Chapter 289: The Battle for the Nirvana Golden List
At the summit of Hundred Dynasty Mountain, the most elite geniuses of the ancient battlefield gathered, having endured a year of rigorous cultivation. Bright sunlight spilled across the peak, casting a radiant, almost dreamlike glow that stirred excitement in everyone present.
Whoosh!
As Lin Langtian and his group landed, their gazes immediately fixed on the mountain's summit. The entire peak was a flat, polished stone square, reflecting sunlight in waves, giving the place a surreal and misty aura. Lin Langtian swept his eyes across the summit, then looked up, his gaze hardening slightly.
The crowd around them stirred, and all eyes turned upward, filled with awe and reverence. Above them, beams of light intertwined, forming rows of seats suspended in mid-air. Seated casually upon these luminous chairs were several figures, each emanating a subtle but powerful aura that blanketed the entire area in an unshakable pressure.
These were the Eight Super Sects.
Seeing these god-like figures high above, many of the assembled geniuses from various dynasties instinctively bent slightly in respect. The summit grew silent under the overwhelming presence of the eight figures. Here, the young geniuses' usual pride was nowhere to be seen.
Lin Langtian stared intensely at the eight figures, his brows raised slightly as he felt a profound sense of power radiating from each of them. Their strength was in an entirely different league.
"So, this is the strength of the Super Sects," he murmured.
"Only Heaven Profound Realm," Ling Yi's voice echoed in Lin Langtian's mind. "At your current potential, it shouldn't take you more than two years to reach this level."
"Two years…" Lin Langtian nodded slightly. Given his current power and talent, achieving the Heaven Profound Realm within two years didn't seem out of reach. However, he'd need the resources of one of these Super Sects; most of the Eastern Xuan Domain's resources were under their control.
"Look to the right," Mo Ling said behind him. "That's a representative from Yuan Gate."
Lin Langtian's eyes narrowed as he glanced discreetly at the first seat on the right. There sat a man with slightly graying hair, dressed in a white robe emblazoned with a black sun, forming a balance between light and shadow—an appropriate representation of Yuan Gate. Lin Langtian's gaze lingered on the man, recognizing that Yuan Gate was his prime target.
The man, however, showed no sign of interest in the assembly below, eyes half-closed as if resting, radiating an air of detachment fitting for a leader of Yuan Gate. Seeing this, Lin Langtian's lips curved into a slight smile. The man's commanding attitude suited his style, but Yuan Gate, for him, was merely a stepping stone.
After observing Yuan Gate, he looked to the left, where a dignified, graceful woman sat in a moonlit white robe.
"That's from the Nine Heavens Taiqing Palace," Mo Ling explained. "Next to her is someone from Wan Puppet Sect—a powerful sect known for puppet mastery. They even have something called 'Immortal Puppets' in their ranks…"
Mo Ling pointed to an older figure in gray robes with a faint, eerie energy surrounding him. Lin Langtian's gaze flickered with interest. He had studied puppetry himself and knew what an Immortal Puppet represented: a construct possessing its own intelligence, rivaling that of a strong living being. He wondered how these Immortal Puppets compared to his own shadow puppet.
"That's Symbol Valley and Spirit Sect. Both primarily focus on spiritual energy, with martial skills as secondary," Mo Ling continued, indicating two more figures. Around them, Lin Langtian could sense a vast sea of spiritual power.
Lin Langtian nodded slightly.
"The other two are the Sword Sect and the Desolate Hall. The Sword Sect's techniques use yuan power to create sharp sword energy, making their attacks especially fierce," Mo Ling added. "And the Desolate Hall, known for the most terrifying physical prowess among the eight."
The two he indicated included a man in green carrying a sword case, radiating a sharp, fierce aura, and another with a burly, bare-chested figure whose body rippled with veins, emitting faint roars like dragons and tigers. This man had clearly refined his body to a nearly invincible level.
Thanks to Mo Ling's explanations, Lin Langtian quickly matched each Super Sect to its representatives, recognizing their dominance over the Eastern Xuan Domain.
As Lin Langtian studied the Super Sects, he noticed a flicker of recognition on Lin Dong's face, which caught his attention. Following Lin Dong's gaze, he spotted an elderly figure reclining casually on one of the chairs, his weathered face sparking a sense of familiarity.
"Do you know that old man?" Lin Langtian asked.
"Mm, we crossed paths in the ancient battlefield. I hadn't realized he was from the Dao Sect," Lin Dong replied quietly.
"Oh?" Mo Ling, standing nearby, looked intrigued and envious. To him, any connection with the Super Sects was a valuable stroke of fortune.
"That old guy seems pretty decent. Dao Sect might be a good choice," Xiao Diao mused, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
"Joining the Dao Sect isn't easy. Though they aren't quite as powerful as Yuan Gate, they're known to be more selective," Mo Ling said, then laughed, realizing he was talking to some of the strongest warriors in the Flame Alliance. "Still, given the talent and achievements of our Flame Alliance Five, they might actually accept you."
Lin Langtian offered a slight nod, while Lin Dong smiled faintly. As silence fell over the summit, a wave of excitement began to rise, filling the air with anticipation. Everyone waited in tense silence, knowing that the battle for a place on the Nirvana Golden List was about to begin.
A blazing sun hung high over the summit of Hundred Dynasty Mountain, its warm rays streaming down like dawn's first light.
"It's almost time, everyone."
After an unknown period, the man seated at the first of the floating chairs—a middle-aged figure from Yuan Gate with streaks of gray in his hair—glanced down at the crowd gathered on the mountaintop, then addressed the representatives from the other Super Sects.
Hearing this, the other seven representatives nodded in agreement. The middle-aged man then rose slowly, hands clasped behind his back, sweeping a steady gaze across the summit. The murmurs and whispers fell to silence as those present looked on in awe.
"I am Liu Tong, an elder of Yuan Gate," his voice thundered, carrying to every ear below. "First, congratulations. Standing here today shows your strength and potential. Those of you with Heaven-grade Nirvana Seals have qualified to be considered for discipleship by the Super Sects. As for those who have achieved the Nirvana Golden List, congratulations again—you've earned the chance to become personal disciples within a Super Sect."
"Now," he continued, "there will be an elite competition. Only those on the Nirvana Golden List may participate. Your rankings in this final battle may well determine how much attention you receive within your future sect."
"For the last three centuries, the champions of the Nirvana Golden List have joined Yuan Gate," Liu Tong said with a note of pride. "Today, they stand among the most respected powerhouses of the Eastern Xuan Region."
Though he kept a composed expression, there was a hint of triumph in Liu Tong's voice that grated on the representatives of the other sects, who looked on with slight frowns. Despite Yuan Gate's undeniable strength, such boasting was difficult to ignore.
Liu Tong extended his hand, summoning a glowing scroll into view. "Now, I will call those qualified to enter the arena."
"Qin Tian of the Supreme Dynasty," Liu Tong called, starting with the most renowned.
Qin Tian smiled slightly, meeting the gaze of the onlookers with poise as he walked into the arena. Whispers swept through the crowd, filled with admiration and envy. They knew Qin Tian hailed from the Tianyuan Dynasty, a direct ally of Yuan Gate. With his strength, he was a top contender for the championship and expected to join Yuan Gate, making it the fourth consecutive win for the sect.
Liu Tong nodded approvingly before continuing. "Ji Shan of the Grand Desolation Dynasty."
A tall, brawny man radiating raw power stepped forward, the air around him charged with energy as he walked into the arena.
"Mo Leng of the Dynasty of Divinity."
A man cloaked in black leapt forward, exuding a powerful spiritual energy—he was a rare specialist in spiritual power.
One by one, names of those on the Nirvana Golden List were called, each entrance stirring murmurs of awe from the crowd.
"Lin Langtian of the low-level Great Yan Dynasty."
Liu Tong's voice faltered for a moment as his gaze fell on a tall, slender young man. The name of Lin Langtian had become prominent throughout the ancient battlefield recently.
"Isn't Lin Langtian the one supposed to rival Qin Tian for the title?"
The crowd's excitement heightened as all eyes turned toward Lin Langtian's figure. This time, no one dared to sneer at his background; he had already far surpassed them.
Ignoring the surprised and respectful gazes around him, Lin Langtian stepped forward calmly and took his place in the arena.
"Lin Dong of the Great Yan Dynasty… Lin Diao… Lin Yan… Lin Jinwu."
With the announcement of these four additional names, the summit erupted in astonishment. It was remarkable enough that Lin Langtian, from a low-level dynasty, had made it to the Nirvana Golden List. But to have four others with him—it left the crowd speechless.
"Ha, it's been ages since anyone from a low-level dynasty reached the Nirvana Golden List, let alone five people at once," commented a man with a sword case on his back among the Super Sect elders, stroking his beard in amusement.
Next to him, the elder from Dao Sect gave a subtle smile, his eyes lingering thoughtfully on Lin Dong.
"Su Rou of the middle-tier Qing Dynasty."
Below, Su Rou flashed a charming smile and gracefully bounded into the arena, positioning herself next to Lin Langtian.
"Hm…" The elegant woman from the Nine Heavens Taiqing Palace on her floating chair leaned forward, her gaze fixed on Su Rou as if she had noticed something intriguing.
When Liu Tong finished his announcements, the arena was filled with the final challengers, each emanating a strong, imposing aura. Every single one of them stood as the peak representative of their respective regions. They were the best of the best.
Hovering in mid-air, Liu Tong nodded slightly. With a sweep of his sleeve, a powerful wave of yuan power rippled across the sky, causing the air to warp. Soon, enormous light domes—battle arenas—formed, each suspended in the sky.
Once the arenas were set, Liu Tong extended his hand, conjuring a brilliant orb that appeared to contain numerous scrolls within. "Each scroll is marked with either a yin or yang symbol. Those who hold matching symbols will be pitted against each other. Each scroll will guide you to your assigned arena."
With that, he released the orb, scattering the glowing scrolls like raindrops across the summit.
Lin Langtian reached out and caught one of the scrolls, casting a quick glance at Lin Dong. After all, in the original timeline, this was where he had fallen to Lin Dong. Shaking off the thought, he reminded himself that through his efforts, he was paving his own unique path to destiny.
(End of Chapter)
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