Poison God's Heritage

Similar to what Shen Bao was used to in the Heavenly Academy, this area hosted tens of thousands of disciples and cultivators. Their ranks ranged from Emperor class all the way to Origin Realm.

And in the middle of the arena was the same man that Zhang Tian was used to, the Banner Carrier of the Lord of Lords sect, the Lording Sun.

The banner holder was looking around the entire arena as he began explaining.

"In less than a month, all the major teleportation nodes will be opened. We will then transport those who wish to partake in the biggest tournament of the Beyond, the Strongest Under the Sun,"

You could hear the shouts of the cultivators all over the arena. Not only will they get to interact with other cultivators and prove their might they will also be able to fight and show their powers and stand out among their peers for the higherups. They all had high hopes of succeeding in this venture. And they all were brimming with confidence.

The Banner Carrier raised on arm that quieted the crowd.

"You all know that the upcoming competition will be fierce. And a lot of other cultivators with eccentric and vicious methods will show up. Death is no stranger for these types of competitions so only those who are confident in their ability to survive should joining."

The atmosphere immediately turned somber, the path of cultivators had always been fraught with dangers.

"Still, you must all know that these competitions always come with various rewards and opportunities. But don't be too complacent. There is a minimum required to join, and several limitations. Lest the competitors ruin the entirety of the upcoming and rising generation. The minimum required to join is the Void Stage," the Banner Carrier said.

This caused a lot of people to feel down, since the majority of the cultivators were at the emperor stage.

"And the highest one can join is the peak of the Origin Realm."

"The disparity in cultivation rank is far too high," one of the people closer to the Banner Carrier muttered. It was a comment that he didn't think would be picked up or heard. However, the Banner Carrier had sharp ears.

"Indeed, it is as you said," he replied to the man, "The range is far too vast. Since it includes Void Stage, and Void Shattering stage cultivators and even Origin Stage cultivators. However, the reason why anything above the Origin Shattering Stage is excluded, is due to the fact that they can no longer use Saint Qi efficiently. As you all know, once you break the Void you'll be able to sense the Origin Qi, and once you reach the Origin Stage you'll be able to use it. But if you shatter the Origin Stage, you can no longer use the lesser Saint Qi and that is crippling for someone who will need to lower their cultivation base," said the Banner Carrier.

Seeing no reaction the Banner Carrier added.

"Unlike before, this time the competition is very limiting to the usage of one's cultivation, and by proxy that means a lot more cultivators can join. Unlike before where the few Origin Realm cultivators ran rampant, this time anyone who uses Origin Qi will be immediately disqualified. Though this might be unfair to the cultivators who have reached the Origin Realm, they all are far older and more experienced than cultivators who can only use Saint Qi and haven't stepped in the Origin Realm. So the odds are now in everyone's favor."

This brought a lot more hope to the cultivators at the Void stage who had previously thought that it was pointless to partake in this competition.

"So, who is joining?" the Banner Holder grinned and immediately the entirety of the crowd burst up with cheers.

Within the crowd, Zhang Tian was sitting cross legged, he wasn't interested in the competiton at all, however, a divine sense message was sent to him immediately after the Banner Carrier saw his expressions.

"My Lord had told me that a friend of yours will be joining the tournament. He said that it will be motivational for you to do the same if you wish to meet them."

Zhang Tian's face lit up as he nodded in the direction of the Banner Carrier. He stood up and left. Unlike the people who were at the emperor stage and believed that thirty days isn't enough for them to be at the Void Stage, Zhang Tian was of the other opinion. Thirty days was more than enough for him, especially with such motivation.

***

throughout the Beyond. And all over the face of this massive land, tens of thousands of heavenly tribulations were happening simultaneously. They were all the testament and challenges that these people who had broken through the limits of the second step, reached beyond ascension and are challenging the final realms of the second step.

For this competition, cultivators were pushing themselves to break the limits of emperors, and reach beyond the void. Only when they reach the Origin Realm will they finally have achieved the third step, but that is not an easy thing to do.

The resources required, the knowledge of Dao, and adversity is nothing like they had done before. And this is all to prove that they were not like everyone else. A competition that will reveal some of the hidden dragons and crouching tigers of the Beyond.

Of all the Eight Region and three forbidden lands. Many have come to partake in this event. And with some luck a few names will definitely send waves through the beyond revealing the might hidden within.

But for now, Shen Bao is inside his Pagoda, furiously breaking through stage after stage to reach the Void realm.

Unlike the other cultivators who can stuff themselves with powerful treasures and cultivate in perfectly harmonious and efficient lands where Saint Qi was abundant, he had to consume deadly poisons and pills to power through his stages.

To Shen Bao whenever he consumed a new poison, he would need to suffer its effects first, making his cultivation not only the most unique, but also the most painful. But he still didn't back away, since he had a goal to achieve by claiming victory in an event that will be entered by millions of cultivators.

If he were to become a victor, he'll have a place for his people, and that by itself was motivation enough for Shen Bao to push past his own limits, and finally rip through the fog that was hiding the Void Stage from him…