Training Assembly

When Li Changshou arrived before the Hall of Hundred Affairs with Ling'e, several hundred figures had already gathered there.

From afar, young men and women in Daoist robes and long skirts chatted and laughed among themselves. Rarely was there anyone unpleasant-looking among them.

The number of female Qi Refiners was no fewer than the men. Most were lovely-faced and graceful in figure, each with her own charms like orchids in spring and chrysanthemums in autumn. Yet a few stood especially apart from the rest, like cranes among chickens, like the moon amid a field of stars.

For instance, Lan Ling'e beside Li Changshou...

"Isn't that Ling'e from Lesser Qiong Peak? She's grown more beautiful by the day. I heard her aptitude is exceptional too—Eighth Stage of Qi Refining after only ten years in the sect. She'll soon break into the Nascent Soul Stage."

"I heard even some Grand Elders intended to take her as a disciple. We do not have such fortune."

"Who's the person beside her?"

"Oh, probably her senior brother. There were never many people on Lesser Qiong Peak to begin with. He doesn't seem to rank among the sect's top three hundred, so I don't recognize him."

"I remember now. His Daoist title seems to be Changshou?"

"That Daoist title truly is... plain and unadorned, yet remarkably distinctive."

"Don't gossip about disciples from other peaks behind their backs! Behave yourselves! If the elders hear you, they'll think our peak has no manners!"

The whispered comments fell upon Li Changshou's ears, yet he acted as though he had not heard them. A warm smile rested on his lips as he refrained from looking around. He first took Lan Ling'e into the hall to register, then went to wait in an empty corner.

The bells rang without pause as more and more young Qi Refiners flew in from the various peaks.

Today was the Du Xian Sect's once-every-five-years Training Assembly for disciples heading out to gain experience, intended to let them see more of the world and deepen their insights into cultivation.

Every Formal Disciple could freely sign up for this event, and there were as many as twelve destinations to choose from, accommodating disciples at different stages of cultivation.

The Du Xian Sect recruited disciples on a large scale every two hundred years, meaning each two-hundred-year period counted as a generation.

Among this generation's disciples, the fastest cultivator was said to have already reached the Sixth Stage of Void Returning Realm, catching up to many sect "elders" who had cultivated for a thousand years yet possessed mediocre aptitude.

Qi Refining, Nascent Soul, Void Returning, and Return to Dao—these were the four major realms before immortality. They determined not only one's strength after becoming immortal, but also one's rate of progress afterward and the upper limit of one's immortal path.

Someone like Lan Ling'e, who had entered the sect only ten years ago and studied under a master with little reputation in the sect, one who had not even become immortal, yet had reached the Eighth Stage of Qi Refining, naturally drew much attention.

The senior brother and junior sister stood beneath the shade of a tree, three feet apart. Quite a few gazes swept over them, and most of their owners assumed the pair were not particularly close.

Ling'e snapped off a tender willow shoot and gently wound it around her fingertips, hesitating several times as though she wanted to speak.

The first of the Three Chapters of Agreement: maintain a distance of three feet before outsiders.

The second of the Three Chapters of Agreement: do not chat casually outside unless necessary.

"Senior Brother, where are you going?"

"Guess."

"You still won't tell me. I've asked you for days already." Ling'e gave a soft snort and muttered, "Wherever you go, I'm going too. I have to keep a close eye on you."

Li Changshou smiled calmly. His lips moved slightly, and his voice entered Lan Ling'e's ears directly through the Sound Transmission Method.

"Junior Sister, you are now a somewhat accomplished Qi Refiner. You should learn to face certain difficulties independently."

Lan Ling'e declared righteously, "I am following Master's orders to watch you, Senior Brother, so you don't cause trouble outside and disgrace Lesser Qiong Peak!"

Li Changshou merely smiled and said no more.

After the bell rang six times, figures flew out of the Hall of Hundred Affairs. More than sixty Qi Refiners stood in the air.

Their appearances and temperaments varied. Some had white hair and wrinkled faces, while others still looked like sixteen-year-old girls. Most, however, presented themselves with mature and steady appearances.

The sixty-three sect members slightly released their auras, and the area before the Hall of Hundred Affairs instantly fell silent. A thread of immortal light lingered around every figure in the air.

They were immortals from the various peaks, tasked with protecting this expedition.

Then came the cry of a crane. A white crane with a red crown descended from the clouds, bearing a thin old man seated upon its back.

If one looked carefully, one could see faint Auspicious Clouds behind the old man, with two green lotuses floating around him. His bearing was extraordinary. Though not the slightest trace of his aura leaked out, he gave off an impression of solemn Auspicious Appearance.

This was Venerable Zhongyu, Vice Sect Master of the Du Xian Sect. He was said to be a Celestial Immortal-level expert, ranked among the top ten in cultivation within the Du Xian Sect.

Venerable Zhongyu did not make any lengthy speech. With his eyelids half-lowered, he opened his mouth, and his voice echoed throughout the main peak.

"As you depart, you must keep the Sect Rules in mind at all times, uphold the Du Xian Sect's prestige, and do nothing that disgraces the sect's reputation.

"There are twelve destinations for this expedition. Recently, demons have wrought havoc among several tribes along the Shore of the East Sea. I hope you will slay demons, defend the Dao, and protect your fellow people.

"Elder Ge, begin."

Having said this, Venerable Zhongyu rode his crane away without lingering. The sect members and disciples all bowed to see him off.

An elderly man standing in the air before the hall stepped forward and cupped his hands in acknowledgment. Then he called out loudly, "Those heading to the Shore of the East Sea to Slay Demons, gather on the far left! Your cultivation must be no lower than the Sixth Stage of Qi Refining! Rewards at this destination will be based on the number of demons slain."

The disciples below immediately began moving. Nearly half headed to the left side of the hall, making that area somewhat crowded.

This was the usual arrangement for every Training Assembly. Of the twelve training locations, one would certainly be relatively low in difficulty and danger, yet offer extremely generous rewards.

Lan Ling'e turned to stare at her senior brother and found that his legs had indeed not moved in the slightest.

Senior Brother's goal really was not to reap benefits...

"Junior Sister, your cultivation is still shallow. Follow the majority," Li Changshou advised through sound transmission. Lan Ling'e pursed her lips slightly and remained standing beside him.

Then Elder Ge continued to call out, "Those heading to the southeastern border of the Central Divine Continent to Slay Demons, wait on the right! Your cultivation must be no lower than the Eighth Stage of Qi Refining."

Only several dozen disciples moved this time, but each possessed considerable cultivation. They were all at the Nascent Soul Stage.

Thus, amid Elder Ge's repeated calls, the disciples moved one after another and chose their destinations.

The destinations Elder Ge announced later required increasingly higher minimum cultivation. When he called out, "Minimum requirement: Second Stage of Nascent Soul," Lan Ling'e's bright eyes, fixed upon her senior brother, were filled with grievance...

Her True cultivation level was precisely the Second Stage of Nascent Soul.

"Senior Brother, where exactly are you going?"

Li Changshou continued to smile without answering.

Soon, only twenty-three people in the area remained unmoving, while only two unannounced training locations remained.

Apart from the senior brother and junior sister in the corner, nearly all of these twenty-three were Immortal Seeds from their respective peaks—disciples specially nurtured within this generation, all highly ranked among the disciples.

Elder Ge glanced at Lan Ling'e before calling out, "Those heading to Lin Yun Island in the Eastern Sea for training, enter the hall and wait. Your cultivation must be no lower than the Ninth Stage of Nascent Soul."

Of the remaining twenty-odd people, seventeen moved at once. Each released their aura, and all of them were at the Second or Third Stage of Void Returning Realm!

Exclamations of admiration rose from all around as the seventeen disciples swiftly flew into the hall.

At this point, only six people remained unmoving in the area. The gazes of the disciples swiftly converged upon a young woman in a fiery-red immortal dress, carrying a broad-bladed treasured sword on her back.

The young woman stood with her eyes closed, still as an otherworldly immortal, like a spirit immortal from the Ninth Heaven. It was as if several large words floated around her—

KEEP OUT.

She was one of the best-known disciples of the current generation in the Du Xian Sect. Not only was she breathtakingly beautiful, with outstanding temperament and flawless figure, but her cultivation aptitude was equally astonishing. Having revealed her aura early, she was already at the Fourth Stage of Void Returning Realm.

She had entered the sect only a little over sixty years ago. Such aptitude had earned her great regard from the Du Xian Sect, and she had long since joined the sect master's lineage of Sky-Breaking Peak.

Youqin Xuanya is going to the Northern Continent too? That's not bad.

Li Changshou, in the corner, revealed a faint smile. Traveling with such an attention-grabbing person would make him even less noticeable.

Lan Ling'e beside him sniffed lightly a few times and immediately caught an unusual scent.

Her gaze shifted back and forth between her senior brother's smile and the young woman in the fiery-red immortal dress...

There really was something going on!

A few more discussions rose from the crowd.

"Senior Sister Xuan Ya is going to Northern Julu Continent to gather herbs?"

"If Senior Sister Xuan Ya is going to Northern Julu Continent, then Senior Brother Yuan Qing is probably going there too."

"Isn't that only natural? Senior Brother Yuan Qing has remained still this entire time. He was clearly waiting for Senior Sister Xuan Ya to decide."

"Watch your words and guard your hearts. Do not offend those two cultivation prodigies of Sky-Breaking Peak."

In the air, Elder Ge frowned at Li Changshou and Lan Ling'e, the pair of senior brother and junior sister. He shook his head slightly and continued to call out, "Those heading to the Treasure Forest of Chaotic Miasma in the southeast of Northern Julu Continent, enter the hall and wait! This place is extremely dangerous, and disciples are often injured there. The minimum requirement is Ninth Stage of Nascent Soul!"

The young woman in the fiery-red dress opened her eyes, her phoenix eyes exceptionally clear. She lightly tapped the ground with the tip of her foot. Her skirt swayed gently in the breeze, like a blooming Fire Spirit flower, carrying countless gazes with her as she drifted into the hall.

Following close behind was a refined and gentle-looking young Qi Refiner. Yet the aura he revealed was at the Fifth Stage of Void Returning Realm.

His eyes never left the fiery-red figure ahead of him. He was naturally that "Senior Brother Yuan Qing."

Li Changshou also began walking forward. With Youqin Xuanya and Yuan Qing drawing the attention of the entire crowd, no one noticed him at this moment, which made him feel quite comfortable.

But after taking only two steps, he suddenly shivered for no reason. A pair of grievance-filled eyes followed him like a shadow...

"Senior Brother, why are you suddenly going to Northern Julu Continent?"

Li Changshou felt gusts of cold wind behind him. He stopped, turned around, and said in a deep voice, "Naturally, to gather herbs."

"Senior Brother? Aren't there enough herbs at home for you? You..."

"Ling'e of Lesser Qiong Peak."

A shout suddenly came from the air. Elder Ge was frowning at the senior brother and junior sister as he asked, "Will you still participate in this expedition?"

"Yes."

Lan Ling'e looked up and answered. Sensing the many gazes around her turning toward her, her pretty face flushed slightly.

Just moments ago, her resentment had chilled the air for a thousand miles. Now, spring had arrived and flowers were blooming. Her expression changed with remarkable ease...

Lan Ling'e hurriedly said, "I have troubled you, Elder. This disciple's cultivation is still shallow, so I was somewhat undecided just now. I have now decided to follow the other senior brothers and sisters to the Shore of the East Sea."

Elder Ge nodded with a kindly smile and said warmly, "Return to your group quickly. Do not delay the auspicious hour of departure."

"Yes."

Lan Ling'e secretly let out a breath of relief. When she turned to look for her senior brother again, he had already vanished from sight.

"Really, why insist on going to such a dangerous place?"

She puffed out her cheeks and muttered softly, "And you didn't even say to take care... Watch yourself, you awful Senior Brother!"

When she turned around, Lan Ling'e had already returned to her usual expression. She walked toward the distant crowd, where several smiling talents from the various peaks came to greet her.

Inside the hall, more than a dozen gazes fell upon Li Changshou in the corner. Most carried a hint of suspicion, as no one knew who he was.

Li Changshou silently released his aura...

Ninth Stage of Nascent Soul, barely meeting the requirement—above average among the current generation of disciples.