Tens of thousands of years later.
The Ninety-Ninth-Layer Universe, the Supreme Dao Palace.
The Council Great Hall.
The Saint Venerable sat on the raised dais, toying with a gemstone.
This gemstone was the only clue.
Unfortunately-
Even now, he still had not obtained the position of lord of Penglai Mountain.
His practice of the Heaven-Piercing Art had also stalled midway through the Supreme Emotionless Ascension Scripture.
He had made no progress on either front.
-and thus could not activate this gemstone.
The Saint Venerable sighed and was about to put the gemstone away when a streak of flame came flying toward him.
An elder's voice rang out from the Communication Talisman:
"Saint Venerable, two exceptionally talented humans are at the Mountain Gate, seeking to join the sect."
The Saint Venerable was deeply puzzled.
Normally, if they found promising recruits, they could simply accept them. Why report to him on the spot like this?
"Is there a problem?" the Saint Venerable asked.
"There isn't a problem-they're simply too outstanding. I wouldn't dare make the decision lightly," the elder said.
Now the Saint Venerable's curiosity was thoroughly piqued.
His figure flickered, and he appeared instantly at Penglai Mountain's Mountain Gate.
Two young women stood in the reception pavilion beside the Mountain Gate.
The elder's telepathic message was already ringing in his ears:
"The girl with long hair draped over her shoulders has a degree of affinity with the universe that surpasses even the Three-Eyed Race. I've never seen anything like it in my life."
"The girl wearing a bamboo hat, with a sword at her waist, carries an astonishing strand of sword qi that exceeds my understanding."
Moved, the Saint Venerable looked toward the two women.
He was just about to speak when he suddenly sensed something and flew into a rage: