First Limited-Time Event in Another World

On the mountainside of Yan Mountain, within the Sect Leader Temple with its peeling lacquer, Gu Bai led the three disciples behind him and bowed respectfully to a landscape painting in the main hall. Then he turned to look at Wu Ming and said in a deep voice, "I founded the Gujian Sect, but it's been barely over twenty years, and this so-called sect is just a convenient signboard for cultivation. The entire Yan Mountain, counting you, has only four people. There are no strict rules. Since you're sharp, I won't need to spell out many common truths. Just remember the four words 'conduct yourself well,' and that should be enough."

"But likewise, the Gujian Sect has no proper inheritance. I myself am just a wandering rogue with no sect or school, and all my techniques are self-created—the wild fancies of a dullard, hardly fit for refined halls. Moreover, though I barely have Nascent Soul cultivation due to various fortuitous encounters, old injuries leave me without Nascent Soul divine abilities. Taking me as your master won't bring you many benefits. If you truly seek enlightenment and ascension, you'll need to push yourself hard."

"Hmm, I still have some things I'd like to say, but if I talk too much, your senior sister will complain... In fact, she handles most of the daily affairs and even cultivation instruction of the Gujian Sect. She's been cultivating for only twenty years and has already achieved Foundation Establishment. You must remember to listen to her often, or if she gets angry, even I, your master, won't be able to save you..."

Under Zhu Ying's glare, Gu Bai finished his simple speech as sect leader, then pulled Wu Ming's hand and said, "Alright, now you're a Second Generation Disciple of the Gujian Sect. But to officially begin cultivation, you still need to go to Dinghuang Prefecture, comprehend the Human Emperor Scroll, and receive the Human Dao Seal."

Wu Ming blinked, utterly confused.

Zhu Ying snorted coldly, her mockery and dissatisfaction plain—not aimed at Wu Ming, but more like a cynical grudge against the whole world.

Gu Bai sighed. "In Qiongzhou, any immortal sect recruiting disciples must register at Dinghuang Prefecture, have the disciple tested in the Heart-Cleansing Pool, comprehend the Human Emperor Scroll, and only then can they begin cultivation."

Wu Ming blinked again, still lost.

"Heh, it's still early today. How about I take you directly to the prefectural city of Dinghuang Prefecture and explain the reasons along the way... Ying'er, use this time to prepare a place for your junior brother to stay."

Zhu Ying retorted with clear irritation, "On this barren mountain, where is there still a place fit for people to live? Should I have him squeeze in with Ling Xi's birds and beasts? They're all things she picked up anyway!"

Wu Ming looked around the Sect Leader Temple and suggested, "Master, this place of yours is pretty spacious. How about we just rough it together?"

Zhu Ying fumed, "What nonsense are you talking!?"

Gu Bai smiled bitterly. "This temple could indeed house a few more people, but living day and night with a cripple who only has the realm of Nascent Soul would do more harm than good. Ying'er, Ling Xi's dwelling is also far from this temple for that reason... Alright, Ying'er, don't say angry words. You're the sect's Senior Sister; you should take good care of your junior brothers and sisters."

Zhu Ying snorted but didn't argue further. She cupped her hands and said, "Master, rest assured. I'll handle it well."

Gu Bai nodded. "Then I'll leave it to you... Wu Ming, grab my hand. I'll ride the clouds and take you to the prefectural city. If you're scared on the way, close your eyes tight. We'll be there before long."

With that, the old man waved his Daoist robe sleeve, and wisps of clouds suddenly rolled down from the clear sky above, weaving into a thick, round carpet beneath the old man and Wu Ming's feet. Standing on this Cloud Carpet, the two of them gently floated up, no longer bound by gravity.

This technique was executed with effortless grace, and it made Wu Ming's eyes light up.

"Master, what realm do you need to unlock this free-flight mode?"

Gu Bai frowned, using his own insight to translate the words, then smiled and replied, "If you cultivate diligently, you'll have your own Cloud Carpet before Core Formation. Your Senior Sister excels at this and could fly smoothly even at Foundation Establishment Early Stage. You can ask her for guidance later... Alright, stand steady. We're about to set off."

The next moment, Wu Ming felt his vision blur as they shot out of the temple, then climbed sharply upward, piercing the clouds. The scenery on both sides twisted into a mess of distorted colors, and for a moment, the world spun.

Yet strangely, during this rapid acceleration, Wu Ming felt no discomfort from inertia. Moments later, the Cloud Carpet carried them hundreds of meters into the sky. Wu Ming stood perfectly steady, without a hint of dizziness, watching the scenery below shrink until the spacious Sect Leader Temple became insignificant.

But from this high vantage point, Wu Ming couldn't help but frown slightly.

What a desolate land... As far as the eye could see, endless bare stone mountains stretched out, with gray and black rock layers dominating the palette, as if casting a gloomy filter over the entire world. Vegetation, a symbol of life, was extremely scarce, with only a few patches of green dotting the mountainside and foot of Yan Mountain, standing out starkly and yet so lonely.

Even without knowledge of feng shui, one could tell how bad the feng shui was here.

Then Gu Bai let out a leisurely laugh and said, "Heh, I didn't expect you, child, to truly not fear heights! Beneath our feet is the land of Qiongzhou—quite barren, isn't it? The aftermath of the Desolate Barbarian Rebellion five hundred years ago still lingers."

"Desolate Barbarian Rebellion?"

Gu Bai sighed and began to recount a long history.

Long, long ago, the Nine Provinces were home to a hundred races standing side by side, a hundred schools of thought contending. But two thousand five hundred years ago, Grandmaster Taiqing excavated the first Immortal Mansion on Yanzi Mountain in Qingzhou, obtaining the legacy of the ancient immortals. The Immortal Path flourished greatly from then on, and humanity gradually stood above all other races. Thus, the Nine Provinces entered Immortal Mansion Year One.

By five hundred years ago, around Immortal Mansion Year Two Thousand, humanity occupied eight of the Nine Provinces. Only the northeastern Qiongzhou still maintained a situation of a hundred races coexisting, but it was as precarious as a stack of eggs, ready to break at any moment.

The Desolate Barbarian Rebellion was that "break."

The war erupted because the local human magnates oppressed and exploited the non-human races too harshly, leading the demon, witch, and devil races to join forces in revolt. They elected Twelve Leaders, rose from the borderlands, and swept across the entire province in the blink of an eye.

The flames of war raged for a hundred years before being completely suppressed and annihilated by the Sanqing Immortal Sect. All Twelve Leaders died in battle, and the demon, witch, and devil races that formed the main force of the Desolate Barbarian Allied Forces were nearly wiped out. This war left Qiongzhou devastated, with a thousand miles of scorched earth, and it couldn't recover its vitality even after centuries.

What was worse were those who survived—those who were neither human nor non-human races like demons, witches, or devils, but mixed-blood people.

The Desolate People.

During the Desolate Barbarian War, the Desolate People were treated as beasts of burden by the non-human allied forces, bullied in every way. After the war, they were equally unwelcome among humans.

In the end, the Sanqing Immortal Sect, out of compassion, did not exterminate the Desolate People. But to eliminate future troubles, they established the Dinghuang Prefecture system in Qiongzhou, strictly controlling the cultivation of Desolate People.

In Qiongzhou, all heretical paths were strictly forbidden; only the Immortal Path was allowed for cultivation. To begin the Immortal Path, one had to register at the various Dinghuang Prefectures, undergo a bloodline test in the Heart-Cleansing Pool. If the proportion of human bloodline fell below a certain threshold, one could live normally but was absolutely forbidden to cultivate.

Moreover, even if the bloodline condition was met, Desolate People had to additionally cultivate a [Human Emperor Scroll], a technique said to be the source of all immortal currents, ensuring that even if a Desolate Person achieved great heights in cultivation, they would still revere humanity and harbor no rebellious thoughts.

Now, Gu Bai was taking Wu Ming to go through this necessary procedure.

After listening to his master's explanation, Wu Ming pondered for a long time, then showed a look of realization and said, "So Senior Sister's Heterochromia and Second Senior Sister's Pointed Ears are actually..."

"Heh, that's right. Your two senior sisters have demon and witch bloodlines... and they've suffered a lot because of it."

Wu Ming asked again, "So, am I also a Desolate Person?"

Gu Bai was taken aback by the question: How could someone ask others what they themselves were!?

But he answered seriously, "Since you're from Wuyang Village, you'll likely inherit some bloodline from the Sheep-Headed Demon Race. But after centuries, the foreign blood should be very thin. At least, I don't see any outward signs on you. You should be no different from ordinary humans. No need to worry."

Wu Ming looked a bit regretful. "Just an ordinary human..."

"?" Gu Bai quickly warned, "Don't say that in front of others. Even after centuries, longing for non-human races is still taboo in Qiongzhou."

After a pause, Gu Bai added curiously, "I thought, with your temperament, you'd find the Dinghuang Prefecture system unfair."

Wu Ming smiled instead. "People being divided into classes is the world's natural justice. Even if not by bloodline, people divide by wealth, by strength, by region. Is it truly equal for everyone outside Qiongzhou?"

Gu Bai's expression froze, and after a long moment, he nodded. "That's true too."

Wu Ming then asked curiously, "By the way, Master, what bloodline do you have?"

Gu Bai just smiled faintly and did not answer, only saying, "Alright, we're almost there."

In the brief time the master and disciple had been speaking, the Cloud Carpet had already crossed thousands of gray-black rocky mountains and arrived over a densely populated great plain.

Looking down from the high altitude, two great rivers could be seen meandering from the northeast, winding several times before converging. At the place where the two rivers embraced stood a bustling city, surrounded by vast fertile fields and countless villages scattered like stars.

Furthermore, as they neared the city, they could clearly see dazzling streaks of light flashing through the air, like shooting stars or colorful silk ribbons—clearly cultivators with the ability to fly, just like Gu Bai, displaying their various skills.

"That's the prefectural city, Wu City. The Dinghuang Prefecture within governs cultivation over a radius of five hundred li. Our Yan Mountain Gujian Sect is also under its jurisdiction."

As he spoke, Gu Bai waved his sleeve, guiding the Cloud Carpet into a slanting descent from the high altitude. Soon, they crossed the city wall and arrived within the city.

In an instant, Wu Ming felt as if he had broken through an invisible curtain of water... a slight dizziness, and then the floating, bustling atmosphere of Wu City hit him head-on.

The shouts of street vendors, the laughter of passersby, the clanging of craftsmen hammering iron, mixed with the aromas of food and wine from eateries and taverns, the dazzling array of various pavilions and towers—all five senses intertwined, leaving Wu Ming breathless, feeling as if his primary cache was somewhat overloaded.

While his eyes were still darting about, Wu Ming suddenly noticed a particularly eye-catching pale tower standing in the center of Wu City.

The moment his gaze touched the tower, it seemed to come alive, swelling abruptly in his vision! At the same time, its outline twisted, and paleness flowed, making Wu Ming unable to look away. The entire city's splendor and glamour instantly dimmed in comparison...

Just as Wu Ming was staring in shock and focus, Gu Bai reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder. A thread of warmth flowed over, as if to dispel his fear.

"That's the Dinghuang Prefecture. Inside the tower is the Human Emperor Stele, which has a suppressive effect on Desolate Blood. But don't be afraid, we're just going through the motions..."

Saying this, Gu Bai hesitated slightly, then added a warning, "When we get to the Dinghuang Prefecture, you might see some things that aren't so pleasant. Remember to be patient, don't speak out or cause trouble... Leave everything to your master."

Wu Ming nodded in understanding. When he looked at the tower again, he no longer felt anything strange.

Gu Bai was still a bit uneasy, but by now the Cloud Carpet was not far from the white tower of the Dinghuang Prefecture. Cultivators were constantly flying back and forth nearby, and it was hard to guarantee their conversation wouldn't be overheard. So he said no more, silently guiding the Cloud Carpet down... But halfway down, Gu Bai let out a soft exclamation of surprise.

He saw that this usually cold and solemn Dinghuang Prefecture tower was actually decorated with lanterns and colored bunting at its entrance. The front courtyard was filled with the noise of voices and continuous laughter. A crowd of middle-aged and elderly people in splendid clothes surrounded many handsome young men and beautiful women, as if some festive event was taking place.

Wu Ming looked down and asked, "Orgy?"

"???" Although Gu Bai didn't understand the meaning, he instinctively knew it wasn't a good word, and quickly warned, "Don't talk nonsense!"

On the other hand, he himself was indeed very curious. The Dinghuang Prefecture's position in the Qiongzhou cultivation world had always been delicate. Generally speaking, it could be seen as the mortal world's government office, full of dignity and solemnity. Under normal circumstances, it was hard to associate it with such festive noise.

Yet now, before this cultivation government office, over a hundred cultivators of all kinds had gathered, including even a Nascent Soul True Person—an undeniably major figure in a border prefecture like Qiongzhou.

For a moment, Gu Bai was full of doubts but didn't know how to ask.

The Gujian Sect had always been reclusive, rarely interacting with outsiders, and Gu Bai had very few friends here... After hesitating for a while, Gu Bai could only take Wu Ming's hand, walk along the edge of the noisy crowd, and prick up his ears to eavesdrop.

Fortunately, the festive event here wasn't a secret.

In short, the third young master of the local premier clan, the Wu County Liu Clan, had turned sixteen this year and had formally become a disciple of the Sanqing Immortal Sect's outer mountain True Person, Lord Yanliu, about to embark on the Immortal Path.

According to local custom, before beginning cultivation, one must first come to the Dinghuang Prefecture, pass through the Heart-Cleansing Pool, and comprehend the Human Emperor Scroll. Only after condensing the Human Dao Seal would one be formally accepted as a cultivator.

These two hurdles might be a test for ordinary Desolate People, but for someone of noble birth and extraordinary bloodline like the Liu family, it was simply a matter of course, just going through the motions.

Thus, various major sects and aristocratic families had sent people to celebrate the Liu family's third young master's upcoming entry onto the Immortal Path in advance. The Liu family's influence had been growing in recent years, so the number of celebrants was unusually large, creating the current lively scene.

Just as this explanation concluded, a soft cough was heard from afar.

The sound wasn't very loud, but it was extremely penetrating, instantly drawing everyone's attention.

On a half-height platform set up in the tower's courtyard stood a fat old man dressed in a milky-white gold-embroidered robe, wearing a Shuyu Crown on his head and Cloud-Patterned Shoes on his feet. Under the focus of hundreds of gazes, the old man looked slightly excited but tried to force an air of authority. He coughed once, fidgeted for a moment, then spoke in a deep voice.

"By the Sanqing above, I ask everyone to spare a moment to hear Kong speak. With so many worthies gathered before the prefecture at this auspicious time, it is truly a rare blessing not seen in many years. Therefore, I will keep it brief and not disturb your enjoyment..."

"In recent years, our Wu County's Immortal Path has flourished, gradually standing out among Qiongzhou's seven prefectures. Especially with the continuous emergence of outstanding new talents, even the officials in the prefectural capital have praised us highly. This is largely due to the long-term, strong support of our local aristocratic families, and the Liu family is the foremost among them. The eldest young master's elegant and heroic bearing is still a source of envy when recalled. Now, the third young master, Liu Qi, has also become a disciple of a Sanqing master and is about to embark on the Immortal Path. I, Kong Zhang, as the Dinghuang Prefecture Governor, should certainly make some gesture..."

"So, taking this good opportunity, I announce a happy event: Any new Daoist friend who comes to the Dinghuang Prefecture today, cultivates the Human Emperor Scroll, and steps onto the Immortal Path, if they can cultivate the Human Dao Seal to the second level in one go, they will receive ten Spirit Stones as encouragement; if they can reach the third level, they will receive a Ganfeng Book; if they reach the fourth level or above and top the list today, heh, they will even be awarded a Dharma Sword from the Ranxiang Workshop of Qingzhou!"

Before his words had even faded, exclamations of surprise rippled through the crowd.

"A Dharma Sword from the Ranxiang Workshop?! They're giving away something like that?"

"Even a Qi Refining Stage Dharma Sword costs several thousand Spirit Stones on the market, right?"

"Several thousand Spirit Stones would only buy the tassel! When has anything from the Ranxiang Workshop ever had a market price? Especially since our Qiongzhou cultivators have always lacked refining talent, it wouldn't be surprising for such a magical artifact to be bid up to over ten thousand."

"So why is the Dinghuang Prefecture being so generous?"

While most were shocked and confused, naturally, some saw through it clearly.

"Hmph, that Dharma Sword is probably prepared by the Liu family themselves. They use the Dinghuang Prefecture's name to spread the word, attract everyone's attention, and then, in full view of everyone, overpower all competitors and let the sword return to its rightful owner. That way, they gain fame for nothing... What a clever scheme!"

"Haha, my friend, you misunderstand. The Liu family is a centuries-old aristocratic clan in this prefecture; how could they be so petty? Besides, a Fragrant Dye Dharma Sword isn't something you can just prepare on a whim. I happen to know a bit about its specific origin..."

"Oh? Do tell!"

"At last year's Sanqing Dharma Assembly, the Shangqing Celestial Master calculated that a new Immortal Mansion would appear in Qiongzhou, which also matches the recent trend of many new talents emerging here. So, an extra batch of magical artifacts and elixirs was allocated to nurture local talents. The Sanqing Immortal Sect has always been generous in matters concerning Immortal Mansions, and our Wu County was fortunate enough to be allocated this most valuable Dharma Sword among the supplies. The other prefectures actually had quite a few complaints..."

"Oh ho, so it's Fatty Kong borrowing flowers to offer to Buddha, using it to curry favor with the Liu family! He's about to retire and wants to secure a position as a family elder with them, right? What a slippery character!"

While people were discussing this, Kong Zhang on the platform revealed the Dharma Sword. Its sword light shone like golden clouds, its sharpness intimidating—clearly a fine sword at a glance.

Kong Zhang first openly explained the sword's origin, then looked at a few people in the courtyard dressed in exceptionally luxurious clothes and smiled, "Originally, several True Persons of the Liu family advised me: with such a treasure, it would be better to wait until Sanlang has formally entered the sect before using it to reward the new talents of this prefecture, to avoid suspicion. The Liu family has centuries of foundation, and Sanlang's Immortal Path is boundless; there's no need to stir up rumors over a Dharma Sword... But the officials in the prefectural capital specifically instructed that this matter must be handled impartially, recommending the worthy without avoiding relatives, and recommending the capable without avoiding enemies. So today, I borrow this flower to offer to the Buddha. With this sword, I invite the local talents to come and display their gifts. The Dharma Sword shall belong only to the capable!"

The guests present soon erupted in enthusiastic cheers. Several Golden Core cultivators stepped forward, loudly praising Kong Zhang and the Liu family for their magnanimity and uprightness. The few who had been making snide remarks had no choice but to shut their mouths and force smiles to go along with the atmosphere.

Amidst the uproar caused by the Dharma Sword, Wu Ming was already itching to try.

"Master, we really came at the right time today!"

Gu Bai couldn't help but laugh. "What makes you so confident you can win those ten Spirit Stones?"

Wu Ming was taken aback, then also laughed. "What's the point of a mere third prize? If you're going for it, you go for the grand prize! If you can't even max out the event rewards, what's the difference between you and a salted fish!"