At the crack of dawn, just as the first light kissed the horizon, the entirety of Lingyu City began to churn like a pot of boiling water coming to a rolling boil. Along the hazy lanes, streams of people were already surging northward with rapid purpose, converging on the largest structure in Lingyu City—

The Lingxiao Altar!

This altar dominated nearly one-third of the entire North City district, encircled by the six Halls—Qingfeng, Zilei, Shanhun, Huoyun, Shuixian, and Yaoxin—like moonlets orbiting a central celestial body.

Since its completion, the Lingxiao Altar had served one singular purpose: hosting the annual “Six Halls Grand Competition.” This was because the Altar itself was Lingyu City’s Phantasmal Dimension, a feat refined by exceptional Spirit Pattern Masters over two millennia, placing it among the foremost Phantasmal Dimensions on the Tianling Continent.

The six outer city Halls of Lingyu City held monthly assessments that often drew considerable crowds.

But without a doubt, the most anticipated and vibrant annual event in Lingyu’s outer city was this Six Halls Grand Competition, specifically convened to select disciples for the Inner City.

On this day, the majority of Lingyu City’s residents flocked to the vicinity of the Lingxiao Altar, a crowd exceeding one hundred thousand souls, their clamor beyond measure.

As the morning mist lifted, the Lingxiao Altar was already packed with a dense mass of figures. Murmurs of discussion and peals of laughter rose, coalescing above the Altar, soaring toward the heavens, their resonance echoing ten miles out, startling the spirit beasts beyond the city walls into frenzied roars as they bolted away, as if the apocalypse had arrived.

The crowd surrounding the Altar was oblivious to the chaos outside the city walls, engrossed in excitedly discussing the impending Six Halls Grand Competition.

“Good heavens, Brother, I never thought so many people would come for the Six Halls Grand Competition! If I’d known, I wouldn't have bothered; I was almost crushed to death just getting here!”

“Heh heh, friend, I can tell you’re new to the Lingxiao Altar. The Six Halls Grand Competition is the biggest spectacle in Lingyu City; the crowds in past years were no smaller than this. Don’t complain, friend. I’m telling you, before long, you’ll feel that this place is worth being crushed over.”

“Exactly, exactly. If you come to Lingyu City and don’t see the Six Halls Grand Competition, you’ve wasted your trip here.”

“Really? Isn’t it just a few thousand people fighting together? I’ve seen that elsewhere many times; it doesn’t seem all that exciting.”

“Haha! Watching the Six Halls Grand Competition in Lingyu City isn't about watching the slaughter of the disciples; it’s about the Lingyu City Phantasmal Dimension!”

“Where is the Phantasmal Dimension? I don’t see it.”

“Isn’t that giant black box right there?”

“That massive black box is the Phantasmal Dimension?”

“That massive black box is the Phantasmal Dimension?”

Down at the base of the Lingxiao Altar, Nie Kong couldn’t help but let out a low exclamation upon hearing Miao Ge’s voice beside him.

After meeting early at the Yaoxin Hall, Nie Kong had followed the others to the Lingxiao Altar. Upon first laying eyes on the structure that occupied the largest footprint in Lingyu City, Nie Kong’s soul, which had witnessed countless marvelous and grand architectures in his previous life, was still profoundly shaken.

The Lingxiao Altar bore a resemblance to the stadiums of his past life, encircled by tiered, concentric steps. Yet, the sheer scale of the Altar dwarfed any stadium from his previous existence; its seemingly endless diameter would surely cause the largest stadium of his former world to feel utterly ashamed.

In the center of those circular tiers lay a vast, boundless platform, raised barely two meters high, its entire surface a profound, inky black, like a colossal box seemingly capable of absorbing all surrounding light.

Almost everyone stepping into the Lingxiao Altar from the outside experienced an initial dimming of vision.

What Nie Kong hadn't expected, however, was that the massive black box was the city's Phantasmal Dimension—a concept that utterly upended his imagination!

“What, doesn’t it look impressive?”

Miao Ge smiled radiantly. “Junior Brother Nie Kong, it looks rather unremarkable now, but once the six Vice Hall Masters unseal it later, you’ll truly understand how beautiful this Phantasmal Dimension is. By then, you might not even bear to look away.”

“Wonderful, I shall wait and see!” Nie Kong chuckled heartily. “By the way, Senior Sister Miao Ge, I heard Tai Ji mention that you’ve been preparing non-stop for the Competition for the better part of the last half-month. Passing the assessment this time must be a sure thing for you. If we happen to meet inside, please be gentle with me, Senior Sister.”

Miao Ge shot Nie Kong a sidelong glance, playfully chastising him, “Junior Brother Nie Kong, you certainly have the nerve to say that. You’ve managed to clinch first place in the ‘Monthly Assessment’ three times in a row with perfect scores. I’ve long admitted defeat regarding your strength; you should be the one showing me mercy!”

Tai Ji, overhearing their exchange of mock humility, found it rather amusing and teased them, “Alright, stop with the flirting. In my opinion, neither of you should hold back against the other. Perhaps the moment you meet, you’ll just stick together, definitely engaging in verbal sparring rather than physical blows. If anyone shows mercy, it should be mercy with your tongues, not your hands. What do you two think, Nie Kong and Miao Ge?”

Nie Kong was left speechless. “Verbal sparring” and “mercy with your tongues”—the innuendo was far too obvious! Indeed, as soon as Tai Ji finished speaking, many nearby people began sizing up Nie Kong and Miao Ge with strange looks, the ambiguity in their gazes unmistakable.

Nie Kong, thick-skinned as he was, showed no reaction. In truth, he and Miao Ge shared no romantic entanglement whatsoever; at most, he had teased her a few times with playfully suggestive words.

But Miao Ge couldn't help but roll her eyes at Tai Ji. A faint blush rose on her fair cheeks, making her appear exquisitely charming, which only prompted Tai Ji, Ru Jie, and Ye Xinlian beside her to erupt in delighted giggles. Miao Ge let out a soft cry and pounced over, and the four women were soon locked in a cheerful commotion.

The sight of the four delicate figures clustered together, their smiles blossoming like flowers, was truly pleasing to the eye—a wonderful way to relax the mind, watching them frolic.

Nie Kong listened to their laughter, as crisp and melodious as the calls of orioles, before turning his gaze back to the enormous black box before him.

Its width spanned at least two to three thousand meters; its length stretched beyond his sight, making estimation impossible. The profound blackness of its surface exuded an aura of endless mystery, stirring Nie Kong’s imagination as a first-time observer, leading to endless conjecture.

In an instant, Nie Kong sensed something was slightly off.

Within the Lingxiao Altar, it felt as if someone was watching him. This shouldn't have been alarming; their appearance as Lingyu City disciples already drew countless gazes. But those gazes usually swept past him, lingering only momentarily.

This current scrutiny, however, made Nie Kong’s back prickle as if needles were stuck in him.

Puzzled, Nie Kong couldn't help but turn his head sharply, finally spotting a young man on his oblique side squinting intently at him. The man was dressed in black, appearing to be in his mid-twenties, with a gaunt face and a severe expression. He stood perfectly rigid, giving him the appearance of a javelin, sharp and imposing, as if a mere movement would allow him to pierce through any obstacle ahead into dust.

In the narrowed slits of the black-clothed man’s eyes, Nie Kong detected a well-concealed thread of killing intent.

Nie Kong had absolute confidence in his senses.

Though currently only at the fifth level of the Spirit Integration realm, the vibrant vitality within his spiritual power made his sensory abilities exceptionally keen. If he refrained from using the "Spiritual Sense" attainable only at the Spirit Transformation realm, Nie Kong dared to assert that even the sensory acuity of Spirit Transformation masters might not surpass his own.

“Someone has targeted me with killing intent?”

Nie Kong was utterly bewildered. Judging by the man's position, he was clearly one of the Inner City disciples designated to enter the Phantasmal Dimension. Nie Kong had no recollection of this person. He was sure that since arriving in Lingyu City, he had never befriended any Inner City disciple, let alone incurred their enmity.

Why would this fellow wish him dead on sight?

Seeing that Miao Ge and the others had stopped their teasing, Nie Kong quickly raised a hand and tapped Miao Ge’s shoulder, pointing directly at the man staring at him. “Senior Sister Miao Ge, do you know that thin, black-clothed Inner City disciple over there?”

“Him? No, I don’t,” Miao Ge shook her head, looking surprised. “Junior Brother Nie Kong, why do you ask about him? He doesn't look very friendly towards you. Have you two had a past conflict?” Miao Ge was slightly worried; if an Inner City disciple specifically targeted Nie Kong during the Six Halls Grand Competition, he would be in genuine danger.

“I know that man.”

Ru Jie suddenly interjected, “His name is Luo Sheng, from the Luo Clan of the Dachang Empire. The Luo family holds enormous power in the Chang Kingdom, and Luo Sheng’s aptitude is excellent. He entered the Inner City of Lingyu City two years ago and is a Spirit Pharmacist with a mutated ability. Rumor has it his cultivation reached the ninth level of the Spirit Integration realm half a year ago. Among all the Inner City disciples heading into the Phantasmal Dimension this time, his strength ranks first!”

Ye Xinlian and Ru Jie both hailed from prominent families in the Dachang Empire. Since Ru Jie was so well-informed about Luo Sheng, Ye Xinlian was naturally not unfamiliar with him, nodding repeatedly as Ru Jie spoke, a trace of apprehension unconsciously surfacing in her gaze toward Luo Sheng.

“Ninth level of Spirit Integration?” Nie Kong was slightly taken aback. Indeed, one could not judge a book by its cover; Luo Sheng looked so scrawny, yet his strength was astonishing!

In this Six Halls Grand Competition, the ninth level of Spirit Integration was already considered the pinnacle of cultivation. And among all the ninth-level Spirit Masters, this Luo Sheng from the Inner City was likely the most formidable. Furthermore, like Nie Kong and Miao Ge, this man was also a Spirit Pharmacist with a mutated spiritual power.

It made sense that Lingyu City gathered the majority of the most outstanding young Spirit Pharmacists on the Tianling Continent. Among the people right here, there were already three Spirit Pharmacists with mutated spiritual powers. Nie Kong wondered what kind of spiritual power mutation this fellow possessed. He met Luo Sheng’s cold gaze and pondered internally.

As if anticipating Nie Kong’s confusion, Ru Jie continued, “He has Wind Spirit Power mutation; his speed is astonishingly fast. Nie Kong, if you truly have some enmity with him, you must be extremely careful during this Six Halls Grand Competition. If you encounter him, escaping will be impossible.”

Nie Kong withdrew his gaze, frustrated. “I have no idea what’s gotten into the guy, staring at me like that. In fact, I only just learned about his background from you.”

“Could it be that you offended some of his kin?” Ye Xinlian suddenly suggested. “From what I know, Luo Sheng has a younger brother named Luo Teng, who is in the outer city of Lingyu. However, I heard this morning that Luo Teng has already died, apparently killed by spirit beasts just outside the city last night, along with one other person.”

“Oh?” Nie Kong’s heart leaped. Weren't there two people who attempted to ambush him with the Blood Scale Thorn yesterday evening? Could that Luo Teng be one of them? Could things be such a coincidence? After Luo Teng died to the spirit beasts, perhaps Luo Sheng realized his brother was trying to deal with Nie Kong outside the city yesterday, but the result was Luo Teng’s death while Nie Kong remained alive. Thus, Luo Sheng was blaming Nie Kong for his brother’s demise?

Most likely, that was the case!

Nie Kong found it inconvenient to ask Ru Jie and Ye Xinlian about Luo Teng’s appearance to confirm his suspicion finally. However, now that he understood the potential reason, a layer of fog lifted from his mind. If he truly encountered Luo Sheng in the Phantasmal Dimension, Nie Kong would have no choice but to meet the challenge head-on.

Miao Ge spoke softly, “Nie Kong, don't worry too much. Perhaps Luo Sheng isn't targeting you specifically, but is merely curious about you—a new disciple who has achieved first place in the Monthly Assessment three times consecutively and was granted special permission to enter the Six Halls Grand Competition in less than a year after entering Lingyu City.”

Tai Ji blinked her azure eyes and smiled, “Yes, the Phantasmal Dimension is huge; you might not even run into each other. Don't overthink things. Besides, even if you do meet, he won’t dare break the rules of the Six Halls Grand Competition to act rashly. Just relax.”

As the four of them offered comfort one after another, Nie Kong smiled wryly. He couldn't exactly tell them the truth—that Luo Sheng’s animosity wasn't baseless; Luo Teng truly had tried to harm him and ended up being killed by Nie Kong’s Blood Scale Thorn!

Still, their words did manage to lift Nie Kong’s spirits somewhat.

Since matters had reached this point, worrying was useless. He would simply deal with whatever came his way. For the sake of his future survival, he must pass the assessment in this Six Halls Grand Competition and become an Inner City disciple. Whether that fellow was Luo Sheng or some other ‘Ma Sheng’ (a colloquialism for 'whoever'), nothing would stop his progress!

“If you dare to come, I dare to show you that you’re not messing with a pushover!” Nie Kong glanced at Luo Sheng, who was still staring, and scoffed coldly in his heart.

“Halt!”

Suddenly, a colossal roar erupted above the Lingxiao Altar. The crowd gathered on the circular tiers seemed as if they had been injected with stimulants, erupting in excited shouts. The massive sound wave converged, sounding like thousands of pounds of gunpowder ignited simultaneously, nearly shaking the colossal black box off its foundations.

Nie Kong perked up his ears, faintly discerning that the crowd seemed to be shouting something like “Vice Hall Masters.” He quickly turned his gaze and saw that at the entrance of the Lingxiao Altar, over a hundred figures were walking in. The first six were all elderly men who looked to be in their fifties or sixties.

Among them, Nie Kong recognized only one person: Sha Yan, the Vice Hall Master of the Yaoxin Hall!