The Entire Intercepting Sect Knows Senior Sister Jin Ling Picked Up a Promising Talent

Eastern Sea.

A streak of golden light crossed the sky and descended into the territory of Golden Turtle Island.

Lin Yuan stood atop the Thick Earth Sword, following behind Golden Spirit Holy Mother. The moment he passed through the island's protective formation, he felt the rich immortal spiritual energy rushing toward him from all directions.

Even though this was not his first time here, he could not help taking a few deep breaths.

It could not be helped.

Compared to Golden Turtle Island, his shabby little island was like a bare-shell apartment trying to rub shoulders with a luxury penthouse.

Especially after returning from Chentang Pass, Lin Yuan had obtained the [Blackstone Dao Body], making his senses toward the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, as well as the power of earth veins, far sharper.

The instant he set foot on Golden Turtle Island.

He could even sense countless enormous spiritual veins crisscrossing beneath the ground. Vast spiritual currents flowed through the mountains and rivers before finally converging across the entire island.

"What a fine place..."

Lin Yuan sighed inwardly.

No wonder all the myriad immortals of the Intercepting Sect liked gathering here.

Cultivating in an environment like this, even if you tied up a dog for several thousand years, it would probably learn to speak and call out, "Fellow Daoist, please stay."

"Lin Yuan."

Golden Spirit Holy Mother suddenly spoke from ahead.

"This disciple is here."

Lin Yuan immediately reined in his scattered thoughts.

"The sect tournament is in three months."

"You have only just obtained the Blackstone Dao Body. Return first and stabilize your cultivation."

Jin Ling slowed slightly before adding another sentence.

"Although that Thick Earth Sword is merely a low-grade postnatal spiritual treasure, it suits your current physique. If you refine it well, it will be more useful than some mid-grade postnatal spiritual treasures."

"This disciple understands."

Lin Yuan cupped his hands and accepted the instruction.

Jin Ling said nothing further, and her figure soon vanished ahead.

Lin Yuan, meanwhile, flew his sword back to his small cultivation ground at the edge of Golden Turtle Island.

Calling it a cultivation ground.

It was really just a cave dwelling.

One stone chamber for cultivation.

One medicinal garden.

And a spiritual spring, apparently dug out by some senior brother on a whim.

It was the very picture of plainness.

Yet Lin Yuan did not dislike it in the slightest.

The moment he returned, he sat down cross-legged and took out the two spiritual herbs Shiji had given him after Taiyi compensated her.

Shiji had not been stingy.

Aside from the Thick Earth Sword, she had even forced several spiritual items meant to aid cultivation into his hands.

Lin Yuan had already been at the Late Earth Immortal stage.

After the events at Chentang Pass and the Blackstone Dao Body's cleansing of his foundation, his bottleneck had already loosened.

Now, the spiritual herbs entered his mouth.

The immortal spiritual energy immediately dissolved within his body.

For the first time, the Blackstone Dao Body began operating in full.

Threads of heavy, ancient energy were drawn from the earth and merged with the mana inside him.

The immortal power that had once been somewhat unsteady within his meridians gradually became solid.

Three months passed in a flash.

When Lin Yuan opened his eyes again, the mana in his body had increased by nearly half compared to when he returned.

His cultivation had also successfully stepped into—

Earth Immortal Peak.

He was only one step away from becoming a Heavenly Immortal.

"Not bad."

Lin Yuan clenched his fist.

A faint crackling sound came from the bones within his body.

The changes brought by the Blackstone Dao Body were even more obvious than the increase in cultivation alone.

His body was stronger.

His foundation was steadier.

Even his recovery speed had improved considerably.

"Next, I'll see how it performs in actual combat."

Lin Yuan rose to his feet.

The moment he stepped out of his cave dwelling, he saw streaks of escaping light flying toward the center of Golden Turtle Island.

Today was the day of the sect tournament.

Those participating were mainly the younger generation of registered disciples from the various lineages of the Intercepting Sect, along with some outer disciples.

The cultivation limit had been set at the True Immortal realm.

The rewards were not the main attraction.

What truly caught many people's attention was a certain quota.

Wen Zhong would soon return to Great Shang.

Jin Ling intended to select some young disciples to descend the mountain with him for experience.

The Intercepting Sect had many disciples.

Yet opportunities to truly take part in matters involving the karmic fortune of the mortal dynasty were not common.

Especially now, when Great Shang was confronting West Qi.

As long as one performed well, it would be easy to accumulate merit and temper one's divine abilities.

Thus, the central plaza had been packed with people early on.

Lin Yuan had only just arrived.

When many gazes around him fell upon him.

"That's Lin Yuan?"

"I heard he was the one who saved the young attendant under Junior Sister Shiji."

"More than that. I heard Taiyi himself went to Chentang Pass, and in the end, it was Senior Sister Jin Ling who went over and suppressed the matter."

"This junior brother has quite some nerve."

"Having nerve is one thing. Fighting is another. He's only at Earth Immortal Peak, isn't he?"

Some were curious.

Others did not think much of him.

Over the past few months, the matter involving Shiji had spread quickly through the Intercepting Sect.

Mainly because it involved Taiyi, a direct disciple of the Explanatory Sect.

Lin Yuan's name, which had previously drawn little attention, had consequently been remembered by quite a few people.

But in the Primordial World, strength was ultimately what spoke.

Being able to recognize danger.

Being able to call for help.

It only showed that your mind worked well.

If you stepped onto the arena and could not even withstand three moves from your opponent, then it only meant your brain was better suited to being a strategist.

"Junior Brother Lin."

A burly young Daoist walked over and smiled as he patted Lin Yuan's shoulder.

"I heard you signed up as well?"

Lin Yuan searched through the memories of the original owner of this body and recognized him as a registered senior brother from the Jin Ling Lineage.

The two had not been particularly familiar before.

"Just joining for the fun of it."

Lin Yuan smiled.

"Don't underestimate it."

That senior brother lowered his voice.

"This time, Senior Sister Jin Ling is choosing people to descend the mountain with Senior Brother Wen Zhong. Quite a few fellows who usually remain in seclusion have come out."

"Especially those at the late and peak Heavenly Immortal stages."

"Every last one of them is fired up."

Lin Yuan nodded.

"Understood."

The burly Daoist looked him over several times.

"Your physical body does look much stronger than before."

"But Earth Immortal Peak against a Heavenly Immortal still requires caution."

"If you really encounter someone you cannot defeat, there's no shame in admitting defeat."

Lin Yuan smiled with exceptional sincerity.

"Rest assured, Senior Brother."

"My greatest strength is knowing when to back down."

That senior brother nodded in satisfaction.

"Good."

As the two spoke.

A bell suddenly rang out from the center of the plaza.

Clang—!

The discussions around them quickly died down.

Duobao Daoist rose from the high platform.

As the eldest senior brother of the Intercepting Sect, he usually presided over such sect affairs.

"The rules for this sect tournament are the same as in previous years."

"Spar with fellow disciples and stop at the proper point."

"Deliberately taking a fellow disciple's life is forbidden."

"Those who enter the top ten may receive a bottle of Shangqing Primordial Spirit Pills."

"Additionally..."

Duobao smiled.

"Those with outstanding performances may have the opportunity to accompany Junior Brother Wen Zhong to Great Shang."

The moment those words were spoken.

The eyes of many young disciples in the field lit up.

Lin Yuan also became alert.

Wen Zhong.

Great Shang.

The Four Sages of Nine-Dragon Island.

The Ten Heavenly Lords.

Those names immediately connected in his mind.

The drawing of lots soon began.

Jade plaques flew down from the air one after another, automatically landing in the hands of the participating disciples.

Lin Yuan reached out and caught his own jade plaque.

Written on it was—

Thirty-seven.

A moment later.

The first-round matchups appeared in the air.

Lin Yuan swept his gaze across them.

He quickly found his own name.

[Number Thirty-Seven: Lin Yuan]

[Opponent—Early Heavenly Immortal, Zhou Yuan]

Several soft exclamations immediately rose from the surrounding crowd.

The burly senior brother from earlier twitched at the corner of his mouth.

"Junior Brother Lin."

"Your luck..."

"Sure is something."

His first match.

And he was already fighting above his realm.

Moreover, his opponent was a veteran registered disciple who had entered the Heavenly Immortal realm several hundred years ago.

Lin Yuan, however, did not feel much about it.

He lowered his head and glanced at his hands.

Then he sensed the heavy aura rising from the earth beneath his feet.

"Not bad luck."

The burly senior brother froze.

"This is not bad?"

Lin Yuan smiled.

"It's better than drawing a True Immortal in the first round."

Not far away,

A blue-robed Daoist with a longsword on his back had also turned to look at him.

It was Zhou Yuan.

Their gazes met.

Zhou Yuan politely cupped his hands.

"Junior Brother Lin."

"I heard you took an arrow for Biyun some days ago."

"You've got courage."

"But on the arena, I won't hold back much."

Lin Yuan returned the gesture.

"As you should."

"Come at me, Senior Brother."

Zhou Yuan smiled faintly.

"Don't worry."

"At most, I'll leave you bedridden for a few days."

Lin Yuan blinked.

"Senior Brother."

"Shouldn't you avoid making such bold claims just yet?"

Zhou Yuan clearly did not understand.

Until the Intercepting Sect disciple in charge of enforcement called their names.

Lin Yuan carried the Thick Earth Sword onto the arena.

Zhou Yuan also leaped into the ring.

The grand formation rose.

Sealing off the aftershocks.

Zhou Yuan raised a hand and gripped the sword on his back, his Heavenly Immortal power slowly spreading out.

"Junior Brother Lin."

"Please."

Lin Yuan felt the aura pressing toward him, yet his feet remained firmly planted.

The Blackstone Dao Body.

Its first real battle.

He was rather curious.

Just how hard this thing could be.