Chapter 841: Strange and Upright Celestial Selection

His talent is indeed impressive... but that's as far as it goes.

Across countless reincarnations, this individual consistently remained at the Golden Core stage, always perishing in the fiery catastrophe of the Burning Sea of Red Flames. It appears his potential is inherently limited; he is not a true prodigy.

As Wei Qizheng bowed with grateful eyes, Ji Shaoli subtly nodded in return, though these thoughts were already forming in his mind.

However... Ji Shaoli had never anticipated that his discerning eye, refined over a hundred reincarnations, could ever be so mistaken!

Seven days after the grand examination, the time for results to be announced was drawing ever nearer. The cultivators on Haixuan Island, who had initially exuded calm confidence, gradually grew restless. Laughter and chatter ceased. Everyone's expression was grave. Some, unable to contain their nerves, paced back and forth to relieve the mounting pressure.

It was then that Wei Qizheng suddenly looked surprised, pulling out his communication talisman to read a message. What news he received was unknown, but the next moment, he abruptly stood up, his face etched with disbelief, his body trembling slightly from excitement.

This unusual sight immediately drew the attention of all present cultivators, and a single thought simultaneously flashed through their minds: "Could it be?"

Meeting the gazes of shock and faint confusion from those around him, Wei Qizheng took a deep breath. "The City Lord has commanded me to report to the Bureau of Political Affairs immediately," he announced. "It concerns... the selection of the Thirty-Three Chosen Immortals."

A deathly silence instantly fell over the hall. Everyone's expressions froze, utterly stunned by this preposterous news. Even Ji Shaoli's face abruptly stiffened.

As all eyes converged on him, their expressions incredibly complex, Wei Qizheng felt a sudden rush of exhilaration, almost floating. Though this was merely the preliminary selection for the Thirty-Three Chosen Immortals, with the final list yet to be confirmed, being singled out from countless cultivators was, in itself, irrefutable proof of his capabilities!

At that moment, Wei Qizheng yearned to let out a triumphant cry, a full expression of the elation flooding his heart.

But quickly, as if a realization had struck him, his expression changed, and his pride vanished, replaced by a mix of bewilderment and dread.

"Fellow Daoist Ji..." He looked at Ji Shaoli, his gaze pleading, and asked weakly, "Is your Sky-Shrouding Secret Art truly effective?"

Indeed, Wei Qizheng had come to his senses. Though he had received the preliminary selection notification... he had known the test questions in advance; he had cheated! If this were merely an ordinary provincial position, it would be manageable. But now, he faced the selection of the Thirty-Three Chosen Immortals, an event under the intense scrutiny of the entire Myriad Immortal Alliance. As these candidates were considered seeds of hope against the Five Elder Council, rigorous scrutiny was inevitable!

Wei Qizheng could almost envision the future: seven or eight Path Integration Immortal Venerables surrounding him, meticulously examining every minute detail within his spiritual consciousness. Despite his steady temperament, Wei Qizheng felt his limbs grow cold. Being caught cheating and summarily executed would be the least of his worries; he would likely be publicly denounced and branded infamous for eternity!

The more he pondered, the more his confidence wavered. "Fellow Daoist Ji?" he repeated, his voice laced with a tremor.

Only then did Ji Shaoli snap out of his astonishment. Observing Wei Qizheng's rapidly shifting expressions, he immediately understood the other man's predicament. He quickly reassured him, "You needn't worry. Our Mutual Aid Society's secret art is absolutely foolproof." He paused, then added, "However... if you're truly uneasy, I can assist you once more! Follow me!"

As if clutching a lifeline, Wei Qizheng followed Ji Shaoli into the secret chamber without a moment's hesitation.

"Meditate here," Ji Shaoli instructed. "Empty your mind of everything and cast aside all distracting thoughts."

Wei Qizheng nodded and complied. Soon, his anxious heart began to calm.

Ji Shaoli nodded to himself, then waited patiently. What he awaited, of course, was the storage ring Lin Ling was sending via urgent dispatch. Harnessing the surging power of the earth veins, Lin Ling personally arrived on Haixuan Island with Li Fan in less time than it takes to drink a cup of tea, completely unnoticed by the other cultivators present.

The moment they entered the secret chamber, Lin Ling rendered Wei Qizheng unconscious. Li Fan's main body and his clone simultaneously conducted a thorough examination of Wei Qizheng's physique. A moment later, Li Fan shook his head slightly. "Strange," he murmured. "He doesn't possess any special constitution. While his cultivation talent is certainly remarkable, it's confined to the scope of a single province. Compared to the true prodigies of the Xuanhuang Realm, there's still a considerable disparity. Why would the Myriad Immortal Alliance choose him?"

Though Li Fan harbored some doubts, his confusion in no way hindered his actions. He pressed the constantly shifting, ethereal azure True Allure Fruit against Wei Qizheng's glabella. In mere moments, as the fruit completely dematerialized, this artifact, capable of controlling even Path Integration cultivators, was consumed by Wei Qizheng, a mere Foundation Establishment realm cultivator!

Li Fan felt no regret whatsoever. Though the chance was slim, he took the gamble! If Wei Qizheng truly managed to pass the selection, then discovering the truth behind the Thirty-Three Chosen Immortals plan through him would be unequivocally worth the investment! However, if he unfortunately failed...

Li Fan's expression took on a somewhat dangerous edge. In that case, he would simply have to spend his entire life working to repay the debt.

"This True Allure Fruit alone won't suffice," Li Fan mused, his eyes glinting.

Within his spiritual consciousness, the Disk of Final Dissolution emitted a soft, radiant white light. A moment later, it materialized in Li Fan's hand. Taking a deep breath, Li Fan swiftly formed a protective array around it. Then, using his finger as a sword, he sharply cleaved downwards.

With a faint tremor, a thin layer was sliced from the Disk of Final Dissolution. As if severely damaged, the disk instantly dulled, appearing somewhat sluggish and listless. Seeing this, Li Fan felt a pang of regret. He swiftly retrieved it into his spiritual consciousness for recovery.

"After all, it's not the true Final Stone Disk, but merely a disc cut from it and fused with a dissolution disk," he mused. "While it inherited some properties allowing for separation, even cutting a single piece causes significant damage. You had better not disappoint me, young man."

With utmost care, Li Fan implanted the fragile, cicada-wing-thin layer of the Disk of Final Dissolution into Wei Qizheng's spiritual consciousness. Having completed his task, he quietly exited the secret chamber under Lin Ling's guidance, leaving only his clone, Ji Shaoli, standing silently in wait.

Not long after, Wei Qizheng slowly regained consciousness, initially disoriented. Then, upon seeing Ji Shaoli, whose face was somewhat pale, many scenes immediately flooded his mind.

"You've gone to great lengths, Brother Ji," Wei Qizheng said with profound gratitude. "I, Wei, shall never forget your immense kindness!"

Ji Shaoli waved his hand dismissively. "We are all members of the Mutual Aid Society; naturally, we assist one another," he said. "It's been quite some time since the City Lord summoned you. You should go now." He added reassuringly, "Rest assured, with our Mutual Aid Society's secret art, even if a Longevity Celestial Venerable were to intervene, they would never uncover the secret within your mind!"

Though his words were bold, Wei Qizheng believed them implicitly, nodding heavily.