At the entrance to the valley, a broad stone-paved road stretched into the depths. Flags of every color stood on either side, each embroidered with the emblem of a different sect—some bore Flying Swords, some ancient Runes, and some even depicted lifelike Demonic Beasts.
The moment Yan Kui stepped onto the grounds of the Ascension Gathering, the sight before him brought him to a brief halt.
The valley was astonishingly vast, large enough to hold tens of thousands of people. Dozens of tall exhibition platforms had been built in its center, each with cultivators in lavish robes demonstrating various Magic Tools. Flying Swords streaked through the air with piercing cries; talismans flashed with dazzling colors; and several unfamiliar Spirit Artifacts spun in their owners' palms, giving off eerie halos.
But the most striking sight of all was the sky.
Cultivators constantly flew past overhead, riding Flying Swords. Their bodies hovered in the air, their robes fluttering like those of the immortals in legends. Every flight drew gasps and cheers from the young men and women below.
"Whoa... they really can fly!"
"I heard Qi Refining Stage cultivators can ride Flying Swords. When will I be able to do that...?"
"Keep dreaming. I heard the odds of awakening a Spiritual Root are only one in a thousand. We ordinary people..."
The voices blended into a noisy sea of people.
Yan Kui gave the crowd a cursory glance. There were several thousand young men and women, most of them between twelve and eighteen. They wore all kinds of clothes, but everyone looked neat and clean. Soft skin, bright eyes—that was his first impression of them. They were like a flock of lambs waiting to be slaughtered, brimming with longing and yearning for cultivation.
Yan Kui stepped forward and joined the crowd.
But he didn't blend in very well.
He stood out too much.
At 2.5 meters tall, he towered over the crowd of teenagers. The heat radiating from him made the air around him shimmer faintly. His dark red skin gleamed like metal in the sunlight, and those eyes of his, burning with Dark Red Flames... were enough to send a chill through anyone who saw them from afar.
The most immediate reaction was that everyone around him instinctively backed away.
"Hiss... what is that thing?"
"A monster... it's definitely a monster!"
"Oh, gods, could a demon really have sneaked into the Ascension Gathering?"
"Th-that person's skin is red? And he's giving off heat!"
"His eyes... I feel like they're going to burn me alive."
"Back up! Don't go near him!"
The murmurs swelled into a clamor like a market gone wild. Most people moved far away from where Yan Kui stood. Only a handful of brave souls remained, watching him with fearful eyes.
Yan Kui's expression remained blank. He wasn't angered or embarrassed by the crowd's reaction; he acted as though he couldn't care less. Like a beast in a foul temper that had wandered into a flock of sheep, he chose not to bite, only sweeping his gaze coldly over these mortals.
"Move."
His voice was low and hoarse, carrying an oppressive force that brooked no disobedience. The crowd immediately parted, opening a wide path for him.
Yan Kui slowly made his way toward the Main Stage in the center of the valley.
An old man stood there, but he was only an illusion—a special kind of Talisman Projection, used to transmit a voice from afar. An aged, imposing voice rang out from the apparition:
"Talented young people, welcome to the seventy-second Ascension Gathering!"
The voice carried across the entire valley, even sending out ripples in the air that were visible to the naked eye. Its owner had to be at least at the Golden Core Stage—Yan Kui could sense it in the faint pressure.
"This year, we have contestants from thirty-two Cultivation Sects. Over the next three days, you will undergo Spiritual Root Tests, evaluations of your aptitude, and live combat trials. Whether a great sect chooses you will depend on your own fortune."
"In addition, we welcome Mortal Warriors without Spiritual Roots to apply for positions as laborers, Guards, or other support staff. If you perform well enough, you may earn a sect's favor and even be taught some Martial Arts Manuals."
The voice paused, as if surveying the entire crowd.
"Now, let me announce the recruitment quotas for the various sects—"
For the next half hour, the old man's apparition recited each sect's recruitment criteria and benefits. Most sects were recruiting talented people with Spiritual Roots, and their requirements were strict. But some also took in Mortal Warriors as laborers, requiring only enough brute strength.
Yan Kui's ears caught one crucial detail—
"Qingyun Sect is recruiting three Strongmen. Requirements: Innate Divine Strength, the ability to carry a Thousand Jin Weight, and willingness to Obey Orders. Benefits: ten Low-grade Spirit Stones per month, permission to observe Outer Disciples cultivating, and a chance to learn the Basic Body Refining Technique."
Strongman.
That position was a step above an ordinary laborer. More importantly, it would let him observe Outer Disciples cultivating, and he would have a chance to learn a Body Refining Technique.
For Yan Kui, it was practically tailor-made.
He didn't need to reveal his strength to compete for one of the precious Sect Disciple positions. All he needed was to enter the sect as a Strongman, then learn as much of the cultivators' techniques and knowledge as he could while they were off their guard.
Once he grew strong enough, the entire sect would become his prey.
A glint flashed in Yan Kui's eyes.
He turned away from the crowd and headed to the eastern side of the valley. There, Qingyun Sect's exhibition platform stood on a slightly raised mound of earth. A middle-aged man in a dark green robe sat behind it. Several young people in Qingyun Sect uniforms stood behind him, apparently Outer Disciples.
"You're Yan Kui?" The middle-aged man's gaze lingered on Yan Kui for a full three seconds, surprise flashing in his eyes. "I've heard of you... the Demon God from Tianwu City."
Yan Kui narrowed his eyes. He hadn't expected the name he'd made for himself in the Mortal World to have reached the ears of the Cultivation Sects.
"Qingyun Sect happens to be recruiting Strongmen. You look like you have plenty of strength." The middle-aged man's lips curled in an amused smile. "Interested in joining our sect?"
Yan Kui didn't answer. Instead, he asked, "What are the conditions?"
"The conditions are simple." The middle-aged man leaned back in his chair. "You have to be able to carry a Thousand Jin Weight, Obey Orders, and work in the Spirit Beast Garden—that's where our sect raises its spirit beasts. In return, you'll receive ten Low-grade Spirit Stones a month, and you'll have a chance to observe disciples cultivating and even learn a basic Cultivation Technique. For a mortal, that's already a very generous offer."
Yan Kui considered it for a moment. The Spirit Beast Garden... spirit beasts... This position would indeed let him get close to the sect's core resources. And as a Strongman, he should have a great deal of Freedom of Action, unlike Outer Disciples, who were strictly bound by rules.
"I agree," he said simply.
"Good." The middle-aged man nodded in satisfaction. "My name is Li Qingyun, and I'm an External Affairs Elder of Qingyun Sect. The Ascension Gathering will end in three days, and I'll send someone to pick you up. Until then, you can move about freely, but remember—don't cause trouble."
"Understood."
Yan Kui turned and left Qingyun Sect's exhibition platform.
He walked to a relatively quiet spot in the valley and sat on a massive boulder, his cold gaze sweeping over the bustling crowd before him.
Cultivation Sects... Qingyun Sect...
His lips silently stretched into a dangerous smile.
"I'll infiltrate the sect, secretly learn its techniques, and build up my strength. Once I'm strong enough..." Yan Kui's fist clenched unconsciously with a series of cracking sounds. "All the resources in this sect will become nourishment for me."
In his eyes, the Ascension Gathering and Qingyun Sect were no longer sacred cultivation grounds. They were a hunting ground full of prey. And he was the wolf lurking among the sheep, waiting for the moment to strike.
Before you continue