Fairy, I am truly a virtuous gentleman!

Yu Shu Dao Zun sat upright in the pavilion, gazing straight ahead.

"Once this matter is settled, my debt to you will be repaid. From now on, I will prioritize the overall interests of the sect."

A gentle breeze blows, and drifting clouds surround.

I sensed those familiar energies returning to the earth and beyond the heavens.

After a long while, Yu Shu Dao Zun suddenly raised his eyelids slightly, and a hint of surprise finally appeared on his usually calm face.

"Why has this child's fate changed so drastically?"

...

...

Within the inner city of Luoyang, atop Mount Wuyue.

Inside the massive central arena, a hundred wide, purple-gold arenas are suspended high in the air, arranged in a spiral pattern from top to bottom.

Each arena is filled with a pair of people fighting and exchanging magical techniques. Talismans and magical treasures collide fiercely, and the colorful Taoist magic is dazzling and captivating.

Occasionally, someone would spit out hot blood, their face turning ashen, and fall to the ground, only to be caught by several beams of spiritual light. After skillful handling, they would be carried back to their original resting area.

Immediately afterwards, another figure rose up and took over the empty space, continuing the fight.

The rules of the Grand Gathering of All Laws are simple: defend your title.

Each of the 100 arenas corresponds to a ranking on the Hidden Dragon List. Participants only need to defend their arena for three days, until the end of the Grand Gathering of Myriad Laws, to obtain their arena ranking.

Once listed on the Hidden Dragon List, one will not only receive generous rewards from the Great Li Immortal Dynasty and become famous throughout the world, but the top fifty will also be able to enter the secret realm of the Ji Clan, the Crimson Abyss, to compete for the opportunity to obtain a high-grade Golden Core!

For various reasons, although it cannot compare to the grand Xuan Yuan ceremony jointly organized by the immortal sects and holy lands, the Myriad Laws Gathering is still a rare event in the Great Xuan Heaven.

This year's lineup is the strongest ever, with teams from most of the immortal sects and holy lands, in addition to Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism, and the three overseas immortal mountains.

The scene shifts to a cluster of palaces surrounding the purple-gold arena, where figures throng.

Many guests and their entourages were accommodated here, where they had a wide view and could see the situation of each arena at a glance.

The area where the Taiyi Sword Sect is stationed.

On a tall terrace, a stunningly beautiful young woman, dressed in a white linen dress that still exudes an ethereal and timeless charm, stares blankly at a magnificent palace across the way.

That was a reserved spot for Ning Muxian, the Grand Preceptor of the Great Li Kingdom. Although he himself would not be present, it would be convenient to make arrangements for his direct descendants, relatives, and friends to attend the ceremony.

Two days have passed, and the hall remains empty and deserted.

"Junior sister, the Grand Gathering of All Laws will end at noon today. Aren't you going to compete?"

A soft, gentle voice came from behind.

Chu Lingci turned around and saw Zhu Qixian, with her graceful figure, full figure, and beautiful and dignified face, walking slowly towards him with light, lotus-like steps.

Chu Lingci gently shook her head, her red lips parting slightly: "Senior Sister hasn't gone yet either."

Zhu Qixian smiled slightly, not in a hurry to speak, but slowly walked to the young lady's side and stood side by side. Apart from their overly prominent chests, their graceful figures were quite harmonious.

Since their trip to someone's residence, the relationship between the two women has subtly grown closer.

After all, they had a secret they needed to keep together.

"I believe my abilities are limited and I cannot strive to be the best, so I will wait patiently for the right opportunity and make my move when I find a suitable target."

Suddenly, Zhu Qixian spoke up and asked, "But... do you think there's no one here worth drawing your sword for?"

Chu Lingci pursed his lips, offering no direct response.

"I came with the sect's group only to temper my worldly heart, not to fight with others for so-called opportunities and fame. That's meaningless."

"Is it all meaningless...?"

Zhu Qixian suddenly found it very funny.

I don't know if I'm laughing at myself or at others.

She simply said in a calm tone, "Junior sister, I am different from you. For me, even if I want to condense a third-grade golden core, it is extremely stressful. You should know that more than half of the disciples in the Sword Sect fail to pass the final assessment every year, and end up being stripped of their status as true disciples of the Immortal Sect and exiled to the outer realms of the heavens."

Chu Lingci was silent for a moment, then said softly, "Will the sect send them to open up new cultivation channels and spread their legacy? They will still receive support and resources. The word 'exile' is too strong; it's just a change in the way they cultivate..."

Zhu Qixian's lips curled slightly.

There was a profound, unfathomable depth in his eyes.

"After losing the sect's monthly stipend and leaving the blessed land, one not only has to spend a lot of effort on resources and training grounds, but also has to hand over the earned Taoist merits on time, otherwise one will be removed from the Taoist ranks."

Time and years have been wasted in vain; how can one cultivate under such circumstances? Simply maintaining one's level of attainment without regressing is already difficult.

Zhu Qixian sighed.

"Actually, I know that for those who are truly valued and have outstanding potential for cultivation, the sect has already bestowed spiritual objects and magical treasures upon them by the high-ranking immortals. They do not need to participate in the assessment and can continue to cultivate within the sect and receive offerings based on their status as the sect's designated personal disciples. They are not lacking in secret treasures and spiritual objects such as those for condensing high-grade golden pills."

I imagine my junior sister feels the same way. After all, even the sect leader has taken notice of you and personally bestowed upon you a spiritual treasure—such an honor is a once-in-eight-hundred-years occurrence.

Chu Lingci remained silent, unsure how to respond.

Because what Zhu Qixian said was indeed true; there were indeed people in the sect who thought highly of her and intended to take her as a disciple.

And that person was none other than Yu Shu Daozun, who had shaken the Great Xuan Heaven the moment he emerged from seclusion two days ago, and the sect leader of the Taiyi Sword Sect.

Although Zhu Qixian's words were too explicit, she was not actually wrong.

The true top geniuses of the immortal sects would never attend the Grand Gathering of Myriad Laws.

The thirteen sacred cultivation sites, with their long and rich traditions, would surely not lack such an opportunity to attain the Golden Elixir.

Chu Lingci originally intended to cultivate in seclusion within the sect, but on that day she received a telepathic message from the sect leader, Daoist Yu Shu.

"This grand gathering of all laws will bring about great changes, and your destiny to condense the elixir also lies here. You must go to the Far East, but the specific choice is whether to reveal your abilities or to keep a low profile, which is entirely up to your own will."

When you achieve the Golden Core and return to your sect, I will announce to the world that I will accept you as my disciple…”

With a soft sigh, Chu Lingci originally thought that if she truly had her own opportunity, then even if she didn't show her skills at the Grand Gathering of Myriad Laws, the outcome would be the same.

What is hers will eventually be hers, and what is not, it doesn't matter. The path to immortality is long, and she will accompany herself with her sword.

It was precisely because of this detached and natural mindset that Chu Lingci was able to later achieve the title of the Glazed Sword Immortal.

For some reason, after being captured by that man's protectors and spending a few days in his manor, she felt a strange restlessness and unease, and his image often flashed through her mind.

This situation is very rare.

Chu Lingci's intuition told her that there was a complicated and inextricable cause and effect between her and that boy.

Why is this so?

Chu Lingci had a vague idea in his mind.

But she wasn't sure.

"Alright, Senior Sister, I'm going."

Zhu Qixian turned around in astonishment and saw that slender and thin figure heading straight for the highest level of the arena!