On the way back to the mountain gate, Mike suddenly felt a chill.
It was as if someone was plotting against him from behind.
"Could it be that old fortune teller is still muttering about me?" Mike thought about the way the old woman had looked at him longingly when she left, as if she wanted to devour him. The thought sent a shiver down his spine.
After hearing Ye Ziying's words, Ye Yun was deeply disappointed.
He had hoped that this time, he could finally help his family, help his father. But in the end, he had been deceived, so he casually placed the talisman on the table and left in frustration.
"At your age, how could you be easily fooled by a roadside swindler? How could I have given birth to such a useless son? Look at your sister—when she was your age, she was already a disciple of the Shangqing Sect. And you..." Ye Qingbei sighed heavily, expressing his frustration at Ye Yun's back.
Ye Yun walked out numbly, already having heard these words so many times that his ears were almost calloused.
What could he do? He was just not as good as his sister.
Ye Ziying didn't say anything, seemingly just as disappointed in her younger brother.
"Don't worry, Father," Ye Ziying said lightly at this moment. "There is indeed a faint demonic aura in the house. I couldn't find the exact location of the demon, but as long as it reappears, I'll make sure it experiences the martial arts of the Shangqing Sect."
"Good, with you around, Father can rest assured," Ye Qingbei nodded in satisfaction.
By the time Mike returned to the Changsheng Temple, it was already evening.
"I'm back!" Mike called out.
Shi Ming and Yun Qianchu reluctantly emerged from their rooms at the sound of Mike's voice.
Every time Mike came back, it was because he had lost money gambling and drank heavily, returning in a bad mood to take it out on them. Shi Ming had once talked back, and Mike had slapped him hard.
So, whenever they heard Mike returning, both of them would feel uneasy.
"What are you two staring at? Come and help," Mike said with a smile when he saw them hiding behind the stone pillar, watching him.
The two of them walked over awkwardly and realized that Mike didn't seem to have been drinking.
"What's this?" They looked at the meat and rice Mike was holding, unable to believe their eyes. Since they could remember, Mike had always taken things from the sect to sell, but when had he ever brought something back?
Had he won money gambling today?
"Meat and rice. Go, take it to the kitchen," Mike instructed.
"Yes!" The two of them grabbed the meat and rice and headed to the kitchen.
Although they were young, they were at the second-grade cultivation level, and their strength was far greater than ordinary people, so carrying these things to the kitchen was easy.
"I'm cooking for you tonight." Mike had slaughtered a fat sheep and was in a good mood. He decided to cook himself. He had grown tired of eating vegetarian dishes for the past few days.
As he spoke, Mike handed the sugar-coated haws he had bought to Shi Ming and Yun Qianchu.
"One for each of you, don't fight over it." He said, then went into the kitchen to prepare dinner.
Shi Ming and Yun Qianchu stood there, stunned, holding the sugar-coated haws in their hands. They both looked horrified.
"Third Senior Brother... Do you think Master is unable to pay his debts outside and plans to sell me off?" Yun Qianchu's legs were shaking.
Shi Ming swallowed hard. "He buys food, cooks, and even buys us sugar-coated haws... Surely he's planning to sell me too. He must have already negotiated a price, and the deposit is paid, right?"
"Senior Sister, we can't just sit here and wait for our fate. The Senior Brothers aren't here, it's up to us to save ourselves!" Shi Ming said firmly to Yun Qianchu.
"Third Senior Brother, the sugar-coated haws are really sweet."
"..."
The next morning.
The Tai Xuan Sacred Land.
The Tai Xuan Sacred Land was one of the most powerful sects in the Shenque Kingdom and had a renowned reputation throughout the entire Eastern Yan State.
The martial arts system was divided into nine ranks, with Rank 1 being the lowest and Rank 9 being the highest. Beyond Rank 9 was the legendary Transcendence Realm, a true escape from the mortal realm. The Tai Xuan Sacred Land was home to many powerful figures who had reached this transcendence.
The Tai Xuan Sacred Land had dozens of affiliated sects, and countless families under its banner. As a result, this year's disciple competition had attracted thousands of participants.
The entry requirement was a cultivation level of at least Rank 5.
The disciples who had arrived were all elite figures from various sects, some of whom had already reached Rank 8.
In some smaller sects, these individuals would already be considered elders.
Leading a large group of disciples up the mountain at dawn, Liu Dongyue felt incredibly nervous.
Normally, he only cultivated quietly in the Daoist temple and rarely participated in any competitions. Thinking about competing against so many experts today made Liu Dongyue feel anxious.
However, when he touched the Seven-Treasure Gourd hanging at his waist, his anxiety eased somewhat. With the magical artifact his Master had crafted for him, he had nothing to fear.
"Look, there's a Daoist in tattered robes," one disciple said with a laugh.
"Really, a Dao cultivator? In this day and age, there are still pure Dao cultivators? Isn't Daoism long gone?" another disciple remarked.
"Interesting."
Liu Dongyue felt annoyed at being pointed at and laughed at, but because of his weak standing, he said nothing and chose to ignore them.
His goal for coming here was simple: to place in the top 1,000 and win 1,000 taels of silver.
As for the 5,000 taels for the top 100 and the even greater rewards for the top 10, Liu Dongyue didn't even dare to think about them.
He was well aware that those things had nothing to do with him.
"This year's Tai Xuan Sacred Land disciple competition is very simple," said one of the senior elders, whose voice instantly silenced the crowd.
Everyone quickly listened attentively.
"All participants will be teleported to the Wind-Sand Valley in Tai Xuan Sacred Land. The valley stretches north all the way to the Hundred-Cripple Mountain, and the first 1,000 disciples to reach the mountain will receive rewards from Tai Xuan Sacred Land!" The elder continued, "You may fight along the way, but killing is prohibited; doing so will disqualify you. The first disciple to reach the summit of Hundred-Cripple Mountain will challenge the next three rounds."
"In the three rounds, disciples from Tai Xuan Sacred Land will spar with you, but they will hold back and only allow you three moves. They will suppress their cultivation level to match yours. If you can defeat the three disciples of Tai Xuan Sacred Land, you will win the legendary Prajna Axe at the peak of Hundred-Cripple Mountain!" The elder smiled. "Even if you don't pass, the top 10 will still receive unexpected rewards."
"The Prajna Axe?"
The crowd collectively gasped.
The Prajna Axe ranked 47th on the Five Continent Divine Weapon Rankings.
Only the most extraordinary divine weapons could make it to the list!
It was to be awarded to the first-place winner!
When these words were spoken, the eyes of many elite disciples in the crowd lit up, and they were eager to win the Prajna Axe.
But Liu Dongyue, on the other hand, appeared indifferent.
The Prajna Axe?
Heh, what did that have to do with him? His goal was only to place in the top 1,000.
"The assessment will end when the first thousand arrive," the elder of Tai Xuan Holy Land scanned the crowd. "Now, the assessment begins!"
At the sound of his voice, a giant teleportation array appeared in the middle of the plaza.
Golden light flashed across the array, and all the disciples present vanished from the plaza in an instant.
When they regained their senses, they found themselves in a mountain valley.
On the plaza, the high-ranking officials of Tai Xuan Holy Land, along with those from other sects, all took their seats. One elder of Tai Xuan Holy Land casually tapped, and the entire ground of the plaza seemed to sink like a water drop. A massive mirror emerged, allowing everyone to see the scene in the Wind Sand Valley.
"This is Tai Xuan Holy Land's Mirror Flower Water Moon."
"Such a marvelous martial technique."
Everyone marveled at the incredible martial skills Tai Xuan Holy Land possessed. At the same time, they anxiously searched the sea of disciples, hoping to catch sight of their own sect's disciples.
"How is Tianxing doing?" another elder of Tai Xuan Holy Land asked slowly.
"Don't worry," the white-robed elder beside him smiled and said. "Lu Tianxing is a genius who comes once in a hundred years in our Tai Xuan Holy Land. He's only sixteen, and he's already reached the fourth level of the 'Panfu Gong.' In the history of our Tai Xuan Holy Land, no one has ever achieved this. Do you think the Holy Lord went through so much trouble to get this Prana Axe just for fun? This disciple assessment is meant to raise Lu Tianxing's reputation!"
"Once he gets the Prana Axe, his strength will reach a new height, and he will have no rivals among the younger generation in the entire Divine Barrier, or even Yunhuang."
"In the future, he may even carry the destiny of Heaven!"
Everyone smiled faintly.
The extravagant display today was, without a doubt, all for Lu Tianxing.
As for anyone else winning first place?
That was completely impossible.
Lu Tianxing, at only sixteen years old, already had the strength of the ninth level, far beyond the disciples from these small sects.
Even if someone else were to win first place, the three levels of assessment set by Tai Xuan Holy Land would not be something they could pass.
It could be said that the first place had already been decided in advance.
At this very moment, the assessment had begun, and thousands of disciples, like a massive army, were heading towards the Baiku Mountain.
Each sect had already formed its own small alliances.
It wasn't just about speed; it was also about strength. Otherwise, you could easily be taken out on the way.
"Shit, how is that Taoist moving so fast?"
"Only at the fifth level of cultivation, and his lightness skill is so good. This guy is definitely aiming for one of the top spots. Let's take him out first."
Mike was weaving through the crowd, his exceptional lightness skill allowing him to move like a shadow.
In terms of direct combat, Mike wasn't the best. The techniques of the Changsheng Temple were difficult to master, and after all these years, Mike had only managed to learn a single sword technique, the Changchun Sword. However, most of his time had been spent training his lightness skill.
While his cultivation wasn't the highest, his agility was top-tier.
The Changsheng Temple's "Yubu Nine Stars" technique was one of the best lightness skills, and Mike moved through the air with ease, his figure light as a breeze. In no time, he had already surged ahead.
"The top thousand is within reach," Mike thought with a glimmer of hope.
Suddenly, a furious shout rang out, "Where did this stinky Taoist come from? Get lost!"
A blade light flashed toward him.
The speed of the attack was fast, and Mike was startled. He quickly drew his sword to block.
But the immense force behind the strike sent him stumbling back several steps.
"Ba Tian Dao!" Mike's heart skipped a beat. He looked up to find himself surrounded