Joining Qingxuan

After night fell, Shen Yi did not sleep. Having reached the Qi Condensation Realm, he no longer needed daily sleep; the spiritual energy of heaven and earth was enough to replenish him.

"There is too much cold energy accumulated in my left arm. I can only refine it bit by bit."

Sitting in his room, Shen Yi sensed that Changfeng Town's spiritual energy became exceedingly thin at night, faintly converging toward a certain direction. With a thought, he rose to seek its source and arrived at a ruined temple.

Pushing open the door, Shen Yi saw desolation all around. The deity statues had faded, with many parts damaged. It seemed they had gone a long time without incense offerings.

"Strange. The traces of spiritual energy's flow vanish once they reach here."

Shen Yi searched the surroundings, yet found nothing. Everything seemed to have disappeared into thin air. Circulating his spiritual power, Shen Yi released strands of black aura and discovered with delight that every time they touched the deity statues, they mysteriously vanished, as though falling into an abyss and losing all connection.

"A barrier? Or an array?"

Shen Yi gave a soft cry. Reaching out, he had barely touched the deity statue when a powerful pull seized him. He could not resist it, and in an instant, he vanished from the ruined temple.

A massive bronze coffin appeared before Shen Yi. Thick black iron chains bound the enormous coffin, suspending it in midair. Blurred ancient patterns were carved upon it, brimming with the weathered aura of countless years.

Shen Yi carefully traced the patterns on the bronze coffin, his heart deeply shaken.

There was a living being inside this massive bronze coffin!

As though it had sensed the aura of a living person, the iron chains clattered, and a weak voice came from within the coffin.

"Spirit Stones... give me..."

Shen Yi was alarmed and did not dare act rashly. Only after confirming that the aura bore no malicious intent did he take out several Spirit Stones and place them atop the bronze coffin.

In the blink of an eye, the Spirit Stones were absorbed. The black chains blazed with a dark radiance, spreading across the entire town and forming an invisible barrier.

"So the protection Feng Liquan spoke of was actually emitted by this bronze coffin. Its aura is simply too weak—no wonder it could be damaged by a Foundation Establishment Early Stage cultivator."

With that thought, Shen Yi took out another ten Spirit Stones and placed them on the bronze coffin. They were absorbed in an instant, and the barrier grew several degrees sturdier.

"I wonder how many it will take before it is enough."

As he pondered this, he took out over half the Spirit Stones on his person—some ten to twenty thousand in all—and piled them on the ground.

"Supreme Hall, Sacred Emperor Scripture... Supreme Hall, Sacred Emperor Scripture..."

Shen Yi vaguely heard muttering from within the bronze coffin. Before he could ask further, a chain sent him back out.

Standing before the deity statue, Shen Yi felt as though he were in a dream. When he reached out to touch the statue again, all he felt was its rough texture, and a sense of unreality rose within him.

The night passed without incident.

The next morning, Shen Yi resolved to leave and seek an opportunity to break through to Foundation Establishment.

What he did not know was that the longevity tablet the people of Changfeng Town had set up for him happened to be in the temple from the previous night. The townspeople had renovated the place, repainted the deity statues, and enshrined his longevity tablet there. From then on, incense offerings never ceased, and the barrier emitted by the bronze coffin grew ever more solid.

Shen Yi searched everywhere for an opportunity to advance into Foundation Establishment. In the blink of an eye, a month had passed. He had now reached peak Qi Refining, just one step away from Foundation Establishment.

"What sort of opportunity does Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment require?"

Sitting beside a waterfall, Shen Yi watched the fish swimming in the pool and muttered to himself.

"Begin simulation!"

Simulation begins. Remaining simulations this month: 0

Year One: You joined Qingxuan Sect and became an Outer Disciple.

Year Two: You successfully achieved Foundation Establishment and became an Inner Disciple.

Year Three: You were dispatched to Yunxuan Sect in Ninghai City, where Wang Shangren recognized your identity. You were tortured to death.

Simulation complete. Reward obtained: Disguise Pill. After taking it, you can change your appearance entirely. A Restore Appearance Pill is required to remove its effect.

Holding the Disguise Pill, Shen Yi recalled that Qingxuan Sect was not far from here. Since that was the case, he would follow the simulator's guidance. The first step of his revenge would begin with Qingxuan Sect!

His Spirit Wings beat, and Shen Yi flew toward the distant city.

Qingxuan Town.

The foundation of Qingxuan Sect.

To avoid arousing suspicion, Shen Yi put away his Spirit Wings early and walked all the way to the gates of Qingxuan Town.

There were no royal soldiers guarding this place. Instead, cultivators stood watch, and judging by their attire, eighty or ninety percent of them were Qingxuan Sect members. Shen Yi keenly perceived the subtle relationship between Qingxuan Sect and the Later Zhou Royal Family. It was something he could make good use of.

"Fellow cultivator, is this where Qingxuan Sect is located? I heard Qingxuan Sect is recruiting disciples, so I have come to seek shelter here."

Shen Yi had taken the Disguise Pill and even thought up a new name: Kong Ming. Unless Wang Shangren himself came, no one else would notice that he had concealed his true appearance.

"Indeed it is. Fellow cultivator, you have arrived at just the right time. Three days from now will be Qingxuan Sect's entrance examination. Your aura is steady, so you must surely have victory within your grasp."

Shen Yi laughed heartily and casually took out more than a dozen Spirit Stones, handing them to the man. The man became even more enthusiastic and spoke with him far more familiarly.

Only through their conversation did Shen Yi learn that the man was named Zhu Siwen. He was an Outer Disciple of Qingxuan Sect, responsible for registering recruits during this disciple recruitment.

"Fellow cultivator Kong Ming, please rest in the city for now. This little brother will pay you a visit later."

After Zhu Siwen called out, an attendant led Shen Yi into the city.

At this time, Qingxuan Town had already gathered many people. All wished to enter Qingxuan Sect and embark upon the path of immortality. There was no shortage of cultivators like Shen Yi, who already possessed cultivation and wished to find themselves a backer.

"Why have I not seen any members of the royal family patrolling along the way?"

Shen Yi picked up a skewer of candied hawthorn from a roadside stall, tossed over a Spirit Stone, and asked casually.

Seeing Shen Yi spend so lavishly, the attendant hurriedly answered in detail. "The Later Zhou Royal Family no longer holds even a shred of real power in Qingxuan City. If Immortal Master does not believe it, you may ask around freely. Here, there is only Qingxuan Sect—there is no Later Zhou Royal Family."

The attendant's words indeed confirmed Shen Yi's suspicions. Shen Yi's steps slowed by half a beat, then he continued forward.

"Since Qingxuan Sect is so powerful, has the Later Zhou Royal Family made no move?"

As Shen Yi spoke, he tossed several Spirit Stones to the attendant. The attendant beamed, immediately nodding and bowing.

"Ah, Immortal Master does not know. Qingxuan Sect has Azure Cloud Sect behind it! Though our sect only has Golden Core Cultivators in residence, Azure Cloud Sect has mighty Nascent Soul experts supporting it!"

As the attendant spoke, his back unconsciously straightened, pride appearing on his face.

"Qingxuan Sect truly has deep foundations. If I join it, I will have a backer as well."

Shen Yi revealed an admiring expression, his eyes brimming with a desire to join Qingxuan Sect. The attendant saw it all and was greatly satisfied with Shen Yi. This was exactly the effect he wanted: to make Shen Yi wholeheartedly join the sect, so that he himself could earn many rewards. Perhaps he might even become an Outer Disciple.

"Immortal Master, Osmanthus Tower is up ahead. The dishes inside are Qingxuan's finest. It is still early—why not go in and have a taste?"

"Fine. Lead the way!"