Free Web NovelChapter 557: Chapter 337: Battle Sanctuary (2)
As the name suggests, everyone on the list is a top-tier genius confirmed to be capable of leaping through the Heavenly Gate.
So Zou Feng’s earlier assumption that he was the strongest fighter in the Spiritual Energy Realm was, in fact, a bit hasty.
Which of the Inner Sect Disciples at the top of the Ascending Heaven Rankings wasn’t a one-in-a-billion talent, a truly terrifying existence?
Zou Feng hadn’t paid attention to this before because he was certain he wouldn’t remain in the Spiritual Energy Realm for long and would soon establish his Dao Foundation.
"Many of the prodigies on the Ascending Heaven Rankings deliberately hold back from breaking through so they can build a better Dao Foundation. Naturally, quite a few of them seek breakthroughs through combat."
"So, you just need to go to the Battle Sanctum, and you’ll naturally be able to spar with some of the prodigies from the rankings."
"Oh, and since you’re not short on Immortal Fate now, you could even try challenging the ’Mind Bodies’ of prodigies who were once in the Spiritual Energy Realm, whose records are kept by the Battle Sanctum!"
Zou Feng had only been in the Pinnacle Celestial Immortal Sect for two years, and he’d been busy the entire time, so he had never systematically learned about its various intricacies.
So when Jiang Wanzhao mentioned the Battle Sanctum, Zou Feng was completely lost.
"...Don’t tell me you don’t know about the Battle Sanctum?"
In fact, Zou Feng didn’t even need to answer. Just one look at his expression and Jiang Wanzhao knew he genuinely had no idea.
While both are venues for combat, the Battle Sanctum is quite different from the Dao Discussion Platform.
To put it simply, the Dao Discussion Platform is more for settling grudges. Maiming or even killing an opponent is a common occurrence there.
The Battle Sanctum, however, is purely for sparring and exchanging combat experience, with measures in place to ensure the basic safety of both parties.
Simple sparring can still lead to accidents, but if you pay a fee of Immortal Fate to fight within one of the Battle Sanctum’s specially created Alternate Spaces, both participants’ safety can be guaranteed to the fullest extent.
Furthermore, it’s not like you can challenge just anyone and expect them to agree.
You have to negotiate with your opponent and pay a challenge fee that satisfies them for the match to even happen.
Frankly, training frequently at the Battle Sanctum is a privilege reserved for the rich disciples of the Immortal Sect.
There are even several prodigies on the Ascending Heaven Rankings who make a point to stay at the Battle Sanctum, waiting for challengers so they can earn Immortal Fate.
Besides, with enough Immortal Fate, you can challenge not only same-realm prodigies but also the "Mind Bodies" Jiang Wanzhao mentioned.
Every fight that takes place in the Battle Sanctum is comprehensively recorded by the Celestial Dao Cauldron.
This recorded data can be used to generate a temporary Spiritual Ability Clone that is nearly identical in power to the original person at the time of the recording.
So, in theory, Zou Feng could even attempt to challenge the version of Liu Chenyu from when she was in the Spiritual Energy Realm.
This was, of course, assuming that Liu Chenyu had fought in the Battle Sanctum multiple times and left behind corresponding records when she was in the Spiritual Energy Realm.
After listening to Jiang Wanzhao’s explanation, Zou Feng mused, "So, the Battle Sanctum is a good place, no doubt. But if my combat data is recorded, does that mean others can repeatedly challenge it to analyze my fighting style, habits, and so on?"
Jiang Wanzhao ran a hand through her hair again. "That’s right. There are pros and cons, but for your current predicament, it’s the perfect solution."
In truth, Jiang Wanzhao didn’t need to persuade him any further. Zou Feng was already sold on the idea.
As for his combat data being recorded, he didn’t really care.
After all, the records would only ever capture a past version of himself.
And with his Evil Skills progressing by leaps and bounds, his abilities were improving and changing every few days.
This was especially true for his Poison Skills. Every time he struck, he could instantly concoct different toxins, making his methods endlessly variable.
’The old data might even mislead my opponents to some extent...’
"Senior Sister Jiang, so... did you ever go to the Battle Sanctum when you were in the Spiritual Energy Realm?" Zou Feng asked, curious.
Hearing this, Jiang Wanzhao arched a shapely eyebrow. "What, you want to use me as your first opponent?"
"No, I was just asking..."
"Don’t get any ideas about me. If I recall correctly, Liu Chenyu was a regular at the Battle Sanctum when she was in the Spiritual Energy Realm." Jiang Wanzhao didn’t answer Zou Feng’s question directly, but the implication was clear.
’So she did go to the Battle Sanctum.’
Of course, Zou Feng was extremely curious about what kind of combat power Jiang Wanzhao possessed when she was in the Spiritual Energy Realm.
’So while I must challenge Liu Chenyu’s Mind Body, there’s no reason not to try Jiang Wanzhao’s as well...’
Jiang Wanzhao continued, "But I’d advise you not to challenge Liu Chenyu’s Mind Body right at the start. An opponent that difficult could easily cause you to suffer another setback if you’re not careful. That would be counterproductive and turn you into a laughingstock!"
Zou Feng was taken aback. "Huh? Liu Chenyu was that terrifyingly strong even back in the Spiritual Energy Realm?"
Jiang Wanzhao slowly shifted into another awkward pose designed to show off her slender waist. "In the eyes of an ordinary Cultivator, which of our Pinnacle Celestial Immortal Sect’s True Disciples isn’t terrifyingly strong?"
"Liu Chenyu majors in the Replenishing Skill. Do you have any idea how many strong and Talented Cultivators she performed replenishment on while she was in the Spiritual Energy Realm?"
"Her method of Cultivation goes against the natural order and seems rather low-class, but look at it another way. Replenishing from a few people makes you a slut, but replenishing from ten thousand... that makes you..."
Zou Feng blurted out, "The Vile Emperor?"
Jiang Wanzhao simply smiled without a word.
"Many thanks for your guidance, Senior Sister Jiang!" Having said that, Zou Feng had no intention of staying any longer.
The method Jiang Wanzhao had provided was solid, and he didn’t want to waste any more time. He was ready to head to the Battle Sanctum and try it out immediately.
Unexpectedly, just as Zou Feng was about to take his leave, Jiang Wanzhao couldn’t maintain her awkward pose any longer. She visibly shrank back into the form of a young girl.
She had been showing off her slender waist, but after she reverted to her younger form, all her curves vanished.
The pose meant to show off her waist now just looked like she was sticking out her tummy.
"Tsk!" The sudden transformation was clearly not under her control, much to Jiang Wanzhao’s annoyance.
"Go on!" she said, waving a hand, no longer in the mood to strike poses.
Zou Feng’s expression remained unchanged as he clasped his hands in a salute, turned, and left.
He didn’t plan on returning to the Hongxing Inn first. Instead, he took out his Token to check the specific location of the Battle Sanctum.
If things went smoothly, Zou Feng wouldn’t be busy with anything else for a while; he’d just camp out at the Battle Sanctum.
This would take the place of his previous seclusion in the Demon Suppression Tower.
In any case, Jiang Wanzhao was right. He shouldn’t challenge the highest difficulties first. He needed to go stomp some easy targets, get his confidence back, and pull himself together.
The Battle Sanctum was located in the central area of the Pinnacle Celestial Immortal Sect. From his current position, Zou Feng still had a considerable distance to travel.
Along the way, Zou Feng started checking his rank on the Ascending Heaven Rankings again.
He hadn’t paid it much mind before, partly because he wasn’t interested and partly because the rankings were in a constant state of flux.
However, he recalled hearing his rank from Teng County when he killed the Reincarnated Sword Emperor, Li Dingjie.
If he remembered correctly, he was ranked seventy-third.
That was a fairly high rank. To climb any further would require accumulating more battle records and significant achievements.
It was worth noting that the Ascending Heaven Rankings were based on a comprehensive set of accomplishments, not just one’s combat record.
Yet when Zou Feng checked now, he discovered his name was no longer in the top one hundred.
Huh?!
Slightly surprised, Zou Feng kept scrolling down until he finally found his name at number one hundred thirty-five.
’How could I have dropped so many places in such a short time?’
But on second thought, Zou Feng realized it wasn’t strange at all.
It was just as he had thought before: within the Pinnacle Celestial Immortal Sect, there was never a shortage of prodigies at any stage.
After all, the Pinnacle Celestial Immortal Sect was a true behemoth that dominated the Ten Thousand Realms. It was a nexus of fortune for all the realms, so a constant stream of new prodigies was only natural.
Besides, his public combat record wasn’t actually that extensive.
Killing Fu Jiaming while fighting above his realm and going head-to-head with Lu Guanghua’s Outer Body Incarnation were achievements that couldn’t be officially recognized.
After all, no matter how you spun it, these were cases of disciples from the same sect killing each other outside the Pinnacle Celestial Immortal Sect’s jurisdiction.
