Celestial Venerable's Sect Comes to Challenge

Morning.

The thin spiritual mist had yet to dissipate, and the morning sun's radiance had already reddened the mountain peaks.

A melodious bell rang out.

The disciples of the Spirit Void Grotto-Heaven began their day once more.

Meditating and practicing qi, punching and practicing martial arts, listening to elders teach, sparring, and then continuing to meditate and practice qi.

The same things, repeated day after day, so monotonous it was tiresome.

"It's like this every day, can't we have something new!"

A disciple on gate duty yawned widely, finding life utterly boring and devoid of any interest.

"Stop complaining!"

Another disciple on duty rolled his eyes, "We're already considered lucky. Those Immortal Seedlings are the truly pitiable ones. Every day, besides eating and sleeping, all they have is cultivation, cultivation, and more cultivation. At least we can come out for some fresh air!"

"The world says cultivation is good, but who knows its hardships? You envy my freedom to ride the wind and clouds, while I wish for a beautiful wife to grow old with."

"Huh? Grow old together? Brother Tan, you truly are one of us! A while ago, I took on an external affairs mission to the capital of Yan State, and had the good fortune to visit the Cloud Mist Pavilion. The experience...!"

"Stop talking! Someone's coming!"

At the mountain gate.

A figure drifted over. In the faint morning mist, the figure was indistinct yet moved with extreme speed. In moments, the figure had arrived close by.

This was a young man. He wore a brocade robe and a golden crown, standing tall and imposing with an extraordinary aura.

This person was Zhou Yi.

"Halt!"

"This is the Spirit Void Grotto-Heaven, we do not receive outside guests. Please leave quickly."

Two disciples on gate duty shouted at Zhou Yi.

"I am Zhou Yi, here to challenge!"

Zhou Yi cupped his fists in a salute to the two disciples and said loudly.

"What did you say?"

The two disciples on duty were stunned for a moment, then looked at each other.

A challenge? Challenging the Spirit Void Grotto-Heaven? Was such a thing possible?

The two disciples were first taken aback, then immediately became excited.

"Someone's challenging us! Someone's come to kick down the doors! This is great! Finally, something new! Finally, no more boredom!"

"Since you've come to challenge us, according to the rules of the martial world..."

One disciple, who seemed to have some experience in the martial world, spoke with a mouthful of martial arts slang.

"Get lost!"

The other disciple felt it was too embarrassing and quickly interrupted him. How could a disciple of a prestigious immortal sect speak with the rough mannerisms of a bandit?

"Since you have come to challenge, we of the Spirit Void Grotto-Heaven naturally cannot back down. Therefore, please guide us."

This disciple was clearly much more composed. His words were neither humble nor arrogant, but spoken with righteous confidence.

"This..."

Zhou Yi glanced at the two of them and shook his head, "With your cultivation... if I were to make a move... it would be too much of bullying. I wouldn't be able to bring myself to do it!"

"Pfft!"

Seeing this scene through the System connection, Li Yu couldn't help but laugh out loud.

These two disciples did not have high cultivation. They had only just opened their Sea of Bitterness, and their strength was indeed somewhat lacking. However, Zhou Yi's words were like adding fuel to the fire, weren't they? To look down on someone so much, anyone would be provoked!

"Scoundrel!"

"Damn it!"

The two disciples were indeed enraged. They roared and charged forward, swinging their fists.

Having just opened their Sea of Bitterness, they were at most a little stronger than mortal martial artists. They had no divine abilities, no magical power, and no magical artifacts. Naturally, all they could do was throw punches in close combat.

"Forgive me!"

Zhou Yi had anticipated this. Seeing them charge forward, he smiled and waved his sleeve.

A gust of wind shot out, and the two disciples were sent flying.

"Ouch!"

"That hurts!"

They fell heavily to the ground, grimacing in pain.

Struggling to get up, the disciple who had mixed in the martial world got to his feet, cupped his fists, and said, "Your martial arts are formidable, I admit defeat. The green hills remain..."

"Shut up!"

Another disciple roared, flipped over, and rushed to the mountain gate, grabbing the alarm bell.

"Dong! Dong! Dong!"

A series of urgent bell tolls rang out, shaking the entire Spirit Void Grotto-Heaven.

"The alarm bell is ringing? What's going on?"

"Did someone attack us? Who dares to be so bold?"

"Is it the Demon Clan from the ruins attacking the mountain gate?"

As the alarm bell sounded, streaks of escaping light shot up from Spirit Void Grotto-Heaven, whistling towards the mountain gate.

"Who dares to offend my Spirit Void?"

A streak of escaping light reached the mountain gate, and an old man in purple robes shouted loudly, his booming voice causing the surroundings to hum.

"Swish! Swish! Swish!"

Several more streaks of escaping light followed closely, landing at the mountain gate almost simultaneously.

"What's going on?"

The old man in purple robes glanced at Zhou Yi, then turned to stare at the two disciples on duty at the mountain gate, his face stern as he demanded an explanation.

"Reporting to the Sect Leader, this person is here to challenge us?"

The disciples on duty at the mountain gate quickly pointed at Zhou Yi and reported to the Sect Leader.

"Hmm? Challenging us?"

The Sect Leader was taken aback for a moment, then turned to look at Zhou Yi, a flicker of anger rising in his eyes. "I am Li Dingyuan, the Sect Leader of Spirit Void Grotto-Heaven. Under which sect do you come from? How dare you cause trouble at my Spirit Void Grotto-Heaven?"

"I am Zhou Yi, a disciple of the Daoist Sect."

Zhou Yi cupped his hands and bowed to Sect Leader Li. "I have long heard of the great name of Spirit Void Grotto-Heaven. I am feeling a bit restless and have come to challenge you."

"Daoist Sect? What kind of sect is that? Why haven't I heard of it?"

Hearing Zhou Yi announce his sect, Sect Leader Li was clearly stunned. Was this some minor sect that had suddenly appeared? Or a hidden sect?

Clearly, now was not the time to dwell on that. Putting aside his doubts, Sect Leader Li gave Zhou Yi a cold glance, a surge of anger already brewing within him.

"My Spirit Void Grotto-Heaven's reputation is renowned, how can it be insulted? To dare to attack our gates, truly ignorant of the immensity of heaven and earth! Have I not made a move in many years, that any cat or dog dares to come and bully us?"

With this thought, Sect Leader Li's eyes began to gleam with a chilling coldness, and spiritual light faintly appeared in his hand as he prepared to slap this ignorant fool to death.

Just as he was about to act, he suddenly heard Elder Liu next to him cry out in alarm.

"Ah! Young Master Zhou, is that you?"

Elder Liu stared at Zhou Yi with a face full of shock.

"A challenger from the Celestial Venerable's lineage? Is this how we are supposed to live!"

Elder Liu's heart churned like a stormy sea; he wished he could just die. "What did my Spirit Void Grotto-Heaven do wrong?"

"Elder Liu, what is this..."

Sect Leader Li, having been Sect Leader for many years, was extremely perceptive. Seeing Elder Liu's unusual expression, he immediately became wary and halted the attack he was about to launch.

"Ah! Sect Leader, don't!"

Elder Liu, seeing the spiritual light still lingering in Sect Leader Li's hand, was so terrified he lost his soul. He rushed in front of Sect Leader Li, grabbed his hand, and exclaimed, "Don't make a move!"

"Elder Liu, you..."

Sect Leader Li was very surprised by Elder Liu's actions and quickly asked for an explanation.

"Sect Leader, the Immortal Seedlings at the edge of the forbidden area were divided among our six sects, but one was taken away by that person."

As he spoke, Elder Liu subtly gestured towards Zhou Yi. "He is the one who was taken away."

"What? He is..."

Sect Leader Li jumped up in shock. Thinking about how he had almost attacked, a cold sweat "swished" out from Sect Leader Li.

"So close! So close!"

Sect Leader Li's heart pounded wildly.

"Fortunately, I didn't make a move, otherwise, the doom of our sect would have been upon us."