May 15th, north slope of Tianji Peak.
There is a huge cave halfway up the mountain. The entrance is a long, narrow crack. The huge crack extends upwards for dozens of feet, forming a wide opening at the bottom.
The rock face was covered with green moss, and some vines and weeds grew haphazardly.
By this time, the cave entrance was already crowded with Daoist priests. Several stewards and elders from the Tianji Hall had arrived, leading a group of disciples to maintain order at the cave entrance.
There were two tables at the entrance of the cave, where a Daoist priest was in charge of registration.
The Thousand Spirits Mountain Secret Realm is quite dangerous. Cultivators who enter must register on the roster and leave their Heavenly Pivot Token mark.
Cultivators must also register and leave their mark on the roster when they leave the secret realm.
When the secret realm is about to close, check the list to see who hasn't returned.
If anyone doesn't return, they will send people to search the area.
This procedure is also to ensure the safety of the cultivators.
When Zhou Wuji arrived, he saw that the area in front of the cave was already filled with cultivators.
A rough count revealed there were at least three or four hundred people.
The cultivators were subtly divided into seven groups, with clear boundaries between them.
The seven factions all wore the same uniform, with no clear distinction between them.
Those who cultivate within this lineage recognize faces.
If you can't even recognize faces, you're not qualified to form factions.
Although Zhou Wuji was a member of the Heavenly Pivot Lineage, he was not from this academy. Among the cultivators of Tianshu, he only knew Zhiming and Shangqi.
I don't know anyone else, so there's no need to try to build connections.
He wasn't being arrogant; it was mainly because the competition among the True Disciple Candidate was fierce.
Making friends with other cultivators is not very useful; in fact, it may bring a lot of trouble.
Once he becomes a true True Disciple, he won't need to cultivate the land; he will naturally gain many friends.
Zhou Wuji's gaze swept across the crowd and he saw several outstanding young Fourth Rank cultivators, most of whom were standing at the front of the line.
Among them was Su Wuyi. Today, she wore a crescent-shaped crown and a dark green Daoist robe with star-gold patterns, clearly indicating that she was no ordinary person.
She held a jade ruler in her hand and wore an exquisite yellow jade gourd at her waist.
The Daoist robe, jade ruler, and gourd are all clearly high-level Law Artifact, especially the gourd, which should be a treasure-level Law Treasure.
Zhou Wuji also saw Shui Wushang; the female cultivator's grayish-white pupils were too easy to recognize.
Shui Wushang long, sword-like eyebrows, a high nose bridge, and thin lips. Her features are three-dimensional and symmetrical, making her very beautiful. However, her indifferent gray-white eyes give her an unapproachable, cold quality.
His black robe was simple in style, and the long sword with a black sheath at his waist was of a simple and upright design, looking like a precious sword.
The other young Fourth Rank cultivators also possessed at least one magical artifact.
Zhou Wuji was slightly envious; the treatment of a candidate for the academy's True Disciple Candidate was too good!
Everyone was also sizing up Zhou Wuji. They had all heard of the great name of True Person Hongde, but this was the first time they had seen him in person.
It should be noted that the vast majority of Second Rank cultivators generally only possess the title of "True Person ".
Even for First Rank cultivator, it's difficult to obtain the title of Celestial Master unless they join the Heavenly Master's Manor; most are simply given the title of True Lord.
The Northern Pole Sect has yet to produce a second First Rank cultivator, and its influence among the seven major sects of Daoism is waning.
Since the Heavenly Master's Manor lacks a powerful member from its own sect to serve as Heavenly Master's Manor there also face significant discrimination.
It was extremely rare for Zhou Wuji to be granted the title of Third Rank True Person by imperial decree.
When the news reached the Northern Pole headquarters, it shocked everyone present.
Upon seeing him today, almost everyone shared the same opinion: just as rumored, Zhou Wuji was indeed handsome and dashing!
Although there were many outstanding individuals present, none could compare to Zhou Wuji in terms of appearance and demeanor.
Zheng Wukong also sized up Zhou Wuji. He disliked the man's exaggerated reputation, and seeing Zhou Wuji in person only confirmed his belief that Zhou Wuji princess was bewitched by him.
Shui Wushang merely glanced at Zhou Wuji, but her eyesight suddenly improved dramatically, allowing her to see Zhou Wuji clearly from head to toe in an instant.
She didn't pay attention to Zhou Wuji's appearance; she was more concerned with his Zhou Wuji robes and sword.
The blue robes were like clouds, and their style differed slightly from the robes of our temple; they must be a fine piece.
The sword is simple and unadorned; it must be the Sixth Rank treasure sword Tianshu Sword.
With the two sides about to cooperate, Shui Wushang was very concerned about Zhou Wuji's strength. She cultivated the Heavenly Mandate Sword, and judged others' cultivation levels mostly based on the mysterious senses of the Heavenly Mandate Sword.
With just one glance, she felt a strong sense of alarm.
The profound senses emanating from the Big Dipper Heavenly Mandate Sword told her that the incredibly handsome young Daoist opposite her was extremely terrifying!
Shui Wushang was also startled.
Among the many True Disciple Candidate, each with their own unique abilities, she had never encountered such a formidable and imposing master.
Shui Wushang even doubted that her sense of destiny was wrong, and her gaze fell on Zheng Wukong.
This head of the Heavenly Pivot Hall and True Disciple Candidate had long since reached the Fourth Rank of perfection. In terms of the purity of his cultivation, he was indeed the foremost candidate for True Disciple Candidate.
Zheng Wukong was highly skilled in both Law Technique and Swordsmanship, and was considered by many cultivators to be the next formal True Disciple.
Looking at Zheng Wukong, the strong sense of alarm in Shui Wushang vanished instantly. She knew she was right; Zheng Wukong's great reputation, to say the least, wasn't all that impressive—
Zheng Wukong, with his keen senses, noticed Shui Wushang's scrutiny. Though his face remained expressionless, he felt somewhat displeased.
The woman looked at Zhou Wuji first, then at him. Was she comparing him to Zhou Wuji?
He sneered inwardly. This woman, constantly muttering and obsessively cultivating in the cave, was clearly a bit off-track on her mind.
Once we get into Thousand Spirits Mountain, I'll have to see what this woman has managed to cultivate in the cave!
"Senior brother----"
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Su Wuyi took the initiative to step forward and bow to Zhou Wuji in greeting.
Zhou Wuji returned the greeting politely, and said with a smile, "Junior Sister, what brings you here? Why didn't you say we'd meet inside?"
"It's alright to say something."
Su Wuyi smiled brightly. She was naturally enthusiastic and lively, and skilled in alchemy and medicine. Various sects would seek her help, so she was very popular.
She didn't care much about what others thought. Besides, greeting Zhou Wuji in front of everyone only proved that there was no private relationship between them.
Su Wuyi handed Zhou Wuji a medicine box. "Senior brother, this is the Heart Incense Pill."
"After taking it, you can smell the unique fragrance of Xinxiang Pills, which can last for dozens of miles. When we enter the mountains, we can use Heart Incense Pill to determine each other's location so as not to get lost."
As a master alchemist, Su Wuyi enjoyed refining all sorts of unusual elixirs.
What makes the Heart Incense Pill special is that each wisp of fragrance is interconnected.
No matter how keen one's six senses are, if one has never taken the Heart Incense Pill, one will never be able to smell its fragrance.
Zhou Wuji was somewhat surprised; there were actually such unusual elixirs. Interesting.
After Su Wuyi left, Zhou Wuji opened the medicine box and saw three vermilion pills inside, but he couldn't smell any fragrance.
Zhou Wuji was always cautious about things that were ingested. Although Su Wuyi was unlikely to harm him, there was no need to rush to take them.
Zhou Wuji believed that he possessed the Big Dipper Star Eye" and recognized the auras of Shui Wushang and Su Wuyi, so finding them wouldn't be difficult.
At noon, a dense blue light emanated from the depths of the cave entrance, spreading upwards along the cracks at the entrance and dyeing the entire mountain wall a bluish-green hue.
The elder in charge of maintaining order waved his hand, and two disciples pulled over the prepared monkeys and threw them into the cave. After a while, they pulled the monkeys out again.
Only after confirming that there was no danger at the entrance to the secret realm did the elder order the gate to be opened, allowing the numerous cultivators to enter.
Zhou Wuji wasn't in a hurry; he waited until everyone else had gone inside before leisurely entering the cave.
The blue light deep inside the cave coalesced into a ball, and through the light, one could vaguely see figures moving inside.
Passing through the dense blue light, Zhou Wuji arrived at another cave. After walking along the cave for more than ten zhang, the view suddenly opened up before him.
The cave is located on a gentle slope, directly facing the bright sun above.
The hillside is covered with low shrubs and weeds, and the area above and below is quite open.
The spiritual energy flowing in the void was more than twice as strong as outside, and the place was teeming with life. With such rich spiritual energy nurtured for thousands of years, there must be countless spiritual creatures here.
Zhou Wuji looked around and saw that all he could see were endless, rolling mountains.
You can also see groups of cultivators, most of whom are not highly skilled and are led by experts.
Su Wuyi had given him a simple map; the snake demon was located in the southeast direction.
Just like the outside world, the secret realm faces the midday sun, making it very easy to determine direction.
Just as Zhou Wuji was about to use his lightness skill to leave, a voice called out from the cave behind him, "Is that Zhou Wuji up ahead?"
In this day and age, it's very impolite to address someone by their full name to their face. This person has a loud, clear voice; you can tell from their voice that they're an expert.
Zhou Wuji turned around and saw a young Daoist priest walking out of the cave. The priest had thin eyebrows and eyes, was tall and thin, wore a black Daoist robe, and carried a sword that was nearly five feet long.
Daoist practitioners are not martial artists, and they usually carry swords with them at all times. These swords are typically three to four feet in size.
Such a long sword is inconvenient to carry and does not quite fit the identity of a Daoist cultivator; it is extremely rare.
Zhou Wuji did not recognize this person, but he could tell that the person's aura was sharp and firm, and that he must be a sword cultivator from the Yuheng Lineage.
He heard that Zhou Yichun was the True Disciple Candidate of the Yuheng Lineage, but he was a cultivator of the "Yi" generation and the oldest, at twenty-nine years old.
Although True Person Zhihua hadn't spoken ill of Zhou Yichun, Zhou Wuji guessed that she must be extremely dissatisfied with Zhou Yichun to have gone to such lengths to promote him True Disciple Candidate.
"I am Zhou Wuji. May I ask how you address me, friend?" The other party was somewhat rude, which displeased Zhou Wuji, but on the surface he remained gentle and polite, and took the initiative to cup his hands in greeting.
"I am Zhou Yichun of Yuheng."
The tall, thin Daoist priest said coldly, "I heard you came to Thousand Spirits Mountain, so I came specifically to meet you."
As Zhou Yichun spoke, he drew his sword, tossed aside its scabbard, and pointed the five-foot-long blade diagonally at Zhou Wuji: "Make your move!"
The five-foot-long sword was covered with azure star patterns. Under Zhou Yichun's Sword Qi, the azure star patterns on the blade shone like hundreds of stars, and the azure starlight it emitted was even brighter than the blazing sun in the sky.
Zhou Wuji was somewhat puzzled. "What do you mean by this, fellow Daoist?"
Although the competition among the candidates for the True Disciple Candidate is fierce, it's not normal for them to immediately draw their swords and challenge each other.
"Looks like Zhou Zhihua didn't tell you!"
Zhou Yichun coldly said, "You don't need to be afraid. I won't kill you, but I'll test your Swordsmanship."
Zhou Wuji understood; this person's resentment was directed at True Person Zhihua.
Wherever there are people, there are conflicts and grudges.
Standing alongside True Person Zhihua, he would have to confront the grudges and grievances that True Person Zhihua had.
Having figured this out, Zhou Wuji laughed instead, "I have no interest in your Swordsmanship, but I can teach you a small lesson on True Person Zhihua— "
"By your power!"
Zhou Yichun eyebrows and, with a sharp shout, slashed down with her Fifth Rank Flying Star Sword, sending streaks of azure starlight flashing and shooting forth.
He was using the Yaoguang Sword from the Northern Dipper Seven Star Sword, and his move " Stars Fall Like Rain" unleashed the full power of the Flying Star Sword.
In an instant, hundreds of starlight streaked across the sky like shooting stars, striking directly at Zhou Wuji.