Lu Shen nodded slightly but did not ask Yuan Ming to demonstrate. He continued, "There are three days left until the sect disciples depart for their training. If you two have no other plans, how about returning to Shengye Sect with me for a few days and then setting off together? What do you think?"

Yuan Ming had nothing else going on, so he did not refuse, and He Wendao did the same.

The four of them then left the room and walked downstairs. Just as they reached the bottom of the stairs, Yuan Ming looked up and suddenly paused.

At the entrance of the Loose Cultivation Association, three Foundation Establishment cultivators arrived together, clad in Chang Chun Temple robes, their faces full of arrogance. They looked at other cultivators with a touch of disdain in their eyes.

"People from Chang Chun Temple? What are they doing here?" Lu Shen caught sight of the trio and could not help frowning.

However, the three from Chang Chun Temple did not notice Yuan Ming and the others coming down from the upstairs. They walked directly into the mission hall, looked around, and then the one in the center channeled his Spiritual Power and loudly announced,

"I, Xu Changqing of Chang Chun Temple, a Foundation Establishment cultivator, was murdered near Little Lake City. Whoever can provide clues or information about the murderer will receive a reward of one thousand spirit stones!"

As soon as his words fell, the mission hall instantly erupted into commotion.

Some, not understanding, turned to their companions. "Who is Xu Changqing? Have you heard of him?"

Others, shocked, exclaimed, "Someone dared kill a person from Chang Chun Temple? Are they tired of living?"

Still others muttered in displeasure, "A reward? Hah, Chang Chun Temple really knows how to throw its weight around, asking us for information as if it is doling out alms!"

Among the crowd, Yuan Ming's face remained expressionless. He firmly observed the three from Chang Chun Temple for a few moments, memorizing their features, before he shifted his gaze away.

"Chang Chun Temple's people don't even pick a good place to die. Is this just an excuse? We'd better rush back and inform our sect quickly lest this fire burns us too…" Lu Shen's brows were tightly knit. He turned his head, called out, and quickly walked towards the exit of the Loose Cultivation Association.

Yuan Ming and the others silently followed, and soon, they left the Loose Cultivation Association, leaving the tumult behind.

...

Three days later, Shengye Sect.

Today was the first day of the annual Qi Refinement disciple training. Early in the morning, all the registered disciples gathered at the sect's plaza.

Daily cultivation was dull and tedious, making the rare chance to venture out in broad daylight exciting for many young disciples. Right now, their faces were filled with impatience.

Older ones, however, kept their eyes on the rankings of the training. While not as generous as the sect's main competition held every three years, achieving results in the training could not only secure numerous cultivation resources but might also attract the attention of the sect's elders, skyrocketing one's status.

Of course, for the students personally taught by the elders, rankings didn't matter much. What truly mattered were those who would be their rivals in future major sect competitions.

For Xu Tian, however, what really troubled him was his junior sister.

"Xing'er, listen closely. Stick with me once we're out there, absolutely don't wander off, and consult with me about anything that comes up. Did you understand?" Xu Tian held Luo Xing'er's hand, repeatedly instructing her.

He was at the sixth-tier Qi Refining level, while Luo Xing'er was somewhat lower, at the Qi Refining Fourth Level.

"Alright, alright, I got it. Brother, you really can nag," Luo Xing'er pouted, a small face puffing up in slight annoyance.

Seeing this, Xu Tian sighed deeply. He wanted to say more, but at that moment, Luo Xing'er grasped his hand excitedly and started shaking it.

"Brother, look, look, it's Elder Lu! He is a Great Cultivator at the late stage of Foundation Establishment. I wonder when I'll reach such Cultivation." Luo Xing'er spoke with envy.

"As long as we cultivate diligently and put in the hard work, that day will eventually come," Xu Tian replied upon hearing her words.

"Oh, then Young Master Yuan is so formidable because he cultivated the same way?" Luo Xing'er turned to look at him.

Xu Tian was somewhat speechless but managed to assert, "Naturally."

Meanwhile, Lu Shen stood on the temporarily erected platform, his stern gaze sweeping over the disciples below. The plaza, which had been quite noisy moments earlier, quickly fell silent.

"All of you have managed to stand out from the mundane and enter our Shengye Sect, which in itself is no small feat. After enduring the harsh discipline of our sect for a long time, today…" facing the multitude of disciples, he started a lengthy speech, discussing the difficulties of Cultivation and drawing parallels to life's broader challenges, quoting extensively, his words flowing like a river without end.

Some of the older disciples below, prepared for this, had sealed their hearing with Spiritual Power in advance, while those experiencing this for the first time listened with rapt attention at first but gradually got confused and overwhelmed as the speech went on.

After more than half an hour, Lu Shen finally concluded his speech, his eyes filled with expectation as he looked over the Qi Refining disciples in the plaza.

After scanning the crowd, he summoned the sect's specially crafted giant Green Wood Flying Boat, instructing the disciples below to board one by one.

Seeing this situation, the disciples breathed a sigh of relief and hurried onto the Green Wood Flying Boat without any delay, fearing that Lu Shen might suddenly decide to add a few more points.

Soon, all the disciples had boarded the Green Wood Flying Boat one after another. Lu Shen then jumped onto the bow of the boat, inserted a few mid-grade spirit stones into the array on the deck, activated the array, and the Green Wood Flying Boat rose into the air, slowly flying away from the sect.

In a storeroom above the Green Wood Flying Boat, Yuan Ming, who had been meditating cross-legged, also opened his eyes and secretly released a soul crow, which now flew in the sky, guarding the flying boat as it moved forward.

...

Zhao Country, Yunluo Mountain Range.

The continuous, rolling mountains towered over the land, the peaks piercing into the clouds as if trying to break through the sky, while the misty clouds clung to the ridges like river water, slowly drifting down and eventually dissipating among the dense woods.

Even in the mountainous Zhao Country, this place was considered magnificent. Unfortunately, the spirit veins here were scattered and disordered, capable of nurturing many exotic beasts and spiritual medicines but unsuitable for a sect to establish a base.

In the sky, the Green Wood Flying Boat cut through the mist and slowly landed in a clearing among the trees.

The disciples streamed out of the flying boat, assembling on the clearing, while Lu Shen, who had been in charge of piloting the boat, now also stood by the side and looked at the disciples.

"This place is the venue for this trial. In the next five days, you may freely search for spiritual medicines here, but you must not travel more than fifty miles away from the flying boat, or else your trial results will be deemed invalid. Moreover, the trial ends at noon five days from now; those who fail to return on time will also be considered as having failed," Lu Shen announced the rules of the trial as he surveyed the disciples.

Then he waved his hand, and immediately disciples responsible for tallying scores and miscellaneous tasks stepped forward and distributed a jade scroll to each disciple.

"If you encounter a dangerous situation during the trial, you may crush the jade scroll at any time. At that point, I and a few other fellow daoists will immediately come to your aid. Although this action will disqualify you early, I would rather you prioritize your lives over your scores. The principle of 'Surviving to fight another day' should be clear without further explanation." Lu Shen sternly admonished.

All the disciples loudly acknowledged, then dispersed on their own.

Lu Shen turned and returned to the top of the flying boat, where Yuan Ming and two others had already gathered, seeing Lu Shen return, Bai Ye spoke.

"Elder Lu, I have already given the artifacts that can detect the location of the jade scrolls to the two fellow daoists," Bai Ye said.

"Good, the next five days will be trying for you. Although the elders of the sect have already checked this area beforehand, to avoid accidents, please remain vigilant. If you encounter any special circumstances that require support, you may also activate the artifact, so that the others will also receive the message," Lu Shen nodded and said.

Afterward, the four of them left on their designated flying artifacts according to the areas previously assigned and left the flying boat.

After leaving the flying boat, Yuan Ming found a secluded place, took Hua Zhi out of the spiritual beast bag, and as usual, commanded him to burrow underground and follow, before once again mounting the flying shuttle to patrol his designated area.

...

Three days later.

In the dense forest, a giant python with wrinkled skin, about a zhang long, coiled around an ancient tree, its brownish exterior blending perfectly with the branches, making any observer none the wiser.

At the treetops, several fist-sized fruits swayed in the wind, many of which were green tinged with orange, indicating they were nearing ripeness.

Near the python, two fruits had completely shed their green skin, and sunlight filtered through the leaves, making the bright orange fruits glow.

Suddenly, not far away, a young man in a light green robe emerged, looking up at the fruits on the tree, and was momentarily stunned before showing an expression of surprise.

But he was not hasty. Instead, he carefully circled the ancient tree twice, then took out a small bell magic artifact about the size of his palm and activated it with mana, giving it a shake.

Sound waves rippled out, sweeping over the ancient tree. The giant python resting on the branch was disturbed by this and shifted its body slightly in displeasure.

However, the cultivator below mistook the movement of the python for the swaying of the branches and was not alarmed by it.

Seeing no demon beasts lurking nearby, his eyes filled with an even stronger joy, then he took out a long sword magic artifact and controlled it to fly up to the treetops, intending to cut down the fruits.

This action thoroughly infuriated the python. The previously sluggish creature raised its tail instantly, then swept it across like a blade, knocking the flying sword away in one swift motion.

Seeing this, the disciple from the Shengye Sect turned pale and immediately turned to flee, but the python was not willing to let him go. It loosened its coiled body around the branches, and its snake head crossed several meters in an instant to appear in front of the Shengye Sect disciple.

As the python stared at the panicked disciple of the Shengye Sect, its golden snake pupils dilated, its massive jaws opened, and it lunged at him.

In that critical moment, the disciple of the Shengye Sect fumbled out his jade scroll and snapped it in half, the stench from the python's mouth blowing in his face as it closed in, blanking out his mind.

However, just at that moment, the python's head suddenly burst with a small hole and it died midair.

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