Mortal's Journey: Reborn as Xin Ruyin, she begins by possessing Qi Yun's body.

Han Li had already made up his mind to watch the arena competition quietly until the selections of each sect were over and the crowd dispersed.

Then, quietly find a cultivator in Huangfeng Valley, show him the Ascension Token, and join Huangfeng Valley without causing any disturbance.

This is his consistent style of doing things: cautious and patient, not seeking momentary pleasure, but only seeking to move forward steadily.

Although Han Li felt that Qi Yunxiao was a friend worth making, he would not share the opportunities related to his path to immortality with him.

Upon hearing this, Qi Yunxiao couldn't help but laugh and patted Han Li on the shoulder.

His eyes held a hint of understanding and amusement as he thought to himself, "He's cautious to the core! Old Demon Han's method of cultivating immortality in a cowardly manner may seem timid, but it's actually the safest approach. I should learn from him to avoid being too flamboyant in the future and attracting unnecessary trouble."

He naturally wouldn't expose Han Li's lie. Going along with Han Li's words, he said in a magnanimous tone, "Of course, of course! Since Brother Han doesn't want to go on stage, then you can stay below and watch carefully, and see how I, your brother, will win the entrance spot to Yellow Maple Valley!"

Han Li raised his head, a sincere smile on his face, and said confidently, "Brother Qi has a powerful magic weapon and solid cultivation. He will surely stand out in the arena and successfully secure a spot in Huangfeng Valley!"

His words came from the bottom of his heart. Qi Yunxiao's Black Cloud Sword and Crimson Pattern Xuan Turtle Shield were exceptionally powerful, far beyond what ordinary Qi Refining stage cultivators could withstand. Securing an entry spot was indeed not difficult.

"Haha, thank you for your kind words!"

Qi Yunxiao laughed heartily, his confidence soaring.

He had been refining weapons and fighting all the way, and his cultivation level had long been stable at the peak of the eighth level of Qi Refining. He also had two top-level magic weapons, the Black Cloud Sword and the Crimson Pattern Xuan Turtle Shield, as well as golden needle hidden weapons by his side.

Even when facing a cultivator at the twelfth level of Qi Refining, he was fully confident of securing a spot in the Yellow Maple Valley arena.

Amidst the laughter and chatter, Qi Yunxiao didn't linger any longer and waved to Han Li, "Brother Han, I'm going to register first. Find a place to wait for me offstage, and we'll meet up again after I've registered."

Han Li nodded slightly: "Brother Qi, go ahead. I'll wait for you here."

Qi Yunxiao nodded and turned to walk towards the registration point of Huangfeng Valley.

The registration point for Huangfeng Valley was located on the east side of the high platform, presided over by a Foundation Establishment cultivator dressed in a yellowish-green Taoist robe. In front of him was a wooden table with a registration book and a spirit pen on it.

The monks who had registered formed a long queue, all looking nervous and talking in hushed tones about the rules of the arena and their opponents.

Qi Yunxiao quickly stepped forward and joined the queue. It wasn't long before it was his turn.

He bowed slightly to the two cultivators from Huangfeng Valley, his tone calm: "Junior Qi Yunxiao, Qi Refining Level 8, hereby registers to participate in Huangfeng Valley's arena competition."

The cultivator from Huangfeng Valley looked him over, then lightly tapped his fingertip, sending a faint wisp of spiritual energy into his body to examine his cultivation level and bone age.

After confirming that everything was correct, one of the cultivators picked up a spiritual pen and wrote his name and cultivation level in the register.

He said calmly, "Registration is complete. Await your summons. When you go on stage, you must demonstrate your true identity. No falsification is allowed; violators will be disqualified."

"I understand."

Qi Yunxiao nodded slightly, understanding in his heart.

After registering, Qi Yunxiao walked to the waiting area on the west side of the platform, found an open space to stand, and scanned the surrounding participating cultivators, secretly probing their spiritual energy fluctuations and silently keeping an eye on potential opponents.

Han Li, who was not far away, found an inconspicuous corner to stand in and his eyes swept over the crowd warily.

He neither spoke to anyone nor lingered long; he simply watched quietly as the monks lined up to register.

He secretly planned that once the arena competition was over and the crowd dispersed, he would go to find the elders of Huangfeng Valley and present them with the Ascension Token.

The arena in Huangfeng Valley was crowded with people, but it was far less noisy than the arena of the Hidden Moon Sect next door.

The Hidden Moon Sect is the head of the seven sects in the Yue Kingdom, with the deepest foundation and the most abundant opportunities. Nearly a hundred more cultivators have signed up to participate in the competition.

Most of the disciples from the cultivation families were scrambling to get there, making Huangfeng Valley seem much quieter in comparison.

On the high platform, the referee shouted, his voice echoing throughout the arena: "Next match, Qi Yunxiao versus Huang Chengfeng!"

Upon hearing this, Qi Yunxiao's spiritual energy surged slightly. He lightly touched the stage with his toes and his figure floated onto the arena like a wisp of smoke.

He stood still, his gaze calmly fixed on the opposite side.

The opponent was dressed in a light blue brocade robe with a jade belt around his waist. He had a handsome face and an innate arrogance between his brows.

His body was filled with powerful spiritual energy, indicating that he was at the eleventh level of Qi Refining, three levels higher than him.

This person was Huang Chengfeng, a direct descendant of the Huang family, a family of cultivators in the Yue Kingdom.

Huang Chengfeng glanced down at Qi Yunxiao and saw that he was dressed plainly and had a restrained aura, clearly a rogue cultivator with no one to rely on.

A contemptuous smile immediately appeared on his lips, his tone arrogant and cold: "You are Qi Yunxiao? A mere eighth level of Qi Refining, yet you dare to challenge the Yellow Maple Valley arena?"

I am Huang Chengfeng of the Huang family, at the eleventh level of Qi Refining, and I possess two high-grade magic weapons. You are no match for me.

"If you concede now, I'll spare you your dignity and save you from physical harm on stage."

Upon hearing this, Qi Yunxiao showed no fear whatsoever. Instead, he smiled faintly, his eyes as cold as knives: "Just do it, enough with the nonsense."

Before he could finish speaking, he gave his opponent no further chance, making a hand seal with his fingertips and uttering a low shout: "Black Cloud Sword, appear!"

Om-!

A jet-black sword light shot into the sky, its blade covered in silver mystic patterns, its spiritual energy surging like waves, and the pressure of a top-tier magic weapon instantly swept across the entire arena.

The Black Cloud Sword circled in the air, whistling sharply as it tore through the air, and pierced straight for Huang Chengfeng's throat!

Huang Chengfeng's expression changed abruptly, his heart filled with shock and anger.

He never expected that an insignificant rogue cultivator would act so decisively!

"Arrogant!"

He roared and flicked his wrist, instantly summoning a palm-sized, high-grade black iron shield to block in front of him. At the same time, he gripped a crimson longsword in his other hand, its blade gleaming like fire; it was also a high-grade magic weapon.

The two superior magical artifacts were activated simultaneously, their spiritual light surged, and their aura was terrifying.

"clang!!"

The Black Cloud Sword slammed into the black iron shield with a deafening roar.

The black iron shield flashed with intense light, cracks spread instantly, and it was cleaved violently by a sword strike, almost flying out of my hand.

Huang Chengfeng's pupils shrank sharply, and fear arose in his heart for the first time: This is no ordinary magic weapon, its power is top-level!

Before he could react, Qi Yunxiao's second move had already landed.

"Crimson-Striped Black Tortoise Shield, Protect!"

A flash of red light appeared, and the heavy Xuan Turtle Shield floated in front of him, protecting Qi Yunxiao completely.