Chapter 28: The First Challenger

As Shen Ruotong and Ye Cha conversed, the competition officially commenced. The first to step onto the stage was a male cultivator.

With a round face and a bulbous nose, he possessed an ordinary appearance among male cultivators in the immortal cultivation world. Yet, he donned an exceptionally flamboyant red robe.

The moment he ascended the arena, several female cultivators immediately cheered loudly, drawing curious glances from many.

However, due to the scarcity of men and abundance of women in the cultivation world, it was not uncommon for a male cultivator to have multiple partners.

Furthermore, given his average looks—neither handsome nor exceedingly ugly—acquiring several partners was hardly a challenge, provided one wasn’t overly particular.

“I am Wang Changtian from the inner sect, a three-spirit root cultivator at the Mid-Foundation Establishment stage.”

The male cultivator stood confidently on the arena, gazing down at the crowd below. This feeling invigorated him.

After declaring his identity, he couldn’t help but glance in the direction of the Sect Master. Upon seeing the Sect Master, whom he had admired for so long, conversing with that pretty boy Ye Cha, his good mood instantly vanished, replaced by a gnashing hatred.

Throughout history, those with formidable strength easily garnered favor.

Within the Lingtian Sect, this held true. Shen Ruotong possessed both strength and beauty, coupled with her exalted status and youth. These were all powerful advantages, making many male cultivators secretly pine for her.

Even with a vast disparity in status, anything was possible!

However, Shen Ruotong’s general lack of enthusiasm for male cultivators, compounded by her direct rejection of even the cultivation world’s most handsome man, deterred many. They understood she was beyond their reach.

Yet, when the rumors began to spread wildly throughout the sect two days prior, a glimmer of hope appeared for the male cultivators.

The Sect Master did not, in fact, dislike men.

This also meant that they still had a chance!

As for Ye Cha, the subject of the rumors, the male cultivators paid him no mind. They collectively believed Shen Ruotong simply hadn’t recognized their own handsomeness, which was why she favored Ye Cha.

It wasn’t just the male cultivators of the Lingtian Sect who harbored a mysterious confidence in their appearance. Indeed, most male cultivators across the entire cultivation world shared this sentiment.

They considered themselves incredibly precious treasures in a world where men were scarce, deserving to be cherished and protected by female cultivators.

Yet, witnessing the Sect Master and Ye Cha speaking intimately ignited a fury within Wang Changtian that had no outlet. He yearned for someone to challenge him quickly, so he could display his strength before the Sect Master.

Though he possessed only three spirit roots, his proficiency in formation arrays was outstanding.

That, too, was a significant advantage.

No matter how handsome Ye Cha might be, as a good-for-nothing five-spirit root cultivator at the Qi Refinement stage, how high could he possibly soar?

Men attracted women not solely through appearance, but also through comparable strength!

Especially for a powerful female cultivator like the Sect Master, she was surely just toying with Ye Cha; it couldn’t be serious!

Lost in these self-concocted thoughts, Wang Changtian suddenly felt a sense of relief.

Next, he intended to secure a brilliant first victory, allowing those around him to witness his true capabilities.

“Zhou Xiaoyue, three-spirit root cultivation, Early-Foundation Establishment stage.”

As a deep female voice resonated, Zhou Xiaoyue leaped directly onto the arena.

She spoke coldly to Wang Changtian, without any pretense of politeness or deference to a male cultivator. Instead, she unfastened a long red whip from her waist and lashed it directly against the arena’s flagstones.

Immediately, cracks spread rapidly, like a spiderweb.