An Encounter and a Strange Phenomenon

Li Yunjing handed over the sect leader's token of the Luozhen Sect, along with his own identity jade token.

The disciple on duty casually picked up the token, glanced at the words "Luozhen Sect" engraved on it, and then looked at the sect's rank marked in the lower right corner of the token.

"Information verified, qualifications compliant." The disciple on duty put away the formation, carefully entered the competition information, and then took out a pure white jade token engraved with Taiyi Dao patterns.

He presented the document to Li Yunjing with both hands. "Fellow Daoist Li, your registration is complete. This is your participation certificate. Please keep it safe throughout the process. It allows you to enter and exit all assessment venues of the Immortal Scripture and participate in various trials and rankings. Please be on time at the main peak square at dawn tomorrow to attend the opening ceremony."

Li Yunjing nodded slightly and took the jade token. "Thank you."

Hearing this, Zhao Fan behind him smiled and said, "Sect Leader Li, these are all illusions. They won't react at all even if you thank them."

Li Yunjing didn't speak. The moment his fingertips touched the jade tablet, a warm and pure Spiritual Qi surged into his palm. The jade tablet was engraved with the complete set of rules, assessment procedures, and venue locations for the Taiyi Grand Ceremony. It also had a protective restriction that could isolate low-level demonic energy and record assessment points. It was the only participation and scoring certificate for this Immortal Ceremony.

Li Yunjing carefully kept the jade pendant she had submitted for the competition close to her body.

Seeing this, Zhao Fan smiled and stepped forward to hand over his token, completing the registration process with practiced ease.

He quickly received his competition jade token, waved the gleaming white token in his hand, and turned to Li Yunjing with a smile, saying, "All done! Sect Leader Li, now we're officially in the game. Tomorrow the Immortal Scripture officially begins, and we'll be teammates fighting side by side!"

Li Yunjing smiled faintly, "Fight side by side? That's hard to say."

"Haha!" Zhao Fan shook his head and laughed, without saying anything.

After Xiao Tianxing finished registering, the three of them turned around side by side and left the long registration line.

"Sect Leader Li, now that we've finished registering, shall we head to our assigned accommodations?" Zhao Fan said.

Li Yunjing nodded in agreement, and the three of them walked slowly along the main white jade path, past the tree-lined walkways on both sides, towards the exclusive residence area for the participating cultivators.

The evening breeze swept across the sea of clouds in the mountains, causing the Daoist robes to flutter. All around were the sounds of cultivators from various sects chatting and discussing. Some were dreaming about the rewards of the grand ceremony, while others were discussing the strength of the various prodigies. The atmosphere was lively and peaceful, a scene of great prosperity.

But this peace and tranquility is ultimately just an illusion.

As you walk to the middle of the main road and pass through a spacious cloud-step plaza, the previously noisy crowd suddenly disperses to both sides, orderly making way for a wide passage.

The cultivators who had been chatting and laughing suddenly fell silent, their expressions respectful and their eyes filled with awe. The entire area instantly became mostly quiet.

A vast and powerful pressure slowly spread out from the front, gentle yet extremely oppressive, making people involuntarily want to bow their heads.

Li Yunjing paused slightly, raising his eyes to look ahead.

A group of white-robed cultivators were seen slowly walking up the cloud-like steps.

The group's clothes were as white as snow, uniform in style, with flowing cloud patterns embroidered on the cuffs, exclusive to the Taiyi Immortal Sect. They stood tall and exuded extraordinary bearing.

At the very front of the crowd, the young man leading the group was particularly striking.

He was dressed in white, with clear and handsome features, a cold and stern face, and a tall and outstanding figure. He was surrounded by the faint aura of the Taiyi righteous path, and every move he made was accompanied by the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi.

"It's Li Changgeng!" Zhao Fan lowered his voice and quickly introduced him to Li Yunjing, his tone full of solemnity, "A once-in-a-millennium genius of the Taiyi Immortal Sect, he was in charge of the sect's core sword dao inheritance and was almost invincible among those of the same level."

"Unfortunately, he perished along the way, leaving only an illusion in the world. How tragic and lamentable."

Li Yunjing gazed silently ahead, his expression calm and undisturbed, but a ripple stirred within his heart.

Even the most outstanding geniuses still need to survive.

Otherwise, you'll just turn into a handful of dust, and no matter how talented you are, it will all be for nothing.

Just then, Li Changgeng suddenly turned his head and looked at Li Yunjing.

Li Yunjing's eyes met his, and the next instant, a faint trace of cold demonic energy, almost completely covered by righteous Spiritual Qi, quietly entered his senses.

This aura was exactly the same as the demonic energy he sensed when he entered Mount Taiyi.

But in the next instant, Li Changgeng withdrew his gaze, his face still blank and wooden, his eyes lowered as he followed, revealing no flaw whatsoever.

However, under Li Yunjing's Divine Sense, a deep undercurrent of demonic energy was hidden within the Spiritual Qi flowing around him. It was concealed beneath the righteous Daoist principles, blending seamlessly together. Even ordinary cultivators with Divine Sense far surpassing his would be completely unable to detect it.

What's going on?

Li Yunjing remained outwardly calm, but his heart was in turmoil.

Li Changgeng was clearly an illusion, so why was he surrounded by demonic energy?

Just as Li Yunjing was about to investigate more thoroughly,

A gasp rang out, and the next moment, a cultivator in white robes flew through the air.

"It's Chu Lingxiao!" Zhao Fan exclaimed upon seeing the man.

Just as Chu Lingxiao flew by, his gaze happened to sweep over.

His gaze was calm and sharp as it swept over Li Yunjing in the crowd.

However, he did not show any mockery or contempt. Instead, with the scrutiny and indifference inherent in top-tier geniuses, he simply glanced at Li Yunjing's cultivation and demeanor.

However, he failed to detect Li Yunjing's true nature, which caused a flicker of surprise in his usually calm eyes.

But he didn't pay any attention and quickly left the scene.

It was because of Chu Lingxiao's sudden appearance that the illusions of Li Changgeng and the other disciples of the Taiyi Immortal Sect had faded away.

Seeing this, Li Yunjing had no choice but to give up the investigation.

However, he kept this in mind and secretly increased his vigilance.

"As expected of Chu Lingxiao, his demeanor is extraordinary, truly befitting a prodigy of a great sect."

With his Spirit Transformation Middle Stage cultivation, his chances of winning this Immortal Ceremony are practically guaranteed; he'll undoubtedly take first place.

"It's a pity that our cultivation is too shallow; we can only come to observe and learn. However, to witness such a magnificent duel between geniuses of this era is still a worthwhile trip."

Amidst the murmurs around him, Zhao Fan sincerely remarked, "Chu Lingxiao's talent and foundation are truly impeccable; he is the greatest rival in this Immortal Scripture competition. Sect Leader Li, we must be extra careful in the subsequent assessments, avoiding direct confrontation as much as possible. A steady approach to advancement is the best strategy."

Li Yunjing nodded slightly, his expression calm, but a cold clarity lurked in his eyes.

Chu Lingxiao is the strongest opponent on the surface, dazzling and open, with verifiable strength and predictable bottom line.

But the truly deadly crisis is never the formidable enemy in the open, but rather the treacherous dagger hidden in the shadows, like Li Changgeng, who lies beneath the light and conceals himself within the righteous path.

"Let's go, let's go to our lodgings to rest first." Li Yunjing withdrew his gaze, his tone calm, "The Immortal Ceremony opens tomorrow; the real test has only just begun."

The three of them did not linger and continued along the path, entering the elegant and charming residences of the participating cultivators.

The three lived in different places, so they had to separate.

Li Yunjing went to his own residence.

Upon entering, one can immediately sense the pure Spiritual Qi and the abundant Daoist principles flowing within.