A hundredfold return! My unfilial disciples are all reincarnations of the Empress.

The barriers of the nine peaks of Qingyun are interconnected. To be able to sneak into the main peak silently and avoid all array monitoring, this person's strength should not be underestimated.

If we allow this villain to come and go without a trace, the sect will likely face endless troubles in the future.

She immediately stood up and solemnly said, "Peak Master Lin, I will accompany you to Little Bamboo Peak to investigate using the Mirror of Light!"

The two said no more and led Liu Yushu back to Xiaozhu Peak.

In front of the bamboo house, Su Wanqing formed a hand seal and slowly channeled spiritual energy into the Mirror of Light.

A buzzing sound rang out, and the hazy light screen on the mirror gradually unfolded, with images of time rewinding from this morning.

The three stared motionlessly at the light screen when suddenly, a mysterious person dressed in a black cloak and wearing a black mask rushed into the light screen!

He slowly approached the barrier of Xiaozhu Peak, took out a jade-shaped magic artifact from his pocket, and placed it on the barrier.

The next second, the solid and deep barrier of Qingyun Palace opened up a gap large enough for one person to pass through.

Without the slightest fluctuation of spiritual energy, this person easily stepped into Little Bamboo Peak.

Seeing this, Su Wanqing, who was standing to the side, felt a slight choking in her breath.

The magical artifact continued to trace back, and the dark figure traversed the vast bamboo forest, walking straight into Liu Yushu's bamboo house and placing the letter on the wooden table.

After doing all this, he returned the way he came and exited the barrier.

Su Wanqing retrieved the magical artifact.

The entire Xiaozhu Peak was deathly silent, with only the rustling of bamboo leaves.

Lin Feng's gaze turned cold, a glint of icy light flashing in his eyes. He said in a deep voice, "This person's ability to come and go freely is largely due to that magical artifact. Furthermore, his familiarity with the location of Little Bamboo Peak suggests he might be connected to disciples within the sect."

Su Wanqing nodded and said, "What you said makes sense. This matter is of great importance. I will report it to the sect leader."

"That's how it should be," Lin Feng said.

Su Wanqing's tone softened: "Peak Master Lin, you must be extra vigilant in the future. I'll take my leave now."

"Definitely."

……

After seeing Su Wanqing off, the night grew even darker.

To find out the truth, Lin Feng went straight to the sect's library.

There was only one light in the library late at night. When the elder guarding the library saw that it was the peak master coming, he did not stop him and even lit all the lights in the library.

After a long time, he finally found a similar record in an old, ancient artifact's notebook.

The book records a magical artifact called the Jade Scepter of the Silent Realm.

This jade tablet has no offensive capabilities; its only purpose is to break formations.

Moreover, this magical artifact has been lost for many years and is extremely rare.

After examining it, Lin Feng was basically certain that the jade tablet in the man in black's hand last night was either the Jade Pendant of the Silent Realm or a replica of it.

Only this thing can allow the other party to move freely within the Qingyun Barrier without being detected by anyone.

The next morning.

The disciples of the Sect Leader's Hall rushed over to deliver the order, instructing Lin Feng and Su Wanqing to immediately go to the main hall for a meeting.

The two dared not delay and quickly arrived at the main hall of the sect leader.

The Qingyun Sect Leader sat solemnly in the main seat, asking directly, "Peak Master Su told me last night about someone infiltrating the barrier. Do you have any leads?"

Su Wanqing stepped forward and said, "This person is very familiar with the terrain of Xiaozhu Peak, and it cannot be ruled out that he has connections with people within the sect."

The sect leader nodded upon hearing this, then turned to Lin Feng: "Have you made any other discoveries?"

"Reporting to the Sect Leader, last night I went to the library to consult ancient books and found a record of a matching magical artifact."

The jade tablet in the man in black's hand is called the Jade Pendant of the Silent Realm, a lost ancient treasure.

This item has no offensive capabilities; it's a magical artifact specifically designed to break barriers, allowing people to enter and leave the sect without making a sound.

Upon hearing these words, the sect leader's face instantly darkened.

"The Jade Pendant of the Silent Realm? This object has been extinct for thousands of years, and now it has suddenly reappeared, and is even being used to infiltrate my Qingyun Sect..."

His eyes turned cold, and he said in a deep voice, "The other party possesses such an ancient magical artifact and is familiar with the terrain of my sect. This must have been a long-term scheme. This matter poses a great threat and must be thoroughly investigated."

Su Wanqing also looked solemn: "With this magic artifact, our ordinary barriers are simply no match for the enemy."

"How about..."

The group then held a secret discussion.

On that day, the True Man Xuanqing issued a decree, instructing the entire sect.

All the sect's mountain gates, entrances to secret realms, and remote mountain paths were manned by sentries who patrolled day and night, leaving no stone unturned.

However, after a full two weeks, nothing unusual happened, which made everyone even more certain that the man in black was in contact with the disciples of the sect.

On the day of the disciples' competition, the long-silent Qingyun Palace became lively and bustling.

Since the Qingyun Palace suffered heavy losses in the war between immortals and demons ten years ago, the sect's foundation has been greatly damaged, and it almost fell out of the ranks of immortal sects.

The news of the reopening of the disciple-acceptance ceremony spread throughout the Great Chu Kingdom, and even cultivators from several surrounding vassal states came to visit.

At this moment, Qingxi Town at the foot of Qingyun Palace Mountain was bustling with people.

"Qingyun is recruiting disciples again after ten years, finally replenishing its manpower and slowly recovering its strength."

"In the heyday of Qingyun, countless geniuses gathered here, and the scene was truly magnificent. But now it is not what it used to be."

"I heard the requirements have been relaxed quite a bit this year..."

A cacophony of voices rose and fell, creating a lively and bustling atmosphere.

The vast martial arts arena in front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony is the testing ground for this disciple-acceptance ceremony.

The stone platform is wide and flat, covered with ancient runes, and surrounded by nine towering stone pillars, each corresponding to one of the nine peaks of Qingyun Mountain, creating a magnificent atmosphere.

On the high platform, the sect leader, Master Xuanqing, sat in the main seat.

The remaining nine peak masters took their seats on the left and right sides in turn.

Peak Master Zhen Yan's face was cold and hard as he swept his gaze over the disciples registering below the stage, his eyes filled with arrogance.

Su Wanqing sat quietly on the table, her eyebrows and eyes gentle, her temperament elegant.

Only the very last seat was occupied by Lin Feng, dressed in pristine white robes, who sat languidly.

His gaze swept indifferently over the sea of ​​people below.

Following the typical formula of online novels, the empresses all have different personalities, but all are top-notch in beauty.

His gaze lingered on a female disciple dressed in red with an arrogant expression.

Just then, a familiar system notification sounded in my mind.

"Ding! The Qingyun Palace Apprenticeship Ceremony has officially begun!"

"Detecting the Heavenly Prodigy—Chi Yao!"

"This woman possesses the innate Crimson Flame Dao Body and Supreme Immortal Bones; her fortune is boundless. She is a cultivation prodigy, one in ten thousand years!"

"Exclusive Apprentice Recruitment Quest Triggered: Subdue Lie Chiyao and bring her into the Xiaozhu Peak sect!"

"Task Rewards: A wisp of primordial spiritual energy, +2 aptitude, and one random 100x critical hit lottery draw!"

A look of surprise flashed across Lin Feng's eyes.

"As expected of the chosen one locked by the system, she is indeed extraordinary."

With his Crimson Flame Dao Body and Supreme Immortal Bones, even without extraordinary luck, he would not be an ordinary person.

Just as Lin Feng was pondering to himself, a clear and majestic voice resounded throughout the training ground from the main seat on the high platform.

"The Qingyun Palace Apprenticeship Ceremony has officially begun!"

"This assessment consists of three trials: testing innate talent, testing temperament, and testing combat skills! Those who pass will choose their path and become disciples of my Qingyun Sect!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the entire training ground fell silent.