67: Chapter 33: Breaking into the Earth Rankings 67: Chapter 33: Breaking into the Earth Rankings On the day of the ranking competition, atop Xuyun Peak.
Li Ping’an was awaiting his debut match.
The Wanyun Sect’s internal grand competition had three main venues located at Xuyun Peak (Human Ranking battles), Caiyun Peak (Earth Ranking battles), and the Main Peak (Heaven Ranking battles).
According to the “true exclusive news” Li Ping’an received, the competition for the rights to host the event was extremely fierce.
The Immortals of various peaks demonstrated a high level of enthusiasm, and of the thirty-six peak leaders within the sect, twenty-seven had voluntarily applied within two days.
The downside of Li Dazhi’s wide network of friends was undeniably evident in this situation;
Close friends from various peaks kept approaching him, leaving Li Dazhi overwhelmed.
Even the Peak Masters, elders, and old Immortals vied for the chance to showcase their own peaks, going so far as to involve the Sect Leader himself.
Fortunately, Li Dazhi withstood the pressure from all sides and ultimately adopted a relatively fair method—drawing lots.
The Preparatory Hall also set the rule that peaks chosen in this draw would not participate in the next draw until every peak had its turn.
Just as every peak was eagerly anticipating the draw for the three venues, the Sect Leader suddenly visited the Mundane Affairs Hall and had a cordial chat with Li Dazhi and a few elders.
Afterwards, the Preparatory Hall gave the matter careful thought and permanently fixed the Heaven Ranking battles at the Main Peak, limiting the draw to only the Earth and Human Ranking battlegrounds.
[The charm of the Sect Leader.]
As Li Ping’an had anticipated, Xuyun Peak and Caiyun Peak, who won the draw, showed unprecedented enthusiasm.
——Immortals are vain creatures, and the Immortals of a great sect value reputation even more so.
Nearly eighty percent of disciples from the two peaks below the Yuan Immortal Realm assisted the preparation committee in arranging the venue; Qi Cultivators were bustling about, flying to the skies and burrowing into the earth, and had the site set up in half a day perfectly.
Behold the scene at Xuyun Peak:
A square stone platform, one hundred zhang in length and width, floated out of thin air halfway up the mountain, with a viewing platform built following the natural terrain, and on three sides were cloud platforms condensed by the Immortals through their magic.
Two to three thousand inner and outer sect disciples, hundreds of Immortals from various peaks, and nearly a hundred guests from allied sects gathered here to watch the matches.
And this was just the battle for the Human Ranking at Xuyun Peak, which itself didn’t have many attractive features;
The Earth Ranking battleground at Caiyun Peak was more than twice as large!
Taking into account Caiyun Peak’s special status as the ‘maiden home of the peaks’ and that the female cultivators of Caiyun Peak had worked overnight to make over ten thousand ‘viewing souvenirs,’ the number of Immortals observing the Earth Ranking battles was expected to reach into the thousands, and the number of disciple spectators could go beyond four thousand, perhaps reaching five or six thousand!
Such a grand occasion was rarely seen in the Wanyun Sect for a thousand years!
At the topmost part of the viewing platform, Sect Leader Yun Mo, chatting and watching the battles with a few allied sect leaders, had the corners of his mouth constantly turned up.
The Sect Leader watched a somewhat portly Yuan Immortal bustle about through the clouds, growing more pleased with each look.
Of course, Li Ping’an could not hear the Sect Leader’s thoughts.
All he could hear was the surrounding murmurs, laughter, and the calls of the old judge from the Yuan Immortal Realm.
Human number three-five versus Human number one-two!
Disciple, step onto the stage!”
Li Ping’an let out a light breath, quickly walked to the side of the stage to the desk where the jade plaques were managed, handed over the plaque marked with “Human Number One-Two” to the old steward in front, then turned and leapt onto the hovering arena.
His first opponent was a young female Immortal with an innocent face, holding an Immortal Treasure lantern, who cupped her hands towards Li Ping’an with a winsome bow.
There was no helping it, since the criterion for the Human Ranking was “disciples who had entered the sect for under five years,” and Li Ping’an had started cultivation as an adult, inevitably leading to situations where adults competed against children.
Li Ping’an used some minor magic seals and easily ousted his sister, who was close to completing Foundation Establishment, from the range of the arena, winning with ease.
The girl pouted, almost bursting into tears.
Li Ping’an awkwardly bowed his head and made an apologetic gesture, “My apologies.”
Many disciples around the three sides of the platform smiled and chuckled lightly.
Li Ping’an quickly left the stage, retrieved his jade plaque, and lined up for the next round of Magical Combat.
The initial stages of the Human Ranking competition indeed lacked a bit in spectacle.
However, since the disciples had all practiced their Magical Combat skills and fought earnestly, the battles were lively and colorful.
The journey of Li Ping’an and Ningning Mu through the competition was rather smooth.
In a succession of four battles, not a single opponent forced Li Ping’an to use any techniques beyond his magic seals.
Ningning Mu, relying on her Yan Stance, comfortably won over three disciples, but in the fourth battle, she encountered an opponent in the early stages of the Void Refinement Realm.
The battle was fraught with danger, and she finally won narrowly through a crafty sword technique.
That battle, with Ningning Mu triumphing over Void Refinement with her Glowing Light, was indeed awe-inspiring.
The top three finalists in the Human Ranking could participate in the Earth Ranking competition.
Ningning Mu was determined to showcase the Magic Artifact bestowed by her senior brother at her own peak in front of her sisters.
After four rounds of Magical Combat, both Li Ping’an and Ningning Mu had reached the top eight in the Human Ranking.
Only three more battles lay ahead to determine the final rankings.
This also indicated that the upcoming opponents were not to be underestimated.
Sure enough, Li Ping’an’s fifth opponent made him employ his Spear Formation.
This was a 17- or 18-year-old male cultivator, burly and dark-skinned, with surging mana that revealed early-stage Void Refinement Realm strength.
The young man wielded a Demon-Subduing Pestle, seemingly following the rare path of body cultivation, and announced his identity with a rough voice.
“Xuyun Peak, Yu Yingshu, fourth stage of Void Refinement!”
Li Ping’an smiled and replied with a bow, “Under Immortal Qing Su, Li Ping’an, fifth stage of Glowing Light.”
“I know you,” Yu Yingshu said with a wide grin, “I saw when your master took you in.
You’ve been at Liuyun Observatory for three years and have a weak foundation.
How about I give you a break and only use one arm?”