The space was apparently opened by a formation. But looking at these mountain ranges and deep forests, was it that the Nine Nether Clan's experts moved them here with great divine abilities?
As his vision brightened, Li Xuan immediately opened his eyes.
What met his gaze was an equally dark world of extreme depth, with mountain ranges winding like giant serpents. Clearly, the upcoming competition would take place within this area.
Ming Luo had also told Li Xuan about this Nether Ranking Competition. Except for the top hundred contestants, all other participants needed to defeat contestants who had entered this Nether space to obtain Nether Lights.
Nether Lights were the qualification for each participant, stored within each participant's identity token. Once defeated or killed, they would be automatically recognized and belong to the victor.
According to Ming Luo, based on past experience, clansmen like Li Xuan, who had not participated in the Nether Ranking Competition, needed to defeat at least a hundred contestants to be eligible to challenge contestants ranked within the top thousand of the Nether Ranking. Even if they possessed great strength, they had to follow the rules of the Nether Ranking Competition.
Therefore, for Li Xuan to challenge contestants within the top two hundred and change his ranking, he first had to defeat a hundred contestants. After obtaining the qualification to challenge within the top thousand, he needed to defeat a contestant outside the top hundred and within the top two hundred to be eligible to challenge Ming He Tai.
Besides this, contestants who were ranked within the top thousand in the previous session were also challenging each other in the central area of this Nether space while participants like Li Xuan were vying for qualifications. Thus, Li Xuan couldn't know who he would be able to challenge at this moment.
Only when ten thousand contestants remained in this Nether space would the Nether Ranking appear, displaying the rankings of all remaining contestants.
The rewards for the Nether Ranking Competition were also extremely generous. Those who managed to rank within the top thousand would receive a Void Spirit Nether Pill. The efficacy of this pill was no less than that of a Barrier Breaking Meteor Pill, and it was even highly sought after by experts at the Dao Harmonization realm.
As such, the five great families were also paying close attention to the Nether Ranking Competition, as nurturing the influence of their clans was the most crucial matter for every family.
As for Ming Luo, if he were in his previous state, he should have also participated in such a competition. Even if he ranked 957th, he could have obtained a Void Spirit Nether Pill to enhance his strength. However, due to Ming Hong Yang's arrangements, Ming Luo naturally gave up on this Nether Ranking Competition.
After all, the Nether Ranking Competition was held annually, so there was no need to rush.
"It seems this Nether Ranking Competition is a battle of attrition. Now, I should prepare to find some contestants to earn qualifications," Li Xuan said, his spiritual sense immediately spreading out in all directions. Then, with a thought, his gaze fixed on the northeast.
In his recent perception, Li Xuan had detected over ten fluctuations of spiritual energy there.
"To enter the top hundred, I can only apologize to you," Li Xuan said, and his figure immediately shot towards the northeast.
In an instant, Li Xuan appeared on a large tree. Looking at the thirteen figures sitting below, a trace of helplessness flashed in his eyes. The insignia on the sleeves of these thirteen participating disciples were actually from the elder family's disciples.
"This is bad. Even if I haven't offended Ming He Tai, I'm afraid the elder family won't give me a good look. Oh well, after this is over, there will be no connection between me and the Nine Nether Clan. For now, let's secure the qualification first."
Looking at the thirteen participating contestants from the elder family below, Li Xuan waved his large hand, and a surge of spiritual energy instantly transformed into a giant hand, descending upon them in an instant.
"Who is it!" Sensing the spiritual energy fluctuation, the leading man immediately stood up, looking around warily.
"Hand over your Nether Lights." Li Xuan's figure moved, and he leaped down from the large tree. The aura of a mid-level Creation Realm expert instantly emanated. The ten people's pupils contracted sharply upon seeing this, clearly sensing Li Xuan's power.
"We are from the elder family. Are you not afraid of making enemies after this?" the leading man said, mustering his courage despite the fear in his eyes.
Li Xuan smiled upon hearing this, "If I were you, I wouldn't waste so many words right now. If I wanted to leave you here, how difficult would that be?"
The leading man was rendered speechless. With a dark expression, he waved his hand and threw out the identity token of the participants. Clearly, Li Xuan's words had made the leading man understand.
If Li Xuan were to kill them, the elder family would not necessarily retaliate against Li Xuan. At this point, their lives were naturally more important.
"A teachable child. Thus, thank you." Li Xuan took the thirteen tokens with one hand and smiled slightly. As soon as he finished speaking, his figure vanished from the spot.
As Li Xuan departed, a trace of helplessness flashed in the eyes of the leading man and the other nine. With their mid-level Dao Harmonization realm strength, how could they resist an expert at the Creation Realm? In an instant, a dark light flickered out from the void, and the thirteen people whose participation tokens were taken by Li Xuan disappeared.
As time passed, Li Xuan, upon sensing life auras, quickly moved towards the locations of these contestants. In just half an hour, he had obtained seventy-three Nether Lights. During this period, Li Xuan had not made a move.
He merely revealed his aura, and the participating contestants, with bitter expressions, threw out their tokens. After all, they had not expected a mid-level Creation Realm expert to appear in this outer region.
After another half an hour passed, the Nether Lights in Li Xuan's hand had reached one hundred and eight. As these one hundred and eight Nether Lights merged, Li Xuan's identity token transformed from a black iron color to a bronze color.
Looking at the bronze token in his hand, Li Xuan's expression showed a slight joy. The qualification was now in hand, and it was time to enter the central area of the Nether space to challenge the top thousand contestants.
"Ming He Tai must know that I could easily obtain qualifications, and he probably wouldn't arrange for anyone to stop me in this outer region. The upcoming challenge for the top thousand contestants is undoubtedly the best option. I wonder what kind of arrangements Ming He Tai has in store. I hope his strength won't be too weak."
Li Xuan smiled and shook his head, then with a thought, he shot towards the central mountain range of the Nether space.
What Li Xuan did not know was that at this moment, in the outside world, a trace of surprise flashed in Ming Hong Yang's eyes. He glanced at Ming Luo and smiled slightly, then said in a low voice, "It seems this young man is truly suitable to be brought into the family."