Sparring

"Where did you get these ores?"

Shen Long asked curiously.

"I obtained them from the body of a Gold-Eating Mouse. If you like them, Fellow Daoist, I can sell them to you for a lower price."

The youth in the green shirt said enthusiastically.

Gold-Eating Mice loved to consume metals; they had thick hides, tough flesh, and were cruel and bloodthirsty.

Shen Long shook his head, stood up, and left.

Returning to his residence, Shen Long entered the Spirit Control Tower and patted the Spirit Beast Bag at his waist, causing ten Gold-Eating Ants to fly out.

Shen Long took out a piece of Mystic Iron Ore the size of a fist, threw it on the ground, and the ten Gold-Eating Ants flew onto the ore to gnaw at it.

A burst of joyful hissing sounded 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, held the opening downward, and gave it a gentle shake. After a flash of cyan light swept past, a massive Mountain Pushing Beast appeared on the ground with a terrifying bloody hole in its head; it had already lost its breath.

The Iron Tail Scorpion's twin pincers clamped onto the body of the Mountain Pushing Beast, tearing off a large chunk of flesh and putting it into its mouth.

The ten Gold-Eating Ants finished eating the Mystic Iron Ore and flew back into the Spirit Beast Bag at Shen Long's waist.

Shen Long exited the Spirit Control Tower and took out a blue Communication Disk. After inputting a spell, Zhao Feng's voice rang out: "Fellow Daoist Li, there is a gathering tonight at the You hour. Many fellow daoists will be attending. If you have time, come over to drink some tea and chat."

"Alright, I will definitely arrive on time."

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

At the You hour, the sky darkened, and Yunmeng Mountain was brightly lit.

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

The courtyard gate opened quickly, and Zhao Feng walked out to invite Shen Long inside.

Three men and two women were sitting in a stone pavilion chatting; both Lu Shan and Lu Yudie were there.

"This must be Fellow Daoist Li! I am Chen Handian, pleased to meet you, Fellow Daoist Li."

A fair-skinned youth with red lips and white teeth introduced himself. He wore a pattern of a golden magpie on his sleeves, a white jade belt around his waist, and a pair of golden spirit boots on his feet.

"May I ask what your relationship is with the Chen family of Golden Magpie Valley, Fellow Daoist Chen?"

Shen Long asked politely. When he was traveling, he had passed by Golden Magpie Valley, and he knew the ancestors of the Chen family had originated from the Spirit Control Sect.

"I am indeed from the Chen family of Golden Magpie Valley. Have you been to Golden Magpie Valley, Fellow Daoist Li?"

Chen Handian asked curiously.

"I have. I heard that your ancestors came from the Spirit Control Sect. Are you planning to join the Spirit Control Sect, Fellow Daoist Chen?"

Shen Long asked curiously.

Chen Handian nodded and said, "That is correct. I only hope the difficulty of this Immortal Ascension Assembly is a bit lower. What about you, Fellow Daoist Li?"

"I will see which power's assessment I can pass. If I could join the Mystic Yang Sect, that would be for the best," Shen Long said.

He possessed a Spirit Control Token, so at the very least, he could join the Spirit Control Sect. However, he wanted to try and see if he could pass the assessment for the Mystic Yang Sect; it is always easier to enjoy the shade under a big tree.

"Hehe, I am Liu Han. I also want to join the Mystic Yang Sect, though I don't know if I can get my wish. The Mystic Yang Sect's requirements for accepting disciples have always been the strictest," a dark-faced man with thick eyebrows and large eyes chuckled, his face showing a look of longing.

"The Five Great Powers are all recruiting disciples anyway. If you can't get into the Mystic Yang Sect, you can just go participate in the assessments of other powers; it doesn't delay anything," a plump woman in a purple dress said indifferently.

"And who might this fellow daoist be?"

Shen Long asked politely.

"I am Liu Yu."

The woman in the purple dress introduced herself.

They drank tea and chatted, with the conversation revolving around the Immortal Ascension Assembly. Chen Handian tried to persuade them to join the Spirit Control Sect. The group neither refused nor agreed; whether they could join the Spirit Control Sect was not up to them—they had to pass the assessment first.

After more than an hour, everyone returned to their respective homes.

"Fellow Daoist Li, please stay!"

Lu Yudie called out to stop Shen Long.

"Is something the matter, Fairy Lu?"

Shen Long asked.

"Fellow Daoist Li, we killed a First Rank Middle Stage Iron Tail Scorpion. I would like to spar with you; if you win, the Iron Tail Scorpion is yours," Lu Yudie said, her face showing a look of anticipation.

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

Lu Shan helped her hunt spirit beasts, but Lu Shan could not help her when it came to participating in the assessments of the Five Great Powers.

Shen Long pondered for a moment and agreed.

They arrived at the Martial Arts Arena, where some cultivators were still engaged in spell duels, making for a lively scene.

Shen Long and Lu Yudie walked onto a Bluestone Platform, and a Cyan Light Screen promptly emerged, enveloping the entire platform.

"Fellow Daoist Li, you must be careful; I will not hold back."

Lu Yudie spoke, and a Cyan Light Screen appeared around her, a sign of her instant-casting ability.

Shen Long nodded, and a Blue Water Screen appeared, clinging to his body. With a flick of his right hand, a Crimson Fireball the size of a water vat flew out, crashing toward Lu Yudie.

Lu Yudie raised her right hand, and a two-foot-long Earth Spike shot out to meet it. With a loud bang, the Crimson Fireball was shattered by the Earth Spike.

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

"Wind Blade Technique at Great Perfection!"

Shen Long frowned, not daring to be careless. He took out two Defense Talismans and slapped them onto his body. A Cyan Light Screen and a Golden Light Screen emerged, forming three layers of protection.

He flicked his left hand, sending out a Crimson Fireball the size of a water vat, while his right hand raised to launch a three-foot-long White Ice Spike, which sped straight toward Lu Yudie.

Lu Yudie released an Earth Spike with her left hand and a Giant Wind Blade with her right.

The two of them traded spells, instant-casting with such speed that they quickly drew the attention of many Qi Refining cultivators.

"Look, they're dueling with spells, instant-casting them!"

"Their casting speed is too fast! They're practically human magical artifacts."

"Spells at Great Perfection aren't just instant-cast; their power is also significantly increased."

······

The Qi Refining cultivators discussed among themselves, each expressing their own opinions.

Ice Spikes, Earth Spikes, Wind Blades, and Fireballs collided one after another, creating constant explosions as four different colors of spiritual light illuminated the area.

Neither Shen Long nor Lu Yudie had used any magical artifacts; they had been dueling purely with spells.

Lu Yudie's willow brows furrowed tightly. At this rate, she didn't know how long it would take to secure a victory.

Her right hand glowed with intense cyan light as she flicked it toward the void. A Giant Wind Blade, a zhang in length, shot out and struck the Blue Water Screen on Shen Long's body in a blink.

The Blue Water Screen rippled, its spiritual light dimming until it became faint and flickering.

"Eat my Fire Thunder Bead!"

Shen Long shouted, throwing out a red object.

Upon hearing the words "Fire Thunder Bead," Lu Yudie's expression tightened. She hurriedly tapped the Purple Jade Lock on her chest. The Purple Jade Lock erupted with purple light, and a thick Purple Light Screen emerged, forming a second layer of defense.

The red object slammed into the Cyan Light Screen with a dull thud; it was merely a piece of red ore.

Lu Yudie realized she had been tricked, but a Giant Fireball the size of a house was already crashing toward her.

With a thunderous roar, rolling flames engulfed Lu Yudie's body. Even through two layers of defense, she could still feel an astonishingly high temperature.

Before she could catch her breath, another Giant Fireball the size of a house slammed into her, causing the flames to surge even higher.

A Giant Wind Blade shot out, but cyan light flashed beneath Shen Long's feet. He turned into a blur, dodging the Giant Wind Blade, and raised his right hand to launch another Giant Fireball at Lu Yudie.

Just as Lu Yudie tried to dodge, a thick Cyan Vine erupted from the ground, binding her right foot.

The Giant Fireball crashed down, landing on the Purple Light Screen, where it instantly burst, causing the fire to rage uncontrollably.

Shen Long continued to release Giant Fireball after Giant Fireball, raining them down upon Lu Yudie.

"Wind Control Technique at Great Perfection, Entanglement Technique at Great Perfection... he has actually cultivated five first-tier spells to Great Perfection! This is too incredible!"

"Who is this guy? He's so powerful."

"Which cultivation family is he from? He doesn't look old, yet he has mastered five first-tier spells to Great Perfection—he's a monster."

The Qi Refining cultivators were in an uproar, all of them stunned.

"Fellow Daoist Li, stop! I concede."

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