Exploring Immortality Cultivation

January 16th.

Despite the Lantern Festival having passed just a day ago, the people of Immortal Dao mostly did not suffer from "post-festival syndrome." They had already begun their cultivation for the new year.

Langde Immortal City now presented a bustling scene, with a touch of tension still hanging in the air. Outside the city, the defensive array was fully operational, enveloping the entire city in a dream-like blue light screen. Palm-sized snowflakes and bullet-like hail mixed with the cold wind assaulted the city walls, but were always blocked by the light screen.

The spell cast by the West Sea Dragon King had changed the weather across half of Shenzhou, yet it could not shake this small city.

Before the rise of Modern techniques, Langde had always been a thorn, firmly embedding the Human Clan's strength along the coast of the West Sea. Today, with the Carefree Cultivators forcing the Dragon Clan to sign a treaty beneath the city walls, Langde was the first line of defense against the invasion of the Demon Clan.

This instilled in the people of Langde an inherent pride and iron-willed determination that was even shared by the students of the Immortal Institute.

Qiu Yunlong looked up at the sky and asked his partners, "What do you guys think, if we can't hold the city this time, shall we see who can kill more demon beasts before we die?"

"Careless talk," Kun Zhongxuan shook his head, "If we are to compare, it should be during a counterattack, seeing who kills more."

"Heh, then I'm definitely going to win."

Kun Zhongxuan disagreed, "Our cultivation techniques are completely opposite, how can you be so sure you'll win?"

"The guy who was defeated by a single punch half a month ago."

"Heh, they only used that one move on you."

Qiu Yunlong laughed, "At least I managed to launch a powerful strike."

The two of them debated back and forth and then simultaneously fell silent. The experience from half a month ago was indeed a severe blow for these geniuses.

In that joint examination, that monster had blasted them down one by one in such a manner! Even Ai Changyuan, the disciple from the Ai Family whom even Leiyang Immortal Institute revered as a Divine Demon, was defeated by that monster in the end!

At that time, every disciple from Langde couldn't help but think: How on earth did that guy cultivate?

"To break the awkward silence," Qiu Yunlong turned to ask Hu Jianhao, "What are you thinking about?"

Hu Jianhao looked toward the protective array outside and said, "I heard that Ai Changyuan was taken by a Great Grandmaster to hunt demon beasts these past few days."

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Though the West Sea Dragon King's demon art was mighty, it was mainly aimed at depleting the strength of the Immortal Alliance's protective arrays and altering the land's environment. For cultivators, especially those at the Primordial Spirit Stage, it posed little threat. A Great Grandmaster of Modern techniques was more than capable of traversing the West Sea, as long as they didn't run into a Dragon Clan member at the Mahayana Realm.

With the Ai Family's connections, finding an available Great Grandmaster in the Western Border wasn't difficult.

"That guy seems to have been quite stimulated," Kun Zhongxuan remarked.

"It's true, he had never lost before. He must be aiming to integrate his learning through real combat this time and master another vicious move," Qiu Yunlong said, though his eyes were on Hu Jianhao.

Watching him have been gloomy ever since he continuously lost to Wang Qi and Wu Shiqin, perhaps he was the most affected.

Hu Jianhao smiled faintly, "What are you thinking? Wu Shiqin only won because her cultivation technique had the advantage. Zhongxuan, with your mastery of techniques, you could equally defeat her, there's nothing impressive about it. As for Wang Qi, heh, that guy failed the written test, he's not worth fearing at all!"

"Exactly, not worth fearing!" The two echoed.

That day, Wang Qi had been injured during practice, collapsed after the written test, and likely didn't perform well.

Qiu Yunlong suggested, "The results will be announced soon, let's go to the front of the Immortal Institute and wait."

The three of them walked together to the entrance of the Immortal Institute. Many disciples had already gathered there. About forty-five minutes later, excitement spread among the disciples at the front, "It's out, it's out!" "Quick, let's see!" "Which place am I?"

A white light screen was projected into the mid-air. The ranking from this examination was displayed one by one.

Qiu Yunlong, excited, found the Langde ranking, and exclaimed, "I'm fifth! I'm fifth! Haoge, look, you've held onto second place very steadily!"

The name of Ai Changyuan was already at the top of the Langde list. It seemed as if this position was fixed, and no one bothered to challenge that prodigy.

Hu Jianhao didn't pay any attention to Qiu Yunlong. He didn't even spare a sliver of attention for his surroundings. At that moment, he was staring intently at the rankings of the two institutes on his right.

The name of Ai Changyuan was still above his, which was normal. But he wasn't the top of the list!

Wang Qi!

Hu Jianhao's body trembled slightly.

That guy... the one who only took half the time on the written test?

How was that possible!

Leiyang.

A young man under twenty led a girl of about thirteen or fourteen into a room.

The room was decorated in an ancient style; an old man was sitting cross-legged in front of a small tea table, taking pleasure in brewing tea. The bright yellow flames licked the clay pot, emitting enchanting smoke.

The two young people respectfully sat down in front of the elder and greeted, "Hello, great-grandfather."

The elder's face was kindly, "Help yourselves. It's a pity I cannot offer you both a cup of tea."

The elder's true body wasn't here. Everything in this room was merely an illusion projected from the Ten Thousand Immortals Illusion Realm.

Using the Ten Thousand Immortals Illusion Realm in place of a family letter was not something ordinary people could afford. However, it was not a problem in front of this kindly elder, because his name was Bao Yuehan.

Bao Yuehan, the legendary founder of the Bo Family and one of the highest achievers of the Carefree Great Cultivators in Modern.

"May I ask why great-grandfather has summoned his granddaughter here?"

The girl asked carefully. Upon closer observation, she was still wearing a vestment robe of Leiyang Immortal Institute.

Bao Yuehan said, "It's nothing else. It's about the joint examination of the ten institutes, you both know the results, right?"

The two youngsters nodded in unison.

"A genius has arisen from Xinyue Immortal Institute. He too wishes to join Wanfa Sect as a True Inheritor."

The girl suddenly stood up, "This year's True Inheritor is me!"

The Bo Family had a natural fervor for mathematics, and everyone took pride in becoming a Wanfa Disciple.

The elder chuckled, "Not necessarily. That boy from the Ai Family has also been defeated by him."

"What?" the young man exclaimed in shock, "But from Split Peak's Ai Family, the 'Little Master,' Ai Changyuan?"

Bao Yuehan nodded, "Exactly. So, Ya'er, you must hurry. You cannot fall behind, you have to defeat him squarely in the final trial," he said, his tone becoming more serious, "But remember, 'squarely.' Understand?"

The girl nodded, "I believe that in mathematics, the Bo Family will not lose to anyone!"

"Right, that's the spirit!" The elder laughed heartily, "Based on your situation, I have compiled some materials and problems; I hope they will be of use to you! This time, I just wanted to give them to you in person — old people like me aren't used to new things."

Meanwhile, at the peak of Xin Mountain.

Wang Qi was looking at the list of demon beasts, frowning, "Spirit Awakening Stage demon beasts are simply not enough to fight—hey, Senior Brother over there, are there any Qi Storage Stage demon beasts here?"

The person in charge, with a mournful face, cried out, "Junior Brother, don't you care about your examination results? It's the announcement day today!"

"It doesn't matter, I'm definitely first."