This Was No Grand Event

Yin Shi asked, "What, you want to participate?"

"With my cultivation level, I might not be able to compete for the Longevity Pill, but competing for the Dragon Seed shouldn't be a problem, right? Even if I can't get the Dragon Seed, getting a piece of Dragon Bone might allow me to transform into a dragon or a jiao in the future," said Hidden Eleven.

Yin Shi, having clearly learned some inside information while in Immortal Forest, stated. "The arena battles can only select martial artists with higher combat strength at this stage, and have absolutely nothing to do with the title 'Hidden Dragon'."

"The current generation of young people being the best in the world does not mean that they will still be the best among their generation a hundred years from now, or even that they will still be alive."

"Therefore, a true hidden dragon not only needs martial arts skills and combat prowess to lead his generation, but also the assistance of wisdom and temperament."

"His wisdom and temperament give him a greater chance of always staying ahead of his contemporaries. He also has a greater chance of surviving to the end, becoming a millennium-old figure on this land, or even an emperor."

In short, intelligence and martial arts skills are both indispensable.

Hidden Eleven said, "How do you define wisdom and temperament? We can't exactly have a bunch of martial arts practitioners guessing riddles, can we?"

Li Weiyi chuckled, but she was equally curious.

Yin Shi said, "From what I understand, if you want to participate in this battle for the hidden dragon, you first need to obtain an invitation from the Du'e Temple Immortal Master before New Year's Eve."

"There are two hundred invitations in total, fifty for martial arts practitioners from the Eastern, Southern, Western Territory, and Northern territories."

"The martial arts practitioners of the four realms Twenty-Eight Prefectures have been divided among the four cities of the southeast, northwest, and southwest."

Li Weiyi suddenly understood. No wonder he was told upon entering the city that martial artists from the Seven Prefectures of the Southern Territory could only reside in the south of the city, "I see! The young martial artists who came to the city from the Seven Prefectures of the Southern Territory were divided into a competitive group, vying for fifty invitation slots. If they didn't get an invitation before New Year's Eve, they probably wouldn't even have the chance to participate, just watching the lantern festival in the city."

Li Weiyi's mood instantly turned heavy. Tens of thousands of young martial artists from the Seven Prefectures of the Southern Territory had gathered in Qiuzhou City to compete for fifty spots.

That's too cruel!

Hidden Eleven said, "So, in other words, as long as your strength ranks in the top ten in a province, you can basically get an invitation?"

"I estimate that only the top five will be relatively secure," Li Weiyi said. "For example, in the Southern Territory, the Zuoqiu Courtyard and the Jiu Li Tribe will take up a lot of spots. In addition, the prodigies secretly cultivated by various powerful clans and sects are also likely to participate in this battle for the future of the dragons because of the generous rewards."

Yin Shi said, "It's not a possibility, it's a certainty."

"The significance of a single Longevity Pill is enough to drive any power mad. A Dragon Seed signifies the strongest Dao Seed, and the ability to advance extremely quickly in the Dao Seed Realm. Which Five Seas Realm martial artist wouldn't want to fight for it? They'd risk their lives to do so."

"If you could obtain both a dragon seed and a Longevity Pill... Hmph, then you'd still be qualified to compete with me today, and we could even call each other brothers. But perhaps in just five or ten years, when you see me again, you'd have to kneel and kowtow, calling me the 'Giant of Immortality,' watching me live for hundreds of years, living like a god. And you, still struggling within the shackles of a hundred-year lifespan, could be crushed by a single finger of mine."

"To forge immortality over sixty years is already absolutely astonishing."

"However, it is truly possible for a peerless genius who is simultaneously blessed by the Dragon Seed and the Longevity Pill to achieve immortality within ten years."

Not only was Hidden Eleven extremely excited, but even Hidden Fifteen and Hidden Sixteen outside the house took deep breaths, gazed at the sky, and were immersed in the dream of Forge Immortality in Ten Years.

Only Yin Thirteen and Li Weiyi felt increasingly uncomfortable as they listened.

Time is too tight; there are only twenty-odd days left until New Year's Eve. The idea of raising one's cultivation level to the top fifty in the Southern Territory is simply a pipe dream.

Hidden Eleven asked, "How exactly does the immortal master of the Du'e Temple send out invitations? People like us from the Hidden Gate, with no notable reputation, are we simply ignored?"

Yin Shi said, "The inheritors of the major Myriad Gate Families will certainly not have trouble getting invitations. I heard from the martial artists in the Immortal Forest that those martial artists who have strength but not yet enough fame will be challenging strong opponents intensively to improve their battle record and reputation."

"We can't get close to the Immortal Master, but he must be in the city. This is the only way we can let his name and achievements reach his ears."

Hidden Nine, who had been silent all along, said, "The implication is that only Yin Shi and I can compete for the Qianlong Lantern Festival this year; you are not allowed to participate."

"Boom!"

Hidden Eleven landed on the pillar, his emotions running high. "What does this mean? After all this talk, you're telling us that only the two of you are allowed to compete for the generous rewards from the Du'e Temple, while we can only watch? Who do you think you are? Even if I can't beat you, do you think I can't even make it into the top fifty in the Southern Territory?"

"That does seem a bit unreasonable! We may not have much hope, but it's not entirely hopeless." Hidden Fifteen's voice came from the courtyard.

Hidden Sixteen asked, "Is this the will of those above, or the will of you and Yin Shi?"

These reclusive individuals are all ruthless characters who survived to the end among their group. Although Hidden Nine is strong, he is not Hidden Person and cannot be made to obey his every word.

Hidden Nine stood up, walked outside, and stood majestically under the bone lamp, saying proudly, "I knew you wouldn't be satisfied. Then let's fight. Whoever beats me can participate. I won't use my battle axe."

Instantly, three powerful Battle Intent rose in the courtyard.

The three of them came up.

"I'll go first!"

Hidden Eleven is very strong. He is Deformed Race from the Seventh Sea of the Five Seas Realm. He cultivates Fundamental Martial Art and has consumed the Flood Dragon Blood treasured by the Hidden Gate to forge a powerful physical body.

"Enough!"

Yin Shi shouted, "The higher-ups aren't letting you participate because they don't want you to go and die. This isn't a grand event, it's a slaughterhouse!"

"Didn't you say that the Du'e Temple should set up a fighting arena for everyone to fight?"

"It's set up! The entire city of Qiuzhou is like a fighting arena! Beneath this city, which resembles a Bagua diagram, are densely covered with Formation Script formations. As early as three months ago, the Zuoqiu Courtyard and the Du'e Temple added new Defensive Formation to every street and every building."

"On New Year's Eve, Zuoqiu Courtyard will issue two decrees."

"The first rule allows martial artists below the Dao Seed Realm to engage in combat within the city Lantern Festival, but they must compensate for all losses and provide relief to those accidentally injured. Furthermore, killing is restricted; indiscriminate killing of innocents is prohibited, and anyone found guilty will be executed on the spot. The Zuoqiu Courtyard calls this the Limited Killing Order,' but those in the know understand that it is actually a 'Limited Killing Order.'"

"The second rule prohibits martial arts practitioners at or above the Dao Seed Realm from engaging in combat within the city Lantern Festival. This is known as the Forbidden Martial Order."

" With the Forbidden Martial Order, even the older generation of powerful figures have been stripped of their right to intervene and provide assistance."

"The entire city of Qiuzhou has now become a chessboard reflecting the state of the world. The Du'e Temple wants to see the struggle between various forces and the most realistic battlefield combat. The older generation of powerful figures can only be spectators outside the chessboard."

"Normally, even if the young martial artists from the various factions were to fight, they wouldn't aim to kill each other. After all, killing a thousand enemies would result in eight hundred casualties on your own side. Everyone was after the generous rewards and to secure the support of the Du'e Temple for their own Rebel Army."

But a spoiler appeared!

"The Ash Region of the Far West have arrived, the Four Great Demon Kings are about to enter the fray, and the Imperial Court is also poised to unleash a bloodbath."

Hidden Eleven, Hidden Fifteen, and Hidden Sixteen all calmed down, their eyes becoming serious.

Once the Limited Killing Order and the Forbidden Martial Order are issued, Qiuzhou City will surely become a paradise for top experts from the Five Seas Realm, who will hold the power of life and death and may even be able to set their own rules.

That's too dangerous!

Li Weiyi asked, "Shouldn't people from the Ash Region in the Far West be considered part of the Western Territory? We can't possibly include them in the south of our city."

Yin Shi shook his head slightly. "I don't know! This group led by the Young Venerable is extremely terrifying. Some of them enjoy eating the flesh and blood of Pure Immortal Body, while others like to collect beautiful human skin. Of course, they also want to seize dragon bones, dragon seeds, and Longevity Pill, but... their actions are completely unpredictable, which is the biggest uncertainty."

"The various forces in the Lingxiao Shengjing might fight each other because of past grudges, just like our Jiu Li Tribe and the three major sects. But would we attack other forces for no reason and make enemies for ourselves?"

"But Young Venerable and others might..."

"The higher-ups at Zuoqiu Courtyard must be very worried, so they're trying to eliminate any potential threats before the end of the year."

Hidden Fifteen said, "Does what they mean is that we should do everything we can to help you two get the results at the Lantern Festival?"

"It's too early to talk about these things now. We haven't even received the invitations yet, and we don't know what the situation will be like by then."

Hidden Nine said, "Complete the mission first and track down Ember Spirit. But if you encounter Young Venerable and his four masters, Hua Qi Ming Zang, do not act rashly."

The list of suspicious martial arts practitioners was distributed by Yin Thirteen.

Li Weiyi was naturally excluded; Hidden Nine told him that he only needed to stay in Qin Garden and cultivate diligently.

A fragrant breeze wafted over him, and Yin Shi's eyes hardened with a warning. "You seem more obedient than anyone else, but in reality, you're the most disobedient. Although the Limited Killing Order will only be issued on New Year's Eve, Qiuzhou City is already very unsafe; there are fights, killings, and deaths every day."

Li Weiyi laughed and said, "I value my life very much!"

Yin Shi asked, "Did you use Disguise Art to transform into Huo Qiankun?"

Li Weiyi didn't hide it from her, and asked in surprise, "How did you know?"

"Huo Qiankun and Yuwen Chao haven't shown themselves since they went to hunt you down. Twenty days have passed, and now that you've reappeared, they're naturally dead! That's one point."

Yin Shi continued, "Some martial artists in the Immortal Forest were discussing an interesting story. They said that Qi Jin, a disciple of the Young Venerable, has killed more than a dozen people named Huo Qiankun in Qiuzhou City, and everyone is speculating about the reason. I reckon it must be related to you."

Li Weiyi was both speechless and utterly confused. "This shouldn't be happening. As Huo Qiankun, I had a very good conversation with her and complimented her beauty multiple times. Could it be...?"

Li Weiyi suspected that when she transformed into Cangli and lent the Ghost Flag to Jiang Ning, she left traces somewhere that allowed Jiang Ning to see through her disguise.

Could it be that silver spear?

"Alas, it's my fault! I only killed one Huo Qiankun, but I caused the deaths of more than a dozen Huo Qiankun." Li Weiyi sighed.

Yin Shi snorted, "Good that you know. Don't show yourself so easily again. Hide well in Qin Garden. If Qi Jin finds you, even Hidden Nine and I might not be able to save you."

Throughout the entire ordeal, Yin Shi never asked Li Weiyi who killed Huo Qiankun and Yuwen Chao. It seemed Hidden Nine knew some inside information; during their discussion, Hidden Nine had murmured meaningfully to himself, "Li Ling was traveling with him, everything makes sense!"

Yin Shi said, "Oh, right, there's one more thing! Zuoqiu Ting has come to Immortal Forest twice to look for me, asking about you. Should we tell him that you've come to the city?"