Time flew like a white steed flashing past a crack. In the midst of countless people's anticipation, schemes, and undercurrents, the day of the Heavenly Alliance's Grand Competition had finally arrived.
On this day, before the dawn had fully broken, Xianling City was already fully awake. Or rather, the entire city had been in a state of seething fervor for days prior, and on this day, that fervor reached its peak.
The streams of people converging from all directions had long since exceeded the city's daily capacity.
In the sky, all kinds of flying artifacts and spirit beast mounts, like flocks of migrating birds, blotted out the sun. Following the guidance of Heavenly Alliance cultivators, they descended upon the massive, temporary parking lot opened outside the city.
On the ground, traffic was heavy as a flowing river, and the crowd was packed so tightly they were shoulder-to-shoulder. They surged through the city gates, all heading in the same direction—the newly completed, miraculously grand competition arena outside the city.
Even before the opening ceremony began, the magnificent viewing stands of the arena, which resembled an ancient divine altar, were already packed to the rafters. The sound of people roaring was deafening, a tidal wave of noise that crashed again and again.
Colorful banners fluttered in the wind, and the symbols and emblems representing different sects, clans, and regions formed a spectacular and magnificent sea across the stands.
It wasn't just the forces under the Heavenly Alliance. Nearly every named sect on the Xuanheng Continent, regardless of whether they had joined the alliance, and regardless of their stance—be it friendly, neutral, or secretly resistant—had received a politely worded but impossible-to-refuse invitation to observe the ceremony.
At this moment, they too had sent heavyweight representatives to sit in designated areas, observing this unprecedented grand occasion with complex expressions and mixed feelings.
As the sun completely leaped over the horizon, casting its thousands of golden rays upon this magnificent arena that had gathered the eyes of the world, a deep, resounding bell toll, as if from a primordial age, suddenly rang out!
"Clang—!"
The bell's sound was vast and mighty, containing supreme majesty and immense spiritual power. It instantly drowned out all the clamor and clearly reached the ears of every person present, even spreading through a large portion of Xianling City.
Everyone's gaze turned, as if by one accord, to the highest podium.
A tall and imposing figure, flanked by a group of core elders of the Heavenly Alliance, slowly walked to the front of the stage.
It was none other than the current leader of the Heavenly Alliance, Xiao Chen.
He was not wearing any magnificent attire today, still dressed in a set of black, close-fitting robes with a dark-gold cloak draped over his shoulders. However, the aura of authority that came from his long-held position and his command over the world naturally emanated, enveloping the entire venue.
His gaze was like lightning, slowly sweeping across the dense crowd of millions below. Wherever his gaze fell, the clamor would involuntarily subside, eventually settling into a near-static silence.
In a venue of millions, not a pin could be heard at this moment.
Xiao Chen didn't seem surprised by this effect. He took a deep breath, and his voice, though not raised, clearly echoed in every corner of the arena with the aid of his pure and profound cultivation:
"Fellow cultivators of the Xuanheng Continent, today, our Heavenly Alliance gathers here to hold the Grand Competition for the position of Alliance Leader!"
Straight to the point, without any superfluous words. His style was as straightforward and direct as his character.
"The path of cultivation is like rowing a boat against the current; if you do not advance, you will retreat! We cultivators should use martial arts to befriend one another and to comprehend the Dao through battle!
This competition aims to select the worthy and talented, to exchange skills, and to glorify the prestige of the cultivators of Xuanheng!"
His words were concise and powerful, carrying an unquestionable confidence and heroic spirit.
"All disciples of our Heavenly Alliance may step onto the stage! All heroes with aspirations for the future of Xuanheng may show their mettle!"
At this, he paused slightly, his gaze turning even sharper as he slowly raised his right hand.
Above his palm, an ancient and rustic seal had somehow appeared.
The seal was entirely of a mysterious yellow color, as if cast from some divine metal and treasured jade. Its design was simple yet grand, and the seal knob was a mythical qin beast, coiled and roaring.
On the seal body were naturally etched incomparably complex cloud patterns and Daoist traces, with faint illusions of mountains, rivers, stars, and flowing galaxies swirling around it. It did not emit a strong fluctuation of spiritual power, but a heavy, vast majesty, as if it bore supreme authority and destiny, naturally spread out.
All who saw it could not help but feel a sense of reverence, as if facing a shrunken world, a frozen era of time.
"This is," Xiao Chen's voice was like a great bell, filled with immense solemnity, "the Seal of the Heavenly Alliance Leader! He who holds this seal can command the Heavenly Alliance, rule over the myriad realms that have submitted to Xuanheng, bear the destiny of heaven and earth, and carry the hopes of countless cultivators!"
In an instant, the gazes of millions focused on the small seal. The breathing of countless people quickened, and their eyes became filled with fervor, greed, or a complex mix of reverence.
The next moment, Xiao Chen waved his arm.
That seal, which symbolized the supreme authority of the Xuanheng Continent, turned into a streak of light and flew steadily towards a crystal-clear jade platform at the very rear of the main podium, the highest point. In an instant, countless powerful protective barrier lights flared around the jade platform, firmly guarding it at its center.
Xiao Chen retracted his arm, his voice once again echoing to the clouds, carrying the final declaration and boundless anticipation:
"The rules are simple! On the fighting stage, let your strength do the talking!
Regardless of origin, regardless of seniority, regardless of the past!"
"In the end, he who can stand upon this highest stage, overpower all his rivals, and claim the top spot—"
He pointed with his hand towards the Alliance Leader's Seal hovering above the jade platform.
"—shall be able to wield this seal and ascend to the position of Heavenly Alliance Leader!"
"The Grand Competition, officially begins!"
"BOOM!!!"
After a brief silence came an earth-shatteri
Hey everyone,
I need to tell you what's actually happening.
I just got hit with mass cancellations. On top of being buried in academics until the 9th. I'm in deep financial trouble right now—like, genuinely don't-know-how-I-cover-next-month trouble.
I want to do more for you. I have another Naruto fic ready to drop the moment this academic hell ends. But I can't keep creating if I can't survive.
I'm not powerless about the work—I know I can deliver for you. But I'm powerless to stop the bleeding alone.
If you've ever thought about supporting, this is the moment. Not "someday." Now.
If you're enjoying this story, consider supporting on Patreon. You'll get 30 advance chapters immediately, plus monthly updates and bonus content. Every subscription keeps the chapters coming.
Patreon: patreon.com/anish_44
Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/anish_44
Every new member literally buys me another week of doing this. Every existing member staying is the reason I'm still here.
ng explosion of cheers and clamor!
The blood of everyone was completely ignited in this moment!