Chapter 1717 — Chapter 1717 Tournament of Rising Stars

Emperor Ning stood up and began his speech shortly after their arrival.

"My Ning Family welcomes you all to this year's Tournament of Rising Stars, where those below the age of 27 may participate, regardless of your background or affiliation!"

"Before I reveal the reward, allow me to explain the rules for this tournament first."

"First and foremost, each of you will be assigned an opponent who matches your age. As the tournament progresses and there are fewer participants, the age disparity will naturally widen."

"There is a protection formation around this arena, so you do not have to worry about accidentally being killed. However, your opponents may still forfeit. Once they forfeit, you are prohibited from attacking. If you damage your opponent after they forfeit, you will also be disqualified."

"Martial techniques that directly damage the soul are also strictly forbidden. If caught, you could be punished with death."

Several rules later, Emperor Ning revealed the rewards.

"The winner of this year's tournament will be given an Innate Miracle Pill."

The onlookers and the participants gasped in shock after hearing the reward. An Innate Miracle Pill could boost one's innate talents greatly and could turn an ordinary cultivator into a talented one. However, they are incredibly rare and priceless due to the exceedingly rare materials required to concoct them.

Afterward, Emperor Ning said, "Before we begin the tournament, I would like to take a moment to introduce an esteemed guest to you all today. This is Senior Xiao, an envoy from the upper heavens."

"An envoy from the upper heavens…?" Kelan muttered to himself.

"Would you like to share a few words before we begin the tournament, Senior Xiao?" Emperor Ning asked him.

Yuan pondered for a moment before responding with a question, "Do you mind if I make this year's tournament a little more exciting?"

"Oh? What do you have in mind?" Emperor Ning's eyes flickered, his interest piqued.

"If you would allow me, I would like to give the top participants an opportunity to fight me. If they can defeat me, I'll give them a separate reward."

"T-that's… but with your cultivation…" Emperor Ning hesitated to let someone as powerful as Yuan participate in a tournament meant for the younger generation.

Yuan chuckled and said, "You probably won't believe me, but I actually qualify to participate in this tournament."

"What?! You're that young?!" Emperor Ning's eyes widened with shock. He'd sensed Yuan's presence before, and it was absolutely terrifying. It was not something someone so young should have.

'For this young man to be this talented… he's most likely from the Ninth Heaven!' Emperor Ning swallowed nervously.

"Don't worry, I won't go too hard on them, and I'll put several restrictions upon myself," Yuan assured him.

Emperor Ning pondered for a moment before nodding, "Alright, let's do it. It sounds entertaining, too."

After receiving Emperor Ning's approval, Yuan stepped forward and spoke in a voice loud enough for everyone to hear. Naturally, he disguised his voice so Kelan and the others couldn't recognize him.

"During this tournament, any participant in the top 20 may challenge me. My cultivation will be suppressed to the peak of Spirit Grandmaster. In fact, I qualify to participate in this tournament since I am under the age of 27. If you can defeat me… I will give you a Supreme-rank technique or an Empyrean-grade treasure."

"?!?!?!"

A Supreme-rank technique and Empyrean-grade treasures are typically only acquirable within the Seventh Heaven and above, so for it to be given as a reward in the Fourth Heaven was a once-in-a-life opportunity.

Even Emperor Ning was shocked by the generous reward.

However, despite the immense reward, every participant understood the challenge ahead. Simply making it into the top 20 was already an incredibly difficult journey, but defeating someone capable of casually offering such valuable rewards would be exponentially harder, even if that person suppressed his cultivation to the peak of Spirit Grandmaster.

"Hah! Spirit Grandmaster? Underestimating us will be his downfall. That reward will be mine!" Wang Ming rubbed his hands like he had already won.

Seeing this, Kelan glanced at him and sneered, "You're the one who's underestimating him. That man is formidable and unfathomably dangerous. If I were to suppress my cultivation to his level, even I don't dare say I am confident in beating him."

"What? Seriously?" The Demon Sealing Faction members looked at him with wide eyes. They couldn't imagine Kelan losing to anyone—not even to Yuan.

"What about his cultivation of Spirit Sovereign? Is it his real cultivation?" Wang Bingbing asked.

"It appears to be his real cultivation, but I am sensing another power inside him, and it's unlike anything I've seen before. It's chaotic and destructive," said Kelan.

"I guess there's always a bigger fish, especially in the upper heavens. Yuan might finally have some competition later." Shi Lang chuckled.

"Alright, I have decided." Kelan suddenly said, "All of you will challenge that man from the upper heavens. If any of you win, I will give you a special reward that would make even my own disciples jealous."

"What about the tournament?" Hong Xiuquan asked.

"Forget about it. I brought you here to evaluate your progress and limitations, but after seeing the participants, I have no doubt you'll rise to the top with ease. However, that man is a different story. You'll be able to truly test your limits with him."

Sometime later, the tournament officially began.

"I'll be right back," Meixiu said shortly after the tournament began.

"Checking on Yuan?" Chu Liuxiang asked.

She nodded, "He appeared in the announcements, so I thought he came back. However, he hasn't logged off yet, so maybe he's still in the Primal Expanse."

"The announcements were probably just delayed because he's so far away."

"Probably. It won't take long." She logged off the next moment.

Once she returned to Earth and saw Yuan sleeping peacefully, she caressed his face and gave him a gentle kiss before returning to Cultivation Online.

"Not yet?" Chu Liuxiang asked.

"No." Meixiu shook her head.