"White Sword Sect?" Qin Mu raised an eyebrow. "You are saying that the sect master himself isn't a Great Grandmaster?"

Guo Youwei glanced at Qin Mu, shaking his head in dismay over Qin Mu's carelessness. "Now you know how hard that step is."

A loud voice rumbled from Guo Youwei. "Let me say it clearly."

"Requirements for entry into Grandmaster are 1,000,000 Attack Power."

"But for a Great Grandmaster. " He paused for emphasis. "It is 100 million!"

Hmm.

Qin Mu nodded slowly. That made sense.

"A Peak 9th-Rank Grandmaster would possibly possess 10 million Attack Power," Qin Mu pondered. "However, they are still 90 million away from the next world. Not surprising, either."

"It explained why there was a ranked list specifically for Grandmasters."

There were just too many martial artists that were locked in this step of their development. They couldn't break beyond this point.

"Well, it wasn't that their combat potential was different by even a hair. Two people could be "9th-Rank Grandmasters" for all it mattered, but if one's power was 10,000,000, and the other's was 90,000,000, then—they were playing different games."

Noticing that Qin Mu's expression was so nonchalant, Guo Youwei's face convulsed violently. "'Still 90 million short?' How does that sound like mere small change to you! That would be equivalent to nine other Grandmasters in total!"

"Only Peak Grandmasters, those who cross the 10 million mark, are even worthy of being ranked in the Grandmaster Rankings!"

"Only by shattering that ceiling and reaching the very top of the rankings can a player ascend to Great Grandmaster."

Guo Youwei's eyes were filled with awe. "That is a Level of a Realm that utterly transforms the world. This means surpassing a Mortal Realm and achieving Sainthood."

"Just know this: A Great Grandmaster can walk on the void. With a single strike, the heavens and earth change color. This is the Peak of Martial Arts!"

Tsk

"It's not that exaggerated," Qin Mu thought.

I only need one day.

Having a proper Cultivation Technique, it would take only a day. Without it, it would simply be a matter of waiting a day or two for the System to work it out.

No pressure.

Guo Youwei glared at Qin Mu's expression, his lungs about to burst with frustration. He let out a deep sigh, fighting to calm down.

"Having talent and confidence is a good thing," Guo Youwei grunted, "but never be arrogant, or you will experience a huge setback."

Let him be, Guo Youwei thought. The Alliance Leader was right in encouraging Qin Mu to join. Artistes with genius-level skills are always arrogant. Only when he experiences their peak, maybe even suffers a loss in a fight or two, will Qin Mu awaken and make efforts to improve himself.

Upon considering this, the duo arrived at the major Cultivation Hub.

"Qin Mu, I'll remind you of one last thing," Guo Youwei said as he checked their identity codes. "Now that the Alliance Leader has amended the rules, it's also a requirement for the Grandmasters of Myriad Sword Pavilion to take part in this Tournament."

"Someone you know—Bai Qingyan—will also participate in the Martial Arts Tournament to compete for a spot!"

Hmm.

Qin Mu remembered that Bai Qingyan originally always had a guaranteed reserved seat. Now, with just a word from the Leader of the Alliance, this was no longer true.

"Supervisor, are you trying to say that due to the Sword Pavilion having to fight for a spot, there is even more competition now than before?"

"What's your opinion?" Guo Youwei sneered. "The Alliance Leader did this not to punish those people, but to restrict them and provide an opportunity for independent Mentalists."

"If it were allowed to keep their reserved spots and let in additional disciples, then there would be no spots left for other people."

Simultaneously. Martial God Hall Plaza.

The disciples of Myriad Sword Pavilion were in a phalanx formation.

Bai Ming, the sect master of the White Sword Sect, stood with his hands behind his back. He wore clean, spotless white clothes, and he was a picture of all that a legendary sect master should be.

"My Sword Pavilion has long maintained set positions, and we've been condemned for it many a time," Bai Ming spoke slowly. "Of course, I know many of you are displeased with this privilage."

"My Sword Pavilion has long maintained set positions, and we've been condemned for it many a time," Bai Ming spoke slowly.

"But mentalist, though special ,are also martial artist."

"Since this event is a Martial Arts event, we will prove our worth in combat."

Bai Qingyan moved forward, her face serious. She cupped her hands and bowed. "Pavilion Master, rest assured. We will live up to the reputation of Sword Pavilion!"

Heh

Bai Ming's mouth turned up in a slight, confident smile. "I don't have any unrealistic hopes. But since there are ten available spots for trials, it seems that the Myriad Sword Pavilion can take all ten."

Ten spots.

"All of you, I want you in Sword Pavilion,"

"Fight

Several Mentalists shouted in agreement, their voices resonating through the air.

"Never forget our origins! We must maintain the prestige of the Sword! Let's purge the Vicious Beasts from this world!"

Inside the Cultivation Room.

"This is the Martial God Hall's login device. Just ignore the binding step and log in immediately." Since he was a supervisor, Guo Youwei needed to watch, so he put on his headset first.

Qin Mu accepted the shiny, metallic ring and put it on his forehead.

[BEEP. Connecting to Metaverse Network.]

Identity Binding Requested.

The mechanical voice reverberated in his mind. Qin Mu disregarded the message. He changed his consciousness a moment later.

The sterile, white walls of the cultivation room vanished, to be instantly replaced by an ancient, glorious palace.

He stood on a plaza paved with huge bluestones. Not far away, the group from Myriad Sword Pavilion, dressed in long, white robes with sword cases on their backs, stood out sharply against their surroundings.

"The White Sword Sect Master came in person." Guo Youwei whispered, appearing beside Qin Mu. "It seems that they truly don't plan on leaving any room for others."

Qin Mu furrowed his brows. "I thought members of the Dragon's Nest were being protected by the Grandmasters and Great Grandmasters. How are you all here?"

Guo Youwei nudged Qin Mu. "Shh. That's classified. The Alliance has decided to maintain a stalemate with Dragon's Nest. So long as Dragon's Nest stays put, we stay put."

"Grandmasters can now rotate out. But Great Grandmasters are still on the front lines. Any administrative issues are taken care of here, through the Martial God Hall's virtual interface."

"I see."

"Look, there's a room to your left. The glow on the door sign means it's available, and you're free to plant your Yuan in it. The Martial God System has a simulation of any Vicious Beast you want to fight."

Hmm? No actual combat, but it offers the result of actual combat?

That would help, Qin Mu thought. I must ask Ling Qianxue if she sells this device later on.

Just then, a crowd parted.

From among the senior members of the Martial God Hall, a person came down.

He did not fly, but rather walked on air as if it were common ground. He was a middle-aged man with a determined expression, dressed in complete battle armor made of a distinctive silver-gray alloy—similar in design to that of the black ones Qin Mu obtained.

Wu Po Xing.

The Strongest human on Dragon Star.

"The only man who could command the awe of all Martial Artists instantly."

"The Martial Arts Tournament has been around for many decades," Wu Po Xing declared. His words were not loud, but in every person's ears, it tolled like a bell.

"But this year, there has to be a change."

"Because Dragon Star has encountered a threat never before seen!"

His voice waning, the sky above the square grew dark.

Holographic Projection Initiated

Three mighty Dragon's Nests glowed in the clouds. Nineth-Rank Fierce Dragons entwined around spires, and a dragonhead of a being, a colossus, thundered silently, with a heaviness of pressure so lifelike that young martial artists in the plaza felt as if their knees would buckle.

Boom!

The plaza burst into chaos.

The secrets of Dragon's Nest were known to Grandmasters, but, as a rule, other Martial Artists were unaware of how dangerous this threat was.

Wu Po Xing's opening address ripped away that cloak of ignorance.

"Originally, the plan of the Alliance was to cover this up," Wu Po Xing went on, scanning the crowd in front of him.

"However, those of you who are gathered here today are the best Martial Artists below the Grandmaster Level. You are all Geniuses! In the near future, you will rank with the Grandmasters as guardians of this world."

"This truth is pressure!"

"But it is also your motivation."

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