Mortal: I, Zhang Tie, started by joining forces with Han Li to kill a strategist.

The seven sects of cultivators landed on a high platform, and the middle-aged cultivator at the head of the group glanced at the more than ten thousand rogue cultivators below.

"I, Xuan Jin of the Hidden Moon Sect, have been entrusted by the seven sects to oversee the preliminary work for this Ascension Ceremony."

The middle-aged cultivator spoke, and although his voice was not loud, it clearly reached everyone's ears, indicating that he had used some kind of sonic technique.

Although there were over ten thousand people below the stage, they were completely silent. This was not only due to the intimidating power of the Foundation Establishment cultivators, but also the awe that the rogue cultivators felt towards these behemoths of the seven sects.

Xuan Jin didn't seem to care and continued, "The rules are the same as in previous years: those over forty years of age and whose cultivation level has not reached the late stage of Qi Refining, please step aside!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a commotion broke out in the crowd. Some people sighed, while others looked grim, but could only curse inwardly. In the end, they all retreated to the edge of the Sky Mist Platform, and no one dared to challenge the authority of the Seven Sects!

Zhang Tie glanced around and noticed many elderly cultivators with white hair, who were obviously there to try their luck, but he didn't feel much excitement.

The path of cultivation is so cruel; without great opportunities, one step behind means falling behind at every step!

"The rest of you, it's the same old rule. If you want to join a sect, go to that sect's arena to register. Once you've chosen, you can't change it. Think carefully before you choose!" After saying that, Xuan Jin waved his hand, and the areas on both sides of the Heavenly Mist Platform that were shrouded in restrictions immediately appeared before the eyes of the many rogue cultivators.

Seven enormous platforms appeared, each with ten arenas!

Another commotion erupted below the stage, with some cultivators already rushing towards the platform of their chosen sect.

Seeing this, Zhang Tie and Han Li exchanged a glance and nodded at him.

Without further ado, Zhang Tie headed straight for the Spirit Beast Mountain arena, while Han Li quietly retreated to the edge of the Heavenly Mist Platform to watch the battle.

Zhang Tie stood in the queue, and in just a short while, hundreds of people had lined up in front of him. He waited for a while before it was his turn.

A young cultivator from Spirit Beast Mountain, dressed in a red robe, looked up at Zhang Tie, his face expressionless: "Name, age, cultivation level, spiritual root..."

"Zhang Tie, age nineteen, Qi Refining level twelve, three spiritual roots!"

The young cultivator paused for a moment, then looked up and glanced at Zhang Tie a couple more times.

A nineteen-year-old at the twelfth level of Qi Refining might not be unusual in a sect, but it's extremely rare among independent cultivators!

The young cultivator nodded, recorded the information on the jade tube, and then handed Zhang Tie a wooden plaque with the number 331 engraved on it.

Zhang Tie took the wooden plaque, thanked him, and turned to leave.

Long queues formed in front of the seven sects' arena. I was over three hundred people, and there were at least six or seven hundred more behind me. That means more than a thousand late-stage Qi Refining cultivators were competing for ten spots. It was truly fierce!

Zhang Tie shook his head, found Han Li and met up with him. Now all he had to do was wait!

Zhang Tie had already found out the details of the conference. Based on past experience, the Ascension Conference would be divided into two rounds.

The first round is an elimination tournament.

At that time, a presiding cultivator will draw numbers from spirit tablets and pair up for battles. One round will determine the winner, and the winner will advance to the second round, while the loser will be eliminated directly. It is extremely cruel, as half of the cultivators will be eliminated in the first round!

The second round is a points-based ranking tournament.

Ten arenas will be set up for each cultivator to defend. Each cultivator starts with three points. The winner gains one point and the loser loses one point. Those who reach zero points are eliminated. The first ten cultivators to get ten points will qualify for entry. The rules force many cultivators to fight desperately to compete for the limited spots and opportunities!

If someone keeps winning but fails to get ten points in the top ten, they will be eliminated. The seven factions want the ten strongest people, and luck is also a part of strength.

...

Three days later, the Ascension Ceremony officially began.

At dawn, the fog over Tianwu Terrace dissipated, and many cultivators gathered at their respective registration areas.

The platform has seven areas, each with ten arenas. Each arena is thirty feet square, and there are faint restrictions flowing around them.

The cultivators from the seven sects sat on the high platform, looking down at the arena below. However, this time, Xuan Jin from the Hidden Moon Sect was no longer the leader on the platform, but a female cultivator.

She wore a white dress, and although a light veil concealed her face, her eyes were like autumn water. Most importantly, her aura was unfathomable, far surpassing that of the Foundation Establishment cultivators around her.

A Core Formation cultivator!?

Zhang Tie's pupils constricted slightly. Was it Nangong Wan?

In the original story, this Core Formation cultivator did indeed preside over the Ascension Ceremony and was also Han Li's future Daoist partner!

Nearly ten thousand cultivators looked up at Nangong Wan on the high platform, their eyes filled with awe and longing. They might be able to try their luck at Foundation Establishment, but Core Formation was a height they could never reach in their entire lives.

"The Hidden Moon Sect actually sent a Core Formation cultivator to preside over this..." Han Li exclaimed in a low voice.

"That's normal. After all, it involves seventy Foundation Establishment Pills. With a Core Formation cultivator in charge, no one dares to cause trouble!"

On the high platform, at Nangong Wan's prompting, Xuan Jin stepped forward and began to announce the rules, which were almost identical to those Zhang Tie had heard.

What weighs heavily on the hearts of many cultivators is that once they step onto the arena, life or death is irrelevant!

This means that even if a cultivator dies on the arena, it has nothing to do with the seven sects; it's because you're not strong enough!

The drawing of lots began quickly.

Zhang Tie is number 331. A total of 1,126 people from the Ling Shou Shan area participated in the first round of elimination matches.

According to the rule of number 1 versus number 1126, Zhang Tie will appear in position 331 to fight against the cultivator holding number 796.

Sitting upright in the audience, Zhang Tie watched as the cultivators in front of him took the stage one by one.

Twenty people quickly stepped onto the arena.

On the first arena, two rogue cultivators at the tenth level of Qi Refining fought fiercely, with one ultimately prevailing by half a move.

On the second arena, a family cultivator at the peak of Qi Refining faced off against a rogue cultivator at the eleventh level of Qi Refining. The family cultivator unleashed a high-grade magic weapon and knocked the rogue cultivator, who only possessed a mid-grade magic weapon, off the arena in two moves. The rogue cultivator coughed up blood and was carried away.

Arena number three, arena number four...

Zhang Tie observed very carefully, silently memorizing some of the troublesome opponents and their tactics.

After waiting for an unknown amount of time, the wooden plaque in Zhang Tie's arms began to glow slightly; it was his turn!

Based on his senses, Zhang Tie walked onto the sixth arena. A middle-aged cultivator was already standing opposite him. Initially, the middle-aged cultivator was pleased to see that Zhang Tie looked young, but his expression changed immediately after Zhang Tie stepped onto the arena and sensed something.

He couldn't even tell the cultivation level of the kid in front of him, even though he was a Qi Refining Level 10 cultivator!

"I..." The middle-aged man opened his mouth as if to say something, but still didn't say it.

Although the chances of winning were slim, he could not easily give up this opportunity.

The activation of the restriction signifies the start of the arena battle.

The middle-aged rogue cultivator gritted his teeth, took out a crimson magic weapon, and a sword beam pierced straight into Zhang Tie's chest.

Zhang Tie showed no intention of using the Locking Golden Ring; his opponent didn't need him to use such a top-tier magical artifact, or even need one at all...

As the sword light approached, Zhang Tie channeled spiritual energy into his right foot, and in the next instant, several earth spikes as thick as thighs suddenly shot out, shattering the sword light.

The middle-aged rogue cultivator's expression changed drastically. He was about to draw his sword and stab again when he suddenly felt the earth shake violently. Then, a thorn in the ground sent him flying, crashing off the stage with blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

The whole process only took two moves!

The wooden plaque in the middle-aged hermit's arms shattered, signifying that he had lost his eligibility to continue participating.

Ignoring the lifeless middle-aged cultivators below the stage, Zhang Tie jumped off the stage after confirming his advancement to the second round.

Back beside Han Li, Han Li asked, "How are you feeling?"

"The opponents in the knockout stage aren't strong; the real test will be in the second round!"