The Shining Star Above The Heaven

"Now, without further ado, let's start the tournament! For the first phase, participants other than those in the beginner stage, please stand a kilometre away from the beginner stage participants. As for the beginner stage, please stay where you are," Orlav said as he floated higher so he could clearly see all of the participants.

The participants then dispersed as instructed, leaving the thousands of beginner stage cultivators in the center. As expected by many, almost all of the beginner stage participants were still in their teens, with most at the peak of the beginner stage. Only a few were older than twenty, while some appeared to be much younger than fourteen.

There were also those who appeared confident even though they were still only at high beginner stage. The spectators knew most of them were descendants of noble families. Trained from a young age, they were considered geniuses because they could battle across levels.

Once the stage was ready, Orlav spoke again.

"Alright, below you is a gravity field created from a formation that controls gravity. The formation, which contains gravity laws, will test the strength of your body and mind. For this challenge, the gravity has been adjusted for the beginner stage challenge, and the weight of the gravity will vary with each category."

"Just like I said earlier, the participants must endure the gravity for at least five minutes, and you must keep standing! The moment you collapse or your knee touches the ground, you will fail! Everyone who passes the time may instantly stop resisting and will still qualify, but those who can continue enduring may stay in the gravity field until they give up."

"Now, you may position yourselves freely, and I will activate the gravity shortly."

The participants then positioned themselves, taking their most comfortable and strongest stance. After Orlav saw that all of them were ready, he nodded.

"Alright, here we go!" he shouted as he activated the gravity field. The moment the gravity field activated—

Slam! Slam! Slam!

Many participants instantly collapsed under the sudden change, the gravity pressing down on their bodies. Their expressions changed at once as they struggled to endure the heaviness pressing upon them. It felt as if massive rocks had been placed on their bodies, constantly weighing them down.

Thousands were instantly eliminated the moment the gravity activated, showing just how immense the pressure truly was. Those who collapsed were quickly moved by several staff who had already come near Orlav to assist. They covered the eliminated participants with their energy and carried them outside of the gravity field.

The expressions of the remaining participants were full of struggle as they gritted their teeth to endure. The spectators watching could also sense the heaviness of the gravity, and they could not help but be surprised. Although this level of gravity was relatively easy for those at higher cultivation stages, for the beginner stage it was far too much to endure.

It was no wonder that the moment the gravity field activated, many collapsed instantly.

As time kept ticking, those still standing began to fall one by one. Even before a full minute had passed, fewer than three thousand remained from the more than twenty thousand participants at beginner stage. This phase truly eliminated many all at once.

Those who had been eliminated showed clear regret and disappointment in themselves. However, no one could blame them, as the gravity was truly too heavy for their level. As time passed, the number of collapses kept increasing, though not at the same rapid rate as earlier. More than two thousand participants were still holding on even after three minutes had passed.

This caused many spectators to feel amazed, for with such overwhelming pressure, there were still so many standing. Aldrian, who was observing each of the remaining participants, nodded in appreciation. The gravity this time was enough to make even a low disciple stage cultivator struggle to move. For these beginner stage youths to endure it showed just how strong they truly were.

"Those kids from one of the three great sects of the demon territory, the Black Dragon Pavilion, it's as expected. They have tough bodies from their body cultivation," one of the spectators said as she noticed a group of young men wearing the robe of the Black Dragon Pavilion.

"Yes, but those students from Heavenly Path Academy are also doing really well. Almost all of them come from noble families," another commented.

As the spectators continued discussing the ongoing challenge, time kept moving forward, and finally the five minutes had passed.

"Five minutes have passed! Congratulations to those who successfully completed the first phase!" Orlav shouted. At that exact moment, most of the participants instantly gave up their resistance and dropped to the ground, while the staff nearby quickly moved them outside the gravity field. Once outside, their expressions showed exhaustion, and sweat drenched their faces.

That had been the most tiring five minutes of their lives!

The staff then handed out energy replenishment pills to restore their condition so they would be fit to face the next phase. Their second phase would begin once all of the other categories had finished their own first phase.

After treating those who had just come out of the field, the staff turned their attention back to the participants still inside. Ten young men remained within the gravity field, stubbornly forcing their bodies to withstand the crushing pressure.

Three of them were from the Black Dragon Pavilion, two from the Buddhist sect, and the rest from noble families, among them, two from the Xin family.

The spectators were truly amazed by their strength and resolve as they kept going. But it was obvious they were almost at their limits, their faces twisted like they were about to take a shit right there in the arena.

After six minutes had passed, the three participants from noble families other than the Xin family collapsed. When seven minutes passed, the two from the Xin family also fell. At the eight-minute mark, one of the Buddhist sect participants collapsed, followed shortly by his companion, leaving only the three from the Black Dragon Pavilion. They endured a little longer but finally collapsed ten seconds after the Buddhist sect's disciples.

Seeing the result, the spectators could not help but be amazed at the strength of the Black Dragon Pavilion's disciples. Their fame as body cultivators soared even higher in that moment.

"As expected of those from the Black Dragon Pavilion. They have bodies strong enough to endure for so long," one spectator said.

"Yeah, it's no wonder they shine in this phase. Their cultivation techniques clearly gave them an advantage in this kind of challenge," another commented.

Others also voiced their thoughts about the results, but then Orlav's voice resounded again.

"As expected of the Black Dragon Pavilion, the ones with bodies as tough and strong as a dragon!"

The dragon spectators who heard this could not help but snort.

"As dragons? If real dragons were here, those kids could in no way be compared to us," one of the dragons in the same group as the Dragon King commented. He was seated outside in the normal section, which allowed him to hear many of the commentators. The moment he spoke, the people around him glanced his way.

Only then did they notice that this man was not human, with dragon horns visible on his forehead. Even so, they still felt offended by his comment. Who was this guy to be so arrogant? Was he a dragon from outside? Although they felt offended, they kept it to themselves, not wanting to cause trouble with someone who seemed so strong.

"Now, let's move on to the next category! Disciple stage cultivators, please enter the gravity field," Orlav announced to the participants in the distance.

The participants obeyed, and their expressions made it clear that they were more prepared after having seen the first phase directly.

Orlav smiled, and after waiting a few moments to make sure all of them were ready, he continued.

"Alright, participants. Same rules. Are you ready? Then I will start now!"

The moment he finished speaking, the gravity field activated, this time far more powerful than the one for the beginner stage!

The moment the gravity field activated, just like in the beginner stage, most of the participants instantly collapsed, eliminating them from the tournament. Those who experienced the field quickly realized that even if their hearts and bodies had been prepared for what was to come, they still could not withstand the sudden change in the weight of gravity.

The difference in difficulty compared to the beginner stage was clear. None of them had expected it to be this hard just to remain standing. The other cultivators watching also noticed how greatly the weight of gravity had spiked compared to the beginner stage.

Those who believed their preparation was enough because they compared themselves to the beginner stage were forced to face the reality that it was not nearly sufficient. Only those who thought their preparation was not enough, and therefore prepared as best they could, were still standing, and even they would have to endure it for five whole minutes.

As time passed, the number of participants kept decreasing, and by the time five minutes had been reached, only a little more than a thousand were still standing out of the more than forty thousand. Only five people, those from the Black Dragon Pavilion and the Buddhist sect, remained standing past the five minute mark before they too collapsed, almost at the same time

Once the gravity field cleared, the next category entered, and the process continued until it finally reached the category of the Earl stage.

Aldrian, who was still observing closely, shifted his gaze toward one of the participants in the group, a figure wearing a robe and a mask that concealed their features.