14: Grand Competition of the World
Eight months later! You condensed your True Essence, compressed it, and broke through to the ninth level!
In the ninth month, you successfully broke the limit, reaching the tenth level of True Essence, and the power of your blood and True Essence surged.
In the twelfth month, you successfully completed the eleventh layer breakthrough. The bio-pool's energy was depleted, and you vaguely sensed that you had almost reached your limit.
It took you over a year, starting from the initial entry into True Essence, to compress and refine it eleven times in total.
You felt a slight regret, perhaps you could have refined it one last time.
But that would require a massive consumption of resources and a very long period of time.
You decided to wait, perhaps the rewards from this Five Kingdoms Grand Competition would allow you to reach a higher level.
With only two months left until the Five Kingdoms Grand Competition, and you being almost twenty-one, you decided to go home for a visit.
At home, your father, holding the precious bow you gifted him, couldn't put it down. He was renowned in the hunter's circle, experiencing a second spring.
Your younger brother's talent was mediocre but decent; he trained diligently, taking you as his role model.
Your younger sister, at a young age and as a girl, had already become the village bully, bossing people around with a large group of younger siblings following her.
Her talent was even slightly better than your younger brother's.
You spent about a month at home, either coaching your younger brother and sister or just comfortably lounging around.
The harmonious family life was broken when your father, annoying as he could be, told you to go out and do something.
He said you were an adult now, should have your own career, and shouldn't just lie around.
You felt speechless; you had already driven your peers crazy with your efforts, yet your father still thought you were lazy.
You didn't explain, as he might just think you were bragging.
You decided that next time you returned, you would make a grand display of your achievements, returning home in glory.
If you hadn't coincidentally returned home this time and stumbled upon a dramatic plot, which you then resolved...
You would definitely make your father look at you with new eyes!
Unfortunately, there was already a protagonist, and it was your junior brother.
You were merely a noble transmigator.
A mere outsider from beyond the heavens, only a tiny bit stronger than the protagonist!
You embarked on your journey once more.
Only one month remained until the Five Kingdoms Grand Competition!
Innate Martial Artists, once rarely seen, were now gathered in the Great Xuan capital.
The location for the Five Kingdoms Grand Competition was set at Tianding Mountain, outside Cang Mountain. It was said that the Martial Saint Ancestor of the Great Xuan Imperial Family had moved it there, making a grand display of his power.
It was specifically prepared for the Five Kingdoms Grand Competition.
As the Five Kingdoms Grand Competition approached, even many Martial Saints made an appearance.
Though called the Five Kingdoms Grand Competition, it should actually be considered a Grand Competition of the World!
Besides the Five Kingdoms, there were also visitors from the overseas islands.
The Carefree Rogue, the Lord of Penglai Island, and the Venerable Cloud-Dweller, three overseas Martial Saints, came together, bringing many prodigies from the overseas islands.
All of them were Innate-level masters under thirty years old.
It was even rumored that one of them had comprehended the rudiments of a Domain! Able to open a simple domain.
The Heavenly Demon Ancestor, the Heavenly Demon Cult Master, and the Grand Supreme Demonic Lord, three Demonic Martial Saints from the Heavenly Saint Kingdom, also came together. The Heavenly Saint Demoness was also among them, with her immortal and enchanting beauty.
In the Myriad Law Nation, Daoist culture was prevalent, with many practicing Daoist martial arts and refining their Dao Heart.
The Daozhen Academy, the Taiyi Sect, Longhu Mountain, and the Demon Subduing Sect, with their four Martial Saints, brought disciples from various Myriad Law sects to participate in the competition, nearly thirty people in total, many of whom were not from Martial Saint sects but possessed outstanding talent.
In the Great Western Heaven Dynasty, Buddhist culture was dominant. The Dharma Courtyard, the Thunder Sound Temple, and the Arhat Army all had Martial Saints bringing their prodigies to visit.
In the Ancient Barbarian Dynasty, witchcraft and barbarian sacrifices were prevalent.
The Witch Martial Saint King, the Gu Saint, the Cursed Evil-Comer Martial Saint, and the Barbarian Khan Saint, four Saints, also brought a large number of Ancient Barbarian Dynasty prodigies. However, most of them were strange, terrifying, and mysterious.
As for the local Martial Saints of the Great Xuan Dynasty, their numbers were not few. The Great Xuan Imperial Family's Martial Saint Ancestor, the Four Extremes Martial Saint from the Duke of Zhenguo's lineage, Old Man Cangshan, the Heavenly Cloud Sword Saint, and the newly promoted Dragon Capturing Martial Saint—there were five Martial Saints publicly supporting the event.
This competition saw almost two-thirds or more of the Martial Saint Ancestors from the entire Xuanwu Continent, showing its importance.