Most disciples participating in the competition were Golden Immortal Disciples. Even if not direct disciples, they were grand-disciples. Overall, both sides could trace connections between them, so the Elders’ movements did not go unnoticed by these disciples.
Wudao Tian organized a disciple gathering on an unprecedentedly massive scale.
Chen Jiuge gazed at the bustling crowd—a sea of heads. The crucial point was that these individuals all possessed cultivation at the True Immortal Realm or higher. It was quite preposterous.
"Senior Sister, why do you think Eldest Senior Brother always likes to hold meetings here?" Chen Jiuge asked, somewhat helplessly.
"Junior Brother, could it be because of your unique personal charm?" Wen Ruo replied with a teasing smile.
Embarrassed by this unexpected praise, Chen Jiuge modestly waved his hand. "Oh no, not at all."
Watching Chen Jiuge go into the meeting, Wen Ruo chuckled softly to herself. It’s the charisma of someone who just loves to join the commotion.
Wudao Tian shouted to the disciples with the highest status and strongest cultivation, "This time, we must show those Elders our strength! Brothers and sisters, even if we are monsters, we will completely subdue them!"
"The crowd is really fired up," Chen Jiuge observed. He then thought, I don’t see the Elders winning this. With such a massive advantage, how could we possibly lose?
During the last three days of registration, Jun Linseng noticed that far too many disciples had signed up. He decided to modify the rules slightly: any Elder holding a position in the Sect could participate, even if they were only in the True Immortal Realm.
Thus, the largest-scale competition of Mech Elders versus Beast Disciples since the founding of the Myriad Beasts Sect officially began.
"I believe many disciples don’t recognize this old man, so let me introduce myself first. I am Ancestor Tian Huo." Ancestor Tian Huo looked at the disciples below with a chuckle, anticipating their reactions.
"So that’s Ancestor Tian Huo? He seems rather amiable. Is his temper really as explosive as the legends say?"
"You can know a person’s face but not their heart. With such matters, it’s better to err on the side of caution."
"True. Anyway, he’s not competing, so what does it have to do with us?"
The Myriad Beasts Sect’s relaxed management style fostered more curiosity than reverence in the disciples towards the Ancestors, almost as if their idols had suddenly stepped into reality.
Instead of the expected gasps of admiration, there were murmurs of doubt. Ancestor Tian Huo’s face darkened; he was ready to show this group of disciples what an Ancestor’s ’care’ truly meant.
A large hand restrained the fuming Ancestor Tian Huo. Ancestor Tian Xing said, somewhat exasperated, "Are you actually getting angry? If I recall correctly, *you* were the disciple who respected the Elders the least back in the day."
Ancestor Tian Huo’s anger vanished abruptly. He had a point, he thought.
"Everyone, please enter the arena. The competition is about to begin!" Ancestor Tian Xing announced, helping Ancestor Tian Huo relay the signal.
Dressed in white and looking as dashing as ever, Jun Linseng glanced disdainfully at Wudao Tian, who was leading the disciples. "Today, you will learn why I am your Master."
Wudao Tian, wearing a red headband emblazoned with "Victory," replied with a strange expression, "Master, don’t be too arrogant. This time, we’ve prepared a secret weapon."
"We’ll see about that," Jun Linseng said, taking the lead as he led the Sect Elders into the arena.
An exceptionally large number of Elders participated this time. This wasn’t just because the restrictions had been loosened; it was more due to coercion from the Golden Immortal powerhouses. These Elders were also being reluctantly pushed forward, especially since the disciples of some True Immortal Elders and Heavenly Immortal Elders possessed cultivation no weaker than their masters’.
If a disciple defeated their Master, it would be an utter disgrace, a humiliation that would shame their entire lineage.
Watching the majestic procession of Elders entering the arena, Li Yao touched his chin. "This is getting a bit tricky. There are quite a lot of Elders."
"Merely ten thousand? We have an army of a hundred thousand! Li Yao, don’t tell me you’re scared?" Yue Yinghua retorted, dissatisfied.
"What a joke! How could I possibly be afraid? Today, I *must* avenge my previous humiliation!" Li Yao said, his usual gentle smile now tinged with a hint of darkness. I will have my revenge.
"My, my, it’s been years since I’ve seen such a lively spectacle! It almost makes me want to go down and stretch my old bones a bit," Ancestor Tian He, who had suddenly appeared on the platform, remarked with envy, gazing at the tense atmosphere below. ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ NoveI-Fire.ɴet
"Alright, Tian He, you’re not young anymore. Have you no shame?" Ancestor Tian Yue also appeared just as suddenly, casually teasing Ancestor Tian He.
Tian Xing noticed that besides these two, several other figures were lurking in the void. Even the two who had just rotated to guard the Infinite Star Sea had cast their gazes here.
So, the true nature of the Myriad Beasts Sect is to love gossip and excitement, Tian Xing mused.
"Next, please welcome the disciples to the arena!"
The Elders’ mechs were generally sleek or unadorned, prioritizing conventional design and aesthetic appeal. The disciples, however, were different. Since they were ’monsters’ for this event, their mechs naturally had to look peculiar. Thus, a bizarre menagerie of beast-like mechs emerged.
"Tian Huo, who do you think will win?" Ancestor Tian Xing asked, his curiosity piqued as he watched this batch of ’monsters’ enter.
"Hmph! If these Elders can’t even defeat disciples, they should be sent back to the Infinite Star Sea for more tempering!" Ancestor Tian Huo snorted.
The Elders of the Myriad Beasts Sect were divided into two types. One type consisted of those who naturally became Elders upon reaching the True Immortal Realm. These Elders had slightly lower status and fewer benefits, and their Direct Disciples could not enjoy the full treatment afforded to Sect Direct Disciples.
The other type consisted of Elders who had made significant contributions to the Sect in the Infinite Star Sea. These were the true Elders of the Myriad Beasts Sect, and their strength was formidable.
This time, Chen Jiuge and the others were mostly facing the second type of Elder, which meant they were under tremendous pressure.
The battle was set in a Gobi desert. It was unclear whether the Supreme Elder had arranged it this way intentionally, but as soon as both sides entered the arena, they found themselves facing each other across a small hill.