Heaven's Chosen Gather

Two days later, at dawn, the great sun of the Immortal Treasury rose from the east.

At the far end of the horizon, heaven and earth were shrouded in boundless clouds. That was the uttermost edge of the Immortal Treasury, roughly ten thousand li from Spirit-Sealing City.

Between there and Spirit-Sealing City lay endless mountains, great rivers, and lakes. This was the final stretch of the Dragon Ridge Immortal Treasury.

Once one traversed this road to its end, one could break through the Immortal Treasury.

At this moment, within Spirit-Sealing City, in the largest palace cavern residence.

As the morning glow rose, divine sense revealed the qi currents of heaven and earth hanging upside down like a waterfall, gathering a thousand zhang overhead before pouring down without cease. The qi was so dense it was almost visible to the naked eye.

Inside the cavern residence, Xu Yan sat quietly atop a meditation cushion, his eyes closed as he nurtured his spirit.

He was circulating the Pulse Opening formula of the Eight-Nine Profound Art. His body rumbled like a great drum, while Primordial Mystic Qi surged like rivers through his eight extraordinary meridians, until it gathered at the fifth Spirit Meridian barrier, Shenque Pass.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Shenque Pass loosened slightly. This barrier lay beneath the dantian and was a vital pass for opening the sea of qi and the meridians of the lower body.

Once this pass was breached, a cultivator's most obvious improvement would be their escape speed. The speed at which they controlled Mystic Qi could increase severalfold.

Xu Yan had been sitting through the entire night, attempting to break through the barrier.

Under the perception of his divine sense, the medicinal power of the Dragon Breath Pill he had previously consumed had already been devoured completely.

Opening his eyes, Xu Yan took another Dragon Breath Pill from his Qiankun Bag.

Flawless and untainted—it was a supreme-grade pill.

As it entered his stomach, a vast and tyrannical surge of Mystic Qi rushed forth like a dragon plunging into the sea.

Xu Yan was thoroughly familiar with the process. He refined the Dragon Breath Pill's medicinal power, using force to shatter the obstruction and strike at the fifth Pulse Opening barrier!

Time flew by until the sun set.

A muffled groan came from the cavern residence. Xu Yan's faded Taiji Fish Daoist Robe snapped in the wind, his black hair flying wildly, while rolling qi currents within the cavern residence poured into his body like a flood.

Xu Yan's Dao body had Spirit Meridians clearly visible beneath the surface, like dark jade.

The deeper one went into the Pulse Opening realm, the more visible became the transformation from turbid meridians to Spirit Meridians.

Wind, rain, thunder, and lightning evolved upon his Primordial Spirit Vein, encompassing all things.

After the time it took for an incense stick to burn, Xu Yan took a deep breath, abruptly withdrew his art, and opened his eyes.

Everything had fallen into place. His cultivation had reached the fifth level of Pulse Opening.

"My divine sense has improved only slightly, but my physical strength and Mystic Qi have risen considerably. Most noticeably, the eight extraordinary meridians in my legs have been cleared. Now that I control Mystic Qi, my escape speed has multiplied several times over..."

He rose and stretched his muscles and bones, sensing his cultivation as his entire body felt light as a feather.

Ever since entering the treasury, he had been constantly on the move. Now that he had reached the latter half of the Immortal Treasury, Xu Yan had thought even greater bloodshed awaited him. Yet these past two days had been peaceful, and he had spent them cultivating in the city.

Footsteps and voices drifted over from the main hall outside.

Xu Yan seemed to realize something and pushed open the door.

Within the hall, three people walked side by side—two men and one woman.

The man in the middle wore white robes. He was tall and powerfully built, with sword-like brows and star-bright eyes. The force within his body seemed ready to burst forth at any moment.

He was Jiang Beixuan, successor of the Patriarch's lineage.

The woman beside him was named Jiang E. According to Jiang Qingcheng, she was his cousin.

The other youth was named Wei Daowu. He was considered a Rogue Cultivator who had entered the Dao, and it was said that he had once been a prince of the Wei Kingdom.

Four years ago, the emperor of that kingdom had even dispatched troops to the Azure Sea in search of this prince. Upon learning that his son had already entered the Dao, he could only give up.

These three had always traveled together.

They glanced at Xu Yan. Jiang Beixuan, who led the group, gave him a slight nod. Xu Yan returned the gesture with cupped hands, after which the three left the palace pavilion without another word.

Though Xu Yan had now broken through, he was only at the fifth level of Pulse Opening. Among this group of heaven's chosen at the eighth and ninth levels, he stood out all the more.

The first thirty-six cultivators to arrive here were all descendants of Aristocratic Clans.

Those people possessed exceptional talent and Root Bones. Raised and trained by their clans from childhood, their cultivation, Dao attainments, and knowledge far surpassed those of Rogue Cultivators.

Xu Yan was the first Rogue Cultivator to reach the latter half of the Immortal Treasury.

Yet over the following days, familiar faces gradually arrived.

At dusk on the second day, a streak of silver light broke through the clouds from the horizon. Qin Yiren's silver robes fluttered as she landed steadily before the city gates.

To Xu Yan's surprise, Yang Qian, whom he had met only once aboard the Sky Boat, arrived close behind her, carrying a great saber into Spirit-Sealing City.

It was said that this man was a disciple of the Mountain-Opening Sect. The Mountain-Opening Sect was a subordinate sect of the Taiyuan Divine Sect and offered spiritual wealth and spiritual materials every year.

Subordinate sects like this were everywhere in eastern Cang Province.

Afterward came disciples who had received guidance from the Dharma King. Nearly half were also members of Aristocratic Clans, while the other half were exceptionally gifted Rogue Cultivators.

At last, Rogue Cultivators other than Xu Yan had arrived here.

Counting them up, there were now more than fifty people.

That night, everyone gathered in the main hall of the palace pavilion.

The disciples of the five great ancient Aristocratic Clans stood on one side, while the disciples of Nine Star Kui Island stood on the other. Xu Yan, Qin Yiren, many Rogue Cultivators, and the successor disciples of the subordinate sects stood together.

Nine Star Kui Island had originally been established by the twelve Lineages of old to oppose the ancient Aristocratic Clans. They had never particularly gotten along with the Divine Sect's ancient Aristocratic Clans.

For a time, the atmosphere in the hall froze. Though matters had not yet reached the point of drawn swords and strung bows, everyone wanted a share of the opportunities and precious lands.

Xu Yan and Qin Yiren sat cross-legged together. Neither spoke, merely watching the dispute in the hall.

"After we break the formation, how will the pills in the furnace be divided?"

The speaker was a black-robed youth named Han Xiaolin. He was from Cloud Dream Great Marsh, one of the Divine Sect's five great ancient Aristocratic Clans, as renowned as Taihang Mountain Heavenly Fox and the Jiang Family Sword Tomb.

"Naturally, each relies on their own ability." Murong Ziyao spoke calmly, her voice sonorous and forceful.

This woman's aura was truly overbearing, and her gaze was cold to the extreme, as if she had severed the seven emotions and six desires.

Han Xiaolin glanced at her before saying, "Murong Ziyao, your Nine Star Kui Island has the most disciples, accounting for half of everyone here. If we join forces to break the formation, would we not merely be making a wedding gown for you?"

"If you are unwilling, you may leave!"

The speaker was a youth beside Murong Ziyao, named Tuoba Ke.

Nine Star Kui Island had twelve Lineages in total. To ensure resources for their direct descendants, only direct successors from two Lineages were sent into the Dragon Ridge Immortal Treasury each time. This time, they were the Huangfu and Murong Lineages.

Huangfu Ziyang had died in the earlier portion of the Immortal Treasury. Now, all the Nine Star Kui Island disciples within the treasury followed Murong Ziyao's lead.

"It is simple. If a Heaven Mending Pill appears, we can settle its ownership through a Dao battle in the Dao Field within the city. How about it?"

Yang Qian, beside Xu Yan, spoke up at this moment.

The instant he spoke, everyone in the hall turned to look at him.

"What is wrong, everyone? Is this not a good method? It is very fair!"

Yang Qian showed no fear whatsoever and spread his hands.

Tuoba Ke glanced at him. Seeing his gray robe and hempen clothes, he spoke indifferently, "A successor from a subordinate sect has no place deciding this matter."

"You!"

Yang Qian frowned and drew a deep breath. Looking at the fierce and aggressive people of Nine Star Kui Island, he ultimately did not curse aloud.

Han Xiaolin continued, "There are simply too many people from Nine Star Kui Island—more than twenty in all. You say each relies on their own ability, but when the time comes, would they not protect you, Murong Ziyao?"

At these words, Murong Ziyao's expression turned cold.

"Brother Han is right. At worst, we wait a few more days. More people will surely arrive by then. We have already waited so many days; a few more days make no difference!"

The speaker was also from an ancient Aristocratic Clan. Clearly, since no disciples from his own clan had arrived yet, he wished to delay matters.

Within the hall, the disciples of the five great ancient Aristocratic Clans and Nine Star Kui Island spoke one after another.

Rogue Cultivators like Xu Yan and the disciples of the subordinate sects could not get a word in edgewise. They could only stand by and watch from the sidelines.

They argued for half an hour, until Jiang Beixuan finally spoke and everyone fell silent.

"Let us handle this according to the rules of Dao commerce. If rare ancient pills emerge, we auction them for spirit stones. The highest bidder receives them, and the spirit stones from the auction are divided among everyone. What do you think?"

Jiang Beixuan spoke in a forceful tone, his gaze sweeping across the surroundings.

The disciples all fell into thought.

This method was indeed fair and would spare them from fighting. They had already reached the latter half of the Immortal Treasury, only one step away from breaking through it.

However, it was somewhat unfair to certain Rogue Cultivators and disciples of subordinate sects.

"How could we possibly have the spirit stones to compete with Aristocratic Clan disciples..." someone muttered quietly, though they did not make a scene.

The Heaven Mending Pill was destined to be beyond their reach. Still, if those Aristocratic Clans bid high enough, they could receive a sizable share of spirit stones as well. It would not be a complete loss.

Now that they had reached the latter half of the Immortal Treasury, most disciples were here to break through it and cultivate in the Upper Three Academies.

If they truly fought tooth and nail and died here, it would be rather not worth the cost.