Pressure naturally brought motivation.
Aside from taking breaks to chat with the Yu Family members, Li Yunjing spent all his other time sitting cross-legged in the carriage.
He continued using the Qi Refining Manual he had obtained to draw qi into his body.
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Li Yunjing hadn't learned much. This was the only nameless Qi Refining technique he knew.
He had come by the technique in a very simple way: he'd begged it from a beggar and hadn't paid a single coin!
The beggar didn't know what was written in it, either, and had simply tossed it to Li Yunjing.
The nameless manual only contained instructions for cultivating a sense of qi. It had nothing about spells or anything else.
Naturally, Li Yunjing couldn't perform even the simplest spells, let alone use divine abilities or practice alchemy, forge artifacts, set up formations, or make talismans.
Not knowing spells didn't mean Li Yunjing was weak in combat.
He dared to travel the world and wander far and wide. How could he manage that without exceptional martial skills?
Li Yunjing had mastered all manner of fist and foot techniques, and was equally at home with sabers, spears, halberds, and swords.
It could be said that Li Yunjing had a remarkable talent for martial arts. He learned anything at a glance and mastered it as soon as he learned it.
He was a clever man with the memories of two lifetimes and peerless talent.
Meanwhile, the power of the Creation Divine Thunder continued to transform his body.
Li Yunjing's bones, muscles, internal organs, blood, and even his brain were constantly being strengthened.
His eyesight had grown keener, letting him see farther and more clearly than before.
His ears could pick up any rustling within three li.
His sense of smell had also become incredibly sharp. By scent alone, he could already distinguish every member of the Yu Family.
Likewise, Li Yunjing's reflexes, strength, and even his thoughts had become much sharper.
The obscure passages in the nameless manual that he'd once struggled to understand now came easily to him.
At that moment, sitting in the carriage, he had fully grasped the nameless Qi Refining Manual. He could even extrapolate its principles.
"Ugh! It really is a piece of trash! Nothing to look forward to at all. Just like the young miss said!"
At last, Li Yunjing confirmed that the nameless manual was trash.
He really wasn't some chosen one of destiny, destined to rise to prominence just by stumbling across a cultivation manual.
"We're here! We're here!"
Suddenly, the voices of several riders came from outside the carriage.
"We've reached the Divine Firmament Dao Sect?"
Li Yunjing was startled. Had half a day passed without him noticing?
Now that they were here, he felt a little nervous.
He lifted the carriage curtain, poked his head out, and looked ahead.
At a glance, he saw towering peaks piercing the sky amid the distant mountain ranges.
The peaks stretched endlessly, straight as arrows.
Some were blanketed in flowers, and through the haze, he could make out countless pavilions and towers.
"Rumble!"
Countless waterfalls, a thousand or even ten thousand zhang high, cascaded down from the peaks.
They were like jade dragons, and the sound of their splashing water rolled toward them from afar like muffled thunder.
The mountain range stretched on without end. No one could tell how vast it was.
Even with Li Yunjing's keen eyesight, he couldn't see the whole thing.
Above the endless mountains, the sky was as clear and blue as crystal, without a single cloud.
The sun shone brightly, its gentle, luminous rays spilling down beneath a spotless sky.
On the hundreds upon hundreds of peaks, ancient pines spread their roots and twisted branches, while a strange fragrance drifted on the wind, revealing the aura of an immortal realm.
One breath was enough to leave them refreshed and invigorated. Even Li Yunjing, a newcomer to cultivation, could deeply feel how rich the spiritual energy was here.
This was the location of the Divine Firmament Dao Sect's mountain gate: the Divine Firmament Mountain Range.
"If you lived in a place like this, even without cultivating, you could extend your life and live to a hundred with no trouble at all!"
Li Yunjing jumped down from the carriage. Like everyone else, he gazed longingly at the range of divine mountains.
"So this is the Divine Firmament Dao Sect!"
One of the riders couldn't help exclaiming.
"As expected of a great immortal sect!"
Another rider watched the mountain with a complicated expression.
It was a pity that they were all guards of the Yu Family, with poor aptitude and no chance of joining the sect as disciples of the Divine Firmament Dao Sect.
This was an invincible great sect!
Its standards for accepting disciples were so strict that countless prodigies in the mortal world despaired!
Did you think you were someone special?
Once you reached the Divine Firmament Dao Sect, you'd understand. Those so-called exceptional talents were nothing but the bottom of the barrel!
The one thing this place never lacked was so-called prodigies!
Gazing at the immortal mountains, everyone was overwhelmed with excitement. This was where cultivators were meant to live!
Li Yunjing was just as excited as the rest of the crowd. He gazed into the distance—this was a true paradise on earth!
"Ahem! All right, everyone, calm down!"
Steward Li spoke. He glanced at Li Yunjing, then said to Yu Yunyi, "Young miss, from here, we'll enter the mountains and cross three peaks. Then we'll reach the Divine Firmament Dao Sect's mountain gate!"
"Mm!"
Of everyone there, only Yu Yunyi remained composed.
At that moment, her breathing was steady, and she showed no particular excitement.
Clearly, the young miss had seen the world.
"Shame on me!"
Seeing this, Li Yunjing reflected on himself. His composure was nowhere near the young miss's.
Even with two lifetimes behind him, he had lost his poise before these divine mountains.
"We can't take the carriage any farther. Young miss, we'll have to go on foot and pass through the three checkpoints to reach the mountain gate."
Steward Li knew the area well and continued his explanation.
He was the Yu Family's senior steward and a Foundation Establishment Realm expert.
He had already escorted the family's gifted youths to the Divine Firmament Dao Sect several times. This was his fifth visit to the Divine Firmament Mountain Range.
He had long since learned to face everything here calmly.
The immortal mountains were beautiful, but he was not fated to join the sect.
"Good! Then we'll climb on foot!"
Yu Yunyi nodded, her clear voice ringing out.
She wasn't some pampered girl. She was a young prodigy who had cultivated to great heights, and among those present, only Steward Li was stronger than her.
Steward Li told the guards to stay behind and watch the carriages.
Only the young miss, Li Yunjing, Steward Li, and Yu Yunyi's maid, Ling'er, would go to the mountain gate.
"Li Yunjing, let's go! Whether you can join the Divine Firmament Dao Sect will depend on your own ability."
Yu Yunyi smiled at Li Yunjing, then led the way forward.
Steward Li and Ling'er followed close behind.
"I will join the immortal sect!"
Watching the three of them walk away, Li Yunjing spoke softly.
His expression was utterly solemn. Clearly, he took this chance to change his fate very seriously.
They entered the mountains and pressed onward through brambles, across rugged ridges, and beneath lush trees, following Steward Li's directions.
"Footprints!"
Suddenly, Yunjing spoke in a low voice.
Ten zhang ahead, he spotted a trail of footprints. They were jumbled and varied in size, clearly left by more than one or two people.
"Divine Firmament Dao Sect is recruiting disciples soon, so it's no surprise that people have passed through here."
Steward Li explained.
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