The six elders immediately took turns examining the gold-bordered letter. The last to receive it was Yin Huixin, who always stood last whenever the elders lined up by rank.
Bian Jixiong waited patiently while the first five elders read it, but once it reached his wife, he waited no longer and spoke directly. "Every sect must send five people to participate. Let's discuss whom to send."
Yin Huixin frowned and glanced up at her husband, then quickly scanned the letter.
Yi Huachun, the oldest elder, standing first on the left, asked, "Sect Master, after receiving this notification, did you contact the Domain Prefecture? What do they mean by restricting participants to cultivation below the Grand Completion Realm of Advanced Martial? I could understand keeping it below Human Immortal, but if Advanced Martial cultivators can participate, why exclude only those at Grand Completion?"
Some nodded, others looked curious. In any case, everyone turned toward the head seat.
Bian Jixiong nodded. "I had plenty of questions when I received the notification, too, and have already contacted the Domain Prefecture. This decision was made after consulting many sects. The reason is actually quite simple. Anyone at the Grand Completion Realm of Advanced Martial is only one step away from becoming a Human Immortal. Losing someone like that over this would be a great pity for any sect, so they set the limit below Grand Completion."
Elder Ke Yizong, standing first on the right with a rigid, stern expression, asked, "Losing people? Will searching for insect core crystals really cause so many casualties?"
Beside him, one position lower, Elder Feng Youzhi raised a hand and patted his shoulder, smiling wryly. "Old Ke, why do you think they designated the Western Extremity of the North Wilderness as the examination grounds?"
Elder Ke stroked his beard.