Donghuajing.
After the Yueshi Elder incident, the Sect Leader Wang of Shanhai Sect soon announced his resignation and entered long-term retreat.
Announcing retreat together with him were Elder Li Daowei of Qingshui Sect, Elders of Baihua Sect, and others…
Several Heaven’s Opportunity concealers were discovered and taken away from their sects.
After the lightning-quick crackdown on evil cultivators, each sect entered a brief period of calm.
Many ordinary disciples had never even seen Lü Sect Leader of Qingshui Sect, who immediately packed up and headed to Shanhai Sect to take over its affairs in place of the ailing “retreating” Sect Leader Wang.
“That’s the one whose notes squirt water?”
“Yeah, two hundred spirit stones per copy. You won’t suffer losses or get cheated—it’s a great opportunity to understand the Qingshui Sect Leader!”
Lü Sect Leader seemed to be temporarily assigned to Shanhai Sect, and no elders there raised objections.
Whenever there was an issue, they would consult Sect Leader Lü.
Within one or two days, the disciples of Shanhai Sect had already gotten used to it.
“Perhaps after this high-level battle and the Spiritual Refinement disciples’ competition among the Twelve Sects, there won’t be Twelve Sects in Donghuajing anymore.”
“In the future, our Shanhai Sect will probably ally with Qingshui Sect again?”
“Who cares about that? Come on! Have you passed the initial dew blessing? After that, quickly head to Zhenchuan to watch the competition!”
The disciples’ competition among the Twelve Sects was finally about to resume!
To the surprise of their disciples, the elders of each sect did not cancel the competition due to the Heaven’s Opportunity incident. Instead, they made an even bigger show than the lower and mid-level competitions.
“At this critical moment of fighting evil cultivators, the elders hope that a genius disciple will emerge, obtaining the primordial spiritual energy from the First Ancestor in the Nine-Thousand Trials, awakening extraordinary wisdom and insight.”
Despite the discussions among disciples, they all made their way to Qingshui Sect.
After the incident in Shanhai Sect, the venue for the subsequent competition had to be moved.
Unexpectedly, Qingshui Sect made things even more extreme than Shanhai Sect.
Disciples participating in the competition and those watching were escorted by elders from various sects and arrived at Qingshui Sect’s mountain gate, only to be stopped.
Each one was required to undergo the Jade Dew Blessing from Qingshui Sect’s First Ancestor—an informal term for security check!
“What’s ‘security check’?”
“Security inspection—to check if you’re an evil cultivator or linked to Heaven’s Opportunity.”
“Right, bring out your sect’s Heart-Questioning records. They’ll check them during the process.”
Inside the western inner gate of Qingshui Sect, in front of Jiuchuan, two long jade tables were placed.
Elder Chen Wushui, at the peak of Heavenly Ascension, sat atop a porcelain vase, guarding the left table.
Elder Shui Qiantan, at the late stage of Heavenly Ascension, transformed into a water puddle behind the right table.
Both exuded terrifying auras.
In front of them was Senior Xu Rui, responsible for inner gate management, assisting in calling out names.
“Disciples participating in the competition from various sects, accompanying elders…”
Xu Rui paused, then glanced at the arriving Lin Shuang.
He lowered his head and read out a strange name.
“Please proceed to the emergency channel on my left.”
“Disciples watching the competition should line up in the regular channel on the right.”
Lin Shuang nodded. With urgency and order, everything was well-organized.
This was a large-scale ‘security check.’
The seventh clone of the Heaven’s Mechanism Elder—Shengku—had not been found.
Although she maintained the hypothesis that ‘Shengku had not been separated from the Heaven’s Mechanism Elder,’ to ensure the safety of the major event—the Twelve Sects’ competition—it was necessary to conduct another full-scale, no-exceptions security check before the competition.
The emergency channel was handled by Senior Xu Rui at the inner gate cross-referencing the competition participants’ list, then directing them to Elder Chen Wushui.
The regular channel used Senior Xu Xiang from the outer gate to cross-reference the list before queuing up in front of Elder Shui Qiantan.
Both elders had several lotus leaves placed on their tables.
When disciples and elders approached for the security check, they first picked up a fresh, emerald-green leaf from the table.
Then they approached either Shui Qiantan or Chen Wushui to receive a ‘security check’ Jade Dew!
This rolling dew, once placed on the lotus leaf, trembled and slid about.
Exuding a strong spiritual aura.
“Is this the blessing from Qingshui Sect’s First Ancestor? Can it reveal whether I’m linked to Heaven’s Opportunity?”
“I feel this spiritual energy is very rich. If I drink it, it could help stabilize my Spiritual Refinement stage.”
“Is Qingshui Sect really this generous? They even give us this benefit just for coming to watch the competition!”
Disciples who didn’t understand the security check’s principle quickly picked up lotus leaves and drank the dew.
Their faces showed expressions of comfort, joy, and enjoyment.
Chen Wushui and Shui Qiantan: “…”
Their expressions were hard to describe.
Lin Shuang and others had just arrived.
Thanks to the home advantage, Qingshui Sect disciples who were lined up ahead warmly greeted them.
“Junior Lin, you go first!”
Zhao Keran quickly declined, “We’re not in a hurry. The high-level battle and Spiritual Refinement battle of the Twelve Sects won’t start until half a day later.”
Other sects’ disciples listened in shock.
They turned back to look at Lin Shuang. She had broken through again?!
Was she going to participate in the high-level battle again?
“Lin Shuang, Meng Zi, and Huangpu Yuan have become the masters of the Six-Thousand Layer of Zhenchuan. Don’t you know this yet?”
“Ah? Then they’re the participating disciples of the high-level battle!”
But when they looked closely, Lin Shuang’s spiritual energy seemed to be practicing agility, constantly shifting between Foundation Gathering Fourth Layer and Spiritual Refinement Fourth Layer.
There was also an animal head pattern from the Eight-Thousand Layer on her robe.
“What? Has it only been a few days? Junior Lin from Qingshui Sect has already become the master of the Eight-Thousand Layer?!”
Disciples from Mingzhong Gate and Qidan Sect were momentarily stunned.
They had thought they could finally leave Lin Shuang behind.
But unexpectedly… she caught up again…
So the question was, with Lin Shuang’s fluctuating spiritual energy, was she participating in the high-level battle or the Spiritual Refinement battle!?
“Due to the Heaven’s Mechanism evil cultivators’ issue, the high-level and Spiritual Refinement battles of the Twelve Sects have been moved forward and will be held together.”
“Ah? Could Lin Shuang really be participating in both battles at the same time?”
Disciples from various sects were in a flurry of discussion, shifting their focus from the Jade Dew blessing by Qingshui Sect’s First Ancestor to Lin Shuang, the newly promoted Spiritual Refinement disciple.
Because her progress was just too fast.
After ten years in the outer sect, she seemed to have accumulated enough to erupt, soaring ahead, leaving no one able to catch up.
“Huangpu Yuan and Meng Zi haven’t reached the Eight-Thousand Layer yet, right?”
“Yeah, so even if Lin Shuang participates in the Spiritual Refinement battle, she won’t be grouped with them.”
“Don’t lose focus. Focus your mind.”
Elder Chen Wushui pressed his temple, scolding a Qingshui Sect disciple who was still looking back at Lin Shuang.
Lin Shuang was more capable of commanding the hearts of disciples across sects than her father!
As she sighed, she handed out ‘security check’ Jade Dews to the disciples in front of her. Seeing them drink it, she couldn’t help coughing lightly.
The fifth-grade memory-retrieval talisman could awaken memories upon contact, revealing past encounters.
These dewdrops, filled with spiritual energy, were actually the water her father used to wash his face after entering a strict retreat.
Drinking them wasn’t a problem either—they truly carried his aura and were rich in spiritual energy…
“…Senior, I feel like this shouldn’t be drunk.”
Zhao Keran whispered secretly to Lin Shuang.
Lin Shuang nodded.
“Junior Lin, are you participating in the high-level battle or the Spiritual Refinement battle?”
Finally, a disciple from Baihua Sect boldly asked.
“Are you changing partners to enter Jiuchuan this time?”
Lin Shuang stopped in the security check line and turned around. “I don’t know either.”
The questioning disciple was stunned.
“But soon, they’ll probably decide.” Lin Shuang looked toward the Jiuchuan mirage high above the western mountain gate.
Almost as soon as she finished speaking, a thunderous laugh erupted from Meng Zi inside the Zhenchuan illusion.
“Eight-Thousand Layer? That’s nothing!”
“I can create my own cultivation technique too!”
“?”
“?!”
“Huangpu Senior, your Earth-tier cultivation technique, hahaha, is weaker than mine.”
[Huangpu Yuan repaired “Spiritual Water Sword” and formed the Human-tier technique “Water Fills the Earth Sword.”]
[Meng Zi repaired “Twelve Mountain-Sea Cuts” and upgraded it to an Earth-tier technique.]
[The two techniques were placed in the Two-Thousand Layer and Four-Thousand Layer of Zhenchuan for exchange, priced at three thousand and twelve thousand spirit stones respectively.]
Due to the disciples’ advancements, having independently developed their own techniques and unlocked full sect cultivation privileges, the 8008th Layer of the Wanjuan Book specially awarded them the title of Layer Masters for this session.
At the Eight-Thousand Layer, both Huangpu Yuan and Meng Zi had self-realized techniques?!
All disciples in front of the mountain gate looked on in shock.
The Thirteen Storm Cuts, Spiritual Water Sword…improvements?
Huangpu Yuan was understandable.
But how did Meng Zi, the clueless one, manage it?
“Could it be that Elder Yueshi gave him a sudden awakening before his death?”
Soon after, Lin Shuang rose into the air in front of their astonished gazes.
Looking toward Meng Zi (digesting part of Elder Yueshi’s gift) and Huangpu Yuan (no longer hiding his true cultivation level, which had also increased), both now at Spiritual Refinement Fifth Layer.
One minor stage higher than her current level.
“Lin Xiaoshuang, following your method, we really managed to improve the Twelve Mountain-Sea Cuts and Spiritual Water Sword,” Meng Zi reported joyfully as he flew out of Zhenchuan.
Lin Shuang nodded. “You’re welcome. It was all taught to me by the elders of Shanhai Sect.”
The elders and disciples of Shanhai Sect: “…”
Xiao Qi: “…!”
[How to Defeat Qingshui Sect—Detailed Analysis of Countering the Twelve Mountain-Sea Cuts] for 15,000 spirit stones
[Three Steps to Counter Qingshui Sect’s Spiritual Water Sword] for 10,000 spirit stones
Back then, after the competition at Shanhai Sect, Lin Shuang had exchanged for these two scrolls upon exiting Wang Jian Layer.
By reverse-engineering these counterpoints, she created the enhanced versions of the water-element sword technique and cutting technique recognized by Zhenchuan.
Elder Chen Wushui had a strange expression. “The one who understands you best is always your opponent.”
Learning from opponents’ suggestions to enhance oneself.
It sounded simple, but the mountain and water sects had always been in conflict.
Plus, they had long known the truth about Heaven’s Opportunity, lacking mutual trust and the opportunity to complement each other’s strengths.
Elder Chen Wushui sighed.
It wasn’t that the elders couldn’t improve cultivation techniques.
They were simply trapped by their own limitations.
“Lin Shuang, go ahead.”
Elder Chen Wushui couldn’t help but smile.
“Just as you said, I can’t protect you. The only one who can protect you is yourself.”
“Go and win the Spiritual Refinement battle!”
The world outside was vast and boundless. Lin Shuang grew stronger with every setback, more determined with every battle.
All who stood in the way of her path would be defeated!
Only by letting her go could she grow faster!
“Alright!”
In an instant, Lin Shuang smiled and nodded, entering Jiuchuan with Meng Zi and Huangpu Yuan under the watchful eyes of the security check line.
With her were Xiao Qi, Dao Dong, Zhao Keran, and others who had just completed the security check.
“Hurry up, we need to go watch the competition.”
Disciples urged the speed of the ‘security check’ Jade Dew.
The water level in the basin before Elders Chen Wushui and Shui Qiantan was getting lower and lower.
They paused, involuntarily gazing toward Zhenchuan.
Their sight reached the rising morning sun, resembling maple red, covering the sky.
Then slowly, it dyed the sleeves of Lin Shuang and her companions’ clothes with golden light as they rushed into Zhenchuan.
“Will Lin Shuang and the others reach the top of Jiuchuan this time?”
*
Inside Zhenchuan, at the Nine-Thousand Layer rest cave.
When Lin Shuang and the others entered, many disciples participating in the high-level and Spiritual Refinement battles were already waiting at the teleportation formation.
“Hello everyone, I’m Baihua Sect’s Zhu Jiao, here to explain today’s high-level and Spiritual Refinement battles.”
“I’m Li Hua.”
The two sisters from Baihua Sect exuded gentle spring and summer vibes, with sweet floral scents surrounding them.
[I’m here.]
[Finally, I’ve completed the security check and signed the spectator confidentiality agreement! I’m finally in the projection!]
[Wait, Baihua Sect’s Zhu Jiao, why are you here as the commentator?]
The projection screen displayed images of clones of elders from the Twelve Sects and the participating disciples.
“Baihua Sect reminds everyone, all watching disciples must seal all communication stones three breaths before the battle begins.”
“And inscribe their soul essence on the confidentiality agreement, swearing on their Dao heart not to disclose any content of this battle.”
“Disciples with objections should immediately put down their projection stones and exit the viewing.”
[Strict measures after the Heaven’s Mechanism incident.]
[We must be vigilant. Evil cultivators are everywhere, even infiltrating the Elder Council!]
The projection stones of the Nine-Thousand Trials had always followed an unwritten iron rule.
Disciples could only watch the trials of layers below their current thousand-layer level.
Zhu Jiao’s appearance at today’s commentary position surprised many disciples.
Lin Shuang was already seated on the cushioned couch of a wide sword, holding a teacup, curiously watching Zhu Jiao’s explanation.
Zhu Jiao had participated in the mid-level battle before, theoretically only reaching a height of five thousand three hundred layers.
“Everyone knows what Shanhai Sect has recently gone through.”
Zhu Jiao also noticed Lin Shuang looking at her, and at her ‘cushioned’ flying sword… it was just absurd!
Zhu Jiao’s hand holding the Four Seasons Book trembled slightly.
She quietly coughed.
“This final high-level and Spiritual Refinement battle of the Twelve Sects’ competition, after a decision by the Elders’ Council of the Twelve Sects, will now be open to disciples of all cultivation levels for viewing.”
“Additionally, our Baihua Sect is offering a special discount—viewing fees reduced to fifty spirit stones per incense stick.”
“All you need to do is sign the confidentiality agreement!”
[!]
After Zhu Jiao spoke, Senior Li Hua also nodded seriously.
“Humans and demons are facing a major test, and all sects are on high alert.”
“Our sect elders have left their retreats to take on the responsibility of protecting the sect and its disciples!”
“As disciples, we naturally cannot remain idle anymore!”
“In the past, the sects didn’t want to rush growth, wanting to give disciples ample time to develop. The viewing mechanism of the Nine-Thousand Trials was a protection for the Dao heart, but also a restriction on the disciples’ growth speed.”
“But now, with the arrow already on the string, our battle with Heaven’s Mechanism has reached the most critical moment! Elders sever Heaven’s Mechanism, disciples defeat evil cultivators. All disciples must face this harsh test!”
“Therefore, all disciples’ viewing permissions are now open.”
“May all my juniors and seniors see the vast path of cultivation and the dangers ahead through today’s competition, so that you may grow faster!”
[Well said!]
[Seconded!]
[Here comes someone from the two thousandth floor!]
[Someone from the three thousandth floor arrived!]
[Let’s defeat the evil cultivators together!]
After Li Hua spoke, she shyly smiled at the projection and walked to the side of Bian Bo Cai and Kong Miao Ke from the Hundred Flowers Sect.
[???]
Li Hua coughed lightly. “I will participate as a disciple in the Soul Refining Battle and depart now. Everyone, Li Hua will provide live commentary from the battlefield to keep you updated in real time.”
[…]
[The Hundred Flowers Sect…has it really come to this!]
[Wow, Lin Shuang has elevated the Hundred Flowers Sect’s commentary to the heavens!]
[Shut up, don’t mention Lin Shuang!]
[?]
[You’ve practically willed her into the high-level battle! Be quiet!]
The text kept rolling.
But soon, everyone followed the projection and saw a soft couch amidst flying swords, flying knives, and wooden fish in midair.
Weird and strange.
At the edge, Lin Shuang’s side profile appeared.
She waved friendly to Li Hua.
“Alright, where is our seat?”
Meng Zi stood by the couch on the flying sword, threw a cushion to Lin Shuang, and looked down.
“Which one is the seat for the Soul Refining Battle?”
[…!]
[Congratulations to the disciples participating in the Foundation Building High-Level Battle.]
[Disciples of the Soul Refining Battle, beware! Lin Shuang is coming!]
Scary!
In the Zhen Chuan’s nine thousandth floor resting cave, the battle area, soon Lin Shuang landed at the first position of the Clear Water Sect’s Soul Refining Battle!
From the Hundred Flowers Sect, Bian Bo Cai and Kong Miao Ke participated in the High-Level Battle. They were actually close to reaching the Soul Refining stage.
Li Hua and two other senior sisters were in the Soul Refining Battle.
Xiao Qi also participated as a High-Level Battle disciple from the Mountain and Sea Sect.
[Lucky for Bian Bo Cai, he finally doesn’t have to face Lin Shuang.]
[…]
However, just as everyone thought this, the Water Qian Tan Elder, who was the host of this competition, quickly arrived and sent all participating disciples into the nine thousandth floor transmission array.
In the projection, the High-Level Battle disciples and the Soul Refining Battle disciples stood together.
They were not separated by the transmission array, nor were they sent to different small worlds.
Instead, they were in the same Zhen Chuan layer, looking at each other.
[?]
Huangpu Yuan felt something and looked at Lin Shuang.
His phoenix eyes sparkled. “Senior Lin, Junior Meng.”
“After this round of battle, I will return to the Western Beast Clan.”
Lin Shuang turned her head, thought for a moment, and then frowned.
She pulled out her recent two days’ notes on the latest cultivation news.
—Four cities in the Southern Beast Clan have reported a large number of beast disappearances!
—Young beasts below the Soul Refining stage should not go out alone at night!
—The Western Sea is temporarily closed and not accepting outside beasts.
—Yesterday, there were another twenty reports of young fox beasts disappearing.
—Tiger King has issued new regulations: wolves and foxes are forbidden from entering Tiger City.
Lin Shuang sighed slightly and put away the news notes.
The Tianji Bureau’s outposts in the Eastern Hua Domain have mostly been destroyed; they have turned their attacks toward the beast clans.
In the past three days, there has been a massive outbreak of beast disappearances.
This generation’s Tiger King…also took the opportunity to target wolves and foxes.
He is shifting internal conflicts and hatred onto the fox clan, which is very insidious.
Lin Shuang looked at Huangpu Yuan’s seemingly normal side profile and asked softly, “Do you need help?”
Huangpu Yuan shook his head. “It’s time for this to end.”
Meng Zi scratched his back. “After this round of battle, I’ll go with you? I haven’t earned any spirit stones from beasts yet.”
Huangpu Yuan: “…”
It would be too embarrassing for Meng Zi to say such a sentimental thing like offering help.
But talking about earning spirit stones, he could say it out loud.
“If you’re going to be gone for a long time, I can also take the opportunity to tour the beast territory.”
Lin Shuang didn’t ask in a questioning tone but rather in a tone of certainty.
“After all, our twice-daily tail-petting schedule.”
“You still owe me seven incense sticks.”
“…”
Huangpu Yuan lowered his eyes.
Mother, even though these two human cultivators are not normally shameless,
they are not at all annoying.
“After this round of battle, I will leave Xiao Bai and Yu Gui here. If you have any urgent matters, you can contact me through them.”
“If I can’t come back in the short term, you can figure out how to reach the nine thousandth floor on your own.”
“…Don’t wait for me.”
“Be careful yourselves. Above the nine thousandth floor, the requirement for spiritual sense should be close to or even exceed the Void Entering stage… For spiritual sense and combined techniques, you can ask Xiao Bai. His cultivation progress is also very fast.”
“Yu Gui! Bass?”
Meng Zi’s attention was completely diverted; he didn’t even notice Huangpu Yuan’s ‘farewell’ tone, which implied that either the opponent or he himself would die.
“Hahaha—what kind of name is that.”
Huangpu Yuan: “…”
He turned sideways, expressionless.
Mother, forget it.
It’s better to travel alone.
What do I need such fools for friends!
Lin Shuang lowered her head, barely suppressing a laugh. “Alright, Senior Meng, that’s not very polite, hahaha.”
Huangpu Yuan: “…”
[Lin Shuang and these two, while others are going to battle seriously, they’re just having fun.]
[Lin Shuang: The eleven sects? Nothing to worry about (laughing)]
[…]
The transmission array stopped amidst violent shaking.
The battle disciples looked around in confusion.
They saw that this layer only had a vast expanse of land.
The elders who built the layer didn’t even place any extra things here, which was very strange.
But as soon as they entered,
two batches of disciples from the Foundation Building High-Level and Soul Refining stages each saw two water screens appear before them.
Lin Shuang and the others leisurely stepped off the soft couch on the wide sword.
[Layer 8492: Come on, I’m not afraid of you!]
Lin Shuang’s eye twitched.
“Assessment attack.”
Meng Zi rolled up his sleeves. “Is it a mission to kill the remaining Tianji Bureau members?”
But soon the water screen rippled.
[All disciples participating in the Soul Refining Battle of the twelve sects have entered this assessment round.]
[We have received the latest intelligence from the Oblivion Pavilion. There have been numerous disappearance incidents among the beast clans outside the Eastern Hua Domain.]
Huangpu Yuan’s pupils trembled.
Lin Shuang raised her eyebrows.
[However, many beast cultivators who have lost their loved ones are unable to seek help.]
[The current Beast King, Hu Xun, ignores all affairs, indulges in pleasures all day, spends a fortune to build the beast city treasure mountain, and lives in debauchery. Not only does he turn a blind eye to the suffering of the beast clans’ disappearances, but he also subjects the beast elders who advise him to attend to state affairs to cruel punishments, imprisoning and torturing them brutally.]
Lin Shuang looked at Huangpu Yuan and sighed.
Meng Zi reached out, put his hand on his shoulder, and patted it.
[Hu Xun, at the peak of Tribulation Crossing, has four directly loyal beast clans under him, more than twenty at the Tribulation Crossing stage, and nearly sixty at the Void Entering stage.]
[Other weaker beast clans are powerless to resist and can only endure oppression.]
[Three days ago, the Oblivion Pavilion received a mysterious commission from a client offering nine million spirit stones—the task is to capture and imprison the current tyrannical Beast King, Hu Xun, and assist in installing a pro-human cultivation faction leader, Bai Feng, as the new Beast King.]
Lin Shuang and Meng Zi stared at the nine million spirit stones reward and were both stunned.
They then stared at the name Bai Feng… and were stunned again.
Could Bai possibly be Bai Yu’s father, grandfather, or something like that?
“It’s you who commissioned… Big Treasure.”
Huangpu Yuan’s phoenix eyes sparkled. His ten fingers, hidden in his sleeves, clenched into sharp claws that retracted and extended.
Finally, he spoke in a strange and complicated tone.
“…If I say I didn’t commission it, would you believe me?”
“Yeah, we don’t believe you.” Meng Zi directly replied.
Huangpu Yuan: “…”
“It wasn’t me who commissioned it.” The last three words were almost bitten out between his teeth.
Meng Zi: “!”
Lin Shuang took a deep breath.
Indeed, Big Treasure’s personality is such that he handles his own affairs.
He had just been thinking of going back to the beast realm to resolve things himself.
Who could have offered such a high bounty of nine million spirit stones?
Such a high price, probably not many people can afford it.
[For the past hundred years, humans and beast cultivators have established a good relationship. Within the twelve sects of the Eastern Hua Domain, beast cultivators can be seen everywhere.]
[When the beast clans are in trouble, if we humans stand by and watch, one day when the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold. It won’t be long before we humans face great calamity!]
[Therefore, the Council of Elders of the twelve sects has recently decided that the twelve sects will do their utmost to help the beast cultivators escape their plight!]
[Requirements for this layer’s assessment:
1. Rescue the missing beasts, or retreat three hundred layers;
2. If possible, disciples participating in the Soul Refining Battle should assist the Oblivion Pavilion in carrying out the mission, enter the Western Beast Realm, and control the Tiger King;
3. Persuade the new Beast King to sign a four-domain mutual aid agreement with human cultivators for the next hundred years!]
Lin Shuang and Meng Zi couldn’t help but turn their heads in unison to look at Huangpu Yuan.
Huangpu Yuan’s black pupils gradually constricted.
The human cultivators… have never betrayed their pact with the beast clans.
Meng Zi patted Huangpu Yuan’s head.
Huangpu Yuan: “…”
“If you don’t want your hand cut off, believe me.”
You tyrant!
Meng Zi grinned. “I’ve decided to support Xiao Bai’s father to take power.”
“Bai Feng,” Huangpu Yuan paused, his tone strange, “is Xiao Bai’s great-grandmother. She can’t speak human.”
“…!”
“But indeed, before I came to the Clear Water Sect, I handed over the management of the Western Sea to her.”
How did he hand it over?
By communicating with bubbles, spitting and puffing, right?
Lin Shuang and Meng Zi stared blankly.
Huangpu Yuan remained expressionless, turned sideways, and walked toward Bai Yu and Yu Gui among the high-level disciples.
He didn’t want to deal with Meng Zi and Lin Shuang today!
Lin Shuang thoughtfully finished reading her Soul Refining Battle question and then looked sideways at the high-level disciples’ area.
[High-Level Disciple Battle: Layer 93, you speak, how can I not help you!]
[Assessment requirements: enter the Beast Realm, assist the Soul Refining disciples of the same sect, participate in rescuing the missing beasts, and support the new Beast King to help the beast clans out of this crisis as soon as possible.]
By her side, Bai Yu, the white-haired demon toad, also had his hair trembling incessantly.
The burly man with fish scales on his forehead gently closed his eyes.
[This time, the Soul Refining and High-Level Battle disciples from each sect are together!]
[Forcing the Tiger King to step down, no wonder the sect made us sign confidentiality agreements!]
[For this High-Level and Soul Refining Battle, if the task of supporting the new king is completed, it will be considered as passing the trial, unlocking five hundred more layers upward.
(If this task cannot be completed, merely rescuing the missing beast cultivators will also be considered as passing the trial, but only unlocking fifty more layers upward.]
[Who would have thought the eight thousand five hundredth layer used for the battle would be this difficult—supporting a new king and overthrowing the old regime, this is insane!]
[With the four tiger clans and more than twenty Tribulation Crossers, plus the tiger clan army, not to mention the neutral beasts following the Tiger King, how can we human cultivators manage with just a few disciples?]
[What kind of trial difficulty is this? Are the elders even human?]
[It’s normal. Do you know how many disciples have been stuck at the eight thousand five hundredth layer and couldn’t go up? For fifty years, those who have reached the nine thousandth layer among the twelve sects, if we were to name them, we probably couldn’t even come up with half.]
[…]
[The eight thousand five hundredth layer, once successfully completed, will unlock five hundred more layers, reaching the nine thousandth layer. If it’s not difficult, we wouldn’t have stayed at the eight thousandth layer for so long.]
“That’s right. Many juniors and seniors who haven’t reached the eight thousandth layer must be very surprised, right?”
Senior sister Li Hua stood among the battle disciples, reporting the on-site situation in real-time.
She naturally explained, “The nine thousandth layer trial, after reaching the eight thousandth layer, every additional five hundred layers brings an astonishing increase in difficulty.”
“This is no longer just an assessment targeting the Soul Refining level.”
“Because of this, as far as I know, even senior brothers and sisters at the peak of Soul Refining have not managed to climb to the nine thousandth layer yet.”
The difficulty is too great.
Soul Refining disciples are just small fry before a Tribulation-Crossing Beast King.
Overthrowing a reigning Tribulation-Crossing peak and supporting a new Tribulation Crosser to take power… even for an Elder at the Void Entering stage, the success probability might be less than one in ten.
Li Hua also comforted Bian Bo Cai and the other.
“Ten years ago, the eight thousand five hundredth layer trial I received was to become a human emperor for thirty days.”
Bian Bo Cai: “…”
Kong Miaoke: “…”
Li Hua shook her head with a bitter smile. “At that time, I gave up directly.”
Lin Shuang, who was listening nearby, saw stars in her eyes and almost blacked out.
Becoming a human emperor, she didn’t have that kind of schedule!
Fortunately, this ridiculous task didn’t fall on her this year.
Although as a cultivator, with the sect’s support in the human world, becoming an emperor wasn’t impossible.
But why bother!
“I’d rather help you.”
Lin Shuang sighed to Huangpu Yuan.
Meng Zi nodded firmly. “We must complete this layer this year! If I have to become an emperor ten years from now, I won’t even have time to earn spirit stones…”
[…]
The text on the water screen quickly changed.
[Ranking rules for this competition:
After the new Beast King takes the throne, the new Beast King will fill in the performance and contribution ranking of disciples from each sect—this will be the final evaluation by the twelve sects!]
[This competition only has one round!]
[I feel a sense of urgency—the evil cultivators from the Tianji Bureau are approaching, and we can’t afford to waste time on arena battles anymore.]
[Are you sure it’s because of the Tianji Bureau? Could it be that it’s not Lin Shuang influencing the elders? When fighting evil cultivators in the lower and middle stages, would they explain the one-on-one arena rules to you? Would they give you a written test? No! They would only attack you for real!]
[…This sounds like her trash talk.]
[…The elders listened.]
The elders’ projections from each sect watched the projection, all of them twitching their mouths.
Now, if they say it’s not because Lin Shuang changed the competition rules, will the disciples believe them?
[Let’s set off!]
[Each sect will send one or two elder projections to follow you into the beast realm and cooperate with the Oblivion Pavilion.]
[But you must remember, once you enter the beast realm, life and death are uncertain, so be careful!]
[In addition, considering that the beast clans involve more than a hundred branches, spread across different areas of land, sea, and air, with complex environments and uncertain return dates, disciples at the Foundation Building High-Level and Soul Refining stages from each sect can bring spiritual beasts and Dao apprentices to handle miscellaneous tasks along the way.]
[The Council of Sects Management specially approved a budget of one hundred thousand spirit stones per sect for activity expenses. Disciples must provide detailed expenditure lists after the competition (non-mission related expenses must be paid by the disciples themselves).]
[Each sect has one incense’s time to prepare, then the competition begins.]
Lin Shuang took a deep breath.
Meng Zi’s eyes flickered, “One hundred thousand.”
Yu Gui, Bai Yu, and Dao Fa approached them. The first two turned their eyes toward Huangpu Yuan.
“Senior apprentice sister!”
As soon as Lin Shuang stepped out of the Zhenchuan transmission formation,
Zhao Keran rushed over, “Take me with you. I’ll be your Taoist apprentice.”
Zhao Keran still had her Zhenchuan miscellaneous servant identity token.
This operation should be fine.
Lin Shuang nodded, but soon her expression turned odd.
This mission involves cooperation with the Ymiege Pavilion, she couldn’t help glancing at Zhao Keran.
Would the Assassin Da Bao, Wu Liu Qi, and Jiezi Bag reappear?
“Cough, junior apprentice sister, once we arrive at the demon realm, you don’t have to follow me around every day.”
“…!”
She was rejected.
Zhao Keran covered her heart.
Lin Shuang glanced at Huangpu Yuan again, “We’ll take first place, no problem, right?”
She emphasized each of the last four words.
Huangpu Yuan remained silent.
Then, the corner of his lips lifted.
“Of course.”
Lin Shuang also revealed the same smile.
Meng Zi, carrying a large sword and hands on his waist, said, “Never thought that even before departure, we’re already first!”
[???]
[…?]
[Three more have gone mad.]
“Qingshui Sect, enough already. Can’t you show a bit of respect to your opponents?”
No.
Lin Shuang looked toward Bian Bochai and Kong Miaoke standing behind Sister Li Hua of the Baihua Sect, then turned to Xiao Qi in the Shanhai Sect’s group and spoke up.
“I’ll give you one chance, abandon darkness and embrace the light.”
“Join us.”
“!”
[!]
The great-grandmother who couldn’t speak human language, Bai Feng, belonged to the Bai family.
The Bai family all obeyed this fox spirit beside them.
Meng Zi’s eyes were practically sparkling with excitement.
Let the new generation’s Demon King decide the rankings.
Before even departing, the rankings had already been decided.
Huangpu Yuan thought to himself, “Then shall we discuss the battle plan? Currently, I have five major demon clans under my command. Approximately eight Daoyu-level great demons will assist us.”
Bian Bochai, Kong Miaoke, and Xiao Qi, who had originally intended to resist, said: “?”
Apologies, the powerful experts were actually on their opposing side!
Damn.
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