News of the alien invaders' arrival was spread throughout the dominion under the Ziling Sect's efforts, causing the dominion's chaotic situation to turn even more complicated. The various organizations had a feeling that something was about to happen, with the reclusive clans appearing one after another to occupy whatever territories they could and consolidate their strength in preparation for the coming chaos.
In the Ziling Sect's grand hall, Xiang Shaoyun was seated atop the main seat while being briefed on what had happened during his time in seclusion. After listening to all the reports, he concluded that the dominion had fallen into chaos.
His sole source of comfort was that the Ziling Sect had not been affected by the chaos thus far. The Di Clan seemed to be accumulating their strength in preparation for a final showdown with them in the future.
During the past few years, the Ziling Sect, as a whole, had increased significantly in strength. The biggest credit to their growth was the Nine Star Pagodas Xiang Shaoyun had built. One could say that any cultivator of the younger generation would be able to benefit greatly from having a cultivation session in one of these pagodas. As a result, the Ziling Sect members had been able to grow at a much faster speed.
Additionally, Du Xuanhao and the other higher-ups had done their best in training the younger generation. Coupled with the numerous rewards and resources supplied to the disciples, an excellent cultivation environment had been created in the sect.
The angels, the wolfmen, the flower fairies, the Holy Hall, and the Xiang Clan had all established trade with the sect. Through trade, they were all able to accelerate their growth. If all these organizations were to be merged into a single entity, they would probably be powerful enough to attempt an advancement into a tier-9 organization.
However, Xiang Shaoyun did not have the time for that as he needed to participate in the Heaven Battling Ranking Competition. Apart from him, Yu Caidie, Devil Concubine, Lu Xiaoqing, Devouring Ghost, Li Qingchen, the Four Night Saints, and some others totaling to about a dozen people would also be participating in the competition.
As for Despair and his group, they had yet to return. According to Devouring Ghost, Despair had yet to complete his inheritance acceptance. Scarlet Flame Monarch would remain there to watch over Despair. Xiang Shaoyun did not say anything. Perhaps that inheritance would help bring Despair into the Rebirth Realm.
"Alright. Since we have settled all our affairs, let's get going to the Immortal Dynasty," said Xiang Shaoyun after gathering everyone together.
He aimed to become the champion of the competition, which was a mission his master had issued him. He might not know what being a champion meant for his master, but Xiang Shaoyun was still determined to not embarrass him.
Xiang Shaoyun released Gui Qi and stood atop Gui Qi before setting off toward the Immortal Dynasty. As for Money, he had to act as the mount for the others as they traveled together. They still had plenty of time before the competition, so they weren't in that much of a rush.
"Qingchen, you're already a pseudo-God. Can you still participate in the Heaven Battling Ranking Competition?" asked Xiang Shaoyun.
After obtaining the milky way spring water, Liu Qingchen had been able to forge a pseudo-god body and enter the pseudo-God Realm. If he hadn't been suppressing his own cultivation, he would have been able to enter the God Realm directly.
Liu Qingchen laughed, "Hehe, so long as one isn't a proper Rebirth Realm cultivator, one can enter. After all, a pseudo-God is still not a proper God and can still be classified as someone in the Heaven Battling Realm."
"No wonder you refuse to complete your final breakthrough," said Xiang Shaoyun in realization. "How much do you know about the Heaven Battling Ranking?"
"I might know a bit more than you," said Liu Qingchen as he rubbed his nose.
He then told everyone what he knew. The Heaven Battling Ranking Competition was held by the Guardians Guild with the assistance of the other powerful organizations. The Heaven Battling Ranking would be renewed every 500 years. During the competition, the 1,000 strongest Saints would be selected. These Saints would then be nurtured as the future pillars of the dominion and would be the ones in charge of protecting the dominion in the future.
But as times changed, the prolonged peace of the dominion had transformed the competition into something the various organizations exploited to obtain new talents. Anyone capable of distinguishing themselves in the competition would receive the olive branches of the various powerful organizations. That, in turn, would further strengthen the organizations.
Among them, the Immortal Road Chamber, the Guangling Palace, and the Celestial Alliance had benefited the most. Not even the Guardians Guild could stop them. Of course, the Guardians Guild would still be the biggest winner of each competition. After all, becoming a guardian would earn one the respect of everyone in the dominion, granting one a unique status.
The dominion was inhabited by countless people, and naturally, there were countless hidden experts as well, including a large number of Heaven Battling Realm experts. Thus, there would be a lot of participants during each Heaven Battling Ranking Competition. So long as one managed to enter the top-1,000, one would be titled the Heaven Battling Saintking. One would also be rewarded with a god-grade item, giving one the chance to enter the Rebirth Realm.
However, these weren't the main reasons for so many people to participate in the competition. Rather, most of the participants were there for the ancient inheritances and god-grade treasures in the ancient battlefield that would be opened during the competition. Once, a low-level Heaven Battling Realm cultivator had obtained an inheritance that directly brought them into the Rebirth Realm.
That story captured the imagination of many cultivators. There were also numerous stories of people obtaining god-grade weapons and techniques in the battlefield, granting these people a massive increase in strength.
Thus, many pseudo-Gods would also be participating. Not everyone would care for the ranking, but those treasures were wanted by everyone. After all, a mere ranking couldn't compare to an actual treasure in one's hand.
Members of non-human races would also enter the ancient battlefield and compete for the treasures. That was a rule set by the predecessors of humanity as a way of tempering the new generations of human experts.
A large number of non-human races lived in the dominion. These non-human races were rather powerful as well. Since they required the treasures in the battlefield to improve themselves, they naturally wouldn't hold back. As such, it wouldn't be easy for Xiang Shaoyun to emerge as the champion of the competition.
Liu Qingchen had held back his breakthrough even after using the milky way spring water because he wanted to enter the ancient battlefield. There, he hoped to both temper himself and find some fortuitous encounters for himself. Xiang Shaoyun and the rest had a look of realization upon listening to Liu Qingchen's explanation.
They finally understood that because of the ancient battlefield, each Heaven Battling Ranking Competition would be extremely intense. A terrifyingly large number of Saints would perish, but the survivors would become experts among experts. In a way, the competition abided by the concept of the survival of the fittest.
"Boss, you need to be careful of those from the four super organizations in the battlefield. They all cultivated ancient god-grade techniques, and each of them has a powerful physique. They are very strong and can't be judged with logic," said Liu Qingchen.
"Um. So long as they don't provoke me, I won't be bothered to waste any time on them either," said Xiang Shaoyun with a nod.
Liu Qingchen smiled bitterly as he thought, I hope those arrogant fellows won't provoke my boss, or they will be asking for trouble.