He had already comprehended Martial Dao Grand Momentum at the True Aperture Realm.
Even among the prodigies of the Imperial City, few could achieve this.
And those who could, were mostly Bloodline Warriors.
Bloodline was an advantage, but also a shackle.
What he wanted most now, was a prodigy among ordinary people.
He might be starting late.
But he could go further in the future!
Soon.
The Grand Ceremony officially began.
All the procedures were carried out in an orderly manner.
First, the drawing of lots.
One against two, three against four, etc.
No distinction based on cultivation realm.
If a True Aperture Realm cultivator encountered a Spirit Sea Realm one, they could only accept their bad luck.
This method had its advantages and disadvantages.
The advantage was that some True Aperture Realm cultivators could pick up bargains, leading to a higher ranking and preventing them from being excluded from the top ranks.
The disadvantage was that encountering a Spirit Sea Realm cultivator meant almost certain defeat.
The Academy believed that luck was also a crucial element in Martial Dao cultivation.
Boom!
After the drawing of lots.
The square trembled, and as formations circulated, the square was divided into twenty zones.
Each zone seemed to contain its own universe.
They didn't seem that big, but once you entered one, it was boundless.
"The power of formations."
Luo Mu's eyes flickered.
There were many schools of thought in Martial Dao cultivation, and formations were not weak. He had to study and learn about them when he had the time.
He didn't need to be extremely proficient.
But he had to at least be adept.
Otherwise, if he encountered someone who was good at formations, he might be trapped inside for life and never be able to get out.
The lot he drew was eight hundred.
Meaning he was in the four hundredth group.
He had to wait.
There were at least five thousand disciples attending the Grand Ceremony today.
All of them were True Aperture Realm and above.
Body Tempering Realm cultivators wouldn't come to make a spectacle of themselves.
Luo Mu didn't just wait around idly.
He carefully observed all the matches on the field.
The Academy's Martial Arts were dazzling. He didn't have the opportunity to see them on a regular basis, so how could he miss this chance?
One match ended.
Luo Mu nodded slightly.
"I didn't expect such exquisite swordsmanship."
He had watched a match between a True Aperture Realm Inner Palace swordsman and a spear user.
The swordsman's cultivation was average, but his swordsmanship was exquisite.
At least Earth Rank Intermediate.
He directly defeated his opponent with this swordsmanship.
“Ding!”
“You witnessed a True Aperture Realm battle, gaining insights and triggering a critical hit, obtaining fifty times the reward!”
The system's prompt sounded in his mind.
For a moment.
A surge of insights flooded his mind.
The swordsman's many details on how to use his sword, were imprinted in his mind like runes.
He even had a feeling that he could deduce the corresponding swordsmanship based on this.
His Sword Momentum also increased slightly!
"This is possible?"
Luo Mu was completely stunned.
Observing others fight was considered cultivation too.
No, that's wrong.
Just watching wouldn't count, but he was using his mind, constantly thinking and researching, how could this not count?
Thinking of this, Luo Mu suddenly became excited.
He had found another new way to cultivate!
Immediately, he focused intently.
Observing every battle, especially those using swords!
The swordsmanship used by these people was completely different from his, naturally containing new swordsmanship principles.
Once comprehended, it could definitely improve his own Sword Momentum attainment.
His Sword Momentum had already reached nine tenths!
Perhaps he could directly raise it to the ten tenths perfection state through this Grand Ceremony!
——
Time passed bit by bit.
One group after another finished their matches.
Overall.
The Inner Palace still had a clear advantage.
At the same realm, Outer Palace disciples mostly lost against Inner Palace disciples.
This was unavoidable.
Inner Palace disciples came from great families, even noble families, and enjoyed excellent cultivation conditions from birth.
Combined with the Inner Palace's training.
Naturally, they stood out from the crowd.
While Outer Palace disciples were either absolute commoners or those from small families like Luo Mu.
There was no comparison.
Of course, there were those who defeated Inner Palace disciples, but they were few and far between.
"Hahaha, Wang San Jiu, it seems like I'll be taking this Xuan Wang Ginseng."
Zhang Xuan said happily, "Do you want to surrender and lose half? I can just take half of it from you."
"It's only been a few groups. Don't get too excited too soon."
Wang San Jiu coldly replied.
"Tsk tsk, I'm helping you cut your losses!"
"You really don't know a good heart."
The corner of Zhang Xuan's mouth curled up.
"Heh."
Wang San Jiu sneered.
Although he said that, he was getting anxious in his heart.
Over three hundred groups had already passed.
But too many had been eliminated, far more than in previous years.
If this continued, they might end up with only a few people left.
That would be too embarrassing.
If someone with ulterior motives suggested something, the Palace Master might actually cut the resources allocated to the Outer Palace.
"The four hundredth group!"
"Inner Palace Qin Lang Yu, against Outer Palace Luo Mu!"
A voice rang out from the square.
Although there were many voices ringing out at the same time, many people still heard it.
"Luo Mu?"
"Is it that Luo Mu?"
They were stunned for a moment, then asked.
"There's only one called Luo Mu in the Outer Palace, who else could it be?"
"Finally his turn!"
Many Outer Palace disciples were excited.
The name Luo Mu had become a household name in the Outer Palace!
It was also their only 'trump card' that they could use to argue with Inner Palace disciples!
"Are you happy? I'm not happy at all!"
Someone poured cold water on them, "Your opponent is Inner Palace Qin Lang Yu, a Spirit Sea Realm triple-layered prodigy!"
Hearing this.
Everyone's expressions changed.
Spirit Sea Realm!
Luo Mu was undoubtedly invincible among True Aperture Realm cultivators, but if his opponent was a Spirit Sea Realm cultivator, especially a Spirit Sea Realm triple-layered one, it would be a different story.
After all, it was a whole realm higher!
"Damn it, how bad can his luck be, he ran into a Spirit Sea Realm cultivator in the first round!"
A disciple said resentfully.
Now, Luo Mu was almost universally recognized as the Outer Palace disciple who could enter the top hundred.
If he fell in the first round.
That would be a huge loss!
"Oh, looks like your hopes are getting dimmer."
Zhang Xuan chuckled.
Wang San Jiu ignored him.
His hands, hidden beneath his sleeves, unconsciously clenched.
How could his luck be so bad!
He ran into a Spirit Sea Realm cultivator instead of so many True Aperture Realm cultivators!
And it was Qin Lang Yu, a Spirit Sea Realm triple-layered one.
Although Qin Lang Yu hadn't comprehended Martial Dao Grand Momentum, his axe technique was still quite good.
The realm suppression was enough to negate Luo Mu's advantage.
"Luo Mu!"
On the high platform.
The Ninth Prince, whose expression had been calm, suddenly changed.
He looked down.
Trying to find him.
The other high-level officials of the Academy also looked down.
Recently, this disciple named Luo Mu in the Outer Palace had become quite 'famous'.
If not everyone knew his name, then it was almost that way.
To have comprehended Martial Dao Grand Momentum at the True Aperture Realm was indeed unbelievable, it was unknown what he looked like.