Fantasy: I, the Great Celestial Venerable of the Dao

"Ao-Ming-!"

Ao Guang squeezed out those two words through gritted teeth.

His voice was icy cold, filled with boundless killing intent and a brutal sense of betrayal by his closest relatives.

"By imperial decree: Your rebellious son Ao Ming has colluded with foreign enemies."

They leaked top secrets of the Dragon Palace and forged the Dragon King's seal.

Spreading rumors and framing the dragon clan injustice is a heinous crime deserving of ten thousand deaths!

Effective immediately, all his dragon identity, duties, and offerings are stripped, and his name is completely erased from the genealogy of the East Sea Dragon Clan!

A warrant for Ao Ming is issued throughout the land!

Anyone who provides concrete evidence of its whereabouts will be rewarded with any three items from the Dragon Palace Treasury!

Whoever can capture it alive and bring it to the Dragon Palace will be granted the title of "Grand General of the Sea Patrol" and will enjoy the honors of a prince!

Anyone who discovers their whereabouts and conceals it...will have their entire clan executed!

"I... obey your order!"

The Prime Minister and other high-ranking officials were shocked and quickly agreed.

They knew that His Majesty was truly enraged and would stop at nothing to clean house.

However, at this moment, Ao Ming seemed to have completely disappeared into the shadows, leaving no trace of him since the Hundred Knowledge Pavilion vanished.

He was like the most cunning fish diving into the deepest trench.

No matter how hard the Dragon Palace's "Shadow Dragon Guards" searched, even using bloodline tracking techniques, they found nothing.

He seemed to have never existed, yet he was also omnipresent.

He coldly watched as the storm he had personally stirred up swept across the world.

Just as the human race was filled with indignation because of the "Ancient Covenant".

At a time when foreign tribes are in dire straits due to the leak of secrets, and the world situation is as tense as a fully drawn bowstring.

A relatively peaceful, yet equally important message.

It originated from the three major traditional sects of Zhongzhou: Xuantian Sect, Zifu Sect, and Fulong Mountain.

The official announcement was quickly disseminated to every prominent sect and family in Central Continent.

The announcement was presented on elegant, antique-style gold-leaf paper with cloud patterns.

It is led by three sect leaders: Xuan Tian Ling Xiao Zhenren, Zi Fu Zi Xia Xian Zi, and Fu Long Long Zhan Tian.

The joint signatures and seals are affixed, and the content is as follows:

It is said that when the Great Way prevails, the world belongs to all.

The journey of cultivation is long and arduous, but only through perseverance can one achieve success.

Since the East China Sea has been calm, a century has passed in the blink of an eye. The spiritual energy of heaven and earth has increased day by day, and outstanding talents and heroes have emerged in great numbers.

We, the people of Central Continent, inherit the legacy of our sages and have established our people here. Through trials and tribulations, our spirit has never been extinguished, for every generation has produced talented individuals who have followed in our footsteps.

"To carry on the legacy of our ancestors and to demonstrate the spirit of unity and progress of our human race;

This is an opportunity to exchange ideas and verify the teachings of various schools of thought.

Xuantian Sect, Zifu Gate, and Fulong Mountain, in accordance with their thousand-year agreement, agree to meet three years from now, on the autumnal equinox of the year Guihai.

Reboot the "Central Continent Martial Arts Tournament"!

"This martial arts competition will be held in the central area of ​​Zhongzhou—the 'Tianyantai' (Heavenly Evolution Platform)."

We cordially invite all sects, families, and independent cultivators of the Central Continent to join us.

All disciples under the age of 300, regardless of their cultivation level, are welcome to apply.

The martial arts contest is divided into different groups based on the level of the participants, to compare their Taoist skills and supernatural abilities.

"The ultimate winners of each realm will receive generous rewards jointly prepared by our three sects."

Their sect will also enjoy corresponding honors and benefits for the next hundred years.

Prioritize consideration in specific resource allocations and business negotiations.

"Furthermore, Dao Xuan Zhenren of Qingyun Sect is a man of high moral character and great prestige, whose achievements are comparable to those of the Creator. His disciples are numerous and outstanding talents, all of whom are among the best of their time."

We cordially invite the Qingyun Sect to join us in this grand event and to jointly promote the prestige of our Dao.

The announcement was sincere and its reasons were perfectly legitimate, ostensibly aimed at "promoting exchange, encouraging those who are lagging behind, and demonstrating unity."

It seems to be just a regular event that has been restarted after a thousand years.

But at a sensitive time when the "Ancient Covenant" controversy was escalating, the world was in a state of panic, and relations between humans and other races had reached a freezing point.

It was jointly initiated by the three major traditional leader sects of Central Continent.

They also specifically and "sincerely" invited Qingyun Sect, which was the most prominent sect and had just been caught in the eye of the storm.

The subtle implications it contains.

It is enough to make any intelligent person in power ponder it for a long time.

Before the emergency meeting at Yuqing Hall on Qingyun Mountain had even ended, this gold-embossed joint announcement had already been delivered.

The solemn atmosphere inside the hall was lifted by this unexpected invitation.

A ripple of something unusual appeared.

Tian Buyi frowned deeply, picked up the announcement and read it carefully twice, then said in a gruff voice:

"A martial arts tournament? A millennium restart? And of all times?"

What are those three old guys, Ling Xiao, Zi Xia, and Long Zhantian, up to?

Are you trying to find out the background of the younger generation of Qingyun?

Or are they trying to test our strength because they see us struggling with the "Ancient Covenant"?

Or... they want to take advantage of this opportunity.

"How about easing the current tense atmosphere and demonstrating to the outside world that our human race remains united?"

Master Cangsong snorted coldly, his sword aura slightly diminished: "I'm afraid it has both."

By the way, I also want to see if my Qingyun Sect dares to take on this challenge, and if so, what kind of people they can send out.

"Under 300 years old...hehe, that's a cleverly chosen age limit."

Zeng Shuchang stroked his beard and pondered, "Those under three hundred years old, however, have no clear upper limit on their cultivation level."

Those who meet this criterion under my Qingyun Sect include Yicai, Xueqi, Xiaofan, Jingyu, Xiaoyao, Ling'er, Shushu...

Most of them have now broken through to the Taiyi realm. Although they have only recently entered this realm and their foundations still need to be solidified, their true combat strength...

This is probably far beyond what their peers could imagine.

Jing Tian seems to be around the age limit?

His skills are beyond the comprehension of ordinary people.

The three major sects may also be using my outstanding disciples, Qingyun, as a reason for this move.

This is to 'weigh' their own and even the entire Central Continent's younger generation.

Wan Jianyi gently placed the announcement down, his gaze deep and thoughtful.

He could naturally see the multiple intentions behind the invitation.

The real purpose is to stabilize morale and demonstrate unity; the real purpose is also to probe Qingyun's strength and understand the new generation of top forces in Zhongzhou.

Perhaps there is an even deeper layer of planning regarding the future discourse power and leadership structure of the human race in the Middle Continent.

"This may not necessarily be a bad thing."

Wan Jianyi spoke slowly, his voice regaining its usual composure.

The matter of the "Ancient Covenant" has already caused undercurrents to surge within the human race.

Panic and suspicion coexist, and it is inevitable that different factions will be wary of each other.

The three major sects held a martial arts competition at this time.

It is indeed intended to build consensus, divert some attention, and demonstrate to the outside world that our human race has not lost its composure.

If our Qingyun Sect participates in a high-profile manner and demonstrates the strength and demeanor it should have, then...

Not only will we not be afraid of any tests, but we will also be able to further consolidate Qingyun's position and reputation in Zhongzhou.

To all humankind, we, Qingyun, declare our determination and capability to join hands with all sects to resist foreign aggression!

He looked at the several young Taiyi disciples in the hall: "As for testing... I am a disciple of Qingyun."

Having emerged from the bloody battles of the East China Sea and the Black Fiend Storm, and having undergone a century of arduous cultivation and refinement.

With a steadfast heart and accomplished supernatural powers, what fear is there of the trials of my peers across the land?

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yicai, Lu Xueqi, and the others all flashed a sharp and confident light in their eyes.

After a century of dedicated cultivation, they are no longer the ignorant fools they once were.

I'm eagerly awaiting a suitable stage to test my skills and make a name for myself in the future!