Chapter 835

## Opportunity for Survivors

“Originally, we only had half a year to prepare. Now, due to the Immortal-Mortal Blight, the entrance examination has been postponed indefinitely. I'm already champing at the bit, though.”

He Zhenghao cleared his throat, a look of assured confidence on his face.

“A blessing in disguise, indeed!” the others exclaimed repeatedly.

“Although you've already completed two rounds of the special medicine, you must not be complacent about the Immortal-Mortal Blight,” Ji Shaoli reminded them gravely. “Recently, something quite sensational occurred. In our Cloud Sea region, a cultivator named Wen Yue, presuming he had immunity after being infected with the Immortal-Mortal Blight, decided to test if the blight, when residing in a mortal's body, would still affect him. He transfused himself with a mortal's blood, right in front of many other cultivators. He died on the spot, his body disintegrating into dry bones. The sight was truly gruesome!” Ji Shaoli sighed.

He Zhenghao and the others were stunned. “Are there really such fools in the world? Playing with their own lives?” Then, another realization shocked them: “So, our immunity to the Immortal-Mortal Blight is merely an illusion?”

Ji Shaoli nodded slightly. “The Immortal Alliance has already issued a statement and explanation regarding this. The Immortal-Mortal Blight is a fundamental principle of the heavens and earth. One can only adapt to its presence; it will never truly vanish.”

“So, in the end, nothing has truly changed? Many cultivators just died for nothing?” He Zhenghao couldn't help but feel a little lost.

Pei Tuo spat bitterly, “Damn it! If I ever reach Dao Unification, I will surely defy this principle!”

“Brother Pei, what noble aspirations!”

Everyone was filled with emotion.

After a moment, Ji Shaoli waved his hand, interrupting them. “It's fine to vent your frustrations. All we can do is endure and survive. In fact, this mutated outbreak of the Immortal-Mortal Blight might not be a bad thing for us surviving cultivators,” Ji Shaoli said in a low voice.

“Oh? How so?” Everyone's attention immediately focused on Ji Shaoli.

“Do you know how many cultivators within the official system, in the Cloud Sea region alone, have been lost during this calamity?” Ji Shaoli asked, smiling rather mysteriously.

Watching their eyes suddenly light up, Ji Shaoli mentally transmitted a number to them.

“Over five hundred?” The others gasped.

“Indeed. If this is the case for the Cloud Sea, then one can only imagine the situation across the world. These positions, vacated by the fallen cultivators, are all opportunities for us survivors,” Ji Shaoli said, his voice quiet yet profound. “While the vast majority of cultivators are still immersed in the suffering caused by the Immortal-Mortal Blight calamity, those with foresight have already begun to quietly make their moves.”

These words stirred the hearts of everyone present.

“Fellow Daoist Ji, does this mean we should still take the grand examination?”

“Indeed. Although we've made thorough preparations, the competition for this grand examination is bound to be even fiercer...”

Their expressions varied, but Ji Shaoli stated firmly, “If there are no unexpected changes, the scope of this grand examination might far exceed expectations. This applies not only to the number of cultivators recruited but also to the quality of the positions available! Positions that previously required decades of training and experience for promotion might now be directly filled by those who achieve outstanding results! Therefore, my recommendation is to still give the entrance examination your best shot! You might just leap over the dragon gate and defy fate itself!”

Everyone present, particularly He Zhenghao, instantly had their eyes light up with ambition.

“Furthermore, beyond positions within the system, scarce resources like cultivation techniques and grotto-heavens are also highly likely to become available. In short, the Immortal Alliance's top priority is to restore everything to its pre-calamity level, no matter the cost,” Ji Shaoli added.

“Fellow Daoist Ji, do you mean the Immortal Alliance fears the Five Elders' Council will seize this period of weakness and recovery to launch an attack?” someone asked immediately.

“It's strange, though. When the Immortal Alliance was at its weakest, the Five Elders' Council surprisingly didn't take advantage of the situation.”

“What's hard to understand? If the Immortal-Mortal Blight erupted here, how could they possibly remain unscathed? In my opinion, the Five Elders' Council must have suffered severe losses as well. Now it's a race to see who can recover faster, as that will determine who gains the advantage in the ongoing power struggle.”

“Regardless, this is indeed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for ordinary cultivators like us.”

Silently listening to their discussion, Ji Shaoli offered no further explanation.

In fact, Ji Shaoli had previously dispatched Lin Ling to make contact with the Five Elders' Council. While using the Immortal Alliance's entrance examination question bank to earn a substantial profit, she had also discreetly gathered information about the Five Elders' Council's situation during the Immortal-Mortal Blight outbreak. Compared to the Myriad Immortal Alliance, the epicenter of the outbreak, their losses were considerably smaller. Due to a certain delay in the Immortal-Mortal Blight's transmission, by the time it reached the Five Elders' Council's territory, they had already received news of its outbreak in the Myriad Immortal Alliance. They had taken precautions in advance.

Furthermore, the Five Elders' Council is governed by five Venerables. With continuous orders issued, cultivators dutifully confined themselves to their homes, which significantly slowed the blight's spread. Most crucially, the Five Elders' Council possessed more detailed records on how to handle the Immortal-Mortal Blight than the Myriad Immortal Alliance did. After all, in the ancient cultivation world, it was the individual cultivation sects that had directly confronted the Immortal-Mortal Blight. The specific measures, however, were not disclosed. But it was true that the Five Elders' Council had not been severely impacted by this calamity.

The only thing that puzzled the Five Elders' Council was that the Heavenly Venerate had personally issued an edict, vetoing the plan to attack the Myriad Immortal Alliance during the chaos. The Heavenly Venerate's command was inviolable. They could only continue to amass strength, intending to deliver a fatal blow to the Myriad Immortal Alliance.

### The Beast Realm

Lin Ling and Tian Yang did not unleash their full power. Instead, they suppressed their combat abilities to the Deity Transformation realm, engaging in battle with the surging tide of beastkin. This was, of course, Li Fan's directive. Not only were they collecting beast cores to serve as raw materials for the Immortal Spirit Pagoda to convert spiritual energy, but more importantly, Li Fan wanted Lin Ling and Tian Yang to hone their practical combat skills through battle.

Tian Yang was already proficient. However, in her previous battle against Mo Shi, Lin Ling, as a nascent tree spirit, displayed an almost blank combat awareness and relied solely on instinctive moves. This was quite unbecoming of her Dao Unification cultivation. Therefore, Li Fan instructed Tian Yang to guide her, using this rare period of calm to train within the Beast Realm.

It was unknown how many beastkin they had already slaughtered. Under the baptism of endless blood, Lin Ling's once tender and innocent face had become tinged with a hint of fierce resolve. Her moves became increasingly fluid, and images would naturally surface in her mind, teaching her how to fight more efficiently. Her practical combat abilities grew rapidly.

They looked towards the distant tall pagoda. Once they ascended it, Li Fan's directive would be complete.