Urban Immortal Cultivation Supreme

The second day, the sect's competition became even more intense. The contests among the Yellow Rank disciples were fiercer than the day before, not to mention those of the Dark Rank. Wei Langqi, who had recovered from his injuries, successfully seized a copper plate from one of the disciples who had entered the top sixteen in today's "plucking plates" contest. This so-called plucking plates is a chance for the previously defeated disciples to challenge the holder of a plate on the Black Stone Tablet and "snatch" the already embedded copper plate, simply put, it's a revival match. For Wei Langqi, these contests posed no difficulty whatsoever.

After the plucking plates contest ended, the sixteen top disciples, including Wei Langqi, emerged. They were then paired up according to the drawn lots to compete against each other. Zhu Bufan's opponent was a male disciple from Tianji Peak named Zhang Shun, whose emitted aura was at most around the Body Tempering Seventh Layer Heaven, making him the lowest in cultivation among the sixteen.

As soon as the match began, Zhang Shun wielded his long sword like a streak of silver light, and his Sword Qi was as cold and sharp as needles. Even Zhu Bufan's Blood Spirit Poison Fire couldn't completely block the piercing Sword Qi. Zhang Shun's movement technique was also incredibly formidable. Once deployed, Zhu Bufan couldn't even catch a glimpse of Zhang Shun's true form; it was all just afterimages moving.

Apart from the movement technique and Sword Qi, Zhang Shun's Martial Arts was also very powerful. Even some cultivators at the Body Tempering Ninth Layer Heaven couldn't match the power of his Martial Arts. Zhu Bufan finally understood why Zhang Shun, who was only at the Seventh Layer Heaven of Body Tempering, was able to make it into the top sixteen. It wasn't just his Martial Arts — his Sword Qi and movement technique alone were tough for other cultivators at the same Body Tempering Realm to withstand, which is why he was able to fight his way up.

However, even though Zhang Shun was outstanding among those in the Body Tempering Realm, competing against Zhu Bufan was still premature. After all, whether in terms of cultivation, combat experience, or life-and-death fighting experience, Zhu Bufan was far more seasoned. Exploiting a flaw that lured Zhang Shun in, Zhu Bufan struck his abdomen with a sword, immediately causing Zhang Shun to retch.

Having struck Zhang Shun, Zhu Bufan then seized his shoulders. Feeling his shoulders being controlled, Zhang Shun gave a wry smile and said, "I am defeated. Ah, I thought I could gain an upper hand with my Sword Qi and movement technique, but who could have known." At this point, Zhang Shun seemed somewhat dejected. At the same Body Tempering Realm, he was confident that even someone at the peak of the Ninth Layer Heaven would have a tough time gaining the upper hand, but unfortunately, this time he was up against Zhu Bufan.

"Your Sword Qi is very powerful. Even my Poison Fire couldn't block it, and you should know that my Poison Fire can easily neutralize Primordial Qi and even use blood as fuel to burn inside someone else's body. But your Sword Qi managed to penetrate it, truly remarkable," Zhu Bufan relaxed Zhang Shun's shoulders and then said.

"Stop~~don't say that~ What you have is not some flame, it's clearly the lethal Emperor Yan himself!" Hearing Zhu Bufan describe how the Blood Spirit Poison Fire could continually burn using blood, Zhang Shun shivered, "This Sword Qi of mine, created by my master, can easily break through Gang Qi, of course, it's not that easy to defend against. To be honest, I'm a few years older than you. How did you cultivate to become such a freak? Ah~~~"

Seeing Zhang Shun speak interestingly, Zhu Bufan couldn't help but laugh. Zhang Shun was quite different from other Heavenly Sword Sect disciples. Unlike Wei Langqi, Lin Qingfeng, or Zhu Zizhen, who, even if they lost their cultivation, would still be very attractive and could be midnight gigolos if they showed their faces outside, Zhang Shun, unfortunately, had eyes set wide and a high nose. In the ordinary world, Zhang Shun's appearance might not be considered unattractive, just fairly ordinary. But among the handsome men and beautiful women of the Heavenly Sword Sect, he really stood out.

"Actually, there's no trick to it, I've just experienced a bit more than you," Zhu Bufan said, shaking his head.

"Oh! That must be it! I heard that disciples of the Dark Sect are often thrown by their leaders into dangerous places, and only those who can survive by themselves qualify. Is all that true?" After hearing Zhu Bufan's words, Zhang Shun's eyes lit up suddenly, and he asked Zhu Bufan with a face full of surprise and curiosity.

Contrary to Zhang Shun's curiosity, Zhu Bufan was filled with embarrassment. Zhu Bufan really didn't know what exactly Zhang Shun was making of the Dark Sect, and it wasn't just Zhang Shun, the other disciples were all ears too, obviously curious about the Dark Sect.

However, you can't really blame them, looking at the Dark Sect, they have presented two young cultivators with extraordinary cultivation this time, both remarkably low-profile, aside from a few who had heard about Huo Ling, Zhu Bufan seemed as if he just popped out of a crack in a rock. If they were in the external sect or the Ming Sect? Such cultivation would have been known to everyone, hailed as the stars of tomorrow.

After the two returned to the side, Zhu Bufan explained to Zhang Shun that in fact, there is no difference between the Dark Sect and the external or Ming Sects, the only difference is that they do not cultivate on the same mountain. However, Zhang Shun seemed to stubbornly believe that the Dark Sect was a place of strange and evil practices; Zhu Bufan couldn't help but be amused and exasperated by his wild imagination.

Following several rounds of competition, the top eight contestants for the Dark Rank were decided: Zhu Bufan, Huo Ling, Wei Langqi, Lin Qingfeng, Zhu Zizhen, Han Purple Moon, Ye Gucheng, and the last one, a female disciple from Tianji Peak called Zhou Xi. Zhu Bufan clearly remembers, she and Jie Yuyan from Yao Guang Peak fought over a hundred rounds before a winner was finally determined. That match was certainly a major highlight, after all, it was a rare sight to see two equally beautiful female cultivators battling with full force.

As per tradition, after these eight were selected, two of the strongest among the remaining losers would be picked, making up the top ten of this sect conference's Dark Rank. According to the usual rules, these ten have the right to go down the mountain for practical experience. When Jie Yuyan and another male disciple were selected, the Dark Rank competition officially concluded, though it didn't continue with the quarterfinals, semifinals, and the finals as Zhu Bufan had thought, which was somewhat unexpected to him.

"At this sect conference, there are many outstanding young talents, which pleases our sect greatly." When the ten entered the main hall of the Heavenly Sword Sect, Wei Tianxian, the Sect Master of the Ming Sect of Heavenly Sword, slowly stood up and addressed Zhu Bufan and the others.

"In past sect conferences, there weren't many of your age who reached such a realm, but today I have witnessed this, which is a strong sign for the power of the Heavenly Sword Sect; this is undeniably absolute! This sect conference is the most outstanding one held during my time leading the Heavenly Sword Sect!" After pausing for a moment, Wei Tianxian looked contentedly at the people below, apart from Zhu Bufan and Huo Ling, who all appeared a bit excited, and continued: "I suppose everyone is aware that the top ten from each sect conference receive the qualification to go down the mountain for training, but this time's sect conference is different."

Upon hearing Wei Tianxian's words, aside from Zhu Bufan and Huo Ling who already knew this, the other eight people were a bit stunned. This tradition of going down the mountain for training is a staple of the Heavenly Sword Sect's sect conferences, and it was rather odd to suddenly cancel it, especially right after Wei Tianxian had just finished praising how exceptional this session of the sect conference was.

"No need to be surprised, the reason our sect does not require descending the mountain for training is because your strengths have already surpassed that phase. This time, I will take you to participate in a grand event!" Seeing the puzzled looks on everyone's faces, Wei Tianxian said with a smile.