218: Chapter 218 Heavenly Court

After being shocked for a moment, Former Sect Master Fan Yao shook his head again, "Little Friend, perhaps Former Palace Master Miaomiao Xue thought about weakening the power of Qingyun Sword Sect and Fire Cloud Valley, but she would never watch both great Sects be completely destroyed."

"Although there is competition among the Four Great Sects, it is all just small squabbles. We all belong to Xiyue Prefecture and must consider the development of Xiyue Prefecture. If both great Sects were destroyed, the blow to Xiyue Prefecture would be immense."

Hearing this, Xiao Yuchen nodded. Dongfang Shuo had mentioned this matter before, hoping he would not come into conflict with Fire Cloud Valley, because regardless of who won or lost, it would weaken the strength of Xiyue Prefecture.

The Four Great Sects each have their own specialties. If Qingyun Sword Sect and Fire Cloud Valley were destroyed, it would mean the loss of the Dao of the Sword and the Legacy of Artifact Refining, which would have a huge impact on Xiyue Prefecture.

"This Junior understands. I am not very familiar with the situation in Xiyue Prefecture, but it seems this matter has nothing to do with me." Xiao Yuchen waved his hand indifferently.

"No, Little Friend, this matter concerns you. Every two years, Disciples of the Four Great Sects under the age of one hundred hold a Martial Arts Competition, and the top one hundred are selected."

"These one hundred Disciples will represent Xiyue Prefecture in the Five Provinces Grand Competition. In the past, Xiyue Prefecture has always come in last place and received the least allocation of resources. If you are willing to fight for Xiyue Prefecture, then Xiyue Prefecture still has a glimmer of hope."

Hearing Former Sect Master Fan Yao's words, Xiao Yuchen asked curiously, "When is the Martial Arts Competition between the Four Great Sects of Xiyue Prefecture?"

"Three months from now. Moreover, this year's Five Provinces Grand Competition is being held in Xiyue Prefecture. As the host, if our results are too poor, it will shake the status of the Four Great Sects."

Xiao Yuchen could understand Former Sect Master Fan Yao's worry. The Four Great Sects are the Face of Xiyue Prefecture. If Xiyue Prefecture loses too miserably, the capabilities of the Four Great Sects will be questioned.

"How strong are the prodigies under one hundred years old from the five great provinces?"

Xiao Yuchen did not know much about Xuantian Continent, so he could take this opportunity to learn about the strength of each province in Xuantian Continent.

"Most are between the Void Refining Stage and the Body Integration Stage, but Central Divine Continent is the strongest. Their Disciples under one hundred years old can reach the Void Tempering Stage, and their combat power is even stronger than those of us from the older generation."

"Wouldn't that be a total crushing defeat? Even if I am strong, what's the point? Might as well just give the first place to Central Divine Continent."

Because Xiao Yuchen had the System to help him obtain top-tier Cultivation Techniques, skills, and treasures, he was able to fight across cultivation stages. If he were cultivating normally, it would be very difficult for a Body Integration Stage cultivator to defeat a Void Tempering Stage cultivator.

"Taking first place is, of course, impossible, and we have never thought of taking first place. As long as we are not last, it is fine. Moreover, the competition is based on a points System; the higher the ranking, the more points you get."

"The final provincial ranking is the sum of everyone's ranking points. If you can rank in the top three individually, the total points will not be low, and at least we won't be in last place."

Hearing this, Xiao Yuchen was lost in thought. If it followed this points System, Xiyue Prefecture did indeed have a chance. If he used all his means, a Middle Stage Void Tempering Stage cultivator could not hurt him at all; getting into the top three would be easy.

Furthermore, there were still three months left. In three months, he could at least reach the Middle Stage of the Body Integration Stage, or even the Late Stage. By then, no one below the Mahayana Stage should be his opponent.

"Then what are the benefits of ranking high? Is it just for Face?"

"Naturally not. Above the five great provinces, there is a mysterious organization—the Heavenly Court. To join the Heavenly Court, one must have at least Undergoing Tribulation Stage cultivation. They control the resources of the five great provinces."

"It is said that a thousand years ago, the concentration of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi in the five provinces of Xuantian Continent was the same. Everyone enjoyed equal cultivation resources, and their strength was similar."

"Although the overall development was good, there was a drawback: it was difficult to Cultivate high-end combat power. When the Demon Race invaded, we suffered because of it."

"Later, those Undergoing Tribulation Stage powerhouses established the Heavenly Court organization and formulated new regulations to determine the distribution of resources among the five great provinces based on strength."

"Although everyone's strength was similar, there were always differences in strength. In the first Martial Arts Competition, Xiyue Prefecture was in last place and received the least amount of resources."

"Over time, the situation in Xiyue Prefecture became worse and worse and was difficult to change. Many capable prodigies left Xiyue Prefecture for the sake of their own futures, which led to Xiyue Prefecture's decline, resulting in it becoming what it is today."

Hearing the name Heavenly Court, Xiao Yuchen frowned. He always felt this name had something to do with Earth. All the cultivators on Earth had disappeared; perhaps they had also come here.

"You mean at the beginning, the concentration of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi in the five great provinces was the same? Resources can be distributed, but how can Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi be distributed?" Xiao Yuchen asked in confusion.

"Yes, it was the same at the beginning, but the Heavenly Court organization established the Xuantian Great Array in the five provinces. They first gather all the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi into the Xuantian Secret Realm and then distribute it to the five provinces according to a ratio. Because Xiyue Prefecture has always been in last place, the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi distributed here is the thinnest."

"So that's how it is. This Heavenly Court organization is interesting. It seems the entire Human Race of Xuantian Continent is under their control."

Xiao Yuchen was very shocked. This was a question of quality versus quantity. Pursuing quantity could be relatively fair, but quality would definitely decrease.

But completely pursuing quality certainly wouldn't work either, so those people came up with such a method; they really went to great pains.

"This was also unavoidable. When the Demon Race invaded before, we were constantly retreating. After the quality improved, at least we now have the ability to contend with the Demon Race."

"There are four Teleportation Arrays in Xiyue Prefecture, each transmitting to the other four great provinces. In the past, the Teleportation Arrays could be used freely, but seeing that all the prodigies of Xiyue Prefecture had left Xiyue Prefecture, the Four Great Sects forcibly took control of the four Teleportation Arrays."

"To leave Xiyue Prefecture, one must first become a Disciple of one of the Four Great Sects, and even then, not just anyone can leave."

"Especially people like you; if you don't come back, it would be a huge loss for Xiyue Prefecture. The Sect Master is taking a huge risk." Former Sect Master Fan Yao explained with a smile.

"So that's how it is. Xiyue Prefecture has actually fallen to such a state that it wants to use this helpless method to keep the local people."

"Fine, I agree to the competition matter. However, I will not stay in Qingyun Sword Sect for these three months, and I might even leave Xiyue Prefecture. But I will definitely return when the Four Great Sects hold the Disciple selection."

Hearing Xiao Yuchen say this, Former Sect Master Fan Yao was not very surprised. Instead, he smiled and said, "Yuxi's idea was right. She had long guessed that you would not stay in Qingyun Sword Sect forever, which is why she gave the Sect Master Token directly to you, wanting to help you as much as possible. She only hopes that if Qingyun Sword Sect is in trouble in the future, you can lend a helping hand."

"That is naturally no problem. My two women are still in the Outer Court. Even if I leave, I will not take them with me. I am just going out to search for the whereabouts of my parents; I will always return."

Xiao Yuchen urgently wanted to find his parents, but to do that, he must first find the Azure Dragon or Dashan. Only then would he know where the Teleportation Array to Earth was.