I Tame Beasts by Feeding

"To make such a bold statement, they certainly have the power to back it up. But at this critical juncture, their objective is also crystal clear. The invitation itself is a response to the situation with the Dark Stream."

Zhang Tianwen finished speaking and looked at Yu Changsheng. Yu Changsheng’s expression grew serious, and he picked up where Zhang Tianwen left off, adding in a low voice:

"We can imagine that prodigies from all over the Martial Continent will gather for this trip to Celestial Killer City. If the Profound Yin Sect still manages to take the top prize, then I’m afraid that afterward, even if they don’t say a word, the various sects will, for one reason or another, not dare to continue their hunt for the Dark Stream."

"They want to use this to display their strength, intimidate the other powers, and turn what was a massive campaign against the Dark Stream into a joke that just fades away."

An increase in one’s Realm brought with it a broadened perspective. The more one experienced, the more one’s understanding of the world changed.

The Yu Changsheng of the past might not have been able to grasp these things right away. But his experiences over the years had helped him mature, so he quickly understood the crux of the matter.

"I have to say, the Profound Yin Sect has played a brilliant hand. They’re drawing everyone’s attention, taking the pressure off the hunt for the Dark Stream, and flexing their own muscles at the same time. Killing two birds with one stone."

"But this all hinges on the Profound Yin Sect’s confidence in handling any unexpected developments. The prodigies from across the Martial Continent who are under a hundred years old... there are some true titans among them."

Even though he disliked the Profound Yin Sect, Yu Changsheng had to admit they possessed a unique audacity.

Li Minghan stood to the side, listening to their conversation with narrowed eyes, lost in thought.

"But since the Profound Yin Sect has laid down the challenge, it seems we have no choice but to go to Celestial Killer City. Changsheng, what do you think?"

Zhang Tianwen shrugged. After his initial shock, he quickly composed himself and posed the question to Yu Changsheng.

"Go? Why wouldn’t we go! It’s a perfect opportunity to see what the Profound Yin Sect, the first among the Three Gates and Six Sects, is truly made of," Yu Changsheng said with a decisive nod and a small smile.

"Besides, if we can distinguish ourselves in this trial, the benefits and resources we’d gain would be immeasurable."

"The Profound Yin Sect has hinted that all the profits the Dark Stream has earned for them over the past century are inside this Secret Realm. I have to admit, the wealth and opportunities within are very tempting."

Yu Changsheng let out a dry laugh and swallowed.

Zhang Tianwen froze for a second, then burst out laughing as well.

"You’re right. Now that you put it that way, I’m getting excited too. Life in the Wanxiang Sect is too quiet. How could I miss out on a grand event that involves the entire Martial Continent?"

With that, Zhang Tianwen turned his gaze to Li Minghan.

Li Minghan blinked, rubbed his nose, and chuckled, waving his hand. "Well, if you’re both going, you can’t leave me out, can you? Besides, I’m considered one of the Wanxiang Sect’s prodigies now. It’s time I went out to see the world."

"Good." Yu Changsheng nodded with a smile. "In that case, let’s not waste any more time. We should head back to the sect. The trial starts in a month, and we need to prepare."

The other two had no objections. After bidding farewell to Yu Taoran and the others, who were reluctant to see them go, the three turned and departed. A day later, they were back at the Wanxiang Sect.

Half a month had passed since they had eliminated the Dark Stream in Bright Moon City.

For the next three days, the Wanxiang Sect was abuzz with talk of the Profound Yin Sect’s event in Celestial Killer City.

One after another, gifted prodigies emerged from seclusion. All who met the requirements were eager for a chance. The various peaks even held competitions to determine who would represent the Wanxiang Sect, with each chosen disciple being the strongest of their peak’s younger generation.

As for Yu Changsheng and his friends, they were, without a doubt, automatically selected.

Once the selections were finalized, the group set off for Celestial Killer City in a grand procession. Lu Ruikai led the team, accompanied by the legendary Purple Mansion True Monarch of Sword Control Peak, the previous Peak Master, Ruan Hao.

"All of you are the finest young prodigies of this generation in our Wanxiang Sect. The journey to Celestial Killer City is long and will take us to unfamiliar lands. Regardless of the final outcome, your safety is the highest priority."

Aboard the Wanxiang Sect’s enormous Spirit Ship, Ruan Hao addressed the neatly assembled disciples from every peak, his expression calm and his tone placid.

He wore a simple, plain-colored robe, his long hair unbound and fluttering in the wind. His face was aged, but he was full of vitality, with a ruddy complexion and a steady aura. He looked completely ordinary, like any common old man from the mortal world.

Lu Ruikai, however, stood respectfully beside Ruan Hao with his head slightly bowed, a clear sign of the old man’s extraordinary status.

The rest of the Wanxiang Sect disciples were even more deferential, their expressions full of reverence as they nodded in assent.

Fortunately, Ruan Hao only offered that one piece of advice. Once the Spirit Ship took flight and left the Wanxiang Sect’s territory behind, he said no more.

"I can’t believe even a Purple Mansion True Monarch was mobilized for this. It seems the sect is taking this trial very seriously."

Watching Ruan Hao’s departing figure, Zhang Tianwen took a deep breath and whispered to Yu Changsheng.

"Purple Mansion..."

Yu Changsheng murmured, swallowing unconsciously. The impression Ruan Hao gave him earlier had been so ordinary that he hadn’t noticed anything unusual. Now, sensing the True Monarch’s aura again, it still felt as placid as a lake, yet with an added quality—it was like an abyss, deep and unfathomable.

"That’s right. He’s the previous Peak Master of Sword Control Peak. With his Purple Mansion Cultivation, he’s one of the cornerstones of the Wanxiang Sect. But it makes sense. The trip to Celestial Killer City is thousands of miles long, and we’re bringing so many of our elite disciples. If anything were to happen, the sect couldn’t bear the loss."

"That’s why you need a Purple Mansion True Monarch leading the group—to keep things in check."

Zhang Tianwen whispered in Yu Changsheng’s ear, his gaze following Yu Changsheng’s to glance at a group of people up ahead.

That group was completely different from their own; they were clearly older. The other disciples looked at them with a mixture of unfamiliarity and awe.

"According to the Profound Yin Sect’s rules for this trial, any prodigy under a hundred years old can participate. To be precise, those people... they’re not really from our generation of disciples."

Zhang Tianwen sent a voice transmission to Yu Changsheng, his face remaining impassive.

"Every one of them is over ninety, just squeezing in under the Profound Yin Sect’s age limit. Their cultivation has also reached the Fake Pill Realm, making them practically invincible among Foundation Establishment cultivators."

"The Sect Leader must have arranged for them to participate to give the Wanxiang Sect a better chance of success and to bolster our apparent strength."

"I see..."

"I just wonder how we’ll stack up against the other sects."

Yu Changsheng nodded, a look of understanding on his face. His gaze swept idly over the crowd as he became lost in thought.

’I can sense that among that group Lu Ruikai brought—people I’ve never seen before—the weakest is at the Fake Pill Realm. There might even be a Golden Core expert among them...’

This alone was enough to show that the competition in Celestial Killer City would be incredibly fierce.

It was easy to imagine that every sect had its share of disciples just like these, squeezing in right under the age limit. This group would undoubtedly have the biggest advantage in the trial.

But then again, there was no such thing as absolute fairness in this world.

’I wonder what heights I’ll be able to reach within a hundred years?’

Yu Changsheng pulled back his gaze, his mind instantly blooming with thoughts. He watched the clouds part outside the Spirit Ship as the mountains and rivers below shrank to mere specks. The raging winds of the sky were held at bay by the ship’s protective barrier as it sped toward Celestial Killer City.

The storm was gathering over Celestial Killer City!