent realm powerhouses. These people are the true supreme experts of the Great Chu Empire!”

“I know, right? They may look like ordinary people without any cultivation, but that's because they've achieved a natural state. So impressive!”

As time passed, the sound of people arriving filled the air, and more individuals descended onto the Selection Platform, creating a bustling atmosphere.

Many had heard of these geniuses but had never seen them in person. The Grand Sect Conference provided the perfect opportunity to catch a glimpse of these renowned figures and even some Divine Nascent realm powerhouses.

The crowd murmured among themselves.

“Look, the Cloud Sky Sect, the Violet Sun Sect, and the Heaven’s Will Palace have arrived together. My god, these three sects are top powers in the Great Chu Empire, ranked within the top three! Such grandeur!”

“Qi Feifan, Lin Wushang, and Zhantai Liuli are the top three rankers on the Geniuses of Heaven Leaderboard. Rumor has it they’ve surpassed the ninth level and reached the Nine Revolutions of the Golden Core!”

“How can I even compare myself to them? It’s too damn vexing! They’re in their early thirties and already supreme experts. Meanwhile, we’re only in the Yuanfu realm. Sigh...”

“Hoho, you can’t compare yourself to them. They are geniuses, monsters, but what are you? Just a part of the crowd. Be content with reaching the Yuanfu realm.”

In the viewing gallery, the sects sat according to their ranks.

Although there wasn’t an official ranking, the various sects had a rough idea and wouldn’t occupy places randomly.

The arrival of the Cloud Sky Sect, Violet Sun Sect, and Heaven’s Will Palace immediately drew the attention of the other sects. They were the undisputed top three sects of the Great Chu Empire.

“All the great sects have arrived.”

At this moment, more and more sects arrived and descended on the Selection Platform before going up to the viewing gallery, causing quite a commotion.

“The Suspended Sky Palace’s people are here.”

“The Jade Firmament Palace is also here.”

“Those people are from the Divine Light Sect.”

“The Floating Cloud Sword Sect has also arrived.”

“Look, the Spring Autumn Sect, they’re here!”

Everyone looked into the sky, feeling their hearts pounding. The various top sects and powers of the Great Chu Empire have all gathered at the Selection Platform today.