Longevity: Starting with an infant's innate growth potential

The competition platform is not far in front of the square.

This is where the cultivators from the Dao Court gather before heading to the Sword Qi Great Wall.

Sometimes, a testing ground is set up to test the cultivators' true combat strength.

Many cultivators heading towards the main hall were also drawn to the scene.

"What's happening here?"

Some of the cultivators asked curiously.

"It is said that two geniuses ranked in the top ten of the Prodigy Ranking are going to have a competition."

"The top ten prodigies are going to have a competition; this is going to be interesting!"

Do you know who they are?

"It is said that they are Zhou Ling, who is ranked first, and Du Huan, who is ranked tenth."

"First place versus tenth place? What's the point of even competing like this!"

"You don't know this, do you? The number one on this year's Prodigy Ranking is Zhou Ling from the Qingyang Immortal Domain. It is said that he was born as a rogue cultivator, while the other nine prodigies are all from aristocratic families."

"How could they possibly believe that!"

"Moreover, Zhou Ling's first place this time was due to his use of a magic array to kill a fifth-tier demon beast in Five Spirit Immortal City, which earned him a lot of military merits before he ranked first."

"Therefore, others also have doubts about his abilities."

"Hmph, being able to kill a fifth-tier demonic beast is what makes someone worthy of being number one on the Prodigy Ranking. These aristocratic scions can't compare."

A number of cultivators gathered around the arena, whispering among themselves.

Among these cultivators, some were born into independent cultivation groups while others were born into prestigious families.

They quickly split into two distinct camps.

There were significantly more people supporting Zhou Ling than Du Huan.

After all, the cultivators who come here are all heading to the Sword Qi Great Wall.

They were all cultivators who fought their way through their own strength.

They naturally felt a good impression of someone like Chen Ling, who dared to face a fifth-tier demon king in the Five Spirits Immortal City.

"Now that we're on the competition stage, let's get started quickly and finish this quickly."

On the competition stage, Zhou Ling glanced at Du Huan and said in a deep voice.

Since the other party dared to provoke him, there was naturally no need to give them face.

No one expected that Zhou Ling, who seemed harmless, would be so arrogant.

"Does this guy really think he's number one on the list of geniuses? So arrogant!"

All eyes turned to Zhou Ling on the competition stage.

Some of those gazes, however, made Zhou Ling feel quite threatened.

Like Feng Lan, the slender woman standing next to Tao Yue.

Not far away, a young man in a white robe also had a cold glint in his eyes.

Zhou Ling also realized that this person was Yan Yutian, who was ranked second.

He had just arrived at the main hall to report for duty.

He originally looked down on this kind of competition, but when he heard that it was actually Zhou Ling, who was ranked first.

He then came out of the main hall to see if Zhou Ling was as powerful as those on the Heavenly Pride Ranking.
Despite the pressure from everyone's gazes, Zhou Ling remained calm and composed, displaying an air of arrogance.

It wasn't that he was arrogant; he just didn't want to face such meaningless provocations again in the future.

This time, we must teach Du Huan an indelible lesson.

You must understand that he is now the sect leader of the Lingxiao Sect. To provoke him is to provoke the entire Lingxiao Sect.

So it's a good opportunity to use this clueless guy to establish our authority.

This also made the cultivators of Tianxia Immortal City realize that the Lingxiao Sect is no longer what it used to be.

"Cough cough!"

Seeing Zhou Ling's imposing manner, Qi Jianzhi hurriedly coughed, stood on the competition platform, cleared his throat, and looked at everyone's eyes that were fixed on him.

He then said with a smile, "Brother Zhou, Fellow Daoist Du, although this is a competition, we must have a set rules so as not to ruin our harmony!"

"Our goal remains the same: to exchange ideas and improve each other's character."

"So we should stop here and not let anyone get hurt!"

The reason he said this was mainly because he had some understanding of Du Huan's abilities.

Zhou Ling, on the other hand, had never truly witnessed such a thing, so this was just a brief mention to prevent Zhou Ling from being defeated and injured.

"I don't accept it."

But Zhou Ling replied crisply and decisively.

Upon hearing Zhou Ling's words, everyone looked at him again, all appearing somewhat surprised.

From the perspective of cultivation level now.

Zhou Ling was only at the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm, while Du Huan was already at the late-stage of the Golden Core realm.

They clearly have the advantage.

Qi Jianzhi's words were clearly in Zhou Ling's favor.

But he seemed to ignore it.

However, it's understandable, since he's ranked first on the list of prodigies, he certainly can't show weakness.

"That's exactly what I wanted to say!"

Du Huan laughed heartily.

Although it was Tao Yue's idea to provoke Zhou Ling this time.

But it wasn't without its benefits for him.

Defeating Zhou Ling, who is ranked number one, would greatly enhance his reputation.

They will definitely receive more attention from the higher-ups of the Dao Alliance in the future.

As for being no match for Zhou Ling, he hadn't considered that. According to Tao Yue, Zhou Ling only defeated the fifth-tier demon king by using the Five Spirits Immortal City battle formation.

Even Tao Yue could do that.

"this?"

Seeing that both of them had this attitude, Qi Jianzhi frowned, and for a moment he really didn't know what to say.

"Fellow Daoist Qi, you're not afraid of losing five hundred military merits, are you?"

Tao Yue sneered.

"Fellow Daoist Tao, you underestimate me too much."

"I was also afraid of hurting everyone's feelings!"

Qi Jianzhi chuckled and said.

Since Zhou Ling was confident, he naturally had nothing to worry about.

"Make your move. I want to see what makes you think you're number one with only a mid-stage Golden Core cultivation level."

Du Huan looked at Zhou Ling, who remained calm and collected, and smiled sternly. With a flick of his hand, a sharp sword appeared out of thin air.

Hovering in front of him, the sword gleamed with a cold light, and a chilling aura emanated from him.

A ripple of icy aura emanated from it.

The cultivators present all felt a chill creep over them in that instant.

"This is the Du family's fourth-tier superior-grade Frost Sword. I never expected that Du Huan would have already refined it into his natal sword!"

"How can a late-stage Golden Core cultivator control a fourth-grade superior natal sword?"

"Du Huan used his strongest natal sword right away, it seems he's determined to defeat his opponent!"

"This is just a competition, is it really necessary to use one's natal sword?"

"If we suffer any damage, then our journey to the Sword Qi Great Wall will be in trouble."

"What do you know? The other party is number one on the Prodigy Ranking. If you can defeat him, how much will that boost Du Huan's reputation!"

Upon seeing Du Huan's sword, the others also discussed it in surprise.

Everyone was somewhat surprised that Du Huanyi would use his strongest trump card right away.

After all, this is just a competition.

Judging from their posture, it seems they are about to fight to the death.

"If I make a move, you won't have any chance to make a move at all."

Upon hearing Du Huan's words, Zhou Ling replied calmly.

She raised an eyebrow, looking at Du Huan with disdain in her eyes.

Upon hearing this, Du Huan's expression immediately darkened.

Dozens of cultivators had gathered around the arena.

They are all people with some reputation in Tianxia Immortal City.

He certainly couldn't bear to be insulted like this by Zhou Ling in front of so many people.

Those in the audience were equally astonished.

Everyone knows what it means to be included in the Heavenly Pride Ranking.

The top ten all have the opportunity to become high-ranking cultivators in the Dao Alliance in the future.

None of them were simple. Yet Zhou Ling so blatantly disregarded his opponents.

Although he was ranked number one, he was at their level.

The actual difference in strength is generally not that great.

Moreover, judging from the surface, Zhou Ling's cultivation level is now much lower than Du Huan's.

Moreover, this position as the number one prodigy was earned through military merit.

According to this logic, there's still a lot of exaggeration involved.

Therefore, it seems impossible for Zhou Ling to prevent Du Huan from having a chance to make a move, as he said.

"How arrogant!"

"Then I'll show you what a true prodigy is!"

Du Huan roared, and the Frost Sword in front of him soared into the air as a surge of magical power was poured into it.

It was as if a vast expanse of ice and snow was sweeping out, radiating a terrifying pressure that could freeze everything, and it rushed towards Zhou Ling.

At this moment, a chilling aura surged around Du Huan.

A domain of icy cold enveloped the entire arena, its power astonishing.

Although Du Huan appeared calm, he dared not be careless in the slightest.

After all, no matter what, Zhou Ling is indeed number one on the list of geniuses.

Therefore, he went all out from the start, even at the cost of consuming his precious Dan Domain, all in order to suppress Zhou Ling.

"This is the Frost Sword Domain!"

"You're directly unleashing a sword domain? You really want to decide the outcome in one move!"

"Du Huan is being far too hasty!"

Many people were surprised to see Du Huan directly activate his sword domain.

Surprisingly, without any probing, he immediately unleashed his strongest Dan Domain and Sword Domain attack.

But at that moment, to everyone's disbelief...

"Boom!"

The competition platform resounded with a deafening roar.

Zhou Ling was enveloped in surging lightning, with streaks of purple lightning shooting straight into the sky, his oppressive aura overwhelming the Frost Sword Domain.

"With your level of strength, you actually dare to challenge me."

"What a mess!"

As Zhou Ling spoke, a Purple Heaven Thunder Emperor image, over ten feet long, materialized behind him.

Rumble!
The thunder roared incessantly.

"Emperor Zixiao, how is this possible?"

"How could a Golden Core cultivator possibly condense a Dharma Body?"

"And it's a lightning-attribute dharma form?"

"this······"

Originally, it was thought that under the attack of Du Huan's Frosty Sword Domain, it would be impossible for Zhou Ling to defeat Du Huan in one move as he had previously said.

Even if they win, they will become a laughing stock.

Unexpectedly, Zhou Ling directly condensed the Purple Heaven Emperor Image.

It should be understood that only Nascent Soul cultivators who have comprehended enough of the power of the rules can possibly condense a Dharma Image.

Zhou Ling's ability to condense a thunderous dharma form means that his mastery of thunder-attribute rules is in no way inferior to that of a Nascent Soul cultivator.

"How can this be?"

Looking at the Purple Cloud Emperor's image, Du Huan was also extremely shocked.

It's hard to believe that a mid-stage Golden Core cultivator could actually condense a Dharma Image for attack.

"Boom!"

On the dueling platform, Emperor Zixiao unleashed a punch at the Sword Domain.

Like a bolt of lightning, thunder filled the sky.

The terrifying power of lightning directly annihilated the Frost Sword Domain.

Thunder roared and shook the heavens, and the icy sword domain instantly collapsed and dissipated.

"Peng!"

Under the terrifying pressure of the thunder, Du Huan's entire body was blasted dozens of feet away and crashed onto the competition platform.

His face was deathly pale, and he was breathing rapidly, unable to stand up for a moment.

If Zhou Ling hadn't held back, that attack would have been enough to kill him outright.

"With your strength, you don't even deserve to be on the Prodigy Ranking!"

The lightning on Zhou Ling's body dissipated, and the Purple Heaven Emperor's Image also vanished.

After Zhou Ling finished speaking, he slowly walked down from the competition platform.

This was also the first time he had used the Purple Heaven Emperor's Form, and he hadn't expected its power to be so terrifying that even he himself was terrified.

If they hadn't stopped halfway, they might have actually killed Du Huan.

That would be troublesome.

He only wanted to establish his authority in this competition; he had no intention of killing anyone.

After all, the other party was just provoking them; it wasn't a deep-seated grudge.

It's not enough to kill him!

The entire hall was silent!
Below the arena, many of the cultivators were Nascent Soul cultivators, and the lowest level was Foundation Establishment cultivators.

At this moment, everyone stared at Zhou Ling with wide eyes, looking incredulous.

Many people even poked their faces, thinking they were seeing things.

Tao Yue, who had been full of confidence, now had an extremely gloomy expression.

Zhou Ling's strength was far greater than he had expected.

Feng Lan and Pei Qing Shuang, who were standing beside him, also frowned slightly. They had been watching the competition with great interest, wanting to understand Zhou Ling's strength, but at this moment their expressions became somewhat solemn.

Not far away, Qi Jianzhi was equally shocked, knowing that Zhou Ling was quite powerful.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have even caught the eye of my uncle, who always has high standards.

But no one expected Zhou Ling to be this terrifying.

A single punch was enough to defeat Du Huan.

They were completely powerless to fight back.

What would happen if I met him?
Fortunately, he and Zhou Ling were friends, not enemies.

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but laugh.

They'd found the right person, and they'd even won 500 military merits for no reason.

You could say you made a fortune!

The other prodigies on the periphery also looked rather solemn.

They all seemed somewhat incredulous as they watched Zhou Ling slowly walk down from the competition platform.

These people all have roughly the same idea.

Everyone thought that Zhou Ling was able to get the top spot on the Heavenly Pride Ranking simply by relying on the military merits of the Five Spirit Immortal City.

Killing a fifth-tier monster could even be considered good luck.

Their actual combat strength is definitely inferior to theirs.

After all, he was born a rogue cultivator; how strong could he possibly be?

Therefore, everyone thought they were a cut above Zhou Ling.

But it was only after witnessing Zhou Ling's terrifying strength that they truly realized...

Zhou Ling's ability to become the number one on the list of prodigies is definitely not a matter of luck.

This is absolute strength.

The Dao Alliance's leadership is right.

"Haha, not bad. Only someone with this level of strength is worthy of being my opponent, Yan Yutian!"

Yan Yutian, who spoke later in the crowd, also looked shocked, but quickly regained his composure.

Looking at Zhou Ling, he thought to himself.

"Brother Zhou, I didn't expect your attack to be so powerful. If I had known, I should have bet a thousand military merits with him!"

When Qi Jianzhi saw Zhou Ling step down from the competition platform, he immediately came over to greet him with a smile.

Zhou Ling also went from being called Brother Zhou to Big Brother Zhou.

"You'll come with me to get back my thousand military merits later!"

Zhou Ling nodded and said.

"Alright, big brother, don't worry about this! You can't go wrong leaving it to me."

Qi Jianzhi said with a smile. (End of this chapter)