Just as the old patriarch forced me to my death, I achieved the unity of Dao and fruition.

Amidst surging clouds, a colossal city floats suspended thousands of feet above the sky.

The city wall is entirely bronze in color, and its surface is covered with mottled marks left by the passage of time.

Mysterious patterns extended outwards along the city wall, intertwining with each other and eventually connecting the entire city into one.

From a distance, it doesn't look like a city, but more like a huge ancient treasure sleeping in a sea of ​​clouds.

Whenever clouds drift across the city walls, the ancient patterns glow faintly, emanating a chilling spiritual energy.

Xuandu Taiyi City.

The location of the main sect of the Xuandu Taiyi Dao Sect.

Gu Changjin landed outside the city with Ye Qingyao.

The city gate was over a thousand feet high, with a bronze Taoist soldier standing on each side, holding a long spear, with his eyes closed, looking like a statue.

Gu Changjin could sense the immense power flowing within the two Dao soldiers with just a glance.

Below the city gate, disciples of the Xuandu Taiyi Sect were responsible for verifying identities and collecting spirit stones for entering the city.

Gu Changjin went unnoticed.

He casually paid the two entrance fees and then led Ye Qingyao into the city.

The instant you pass through the city gate.

An invisible aura swept over the two of them.

Gu Changjin's aura deepened slightly.

His outward cultivation level naturally remained at the early stage of the Returning to Emptiness realm.

As for the true Void Return Perfection cultivation, as well as the Dao Fruit, the World Seed, and the Bashe bloodline, all of them sank into the deepest part of the body.

The Xuandu Taiyi Sect is the head of the ten major sects in Zhongzhou.

Who knows how many old things are hidden in this Taoist city?

Since you're new here, it's best to play it safe.

Once inside the city, the scene before me was not much different from that of an ordinary city.

The streets are wide, lined with shops on both sides, and people come and go, with shouts rising and falling.

However, in ordinary cities, rice, flour, cloth, and livestock are sold.

What they sell here is completely different.

"A superior-grade Nascent Soul Condensation Pill!"

"The complete Dan patterns can help cultivators at the Golden Core stage condense their Nascent Soul!"

"Only three hundred high-grade spirit stones will be accepted today!"

A Nascent Soul cultivator stood at the entrance of the pill shop, shouting to attract customers.

Not far away, someone else had set out more than ten magical artifacts that shimmered with spiritual light.

"An ancient treasure just brought back from a desolate ruin!"

"At the very least, it's the Nascent Soul level!"

"Those with a sharp eye, grab this deal, no refunds!"

Further along, you'll find people selling demon bloodlines, fragments of grotto-heavens, and even parts of the legacy left behind by cultivators who have returned to the Void Realm.

Gu Changjin glanced at it a few times.

The products are a mix of genuine and fake, but none of them are cheap.

The cultivators on the street were also quite powerful.

Golden Core cultivators were everywhere, Nascent Soul cultivators came and went in an endless stream, and occasionally a few Deity Transformation cultivators would walk through the crowd, at which point the surrounding cultivators would subconsciously make way for them.

As for returning to emptiness, it has indeed decreased significantly.

After Gu Changjin entered Dao City, many people had already secretly observed him.

It's just that no one dared to approach him because they couldn't discern his true strength.

On the contrary, Ye Qingyao attracted more attention.

A mortal girl with no spiritual roots and no cultivation.

Its appearance in Xuandu Taiyi City is already rare.

Moreover, she was following a white-haired old man who was clearly of extraordinary cultivation.

Although everyone was curious, they only glanced at each other tacitly before quickly looking away.

No one wants to provoke a powerful figure of unknown origin just out of curiosity.

Ye Qingyao followed closely behind Gu Changjin.

She had never seen a place like this before.

Flying boats in the sky, talking spirit beasts by the roadside, and cultivators who can make objects float in the air with a wave of their hand.

Everything about it seemed new and exciting to her.

But she didn't look around aimlessly.

I just followed quietly.

On the way here, Gu Changjin had already told her the general story of the Ye family.

Of course, it was all made up on the spot.

It was simply that the Ye family encountered a powerful enemy back then.

Her parents died protecting her and her brother.

In order to find a treasure that could defeat his enemies, Gu Changjin had to travel far away from home.

Ye Wudi fled with his younger sister and later went out to train alone, which is when he lost contact with her.

The story may be old, but it's still useful.

What truly convinced Ye Qingyao were the few items that Gu Changjin presented.

A jade pendant engraved with his name, and several small items whose origins were only known to the Ye siblings, found in the memories of the Crimson Jade Glazed Dragon.

These things cannot be faked.

At least Ye Qingyao didn't think anyone would go to such lengths to deceive a mere mortal like herself.

As for where Ye Wudi is now.

Gu Changjin only said that he had entered a secret realm for training and could not be contacted for the time being.

Although Ye Qingyao was worried, she finally had hope.

The two continued walking along the main street.

We hadn't gone far.

Gu Changjin suddenly heard several cryptic voice transmissions.

"Why are there so many people here today for the Xuandu Taiyi Sect's opening ceremony for accepting disciples?"

"Taking on apprentices is only one aspect."

"I heard that the sect is planning to add a few guest elders recently."

"Minimum return on investment is required."

"If selected, not only will you be able to obtain a cave dwelling in Dao City, but you can also exchange it for a portion of the high-level inheritance of the Taiyi Sect."

Gu Changjin paused slightly.

Are you recruiting guest retainers today?

Their timing was perfect.

Although the Crimson Jade Glazed Dragon left behind its identity, and I inherited its complete memories, it's perfectly reasonable for me to know that identity. Moreover, I've already retrieved the token from back then, and it's currently stored in my grotto.

However, it's worth going to see the grand occasion of the Xuandu Taiyi Sect recruiting disciples and guest elders, and learn more about the situation before making any decisions.

Gu Changjin changed direction and led Ye Qingyao toward the center of Dao City.

The further in you go, the more people there are.

When the two arrived at the gate of the Xuandu Taiyi Sect, the place was already packed with people.

Dozens of high platforms are suspended in mid-air.

Long queues formed in front of each platform.

The square was almost completely filled with young cultivators who came to participate in the introductory trial.

There were also some powerful figures with profound presence standing on the other side.

The weakest of those people were all in the early stages of the Returning to Emptiness realm.

They were all clearly after the position of guest elder.

Xuandu Taidao Sect.

The top sect among the ten major sects of the Central Continent's Great Luo Heaven Domain.

In terms of lineage, heritage, and reputation, it is incomparable to ordinary sects.

Even if he is just a guest advisor, it is enough to make many rogue cultivators who have returned to the Void Realm tempted.

Gu Changjin led Ye Qingyao into the square.

The aura of the early stage of returning to emptiness dissipated slightly from his body.

The crowd that was originally crowded immediately made way for them.

Many cultivators looked at him with more awe.

Gu Changjin was observing his surroundings.

A somewhat noisy voice suddenly came from the side.

"Where did this little brat come from?"

"When did a mere mortal become allowed to enter Xuandu Taiyi Dao City?"

Gu Changjin slowly turned his head.

The speaker was a chubby young man dressed in a purple and gold python robe, who looked quite young.

Her waist was adorned with jade pendants, and she wore several shimmering rings on her hands.

His cultivation level was only Golden Core, but the gray-robed old man standing next to him was a late-stage Returning Void cultivator.

The chubby boy held his head high, his gaze fixed on Ye Qingyao, his face full of disdain.

Gu Changjin glanced around.

It seems that he is indeed the only one nearby with a mortal girl.

Before he could even speak.

Someone nearby had already lowered their voice and recognized the chubby boy.

"He was the Prince of Anhai of the ancient Da Ning Dynasty."

"Why is he participating in the Xuandu Taiyi Dao Sect's trials too?"

"I heard that something big has happened in his fiefdom recently."

"Linhai City was wiped out by a mysterious powerful figure with a single palm strike."

"The person who made the move is suspected to be a powerful being above the Integration Stage."

"Although the Great Ning Dynasty was powerful, the royal family only had one Grand Ancestor who had reached the Integration Realm."

"King Anhai was afraid that the powerful figure would come knocking on his door, so he gave up his fiefdom and prepared to seek protection by joining the Xuandu Taiyi Sect."

Upon hearing this, Gu Changjin revealed a strange smile.

It turns out that this chubby boy is the prince of the fiefdom where Linhai City is located.

What a small world! It seems I wasn't careful enough back then.

If I had known, I should have slapped that dynasty down with it as well.

To avoid having anyone come up to you and make a fuss.