Inside Bing Character Seventy-Six cave dwelling, all was quiet. Only the bubbling sound of the spiritual spring and the faint hum when the spirit-gathering array channeled spiritual energy. The heavy stone door and basic restrictions completely blocked out the outside noise, creating a rare tranquil space.
In the small courtyard, Zhao Tiezhu was practicing a set of simple body-tempering boxing he had learned from somewhere, sweating profusely, yet enjoying it. For him, being able to cultivate in such a spiritually rich precious land was already a great fortune he dared not imagine before.
In the cultivation quiet room, Tang Xiaoqi had not immediately entered deep meditation. He sat cross-legged, holding that jade slip obtained from the Star Oracle Hall registration point that recorded the detailed rules of the "Wan Xiang Wen Dao Assembly." With the assembly opening imminent, he needed to thoroughly understand all the rules and details, so as to have confidence in his heart and be able to respond calmly.
His spiritual sense sank into the jade slip, and a vast stream of information like a scroll slowly unfolded in his sea of consciousness, organized clearly and detailed in content.
[Wan Xiang Wen Dao Assembly · Rules Summary]
Assembly Purpose: To select the world's talented people, temper Dao-hearts, exchange Dao methods, and jointly explore the secrets of longevity.
Participation Qualifications: Those holding Star Oracle Hall-issued "Dao Inquiry Invitations," or those recommended by various forces and passing preliminary review. Age must be under one hundred years old.
Assembly Process: Divided into three rounds of assessment, with elimination each round, until the final top hundred ranking is determined.
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[First Round: Ascending the Heavenly Stairs]
* Location: Star Oracle Hall forbidden area - "Ancient Path to Heaven."
* Format: All participants simultaneously climb a stone step ancient path totaling nine hundred ninety-nine steps.
* Core Test: Will, potential, Dao-heart.
* Detailed Rules:
The Heavenly Stairs contain natural pressure; the higher one goes, the stronger the pressure, forming comprehensive oppression on the physical body, spiritual power, and spiritual sense. At certain intervals, "Heart-Questioning Illusion Realms" are set up, directly pointing to the cultivator's inner attachments, fears, desires, etc. Those with unsteady Dao-hearts can easily sink into them, unable to extricate themselves. During the climbing process, cannot use any external objects for assistance (such as pills, talismans, special artifacts), can only rely on one's own cultivation, will, and Dao-heart to resist hard. Falling from the Heavenly Stairs, actively giving up, or being trapped in an illusion for more than the time it takes to burn an incense stick without breaking free is considered elimination. Advancement Standard: Only those who successfully reach the top may enter the next round. (The jade slip specially noted: According to past experience, this round has an extremely high elimination rate, often fewer than one in ten remain.)
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[Second Round: Secret Realm Survival]
* Location: A small secret realm attached to Tian Shu City - "Small Cave Heaven."
* Format: Participants passing the first round (estimated about a thousand people) will be randomly teleported into the "Small Cave Heaven" secret realm for a three-day survival trial.
* Core Test: Actual combat, survival, strategy, character.
* Detailed Rules:
The secret realm environment is complex, containing natural dangers (ferocious beasts, poisonous miasma, forbidden areas, etc.). Core Task: Seize other participants' number plates. Each person starts with one number plate. Advancement Standard: After three days, those holding at least four number plates (including one's own) and not having been eliminated may advance. Final top one hundred determined based on number of plates held and comprehensive performance in the secret realm. Key Restrictions:
* Maliciously causing death is strictly prohibited! If a participant intentionally kills, causing the other party's death, once verified, cultivation will be immediately abolished, permanently expelled from Tian Shu City, and the responsible force behind them will be held accountable. (This rule was marked with eye-catching blood-colored runes, emphasizing its seriousness.)
* Alliances allowed, any means permitted (formations, traps, poison techniques, etc.), but cannot borrow power from elders or guardians outside the secret realm.
* If encountering fatal danger, can crush the number plate, will be instantly teleported out of the secret realm, but this also means elimination.
* A small number of special tokens or opportunities exist in the secret realm; obtaining them can bring extra advantages or rewards.
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[Third Round: Arena Decisive Battle]
* Location: "Wan Xiang Battle Platform" before Star Oracle Hall's main hall.
* Format: Top hundred ranking battle.
* Core Test: Absolute strength, tactics, foundation.
* Detailed Rules:
Using a combination of drawing lots and round-robin to ensure fairness. The arena has powerful restrictions, ensuring battle aftermath does not harm spectators and the venue. In battle, one party admitting defeat, losing combat ability, falling from the arena, or violating rules means the other party wins. Intentional killing is still prohibited, but in arena combat, swords have no eyes; if there is an accidental killing, after the referee judges it unintentional, punishment may be waived. Final specific ranking of this assembly's top one hundred determined based on number of wins, performance, etc.
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[Reward Mechanism]
* Top one hundred: All receive generous spirit stone, pill, material rewards, and obtain Tian Shu City "Outstanding Talent" title, enjoying some city privileges.
* Top fifty: Additional reward of high-level cultivation methods, secret technique inheritance opportunities, or rare treasures.
* Top ten: Rewards extremely amazing! Including but not limited to: qualification to enter Tian Shu City's core secret realm "Tian Shu Secret Realm" for cultivation, ancient great power inheritance insights, supreme spiritual treasures, and even... immortal artifact fragments!
* Top three: Besides the above rewards, can also receive personal guidance from Star Oracle Hall and even Tian Shu City high-level, their names will be praised throughout the world, enjoying supreme glory!
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[Other Important Notes]
* During the assembly, any form of outside interference, sneak attacks, large-scale private fighting is strictly prohibited; violators will be severely punished without mercy.
* Fair competition is encouraged, but the use of strategies and schemes is also tacitly approved.
* Final interpretation right belongs to Tian Shu City Star Oracle Hall.
After reading the information, Tang Xiaoqi slowly opened his eyes, profound light flashing in his deep eyes.
The rules were very clear, and also very cruel.
The first round "Ascending the Heavenly Stairs," seemingly simple, was actually an ultimate test of foundation and character. No external objects allowed, relying entirely on oneself. For his Green Lotus Origin, tough will, and Dao-heart tempered through trials, this was a good test. He had confidence in reaching the top.
The second round "Secret Realm Survival," was full of variables and dangers. Thousand-person melee, seizing number plates, meant almost everyone was an enemy. Not only facing the secret realm's natural dangers, but also guarding against other participants' sneak attacks, traps, and alliances. Though the rules prohibited killing, the boundary of "accidental" was very vague, and severe injuries and destroying people's cultivation were probably commonplace. This was more like a miniature, limited-rule cultivation world survival battle. He needed to be more cautious, and also prepare for encountering strong enemies, or even being besieged at any time.
The third round "Arena Decisive Battle," was a collision of hard power. Those who could enter the top hundred were all masters among masters; to get a good ranking, every match required going all out.
And those generous rewards, especially the "Tian Shu Secret Realm" and "Immortal Artifact Fragments" that only the top ten could access, made his heart beat faster. That was definitely an opportunity that could make even Spirit Transformation stage great powers go crazy!
His goal was definitely not just to enter the top hundred, or even just the top ten!
He wanted to go further in this gathering of the world's talented! He wanted the name of Qingxu Temple to resound through this Tian Shu City! He wanted to use this opportunity to break through his own bottleneck and step onto a higher realm!
Putting away the rule jade slip, Tang Xiaoqi once again closed his eyes, but this time, he was not cultivating, but repeatedly deducing in his mind various situations he might encounter in the three rounds of assessment, thinking about response strategies.
Inside the cave dwelling, spiritual energy was dense, all was quiet.
And the storm was about to arrive.