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

The Holy Maiden has arrived!

Upon hearing this name,

Li Ping'an felt a tremor in his heart and couldn't help but turn his head to look at the girl in the sky.

Looking at that familiar figure in the sky, Li Ping'an couldn't help but feel a little dazed.

I felt that the figure was both familiar and unfamiliar.

Lu Xue, is that you?

Li Ping'an's eyes couldn't help but well up with tears.

You should know that he worked as a blacksmith in the sect's miscellaneous service department for a full sixty years.

Isn't it all just to see Lu Xue?

Isn't it all for the sake of rekindling his romance with Lu Xue?

Now, when I look up, I see that beautiful silhouette in the sky.

Li Ping'an, however, felt somewhat lost and disappointed.

She is still so young and so beautiful.

He had already become an old man.

Meanwhile, many people below exclaimed in surprise.

"My God, look! It's actually the Holy Maiden Lu Xue!"

"Wasn't he chosen by the Lingtian Holy Sect? How come he's here again?"

"I heard she's now the Holy Maiden of the Lingtian Holy Sect, her status even higher than our sect leader!"

"The reason she returned this time is because the Lingtian Holy Sect intends for her to come down here to train and sever her worldly ties so that her strength can improve by leaps and bounds."

"Tsk tsk, no wonder she was chosen as the Holy Maiden by the Lingtian Holy Land. Her aura is probably already at the late Foundation Establishment stage. Truly terrifying!"

Li Pingan quietly looked at Lu Xue in the sky.

I could hear the constant chatter around me.

Severing ties with the world? Could it be referring to oneself?

You see, he knew this from Long Yun's words.

This trial requires all servants over sixty years of age to participate, or they will be expelled from the sect.

It was done by the saintess.

So, could it be that Lu Xue came back this time to completely sever ties with him and end this earthly bond?

Thinking of this, Li Ping'an couldn't help but smile bitterly.

Lu Xue, his childhood sweetheart whom he had cherished for decades, wanted him to die.

Just as he was pondering, Lu Xue in the sky seemed to sense Li Ping'an's gaze.

A pair of clear, bright eyes, devoid of any emotion, swept down at him.

Li Ping'an felt Lu Xue's gaze sweep over him and quickly lowered his head to avoid eye contact.

Fortunately, the saintess only glanced at his spot twice before looking elsewhere.

Thankfully, they didn't spot me.

Li Ping'an breathed a long sigh of relief.

For some reason, today when he saw the woman he had longed for for decades, he felt a surge of emotion.

A strange feeling crept into my heart.

She is no longer the innocent and carefree Lu Xue of the past.

Now she seems even more unapproachable and untouchable.

For some reason, the moment I saw the saint today...

Li Ping'an felt as if something he had held dear for decades had shattered so easily.

ended.

They are no longer on the same path.

It's time to put an end to all this.

When Li Pingan raised his head again, his eyes were filled with immense relief.

Lu Xue floated in mid-air, her entire body radiating spiritual energy.

He stared intently at the gray-haired old man below, lost in thought.

Brother Ping An, is that you?

I came here specifically for you, now that I'm leaving this holy land. It's time for all of this to end.

"quiet!"

A deep, resonant voice descended once more.

The crowd, which had become noisy due to the appearance of the saintess, was quelled again.

The sect leader of the Tongtian Sword Sect spoke loudly.

"The trial is about to begin. The winner of this trial will receive a high-grade Xuan-level magic weapon as a reward from our four major sects. In addition, the winner will receive an extra reward."

"Any other rewards?"

Everyone perked up their ears upon hearing this.

Is there something special about this year?

"If you can win the championship in this year's trial competition, you can have a two-hour face-to-face conversation with the Holy Maiden of Lingtian Holy Land!"

These words caused an uproar throughout the room.

Did they hear that right?

This year's winner will actually have the opportunity to speak face-to-face with the Holy Maiden!

You must know that she is a Holy Maiden! And from the Lingtian Holy Land!

The Lingtian Holy Land possesses super-powerful beings at the level of Nascent Soul and Divine Transformation.

Compared to the colossal Lingtian Holy Land, their four major sects were as insignificant as ants.

The Holy Maiden holds an even more extraordinary position within the Lingtian Holy Land.

Not to mention anything could happen between him and the Holy Maiden, he could at least be valued by her.

Wouldn't that mean we'd have a chance to go to the Lingtian Holy Land?

More importantly, the Holy Maiden possesses an innate spiritual body and terrifying talent.

He also studied the supreme Taoist methods of the Lingtian Holy Land.

Being able to talk to him for two hours must have been very beneficial.

In an instant, everyone below turned their eyes on him with fervor.

It seems that this year's trial competition will definitely be another bloody battle.

Many people are already eager to get started.

We must give it our all in this trial competition.

Upon hearing this news, Li Ping'an's eyes lit up immediately!

Could one have a face-to-face conversation with the saintess?

If I can win the championship, wouldn't I have the opportunity to speak directly with Lu Xue?

After decades apart, he had so much to say to Lu Xue.

However, the thought of the dangers within the trial grounds gave Li Ping'an a headache.

How could the title of champion be so easy to obtain?

Countless brilliant minds are eyeing this top spot!

Besides, what could he possibly say to Lu Xue, the high and mighty Lu Xue?

That's it!

Li Pingan shook his head.

I'll just find a place to hide and survive until the end.

As for the top spot, it's best not to even think about it!

"The Trial Grounds, Misty Valley, will open in one minute. Disciples participating in the competition, please prepare yourselves."

A clear, ethereal voice rang out from all directions.

A beautiful woman with a graceful figure appeared in the sky, her red lips slightly parted.

The beautiful voice flowed into everyone's ears like a clear spring, captivating them completely.

He is the vice sect leader of the Eastern Sacred Sect, and his strength is unfathomable.

Most importantly, she is extremely beautiful and alluring.

As soon as he finished speaking, the teleportation portal that rose from the ground suddenly lit up with beams of divine light.

Then it started to rotate along the central point of light, gradually forming a vortex.

"Disciples of the Tongtian Sword Sect, heed my command! Enter the Trial Grounds!"

Among the disciples of the Tongtian Sword Sect participating in the competition, Tang Jiannan, as the captain of the team, shouted loudly.

All the disciples of the Tongtian Sword Sect immediately stood at attention.

Led by Tang Jiannan, they were the first to step into the teleportation array.

Tang Jiannan stepped into the teleportation array, and his entire figure was instantly swallowed up and disappeared.

Then the other disciples followed suit, all rushing into the teleportation array.

They usually join one sect after another.

Entering as a group increases the chances of being together in the Misty Valley.

Sure enough, when Li Ping'an entered the Misty Valley...

The surrounding environment changed instantly.

A misty fog enveloped the entire valley.

The ground beneath our feet had turned into damp soil covered with withered leaves.

It was surrounded by dense forest.

The entire Misty Valley looked somewhat eerie and terrifying.