Sixty years of blacksmithing, a single hammer blow forging a celestial being.

At this moment, all the disciples below the Qi Refining stage from the Tongtian Sword Sect who were to participate in the competition had already assembled.

There were over a hundred people in total, most of whom were at the late stage of Qi Refining.

Most of them came from the outer sect, and their strength was at the seventh or eighth level of Qi Refining, etc.

They are the backbone of the students participating in this competition.

In addition, there were several outstanding talents from the inner sect.

Although they were all at the late stage of Qi Refining, their talent and combat skills were incomparable to those of the outer disciples.

The number of magical treasures he possessed was astonishing.

The most eye-catching among them is Tang Jiannan, the rising star of the inner sect.

I heard that he had already reached the Great Perfection of Qi Refining last year.

He simply suppressed his cultivation level and didn't break through in order to participate in this trial.

It can be said that his realm has already surpassed Qi Refining and he has already reached the half-step Foundation Establishment stage.

I heard that he is a newly promoted sword cultivator who is favored even by the sect's patriarch, and his cultivation techniques are extremely unique.

Moreover, his talent is a terrifyingly high-quality single spiritual root, so his future prospects are limitless.

At this moment, he was standing directly in front of the Tongtian Sword Sect's ranks.

He was about twenty years old, handsome and dashing, and dressed in a white robe.

He carried a jeweled longsword on his back, with intricate carvings and runes faintly engraved on it.

It's clearly not an ordinary item; it's at least a high-grade Xuan-level magic weapon.

Around it were several other disciples who also possessed extraordinary bearing.

They are Tian Buwei and Hu Yijian, two disciples from the inner sect.

They were both at the Great Perfection of the Qi Refining Stage in the Inner Sect, but their strength was not as formidable as Tang Jiannan's.

There was also a beautiful female cultivator standing in their group, Lu Shuang.

Both are outstanding disciples of the inner sect, and both possess top-grade single spiritual roots.

I heard that he is also a sword cultivator, and his strength is unfathomable.

He and Tang Jiannan were known as the strongest cultivators below the Foundation Establishment stage.

There are many rumors that Tang Jiannan has been pursuing Lu Shuang.

However, Lu Shuang was extremely aloof and completely ignored Tang Jiannan.

However, these are all just rumors, and the actual nature of their relationship remains unknown.

Amidst the dazzling brilliance of these prodigies, there were also many disciples in the Tongtian Sword Sect's formation attempting to take advantage of the chaos.

Most of these disciples were at the mid-stage of Qi Refining.

The reason I participated in this trial was also out of wishful thinking.

I just want to find a place to hide during the trials, and I can easily become rich by gathering some herbs.

After all, there are countless treasures in the Trial Grounds.

If you're lucky, you might actually find one or two top-grade medicinal herbs.

That means we'll have the cultivation resources we need for the next year or two.

There are quite a few people like this.

"Look, this year quite a few people are trying to take advantage of the chaos and try to make some money in that Misty Valley."

"I saw it. A mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator wants to go to Misty Valley? Isn't that just cannon fodder? They really have commendable courage."

"That's hard to say. If you find a place to hide and don't participate in the battle, you can survive until the end of the trial."

"What's the point of going in then? Why risk your life?"

"Look at that old man, his beard is all white, he's probably over seventy, and he still dares to go into this trial!"

"Judging from his aura, he's only at the mid-stage of Qi Refining. Tsk tsk, he's really had enough of living."

"Don't you know who he is? He's that handyman who's over sixty!"

"It was him!"

Upon hearing this, all the disciples who were not participating in the trial and were just watching looked at Li Ping'an.

They knew about the new policy issued by the sect, but it only applied to menial servants.

It is not targeted at other disciples, whether they are internal or external.

I heard that among all the miscellaneous disciples who are over sixty years old this time...

Li Ping'an was the only one who participated in the trial.

"It really is that old guy! I heard he was the one who participated in the arena last time and managed to stay, and now he's here again for this trial!"

"I'm really curious, what is it about this sect that attracts him and makes him feel he has to stay!"

"Hey, didn't you know? He's with that saintess..."

At this point, the disciple who was about to gossip suddenly remembered something and quickly fell silent.

He waved his hand and said, "Let's not talk about this anymore."

The other disciple nodded knowingly.

This topic shouldn't even be brought up in front of so many people.

If that guy surnamed Zhang hears this, then things will get really bad.

While the disciples were laughing wildly at Li Ping'an for being so reckless.

Li Ping'an was busy waving goodbye to the group of disciples from the abandoned hall.

"Sir, you must come back safe and sound!"

The group of abandoned disciples looked at Li Ping'an with reluctance.

They were afraid that something might happen to Li Ping'an during the trial.

"Don't worry, everyone, I'll be fine. I'm confident I will."

Li Pingan waved to comfort them.

"Sir, this talisman was bought for you by all of our disciples pooling our money. Although its grade isn't very high, we hope it can play a role in a crucial moment."

Long Yun stepped out of the crowd, holding a talisman in his hand and handing it to Li Ping'an.

Li Ping'an took a closer look and saw that it was a first-tier, mid-grade spell shield talisman.

You can crush the talisman and generate a magic shield around yourself.

It can withstand some external attacks.

However, this kind of magic talisman is of a relatively low grade.

To be honest, it's hard to see how effective it is against truly skilled opponents.

But when Li Ping'an looked at the crumpled talisman, he couldn't help but feel a warmth in his heart.

The disciples of the abandoned hall were truly good to him, and his sincere treatment of them was not in vain.

It can be said that true feelings were exchanged for true feelings.

"Alright, I'll accept this talisman. With it, I'm sure I'll be safe and sound during the trial."

Li Ping'an put the talisman into his pocket and smiled.

The disciples of the abandoned hall also laughed.

Ahead, Qingyue walked out from the crowd.

"Little brother, you'd better be careful this time during the trial. You must come out alive, you hear me?"

Qingyue gave some words of advice, still a little worried.

Li Pingan nodded, indicating that he was alright.

"That's good." Qingyue said, suddenly taking out a stack of talismans from her body.

"These talismans are all for you. Take them and use them. Make sure you stay safe and sound, and don't worry about wasting the talismans."

Li Ping'an was stunned when he saw the thick stack of talismans.

My goodness, so many talismans, and all of them are second-tier spell talismans!

No way, does Qingyue own a mine? That's way too rich!

Just this stack of talismans alone, according to Li Ping'an's calculations, would cost at least five thousand spirit stones.

"Senior sister, this is far too precious!"

"What's so valuable about it?" Qingyue glanced at him and said irritably.

"You're my lucky star in alchemy; in my eyes, you're far more valuable than this stack of talismans. You absolutely must return safely and continue to assist me in alchemy, do you hear me?"