417: The competition has concluded, and the Young Singers Association has made progress.

The next day, in the center of the Eternal Night Divine Capital, a massive Martial Arts Arena built from solid blocks of Black Profound Astral Rock was already surrounded by a sea of people.

The reason for holding the Family competition in the Eternal Night Divine Capital was to showcase the Family's strength!

As for those petty scoundrels hiding in the shadows, Di Shenglong did not even spare them a glance.

As long as he was there, it didn't matter how much they tried to stir up trouble.

Almost all Di Clan Members, whether competing or not, were present.

On the periphery, observers sent by other forces crowded together, their voices creating a deafening clamor.

Upon the high platform, Di Shenglong sat in the main seat, his aura as deep as an abyss.

Di Tianxiao stood beside him as straight as a javelin, the pressure of his War God Physique faintly radiating, suppressing the entire scene.

The newly appointed Third Elder and City Lord of the Eternal Night Divine Capital, Di Tianhao, sat slightly below him, his sharp gaze scanning the crowd like a tiger patrolling its territory.

Vice City Lord Luo Qingyue sat below Di Tianhao, with Li Xuanyue standing behind her.

“The time has come!”

Di Tianxiao's voice boomed like thunder, drowning out the noise of the crowd.

“The Di Clan Year-end Grand Competition officially begins! The first round: Melee! It will be divided into four sessions: Heaven-Reaching Realm, Purple Mansion Realm, Divine Mansion Realm, and Profound Core Realm.”

“First, all those in the Profound Core Realm shall enter this stage together! Although you are on the same arena, you may only fight one-on-one. Those who persist until only one hundred remain will advance! Those who fall off the stage, stay down for ten breaths, or concede will be eliminated! Begin!”

Boom!

As his voice fell, a pale gold energy barrier rose from the edge of the Martial Arts Arena.

Nearly a thousand Di Clan Members who had been waiting below the stage surged into the massive Martial Arts Arena like a floodgate opening!

In an instant, spiritual light flashed brilliantly, and Qi surged in all directions!

Amidst the flashes of blades and swords, the wind of fists and palm prints, spiritual power of various attributes collided violently, producing deafening roars.

The melee was intense and brutal, with shouts, sounds of impact, and cries of pain rising and falling one after another.

People were constantly being knocked off the stage or falling to the ground, judged to be eliminated.

On the high platform, Di Shenglong calmly scanned the field, taking in the performance of every clan member.

Di Tianxiao maintained a cold and stern expression, like the strictest of examiners.

Di Tianhao watched with particular focus, his eyes as sharp as knives.

As the Third Elder and new City Lord, he needed to understand the true combat strength of these clan members who might become the backbone of the Family in the future.

Di Tianxiao noticed some promising talents, but they would need even harsher tempering to truly become pillars of the clan.

“Time's up! Stop!”

Di Tianxiao's majestic voice rang out again like a thunderclap, instantly suppressing the fierce fighting across the field.

The melee came to an abrupt halt.

In the massive Martial Arts Arena that originally held nearly a thousand people, only about a hundred remained standing. Everyone was injured and breathing heavily, but their eyes were filled with the excitement of victory and a thirst for the battles to come.

The eliminated were either supported by companions or sat to regulate their breathing, their gazes toward the hundred in the arena filled with envy and Battle Intent.

“Those who advanced, rest for one hour!” Di Tianxiao waved his hand. “In one hour, we will draw lots for the duels!!”

“Now, the Divine Mansion Realm participants, enter the arena!”

A new round of competition began!

Di Shenglong withdrew his gaze from the arena and looked toward the distant horizon, as if piercing through the endless Void Realm to land deep within the Ancient Starry Path, where the Power of Starlight was boundless.

The future of the Di Clan required the strength of every clan member.

He withdrew his gaze, and deep within his eyes was an absolute conviction that the rising dragon of the Di Clan would surely soar to the highest heavens.

The battles in the Martial Arts Arena were merely a small footnote on this journey. The true storm was still brewing in the distance.

The echo of the final collision on the Martial Arts Arena faded, signaling the end of the two-day Di Clan Year-end Grand Competition.

The air was filled with smoke, sweat, and a faint scent of blood, but more so with a soaring and unyielding Battle Intent.

Di Tianxiao stood on the high platform, his voice like a great bell, announcing the names of the top ten winners of each Realm. Every name announced was accompanied by enthusiastic cheers and envious gazes from below.

The winners' rewards were personally bestowed by Di Shenglong, radiant with light and overflowing with the aura of treasures.

There were Saint-Grade Medicinal Pills that breathed out iridescent light and could help one break through Realms; top-grade battle armor inscribed with ancient runes with astonishing defense; Spirit Weapons with the sealed souls of powerful Vicious Beasts and unpredictable power; and even massive amounts of Spirit Stones and rare Heaven And Earth Treasures.

Every reward was enough to drive external Cultivators mad; it was a display of the Di Clan's profound heritage and the highest recognition of the clan members' valiant efforts.

The winners excitedly accepted their rewards, a more fervent fire burning in their eyes, while the losers also clenched their fists in secret, determined to fight again next year.

Within the Sacred Pill Workshop, Di Qingge sat cross-legged in the Alchemy room. The Nine Nether Profound Darkness Fire, like the most loyal sprite, traced profound paths in mid-air under the guidance of her slender fingers.

Before her floated three ancient-looking Pill Furnace phantoms; this was the “Three Talents Spirit-Nurturing Method” taught by Dan Chenzi.

Within the furnaces, the essences of dozens of Spirit Medicines of incredible ages were undergoing a violent Fusion and purification, enveloped by the Nine Nether Profound Darkness Fire.

Di Qingge was focused to the extreme, fine beads of sweat forming on her forehead only to be instantly evaporated by the high heat.

Her mind was completely immersed in the world of the Dao of Alchemy, the essences of the Myriad Flames Return to Origin Art and the Sacred Fire Elixir Sutra flowing through her mind.

“Condense!”

A clear shout rang out with a strange rhythm, like the sudden sound of a zither.

Di Qingge's hand Seals suddenly changed, and the Nine Nether Profound Darkness Fire abruptly contracted, turning into three lines of fire that precisely pierced into the cores of the three Pill Furnace phantoms.

Buzz—!

The furnace bodies vibrated violently, a dazzling light erupted, and a medicinal fragrance so thick it couldn't be dispersed instantly filled the entire Alchemy room, drawing gasps of admiration from many guards.

As the light faded, three perfectly round Medicinal Pills, their surfaces flowing with a seven-colored rainbow haze, slowly flew out and floated before Di Qingge. Their spiritual rhythm was striking, with faint visions of dragons and tigers meeting.

“Seven Haze Spirit-Nurturing Pill... Heaven-Grade High Grade, it's done.”

Di Qingge let out a long breath, her exhaustion accompanied by a great sense of satisfaction.

In just a few short months, under Dan Chenzi's selfless teaching, her Alchemy attainments had progressed by leaps and bounds, and she now stood firmly on the threshold of a Heaven-Grade High Grade Alchemist.

“Not bad. Your control of the heat has reached the Subtle Realm, and the intent of returning to the origin is beginning to take shape.”

A gentle voice sounded.

Dan Chenzi's figure appeared silently in the Alchemy room. He looked at the three Seven Haze Spirit-Nurturing Pills, his eyes full of praise.

“Qingge, your Myriad Fire Sacred Body and the Myriad Flames Return to Origin Art are truly a perfect match. In time, it will not be difficult for you to surpass your Revered Master.”

Di Qingge hurriedly stood up and bowed: “It is all thanks to Revered Master's guidance.”

“Not so,” Dan Chenzi waved his hand.

“Even uncut jade needs a skilled craftsman. This old man is merely a guide. The Di Clan has a profound heritage and has provided you with the best conditions.”

His gaze swept across a corner of the Alchemy room, where over a dozen young Di Clan Members were holding their breath, intently observing the Jade Slip recording of Di Qingge's Alchemy.

These were all carefully selected Di Clan Members with talent for Alchemy.

Under Dan Chenzi's occasional guidance, although they were far from being as stunning as Di Qingge, they were also making rapid progress. Among them, two were already able to consistently refine High Grade Xuan-Grade Medicinal Pills. In time, they would surely become the solid foundation of the Di Clan's Dao of Alchemy.

“Revered Master, the Alchemy competition in the Medicine King Prefecture...” Di Qingge's eyes held expectation and a hint of inquiry.

Dan Chenzi stroked his beard and smiled: “The invitation has arrived. The decennial Hundred Herbs Pill Assembly in the Medicine King Prefecture is the premier event of the Dao of Alchemy in the Eastern Region.”

“This time, you shall represent the Di Clan to meet the elites of the Eastern Region! It is also a good opportunity to search for a few types of Heaven and Earth Spirit Fires to help your Nine Nether Profound Darkness Fire advance further.”

“Rumor has it that the first prize for this Hundred Herbs Pill Assembly is a type of Sacred Fire!”

Di Qingge's beautiful eyes lit up, and she said solemnly: “This Disciple will certainly go all out and not fail the expectations of Revered Master and the Family!”