There's no wall in the world that doesn't let the wind pass through, and besides, the Sect Leader of the Heavenly Sword Faction didn't strictly forbid everyone from talking about Mu Jinyu.
Therefore, within a few days, the news that a Spirit Root genius had come to the Heavenly Sword Faction and had been rejected by the Sect Leader after he wished to take him as a disciple spread widely throughout the Faction.
"Have you heard? A few days ago, our Heavenly Sword Faction had a genius come by, possessing a Wood Element Spiritual Root, where every step he took, lotuses bloomed. The Sect Leader wanted to take him as a disciple, but he was tragically rejected. In a fit of rage, the Sect Leader cast him into the Outer Gate, where he is to suffer all kinds of torment!"
"Are you spreading rumors? What I heard is not the same as what you're saying."
"Oh? Then what's the real story?"
"I heard from a brother at the Inner Gate that indeed, a genius came to our Heavenly Sword Faction. Supposedly, when he was born, phenomena abounded, with flowers falling from the sky, golden lotuses springing from the earth, auspicious ribbons in the thousands, and halo radiance for tens of thousands of zhang, and the phenomena could be seen from ten thousand li away. At three, he knew a thousand characters; at five, he could compose poetry; at ten, he had read a vast array of books; at twelve, his root bone was set, and he began cultivation; at fifteen, he reached Body Refining Perfection; at sixteen, he stepped into the Divinity Transformation Realm, and now, at eighteen, he's already at the peak of the Divinity Transformation Realm and is about to break through to the Fanxu Realm soon!"
"Holy shit? That's so impressive? Then why would he join our Heavenly Sword Faction? Wouldn't he have a brighter future if he went to those Great Sects?"
"Because he wants to walk an extraordinary path, that's why he came to our Heavenly Sword Faction, and moreover refused the Sect Leader's offer to become his disciple. Instead, he first entered the Outer Gate. He is trying to make our Heavenly Sword Faction the foundation stone for his invincible path!"
"How so?!"
"This genius aims to emulate those peerless Heaven's Pride Level figures, starting from a bottom-level martial artist, beginning with an Outer Sect Disciple, and then climbing up step by step, tempering himself, until he becomes an invincible hand within the Sect, and then an invincible hand within the country, consolidating his invincible momentum step by step, seizing the Qi Luck from every opponent he defeats, and then, at the 'Hidden Dragon Conference,' he will shock everyone, emerging as a Hidden Dragon and becoming a True Dragon!"
"Right, now that you mention it, the newest 'Hidden Dragon Conference' is indeed about to start. It turns out that this genius possesses such a majestic aspiration, wanting to rise from the bottom, contending for the Qi Luck of every defeated opponent; but the risk he's taking is just too big. Ordinary people wouldn't dare to do this. If he loses even once, his invincible momentum will vanish, completely benefiting his opponent, losing everything!"
"Yes, but if he succeeds, and becomes the True Dragon, the Dragon King of the Hidden Dragon Conference, with the Kunlun Dragon Veins Qi Luck bestowed upon him, he will suppress the Kunlun Ruins for a hundred years, unbeatable!"
"Tsk, tsk, perhaps this is the difference between a genius and us ordinary mortals..."
As the two conversed, they slowly walked off into the distance.
Standing to one side and listening to their conversation, which made Mu Jinyu die of embarrassment, he suddenly had a thought, stirred by their last few remarks, and then went up to them, saying, "Hey, two senior brothers, please wait."
"Hmm? Is something the matter?"
Hearing Mu Jinyu's call, the two stopped talking and turned around, looking at him curiously.
Politely, Mu Jinyu asked, "May I know what the two senior brothers were just discussing? What is this 'Hidden Dragon Conference'?"
"'You don't know about the Hidden Dragon Conference?'" a person said upon hearing Mu Jinyu's words, feeling surprised, just as if someone in Huaxia didn't know what a cellphone was.
Another person looked at Mu Jinyu with a strange expression and then explained, "The 'Hidden Dragon Conference' is a martial arts tournament held every hundred years in the Kunlun Ruins. Various Heaven's Pride talents compete, and the ultimate victor will be blessed with the Qi Luck of the Kunlun Dragon Veins, becoming a True Dragon Heaven's Pride. The benefits are endless, and not only they but also their Sects or Noble Families will receive tremendous benefits..."
Continuing, he paused and made a comparison, "For instance, if our Heavenly Sword Faction manages to get a good ranking at the 'Hidden Dragon Conference,' the concentration of Spiritual Energy in our sector would increase dozens or even a hundred times. Our comprehension in the Heavenly Sword Faction, as ordinary disciples while cultivating, would also improve, making the practice of Cultivation Techniques and Divine Skills more effective. It's like one person's ascension bringing prosperity to all around him!"
The other person also nodded in agreement, saying, "That's right, even if you're not the 'Dragon King,' who ranks first in the 'Hidden Dragon Conference,' just being a 'Flood Dragon' within the top ten of the 'Hidden Dragon List' is still incredibly powerful, and there are plenty of benefits. That's why, whenever the 'Hidden Dragon Conference' is about to convene, not to mention all the Top Sects and Noble Families of Kunlun Ruins, even those secluded Sects that rarely emerge publicly will send their heirs to compete in the 'Hidden Dragon Conference,' hoping that their heirs will secure a good ranking to let them enjoy the great luck and blessings from the Kunlun Dragon Veins!"
"That's how it is," another person said with a look full of longing, "Basically, the strongest individuals in the Kunlun Ruins today, the giants of the Immortal Sects, were also all within the top ten of the 'Hidden Dragon List' at one point! It can be said that those who manage to get a good ranking at the 'Hidden Dragon Conference' are all Heaven's Pride Level individuals!"
Speaking of this, he shook his head and sighed, "However, this has nothing to do with our Heavenly Sword Faction, after all, our Sect is too weak. Even though we are one of the Four Great Sects in the Yan Kingdom, compared to the vast Kunlun Ruins, we really don't amount to much!"
Mu Jinyu listened with interest and eagerly asked, "Then how does one compete for this Qi Luck?"
One person explained, "Those who participate in the 'Hidden Dragon Conference' will all receive a boost from the Kunlun Dragon Vein Qi Luck. But the total amount of Qi Luck is fixed. For example, if a hundred people participate, there will be a hundred portions of Qi Luck; so each person's share of Qi Luck is like a tiny snake. Then the competition begins, and the victor will obtain the Qi Luck of the opponent. The more victories one has, the more one progresses, and the Dragon Vein Qi Luck will transform from a small snake to a python, then from a python to a serpent, a serpent to a Flood Dragon, and finally, a Flood Dragon turns into a dragon!"
"Each 'Hidden Dragon Conference' only results in one True Dragon, and that is the Dragon King. The other top ten of the Hidden Dragon List are Flood Dragons!"
After hearing this, Mu Jinyu thought to himself, "Isn't this just like raising gu? Yet, unlike raising gu where only one gu is ultimately nurtured, the Hidden Dragon Conference can produce several Flood Dragons..."
With that thought in mind, Mu Jinyu grew curious about what other benefits one could obtain after winning the title of Dragon King at the Hidden Dragon Conference aside from being blessed with the Kunlun Dragon Vein Qi Luck. Could one also find a way to counter the Art of Snatching Souls?!
Just as he was about to ask, the two people who had been answering his questions suddenly had a thought and looked at Mu Jinyu with even stranger expressions, asking,
"Hey, that's strange. Junior Brother, how do you not know about these things? Isn't this common knowledge?"
The other person also expressed surprise, "Yeah, I also find you quite unfamiliar. Haven't I never seen you at the Outer Gate before?"
Hearing this, Mu Jinyu could only put his questions aside for the time being. He smiled lightly and replied, "It's quite normal for both Senior Brothers not to remember me because I have only recently joined the Heavenly Sword Faction. Thank you both for enlightening me just now, my name is Mu Jinyu!"
On hearing Mu Jinyu's words, one of them had a look of realization and said, "So that's why. No wonder I didn't recognize you..."
While the other stared blankly, muttering to himself, "Just arrived a few days ago... Mu Jinyu..."
After repeating it a few times, he suddenly looked horrified, and upon seeing Mu Jinyu's Cultivation, which was at the Fourth Layer of the Divine Realm, he couldn't help but exclaim, "You... you're the one who refused the Sect Leader's offer to be his disciple... that person?!"