Chapter 50: The Supreme Elder Arrives in Person

"Clang!"

As the Immortal Gathering Bell rang once more, purple clouds surged above Immortal Examination Peak. Amidst the rosy radiance, a young man in purple robes appeared, sitting cross-legged within the mist, his eyes scanning the surroundings with scrutiny.

"The Supreme Elder has emerged from seclusion. It seems he places great importance on this Immortal Seed Examination!"

"Could there be a spy from a demonic sect among us?"

"I fear he intends to deduce and screen for those possessing great secrets or immense providence, then take them in as disciples."

Divine sense transmissions flew through the air instantly.

The Sect Master, Liu Zuolin, was the first to arrive above the clouds: "Greetings, Supreme Elder!"

Master Chanxia said, "Pay us no mind. The three of us struck together; although we failed to seize that person's Golden Core or magical treasures, we did manage to tear away a fragment of a Blessed Land."

"In recent days, we have been contemplating the Daoist intent within the fragment, uncovering the secret of its Golden Core formation."

"Consequently, I intend to use the Qionglin Green Jade Precious Tree Manual as a foundation to deduce a cultivation technique that can stabilize, perfect, and repair the Blessed Land fragment."

"We must find several suitable disciples to start cultivation from the beginning, assisting us in modifying and completing the deficiencies of this technique."

"If successful, our Qingmu Immortal Sect will not only gain a new Purple Mansion cultivation technique but will also possess a small-scale Blessed Land. By leveraging the status of the Blessed Land, its convergence could provide enough nourishment for one person to form a Golden Core!"

"The secret of the Golden Core?"

Sect Master Liu Zuolin felt a sense of longing: "Could it be that the Qingmu Sect is about to transform into the Ethereal Mountain Blessed Land, the Qingmu Immortal Sect, through my hands?"

As for the masters of the Nine Peaks, none knew what the Supreme Elder intended.

It was only after Liu Zuolin descended that they received a single sentence: "The Supreme Elder is feeling restless and intends to personally instruct several disciples."

"So that's how it is!"

Meanwhile, Lin Donglai, seeing the young man seated atop the purple clouds, did not even dare to lift his head. He had a suspicion in his heart: "Could it still be because of the meteorite incident?"

Fortunately, his cultivation and aptitude were low; he could only hope not to be noticed.

Thinking this, Lin Donglai did not even dare to perform internal observation of heaven and earth.

Ding Zhen, however, was filled with envy and longing: "Those are the Nine Inner Sect Peaks. I wonder if I can ever become an inner disciple in this lifetime."

The Nine Inner Sect Peaks were not established at the sect's founding. Instead, over the past 1,200 years, as the Qingmu Sect continuously annexed surrounding forces and acquired different orthodox inheritances, these peaks were specifically established to intercept and harness their providence.

The Nine Peaks were

Doujian Peak, specializing in the Sword Dao.

Zidian Peak, specializing in Lightning Arts.

Jinxia Peak, specializing in harvesting rosy light.

Sunü Peak, specializing in spreading frost and snow.

Chunyang Peak, specializing in tempering the physique.

Xiaoqiong Peak, specializing in restricting magnetism.

Xuanji Peak, specializing in divination.

Cangyuan Peak, specializing in concealing dragons.

Yuanji Peak, specializing in refining primordial Qi.

As for the Sect Master's lineage, they did not belong to the Nine Peaks but instead presided over the Internal Affairs Hall, the Merit Hall, and the Inspection Hall.

The Internal Affairs Hall managed personnel transfers and sect deliberations, composed of the three Supreme Elders, the Sect Master, the Inner Sect Foundation Establishment Elders, and the Nine Peak Masters.

The Merit Hall managed the sect's treasury, stipends, merits, immortal cities, market operations, and the tributes from the various small families and sects under its jurisdiction.

The Inspection Hall was responsible for supervision, law enforcement, and maintaining the sect's orthodoxy.

Beneath these three great halls were several smaller halls under their jurisdiction. For instance, the Spirit Plant Hall, where Lin Donglai was located, fell under the direct management of the Merit Hall. Alchemy, weapon forging, talismans, and formations were all contained within.

Whether it was an outer disciple like Lin Donglai, or an outer deacon or elder, they were not involved in the core of the Qingmu Sect.

"The Weapon Refinement Hall and the Spirit Plant Hall both have quotas for recommending inner disciples. If one cultivates well and hones their skills, there is still a chance to become an inner disciple."

"The Combat Competition begins!"

A bell rang, and people immediately began scrambling toward the arenas.

This was a massive melee.

Winning a combat earned one point; a five-match winning streak earned two points, and a ten-match winning streak earned three points.

One could choose to defend an arena or challenge one.

After each match, one could rest for the duration of an incense stick and consume recovery pills before fighting again.

There were many other rules, such as magical tools being limited to one's own realm; except for talisman cultivators who could bring their own drawn talismans, others could not bring more than seven talismans, especially those exceeding their own realm.

As Lin Donglai looked around, he saw Xue Hong had already occupied an arena. Revealing his aura, he was already at the fifth level of Qi Refinement.

Another disciple, Ding Suo, had also claimed an arena. The sword casket on his back was open, and a hiltless, edgeless flying sword with tips at both ends flew out, circling Ding Suo with a piercing, sharp intent.

Among the female disciples, one with an ethereal, immortal air had also taken an arena.

With ten slots for inner disciples, there were ten arenas, all embroiled in chaotic combat.

Lin Donglai's eyes could hardly keep up. He had just seen Xue Hong; he possessed middle-grade Wind, Fire, and Lightning spiritual roots. His magical tools were a pair of rings—one wreathed in flames and the other flashing with electric arcs. When the two rings clashed, it resulted in a convergence of lightning and fire.

He himself used a wind-attribute movement technique to drift back and forth. From the arena, one could frequently hear the thunderous boom of the two rings colliding.

The disciple stepping forward to challenge him was a sword cultivator using a flying sword, also at the fourth level of Qi Refinement. After the fourth level, one could just begin to project spiritual sense into a magical tool, which was the threshold for practicing sword-kinesis. However, he was not unskilled at all; though his flying sword was only low-grade, it was forged from spiritual steel, sharp at both ends and edged on six sides. As it moved, the flying sword was as agile as a venomous snake, yet it was blocked seamlessly by the two ring-shaped tools.

"Clang!"

The lightning ring knocked the flying sword away, and in the next instant, the fire ring surged forward, striking the sword cultivator on the shoulder and sending him flying, the flames even singeing his hair.

Xue Hong then sat cross-legged to regulate his breath, preparing to face the next challenger after half an incense stick's time.

After watching Xue Hong, Lin Donglai looked toward his previous rival.

That Ding Suo also had middle-grade three-element spiritual roots: Gold, Water, and Fire—the aspect of Water and Fire tempering Gold. Although he was also at the fourth level of Qi Refinement and not yet the fifth, his flying sword was like a white rainbow, both sharp and agile. In addition to controlling the sword with his mind, he also held a precious sword as a physical weapon.

Every time he swung his sword, it drove the flying sword in the air along with it.

His opponent was a female disciple whose magical tool was a chain that emitted a chilling frost, along with a shroud-like tool.

The chain coiled like a cold dragon, attempting to bind the flying sword, but its reaction speed could not match the sword.

"Truly impressive!" Although Lin Donglai had mostly been farming, he understood that combat techniques were the true methods for protecting one's path to longevity. Otherwise, if he only knew how to farm, he would live in fear whenever he eventually wanted to descend the mountain.

Although inner-hall disciples did not need to engage in combat, they could not neglect combat skills. Lin Donglai thought to himself: the only combat technique he possessed was the Rat-Step Technique, and even that was only at the entry level; he had rarely used it.

"I must learn sword-kinesis. Once I learn sword-kinesis, I'll also need to learn a sword mantra. I wonder how many merits that will cost."

"Eh? Isn't Nie Caixia a spirit plant disciple? Why is she fighting as well?"