"This guy’s name is Lin Chang’sheng? His cultivation is so formidable, how come I’ve never heard of him?"

"His talent is easily on par with the Celestial Prides from the top ten powers of the Immortal Realm. Looks like we’re about to see a true dark horse on this year’s Celestial Pride List!"

"For sure! I heard he’s from the Abandoned Land, never imagined he’d cultivate to such a level! Absolutely unreal!"

"Abandoned Land? No way! Even if there’s a genius from the Abandoned Land, at best they’d reach the Nascent Soul Stage, no way they’d achieve this kind of cultivation!"

"Otherwise, how would he qualify as a Celestial Pride?"

...

The surrounding elders all chimed in, clearly quite impressed by Lin Chang’sheng.

And when the various major sects learned he hadn’t joined any sect yet, they all began harboring serious hopes of pulling him under their own banner.

Even the top ten giant powers of the Immortal Realm were looking at him with newfound respect.

The elder of Immortal Martial Hall stared at Lin Chang’sheng with an odd glint. If Immortal Martial Hall couldn’t take the top spot this time, it’d be a real slap in the face.

After all, they’re the widely recognized number-one force in the Immortal Realm.

But once the disciple reported back that their offer to recruit Lin Chang’sheng was rejected, it seemed that no further attempts would succeed either.

"Huaizhen, is it true he won’t join our Immortal Martial Hall?"

Chen He from Immortal Martial Hall looked a little unhappy. His sect recruiting Lin Chang’sheng—that was showing him real respect, and this guy didn’t even want in?

"Elder Chen, that’s right. He said he’d think about it, but I don’t think joining is on his mind at all."

Yang Huaizhen replied honestly.

He could easily hear the real meaning behind Lin Chang’sheng’s words.

"If that’s the case, then forget it! If you face him, how sure are you of victory?"

Elder Chen pressed on; their eyes were dead set on claiming the Celestial Pride List title this time.

"Roughly seventy percent! If I go all out, at least ninety!"

Yang Huaizhen estimated aloud.

"Only seventy?"

Chen He was a bit surprised—didn’t expect Yang Huaizhen to be so unsure. Even at full power, only ninety percent? Not a hundred percent?

Seems this kid really does have some skill.

But as long as they win, that’s enough.

"You must fight with everything you’ve got. Let the major sects of the Immortal Realm see just how strong our Immortal Martial Hall truly is. This is our honor at stake!"

Chen He told him firmly.

"Understood!"

Yang Huaizhen nodded in agreement.

On the other side, just as Lin Chang’sheng hopped off the combat platform, the elder from Heaven-Suppressing Sect strode over with the bearing of a dragon and a tiger.

Heaven-Suppressing Sect trains both the body and immortal techniques, so their disciples are all big and burly.

The elder was especially broad-shouldered and thick-waisted, his arms were as big around as a regular person’s thighs.

"Young brother, you’ve got real potential! Ever thought about joining our Heaven-Suppressing Sect? If you do, we’ll help you step onto the Immortal Path!"

Zheng Kun of Heaven-Suppressing Sect greeted him with bold cheer.

As soon as those words left his mouth, the nearby disciples erupted in shock.

Immortal Path?

That’s the true Path to Immortality!

There are only a handful of immortals in the whole Immortal Realm; to become one and gain an Immortal Body means standing above millions—a truly terrifying existence!

It’s what every cultivator dreams of.

No one expected Heaven-Suppressing Sect to make such a promise right off the bat.

Just join them, and they’d help Lin Chang’sheng set foot on the Immortal Path.

If it were anyone else, they would have agreed instantly, but Lin Chang’sheng hesitated for a moment—then still turned down the offer.

"I appreciate the elder’s kindness! But joining a sect is something I really need to think through."

Lin Chang’sheng’s answer made all surrounding Celestial Pride disciples stare wide-eyed in disbelief.

"No way! How could he refuse such a golden opportunity?"

"Yeah! This is the Immortal Realm’s second-ranked giant sect extending an olive branch, and he’s just turning it down? He better not regret it later!"

"Can’t fathom his thinking. If it were me, I’d jump at the chance!"

"With his cultivation, you think he’s worried no sect wants him? Maybe you should focus on your own prospects!"

Chatter buzzed from the crowd—some feeling pity for Lin Chang’sheng, others just waiting to laugh at him.

But Lin Chang’sheng didn’t care what they thought, because Sword Elder had also seen his enormous potential, and—wanting to keep him from joining any other sect—

revealed a major secret.

That was about a huge treasure trove he’d left behind in the Immortal Palace.

It was originally discovered in a big Loose Immortal Cave Mansion.

Loose Immortals are those who failed Crossing Tribulation to Immortality—their entire lives, there’s no hope for them to take on the Immortal Body.

They’re also called Demi-Immortals.

Yet even their Loose Immortal Cultivation is remarkable, and the treasures in their cave mansions are all Heaven-Reaching Immortal Treasure Level.

If Lin Chang’sheng joined the Immortal Palace, Sword Elder would disclose the location to him.

Lin Chang’sheng only refused Heaven-Suppressing Sect because of this; otherwise, it would suit him better than Immortal Palace.

After all, Heaven-Suppressing Sect trains both Body Strengthening Technique and Immortal Technique—the perfect match for Lin Chang’sheng.

Lin Chang’sheng also cultivates his physical body; if he obtained Heaven-Suppressing Sect’s Body Strengthening Technique and fused it, his cultivation would absolutely get a massive boost.

"No problem! This is no small matter—take your time to consider, young friend, I’ll await your good news!"

The Heaven-Suppressing Sect elder saw that Lin Chang’sheng declined, but didn’t force the issue; he smiled and departed.

The matches continued.

Every Celestial Pride was going all out—the fighting was on fire.

The one who really caught Lin Chang’sheng’s eye was Yang Huaizhen from Immortal Martial Hall—a true Celestial Pride in the Late Stage of Void Refining, unbelievably strong.

Lin Chang’sheng sensed: this would be a formidable opponent.

It was now Hou Shaojie’s turn to take the stage.

His opponent was a Celestial Pride disciple with solid strength too—Wu Hao, a disciple from Spirit Mountain.

Thankfully, he wasn’t Spirit Mountain’s top disciple; this guy was at Early Stage of Void Refining.