The surrounding cultivators had been unable to tear themselves away ever since Ji Zining brought out the supreme-grade Spirit Stones.
Supreme-grade Spirit Stones!
They were actually supreme-grade Spirit Stones!
And there were several hundred of them!
Just what kind of power did this woman come from?
She had brought out supreme-grade Spirit Stones so casually!
Forcing down their greed, the cultivators tore their eyes away from the supreme-grade Spirit Stones and gave Ji Zining wary looks.
Though this woman was stunningly beautiful, she was not someone they could afford to provoke. They had to stay as far away from her as possible!
Li Yuanlong's pupils also contracted.
Supreme-grade Spirit Stones!
As everyone knew, a hundred low-grade Spirit Stones could be exchanged for one mid-grade Spirit Stone, and a hundred mid-grade Spirit Stones for one high-grade Spirit Stone.
But it took a hundred high-grade Spirit Stones to exchange for a single supreme-grade Spirit Stone!
In other words, one supreme-grade Spirit Stone could be exchanged for a full million low-grade Spirit Stones!
A million low-grade Spirit Stones was no small sum.
That was about as much as an ordinary Nascent Soul Realm cultivator's entire fortune.
Yet this peerless beauty had brought out several hundred supreme-grade Spirit Stones without even blinking!
Their value in low-grade Spirit Stones...
Even Li Yuanlong was tempted by so many supreme-grade Spirit Stones.
Although he came from a Sage King Lineage, he was merely an ordinary member of its direct line, and his cultivation resources were limited.
Otherwise, he would not have needed to attend the Ziwei Holy Land's disciple recruitment ceremony. He would have directly obtained one of the slots the Ziwei Holy Land reserved for his Lineage.
More importantly, he had keenly noticed what Ji Zining added afterward.
If that wasn't enough, she could add more!
That many supreme-grade Spirit Stones, and she could add more?!
Rich... inhumanly rich!
"Th-this fellow cultivator, please come with me. I'll take you to be tested up front."
Li Yuanlong put away the supreme-grade Spirit Stones without betraying any emotion, then eagerly beckoned to Ji Zining.
Ji Zining could not help shaking her head.
So that's all it took!
He was bought off with a few hundred supreme-grade Spirit Stones?
I thought he was truly the lovestruck type and would give up those supreme-grade Spirit Stones to preserve his image.
Seeing this, the surrounding cultivators hurriedly cleared a path for Ji Zining and Li Yuanlong.
The richly dressed young man grew anxious at the sight.
"Young Master Yuanlong, what about me? Aren't you taking me with you?"
Without so much as looking at him, Li Yuanlong impatiently waved a hand behind him.
"Get in line yourself. Can't you see I'm leading this fellow cultivator? You really can't read the room!"
As he spoke, he eagerly cleared the way for Ji Zining, presenting a stark contrast.
The richly dressed young man's body trembled. He felt like crying, but no tears came.
So I knelt for nothing just now?
He had thought he'd found a powerful backer, but although he had managed to latch onto him, his backer barely paid him any attention.
Seeing this, the surrounding cultivators looked at the richly dressed young man with even greater contempt.
This lackey still thinks he can cut in line?
You wouldn't even get a turn to eat shit!
Ji Zining's expression remained as still as an ancient well as she walked slowly forward.
Being able to take the test early for a few hundred supreme-grade Spirit Stones was a decent deal. She would not have to waste time waiting.
Glancing at Li Yuanlong as he cleared the way ahead, Ji Zining smiled with amusement.
This fellow was interesting. He seemed to have completely forgotten about approaching her, and he was eager to make himself useful, with no regard for his image at all.
Noticing Ji Zining's gaze, Li Yuanlong gave her a fawning smile, his eyes darting away.
If he had known she had resources like that, how could he have gone straight up and approached her?
Fortunately, she had not taken offense, or he would have been in trouble.
The moment Ji Zining brought out those supreme-grade Spirit Stones, Li Yuanlong became convinced that she must come from a major power!
And she had to be someone who was greatly favored within that power, or she could not have been so inhumanly rich.
At last, with Li Yuanlong clearing the way, Ji Zining reached the very front of the square.
After nodding to Ji Zining, Li Yuanlong turned around.
The instant he turned, he straightened his back, once again becoming the graceful young man he had been before.
With one hand behind his back, he came to the foot of the raised platform and cupped his hands slightly toward the Ziwei Holy Land elder standing in the center.
"Granduncle, do you still remember me?"
On the platform, the white-haired old man watching the testing stele stirred at his words and looked at Li Yuanlong.
The moment he saw him, surprise appeared on his face.
"You are... Yuanlong?"
Delight appeared on Li Yuanlong's face.
"It's me, Granduncle!"
The other Ziwei Holy Land elders on the platform looked curious.
One of them, a middle-aged man, asked the white-haired elder a question.
"Elder Li, who is this?"
The white-haired elder, Li Changlong, stroked his beard and smiled.
"His name is Li Yuanlong. He's a junior of mine with decent talent. How about doing me a favor and letting him have his talent tested early?"
The other elders could not help exchanging glances, but eventually nodded.
"Whatever you wish, Elder Li."
The test could be done sooner or later, so they might as well do Li Changlong a favor. It would make it easier to get along with him in the future.
Li Changlong cupped his hands slightly to the other elders and smiled.
"Many thanks, everyone!"
With that, he beckoned to Li Yuanlong below the platform.
"Yuanlong, come up. Once that youngster over there finishes his test, you can take yours."
A short distance away, a young man was waiting to be tested in front of the testing stele.
Li Yuanlong nodded vigorously, but then seemed to remember something, and his expression grew hesitant.
"Granduncle, I'd like to bring a friend along. What do you think?"
Bring a friend along?
Li Changlong raised a brow and looked at Ji Zining behind Li Yuanlong.
The moment he saw Ji Zining, a trace of amazement appeared on his face.
Although he was old, that did not mean he could not appreciate beauty.
Ji Zining's looks could be called peerless in all the world!
Her bearing in particular was refreshing to behold.
Is that boy Li Yuanlong pursuing this beauty?
After glaring at Li Yuanlong, Li Changlong glanced somewhat awkwardly at the other elders.
"Everyone, what do you think? This..."
The remaining Ziwei Holy Land elders did not know whether to laugh or cry.
"Elder Li, you're the one truly in charge this time. Your word is final."
Li Changlong took a deep breath and solemnly cupped his hands to them.
"Many thanks!"
With that, he beckoned to Ji Zining and Li Yuanlong.
"Come up. We'll arrange your tests right away."
Li Yuanlong was overjoyed. He bowed and scraped before Ji Zining, gesturing for her to go first.
Ji Zining did not stand on ceremony. After giving Elder Li a grateful look, she walked toward the platform.
Just as Ji Zining was about to reach the platform, an imposing voice rang out from the heavens.
"The Holy Lord has arrived. All of you, hurry and welcome the Holy Lord!"