Someone Had Taken a Fancy to Me?

"Leave the sect?"

Before long, all the disciples from the Outer Mansion had deduced the direction of the so-called Dharma Enlightenment Bell from these two lines of poetry.

However, the direction it pointed to clearly indicated was leaving the Wuji Sacred Sect and heading outside the sect.

For a moment, a distinct sense of hesitation and uncertainty permeated the crowd.

Leaving the sect means that the nature of this competition has completely changed.

There will be no more Foundation Establishment True Person watching over you, ready to rescue you in times of crisis.

Dead, meaning truly dead.

They risked their lives for a chance to Comprehend Laws.

Is it worth it?

This question lingered in the minds of most of the Outer Mansion present, causing them to hesitate and find it difficult to make a decision.

Just as this silence and commotion intertwined, a dazzling rainbow light suddenly descended from the upper Inner Mansion. The light faded, revealing an old man wearing a green robe and cloak, with a round and shiny forehead, a slightly plump figure, and a rather kind-looking face.

"Ahem," the old man coughed lightly, his voice not loud, but it clearly drowned out all the noise from the audience and reached everyone's ears.

"I am Ding Tai, a true cultivator of the Inner Mansion."

He was ordered to oversee the opening of the [Hall of All Dharmas].

His gaze swept over the dense crowd below, and he continued:

"Now that the question has been set, whether you can enter this [Hall of All Dharmas] depends on your Divine Ability."

One more thing I need to remind you: there are only fifty Dharma Enlightenment Bell available.

Whoever returns to this place first with the Dharma Enlightenment Bell will be qualified.

The [Hall of All Dharmas] will officially open at this time in three days, and will remain open for one month.

Whether you can seize this fortuitous opportunity depends on your own speed and Creation.

With a light cough, Ding Tai, a true cultivator from the Inner Mansion, revealed the details of the competition for the [Hall of All Dharmas] slots.

Ding Tai's words were concise and clear, yet they instantly made everyone's breathing become heavier.

Fifty bells, over five hundred people... a brutal ratio of ten to one, and more importantly, the rule of "first come, first served".

This undoubtedly turned the journey home into a battleground as well.

It might even be more bloody and cruel than the search itself.

After a slight pause, Ding Tai seemed to suddenly remember something and spoke again:

"Is the previous Human Origin Champion here?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the eyes of the vast majority of people in the room, almost simultaneously and overtly or covertly, turned to where Qi Yun was.

Noticing the focus of everyone's attention, Ding Tai's smiling eyes also fell on Qi Yun, who was dressed in a plain white robe and stood inconspicuously in the crowd.

"Oh? Your mastery of concealing your breath is quite impressive; you almost fooled even this old man." Ding Tai glanced at Qi Yun with interest, then smiled and beckoned:

"You were the previous Human Origin Champion?"

"Come, come, since you are the leader, the sect will naturally treat you well."

Ding Tai's actions made Qi Yun raise an eyebrow and subconsciously look at Yue Rong beside him.

Is your dad never going to stop? Here we go again.

Faced with Qi Yun's strange gaze, Yue Rong could only smile helplessly, shrug, and indicate that he was still unaware of the matter.

Oh well, I'm used to it.

Shaking his head slightly, Qi Yun felt the hundreds of burning and jealous gazes behind him and stepped forward to stand in front of Ding Tai.

Ding Tai flipped his palm, and a square talisman, shaped like a white jade tablet, with countless tiny starlight trails flowing across its surface, appeared.

"This talisman is called [Star Guidance], a magical talisman drawn by Foundation Establishment True Person." Ding Tai handed the talisman to Qi Yun:

"After the ritual is performed, as long as you are within a 5,000-mile radius of the Holy Sect, you can summon the stars to guide you back to the sect."

This talisman is a small favor bestowed upon you Human Origin Champion."

"With this talisman in hand, you only need to find the Dharma Enlightenment Bell to return immediately, saving yourself the trouble and risks along the way and gaining a significant advantage."

Upon hearing this, a collective gasp of suppressed breaths erupted from the audience.

This is no ordinary return scroll.

This is clearly a lifesaver in a critical moment!

Ignoring the stares of those who seemed eager to snatch the talisman, Qi Yun cupped his hands and gave Ding Tai a slight bow:

"Thank you, Master, Master..."

The words were on the tip of Qi Yun's tongue, but he was momentarily speechless. Ding Tai looked to be at least eighty or ninety years old, so calling him "senior brother" seemed inappropriate.

Noticing Qi Yun's hesitation, Ding Tai chuckled and stroked his white beard.

"Just call me senior brother. Although I look a bit more mature, I'm only a few years older than you."

He's only in his early forties this year.

you?

Early forty?

A hint of confusion flashed in his eyes. After a moment of silence, Qi Yun said, "Then thank you very much... Senior Brother Ding."

Returning to Yue Rong's side, the direct descendant of a Foundation Establishment True Person glanced at the talisman in Qi Yun's hand and then said:

"It wasn't my father's doing; he wasn't skilled in the art of talismans."

Moreover, this talisman will be beneficial and harmless to you.

It seems someone within the Inner Mansion knew of your situation and stepped in to protect you.

"Really? The Holy Sect has such kind-hearted people?" Qi Yun raised an eyebrow as he stroked the warm and smooth magic talisman in his hand.

"The world is bustling with activity, all for profit; everything has its traces." Yue Rong smiled meaningfully.

"Are you saying that someone has their eye on me?"

"Hehehe, who knows?"

Upon returning from the Hall of All Dharmas, Qi Yun did not go home, but instead headed straight for the mountain gate.

With Ding Tai's bestowal of the talisman, his level of hatred in the eyes of the Outer Mansion disciples is now almost off the charts.

Where can this bell be found? Beyond the mountains, in the clear water...

As he walked, Qi Yun recalled the two lines of poetry on the stone tablet that pointed to the Dharma Enlightenment Bell, carefully sorting through the seemingly chaotic knowledge in his mind.

Got it!

Nine hundred li west of the Holy Sect's residence, there is a high mountain called Clear Spring Mountain, at the foot of which lies an old pool.

Clear water, clear water...

The Dharma Enlightenment Bell is most likely hidden in that old pool!

With the answer in his heart, Qi Yun quickened his pace toward the mountain gate. If it weren't for the fact that unauthorized use of Law Technique was not allowed within the Outer Mansion, he would have already transformed into the wind and risen into the sky.

They hadn't even walked three or five hundred meters yet.

Qi Yun immediately sensed being watched. He didn't turn around, but a cold, sharp smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

As if unaware of anything amiss, they continued walking forward.

Not far away, several figures hid behind the shadows of trees and pillars, their eyes fixed on Qi Yun's back, secretly exchanging messages filled with malice.

"What kind of bullshit leader is he? He's just a guy who got lucky."

"Once he leaves the mountain gate, we'll make a move together, capture him, and get our hands on that [Star Guidance] talisman."

It's such a waste that such a life-saving talisman is in his hands.

"Isn't what we're doing a bit too cruel?"

"Cripple my ass! Who are we? We're members of the Holy Sect! If we're not ruthless, we'd be embarrassed to even introduce ourselves."

"What are we waiting for? Let's go, let's get him!"