Ghost City, Myriad Treasures Pavilion.
"Brother Li, why have you come to the Myriad Treasures Pavilion? Are you looking to buy something?" Jian Chi asked curiously as Li Xuan walked into the pavilion.
"Brother Jian Chi, you don't actually want me to take you to a brothel, do you?" Li Xuan chuckled upon hearing this.
Jian Chi was stunned. His lips twitched, and he immediately slapped himself. Why had he brought up brothels? Li Xuan had been teasing him about it all the way here.
"Alright, Brother Jian Chi, I won't tease you anymore. I need a place to improve my combat power, so I came to the merchant guild to see if there's anything suitable," Li Xuan said with a smile.
Jian Chi nodded in understanding. The major merchant guilds in the Central Region all offered rental of private chambers. Inside, one could choose corresponding Xuan Beasts to spar against based on their own strength, or they could simply cultivate in seclusion. As long as they could afford the fees, no one would interfere with what they did inside.
"How about this, Brother Jian Chi, I'll take you to a brothel first? It's not urgent," Li Xuan teased.
Jian Chi's forehead beaded with sweat. He didn't reply and walked directly into the main hall. Seeing this, Li Xuan laughed and followed him in.
Soon, guided by a maid, the two entered the fourth floor of the Myriad Treasures Pavilion. After paying one million low-grade spirit stones, Li Xuan and Jian Chi each entered a private chamber.
However, upon entering the chamber, Li Xuan sighed.
The expenses for two people were still substantial. One chamber alone cost fifty thousand low-grade spirit stones per month, and for two people, it was double the cost.
Still, Li Xuan only grumbled about it briefly. Supporting a great sword cultivator at the initial Martial Emperor realm was worth it.
Inside the chamber, there were a total of five figures. All five figures had their eyes closed, but the aura they exuded was that of peak Martial God realm.
Li Xuan's eyes were filled with surprise. The merchants' guilds truly had a wide variety of offerings. The five figures before him were not humans, but five humanoid puppets.
Humanoid puppets possessed human combat awareness and the peak strength of their respective levels. Such existences were the best choices for self-improvement.
Although Li Xuan could temper his body with sword energy, his combat awareness could not be strengthened. Even sparring with phantoms, Li Xuan could only improve his understanding of the sword dao. To improve comprehensively, actual combat was the best method.
For the first time, Li Xuan activated a puppet. However, after fighting for several minutes, Li Xuan realized his physical body was too strong, and the puppet couldn't break through his defenses. Thus, he activated the second and third puppets and resumed his battle.
Bang!
In less than ten breaths, Li Xuan was sent flying.
...
Time gradually passed. Over half a month, Li Xuan and Jian Chi both engaged in combat training within their chambers to improve themselves.
At this moment, in Li Xuan's chamber, all five puppets were activated. Their speed was so fast that it was almost imperceptible to the naked eye. Yet, under the combined assault of the five puppets, Li Xuan appeared to be handling it with ease.
A quarter of an hour later, all five puppets were sent flying simultaneously. Li Xuan stopped and pondered for a moment before moving and leaving the chamber.
"Guest, you wish to add another five peak Martial God realm puppets?" Yu Xin was taken aback upon hearing Li Xuan's words. A chamber already contained five puppets; adding five more would mean ten peak Martial God realm opponents. Yu Xin glanced at Li Xuan's aura and clearly sensed his initial Martial Emperor realm strength.
"Don't worry, young lady, I have the ability to protect myself," Li Xuan said with a wry smile. The current five puppets could no longer satisfy his combat needs.
Yu Xin pondered for a moment and then nodded. "In that case, I will arrange it immediately. However, you will need to sign a life-and-death contract. The guild will not be responsible for any consequences."
"Alright," Li Xuan nodded slightly.
Thus, after Li Xuan signed the life-and-death contract, the five puppets were placed in the private chamber.
As the chamber door closed, Yu Xin stood at the entrance, pondered for a moment, and then turned to leave.
Soon, time quietly slipped away, and ten more days passed.
On this day, as Li Xuan was engaged in combat, a knock sounded on the door. Li Xuan stopped upon hearing it. After deactivating the nine puppets, he opened the door.
"Young lady Yu Xin, if I recall correctly, a month hasn't passed yet," Li Xuan said in surprise upon seeing Yu Xin at the door.
Yu Xin nodded and then spoke, "Guest, in another ten days, it will be the Five Regions Grand Competition for Prodigies. Seeing as you are so young, I assume you will be participating in such a grand event."
"Five Regions Grand Competition for Prodigies? Young lady Yu Xin, what is this competition?" Li Xuan asked, confused.
Yu Xin was stunned. Had this young master been in seclusion this entire time and didn't even know about this? Of course, these were just internal thoughts. Yu Xin immediately began to explain the origin of the Five Regions Grand Competition for Prodigies.
After listening to Yu Xin's explanation, Li Xuan finally understood.
The Five Regions Grand Competition for Prodigies was, in essence, a ranking competition for the younger generation across the Eastern, Southern, Western, Northern, and Central Regions. Every fifty years, the five regions jointly held this event. Participants must not be older than thirty years old. Other than that, there were no other requirements.
If one could make it onto the rankings, they would not only receive generous rewards but could also join any of the twelve sects in the Central Region. Furthermore, the five regions would allocate resources based on the rankings of their prodigies. In simpler terms, the ranking and status of the five regions would depend on the results of this competition.
Of course, there were now only eleven sects, as the Li Huo Sect had already been destroyed by Yi Qin.
"Young lady Yu Xin, since there are still ten days until the Five Regions Grand Competition for Prodigies, why have you come to notify me today?" Li Xuan asked after some thought.
Yu Xin responded with a wry smile, "Guest, although the Five Regions Grand Competition for Prodigies has no requirements other than the age limit, the basic registration is necessary. And today is the final day for registration."
"I see. Uh, thank you, young lady Yu Xin," Li Xuan said with a sheepish grin after a moment of realization.
"Although you are only at the initial Martial Emperor realm, I believe you still have a chance to make it onto the rankings. Moreover, such a grand event where you can witness the prodigies from the five regions is something not to be missed," Yu Xin said with a smile.
"Uh... I will try my best," Li Xuan replied with a wry smile. Yu Xin seemed to be underestimating him. However, Li Xuan didn't explain. Instead, with a thought, he asked, "Young lady Yu Xin, what is the usual ranking of the Southern Region?"
Yu Xin was taken aback and then shook her head. "The Southern Region, it seems, always comes in last. Hmm, I recall that in the last competition, the best result from the Southern Region was 51st on the Prodigy List. Hmm, and that person was a sword cultivator."
"They didn't even make it into the top fifty?" Li Xuan was surprised. Why was the Southern Region so weak? And a sword cultivator only ranked fifty-first? That was too embarrassing.
Yu Xin nodded. "The Southern Region truly cannot compare to the other four regions. After all, the spiritual energy in the Southern Region is relatively weaker, and it is a barbaric land. This time, I haven't heard of any particularly talented individuals emerging either."
Li Xuan sighed helplessly. Then, his gaze gradually firmed.
This time, he would represent the Southern Region in the competition!