When Life Runs Out, the Fun Begins-Chapter 32 – Heaven Vault Pavilion, about to make a stunning debut! This is just the beginning!

On the first day of the Yunqi Peak Grand Tournament, the fierce competition among the Outer Sect disciples concluded amidst countless exclamations and discussions. Su Yao and Lin Yue from the Heaven Vault Pavilion quietly advanced to the fifth level of Qi Refining, making them the focus of heated discussions throughout the Outer Sect and even the entire Yunqi Peak.
"I also want to serve Elder Mu," became an unspoken popular phrase among the female disciples, causing more figures to linger outside the Listening Bamboo Pavilion.
As night fell, the hustle and bustle of Lan Yun Terrace gradually faded, but Yunqi Peak remained brightly lit. Disciples either excitedly discussed the day's battles or meditated to prepare for the more intense competitions the next day.
Inside the Listening Bamboo Pavilion, the candlelight flickered warmly. Mu Xiaochuan reclined on a soft couch, with Su Yao and Lin Yue nestled beside him like two docile kittens. After the tense competition and their much-acclaimed victory, they had shed their sharpness from the arena, their faces showing a hint of fatigue but more so an undeniable excitement and relief.
"Elder Mu, we... we really won!" Su Yao still couldn't quite believe it, rubbing her little head against Mu Xiaochuan's arm as if to confirm it wasn't a dream.
"Yes, Elder, I never thought I could stand on the arena for the second round!" Lin Yue's voice trembled, her eyes glistening with tears.
Mu Xiaochuan gently stroked their smooth hair, feeling utterly content. The sensation of controlling everything and "cheating" for his own people was indescribably wonderful.
"I told you, with me here, you have nothing to worry about," he said with a faint smile, his tone carrying undeniable confidence. "However, today is just the beginning. Tomorrow is the first round of the Inner Sect tournament. You can rest for a day, but the opponents the day after will be stronger, so don't let your guard down. Have you refined the elixirs I gave you?"
"Yes!" the two women nodded in unison. "The elixirs Elder gave us were so rich in spiritual energy that we feel our cultivation has improved significantly!" They now had complete faith in Mu Xiaochuan's words and were full of confidence for the upcoming competition.
"Very good," Mu Xiaochuan nodded in satisfaction. "Rest well tonight."
A night passed.
When the morning bell rang again on the second day, the flames of the Yunqi Peak Grand Tournament reignited. Today marked the first elimination round for the Inner Sect disciples.
Compared to the Outer Sect disciples' matches, the Inner Sect disciples' battles were undoubtedly more intense and spectacular. Their cultivation levels were higher, their mastery of cultivation techniques and spells more refined, and their spiritual artifacts generally superior to those of the Outer Sect disciples. Each duel could be accompanied by surges of spiritual energy and dazzling brilliance, eliciting exclamations from the audience.
The ten Inner Sect representatives from the Heaven Vault Pavilion—Leng Yunjian, Xiao Yunhe, Ma Mingyu, Lin Yushang, Zhao Qingshuang, Mu Tiezhu, Wang Yuyan, Zhou Haoyang, Li Mingyuan, and Sun Tieshan—were all gathered in the preparation area below the arena. Their expressions were solemn, their gazes sharp, exuding strong confidence. After receiving Mu Xiaochuan's elixir rewards and witnessing the results of the Outer Sect competition yesterday, their confidence had soared, especially Leng Yunjian and Xiao Yunhe, who felt their strength had significantly improved. It was time to test their achievements and bring glory to the Heaven Vault Pavilion!
On the viewing platform, the atmosphere was even more solemn than the previous day. The eyes of the elders from each hall were tightly fixed on their disciples. Although Ye Qingyu maintained her usual cool and detached demeanor, her slightly straightened back and occasionally gleaming eyes betrayed her inner anticipation.
Liu Ruyan sat on the other side, her gaze occasionally drifting toward Mu Xiaochuan, her face blooming with a brilliant smile, her heart filled with happiness and sweetness.
Meanwhile, Liang Yichen, seated in the main position, remained expressionless, his eyes occasionally sweeping toward the Heaven Vault Pavilion with a hint of barely perceptible coldness. Mu Xiaochuan's prominence yesterday, along with Liu Ruyan's "betrayal," left him extremely displeased. He wanted to see what kind of waves this old fellow, who had only reached Foundation Establishment by sheer luck, and his group of "misfits" could stir up.
"The first match, Heaven Vault Pavilion, Leng Yunjian versus Law Enforcement Hall, Zhang Cheng!"
As the referee elder's voice sounded, Leng Yunjian floated silently onto the arena like a cold shadow. Her opponent, Zhang Cheng, was a well-known disciple of the Law Enforcement Hall. Although he was at the eighth level of Qi Refining, his "Thunder Palm" was fierce and domineering, edly having defeated demonic beasts at the ninth level of Qi Refining.
"Hmph, Heaven Vault Pavilion's beauty, I heard you received a mid-grade Qi-Gathering Pill from Elder Mu? I wonder how much your strength has improved?" Zhang Cheng wore a hint of arrogance on his face, clearly confident in his own strength and somewhat disdainful of the recent prominence of the Heaven Vault Pavilion.
Leng Yunjian did not respond, her face icy, as the slender ice crystal dagger silently slid into her hand.
"Courting death!" Zhang Cheng, seeing her disregard, was instantly enraged. With a low shout, electric light crackled on his palms as he thrust them forward! Two thick arcs of electricity shot out like raging pythons, carrying a destructive aura, straight toward Leng Yunjian!
The crowd below gasped in shock; even at the eighth level of Qi Refining, such power was astonishing!
However, facing the raging lightning, Leng Yunjian neither dodged nor evaded. Her beautiful eyes flashed with cold light, and her ice crystal dagger lightly tapped!
"Buzz—"
A visible ice-blue ripple suddenly spread out from her center! Wherever the ripple passed, the air seemed to freeze, forming a crystal-clear yet unbreakable ice wall!
"Crack! Sizzle—"
The violent arcs of electricity slammed into the ice wall, erupting in blinding light and scorching sounds! Ice shards flew, and electric light danced! Yet the seemingly fragile ice wall withstood the impact of the Thunder Palm, only showing fine cracks on its surface without shattering!
"What?!" Zhang Cheng was shocked! His Thunder Palm was incredibly powerful, and ordinary ninth-level Qi Refining cultivators wouldn't dare face it head-on. When had Leng Yunjian's defense become so formidable?
In his moment of shock, Leng Yunjian moved! Her figure blurred, ghost-like, through the lingering electric light, her ice crystal dagger transforming into a stream of light, stabbing straight at Zhang Cheng's chest!
The speed was too fast! So fast that Zhang Cheng had no time to react!
He only felt an icy, bone-chilling killing intent envelop him, as if he had fallen into an eternal ice cave! In a moment of crisis, he could only barely sidestep, gathering the remaining lightning power in front of his chest in a desperate attempt to block.
"Thud!"
The ice crystal dagger easily tore through his hastily gathered lightning shield. Although it missed his heart, it still pierced deeply into his left shoulder! The bone-chilling cold instantly invaded his meridians, numbing half of his body!
"Ah!" Zhang Cheng screamed, staggering backward.
Leng Yunjian, however, pressed her advantage, shaking her wrist as the ice crystal dagger left her hand, pursuing Zhang Cheng like a relentless shadow!
Zhang Cheng felt the air around him solidify, his movements becoming sluggish as if trapped in a quagmire, even raising his hand became extraordinarily difficult! The icy dagger was about to pierce his throat!
"I concede!" Zhang Cheng cried out in terror, using all his strength to shout!
The ice crystal dagger stopped abruptly less than half an inch from his throat, hovering in the air, exuding a chilling aura.
Leng Yunjian expressionlessly retrieved her ice crystal dagger and walked off the arena, having barely taken a few deep breaths throughout.
"Hiss—" A collective gasp rose from the crowd below!
A complete and utter domination!
Zhang Cheng, a disciple of the Law Enforcement Hall with considerable strength, had no power to fight back against Leng Yunjian!
"Is this... the effect of a single mid-grade Qi-Gathering Pill?"
"No... no way! Even with a mid-grade Qi-Gathering Pill, her spiritual power couldn't be this pure! Unless it was two, no, three pills!"
"It's Elder Mu! Elder Mu must have secretly given her more mid-grade Qi-Gathering Pills!"
"Oh my god! The Heaven Vault Pavilion is on the rise!"
On the viewing platform, the face of Chen Xuanfeng, the Hall Master of the Law Enforcement Hall, was as dark as water, and he snorted coldly without speaking. Meanwhile, Ye Qingyu's eyes sparkled with excitement, her gaze at Mu Xiaochuan filled with surprise and curiosity.
Next, Xiao Yunhe took to the arena. His opponent was a disciple from the Technique Transmission Hall, skilled in various spell attacks with considerable spiritual power. Xiao Yunhe maintained his calm and seasoned demeanor, wielding a black iron shield in one hand and a short-handled battle axe in the other. As the battle began, the Technique Transmission Hall disciple launched a barrage of spell attacks—fireballs, ice spikes, wind blades... the colorful spell lights almost engulfed Xiao Yunhe.
However, Xiao Yunhe stood like an unshakable mountain, the black iron shield in his hand seemingly transformed into an impregnable wall, blocking all attacks! The shield glowed with spiritual light, clearly having received "special attention" from Mu Xiaochuan.
The Technique Transmission Hall disciple, unable to break through, exhausted his spiritual power and began to show fatigue. Xiao Yunhe seized the opportunity, letting out a mighty roar as his battle axe shone brightly, cleaving down with the force to split mountains and rocks!
"Boom!"
With a loud crash, the hastily erected defensive spell of the disciple was easily torn apart like paper, and he was sent flying off the arena, unconscious.
Another clean and decisive victory!
The Heaven Vault Pavilion had won two consecutive matches, both with overwhelming dominance!
The entire Lan Yun Terrace was in an uproar!
All eyes were now on the Heaven Vault Pavilion's area, focused on Elder Mu, who sat calmly as if everything was under control.
Mu Xiaochuan leisurely sipped his tea, as if the stunning victories had nothing to do with him. But the slight upward curve of his lips and the notification sound in his mind betrayed his mood.
"Ding! Congratulations to the host for witnessing your disciples crush their opponents, feeling elated, and earning 30 thrill points."
On the viewing platform, most elders, except for a few, had changed their view of Mu Xiaochuan. From initial slight disdain and curiosity, their gazes had turned to seriousness, apprehension, and even a hint of envy.
Only Liang Yichen's face grew darker, his gaze at Mu Xiaochuan filled with almost undisguised killing intent. He knew he couldn't let this old fellow, no, young man, continue to be so arrogant!
Mu Xiaochuan sensed the cold gaze and slowly turned his head, meeting Liang Yichen's eyes with a provocative smile.
Come on, I'm waiting for you!
In the subsequent matches, the disciples of the Heaven Vault Pavilion were like warriors on a high, each fighting with valor!
Ma Mingyu, utilizing the more refined power control taught by Mu Xiaochuan, maximized his strength advantage, forcefully knocking a defense-oriented opponent off the arena!
Lin Yushang's soundwave attacks became increasingly unpredictable, combined with her ghostly movement technique, leaving her opponent defenseless, ultimately winning with a piece called "Disorder Heart Score" that disrupted her opponent's spiritual power!
Zhao Qingshuang's swordsmanship grew sharper and swifter, her sword light elusive and unpredictable, easily defeating her opponent!
Mu Tiezhu, Wang Yuyan, Zhou Haoyang, Li Mingyuan, and Sun Tieshan also showcased strength beyond their previous limits. Although not everyone could win—Li Mingyuan and Zhou Haoyang narrowly lost to strong opponents—their tenacity and improved skills earned rounds of applause.
In the end, the first round of the Inner Sect competition concluded, with eight out of ten Heaven Vault Pavilion disciples advancing!
This result directly set a new record for the Heaven Vault Pavilion in the Yunqi Peak Grand Tournament over the past century!
The entire Heaven Vault Pavilion was ecstatic!
Ye Qingyu's face flushed with excitement, her gaze at Mu Xiaochuan filled with gratitude and admiration.
Liu Ruyan's eyes sparkled with brilliance, her admiration and adoration for Mu Xiaochuan reaching their peak!
"Ding! Congratulations to the host, your disciples' outstanding performance shocked the audience, making you feel incredibly elated, earning 30 thrill points!"
Feeling the cheers of the disciples, the envious and shocked gazes of his peers, and the abundant thrill points in his mind, Mu Xiaochuan felt utterly comfortable and full of pride!
The Heaven Vault Pavilion was destined to make a stunning debut! And this was just the beginning!