Fang Hao was currently regulating his breath in his Immortal Cave, digesting the combat experience from his battle with the tenth-ranked on the dragon ranking, when he suddenly heard a clear and resonant bell tolling throughout the entire Sect—the Sect Master’s summons!

"All Inner Sect Disciples, assemble at Qingyun Square immediately!"

Fang Hao rose at once and flew there on his sword. Along the way, he encountered Liang Ling and Lin Wan.

"Junior Brother Ning!" Lin Wan said excitedly, "There must be something big happening!"

Liang Ling said softly, "I heard there are important matters in the West Province."

Upon arriving at Qingyun Square, it was already a sea of people. Almost all the Inner Sect Disciples were present, each one craning their necks in anticipation.

Suddenly, auspicious clouds gathered in the sky, and a figure arrived stepping through the air! With fluttering white robes and an immortal aura, it was the Sect Master of the Azure Cloud Sect—Yun Qingyang!

"Greetings, Sect Master!" the Disciples bowed in unison, their voices shaking the heavens.

Yun Qingyang hovered in mid-air, nodding with a smile: "Rise." His voice was gentle yet reached every corner of the field.

"I have gathered everyone today to announce a major event." Yun Qingyang waved his sleeve, and five Sect emblems appeared in the air. "The five major Sects of the West Province have decided to hold the Five Sect Martial Competition in six months!"

The crowd broke into an uproar!

"The Five Sect Martial Competition! It’s held once every five years!"

"A massive Opportunity!"

"I heard the rewards are incredibly generous!"

Yun Qingyang continued, "For this competition, each Sect has thirty slots. Any Inner Sect Disciple of my Azure Cloud Sect can compete for them!"

His gaze swept over the crowd: "The top thirty on the dragon ranking will automatically qualify. Other Disciples can fight for a spot through challenges!"

Everyone was beyond excited! The top thirty of the dragon ranking! Those were the elite among the inner Sect elites!

Fang Hao’s heart stirred. At tenth on the dragon ranking, he already qualified! But... the top thirty? What about Liang Ling and Lin Wan?

He looked beside him. Liang Ling’s expression was calm, but Lin Wan was stomping her feet in anxiety: "Top thirty? I’m still far from it!"

Yun Qingyang added, "The top ten in the competition will receive guidance from a Nascent Soul True Monarch! The top three will receive even more amazing rewards! They might even... gain the qualification to enter the ’Tianyan Secret Realm’!"

The entire field reached a boiling point!

"Nascent Soul guidance!"

"The Tianyan Secret Realm! I heard there are Opportunities for Immortal Ascension inside!"

"I’ll fight with my life to get in!"

Yun Qingyang concluded, "You have six months to prepare well. I hope the Disciples of my Azure Cloud Sect will spread our fame across the five Sects! Dismissed!"

The Sect Master stepped through the air and left, but the crowd didn’t disperse for a long time, discussing excitedly.

Lin Wan had a tearful face: "It’s over, it’s over! I’m only in the fifties on the dragon ranking; there’s no hope for the top thirty!"

Liang Ling said softly, "Just work hard."

Fang Hao smiled, "Don’t worry, Senior Sister Lin, there are still six months left."

Lin Wan’s eyes lit up: "Right! Six months! If I Cultivate desperately, maybe I can push my way up!"

She clenched her fists: "I want to challenge! I want to participate in the Five Sect Martial Competition!"

Liang Ling nodded: "I also need to work hard. Currently at twenty-eighth on the dragon ranking, it’s not secure."

Fang Hao was surprised: "Senior Sister is already twenty-eighth?" He had been in seclusion for a few days and hadn’t expected Liang Ling to progress so quickly.

Liang Ling said indifferently, "I was lucky enough to win a few matches."

Fang Hao said sincerely, "Congratulations, Senior Sister!"

Lin Wan said enviously, "Senior Sister Liang is amazing! Junior Brother Ning is even more amazing! Already in the top ten! I’m the only one holding everyone back..."

Fang Hao encouraged her, "Senior Sister Lin, don’t belittle yourself. Your talent isn’t bad."

As the three were talking, Bao Zhijian walked over with some people and sneered, "Fang Hao, don’t think you’re safe just because you’re in the top ten! The competition spots aren’t assigned solely by the dragon ranking!"

The lackeys behind him chimed in:

"Exactly! There’s also a comprehensive evaluation!"

"Some people got on the ranking by luck; they might just get filtered out!"

Fang Hao said indifferently, "Don’t trouble yourself, Senior Brother Bao."

Bao Zhijian snorted coldly: "We’ll see!" He flicked his sleeves and left.

Lin Wan said angrily, "What a nuisance! He only knows how to talk big!"

Liang Ling said softly, "Junior Brother Ning, be careful. Bao Zhijian might try to tamper with the spot evaluation."

Fang Hao nodded: "Thank you for the reminder, Senior Sister."

Returning to his Immortal Cave, Fang Hao pondered for a moment. The Five Sect Martial Competition was indeed a great Opportunity. But Bao Zhijian’s threat was also significant.

"I must increase my strength! Top ten on the dragon ranking... is not enough!" A determined light shone in Fang Hao’s eyes.

He decided to continue challenging! The goal—the top five!

But before that, he had to help Lin Wan improve. Although this girl was noisy, she was kind-hearted and worth helping.

Fang Hao went to Lin Wan’s Immortal Cave. Lin Wan was currently sighing: "Sigh... top thirty... it’s too hard..."

Seeing Fang Hao arrive, she said in surprise, "Junior Brother Ning! Why are you here?"

Fang Hao smiled, "I’m here to help Senior Sister with special training."

Lin Wan’s eyes lit up: "Really?!"

Fang Hao nodded: "Six months is enough for you to break into the top thirty."

Fang Hao analyzed, "Senior Sister Lin, you mainly Cultivate wood-element techniques, excelling in control and recovery, but lacking in attack. I have a ’Thousand Vine Art’ that is both offensive and defensive, which suits you perfectly."

Lin Wan said excitedly, "Thank you, Junior Brother Ning!"

Fang Hao then took out several bottles of Medicinal Pills: "These are Foundation Consolidation Pills and Mind-Concentrating Pills to assist your Cultivation."

Lin Wan was so moved she almost cried: "Junior Brother Ning... you’re too good!"

Fang Hao smiled, "As fellow Disciples, we should help each other."

Over the next few days, Fang Hao patiently guided Lin Wan in Cultivating the Thousand Vine Art. Lin Wan’s talent was decent, and she progressed quickly.

After Liang Ling found out, she also came to help. Her ice-element techniques were complementary to the wood-element, which was of great benefit to Lin Wan.

The three Cultivated together and sparred with each other, making rapid progress.

Fang Hao and Liang Ling fought multiple times, their techniques complementing each other, yielding great gains. The Ethereal Art and Ice Heart Art actually had a wonderful resonance; when the two joined forces, their power doubled.

Lin Wan said enviously, "Senior Sister Liang and Junior Brother Ning have such good chemistry!"

Liang Ling’s face turned slightly red, and Fang Hao also felt a bit awkward.

Half a month later, Lin Wan’s strength had increased greatly, and she went to challenge the thirty-fifth rank on the dragon ranking with full confidence!

After a hard-fought battle, she actually won!

"I succeeded!" Lin Wan wept with joy, "Thirty-fifth! I’m closer to thirty!"

Fang Hao and Liang Ling smiled at each other.

But Bao Zhijian’s side wasn’t idle either. He teamed up with several Elders to secretly manipulate the dragon ranking challenges, getting people from his faction onto the list.

They also spread rumors saying that Fang Hao’s dragon ranking position was inflated and that he relied on Magic Treasures to cheat.

Fang Hao ignored them and focused on Cultivating. Strength was the ultimate truth!

A month later, Fang Hao decided to challenge the fifth-ranked on the dragon ranking—Zhao Wuji! Great Perfection Foundation Establishment, with half a foot already in the Golden Core stage!

When the news broke, the inner Sect was in an uproar once again!

"Challenging the fifth rank? That’s insane!"

"Zhao Wuji is at Great Perfection Foundation Establishment!"

"Fang Hao really wants to be Heaven-Defying!"

Bao Zhijian sneered, "Seeking his own death! Zhao Wuji can cripple him in one move!"

Before the battle, Liang Ling said worriedly, "Zhao Wuji’s ’Wuji Sword Dao’ has already reached the Transcendent stage; he is extremely difficult to deal with."

Fang Hao said confidently, "Don’t worry, Senior Sister, I know what I’m doing."

Lin Wan said nervously, "Junior Brother Ning, be careful! If you can’t win, just admit defeat; there’s no shame in it!"

On the day of the arena battle, it was a sea of people. Everyone wanted to see if Fang Hao could create another miracle!

Zhao Wuji stood with his sword, his expression indifferent: "Make your move."

Fang Hao cupped his hands: "Please."

The battle began! Zhao Wuji thrust his sword! It was simple and unadorned, yet contained endless mysteries! Before the sword arrived, its Sword Intent had already locked onto Fang Hao!

Fang Hao was startled! Such strong Sword Intent! It was even sharper than Ye Qing’s wind blades!

He hurriedly used Shrinking the Ground to an Inch to dodge! But the Sword Intent followed him like a shadow! He couldn’t escape it at all!

Pfft! He was struck in the shoulder! Blood splattered!

"So fast!" Fang Hao was horrified. He couldn’t see the sword’s path at all!

Zhao Wuji’s second strike arrived! Even faster and fiercer!

Fang Hao fully deployed the Five Elements Spirit Shield! But the Sword Intent pierced through the defense! He was struck again!

"It’s over! He’s completely outmatched!"

"Senior Brother Zhao is too strong!"

Bao Zhijian sneered triumphantly.

Fang Hao gritted his teeth and persisted. He pushed his Clear Spring Spirit Eyes to the limit, barely managing to capture the trajectory of the sword’s path.

But Zhao Wuji’s swordsmanship was already Transcendent, leaving no trace to follow! Fang Hao retreated step by step, his body covered in wounds!

"Surrender," Zhao Wuji said calmly.

Fang Hao gritted his teeth: "It’s not over yet!"

He summoned the empty clarity mirror! "Spatial Distortion!"

As the mirror light shone, the sword’s path stalled for a brief moment!

In that moment, Fang Hao seized the Opportunity! He struck with the Star Shattering Finger! Aiming directly at the flaw!

But Zhao Wuji shifted his sword momentum and easily neutralized it!

"It’s useless." Zhao Wuji’s third sword strike came! This strike made the heavens and earth lose their color!

Fang Hao’s pupils contracted! He couldn’t dodge this strike!

At the critical moment, he had a sudden flash of inspiration! He circulated the Ethereal Art with all his might! His figure blurred for an instant!

Pfft! The tip of the sword grazed his throat! It was perilously close!

"Hmm?" Zhao Wuji was moved for the first time, "Spatial Flash?"

Fang Hao was breaking out in a cold sweat. He had almost lost his life just now!

But in his heart, he had an epiphany—Zhao Wuji’s Sword Dao had a flaw! An extremely tiny flaw!

Fang Hao erupted with all his strength! He used Dividing Light Sword Shadow to harass, Star Shattering Finger for sneak attacks, and the empty clarity mirror to interfere!

Zhao Wuji responded calmly, his swordsmanship flowing like water.

After a hundred moves, Fang Hao gradually showed signs of defeat. But he was waiting, waiting for that split-second Opportunity!

Finally! Zhao Wuji’s strike went too far, and his new strength hadn’t yet been generated! A flaw appeared!

"Now!" Fang Hao’s empty clarity mirror shone with full power! Spatial Imprisonment!

Simultaneously, he launched the strongest blow of the Star Shattering Finger—Shattering the Void!

The finger force pierced through the sword net, pointing directly at Zhao Wuji’s wrist!

Zhao Wuji’s sword momentum stalled! Fang Hao’s sword tip was already pointing at the center of his forehead!

The entire field was dead silent! You could hear a pin drop!

Zhao Wuji was stunned for a moment, then sheathed his sword: "I’m impressed. I lost."

Fang Hao withdrew his finger: "Thank you for the match."

Suddenly, the cheers shook the sky!

"He won! He won again!"

"Fifth place! Fifth on the dragon ranking!"

"A miracle! An absolute miracle!"

Bao Zhijian’s face turned ashen, and he left with a flick of his sleeves.

The referee Elder announced loudly: "Fang Hao wins! Fifth on the dragon ranking, Fang Hao!"

Fang Hao breathed a long sigh of relief. This victory was a matter of luck.

Zhao Wuji said, "Junior Brother Ning’s strength is astonishing. I look forward to fighting again at the competition." He then drifted away.

Fang Hao returned to the bottom of the stage, and Lin Wan excitedly lunged at him: "Junior Brother Ning! You’re so amazing!"

Liang Ling’s eyes were full of admiration: "Congratulations."

Fang Hao smiled: "It was just luck."

With this battle, Fang Hao’s name shook Qingyun! Fifth on the dragon ranking! The number one person in the Foundation Establishment Early Stage!

In the Five Sect Martial Competition six months later, he would surely shine brilliantly!

And Bao Zhijian’s killing intent had also reached its peak.