Chapter 7: Experience Tournament

When Li Changshou and Ling'e landed in front of the Hall of Many Mortals, hundreds of figures had already gathered there. From a distance, young men and women, dressed in Taoist robes and long skirts, chatted and laughed lively. Unsightly appearances were rare among them.

The number of female Qi Refiners was no less than that of men. Most of them were beautiful with graceful figures, each possessing a unique charm. However, a few stood out exceptionally, like cranes among chickens, shining like stars and the moon.

For example, Lan Ling'e, who stood beside Li Changshou...

"Isn't that Ling'e from Little Qiong Peak? She's really growing more beautiful, and her aptitude is said to be excellent too. In just ten years since joining, she's already reached the eighth stage of Qi Refinement, and is about to break through to the God Transformation stage."

"I heard even a Grand Elder intends to take her as a disciple. We certainly don't have such good fortune."

"Who is that person beside her?"

"Oh, he's probably her senior brother. It seems there aren't many people on Little Qiong Peak to begin with. This person doesn't seem to be among the top three hundred disciples, so I don't really have an impression of him."

"I remember, isn't his Taoist name Longevity?"

"That Taoist name is truly... simple and unadorned, quite unique."

"Don't gossip about disciples from other peaks! Behave yourselves! If any of our elders hear you, they'll think our peak has no discipline!"

The whispers reached Li Changshou's ears, but he seemed oblivious. With a gentle smile on his lips, he didn't look around. He first led Lan Ling'e to report inside the hall, then found an empty corner to wait.

The bells continued to chime, and more and more young Qi Refiners flew in from various peaks.

Today marked the Disciples' Outward Training Assembly, an event held every five years by the Immortal Du Sect. Its purpose was for disciples to gain experience, broaden their horizons, and deepen their understanding of cultivation.

Any formal disciple of the sect could freely sign up for this event, with up to twelve destinations to choose from, accommodating disciples at various stages of cultivation.

The Immortal Du Sect recruits disciples on a large scale every two hundred years, considering each two-century period as a generation.

Among this generation's disciples, the fastest cultivators were said to have already reached the sixth stage of the Void Return Realm, catching up to many 'elders' within the sect who had cultivated for thousands of years but possessed mediocre aptitudes.

Qi Refinement, God Transformation, Void Return, and Dao Assimilation are the four major realms before becoming an immortal. They also determine one's strength after achieving immortality, as well as the progress of cultivation and the upper limit of one's immortal path.

For someone like Lan Ling'e to reach the eighth stage of Qi Refinement in just ten years since joining, especially under a master who was not well-known in the sect and hadn't even become an immortal, naturally attracted a lot of attention.

The senior and junior siblings stood three feet apart under the shade of a tree. Many gazes swept over them, and most observers would assume that their relationship wasn't particularly close.

Ling'e plucked a tender willow branch bud and gently twirled it between her fingers, several times appearing as if she wanted to speak but hesitated.

First rule of their three agreements: Maintain a three-foot distance in front of outsiders.

Second rule: Do not engage in casual conversation outside unless absolutely necessary.

"Senior brother, where are you going?"

"Guess."

"You still won't say, and I've been asking you for days," Ling'e hummed softly, then mumbled, "Anyway, wherever you go, I'll go too. I have to keep a close eye on you."

Li Changshou smiled calmly, his lips slightly parted. His voice, using a sound transmission technique, directly entered Lan Ling'e's ear.

"Junior sister, you are now a somewhat accomplished Qi Refiner. You must learn to face difficulties independently."

Lan Ling'e retorted righteously, "I am following Master's orders to keep an eye on you, to prevent you from causing trouble outside and tarnishing the reputation of our Little Qiong Peak!"

Li Changshou merely smiled faintly and said nothing more.

After six bell chimes, figures flew out of the Hall of Many Mortals. In total, over sixty Qi Refiners stood in the air.

Their appearances and demeanors varied; some were white-haired and deeply wrinkled, while others still looked like young maidens in their prime. However, most presented themselves with a mature and steady outer appearance.

As these sixty-three sect members slightly released their aura, silence immediately fell upon the Hall of Many Mortals. A wisp of immortal light enveloped the figures in the air.

These were immortals from various peaks, responsible for guarding this outward training expedition.

A crane cry sounded, and a red-crested white crane emerged from the clouds. A lean old man sat cross-legged upon its back.

Observing the old man closely, one could faintly see auspicious clouds accompanying him, and two green lotuses floated around him. His demeanor was extraordinary; his aura was not externally exposed at all, yet it gave off a sense of solemn majesty.

This was Venerable Zhong Yu, the Deputy Sect Master of the Immortal Du Sect. He was said to be a Heavenly Immortal-level expert, ranking among the top ten cultivators in the sect.

Venerable Zhong Yu didn't deliver a lengthy speech. With his eyelids half-lowered, he opened his lips, and his voice echoed throughout the main peak:

"As you venture forth this time, you must always remember the sect's rules, uphold the prestige of our Immortal Du Sect, and refrain from any actions that would tarnish our reputation.

For this training expedition, there are a total of twelve destinations. Recently, demons have been plaguing several tribes along the East Sea coast. I hope you can eliminate these demons, uphold the righteous path, and protect our kin.

Elder Ge, you may begin."

With that, Venerable Zhong Yu rode his crane away without lingering, and all the sect members and disciples bowed in unison to see him off.

An elder standing in the air in front of the hall bowed forward to receive his orders, then announced loudly:

"Those wishing to eliminate demons along the East Sea coast, please come to the leftmost side. Your cultivation must be no lower than the sixth stage of Qi Refinement! Rewards for those who go there will be based on the number of demons eliminated."

The disciples below immediately began to move. Nearly half of them went to the left side in front of the hall, which instantly became somewhat crowded.

This was a common practice for every training assembly. Out of the twelve training locations, there was always one that was relatively low in difficulty and danger, but offered very generous rewards.

Lan Ling'e turned her head to stare at her senior brother, finding that his legs, as expected, remained perfectly still.

Her senior brother's goal, as predicted, was not to reap benefits...

"Junior sister, your cultivation is still shallow, so just follow the majority," Li Changshou advised via sound transmission. Lan Ling'e pouted slightly but remained standing still with her senior brother.

Elder Ge then continued to call out, "Those wishing to eliminate demons at the southeastern border of Central Divine Continent, please wait on the right side. Your cultivation must be no lower than the eighth stage of Qi Refinement."

This time, only a few dozen disciples moved, but each of them had good cultivation, all uniformly in the God Transformation Realm.

In this manner, amidst Elder Ge's continuous announcements, disciples moved forward one by one, choosing their destinations.

The minimum cultivation requirements for the training locations Elder Ge subsequently announced continuously increased. By the time Elder Ge called out for those needing "at least the second stage of God Transformation," Lan Ling'e's bright eyes, fixed on her senior brother, were filled with resentment...

Her actual cultivation was indeed the second stage of God Transformation.

"Senior brother, where exactly are you going?"

Li Changshou still smiled without speaking.

Soon, only twenty-three people remained unmoved in the field, and only two training locations had yet to be announced.

Among these twenty-three, apart from the senior and junior siblings in the corner, nearly all were 'immortal seeds' from various peaks, key cultivated individuals among this generation's disciples, and ranked high in the disciple roster.

Elder Ge glanced at Lan Ling'e, then announced:

"Those going to Lin Yun Island in the East Sea for training, please wait inside the hall. Your cultivation must be no lower than the ninth stage of God Transformation."

Among the remaining twenty-odd people, seventeen moved simultaneously, each releasing their aura, all uniformly at the second or third stage of the Void Return Realm!

Exclamations of admiration arose from the surroundings as these seventeen disciples swiftly flew into the hall.

At this point, only six people in the field remained unmoved, and the disciples' gazes quickly converged on a young woman wearing a fiery red immortal dress and carrying a broad-bladed sword on her back.

The young woman stood motionless with her eyes closed, like an ethereal immortal, a spiritual deity from the Nine Heavens, as if large characters floated around her—

"No mortals allowed."

She was one of the most well-known disciples of the Immortal Du Sect of this generation. Not only was she stunningly beautiful, with an outstanding demeanor and flawless figure, but her cultivation aptitude was also astonishing. She now prematurely displayed her aura, revealing she was already at the fourth stage of the Void Return Realm.

She had only joined the sect for just over sixty years. Such aptitude made her highly valued by the Immortal Du Sect, and she had long since become a disciple of the sect master's lineage on Breaking Heaven Peak.

'Youqin Xuanya is also going to Northern Continent? That's not bad.'

Li Changshou, in the corner, revealed a faint smile. Traveling with such an attention-grabbing 'magnet' would actually allow him to remain less noticed.

Beside him, Lan Ling'e subtly sniffed a few times, instantly detecting an unusual scent.

Her gaze darted back and forth between her senior brother's smile and the young woman in the fiery red immortal dress...

Something was indeed going on!

A few whispers then drifted from the crowd:

"Is Senior Sister Xuanya going to North Kulu Continent to gather herbs?"

"If Senior Sister Xuanya is going to North Kulu Continent, then it seems Senior Brother Yuanqing will also go there."

"Isn't that obvious? Didn't you see Senior Brother Yuanqing hasn't moved? He's naturally waiting for Senior Sister Xuanya to make her decision."

"Mind your words and your thoughts. Don't offend these two cultivation prodigies from Breaking Heaven Peak."

In the air, Elder Ge frowned, looking at Li Changshou and Lan Ling'e, the senior and junior siblings. He shook his head slightly and continued to announce loudly:

"Disciples going to the Perilous Miashma Treasure Forest in the southeast of North Kulu Continent, please wait inside the hall. This place is extremely dangerous, with frequent disciple casualties. Your cultivation must be at least the ninth stage of God Transformation!"

The young woman in the fiery red dress opened her eyes; her phoenix eyes were remarkably clear. She lightly tapped the ground with her toe, her skirt swaying gently in the breeze, like a blossoming fire spirit flower. She drifted into the hall, drawing all eyes.

Closely following her was a young Qi Refiner who appeared cultured and refined, yet his displayed aura was at the fifth stage of the Void Return Realm.

His eyes never left the fiery red figure ahead. He was, naturally, 'Senior Brother Yuanqing'.

Li Changshou also stepped forward at the same time. Since Youqin Xuanya and Yuanqing had captured everyone's attention, he went unnoticed by others, which he found quite comfortable.

However, after just two steps, he inexplicably shivered, and a pair of resentful eyes shadowed him.

"Senior brother, why are you suddenly going to North Kulu Continent?"

Li Changshou felt a chill wind at his back. He stopped, turned his head, and said in a deep voice, "To gather herbs, naturally."

"Senior brother? Don't we have enough herbs at home? You..."

"Ling'e of Little Qiong Peak."

A sudden shout came from the air. It was Elder Ge, frowning as he watched the senior and junior siblings. He asked, "Do you still intend to participate in this outward training?"

"Yes, I do."

Lan Ling'e looked up and replied, her pretty face flushing slightly as she felt numerous gazes turn towards her.

Just moments ago, she had been like a chilling gale, yet now she was like blossoming flowers in spring. Her expression change was remarkably natural...

Lan Ling'e hastily said, "I apologize for troubling you, Elder. My cultivation is still shallow, and I was just indecisive. I have now decided to accompany the majority of senior and junior siblings to the East Sea coast."

Elder Ge nodded, a benevolent smile appearing on his face. He said gently, "Hurry and rejoin your group. Don't delay the good time for departure."

"Yes, Elder."

Lan Ling'e secretly sighed in relief. When she turned to look for her senior brother again, he was already gone.

"Honestly, why must he go to such a dangerous place?"

She pouted slightly, grumbling softly, "He didn't even say 'take care'... Be careful, you stinky senior brother!"

As she turned, Lan Ling'e had already reverted to her normal expression and walked towards the distant crowd, where several smiling talented disciples from various peaks approached her.

Inside the hall, over a dozen gazes fell upon Li Changshou in the corner. Most carried a hint of suspicion, as no one seemed to know who he was.

Li Changshou quietly released his aura...

Ninth stage of God Transformation, just barely meeting the requirement, an above-average standard among the current generation of disciples.