A single crash of gongs and drums shook the heavens, while six white clouds hung beneath the sky's haze.
The cloud platform above the island had not dispersed. Several immortals from the Sea Gazing Sect remained behind to keep it stable.
—There had to be a place to rank everyone and hand out rewards afterward.
On Myriad Cloud Sect's white cloud, the disciples hurriedly meditated and regulated their breathing, bringing themselves into peak condition.
Li Ping'an and Mu Ningning still occupied an inconspicuous corner. Their arms were less than three inches apart; a slight lift of a hand would seemingly let them touch.
Li Ping'an could smell the fragrance of her hair, while Mu Ningning could hear her senior brother's breathing.
"Senior Brother."
Mu Ningning's pretty face was faintly flushed. She took the initiative to tug at Li Ping'an's sleeve, then sent him a question that had little to do with anything.
"Why does everyone like using the sound of gongs?"
She had wondered about that for a long time, though the answer was hardly important.
Li Ping'an smiled and transmitted his reply. "There aren't many sounds suitable for an occasion like this. String music is too soft, wind instruments drag on too long, while gongs, drums, great bells, or explosions are best for an opening like this."
"Oh," Mu Ningning said. "So that's why."
Yet the little hand clutching Li Ping'an's sleeve did not withdraw.
Li Ping'an slowly lowered his left hand, allowing her to hold on more discreetly.
White gauze concealed Mu Ningning's face, leaving only the slightly mischievous smile in her Peach Blossom Eyes visible.
Senior Brother didn't pull away.
Gu Qingcheng, the deputy leader, had already made a round among the disciples, distributing the specially enhanced secret-version Exploding Cloud Pills, "produced by Senior Brother Ping'an," evenly. No one received more, no one less—the focus was fairness and impartiality.
Then Gu Qingcheng said, "Everyone, form the groups we arranged earlier."
The disciples shifted their positions and split into six teams of five and two teams of four, greeting one another in courtesy.
An Origin Immortal Realm Deacon called out, "The elder has words. Disciples, listen!"
The disciples immediately fell silent and looked toward Elder Yan Sheng at the front of the white cloud.
Elder Yan Sheng took a puff from his thousand-year spirit-root pipe and spoke slowly:
"Then this poor Daoist will keep it brief.
"The Human Race was born in ancient times, initially one among the myriad races. Yet the Human Race received the grace of Saint Mother Nuwa's creation. We were born with Innate Dao Bodies, making it far easier for us to comprehend the Great Dao than other living beings. Thus, we began to prosper.
"Yet it was precisely because the Human Race shone too brightly that we drew envy. The Ancient Heavenly Court, which should have been jointly governed by the myriad races, began oppressing the Human Race. More than half of the races turned against us and repeatedly waged war upon us.
"At our weakest, fewer than a hundred million people remained in all of Heaven and Earth.
"Fortunately, the Saint Mother returned from beyond the heavens in time, preserving the Human Race's line.
"Thus, even when the myriad races of the Ancient Heavenly Court sought to exterminate us, the Human Race survived tenaciously. After that great calamity, fortune favored us; sages and heroes of the Human Race emerged one after another, while the Ancient Heavenly Court was gravely weakened by internal strife among the myriad races.
"Later, Sui Ren Shi, the Fire Emperor of our Human Race, arose out of nowhere and severed over a dozen eras of the Ancient Heavenly Court's fortune. The Human Race began claiming a place upon the lands of the Southern Continent, and the momentum of our rise became unstoppable.
"Later still, the Three Pure Ancestors appeared. They passed down numerous cultivation methods to the Human Race and helped us flourish completely.
"To this day, the Human Race possesses the Southern Continent and the Eastern Continent. The footsteps of Human Race Qi cultivators cover the hundred lands of the Four Continents, and more and more Qi cultivators of the Human Race have established cave abodes beyond the heavens.
"The Southern Continent became the foundation of the Human Race's fortune, protected by the Saint Mother through the Absolute Heaven Great Formation.
"The Eastern Continent became the cultivation ground of Human Race Qi cultivators, inheriting the Dao lineage of the Three Pure Ancestors.
"When the Human Race destroyed the Ancient Heavenly Court, the myriad races retreated to the Western Continent and placed themselves under the Two Sect Masters of the Western Teachings.
"At the time, mediated by the Two Sect Masters of the Western Teachings, our Human Race sages considered the hardships of ancient living beings and did not exterminate the myriad races. That mercy planted the seed of disaster.
"As soon as the myriad races recovered a little of their strength, they began raiding the land of the Human Race. Once their experts cultivated Innate Dao Bodies, so long as they concealed their original appearances, they looked little different from the Human Race. They specialized in transformation arts, evaded the pursuit of Human Race experts, infiltrated various regions, and slaughtered innocents without restraint.
"The demon race you hear about in ordinary times originally had many names—essences, spirits, saints. They could also be named after the creatures they had originally been before cultivation, such as the pig-spirit race or the magpie race.
"But now, the Human Race calls them by only one word—demons.
"This enmity has lasted for several eras. Who knows when it will end?"
Elder Yan Sheng sighed softly, then continued:
"Therefore, you need show no mercy toward demons. Aside from the small portion of demons around the Eastern Continent who cultivated from local creatures, most are enemies stained with the blood of the Human Race.
"Cultivation is not merely for the immortality Dao fruit. It should also be for protecting all living beings.
"We Human Race Qi cultivators enjoy the blessings and shelter left by our forebears. We must uphold their aspirations and remain irreconcilable with the demon race!
"A great battle erupted at the Ancient Ruins ahead two years ago. At that time, great demons tried to profit amid the chaos, only to be slain by our Human Race Qi cultivators working together.
"The resentment of those great demons' remaining souls turned into miasma. Most of the lesser demons occupying this place now are sea creatures corrupted by that miasma. Today, there will also be some demons secretly placed here by immortals of the Sea Gazing Sect.
"Thus, you may act freely today. Treat it as a test of the fruits of your many years of cultivation."
Li Ping'an joined the other disciples in making a Daoist salute and accepting the order. "We obey the elder's command!"
"Disciples, there is more you must remember!"
Another Outer Sect elder added:
"First, fellow disciples must protect one another. Do not refuse aid upon seeing danger!
"Second, if disciples of other sects encounter peril, Myriad Cloud Sect disciples must rescue them if doing so does not endanger themselves.
"Third, this place emerged two years ago. The treasures inside were long since carried away. The only thing remaining is the miasma of the great demons that perished here. If you encounter faint Black Qi floating on the sea surface, do not approach. Contact with it will bring considerable trouble and may give rise to inner demons.
"Travel together as much as possible. The sect's immortals will follow above you, but remember: if we must rescue you, you will have to withdraw from this trial."
The disciples saluted again and voiced their agreement.
Elder Yan Sheng suddenly said, "Team leader, say a few words to encourage the disciples."
Li Ping'an, who had been observing the surroundings, had expected this. He cupped his hands and said slowly, "This trial is meant to broaden our experience. Prioritize self-preservation in all matters. If danger arises, call for help at once."
The disciples turned and offered Li Ping'an Daoist salutes. Li Ping'an returned the gesture.
Elder Yan Sheng smiled. "Why do those words sound less like something from a hot-blooded young man and more like something an old man such as this poor Daoist would say?"
The disciples all chuckled.
An immortal laughed. "When we came to these Ancient Ruins last time, the formation and towers were still visible. Who would have thought that after merely two years, Loose Cultivators would have nearly hauled away even the roof tiles?"
The disciples followed the voice and looked toward the sea ahead.
Amid the placid sea lay a stretch of rolling ruins, like ancient city walls standing in the water. The seawater below had also become lighter in color, revealing the circular outline spanning several hundred miles.
Li Ping'an imagined the scene when these Ancient Ruins had first emerged.
A formation hundreds of miles across had covered the sea, countless rays of Immortal Light shooting in every direction. Within it stood rows upon rows of buildings stretching without end, while black dots flew in from all around Heaven and Earth, tearing open the formation like locusts and charging toward the treasure light.
No, that was not right.
His master had come here then as well. She had obtained a great treasure, been besieged and seriously injured, and ultimately escaped using the Sect Return Token.
Comparing them to locusts was inappropriate.
It had been more like a beautiful butterfly and a swarm of fluttering moths descending in force, tearing open the formation and rushing toward the treasure light.
As Li Ping'an entertained those thoughts, his gaze moved over the surroundings.
The Sea Gazing Sect had already cleared the area, and dozens of immortals stood guard in various locations.
Several hundred Loose Cultivators could still be seen scattered across the distant sea. Among them were even elderly figures in the Truth Integration Realm and Heaven and Earth Bridge Realm. They had likely come to watch the excitement after hearing the news, while even more figures were hurrying here from the shore.
There were simply too many people in the Human Race. No place ever lacked spectators.
The six white clouds arrived above the central region of the Ancient Ruins.
Several streams of light flew from the Sea Gazing Sect's cloud. A few white-haired old men stood between sea and sky, loudly delivering formal remarks before once again announcing the specific rules of this six-sect disciples' trial.
It was nothing more than disciples killing demons while immortals kept score. The six teams that killed the most demons would receive rewards.
The Sea Gazing Sect had even specially prepared a set of counting Immortal Treasures. They first named each team, then had immortals from each sect tally the kills with Jade Talismans, displaying every team's demon-kill count in real time on a great bronze mirror.
The immortals' Immortal Sense could encompass the entire field, so there was naturally no way to cheat.
Another gong rang, and the trial of the six sects' disciples officially began.
More than two hundred disciples leaped down from the six white clouds. Each used their own methods and displayed their abilities as they dove into the sea together, beginning their search for demons.
Half the immortals from the six sects protected their own disciples, while the other half flew above disciples from other sects. They were both supervising one another and representing mutual support among the orthodox immortal sects.
Li Ping'an, Mu Ningning, Gu Qingcheng, and Yu Yingshu formed a team of four. After entering the sea, each of them opened a barrier of Dharma power. Under Li Ping'an's lead, they quietly headed toward...
the region with the fewest traces of demon Qi.
Using the seawater to transmit his voice, Gu Qingcheng asked softly:
"Senior Brother Ping'an, why aren't we following the Sea Gazing Sect's disciples? Many of the demons here were placed by the Sea Gazing Sect, so they must know where the most demons are."
"Hey!"
Li Ping'an sent back:
"Why follow them? Are we looking to be targeted?
"Brother Gu, your flying sword struck that Sea Gazing Sect immortal seed right in the crotch and made him lose all face. His Dao heart is probably unstable now. What if he causes us trouble later?"
"That makes sense," Gu Qingcheng said with a slow nod and an embarrassed laugh. "I really didn't mean to. I just got a feel for using my sword to rip clothes at the time, and my hand followed through."
Yu Yingshu asked, "Senior Brother Ping'an, there's hardly any demon scent in the direction we're heading."
Li Ping'an smiled. "There are only four of us, and the two of you are dragging along Junior Sister Mu and me. Our chances of taking the top six are slim."
The other three nodded in unison.
"Since we're destined not to make the top six, why compete for it? There are plenty of lesser demons here too, enough to temper our fighting skills."
Li Ping'an reminded them:
"Since the outcome won't be any different, wouldn't it be better to take things easy?"
Mu Ningning covered her mouth and laughed softly. "Senior Brother is right. I don't like fighting and killing anyway."
Gu Qingcheng and Yu Yingshu exchanged glances and smiled. They immediately relaxed considerably.
What the three of them did not know was that Li Ping'an only appeared relaxed.
The instant he entered the sea, his Void Refining Realm spiritual awareness had fully spread out. The Demon-Seeking Needle and Demon-Recognizing Pearl concealed in his sleeve had long since been activated.
Li Ping'an had already planned it out. This trial had no real significance, so they might as well coast through it safely. As long as they did not place last, they would not disgrace the sect.
He glanced upward and faintly sensed Elder Yan Sheng's aura.
That put Li Ping'an much more at ease, and a faint smile remained on his lips.
Elder Yan, a first-rank True Immortal at the peak of perfection, was simply too reassuring.
Myriad Cloud Sect, Casting Cloud Hall.
Li Dazhi sat behind his work desk. After handling several Jade Talismans, he walked to a couch at the side and sat cross-legged to meditate.
He took out the familiar Yin-Yang Mirror from his sleeve, gazing at the boundless blue waves reflected within it as he sensed Li Ping'an's aura.
"Why did he run into the sea?"
Li Dazhi was quite displeased that he could not see his son.
Naturally, he had asked Elder Yan Sheng to watch over Ping'an and had also used this pair of Yin-Yang Mirrors to observe the situation over there.
When a son traveled far, his father worried.
If Li Dazhi had not cultivated for too short a time and failed to reach the Heavenly Immortal Realm, and if his master, Daoist Master Kongming, had not forbidden him from leaving, Li Dazhi would certainly have gone personally to Li Ping'an's trial and protected him in secret.
"Ah, this great fortune."
Li Dazhi let out a long sigh.
This thing could bring both opportunities and danger. Opportunity and danger were like two brothers always slinging arms around each other's shoulders, so Li Dazhi could not help worrying.
Thinking back on the past five years, Li Dazhi had gained a vague understanding of his so-called "great fortune."
Put simply—it meant everything went smoothly, and blessings filled the house.
"If only Ping'an could have half of this great fortune."
The Yin-Yang Mirror showed faint spiritual energy fluctuations coming from beneath the sea. Though layer upon layer of waves had already exploded across the distant sea surface, they could not draw even a sliver of Li Dazhi's Immortal Sense.
Li Dazhi's eyes lit up as he stared intently at the Yin-Yang Mirror.
Woohoo! Ping'an had started killing demons!
For such a historically significant moment, he could only sense it through Immortal Sense. What a shame.
Unnamed Mountain, within the Heavenly Immortal Cave Abode.
"Disciple, today we'll eat..."
Qing Su's voice abruptly stopped.
She stood quietly in the vast front hall of the cave abode, staring blankly at the lotus pond for a while before turning and returning to the inner hall.
"Careful, Senior Brother! Let me handle this!"
Dazzling sword light flashed continuously over the fine sand on the seabed.
Mu Ningning wielded her sword alone, a treasure-grade water-avoidance pearl floating over her head. She moved through the sea as though walking on level ground, constantly unleashing sword Qi ahead and battering several half-zhang-long black-armored shrimp demons until they were bloodied, shattered, and torn apart.
Li Ping'an stood with his hands behind his back, admiring Mu Ningning's graceful figure from behind while using his spiritual awareness to control two precious pearls circling around her in protection.
Mu Ningning was quite excited as well. Against shrimp demons comparable to the Spirit Gathering Realm, she had immediately used her sharpest Immortal Treasure sword and even displayed the movement technique she had comprehended from the Swallow Escape Stakes.
I need to teach her how to use talisman formations. Close combat puts her at too much of a disadvantage and makes it easy for her to get hurt.
While considering this, Li Ping'an had already begun devising a "junior sister teaching plan" for after they returned to the mountain. One strand of his spiritual awareness remained locked onto those Sea Gazing Sect disciples.
Li Ping'an had a faint premonition that Bu Linhai would most likely stir up trouble.
But he could not imagine what petty trick Bu Linhai might use... Trap them with formations? Secretly poison them through the seawater? Covertly drive demons to cause trouble? Ask Sea Gazing Sect immortals to trip them up in secret? Or perhaps a self-inflicted injury, provocation, borrowing a knife to kill, making two tigers fight, driving wolves against tigers... Who was Bu Linhai's father? Could he be some big shot in the Sea Gazing Sect?
Li Ping'an gradually sank into thought.
Yu Yingshu and Gu Qingcheng, who were seeing Mu Ningning fight for the first time, looked at one another.
This girl...
Was she really that cute and gentle junior sister from the journey here?
Before you continue