The legendary Armament Spirit was the Divine Weapon Civilization’s greatest treasure. One appeared every ten years, and each appearance drew countless civilizations to compete for it. This time was no different.

Everyone within the Divine Weapon Civilization could sense when it would appear. A massive array appeared just above Divine Weapon City, allowing contestants to transport themselves to the secret realm where the legendary Armament Spirit was born.

However, the array had strict limitations. It could transport only 100 contestants at a time, while millions sought entry into the secret realm.

How was the priority determined? The allocation had already been decided. Of the 100 slots, Divine Weapon City received 30%, or thirty individuals. Each of the four strongest cities received fifteen, totaling sixty. The remaining ten were left for independent cultivators to compete for among themselves.

Naturally, many complained about the inequality, especially the independent cultivators. Many of them came from other civilizations, risking their lives and leaving their cozy homes to test their luck, only to face discrimination.

However, they were also the weakest faction. Against the five powerful teams, they could only compete for the last ten spots unless they united to defeat at least one of the teams.

The Divine Weapon team held a geographical advantage and was already in position, looking down on the independent cultivators as they arrived one by one.

The four strongest cities arrived through transportation gates. As they opened, their teams stepped through in order. The first team was Wanyao City’s, led by Sun Qianqian. Their team numbered 359, split evenly between monsters and outsiders.

Next came Lingxiao City. Their leader, Feng Wuji, led a team of 482. Almost two-thirds were outsiders, while the remaining one-third were natives. Half of them wore azure feathered garments, and the others wore black or white.

Then it was Wushuang City’s turn. The War Clan marched through the gate. Their leader was no longer Gan Xiangyu, but Hei Qi, who had returned only after confirming that Han Wu had left.

Hei Qi appeared calm as he surveyed the scene. Behind him stood the rest of the War Clan, numbering 2,000. Only a small fraction were offspring of Wushuang City’s noble households; the rest came from the Divine Civilization.

Their massive team didn’t impress the first two teams. Instead, they drew disdain.

Sun Qianqian scoffed. “A ragtag group of incompetent fighters. They are not worth our time.”

Feng Wuji didn’t even give a single glance.

At last, the gate for Everlight City activated. The other three teams waited eagerly. Both Sun Qianqian and Feng Wuji had heard that Everlight City’s leader, Han Wu, was formidable. He had led a small group into Wushuang City to find someone, killed the city lord, and even subdued the noble households through brute force. They were curious to see what kind of man possessed such overwhelming power.

Han Wu led the Everlight City team out of the gate. Behind him were Sun Qingnian, Qin Shuang, and Jin Tuantuan. No one else followed.

The four at the front turned back in confusion as well. Where were the others? It seemed unlikely they had been lost after a few steps.

“Everlight City is too arrogant! They only sent four people?”

“No matter how strong they are, I doubt that they can fend off the combined attacks of hundreds of people. Also, the secret realm is very dangerous. Four people won’t be enough.”

“Isn’t that better for us? We can just eliminate them and take their fifteen slots for the secret realm.”

***

The independent cultivators murmured as they discussed Everlight City’s unusual team.

Within Everlight City, Jin Buhuan seethed with anger. After all, the noble households had abruptly withdrawn their offspring from the team!

“You guys really want to see Everlight City fall from the ranks of the four strongest cities? Fine. If this is how you want to do things, don’t blame me for being heartless after this,” Jin Buhuan growled and opened the secret realm his family controlled.

The various members of the Divine Civilization who had been training within it walked out and entered the gate to Divine Weapon City.

Two minutes after Han Wu and the others exited, more people appeared from Everlight City’s gate. Xiang Meng, Xia Tian, and the others from Imperial College were among them. The rest came from the Demonic Imperial College, including Xu Mengmeng.

The independent cultivators frowned at their sudden appearance. In the end, Everlight City fielded 387 members. Aside from Jin Tuantuan, all of them were outsiders.

With all four teams from the strongest cities assembled, the city lords, who acted as the final representatives for their teams, walked through their respective gates and sat on their thrones in Divine Weapon City.

Wushuang City no longer had a city lord, so they sent an interim one instead.

Now that all four teams had arrived, the city lord of Divine Weapon City appeared and prepared to send the first wave into the secret realm.

“Does anyone object to the slot allocation?” the city lord asked.

Objections erupted from below, especially from the independent cultivators. They could only send ten people at a time, so they were understandably angry.

There were nearly 10 million independent cultivators present. If only ten could enter at a time, even after the contest ended, 99.9999% of them would still remain outside.

The city lord had expected that. “If you object, you may challenge one of the five teams. If a team is wiped out, its slots will transfer to you, the independent cultivators.”

The crowd roared with enthusiasm and started assessing which of the five teams was the weakest. The outsiders hidden among the independent cultivators were ready to assassinate their targets for a chance to enter the secret realm first.

In response to the rising fervor, the Divine Weapon team acted first. Their leader, Nie Yuntian, stepped forward, and a large bell appeared behind him. It rang, and the sound overwhelmed the 10 million independent cultivators’ voices. Some of the weaker ones suffered ruptured eardrums.

“I am Divine Weapon City’s team leader, Nie Yuntian. Those who refuse to submit... come at me!”

The other teams followed, displaying how terrifying they could be. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

Sun Qianqian summoned her Divine Weapon, the Sea-Calming Staff, and planted it before her. It instantly expanded and turned into a 100-meter-long pillar. Its pressure was unmistakable. It was a 9-Star God-grade Divine Weapon, far stronger than the reports had suggested.

“I am Wanyao City’s team leader, Sun Qianqian. Please take care of me.”

Lingxiao City’s team leader, Feng Wuji, revealed his Divine Weapon as well. It wasn’t the Taiqing Sword mentioned in the reports but a pair known as the Golden Wheels of Sun and Moon. They consisted of the Golden Sun Wheel and the Golden Moon Wheel. The Sun Wheel burned with blazing heat, while the Moon Wheel radiated cold calm. Together, they radiated the pressure of a 9-Star God-grade Divine Weapon.

A powerful aura then erupted from Wushuang City’s team. Hei Qi snarled, and all nine eyes on his black blade opened simultaneously. The sinister aura around him intensified, marking him as someone no one wished to face.

The independent cultivators quickly turned their attention to Everlight City’s team. Based on their intel, this team was supposed to be the weakest. Nearly 10 million gazes fixed on Han Wu.

Han Wu grinned and revealed his Divine Weapon, the Small Locust Blade. It was also a 9-Star God-grade Divine Weapon, but because of its quality, its aura was weak, comparable to that of a 5- or 6-Star God-grade Divine Weapon.

The independent cultivators’ eyes sharpened with intent. If the leader was so weak, the rest would be no better. As such, they prepared to strike.

At that moment, the sky darkened. Everyone looked up and saw the sky was filled with the same Divine Weapon in Han Wu’s hands. There were close to 10 million of them, one for every independent cultivator present.

Although each Small Locust Blade’s aura was weak, the staggering number erased the difference.

Naturally, the independent cultivators panicked. None of the five teams were easy targets!