Fellow Daoist, I gladly accept this heaven-defying opportunity.

Three days later, at the Beth Creek Market.

A tall, slender young man walked slowly towards them. Although his gray robe was somewhat worn, it could not conceal the cold and murderous aura emanating from him.

When passersby brushed past him, they would instinctively hold their breath and walk around him, not daring to look at him for long.

It was Xu Mofeng who had returned from beyond the pass.

He went straight into a shop that bought and sold materials from monsters, and sold the monster pelts, claws and teeth he had collected on this trip, along with the five-hundred-year-old nine-leaf grass, in exchange for three mid-grade spirit stones and dozens of basic spirit stones.

He then purchased another batch of body-tempering herbs and pills, and then headed straight for the Biyou Sect.

More than a month after he left the mountain, the sect remained the same, but Xu Mofeng had already undergone a complete transformation.

Before he left, he was just an ordinary disciple at the seventh level of Qi Refining, but now he is at the tenth level of Qi Refining and possesses a mastered Xuan-level sword technique.

If this gets out, the entire younger generation of the Biyou Sect will be utterly shocked.

"Next, it's time to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage."

The moment Xu Mofeng stepped through the mountain gate, his eyes shone brightly as he set a new goal.

He glanced down at his tattered robe and chuckled helplessly, "After a month of eating raw meat and drinking blood, my clothes are practically beggar's clothes. I'll have to get a new set soon..."

Before he could finish speaking, he suddenly exclaimed "Huh?" and a look of astonishment appeared on his face.

He could clearly see that he was surrounded by several feet of shimmering white light, and several white lines of opportunity, like living things, extended from the mountain gate into the depths of the sect.

Xu Mofeng raised an eyebrow, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

This is the first time I've ever seen a special opportunity that's right in front of me. How could I let such a benefit slip by?

He immediately took a step forward and followed the faint trail of light, eager to see what kind of treasure this unexpected opportunity was.

Following the path of opportunity, I noticed that more and more disciples were gathering along the way, making a noisy scene like a market.

When they reached the end and looked closely, they saw a huge crowd gathered three or four deep, all craning their necks to look inside, as if there were some rare treasures inside.

Xu Mofeng squeezed to the front and saw a disciple in a blue robe sitting behind a long table. Without even lifting his eyelids, the disciple waved his hand impatiently: "Those who want to participate in the inner sect selection, hurry up and register. Those who aren't participating, move aside; you're blocking the people behind you!"

Xu Mofeng then noticed a wooden sign standing beside him, with several large characters written on it in a flamboyant style: Inner Disciple Selection Registration Office.

So all that chasing after opportunities turned out to be a registration point?

He chuckled inwardly.

He naturally knew about the Biyou Sect's annual inner sect selection, and any outer sect disciple with confidence would fight tooth and nail to get in.

The selection process doesn't have a cultivation level requirement, but those who make it into the top three and secure an inner sect spot every year are all formidable figures at the Foundation Establishment stage.

Sometimes, when there are too many Foundation Establishment disciples, the weaker ones have to wait until the following year to compete again.

As for why everyone is scrambling for inner sect spots, it's naturally because the treatment of inner and outer sect members is vastly different.

Outer disciples only receive three basic spirit stones per month, which is barely enough to buy half a bottle of healing medicine. They also have to take turns doing chores every day, such as sweeping the hall, chopping wood, and feeding spirit birds. Calling them disciples is less accurate than calling them chores workers provided with room and board by the sect.

What about the inner disciples?

The monthly allowance is increased tenfold, with a minimum of one mid-grade spirit stone per month, plus a fixed amount of pills to aid cultivation. There's basically no need to do any chores; you can focus solely on cultivation.

His gaze swept downwards, landing on the reward details below the registration board.

"Those who make it into the top ten will each receive a Human-Rank Foundation Tempering Pill."

"The top three winners will each receive a mid-grade Human Rank Body Tempering Pill and a mid-grade Human Rank cultivation technique."

"The top-ranked player will be awarded one high-grade Human-level Qi Cultivation Pill and one high-grade Human-level cultivation technique."

With such a reward displayed, it's no wonder that all the surrounding disciples were green with envy.

The superior-grade Human Rank Qi Cultivation Pill is a divine pill for Foundation Establishment cultivators. If someone at the tenth level of Qi Refining takes it, their chances of breaking through to Foundation Establishment will increase by 30%. It is practically priceless in the outer sect.

Not to mention high-grade human-level cultivation techniques, there are very few in the entire outer sect who can produce one. It's no exaggeration to say that they are family heirlooms. Who wouldn't be tempted by them?

Staring at the words on the wooden board, Xu Mofeng's mind instantly became clear.

This unexpected opportunity wasn't a windfall; it was a sign pointing out a path to great benefits, telling him to earn them through his own abilities.

In this world, some opportunities are given away for free, but most must be seized through force.

"Sign up."

Xu Mofeng strode to the table, crisply stated his name and age, and as he picked up his pen to write, a hint of triumphant smile appeared in his eyes.

He had just finished registering and taken two steps back when a burly man pushed through the crowd and slammed his fist on the table, his voice booming: "Register me too!"

"Name, age".

"Tan Tie, eighteen!"

The boy had a loud voice, and he delivered information with a carefree and easygoing manner.

Xu Mofeng couldn't help but glance at him a few more times. This person also had a white light of opportunity floating above his head, which was completely different from the gray light of the others.

Whispers drifted over from the surroundings.

"Tan Tie? He's a famous strongman in the outer sect, with superhuman strength. His arm strength is said to be over 30,000 jin. There are few who can match him among those at the tenth level of Qi Refining. He's definitely aiming for the top three this time."

"His top three position is a bit uncertain, as those old monsters in the Foundation Establishment realm are still holding him back, but he's definitely in the top ten."

"I also think that a top-ten finish is the minimum, but getting into the top three depends on luck."

Xu Mofeng's eyes flickered slightly, and he instantly understood: the white light of opportunity corresponds to the top ten in the selection, since the rewards for the top ten are just enough to qualify for a white-level opportunity.

The top three, or even the top spot, likely correspond to even higher-level blue-tier opportunities.

With a cultivation level of tenth level Qi Refining, he's only fit to compete for a top ten position in the system's eyes?

He curled his lips into a smile. Rules are rigid, but people are flexible. Just because others can't do something doesn't mean Xu Mofeng can't.

Registration lasted for a whole day.

The next morning, Xu Mofeng changed into a clean gray robe and arrived at the selection venue early.

A large crowd had already gathered around the field, mostly outer disciples who had come to join the fun; only about a hundred people were actually participating in the competition.

Before long, disciples from various peaks arrived one after another, and the huge square was packed with people.

Xu Mofeng stood in the crowd and glanced around. Among the disciples participating in the selection, more than a dozen beams of opportunity light clearly floated above their heads, white and blue, clearly distinguishable.

Those emitting white light are the top talents at the tenth level of Qi Refining, while those emitting blue light are outer sect experts who have already broken through to the Foundation Establishment stage. In his eyes, it's as clear as if they've been labeled.

Just then, a black-robed elder slowly walked to the center of the arena, followed by a dozen blue-robed disciples maintaining order. His gaze swept across the entire area, and his voice was calm and steady: "The inner sect selection officially begins. First item: Strength test!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a dozen or so bronze locks, each about half a person's height, were carried onto the stage by his disciples and slammed heavily onto the ground, causing the ground to tremble slightly.

"Lift the copper lock and hold it for ten breaths; that is to pass."

The elder calmly announced the rules.

The disciples below were all eager to compete, and soon a disciple who had reached the tenth level of Qi Refining jumped out, patting his chest with confidence: "I'll go first!"

He strode to the brass lock, gripped the lock ring tightly, took a deep breath, and strained, yelling, "Lift!"

The copper lock wobbled, but didn't budge.

The disciple's face instantly turned a deep liver color, his teeth clenched so hard the veins on his forehead bulged, and he roared, "Rise—!"

The copper lock finally wobbled off the ground, but his face was flushed red and his arms were shaking. Before he could hold on for five breaths, his hand went limp, and the copper lock crashed back to the ground with a thud, splattering dust all over his face.

"Insufficient duration, not up to standard."

The disciple in charge of recording spoke expressionlessly.

The onlookers instantly erupted in uproar.

"Even someone at the tenth level of Qi Refining couldn't last ten breaths? This copper lock must weigh at least 20,000 jin (10,000 kg)!"

"This test is too brutal; so many people were eliminated in the first round?"

"Exactly, they're deliberately making things difficult for people!"

"Difficult my foot!"

A sneer erupted from the crowd, and Tan Tie swaggered out, his face full of disdain.

Xu Mofeng recognized him at a glance; he was the burly man he had met when registering yesterday.

Then Tan Tie walked to the copper lock, stretched out his left hand, and easily lifted it up with one hand. He even tossed it a couple of times like he was weighing walnuts. He then picked up another one with his other hand. He used both hands to manipulate the two copper locks, making them spin around in circles.

Only when the disciple in charge shouted "Passed" did he casually put it down, and the copper lock landed steadily without even wobbling.

"With this little strength, you dare to call yourself a Qi Refining Level 10? It would be a joke if the inner sect accepted trash like you."

Tan Tie glanced around with a smirk, then swaggered back into the crowd, leaving a group of disciples red-faced with anger, too daring to speak out.

Everyone knew that the strength test was just to weed out the slackers, and the real ranking would be determined by the martial arts competition later on. But to be mocked so blatantly in the first round was something no one could accept.