"Sigh! Feng'er, it's your uncle's fault. But that's all I have to say. Think more about the family..."
Yun Zhang's throat tightened for a long time before he bowed deeply behind Yun Feng, uttered a few words with a forlorn expression, and then left the main hall.
Yun Feng was already furious when she interrupted Yun Zhang.
But when she heard her uncle's forlorn tone, a wave of worry washed over her.
The family her uncle spoke of was the support system that had always nurtured her.
In terms of natural talent, she was not particularly outstanding, and in terms of Daoist magic, she was not particularly proficient.
All she had was the identity of Yun Hong, the elder of the Jade Screen Sect School, and her beautiful face.
Some cultivators, after establishing themselves in the Jade Screen Sect School, stagnated at the Profound Immortal Realm realm for various reasons.
They then simply spread their lineage within the temple grounds, establishing their own family-based cultivation methods.
The family's methods naturally rely on the Jade Screen Sect School.
They are like vines clinging to a tree, absorbing its nutrients.
As the tree grows stronger, the vines also grow stronger; it's a case of mutual prosperity.
Yun Feng's father Yun Hong, was the most outstanding cultivator in the family, second only to Yun Hong Yunlong and Yunxiang.
Yun Hong knew very well why this selection of core disciples was for.
Although vines cannot contend with large trees, they only seek to cling to some branches and leaves on the trunk, allowing the branches and leaves to shelter them.
Yun Feng's aptitude was naturally a step below that of geniuses like Yun Kun and Yun Peng.
She reached the Immortal Realm realm at a young age, thanks to the full support of her family's magic.
When her uncle told her to consider the family, Yun Feng knew that it was time for her to repay the family.
For vines to survive on a large tree, they must find a sturdy branch for shelter.
Yun Feng was naturally grateful to her family. Giving back to her family was almost the destiny of generations of family cultivators.
But the thought that although she was Mystic Immortal cultivator, she was now being sold off like a commodity filled her with complex emotions.
It is said that cultivators sever their desires and see through illusions, thus attaining great freedom and liberation.
But once they truly entered the path of immortality, they discovered that they had merely fallen into one trap after another.
This interconnected world, like a spinning wheel, sweeps countless people in, leaving them only to struggle desperately within its vortex.
As Elder Yun Hong's beloved daughter, her cultivation journey has been smooth sailing and carefree.
Although he is now at the Immortal Realm realm, he is like a caged bird, ultimately imprisoned by the ways of the world.
Thinking of this, Yun Feng's complex emotions turned into a sense of powerlessness.
The ever-burning lamp flickered slightly before her eyes, her long eyelashes lowered, and a single, glistening tear slid down her cheek...
Yun Feng lamented her fate, feeling like a caged bird, and longed to spread her wings and gain her own freedom.
Thinking of freedom, she opened her blurry eyes and looked out at the sky.
A few days ago, when the sun was setting in the west, a figure with feet on clouds and surrounded by Luan Crane flew past her eyes.
The figure, nestled between the crimson sun and the cloud- Luan Crane, resembled a true immortal, inspiring a sense of ethereal beauty in Yun Feng's heart whenever she glanced at it.
She thought to herself, "Those must be the truly free and unrestrained people..."
Xu Long was unaware that his appearance had already drawn the attention of most of the people in the blessed land.
In reality, a single praise from the True Lord might not have such power, but it was only during the crucial selection process for core disciples that this occurred.
Within the blessed land, disciples and various factions were all nervously observing and trying to understand the situation.
They aim to discover all the potential talents and ensure their strength increases in the face of the impending changes.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, the atmosphere inside the blessed land became somewhat tense.
Some disciples of the Mystic Immortal vaguely sensed something, and their communications between the various mountains became much more frequent.
The cultivators watching the selection process within the blessed land all opened their eyes, their gazes filled with anticipation.
This selection process is destined to be extraordinary; the addition of Yunmo is the biggest variable!
The selection of core disciples is crucial to the sect's inheritance, and figures in several mountain ranges have already begun preparations.
A storm is brewing within this blessed land, and a new era seems about to begin!
Xu Long was naturally unaware of how many people were secretly watching him, and even if he did, he wouldn't react in any way.
The selection results are not yet available; the list has only been posted in the Deacon Hall.
Only after the selection results are announced will all parties make their moves, and that will be the most intense period of open and covert confrontation.
Xu Long stayed within the giant mountain range for several days, carefully reviewing his magical Magic Power and cultivation level once again.
He first calmed his mind about the upcoming election.
Since we're participating in the election, we must demonstrate our strongest capabilities and show everyone, with that final, triumphant stance, who the ultimate victor is!
A surge of energy emerged from his sleeve, and Xu Long, who was entrenched inside the mountain palace, suddenly opened his eyes.
His gaze was deep and unfathomable as he stared into the distance, when suddenly two bolts of lightning shot out from his pupils.
As lightning parted the clouds overhead, creating a crack, Xu Long's figure appeared in the sky.
The summons from the Deacon Hall for the selection process has been sent!
"Fellow disciples, you are all junior members of our Jade Screen Sect School. We have gathered here in the Deacon Hall to select core disciples."
"This election will be judged personally by Perfected Yunxiang. The disciples in the arena are divided into dozens of groups, and those who emerge from the hall are considered to have passed the second round of testing!"
"There will be twenty qualified disciples. Selecting these twenty is only the second step. After that, a new selection will be made within the main peak."
A cold, stern voice echoed Deacon Hall, and the Yun Xiao's Yunxiang.
He coldly addressed the more than one hundred cultivators standing in the arena, reciting the selection rules.
As he spoke, his gaze swept across the several Mystic Immortal cultivators like lightning, as if he were sizing them up.
When I looked away, I noticed a figure standing alone in the corner.
Xu Long narrowed his eyes slightly, completely unconcerned by Yun Xiao's piercing gaze.
In an instant, he activated the Celestial Phenomenon within his body, and the pupils in his two eyes transformed into deep, dark holes, suddenly swallowing the incoming lightning.
Yun Xiao's pupils suddenly contracted, and he was greatly surprised.
He then felt as if his gaze had been forcibly severed by some kind of energy.
Even his own True Spirit didn't detect anything unusual; this guy really has some tricks up his sleeve.
The figure in that corner was deeply etched into Yun Xiao's mind.
A slight smile played at the corners of his lips, and Xu Long's deep pupils slowly returned to normal.
He understood the election rules that Yun Xiao had mentioned earlier; these hundred-plus people would be divided into dozens of groups.
They then entered the Deacon Hall to compete; whoever could defeat the other disciples there would be the final victor.
Out of more than one hundred people, only twenty were selected. This ratio isn't too outrageous.
But when Xu Long thought about how these cultivators were all elites of the Jade Screen Sect School, he felt that this was really cruel.
The Great Dao is ruthless, the path to immortality is devoid of desire; sects can only allocate limited resources to those with the greatest potential.
If even one of the core disciples can break through to the Golden Immortal Realm realm, the overall strength of the Jade Screen Sect School will rise to a new level.
Therefore, this seemingly cruel selection method is also for the future development of the sect.
"Group yourselves according to the jade tokens you hold! Then enter the main hall together for the competition!"
As soon as Yun Xiao finished speaking, Xu Long felt a special energy fluctuation emanating from the jade pendant in his sleeve.
He focused his will and went inside to investigate, and sensed information about the internal passage of the main hall.
The cultivators in the arena, like him, also received information about the jade tablet. After checking it, they all entered the Deacon Hall together.
Today, the doors and banners of the Deacon Hall are wide open and fluttering in the wind. The golden-roofed hall looks exceptionally solemn and dignified, as if a special ceremony is taking place.
As the dozens of the Daoist Sect opened, the blue-robed disciples who remained in the Deacon Hall poured out and then bowed slightly to the assembled cultivators.
Greetings, fellow disciples!
Xu Long and the other cultivators naturally returned the greetings and then stood outside their respective gates.
Xu Long glanced at them briefly and knew that these disciples were all people with powerful auras, including several cultivators at the Immortal Realm realm.
It seems all the disciples from the Deacon Hall have been dispatched, but why are they gathered here?
"Core disciples, there is no turning back! This concerns the future of the sect and your personal future. I will not mince words; I believe you understand what I mean!"
"Before entering the Deacon Hall, I have only one piece of advice: When selecting core disciples, act without hesitation, and leave no regrets!"
As Xu Long was still observing those Mystic Immortal cultivators, he suddenly heard the solemn voice of Perfected Yunxiang.
The sound came from inside the opening and closing doorway, presumably because Yunxiang was also paying attention to the performance of the cultivators today.
Xu Long naturally knew what Perfected Yunxiang was thinking. He stepped forward at this time to reassure everyone and let them just show their true abilities in the election.
With him in the Deacon Hall, there's no way he'll harm his fellow disciples.
If you admit defeat when you are not up to the task, it will be transmitted instantly.
Since there was no danger to their lives, there were naturally no twenty spots available for the second round of interviews.
After understanding the rules, the crowd Deacon Hall looked at each other in bewilderment.
Then, it's unclear who first entered those tall gate towers, but the figures of over a hundred people quickly disappeared within the Deacon Hall.
After the cultivators gradually disappeared, a large group of disciples from the Deacon Hall who had appeared earlier set out.
The Mystic Immortal cultivators among them each led a group of people and followed them into the interior of the gate.
The selection of core disciples involves not only defeating cultivators in the same group, but also undergoing tests from the Mystic Immortal cultivators within the Deacon Hall!
As Xu Long stepped into the gate of the Golden-Roofed Hall, he felt a sense of lightness throughout his body.
Like a mayfly's feather in the air, it lacks sufficient foothold.
When I looked up, all I could see was a misty expanse of the sky.
Just like that Hundun world, before the heavens and earth were completely separated, there was naturally no spiritual energy to speak of.
Xu Long surmised that the world inside the gate was a series of fragmented spaces, and these fragmented spaces led to unknown destinations.
But one thing is certain: above them in the fragmented space, a pair of enormous eyes are watching them.
Today is the official selection competition for core disciples. Perfected Yunxiang will also devote a wisp of his mind to the cultivators, and his deduction of his own Great Dao will be slightly paused.
Xu Long was no stranger to fragmented spaces; he had seen many of them in other small worlds.
The fragmented space within the Jade Screen Sect School appears to be quite stable, and it is unlikely to be disintegrated due to powerful energy fluctuations.
There are usually no stable coordinates within the fragmented space, and the cultivators who enter it are scattered in various places.
Just as Xu Long was worrying about how to find the cultivator, the jade tablet in his sleeve suddenly emitted an unusual light.
Xu Long paused in mid-air for a moment, then instantly flipped a hand out behind his back.
A sudden whooshing sound rang out within the fragmented space, and a sword shadow, carrying a sharp and powerful aura, swept up Xu Long's long hair that was draped over his back.
A clang of metal clashing echoed through the space, and Xu Long's long hair was ruffled by the strong wind brought by the flying sword.
A surge of energy swept aside his cyan robes, and the energy from the incoming flying sword was released onto Xu Long's back.
A burst of intense heat instantly turned the surrounding air scalding hot, but the flying sword could only travel this far.
Xu Long caught all the energy behind his back, and the flying sword that was attacking him came to a steady stop in mid-air.
The blade was as if it were held in place by iron clamps, unable to move an inch.
With a slight flick of his wrist, Xu Long, without even turning his head, caused the wrist behind him that was gripping the flying sword to twist.
A clanging sound rang out immediately, and the flying sword in Xu Long's hand was bent by a tremendous force.
At this moment, the cultivator behind finally revealed his face; he was a Heavenly Immortal cultivator dressed in a blue robe.
Seeing Xu Long's counterattack, he instantly came to his senses. If the flying sword were in Xu Long's hands, it would surely be bent and broken.
I never expected this Earth Immortal cultivator to be so strange. Even when I used my flying sword to ambush him from behind, he caught it steadily.
At this moment, only a back view could be seen; the Earth Immortal cultivator hadn't even turned around.
The Heavenly Immortal cultivator in the rear was horrified, but he had no time to think. Since he had been discovered, he had no choice but to finish the battle quickly.
With True Spirit, he tried to free the flying sword from Xu Long's hand, but a burst of sword energy erupted from behind Xu Long.
The small flying sword seemed to transform into hundreds of beams, as the Heavenly Immortal cultivator attempted to confuse Xu Long.
He couldn't distinguish which of the many sword energies was the real flying sword.
But now that Xu Long had discovered his sneak attack, how could he let him escape unscathed?
He hadn't even turned around yet, but he already knew that the sword energy behind him was raging and rampaging.
The will instantly extended into the air, and the boundless will enveloped the hundreds of sword energies.
Xu Long keenly sensed that one of the sword energies was particularly sharp.