Cultivation of immortality begins with an eighty-year-old eunuch.

Chapter 528 Selected! Desolate Continent City!

Standing on the stage, Lu Xiong looked at the clean-shaven face opposite him, and his legs felt weak.

The scene of being suppressed by a single finger a month ago was still vivid in his mind. He never wanted to experience that feeling of powerlessness, where all his spiritual energy was drained and he couldn't even move a finger, again in his life.

What's more, just now, he personally witnessed this person blast Hong Jiu, who was in the early stage of Core Formation, off the stage with a single palm strike. He knew Hong Jiu's strength; he was certain he couldn't even withstand a single move from that fire serpent.

But what about Chen Mu?

He broke through the spell with a single sword strike and defeated the enemy with a single palm strike, as cleanly and efficiently as if he had casually swatted a fly.

Lu Xiong took a deep breath and then exhaled heavily.

He was a rough man, but not a fool.

Fighting someone like that isn't a contest, it's suicide.

Rather than going up there and making a fool of yourself, it's better to just admit defeat.

"I surrender."

Lu Xiong's voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly throughout the entire Wentian Terrace.

A buzz of discussion immediately arose from the audience.

Some people think Lu Xiong is too cowardly, admitting defeat without even daring to fight, which is really shameful.

Some people think he's being pragmatic; knowing he can't win but still going for it is stupid.

Master Feihe glanced at Lu Xiong, then at Chen Fan, and slowly announced, "Chen Musheng will win the fourth arena."

Chen Fan nodded, turned around and walked off the stage.

As he passed Lu Xiong, he paused slightly and said calmly, "A wise move."

Lu Xiong grinned and scratched the back of his head: "Fellow Daoist Chen is joking. Although I, Old Lu, am reckless, I am not so reckless as to seek death."

Chen Fan said no more and sat down cross-legged next to Li Changhe.

Li Changhe was grinning from ear to ear.

Of the five people under him, Chen Fan made it into the top four, and Lu Xiong also made it into the top eight.

This selection process has given Li Changhe both face and substance.

The third round of competition quickly came to an end.

Elder Mo Hanshan's men were indeed formidable; in the quarterfinals, all three of his cultivators advanced, securing three of the four semifinal spots. The remaining spot naturally belonged to Chen Fan.

With that, the top ten list is now finalized.

Master Feihe rose from the stone platform, his gaze slowly sweeping over the ten people below. His aged voice carried a hint of satisfaction: "You ten are the disciples who will represent Shangyun Sect in the Desolate State Grand Competition. Three days from now, follow this old Daoist to Desolate State City."

He paused, then said, "The Desolate State Grand Competition is no ordinary event. Seven sects are competing, and the strong are respected. Whether you can win a place in the state competition is a matter of honor and disgrace for your sect, and also for your future. Take good care of yourselves for the next three days and do not disappoint this old Daoist."

Everyone responded in unison.

Chen Fan bowed to the others, but his heart remained calm and undisturbed.

For him, the so-called Great Competition of the Wilderness State was nothing more than a procedure that he had to go through.

The real key is to qualify for the Great Yu Kingdom competition by passing the provincial competition, then stand out in the Great Yu Kingdom competition, and finally go to the Zhao Kingdom to participate in the selection of tribute recipients.

Every step must be flawless, neither too outstanding nor too lagging behind.

Like a tightrope walker, you have to maintain your balance in just the right position.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

For the past three days, Chen Fan has spent most of his time cultivating in the golden bowl space; one day outside is equivalent to ten days inside the bowl.

After a month of accumulation, his cultivation at the peak of the mid-stage Nascent Soul realm became more stable, and he was getting closer and closer to the threshold of the late-stage Nascent Soul realm, but he was still missing a crucial opportunity.

He wasn't in a hurry.

Breaking through a level requires a natural, gradual process; forcing a breakthrough may damage the foundation.

On the morning of the third day, Chen Fan emerged from the Golden Bowl space and pushed open the door to the stone chamber.

Before the morning mist had dissipated, several streaks of light had already appeared in the direction of the main peak of Luoyun Mountain. A flash of spiritual light appeared beneath his feet, and he flew towards the main peak on his sword.

On the Asking Heaven Platform, the other nine people had already arrived.

Master Feihe still rode the white crane, standing before the stone statue. The four Core Formation elders were also present; they were naturally going to the Desolate Continent City today.

Upon seeing Chen Fan, Li Changhe quickly approached, his face beaming with smiles: "Fellow Daoist Chen Mu, how has your meditation been these past three days?"

"It's acceptable." Chen Fan nodded.

Before Li Changhe could say anything more, Master Feihe spoke up: "Everyone's here, let's set off."

With a flick of his sleeve, the white crane let out a clear cry, spread its wings, and suddenly grew larger, transforming in the blink of an eye into a giant crane with a wingspan of more than ten zhang, large enough to accommodate dozens of people riding together.

Everyone jumped onto the crane's back.

Chen Fan chose a seat towards the back and closed his eyes to rest.

The white crane took flight, carrying everyone through the morning mist, and flew towards the city of Huangzhou.

Huangzhou City is located in the heart of Huangzhou, about five thousand miles from Luoyun Mountain.

The white cranes flew extremely high, with clouds churning beneath them like a sea, occasionally revealing a corner of the pale yellow earth, the most common color in the desolate land.

After flying for about two hours, the clouds and mist ahead gradually thinned, and a majestic city appeared on the horizon.

Wasteland City.

This is the only true immortal cultivation city in the desolate state. The city walls are over twenty feet high and are made entirely of dark blue-black black iron stone. The walls are covered with dense defensive array patterns.

Even from dozens of miles away, one could feel the overwhelming aura emanating from it.

The white cranes slowly descended outside the city.

A large crowd had already gathered outside the city. Cultivators of various attire were gathered in small groups, some standing on their swords, some riding spirit beasts, and some sitting cross-legged on magical artifacts.

These people's cultivation levels ranged from Foundation Establishment to Core Formation, and there were also a few Nascent Soul cultivators whose auras were faintly visible among them.

The seven sects of the desolate state have gathered here today.

Master Feihe led the group from Shangyun Sect toward the city gate.

Before they had taken more than a few steps, a sharp, sarcastic voice came from the side.

"Oh, isn't this the Shangyun Sect? What, have you come here to humiliate yourself again this year?"

The speaker was a thin, middle-aged cultivator, dressed in a blue robe embroidered with gold, with a sword-shaped jade pendant hanging at his waist.

Behind him followed seven or eight disciples, each with an arrogant expression, their eyes filled with disdain as they looked at the group from the Shangyun Sect.

Li Changhe's face darkened, and he said in a low voice, "It's someone from the Golden Sword Sect. The person who spoke is Wu Daozi, an outer sect elder of the Golden Sword Sect, with a mid-stage Core Formation cultivation."

The Golden Sword Sect is the head of the seven sects in the Desolate State. Its sect leader, Golden Sword Master, is a sword cultivator at the peak of the early Nascent Soul stage, and it is said that he is only half a step away from the middle Nascent Soul stage.

In the desolate lands, the people of the Golden Sword Sect have always considered themselves superior, and they have gone to great lengths to ridicule the declining Shangyun Sect.

Master Feihe remained expressionless, simply saying, "Fellow Daoist Wu is joking."

Wu Daozi scoffed, his gaze sweeping over the Shangyun Sect members, lingering briefly on Chen Fan and the others, his disdain deepening: "Even Foundation Establishment Great Perfection cultivators can make it into the top ten? The Shangyun Sect is truly full of talent. Old man Feihe, why don't you just not participate at all, so you don't end up being eliminated in the first round and making a fool of yourselves."

The Golden Sword Sect disciples behind him joined in the laughter.

"Exactly! Shangyun Sect is at the bottom every year, yet they still come back every year. They're shameless!"

"I think they're just here to make up the numbers, to go through the motions and then go back."

"I heard they even recruited a bunch of independent cultivators this year. Isn't that just filling quotas?"

……

The faces of everyone from Shangyun Sect were grim.

Lu Xiong gritted his teeth, his fists clenched so tightly they cracked, but he dared not retaliate.

The other party is from the Golden Sword Sect, and the difference in strength is obvious; they can't afford to offend them.