Night.
Dongbo Xueying sat alone in the courtyard, watching combat projections hovering in midair—footage of those talented cultivators challenging the Star Tower. A maidservant stood nearby, tending to the wine as she poured and heated it.
Holding a wine cup, he took a light sip.
“His physique is quite strong—likely from the Supreme Warrior lineage,” Dongbo Xueying observed, swiftly forming an evaluation in his mind. “Being a selection master for the assembly is no easy task.”
Simply reviewing the combat footage of over ten thousand talented cultivators and analyzing their strengths was already a monumental effort. Not to mention considering their backgrounds, origins, and ages. Though the vast majority could be dismissed in an instant, there were still nearly a thousand who required careful deliberation—each with their own cultivation journey, varying strengths, and unique specialties.
“This one only cleared the first level of the Star Tower? Too weak!” Dongbo Xueying immediately dismissed him. Even with poor cultivation conditions and lacking supreme techniques, as long as one’s comprehension was high enough, reaching the Unity realm should never result in such pitiful performance.
Among the ten thousand-plus participants, only one had cleared the fourth level of the Star Tower—a rogue cultivator named ‘Cangqiong Tianyun,’ who had trained for 1.2 trillion years without guidance from any powerful master. He had long drawn the attention of the Six Great Sacred Lands. After all, without the countless scriptures and resources of the Tai Void Heavenly Palace, even Dongbo Xueying doubted he could have achieved such heights in a trillion years—though it was also possible he might have surpassed Cangqiong Tianyun.
Those who cleared the third level numbered 392.
Those who cleared the second level numbered 4,018.
The rest had only cleared the first level—though, being Unity realm cultivators, none had failed to pass even that.
“Elder,” a guard entered the courtyard and bowed respectfully. “Emperor Longzang requests an audience outside the estate.”
“Quickly invite him in,” Dongbo Xueying said immediately.
Then, realizing his manners, he stood and strode forward to greet the guest personally, though inwardly he groaned, *This is the real headache of selecting talented cultivators!*
The Six Great Sacred Lands were notoriously selective in accepting disciples, making the Star Assembly a rare opportunity for entry. Once admitted, even without resources, one gained an invisible shield—merely being a disciple of the Six Great Sacred Lands was enough to deter most enemies. And if one’s status was high enough, even Cosmic Gods would hesitate to act against them, let alone Chaos realm experts.
Among the five selection masters, Palace Master Jiang Fu was of exalted status, while Generals Tianguang, Wuze Snake Ancestor, and Island Master Zitu were all top-tier Chaos realm experts who had cleared the eighth level of the Star Tower. Seeking their favor was nearly impossible.
Dongbo Xueying, as a mere Unity realm cultivator, appeared to be the easiest to “persuade” at first glance.
*I already ordered that no Unity realm cultivators be granted an audience,* Dongbo Xueying thought. *But Chaos realm experts? I can’t just refuse to see them.*
He was the strongest Unity realm cultivator among the Six Great Sacred Lands. Refusing to meet other Unity realm experts wasn’t personal—it was a blanket rule. Those who sought an audience wouldn’t take it too personally.
But Chaos realm overlords were different! For them to personally visit a Unity realm cultivator was already a great courtesy. Refusing them would be outright disrespectful.
*Fortunately, very few of the Star Assembly participants have Chaos realm backers, and even fewer would come to me. Probably just a handful.* Dongbo Xueying consoled himself. With such small numbers, handling them wouldn’t be too troublesome.
At the estate gates stood a seemingly unremarkable man, his aura completely restrained. One would never guess he was the illustrious Emperor Longzang! Though unaffiliated with any sacred land, he had voluntarily ventured to the edges of the Void, slaying countless Destruction Demons with unmatched valor—earning the admiration of many Chaos realm overlords.
He was forthright, loyal, and willing to stake his life for a promise. Dongbo Xueying deeply respected him.
“Emperor Longzang,” Dongbo Xueying greeted.
“I’ve already disturbed you, Elder. I didn’t expect you to come out personally,” Emperor Longzang said with a smile.
“Your visit honors me. How could I dare neglect you? Please, come in.” If the other party was courteous, Dongbo Xueying had no reason to put on airs.
He escorted Emperor Longzang into the estate, where they sat in the courtyard. A maidservant prepared wine and poured a cup for the guest.
“You may leave,” Dongbo Xueying instructed.
“Yes.” The maidservant withdrew.
Emperor Longzang smiled. “I know you’re busy, Elder, so I won’t waste time. I came to ask for a favor.”
*Here it comes,* Dongbo Xueying inwardly sighed.
“Please, speak,” he said aloud.
Among the Star Assembly participants was one of Emperor Longzang’s disciples, ranked in the 600s—though his cultivation time was excessively long at 1.8 trillion years. Even with Emperor Longzang’s personal guidance, those ranked higher naturally had stronger claims to selection.
“His name is ‘Shen Qiong,'” Emperor Longzang said.
“Ah.” Dongbo Xueying blinked.
Shen Qiong?
That wasn’t Emperor Longzang’s disciple, but a rogue cultivator with no backing.
“He is the personal disciple of an old friend of mine,” Emperor Longzang explained with a sigh. “My friend was only a Unity realm cultivator. When I brought my own disciple here, I recognized Shen Qiong at once—his connection to my friend was unmistakable. Sadly, my friend has already passed. He took Shen Qiong as his disciple just before his death, when the boy had barely reached True God realm. Since then, Shen Qiong has relied solely on himself to reach this point. After testing him, I found his potential and comprehension surpass even my own disciple’s. That’s why I’ve come, shameless as it is, to ask for this boy’s chance.”
“Shen Qiong?” Dongbo Xueying naturally remembered him.
His ranking was low—2,001st—but his cultivation time was astonishingly short at just over 800 billion years. For a rogue cultivator, that was remarkable.
“His cultivation time is indeed brief. Among all participants, he ranks second in terms of youth,” Dongbo Xueying said. “Though his ranking is modest, his potential is extraordinary. Even if you hadn’t come, Emperor, the chances of him being selected by one of us five masters were already high.”
“I know. If his potential were lacking, I wouldn’t have come,” Emperor Longzang admitted. “I just fear unexpected circumstances, given the abundance of talent this time.”
“I’ll review his records carefully. If possible, I’ll do my best,” Dongbo Xueying said, careful not to make promises—he hadn’t even watched most of the combat footage yet.
“Good.”
Emperor Longzang stood. “Then I won’t trouble you further.”
Dongbo Xueying saw him off.
*Phew. Emperor Longzang was reasonable,* he thought after the guest had left. Returning to the courtyard, he resumed reviewing combat projections. *I thought he’d plead for his own disciple. Instead, it was for an old friend’s disciple—and one with such high potential.*
—
Given the full thousand-year duration of the selection process, most would-be lobbyists were in no hurry. Yet Emperor Longzang, on the very first day, visited all five selection masters, asking them to consider Shen Qiong.
When he met the last master, Palace Master Jiang Fu, the latter laughed heartily. “Hah! Brother Longzang, rest assured. I’ll take Shen Qiong directly. In fact, I volunteered as a selection master precisely to find one or two disciples. I quite like this boy. If fate allows, he might even become my personal disciple.”
Emperor Longzang was overjoyed. “Had I known, I wouldn’t have troubled the other four masters!”
Upon reflection, he realized Shen Qiong’s combat style indeed resembled Palace Master Jiang Fu’s.
“Don’t worry about Shen Qiong. But your own disciple… his potential seems rather ordinary,” Palace Master Jiang Fu remarked.
“Not everyone can be exceptional,” Emperor Longzang replied without concern.
—
In the following days, two more Chaos realm overlords visited Dongbo Xueying. However, the candidates they recommended paled in comparison to Shen Qiong—in Dongbo Xueying’s judgment, neither even cracked the top 300. Though he mentally dismissed them, he kept his words diplomatic, neither rejecting nor agreeing outright.
One month into the Star Assembly…
“Elder, Emperor Xinghuo requests an audience.” The guard didn’t even dare say “seeks an audience.”
“Emperor Xinghuo?!” Dongbo Xueying was stunned. This was a Star Tower ninth-level existence—a figure even Cosmic Gods treated with respect!
*This is trouble! His son’s cultivation time is too long, and his ranking is abysmal,* Dongbo Xueying lamented. He had initially taken a liking to Xinghuo Xunyi before the assembly, but the youth’s performance was lackluster, his potential ranking outside the top thousand!
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage