Chapter 9

The weathered sacrificial tower, built against the mountain, stood like an ancient giant, coldly overlooking the creatures below.

After the sacrifice, the sacrificial tower became a forbidden area for the Tian Yao clan, heavily guarded to prevent any unauthorized access. Anyone daring to loiter nearby would be mercilessly apprehended.

More than thirty young men, who had summoned their battle spirits, were both nervous and excited as they followed the guide hunter into the forbidden area of the sacrificial tower. With a creak, the heavy iron gate opened a crack, and the guide hunter waved from the front. The young men, dressed in tight, neat outfits, quickly slipped inside.

Inside the sacrificial tower, there was a vast, musty smell. A wooden staircase spiraled upward, disappearing into the distance.

The eyes of more than thirty people were filled with excitement.

If they hadn't summoned their battle spirits, they would have no right to enter the sacrificial tower. Even during last night's sacrifice, they had only been allowed to sit in the caves outside the stone walls of the tower. Today, they finally entered the clan's forbidden area.

"Didn't they say they would take us to the Tian Yao Pavilion? Could that mysterious Tian Yao Pavilion be up in the sacrificial tower?"

The guide hunter's steps were light as he ascended the wooden staircase. The others exchanged glances, not having time to think much and quickly followed. They climbed to the thirteenth level of the wooden staircase. Looking down through the gaps, the depth below was dizzying. The guide hunter finally stopped, stretched out his arms, and pushed against the heavy iron door on the side of the staircase.

With a creak, the iron door slowly opened, revealing a dark, bottomless cave.

No one spoke; everyone was tense and uneasy. This place was too mysterious, completely beyond their imagination. They didn't know where the guide hunter was taking them. Could the legendary cultivation holy land, the Tian Yao Pavilion, be in this cold cave?

The guide hunter turned back with a strange smile, took out a large torch from his chest, lit it, and waved to the others. Then he quickly entered the cave without looking back.

This time, even Meng Tian in the group was somewhat surprised. The group exchanged glances, gritted their teeth, and continued to follow. The cave was winding and deep, with only the echo of their footsteps. In the wider areas, the ceiling was about three zhang high, while in the lower areas, they had to bend down to proceed. The torch in front cast their shadows in an uneven light.

After walking for an unknown distance and not knowing where they were heading, the group's hearts grew heavier. Just then, after turning a few corners, a beam of light shone from the front of the cave.

The guide hunter excitedly quickened his pace.

"Huh? Light?"

The group was stunned for a moment, then quickly ran forward with the guide hunter. After turning another corner, bright and warm sunlight shone directly into the cave, and the scene before them suddenly opened up. Outside the cold cave, a tranquil valley was filled with blooming flowers, leaving the hunters who had just entered speechless.

The valley was fragrant with flowers, with peach blossoms and willows. A clear stream flowed in the distance, with fish occasionally leaping out of the water. In front of the lush forest, three elegant pavilions stood quietly, adding a touch of spirit to the landscape.

On the left side of the three pavilions' doors, three wooden signs were erected, reading: Secret Manuals, Rare Treasures, and Spirit Weapons...

Three elders, dressed in cloth armor and holding bone staves, stood there with smiles. The middle elder called out, "Welcome to the Tian Yao Pavilion."

"Tian Yao Pavilion?"

"Is this the Tian Yao Pavilion?"

The group was pleasantly surprised, their eyes wide with amazement, and low cheers echoed through the crowd.

They never imagined that the Tian Yao Pavilion was hidden here. Outside, the autumn grass was withered, and the wind was cold, but in this valley, it was lush and green, like early spring. The stark contrast to the cold cave left the hunters unprepared.

More importantly, the three elders of the Elder Pavilion were personally welcoming them?

The young men were filled with awe and respectfully bowed to the three elders.

The highest authority in the Tian Yao clan was the Great Clan Leader Lei Wanli. Below him was the Elder Pavilion, where thirteen elders jointly managed the lives of millions of clan members.

The Great Elder Ouye Tuji, with his tenth-level Tu Man Heart Sutra power, managed the army and supplies. The Second Elder Mo Xuanji, proficient in twenty-eight types of array patterns, managed the Array Fire Pavilion. These two were the most powerful figures after the Great Clan Leader.

The other eleven elders, though not as powerful as the two, each had remarkable skills and managed significant affairs. Each was a renowned upper-level powerhouse in the wilderness.

The three elders before them were like high-ranking officials in an empire, while the battle spirit hunters below were merely slightly talented students in the National College. The difference in status was vast.

The three elders looked at the battle spirit hunters with smiles. Seeing the group's bewildered expressions, the middle elder spoke again:

"Yes, this valley is the Tian Yao Pavilion. For the next three years, you will cultivate here." He pointed to the three pavilions in the distance: "You see, in the Secret Manuals Pavilion, each notebook is worth a fortune. In the Rare Treasures Pavilion, we have most of our clan's spirit medicines, spirit stones, demon cores, and other items that can enhance your power. In the Spirit Weapons Pavilion, the Second Elder Mo Xuanji has prepared sharp weapons for you..."

The young men felt their breathing quicken. Meng Tian narrowed her star-like eyes, trying to hide her desire.

The elder smiled again, raised his bone staff, and said, "For the next three years, these three pavilions will be open to you at any time."

The group erupted in enthusiastic cheers.

The middle elder smiled again and continued, "Of course, including us three, we will provide one-on-one guidance for your cultivation."

Many faces showed disbelief, and some were so happy they even jumped.

They never imagined that entering the Tian Yao Pavilion would be even more exciting than they had thought.

Being able to freely absorb the clan's accumulated treasures and having three high-ranking elders personally guide their cultivation, their power would increase rapidly over the next three years. What others needed decades to achieve, they could significantly shorten.

Their starting point was suddenly far above many others.

In the wilderness, strength was identity, status, and everything you owned. Spending three years in the Tian Yao Pavilion laid a solid foundation for them to become revered upper-level figures in the future.

Wula Su, who had summoned the Iron-spined Blue Bear battle spirit, was so excited that his hands were trembling, his face filled with happiness:

"Wow, my cultivation speed will skyrocket over these three years. Hehe, my friend Wula Mu will never catch up to me again."

The group laughed at this.

The three elders smiled and waved them forward, leading them into the valley. The elder who had spoken earlier walked among the young men, shaking his head at Wula Su with a hint of mockery and said proudly:

"Your friend Wula Mu?"

"Wula Su, you may not realize your current status and identity. Once you have the opportunity to enter the Tian Yao Pavilion, you are no longer ordinary people. We are cultivating you with the full strength of the clan to lay a solid foundation for your cultivation, hoping that a few top-tier hunters will emerge from among you in the future. You are the future of our Tian Yao clan. When you grow up, you will be the pillars of our tribe. The future governance and prosperity of the clan will rest on your shoulders."

These words made the young men's blood boil, and they clenched their fists, their faces filled with excitement and anticipation.

The elder continued:

"And your friends? Wula Su, let me tell you, they are just ordinary people. They have no chance to enter the Tian Yao Pavilion. Even if they work hard, their achievements will be limited. They will live their entire lives in mediocrity."

"From today, you and they will live in two completely different worlds. You will have greater responsibilities, while they will be the common people under your rule... Your lives are far more valuable than theirs."

Hearing this, the young men felt their horizons broaden. Their hearts were burning, and the elder's words cultivated their sense of being upper-level figures. Only then did they realize how different their status as battle spirit hunters was.

The future of the entire clan was theirs.

Meng Tian's star-like eyes were filled with determination. A plump, lonely figure flashed in her mind, making her heart tighten. But immediately, Meng Tian forced herself not to think about that figure. As the elder said, from now on, they were two completely different people, living in two different worlds. One would be high and mighty, while the other would be lost in the masses, low and humble.

Their worlds would no longer intersect.

The three elders led the group to the three pavilions.

One elder pointed to the Secret Manuals Pavilion and said with a smile, "Here, we have most of our clan's cultivation techniques and martial arts manuals. There are also many cultivation notes left by our predecessors after practicing the Tu Man Heart Sutra, each worth a fortune and never shown to outsiders. But for you, you can freely read them."

"Your first lesson will be to familiarize yourselves and choose the manuals suitable for you."

A low, excited cheer rose from the crowd. Everyone understood what this meant, and some were already eager.

In half a year, the Tian Yao Ranking Competition would select the top thirty young geniuses from the entire clan.

Entering the Tian Yao Pavilion only meant that you would have a solid foundation for cultivation and a chance to become a powerhouse in the future.

But only entering the Tian Yao Ranking would represent your future status in the clan.

The hunters, leaders, high-ranking hunters, and even the elders in the Elder Pavilion, were all once famous figures on the Tian Yao Ranking. Entering the Tian Yao Ranking almost guaranteed a future position of power within the clan.

Future battalion leaders, division leaders, hunters, and even members of the Elder Pavilion, would mostly be selected from those who had been on the Tian Yao Ranking.

The competition for the Tian Yao Ranking was intense and brutal.

If you could find a suitable cultivation technique in the Secret Manuals Pavilion, you would have a significant advantage in the competition in half a year.

Meng Tian watched the others' excited expressions and secretly sneered, a sense of ambition slowly rising in her heart.

Among the hunters under twenty years old, only two had reached the seventh level of the Tu Man Heart Sutra, a very high realm. One was the Great Elder's grandson, Tie Mitao, whose cultivation speed had amazed the entire clan. The other was Meng Tian herself.

Apart from them, the other young men were mostly at the sixth level, with most still lingering at the fifth or fourth level.

Meng Tian was too proud, and she had the right to be. In the hundreds of years of the Tian Yao clan's history, only two female hunters had ever topped the Tian Yao Ranking. This year, Meng Tian was determined to achieve this honor, a feat that was extremely difficult for female hunters. She was determined to secure the top position on the Tian Yao Ranking this year.

In the competition in half a year, Meng Tian did not consider any other opponents. She only cared about the equally talented Tie Mitao. The next six months of cultivation in the Tian Yao Pavilion would be her period of preparation. After six months, she would make a stunning debut and soar to the top.

Under Meng Tian's clear, moon-like face were long, arched eyebrows and proud, star-like eyes. Seeing the others' excited expressions, Meng Tian quietly calmed her ambition. Suddenly sensing something, she turned and smiled at an elder who was looking at her with interest. The plump, lonely figure in her mind was completely dispelled by her smile.

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