Start of the Blue Wind Ranking Tournament

9 in the morning. The next day, Heavenly Sword Villa's Sword Discourse Arena.

The main stage of the Sword Discourse Arena and the thirty other small sword arenas were all circular in shape. The main stage was three hundred meters long, and the small stages were close to sixty meters long.

The Sword Discourse Arena was the place used by Heavenly Sword Villa disciples for sparring. It was also where the Blue Wind Ranking Tournament was held. Currently, the seats around the main stage were already filled with people. In front of each seat was a plaque that indicated the group that was present.

Around hundred swords moved in unison as they circled the stage for a few rounds. Below the floating swords, a white-bearded elder walked out slowly, greeted with cusping fists, and spoke in a clear voice, "This old one is Heavenly Sword Villa's Sword Baptizing Pavilion's Elder Ling Wugou. I am glad to meet all the heroes and outstanding youths today. I represent our Villa to thank everyone for turning up at Heavenly Sword Villa. This year's Blue Wind Ranking Tournament..."

He continued speaking, "This year's Blue Wind Ranking Tournament's witness comes from Profound Sky Continent's Four Great Sacred Grounds -- Mighty Heavenly Sword Region's Elder Ling Kun! With Elder Ling Kun's strength and birthplace, I believe no one would doubt Elder Ling Kun's qualifications and authority."

"Now, let this old man declare the prize of this Ranking Tournament."

They only heard Ling Wugou read on, "Third place in the ranking tournament's individual rankings, will receive one 'Purple Striped Dragon Heart Pellet'. Second place in individual rankings will receive three drops of 'Purple Veined Marrow Quenching Fluid'…."

"... First place in individual rankings, will receive a Sky Profound Artifact, Dragonscale Armor, that originates from the Mighty Heavenly Sword Region."

Ling Wugou's declaration continued, "Top ten forces in the ranking tournament, after the tournament, will be qualified to explore 'Heaven Basin Secret Realm' in teams."

"The top ten forces in the ranking tournament, after the exploration of 'Heavenly Basin Secret Realm', will have the opportunity to see the 'Demon' Sealing Ritual carried out personally by Elder Ling Kun of the Mighty Heavenly Sword Region with their own eyes."

"The time hath come. Now, this old man declares; this session of Blue Wind Ranking Tournament, officially begins!"

The enormous Sword Discourse Arena immediately became quiet. One could only see the figure of Ling Wugou waver; he had already flown up into the air. Leaving a line of a hazy grey phantom, he landed on the dead centre of the Sword Discourse Arena in the blink of an eye. There, a gigantic Profound Assessing Stone already stood in place.

"This session's Ranking Tournament has a total of five hundred and thirteen sectoral forces to be ranked and involves one thousand five hundred and thirty-six participating disciples. The age of every single participating disciple must not be younger than sixteen, and must not be over twenty. Anyone not within this age range will be immediately kicked out. Now begins the lot drawing of the Ranking Tournament. Before the number is drawn, one must be tested for age and profound strength, and then let everyone know the names of the younger generation's outstanding individuals as well… Now, participating disciples called on by this old man, come up immediately for profound strength assessment and lot number drawing."

One by one, all the sects went up and got their profound energy checked up.

Yang Tian looked at Cang Yue and noticed that she had a grim look on her face. Considering her personality, she was probably nervous at this time. She was calculating her own rank by measuring her own cultivation base against the disciples from the other sects.

The ordinary sects were finally out of the way as the Xiao Sect disciples were called.

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At this time, Cang Yue let out a breath she was holding unconsciously. Yang Tian spoke to her, "So, you think you can enter the Top Hundred with your strength?"

Cang Yue hesitated for some time before she slowly nodded, "As long as my luck is not too bad, I should reach the top hundred. What about you, Brother Tian? What would be your rank?"

"I don't think I should encounter any issues in grabbing hold of the first rank here." Yang Tian said this with a casual tone.

Qin Wushang looked at Yang Tian with a shocked look and then let out a sigh 'Such is the arrogance of the youth… He should understand the difference between himself and the four great sects when he fights against them.'

Three disciples had been sent from the Xiao Sect.

Xiao Kuanglei, 20 years old, Spirit Profound Realm level nine.

Xiao Zhen, 20 years old, Spirit Profound Realm level nine.

Xiao Nan, 18 years old, Spirit Profound Realm level six.

The next were three disciples from the Burning Heaven Clan.

Fen Jin, 20 years old, Spirit Profound Realm level nine.

Fen Juebi, 20 years old, Spirit Profound Realm level eight.

Fen Yuange, 19 years old, Spirit Profound Realm level seven.

"Frozen Cloud Immortal Palace's Shui Wushuang, Wu Xuexin, Xia Qingyue."

Upon hearing the name of his sister, Xia Yuanba was incomparably excited, and he spoke to Yang Tian, "Brother Tian! That's my elder sister. I didn't think she would be participating in this tournament. Father would be thrilled to know this…"

Yang Tian was already calmly analysing Xia Qingyue. He spoke to Jasmine, "I can only see that she is at the 8th Level of the Spirit Profound Realm. But I can sense that her cultivation base is being suppressed by some sort of equipment. What's her cultivation base?"

Jasmine didn't overthink about this since she thought that Yang Tian wanted to know Xia Qingyue's cultivation base as she was Xia Yuanba's elder sister.

"10th Level of the Spirit Profound Realm before the age of 20. It can't be considered bad on this lowly planet." Jasmine replied soon enough to Yang Tian.

"I see…" Yang Tian nodded his head.

Shui Wushuang -- 20 years old -- Spirit Profound Realm level nine.

Wu Xuexin -- 20 years old -- Spirit Profound Realm level nine.

Xia Qingyue -- 17 years old -- Spirit Profound Realm level Eight.

"Big sister is actually…so amazing! S-she is even above Princess Cang Yue in cultivation!" Xia Yuanba's eyes widened as he let out a surprised sound.

Cang Yue was a little disappointed as she heard Xia Yuanba's words and looked at Yang Tian's expression. Yang Tian spoke to her, "You don't need to fight against any disciple from one of the four great sects. Your goal is to reach the top 100 in the personal ranking, not the top."

For some moments, Cang Yue was surprised as she heard Yang Tian. Was he really consoling her? Did he come to understand that her pride was a little hurt when she heard Xia Yuanba speak that his sister's cultivation base was above her?

Her cheeks turned rosy in colour as she said, "Mhm… You are right."

"Heavenly Sword Villa -- Ling Yun, Ling Feiyu, Ling Jie."

Not long after Frozen Cloud Immortal Palace, Ling Wugou finally shouted out Heavenly Sword Villa's name.

Ling Yun -- 20 years old -- Earth Profound Realm level three.

Ling Feiyu -- 19 years old -- Spirit Profound Realm level nine.

Ling Jie -- 16 years old -- Spirit Profound Realm level six.

Right after Heavenly Sword Villa, the name "Blue Wind Imperial Family" finally sounded.

"Blue Wind Imperial Family- Yang Tian and Cang Yue!"

Upon hearing the name of Cang Yue, multiple cultivators in the audience were shocked. They never thought that the Princess of the Blue Wind Empire was personally going to participate in the Blue Wind Ranking Tournament!

Many people began to talk within their group.

"Tch… The Blue Wind Profound Palace is just so-so. It looks like they couldn't produce a single talented person this time and the Princess had to participate herself."

"The person beside her has lower cultivation base than the Princess, otherwise, why would she need to participate in the tournament."

"It's a pity that even though Princess Cang Yue might secure a good ranking for the Blue Wind Imperial Family, there would only be a few people wanting to join the Blue Wind Profound Palace as the lack of the talents had forced the Royal Family to personally enter the tournament."

"This just shows that they can't even be compared to ordinary sects anymore. The Blue Wind Empire's Imperial Family is on the decline…"

The words were spoken among their own group, and although Cang Yue couldn't hear them clearly, she knew they were making fun of Blue Wind Imperial Family.

Yang Tian placed a hand over her shoulder and calmed her down. He said to her with a neutral look, "Let's go…"

The two stepped up on the Sword Discourse Arena and walked towards the Profound Assessment Stone.

First was, Cang Yue's turn.

Cang Yue – 19 years old – Spirit Profound Realm level five.

The audience wasn't that shocked. Well, except for the Burning Heaven Clan or the Xiao Sect Members.

Because of their connections in the Blue Wind Imperial Palace, they knew that the last time they had heard updates on Cang Yue's cultivation base was when she was merely at the 10th Stage of the True Profound Realm.

After she had shifted to the Inner Palace, they had stopped keeping an eye on her. Their own battles had begun, and they didn't believe Cang Yue could do anything with her strength.

Only they were aware of the fact that Cang Yue had reached the Spirit Profound Realm level five from the 10th Level of the True Profound Realm in just a few months.

Meanwhile, the next was Yang Tian's turn.

He walked towards the Profound Assessment Stone.

Yang Tian – 17 years old – Earth Profound Realm level three.

As soon as these results came out… Whether it was the Heavenly Sword Villa's Elder, Cang Yue, Xia Yuanba, or literally the members of any other sect.

They couldn't believe their eyes as they saw those results! Most of them unconsciously held their breaths in their shock that they were soon out of air.

Chu Yuechan furrowed her brows before unconsciously, a smile appeared on her face, which was hidden behind a snowy veil. She was happy that Yang Tian had grown so strong…She had personally seen him slaughtering Earth Profound Realm Beasts as if they were nothing when he was just at the Spirit Profound Realm. Now that he was at the Earth Profound Realm… With how strong he was, he could probably fight against someone at the peak of the Sky Profound Realm expert and even win.

Even an Emperor Profound Realm Expert would find it troublesome to defeat him without the use of the domain.

Meanwhile, Cang Yue was utterly shocked as she took deep breaths, and her chest made motions of up and down.

She really wanted to ask him about his cultivation base, but she swallowed her words.

Qin Wushang was so significantly shocked, and then he remembered Yang Tian's previous words. He really wanted to let out a triumphant laugh and say "Hahaha… The heavens have blessed the Blue Wind Imperial Palace." But still, he managed to swallow those words as it would be quite shameful if someone of his calibre laughed out loud like this.

The Heavenly Sword Villa Master and his wife were utterly surprised. And even the elder Ling Kun from the Mighty Heavenly Sword Region raised his eyebrow in surprise but, his facial expression returned to normal soon enough.

"Y-You can go." The Heavenly Sword Villa's Elder, Ling Wugou said to Yang Tian with a very forceful smile on his face.

Yang Tian shrugged his shoulder and grabbed Cang Yue's hand before returning to their original seats.

Now… Not a single person in the audience dared to look down upon the Blue Wind Profound Palace.

All of them thought 'FUCK! The Blue Wind Profound Palace actually raised an Earth Profound Realm Level three. Moreover, his age is even lower than Ling Yun! If this is trash… Aren't we even lower than trash?!'

(A/N: This chapter is long because the first half of this chapter was nearly all copy-paste.)