Immortality and cultivation begin with drawing talismans.

Chapter 298 The Grand Competition! The Next Direction [Seeking Monthly Tickets]

Xuan Yin Pavilion.

The precipitous Jianfeng Peak is dotted with elegant pavilions with carved beams and painted rafters.

On a huge jade platform halfway up the mountain, a group of disciples who had been preparing to participate in the competition were eager to try.

On the jade platform, in front of the pavilion, there were five wooden chairs, where the Core Formation cultivators of the Xuan Yin Pavilion sat upright.

They are the sect leader, Fairy Ni Chang, and three elders: Liu Ruyu, Xu Lingfeng, and Lin Chang'an, totaling four people.

The empty table naturally belonged to the alchemist Wen Dan, who refined pills within the sect.

Although they didn't come, the sect still had to make preparations.

"Fellow Daoist Lin, this is spiritual tea brought from the Starry Sea."

"Then I'll have to savor it properly."

The four chatted and laughed, sipping spiritual tea. At the same time, Lin Chang'an also noticed the disciples of the Xuan Yin Pavilion below and nodded to himself.

Xuan Yin Pavilion has indeed developed well in recent years, especially since the Yue Kingdom, which is home to almost the entire Yue Kingdom, has been occupied by Xuan Yin Pavilion. It can be said that the foundation in the rear is solid.

There are many Qi Refining cultivators below, with a continuous influx of fresh blood, and their foundations are already solid.

This sect competition is probably also a way to strengthen the foundation of the sect and prepare to improve the middle-level forces, that is, the so-called Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Otherwise, Fairy Ni Chang wouldn't have gone to such lengths to organize such an internal competition.

He also entrusted his clone, the alchemist Wen Dan, to refine a large number of Foundation Establishment Pills over the past two years.

"The turmoil in the secret realm is also an opportunity. It is indeed a rare opportunity to gather a large amount of resources, and there are more opportunities than in the past."

Lin Chang'an's eyes flickered, his understanding of the Xuan Yin Pavilion's development was crystal clear.

Although strength is paramount in the cultivation world, it would be more worthwhile for Xuan Yin Pavilion to have an additional Golden Core cultivator, but Golden Core cultivators are also cultivated from the disciples below.

Only with a strong foundation can there be more seeds of the Golden Elixir.

While Lin Chang'an was enjoying tea and discussing philosophy with everyone, the Green Horned Ox was excitedly playing with several Green Feathered Eagles on the side.

Lin Chang'an naturally noticed this scene as well, and couldn't help but ask curiously, "I didn't expect that one of the Azure Feathered Eagles kept in the sect is already close to breaking through."

Several of the Azure Feathered Eagles were at the second tier, but one of them possessed a powerful aura and had already reached the near third tier. It was likely that it wouldn't be long before it broke through to the third tier.

In response to Lin Chang'an's curiosity, Liu Ruyu explained with a laugh:

"Elder Lin, this Azure Feathered Eagle was raised by the sect leader back in the Yue Kingdom, who also wanted to cultivate one or two sect-guarding spirit beasts for the sect..."

Ordinary demonic beasts have a longer lifespan than human cultivators, so it's not surprising that many sects carefully cultivate one or two sect-guarding spirit beasts.

While the Core Formation elders were chatting, the disciples below were also whispering amongst themselves.

"Look! Isn't that the third-tier demonic beast, the Azure Horned Ox? My goodness!"

"That's because you didn't see the imposing presence of this third-tier great demon when it first arrived."

"It's Senior Uncle Liu!"

Many disciples of Xuan Yin Pavilion showed respect, especially those who came from Yue Kingdom. Seeing the sect's growth, they felt a sense of pride.

They witnessed the rise of the sect.

"Senior brother, who is that disciple behind Elder Lin?"

Some of the newly initiated disciples also noticed the sword attendant standing behind Lin Chang'an, dressed in a dark blue outfit, whose cool and beautiful appearance attracted a lot of attention.

“That person is Elder Lin’s man; you should call him Uncle-Master.”

"Such a young martial uncle!"

With a cold and aloof gaze that exuded a chilling aura, the sword attendant, who seemed unapproachable, remained silent and taciturn. As he listened to the discussions among the cultivators below, he unconsciously clenched his fists.

Her initially agitated thoughts subsided when she heard someone say that she belonged to her master, and her fists involuntarily loosened.

As disciples arrived one after another, there were onlookers, elite disciples from within the sect, and many Foundation Establishment cultivators also came.

Liu Ruyu smiled and glanced at everyone. After seeing that it was about time, she turned her head and waved to the crowd below.

A Foundation Establishment cultivator with a full head of white hair and a ruddy complexion, who was in charge of presiding over the conference, stepped forward and announced loudly:

"The sect competition is now beginning. All participating disciples are prohibited from harming fellow disciples. Violators will be disqualified..."

As the resounding voice echoed, Lin Chang'an on the stage showed a hint of appreciation, which could be discerned from the atmosphere among the disciples of Xuan Yin Pavilion.

Compared to sects with strict rules and clear hierarchies, or even the cruel demonic path, it has a touch more humanity.

Lin Chang'an could also discern the atmosphere of Xuan Yin Pavilion. Most of the cultivators from Yue Kingdom, being in a foreign land, naturally felt a stronger bond with their fellow cultivators.

In addition to measures such as the development of sects, this is how we ended up in the current situation.

"Fellow Daoist Ni Chang, it seems that the sect has put a lot of effort into this over the years."

While the disciples below the stage were competing, several Core Formation cultivators on the stage chatted and commented on the disciples and the current development of the sect.

"It's not as leisurely as Fellow Daoist Lin's life on Tianquan Peak."

Fairy Ni Chang looked at Lin Chang'an with some envy, as she preferred the tranquil cultivation environment of Tianquan Peak.

Enjoying tea and discussing philosophy, observing the changes of heaven and earth, one need not worry about too many things.

Lin Chang'an smiled and shook his head, saying that everyone has their own choices.

The lower-level cultivators below were also doing their best to demonstrate their abilities in order to obtain the Foundation Establishment Pill.

At first glance, Lin Chang'an found it somewhat uninteresting, but seeing the expressions of those who gritted their teeth and persevered despite their injuries, desperately fighting for a sliver of opportunity, he gradually fell silent.

When I first entered the world of cultivation, didn't I also work just as hard to cultivate?

The demon-hunting team survived numerous brushes with death, all for what? It was for that hope, which they themselves knew was extremely slim.

"In the blink of an eye, I am now a Core Formation cultivator sitting on a high platform."

Scenes flashed through his mind, and finally Lin Chang'an's gaze swept over the disciples competing below, then looked all the way to the beautiful and spiritually rich mountain gate.

Back then, I wasn't even qualified to join a sect and was turned away.

And how many cultivators outside the gate struggled their entire lives, only to eventually become numb and endure it all?

They too were filled with boundless pride and ambition.

"Time flies so fast."

As he recalled the scenes, Lin Chang'an couldn't help but sigh softly, realizing how quickly time flies.

Seeing the strange change in Lin Chang'an's aura, Fairy Ni Chang seemed to understand something, and chuckled softly before picking up the spiritual tea in her hand.

Lin Chang'an then watched the competition among the lower-ranking disciples with great interest, and even occasionally chatted and commented on it with them.

However, amidst the laughter and conversation, Liu Ruyu tentatively inquired whether Lin Chang'an wanted to take on disciples, but Lin Chang'an smiled and shook his head in refusal.

If his future looks bleak, he might consider having children, taking on apprentices, and building connections for the benefit of future generations.

But now is far from the time for him to stop.

Creating unnecessary entanglements is not necessarily a good thing.

"I find Elder Lin's two female disciples from Tianquan Peak to be quite good. I wonder if you would be willing to part with them?"

As the competition unfolded below, Liu Ruyu couldn't help but smile.

Lin Chang'an smiled upon seeing this, while Fairy Ni Chang looked down at the spiritual tea in her hand, occasionally blowing on it as if the tea could produce flowers.

This isn't because they've taken a liking to his two female disciples from Lingfeng; it's clearly because they want to use this opportunity to get closer to each other.

After all, he was merely a guest elder, not a native Xuan Yin Pavilion cultivator.

"It is naturally their good fortune to have been chosen by Fellow Daoist Liu."

Lin Chang'an smiled and nodded. Could he stop others from taking on disciples if he didn't want to?

Moreover, building a closer relationship would be a good thing for him, so he naturally wouldn't be repulsed or hostile. With Liu Ruyu, a Core Formation cultivator, taking him as a disciple, barring any unforeseen circumstances, the two of them should have no problem reaching Foundation Establishment in the future.

Although he was Liu Ruyu's disciple, he could still continue to work for him, which could be considered a kind of bond.

Seeing Lin Chang'an nod with a smile, Fairy Ni Chang breathed a sigh of relief. She was still a little unaccustomed to using such methods openly with acquaintances.

The subsequent competition within the sect broadened Lin Chang'an's horizons and even made him secretly sigh.

This is the foundation of a sect's cultivators. Back when I was still a Qi Refining cultivator, I was indeed lacking in foundation compared to the sect's top disciples.

The various applications of magic, the control of magical artifacts, and so on, are far beyond what ordinary rogue cultivators can compare to.

Only those rogue cultivators who have endured the test of time and accumulated experience to become powerful can gradually close the gap.

Lin Chang'an watched the competition within the sect with great interest, realizing that sometimes the battles between low-level cultivators were not without merit.

For example, when their magical power is almost exhausted, one of them can use ordinary martial arts techniques to overpower their opponent, which is also quite remarkable.

There's also the coordination between spirit pets; the cultivation world has so much to learn.

The sect competition finally came to a close under the setting sun. The top ten cultivators who reached the Foundation Establishment stage could also choose a spiritual artifact from within the sect.

Meanwhile, some Core Formation cultivators from within the sect stepped forward to select their favorite disciples to take on as apprentices, which greatly excited many cultivators.

The winning disciples were all excited; they had finally received their share of the Foundation Establishment Pills.

The losing disciples, their faces filled with resentment and disappointment, could only grit their teeth and accept their defeat.

This has always been the case in the world of cultivation.

……

"Fellow Daoist Lin, the Seven Kingdoms Alliance took advantage of the turmoil in the secret realm to establish a chamber of commerce, and it has developed well in the past two years. This is also a rare opportunity for the sect."

In the main hall.

After the sect competition ended, Fairy Ni Chang, holding a cup of spiritual tea, finally revealed the real reason for holding the competition.

The sect holds a grand competition to select elite disciples, and then consumes a large number of Foundation Establishment Pills to increase the sect's strength in a short period of time.

In this way, Xuan Yin Pavilion will have more core disciples to carry out various missions and seize this opportunity.

"If we don't get involved in the secret realm, this is indeed an opportunity, and the fastest way to close the gap with the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce."

Lin Chang'an strongly agreed with this approach, which minimized the risk.

After all, the secret realm is all about luck. Sometimes, getting an opportunity doesn't necessarily bring benefits; it could also lead to your death.

Liu Ruyu also agreed with the sect leader's decision, but Xu Lingfeng frowned and objected, "If Heaven gives something and you don't take it, you will suffer the consequences; if you don't act when the time is right, you will suffer the calamity."

"How many times in a lifetime can one encounter such a Nascent Soul Realm opportunity? And for us cultivators, cultivation is already going against the heavens. I don't think it's a good thing to give up this opportunity."

Within a sect, some choose stability, while others are more radical.

Especially after Lin Chang'an successfully transformed into a pill, Xu Lingfeng was even more determined. Such an opportunity was rare, and he was determined to seize it as well.

"Senior sister, perhaps there's an opportunity to reach the Nascent Soul stage within this secret realm. Should we give it up too?"

Seeing Xu Lingfeng's sharp and assertive expression, Fairy Ni Chang frowned slightly, then shook her head and said:

“Junior brother, even if I obtain the so-called opportunity to form a Nascent Soul with my current cultivation level, it may not be a blessing. The lesson of the Long family is still fresh in my mind.”

Although we cultivators are inherently defying the heavens, we must still plan meticulously and assess the situation carefully, rather than acting rashly out of momentary courage.

Upon witnessing this scene, Lin Chang'an picked up his spirit tea and began to imitate the way Fairy Ni Chang had acted before.

He, as a guest elder, had no desire to get involved in the internal affairs of the sect.

However, after discussion, the three decided that Xu Lingfeng would select several older Foundation Establishment cultivators from within the sect who were willing to take the risk.

However, the number cannot exceed fifteen people.

Foundation Establishment cultivators are already the backbone of a sect, and even the Xuan Yin Pavilion has less than two hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators.

In addition, there are also those stationed in the Yue Kingdom, bringing the total number of Foundation Establishment cultivators in the sect to over 150 at this time.

Losing one-tenth of the Foundation Establishment cultivators at once is a loss that would be painful to admit.

The fact that Lin Chang'an was invited to this secret sect meeting signifies that the sect trusts him, a fact that Lin Chang'an is well aware of.

As the secret meeting came to an end, the disciples who had won the sect's grand competition entered the main hall one after another.

The few who were chosen as disciples by Golden Core cultivators within the sect were the envy of many.

"Disciples Mei Ning and Zhou Bingxuan... pay respects to Master!"

"Well, the seven of you will be temporarily registered disciples. Once you have established your foundation, I will take you as my personal disciples."

With a calm expression, Liu Ruyu looked down at the five women and two men, a total of seven disciples, kneeling and offering tea, and nodded with satisfaction.

This was the first disciple she accepted after achieving Core Formation, and all of them possessed considerable talent within the sect.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Xu Lingfeng, with a dignified expression, accepted twelve disciples, both male and female.

However, Lin Chang'an could tell that the disciples chosen by this fellow Daoist Xu Lingfeng were almost all cultivators skilled in offensive combat, which made him nod in approval.

That does fit this person's personality.

Of the five people who came from Tianquan Peak, three won: Mei Ning, Zhou Bingxuan, and Li Tianmo.

Lin Chang'an was quite satisfied with this, as the other female cultivator's failure to be selected was indeed due to a lack of strength.

Shen Zhuang's failure to be selected was entirely due to his lack of skill in combat, or rather, his rigid and inflexible methods.

"However, it's not without its advantages. If Shen Zhuang can successfully establish his foundation in the future and switch to cultivating earth-based, stable cultivation techniques, it might not be so bad."

Lin Chang'an shook his head, and after a series of events inside the sect, including bestowing Foundation Establishment Pills, he rode away on his Green Horned Ox with his sword attendant and the two who had not been selected.

Mei Ning and Zhou Bingxuan were taken in by a Core Formation cultivator. Although they were only nominal disciples, they would still receive guidance and arrangements.

Li Tianmo and all the disciples who won this time will receive unified guidance from the Core Formation cultivators in the sect, and then prepare to go into seclusion to take Foundation Establishment Pills to break through.

After all, almost all of those participating in this sect competition were cultivators at the late stage of Qi Refining.

……

Under the moonlight, the Green Horned Ox reluctantly left the Xuan Yin Pavilion sect, still chewing on a high-grade spiritual fruit.

"Moo!"

As the deep, resonant voice of the Green Horned Ox echoed, Lin Chang'an stood atop the ox's head, enjoying a rare moment of ease as he appreciated the moonlight over the heavens and earth.

The sword attendant behind him seemed to have only his eyes on the handsome figure in front of him.

Meanwhile, at the cow's tail were two people who seemed rather downcast.

"In the world of cultivation, a victory or defeat, or a temporary setback, is nothing. Only by staying true to your original aspirations will you realize, when you look back, that temporary success or failure is just the path you came from."

The calm and clear voice echoed in their ears, causing them to raise their eyes and look at Lin Chang'an, the Core Formation cultivator.

Lin Chang'an's indifferent expression suggested that his comments about the two were merely heartfelt, and he didn't have the time or inclination to take care of them in the future.

After all, he still has a lot to do, and today was a rare moment of relaxation for him.

"Both the Xuan Yin Pavilion and the Lu family are planning to take this opportunity to earn spirit stones. I can't miss this opportunity either. A large amount of high-grade resources are pouring in, and third-grade high-quality spirit liquid is also appearing from time to time..."

Thinking of this, Lin Chang'an's eyes flickered; he hadn't forgotten his natal spiritual plant.

The second leaf was still a third of its original color, and he needed to work harder to cultivate it as soon as possible so that his second avatar could unleash its full power.

"The next step is to accumulate spirit stones to buy high-grade spirit liquid."

Now that he is at the third level in alchemy, talisman making, and formation making, this is a rare opportunity to earn spirit stones.

Many materials that are usually difficult to collect are now relatively easier to obtain.

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(End of this chapter)