Sparring

"Where did you get these ores?"

Shen Long asked curiously.

"I got them from inside a Gold-Eating Mouse. If you like them, Daoist, I can sell them to you cheaply."

The young man in green robes said enthusiastically.

Gold-Eating Mice loved to eat the five metals. Their hides were thick, their flesh tough, and they were savage and bloodthirsty.

Shen Long shook his head, rose to his feet, and left.

After returning to his residence, Shen Long entered the Spirit Control Tower. He patted the Spirit Beast Bag at his waist, and ten Gold-Eating Ants flew out.

Shen Long took out a fist-sized piece of Mystic Iron Ore and tossed it onto the ground. The ten Gold-Eating Ants flew onto the Mystic Iron Ore and began gnawing at it.

A burst of delighted screeches rang out as the Iron Tail Scorpion crawled out of the Spirit Control Pool, came before Shen Long, and circled around him.

Shen Long took out a Cyan Spirit Beast Bag, turned its opening downward, and gave it a light shake. After a sweep of cyan glow, a huge Mountain Pushing Beast appeared on the ground. There was a terrifying bloody hole in its head, and it no longer breathed.

The Iron Tail Scorpion clamped the Mountain Pushing Beast's body with its pincers, tore off a large chunk of flesh, and stuffed it into its mouth.

After finishing the Mystic Iron Ore, the ten Gold-Eating Ants flew back into the Spirit Beast Bag at Shen Long's waist.

Shen Long exited the Spirit Control Tower. He took out a blue Communication Disk and sent a spell formula into it. Zhao Feng's voice rang out. "Daoist Li, there's a gathering tonight at the hour of the Rooster. Several fellow Daoists will be attending. If you have time, come have a few cups of tea and chat."

"Alright, I'll definitely be there on time."

Shen Long agreed, put away the Communication Disk, sat cross-legged on his wooden bed, and began meditative breathing.

At the hour of the Rooster, the sky darkened, while Yunmeng Mountain blazed with lights.

Shen Long arrived at Zhao Feng's small courtyard on time and sent out a Sound Transmission Talisman.

The courtyard gate soon opened. Zhao Feng came out and invited Shen Long inside.

Three men and two women sat within the stone pavilion, chatting idly. Lu Shan and Lu Yudie were both present.

"This must be Daoist Li! I am Chen Handian. Greetings, Daoist Li."

A fair-skinned white-shirted youth introduced himself. A golden magpie pattern decorated his sleeve, a white jade belt circled his waist, and he wore a pair of golden Spirit Boots.

"May I ask what relation Daoist Chen has to the Chen Clan of Golden Magpie Valley?"

Shen Long asked politely. He had passed through Golden Magpie Valley while traveling, and the Chen Clan's ancestor had come from the Spirit Control Sect.

"I am indeed from the Chen Clan of Golden Magpie Valley. Has Daoist Li been to Golden Magpie Valley?"

Chen Handian asked curiously.

"I have. I heard your ancestor came from the Spirit Control Sect. Does Daoist Chen intend to join the Spirit Control Sect?"

Shen Long asked curiously.

Chen Handian nodded. "That is indeed my intention. I only hope the Immortal Ascension Assembly will be a little less difficult this time. What about you, Daoist Li?"

"I'll see which faction's assessment I can pass. If I can join the Mystic Yang Sect, that would be best."

Shen Long said.

He had a Spirit Control Token. At worst, he could still join the Spirit Control Sect, but he wanted to try and see whether he could pass the Mystic Yang Sect's assessment. Beneath a great tree, one could enjoy the shade.

"Hehe, I'm Liu Han. I also want to join the Mystic Yang Sect, though I don't know whether my wish will come true. The Mystic Yang Sect has always had the strictest requirements for accepting disciples."

A burly dark-faced man with thick brows and large eyes chuckled, his face filled with yearning.

"Anyway, all Five Great Powers are recruiting disciples. If we can't get into the Mystic Yang Sect, we can just take the assessments of the other Factions. It won't delay anything."

The full-figured Purple-Skirted Woman said indifferently.

"And this fellow Daoist is?"

Shen Long asked politely.

"I am Liu Yu."

The Purple-Skirted Woman introduced herself.

They drank tea and chatted, their conversation revolving around the Immortal Ascension Assembly. Chen Handian urged them to join the Spirit Control Sect. No one refused, but no one agreed either. Whether they could join the Spirit Control Sect was not for them to decide; they would have to pass the assessment first.

More than an hour later, everyone returned home.

"Daoist Li, please wait!"

Lu Yudie called out to Shen Long.

"Is something the matter, Fairy Lu?"

Shen Long asked.

"Daoist Li, we killed a first rank middle stage Iron Tail Scorpion. I want to spar with you. If you win, the Iron Tail Scorpion is yours."

Lu Yudie said, her face filled with anticipation.

She wanted to spar with Shen Long and test her own strength.

Lu Shan could help her hunt Monster Beasts, but he could not help her when she participated in the assessments of the Five Great Powers.

After giving it some thought, Shen Long agreed.

They arrived at the Martial Arts Arena, where some cultivators were still fighting spells. The place was extremely lively.

Shen Long and Lu Yudie stepped onto a Bluestone Platform. A Cyan Light Screen immediately appeared, covering the entire Bluestone Platform.

"Daoist Li, you'd better be careful. I won't hold back."

Lu Yudie said. A Cyan Light Screen appeared around her, as she instantly cast a spell.

Shen Long nodded. A Blue Water Screen appeared close around his body. With a flick of his right hand, a Crimson Fireball as large as a water vat flew out and smashed toward Lu Yudie.

Lu Yudie raised her right hand, sending a yellow Earth Spike over two feet long shooting forth to meet it. With a loud boom, the Crimson Fireball was shattered by the yellow Earth Spike.

She raised her left hand, and a Giant Wind Blade half a zhang long shot out. In a flash, it appeared before Shen Long and struck the Blue Water Screen, sending ripples across it.

"Wind Blade Technique at Great Perfection!"

Shen Long frowned and did not dare to be careless. He took out two Defense Talismans and slapped them onto himself. A Cyan Light Screen and a Golden Light Screen appeared, forming three layers of protection.

With a flick of his left hand, a Crimson Fireball as large as a water vat flew out. With a raise of his right hand, a white ice spike over three feet long shot forth, speeding straight toward Lu Yudie.

Lu Yudie released a yellow Earth Spike from her left hand and a Giant Wind Blade from her right.

The two traded spells, casting them instantly, and soon attracted the attention of quite a few Qi Refining Cultivators.

"Look, they're competing in spell techniques and instant casting!"

"Their casting speed is too fast! They're practically humanoid Dharma Artifacts."

"Great Perfection spells aren't just about instant casting. Their power rises by quite a bit too."

The Qi Refining Cultivators discussed animatedly, each voicing their own opinions.

Ice spikes, earth spikes, wind blades, and fireballs collided one after another. Explosions rang out without end as four kinds of spiritual light flashed.

Neither Shen Long nor Lu Yudie used Dharma Artifacts. They continued competing purely with spell techniques.

Lu Yudie's willow brows drew together. If they continued trading blows like this, who knew how long it would take to determine a victor?

Cyan light flared from her right hand. She flicked it toward the air, and a Giant Wind Blade more than a zhang long shot out, striking the Blue Water Screen around Shen Long's body in a flash.

Ripples spread across the Blue Water Screen. Its spiritual light dimmed, becoming faint and flickering.

"Take one of my Fire Thunder Beads!"

Shen Long shouted and threw out a red object.

Upon hearing the words "Fire Thunder Bead," Lu Yudie's expression tightened. She hurriedly patted the Purple Jade Lock on her chest. Purple light immediately surged from it, and a dense Purple Light Screen appeared, forming a second layer of protection.

The red object struck the Cyan Light Screen with a dull thud. It was only a red ore.

Lu Yudie inwardly cried out that things were bad. A Giant Fireball as large as a house came crashing toward her.

With a thunderous roar, rolling flames engulfed Lu Yudie's body. Even through two layers of defense, she could still feel the astonishing heat.

Before she could catch her breath, another Giant Fireball as large as a house came crashing down, causing the blaze to surge higher.

A Giant Wind Blade shot forth. Cyan light flashed beneath Shen Long's feet, and he turned into an afterimage, dodging the Giant Wind Blade. He raised his right hand, sending another Giant Fireball flying toward Lu Yudie.

Lu Yudie wanted to dodge, but a thick Cyan Vine burst from the ground and wrapped around her right foot.

The Giant Fireball smashed down onto the Cyan Light Screen and immediately exploded, sending the flames surging higher.

Shen Long released Giant Fireballs one after another, smashing them toward Lu Yudie.

"Wind Control Technique at Great Perfection, Entanglement Technique at Great Perfection—he actually cultivated five First Rank spells to Great Perfection! That's incredible!"

"Who is this person? He's so powerful!"

"Which cultivation Lineage is he from? He doesn't look very old, yet he cultivated five First Rank spells to Great Perfection. That's simply monstrous."

The Qi Refining Cultivators discussed animatedly, all of them astonished.

"Daoist Li, stop! This little sister admits defeat."

Lu Yudie's voice came from within the raging flames.