Lightning Is the Only Way

"I would have never thought that you would be here," Zern transmitted to Gravis.

"Why not?" Gravis answered with a laugh.

"Well, first of all, you have a beast-"

Suddenly, Zern's eyes widened, and he looked at the corner of the hall. Every corner had a beast crystal.

Zern saw the beast crystals shining red, and panic appeared in his eyes.

Then, he looked around at everyone else with shock and confusion.

Why was no one noticing that the beast crystals were shining red!?

The bright, red light wasn't subtle. It nearly illuminated the entire hall. It was impossible to not notice something like that!

"Surprised?" Gravis asked with a voice transmission.

Zern looked with surprise at Gravis, while the other disciples from the Sects looked confused at Zern. What was up with that guy? Had he become nervous because of the tournament?

"How has no one noticed the beast crystals?" he asked.

"Secret," Gravis transmitted to Zern. "However, it has something to do with a Law I know."

Zern took a deep breath. "That's really impressive, Gravis. If anyone knew that someone with a beast body was able to enter the central palace of the Nine Elements Sect, they would start fearing that all the beasts could infiltrate them. However, no one would even believe such a thing!"

Gravis had to chuckle.

Zern and Gravis continued talking for a while. It was nice to see a familiar face among all these strangers.

Some minutes later, one of the doors opened, and several people entered.

All of them wore the uniform of the Nine Elements Sect. There were three in total, and Gravis couldn't feel the power of any one of them.

This meant that all of them were at least in the Major Circulation Immortal Emperor Realm.

Even more, Gravis knew two of those people.

In the middle of the three people was a woman with blue hair. Gravis had never met her, but he had seen her picture in the hallway.

This was the current Sect Master of the Nine Elements Sect.

The woman smiled politely at the candidates, but her smile seemed frosty. There was no happiness or kindness behind that smile. It was like a being without emotion was trying to be polite.

other two should be Vice-Sect Masters, which means

was the Vice-Sect Master that had invited him

bowed politely, just

the greetings were over, Gravis saw the Sect Master looking intently at

he wasn't in danger. As long as she didn't suspect that Gravis was a beast, she wouldn't

she

old Vice-Sect Master said. The other one was a young man

now, we have 22 contestants, and we will continue with one versus one matches until only three remain. When three candidates remain, we will let the three candidates

The participants nodded.

what I should do if she isn't here? I

stepped back and bowed politely to the Sect Master. "Sect Master, if you may,"

The Sect Master nodded.

politely as everyone's Spirits were

person from a High-Rank Sect, while another was from

as they waited for

Apparently, he would be acting as a referee, and he would also make sure that no participants would die. The occasional death in the preliminary tournament wasn't bad, which was why the elder hadn't cared about that. However, here, it was

"Begin!"

started battling each other, but just after a couple of seconds, everyone was already clear on who the victor

of his opponent. After all, the opponent came from a powerful Sect with

Sects had millions of years to perfect their Weapon Techniques, while the unaffiliated Cultivators could only create their own or buy mediocre ones with a ton of

couldn't even imagine creating something as intricate and complex

required time more than anything else, and Gravis just hadn't

seconds, the fight ended. The unaffiliated Cultivator conceded when he realized that he

the participants and the upper echelon of the Nine Elements Sect were allowed

central palace, another elder came up

realized that he could never reach the top of the world without joining

shows these prideful Cultivators the difference between a Sect and an unaffiliated Cultivator. Like this, they can pull even these prideful people that value

and you," the Sect

unaffiliated Cultivator and another one from a

even bigger

fight didn't even

"You and you."

unaffiliated Cultivator was called

think they want to clean up the trash before they start the actual

closer, but in the end, the

Vice-Sect Master beside her for a second, and the Vice-Sect

that, the Vice-Sect Master personally escorted the Cultivator

had no reservation. No one would notice as long as he didn't include the Vice-Sect Master in his

Vice-Sect Master is inviting this Cultivator as a Core Disciple. Obviously,

eye of the Sect Master. It was rare for an unaffiliated Cultivator to put up such a good fight against a powerful disciple

Core Disciple was supposed to be. A Peak Sect was a Peak Sect because they had the most powerful and most talented people.