"Sect Master, the Foundation Establishment battles begin tomorrow. Here is the roster that Wushuang Sect just submitted, thirteen participants in total."
A disciple respectfully handed over a jade slip.
Lin Xiao swept his divine sense across it, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"Have the disciples on this list been investigated?" he asked calmly.
The man smirked with open disdain. "All checked. The three in the individual battles are Du Bing, Lin Cheng, and Gao Jingxuan. Du Bing is a three-spirit-root cultivator from an Imperial dynasty. Before entering Wushuang Sect, his strength was utterly mediocre. Any random disciple from a mid-tier sect could have crushed him. Lin Cheng is even more laughable. He's a four-spirit-root, the kind of aptitude that even a low-tier sect would hesitate to accept. And the last one, Gao Jingxuan, is the most ridiculous of all. He is actually a five-spirit-root cultivator."
He said this while chuckling to himself.
Three spirit roots.
Four spirit roots.
Five spirit roots.
This Wushuang Sect must truly be starving for recruits if they are willing to take in such scraps. How could disciples of this level possibly compete with the elites trained by super sects? At best, they would be eliminated in a single exchange.
"Five spirit roots…" Lin Xiao did not laugh. His thoughts drifted to Yun Jin.
That woman too had five spirit roots.
And beyond that, he knew a secret.
The legendary Wandao Saint had also possessed five spirit roots. The reason five spirit roots were regarded as the weakest in this era was because the original version of the Mystic Codex had been lost. Without doubt, Wushuang Sect had obtained the most complete version.
This Gao Jingxuan had been by Yun Jin's side during the Canglan Kingdom incident. By now, he had most likely received the true Mystic Codex.
He was worth keeping an eye on.
But only that much.
Even if Gao Jingxuan had the potential to become powerful, he had joined Wushuang Sect for only two months. Two months, even with the correct Mystic Codex, could hardly amount to anything.
Yun Jin was a monster, yes.
But could she turn others into monsters as well?
Perhaps in centuries or millennia, Gao Jingxuan could become a formidable force.
But certainly not now.
Lin Xiao's lips curved into a mocking smile. "Yun Jin's path has been too smooth. She has picked up the habit of thinking herself untouchable. Very well. As her elders, it is time we teach her that disrespect for seniors earns a brutal beating."
Yun Jin's own strength had grown troublesome, making it hard to deal with her directly without laying traps and careful schemes. But if she could not yet be eliminated, those close to her could be.
Did she not loudly proclaim her intent to rebuild Wushuang Sect?
Did she not exhaust herself to gather disciples?
Then it was time for her to taste the despair of seeing all her efforts reduced to nothing overnight.
"This Wushuang Sect lineup will not even pass the first round. Wasn't Sect Master Wen of Yuehua Sect quite eager to face them? For this round, perhaps we should—"
The man had barely started speaking when Lin Xiao cut him off, his tone indifferent. "If tricks are to be played, they must be reserved for the critical moment. Battles between Foundation Establishment disciples weigh little in the final scoring. And when even a random sect can crush them effortlessly, why waste effort in the shadows? Let events proceed naturally."
The man bowed. "Understood."
Lin Xiao gave a faint smile. "Go. This seat wishes to see what kind of storm Yun Jin and her Wushuang Sect can possibly stir."
The man withdrew.
The next morning.
The sun blazed bright.
Qingxiao City, built for the Sect Ranking Conclave, revolved around a massive central plaza.
At its very center stood a colossal statue.
This was no mere sculpture but something that had fallen with the Sky City itself. After countless attempts, cultivators of this world discovered that it brimmed with immeasurable power. Those who approached it with malice or tried to destroy it were cursed and perished. Yet so long as one held reverence, no harm befell them.
It was precisely because of these four statues that the four great cities could exist within the beast-infested Sky City at all. Each statue shielded one city, and the savage beasts dared not trespass against their presence.
Around the statue, rows of arenas had been built.
Today marked the first battles of the Grand Sect Ranking Conclave.
The first to step onto the stage were the Foundation Establishment disciples of each sect.
Qi Refining disciples were considered not yet truly on the immortal path. They could only watch, not participate.
The Foundation Establishment disciples were divided into tiers, matched according to their sect's grade.
There were more than enough arenas to allow all levels of battles to proceed simultaneously.
Lin Xiao and the ten Sect Masters of the super sects jointly presided over the opening ceremony. The cultivation world wasted little time on empty formalities. Normally, each sect would simply show their faces, and that would suffice.
But this time, something was different. Everyone's gazes turned toward the Wushuang Sect.
The square was filled with silence, broken only by strange music coming from their direction. It was bold, grand, and stirring, the kind that set blood racing and spirits aflame.
At the forefront stood Yun Jin, waving a great banner emblazoned with the characters for Wushuang Sect.
Behind her, the Foundation Establishment disciples wore matching uniforms, each holding a small flag of their own.
The crowd could not help but stare.
The disciples of Wushuang Sect cheerfully waved their little flags back at them.
Several mouths twitched.
Why did these disciples look so… proud of themselves?
Was this really necessary?
Was anyone actually supposed to envy such a spectacle?
"Everyone, straighten up! Smile with confidence! Show me your very best selves!" Yun Jin encouraged.
The Wushuang Sect disciples were clearly used to this routine. One by one, they stood tall, their faces bright, their bearing spirited and disciplined.
When it was their turn to step forward, Yue Zhao appeared holding a sound-amplifying talisman.
"They have arrived, they have arrived! The disciples of Wushuang Sect are walking toward us. Bathed in morning light, filled with hope, they march proudly forward. Wushuang, Wushuang, what a resounding name! With fearless steps and unshakable faith, the disciples of Wushuang Sect stand before us. Now, together with me, let us declare—what is our goal this time?"
Every disciple pulled out a talisman loudspeaker identical to Yue Zhao's.
Even Yun Jin held one up and shouted, "No cavities!"
Yue Zhao froze and shot her a look.
Yun Jin coughed lightly. "My mistake, could not resist."
"The Sect Master was joking," Yue Zhao covered smoothly, then raised his voice again. "Now, disciples, loudly tell us—what is our true goal?"
Holding back laughter, Yun Jin stayed quiet this time. The other disciples shouted their slogan in perfect unison.
"Wushuang Sect disciples, Invincible Among Peers!"
===
The original slogan is "同阶无敌" (Tóng jiē wúdí) literally translated as "Invincible at the same level". But for me it was not arrogant enough, so I decided to change it into "Invincible Among Peers".
Because I personally think "At the same level" is a technical, precise boast. It means that among all cultivators at the exact same cultivation level (like early golden core stage). The scope was narrow and specific. It compares them to their direct peers in terms of raw power level. The arrogance comes from its absolute certainty. It's a claim of perfection within a very strict boundary.
"Among Peers" in other hand, is a broader, more social boast. "Peers" doesn't just mean "same level"; it implies "equals in status, age, or generation". The scope also wider and more social. It's about being the best among everyone considered to be in your "class" or "group." The arrogance comes from social dominance. It's not just about power; it's about being the top dog among your entire generation of talents, the person all others are measured against. It's the arrogance of a valedictorian who surpasses everyone their age.
Basically, "At the Same Level" admits a limitation—there might be someone at a higher level who can crush them. Their invincibility has a ceiling.
"Among Peers" has no such technical limitation. A "peer" could theoretically include those slightly stronger or older. Claiming to be invincible among them is a broader, more audacious claim that suggests they are so talented they can transcend small differences in power level. It's a more holistic declaration of superiority.