Divine Root Bone

As the elder from the mysterious force headed towards the Eastern Region, the atmosphere in the distant Black Stone Ridge region had already become extremely lively.

Zhang Yang and his group, weary from their journey, finally arrived at the Black Stone Ridge area.

Looking out into the distance, the entire open area on the west side of Black Stone Ridge was bustling with activity. Countless disciples from minor sects, mountain cultivators, and idle martial artists moved about in an endless stream, forming a dense crowd that covered the mountain roads and temporary markets. People of all kinds, dressed in various sect attire, gathered here, and the sounds of noise, laughter, and the clash of magical treasures rose and fell.

Although this place is just a remote mountain range in the Eastern Region, it has attracted all the small sects and independent martial artists within a hundred or a thousand miles around due to the upcoming sect competition.

However, despite the large number of people, the crowd was a mixed bag, and no one could tell how many of them were simply there to watch the excitement and join in, and how many were truly qualified participants who were ready to compete on stage.

There was still quite some time before the Black Stone Ridge Competition officially began, so Zhang Yang and his group did not rush to the competition venue. Instead, they planned to settle down and rest first.

Before their departure, the sect leader of Qingyun Sect had already explained the rules of this competition in detail.

This Black Stone Ridge arena competition wasn't some grand, top-tier event; it was merely a small-scale martial arts gathering for surrounding sects and gangs to hone their skills and for newcomers to practice. Its purpose was simply to allow lower-level cultivators to hone their abilities and accumulate practical experience, not to compete for supremacy.

For this reason, the competition has extremely strict cultivation restrictions: only cultivators at the Qi Refining Realm can participate, and the highest cultivation level must not exceed the peak of Qi Refining. Anyone who has entered the Foundation Establishment Realm or above is strictly prohibited from stepping onto the stage.

If Foundation Establishment experts are allowed to participate, this training competition, which is specifically designed for lower-level cultivators, will completely lose its meaning. Moreover, this place is already remote, and there are no experts with sufficient cultivation to oversee it, so there is no way to restrain higher-level cultivators and maintain fairness in the competition.

In addition, the competition rules are extremely lenient and simple: as long as you are wearing the sect's uniform, you can register directly to participate without complicated review, and the threshold is very low.

After learning the rules, Zhang Yang and his companions planned to take advantage of the free time before the competition to rest and recuperate. Some could use this time to stabilize their cultivation and seize the opportunity to break through, while others could purchase pills, talismans, and consumables at the nearby market to replenish their supplies and be in the best condition for the upcoming competition.

The group scanned their surroundings and soon found a small inn in the mountains facing the street.

This place was specially set up for this sect competition. Those who came and stayed included disciples from various sects who were preparing to compete, as well as idle cultivators who came simply to watch and join in the fun.

When Zhang Yang and his group entered the inn dressed in the uniform attire of the Qingyun Sect, many cultivators around them subconsciously turned their heads to look at them.

The crowd's gazes lingered briefly on them, their eyes filled with a mixture of understanding and awe.

The area surrounding Blackstone Ridge is mostly comprised of insignificant sects, mountain gangs, and scattered cultivators, with shallow foundations and weak power. In contrast, the Azure Cloud Sect, which came from the Southern Region, is an absolute behemoth in this area.

Looking at Zhang Yang and his group, their aura was refined and their foundation was steady, far surpassing most of the lower-level cultivators around them. Their formation was orderly and their demeanor was extraordinary. Anyone with discerning eyes could tell that they were disciples from a legitimate major sect.

The onlookers glanced at it a couple of times before quickly looking away. No one dared to spy or provoke trouble. In the chaotic Black Stone Ridge, no one wanted to offend a powerful outside sect whose forces far surpassed the local ones.

Upon seeing this, the innkeeper became even more enthusiastic and quickly stepped forward to greet them warmly.

The sect competition has caused a surge in visitors, and all the inns and shops are booming with business and a constant stream of customers. Having a large sect like the Qingyun Sect stay there not only brings in a considerable sum for food and lodging but also enhances the reputation of the establishments. Naturally, the inns dare not neglect them in the slightest and treat them with the utmost respect.

Guided by the shopkeeper, everyone checked in one by one.

The inn's rooms are all private single rooms, offering a reasonable level of privacy, enough for everyone to quietly meditate, cultivate, and rest.

Zhang Yang randomly selected a room in the middle and pushed open the door. The room was simply and cleanly furnished, with tables, chairs, and beds. The overall structure was fairly tidy and sufficient for temporary lodging.

But as his gaze swept across the entire room, a hint of doubt quietly rose in his heart.

The room was sealed off and orderly, with solid walls on all four sides. The entire room had no windows, and the walls on all sides were completely sealed off, making it airtight.

Although the air inside was not particularly polluted, the bizarre structure of the house, which was completely enclosed and had no ventilation or lighting, was far too unusual for a typical guesthouse.

Having just arrived and exhausted from his journey, and finding no evil aura, murderous intent, or strange fluctuations in the house, Zhang Yang frowned slightly and pondered for a moment before not delving too deeply into it. He simply assumed it was due to the unique layout of the inn and, suppressing his doubts, settled down to stay for the time being.

Following closely behind, Lin Wanqing and Su Qingyao each checked into one of Zhang Yang's two adjacent single rooms, which were very close to each other so they could look after each other if anything happened.

The senior disciple from the Qingyun Sect, who accompanied the group, waited until all his junior brothers and sisters were settled and had checked into their rooms before choosing his own. He deliberately avoided sitting next to everyone else, choosing a room several rooms away, so as not to disturb their rest while still being able to keep an eye on the safety of the entire group.

In a short while, all the disciples of the Qingyun Sect successfully checked in and entered their rooms. Some sat cross-legged to regulate their breathing, while others sat quietly to rest, waiting for the Black Stone Ridge Minor Competition to officially begin.

Inside and outside the inn, the noise of people and the constant coming and going of cultivators remained unnoticed. No one realized that beneath the sealed, windowless rooms of this bustling and prosperous place, a subtle and unsettling mystery lurked.