Gou Zai Fei Men made up myths

Ask the Way Square.

Even though they were mentally prepared, witnessing it with their own eyes still filled everyone with an indescribable shock.

The square is so vast that it is hard to measure. Underfoot is a whole piece of "Wen Dao Jade" with a warm and lustrous sheen, as smooth as a mirror and spotless.

At the center of the square stands a towering, pure white platform, over a hundred feet high. The platform is pyramid-shaped, with each layer carved with intricate and mysterious runes, and it is currently radiating a faint golden light.

At the top of the platform, amidst swirling clouds and mist, the silhouettes of several figures, their auras as deep and unfathomable as the ocean, could be faintly discerned.

The plaza was already clearly divided into distinct areas. The core area near the high platform was obviously reserved for the three holy lands, the Sky Patrol Pavilion, and a few top sects and families. At this moment, many solemn and richly dressed groups were already standing there.

Extending outwards, there are various regions roughly divided according to geography, strength, and influence, with flags flying everywhere and emblems representing different forces shimmering in the light.

In the air, dozens of huge "water mirrors" with flowing light on their edges float, reflecting the scene in the square from different angles, ensuring that every corner can clearly see the situation on the platform.

The square was now packed with people, but strangely, there was little noise or commotion. Hundreds of thousands of cultivators had gathered here, yet a breathtaking, solemn silence had formed.

Only the rustling of clothes, the occasional low growl of the spirit beast, and the faint, melodious sound of bells and chimes from the high platform, seemingly from ancient times, echoed in the air.

The Qingyun Sect members were led to an area marked "Southern Region and Borderland Sects". This area was not in a good location, being on the western side of the plaza and quite a distance from the high platform, but it was not the worst location either.

Teams from the Xuanbing Pavilion, Baicao Sect, Qingmu Temple, and other familiar faces from the Southern Region were already in position in the vicinity. Fairy Ling Shuang nodded slightly to Shen Mo, while True Man Qing Song and Zhou Tong also cast friendly glances at her.

As soon as everyone took their positions as instructed, they felt several unfriendly gazes sweep over them. Not far to the side and slightly ahead was the Heavenly Sword Sect's group.

There were about twenty of them, all dressed in sky-blue outfits, with gleaming silver sword insignia on their chests. Each of them wore a long sword at their waist, exuding a sharp aura. They stood ramrod straight, like a row of swords about to be drawn.

The leader was a thin man with a cold and stern face and sharp eyes that seemed to pierce through metal and stone; he was none other than Ling Wufeng.

He didn't look at Shen Mo at that moment, but crossed his arms and stared indifferently at the high platform in front of him. But Shen Mo could clearly feel that just a moment ago, the other party's gaze was like the coldest sword blade, lingering on him for a moment, chilling him to the bone.

Beside the Heavenly Sword Sect was the Blazing Sun Sect's group. Yan Lie, dressed in a crimson brocade robe, stood out in the crowd. He was chatting and laughing with several prodigies from other Central Region forces, appearing relaxed and at ease.

Noticing Shen Mo's gaze, he turned his head, gave Shen Mo an impeccable and warm smile, and cupped his hands in a respectful gesture. Shen Mo calmly returned the greeting.

"Thump—!"

A tremendous bell tolling, seemingly capable of piercing the soul and cleansing the mind, resounded without warning throughout the entire Wendao Square and even the entire Tianyuan City!

As the bell tolled, all was silent. Even the faintest whispers vanished instantly. All eyes, involuntarily and with reverence, turned to the high white jade platform.

At the top of the platform, the clouds and mist slowly dispersed, revealing five figures.

The person in the center was dressed in a dark purple robe embroidered with the celestial constellations, wearing a tall crown, with an ancient and simple face. His eyes seemed to contain the rising and falling of the sun, moon, and stars. He was none other than the deputy head of the Sky Patrol Pavilion, Xinghe Daoren.

He simply stood there, without deliberately releasing any pressure, but a vast and boundless aura, as deep as the starry sea and as profound as the night sky, naturally spread out, making the hundreds of thousands of cultivators below feel as insignificant as dust.

To the left of Xinghe Daoren were three figures with distinct auras, yet equally intimidating to behold.

One of them was an old Taoist priest dressed in a simple gray robe, holding a whisk, with white hair and beard, and a rosy complexion like a baby. He was none other than Master Qingxuan, the representative of the Supreme Tao in Tianyuan City.

His aura was ethereal and otherworldly, as if he were one with the surrounding world. He was right in front of me, yet seemed to be far away in the clouds, full of the profound meaning of "following the natural way".

The other was a middle-aged swordsman dressed in white, with light armor over it, a long sword strapped to his back, and a face as cold and stern as a stone carving. He was Wuhen, the representative of the Nine Heavens Sword Pavilion.

He didn't emanate any sword energy, but the way he stood there was like a peerless divine sword that had concealed all its light, yet could cleave the sky at any moment; its sharpness pierced straight to the heart.

The last one was a giant, nearly ten feet tall, with bulging muscles, wearing only a simple animal skin jacket, and with blood-red totems painted on his bronze skin—the representative of the Desolate God Temple—the Power King.

His aura was wild and domineering, and his vital energy was so vigorous that it was like a raging furnace. Even from a distance, people felt a suffocating sense of oppression.

His aura was wild and domineering, and his vital energy was so vigorous that it was like a raging furnace. Even from a distance, people felt a suffocating sense of oppression.

The mere appearance of the representatives of the four major forces was enough to create an invisible, intertwined, clashing, and mutually restraining terrifying pressure that made the entire Dao Asking Square fall silent. Countless cultivators held their breath, not daring to even exhale.

"The Heavenly Origin Tournament, the Sixtieth Year, commences—"

The ancient and majestic voice of the Star River Taoist, like a divine decree, rang clearly in everyone's ears, unhurried yet carrying an unquestionable majesty.

"The Way of Heaven operates, and eras change. The path of cultivation is like rowing against the current; if you don't advance, you fall behind. Today, we gather the talents of the Eastern Wilderness here not for empty fame, nor for personal gain, but to hone our cultivation, verify our learning, exchange ideas, and seek the Great Dao together!"

"In addition to the traditional individual battles, team battles, and specialized skill competitions, this year's tournament will add three new events: 'Celestial Deduction,' 'Suppressing Demons and Exorcising Evil,' and 'Exploring the Mysterious Realm.' This is not without reason, as unusual celestial phenomena indicate the presence of undercurrents."

"We need the eyes, hands, and hearts of you talented individuals to observe the heavens and predict destiny, slay demons and monsters, and explore the mysteries of the universe, in order to respond to future changes and protect the peace of our Eastern Wilderness!"

"I urge all disciples to strive for excellence and display their talents, while also adhering strictly to the rules and maintaining a sense of awe. The struggle for the Great Dao depends not only on oneself but also on Heaven!"

The brief opening, devoid of flowery language, carried immense weight, especially the final remarks about "unusual celestial phenomena" and "future changes," which sent a chill down the spines of many astute cultivators.

It seems that these three new items do indeed contain hidden secrets, and may even be related to some unknown and secretive turmoil in the Eastern Wilderness.

After Xinghe Daoren finished speaking, he slightly turned his body. Beside him, a middle-aged cultivator dressed in the robes of a steward of the Sky Patrol Pavilion and with a cultivation level at the early Nascent Soul stage stepped forward, took out a jade scroll that shimmered with golden light, and began to read out the various rules and scoring system of this year's Tianyuan Conference in a clear and steady tone.

The rules are extremely detailed, covering almost every conceivable aspect. From eligibility, age and bone age testing, criteria for determining winners and losers, and detailed rules for penalties for violations, to the weighting of points for each event, the calculation method for the final ranking, the appeal process, and the definition of safety responsibilities... nothing is overlooked.