Chapter 111: The Emergence of the Heaven’s Pride Ranking

Within the town designated for the outer disciples of the Pure Yang Sect, life was bustling. This town was specifically built to house these disciples, equipped with all necessary facilities to ensure a comfortable transition for those newly admitted to the sect.

Following the onset of the Heaven’s Selection, the area had grown desolate, left under the watch of only thirty or so deacons and elders. It was only as the disciples gradually returned that the town regained its vitality. Today, however, it was even livelier than usual.

The Pure Yang Sect traditionally recruited new disciples once every sixty years. The next recruitment was originally two decades away, but after the Heaven’s Selection, nearly three thousand outer disciples had failed to return. Furthermore, of those who did return, even the least among them had reached the Foundation Establishment stage, with nearly a thousand attaining the Golden Core stage. While the Foundation Establishment disciples remained, it was no longer appropriate for those at the Golden Core stage to stay in the outer sect. Consequently, nearly half of the outer sect’s quotas had opened up. Having reaped such great benefits from the Heaven’s Selection, the Pure Yang Sect could hardly leave so many resources idle, and thus, the recruitment process was moved forward.

With over ten thousand people gathered, the atmosphere was exceptionally vibrant. The new recruits, full of youthful vigor and curiosity about this super-sect of the cultivation world, wandered through the town in small groups after the induction ceremony, admiring the scenery they had long yearned for.

In a teahouse, a short, stout figure gazed at the throngs of people below with a troubled expression. Sighing, he said to his companion, "Zhou Qian, where do you think Deacon Wang went? The Sect Master hasn't followed up either. With the Karma-Severing Sword in my possession, I truly have no peace of mind."

Ling Xiao had been living in constant fear lately. Several times, he had been tempted to discard the Karma-Severing Sword, but each time, his inner voice warned him against falling into a trap; otherwise, his consciousness might have already been eroded by the blade. He understood that Wang Li’s instruction to "throw it away" upon his return was vague, and even a fool knew the sword could not be handled so casually.

Zhou Qian gestured toward the Scripture Pavilion, which was encased in a protective grand formation. "Do you think Deacon Wang will ever return there?"

All the Pure Yang disciples who participated in the Heaven’s Selection held Wang Li in high regard. Without him, the number of disciples lost in the ruins would have far exceeded three thousand. Without his leadership in organizing the Vengeance City, the thousands of disciples would never have united to complete their tasks and secure sufficient cultivation resources. Yet, after making a single appearance at the Pure Yang Sect, Wang Li had vanished without a trace, leaving many disappointed.

"Deacon Wang promised to help many people upgrade their cultivation techniques. Surely a senior expert like him wouldn't break his word. I suspect he was simply delayed by some urgent matter."

Ling Xiao was right. Wang Li had not forgotten the promises he made to those participants in the ruins. He had indeed been delayed by critical tasks, but he would return to the Pure Yang Sect before long to resolve these matters before departing.

Rather than immediately touching the Heaven-tier techniques brought back by Yan Yang and the others, Wang Li first focused on refining the Profound-tier and Earth-tier techniques. Of course, while refining these, he spent most of his energy synthesizing the techniques he personally required.

Countless techniques of various attributes were at his disposal, yet Wang Li still could not elevate his own cultivation to the Heaven-tier. His Five Elements techniques and others remained stuck at the peak of the Earth-tier High Grade. No matter how many techniques he synthesized, he could not break through the barrier between Earth-tier and Heaven-tier. Even his spatial cultivation had only managed to reach the Earth-tier Mid Grade before stalling; it was arguably less useful than the spatial laws he had comprehended on his own, making it rather mediocre.

Still, the Earth-tier Mid Grade was enough to fulfill his promise to Yun Jingzi, who was content and had immediately retreated into seclusion to cultivate upon receiving the upgraded technique.

"I overestimated my own abilities. It seems I must refer to these Heaven-tier techniques after all."

One must be aware of their own limits, or they risk hitting a dead end. Wang Li picked up a Heaven-tier Low Grade technique titled *Thunderous Resonance*. This technique had been self-created by Yan Yang after he ascended to the True Immortal realm. The fact that a True Immortal could only create a Heaven-tier Low Grade technique, even accounting for the inherent difficulty of cultivating thunder-attribute arts, spoke volumes about the challenge of forging such techniques.

"No wonder all the sects treat Heaven-tier techniques as treasures. Tsk, this technique is truly extraordinary..."

Wang Li was admiring the intricacies of the art, preparing to study it in depth, when he was interrupted by a heart-trembling surge of energy. A majestic voice resonated through the void:

"The Heaven’s Selection has concluded. The Sacred Artifact has recognized its master. Heaven and Earth are impartial; the Heaven’s Pride have emerged!"

"The Heaven’s Pride Ranking will be established at the peak of the Pure Yang Mountain Range in three days. Those who make the list will be favored by the vital energy of heaven and earth, rewarded with a wisp of primordial essence."

"The Heaven’s Selection Ranking will be updated every three years. All who newly enter the list shall receive a wisp of primordial essence."