Chapter 205: Four-star Invitation

Zuoqiut Ting’s brow furrowed with worry: “What I fear most is precisely this. Who can guarantee that Ge Xiantong and Luansheng Linyou only fought one battle at Bingzuze and didn’t reach some kind of consensus? For instance, they might first eliminate everyone else – destroy Zuoqiu, sever the Vermilion Gate, sweep aside Leixiao and Longmen – and then engage in a final showdown.”

“If you consider Luansheng Linyou a mere hothead who only knows how to stir up trouble, then you are gravely mistaken. Lord Bright Moon Seven Stars, Zhu Huan’s death might very well have been Luansheng Linyou’s greeting gift to Ge Xiantong.”

“Only strength can speak to strength.”

Li Weiyi let out a long breath. If that were truly the case, tonight would be terrifying!

Zuoqiut Ting thought for a moment and added: “I’ve actually thought about what you said. But any open conflict or covert alliance must be built on one foundation. That is, we must first inflict pain on Ge Xiantong, make him pay a price. Only then will he truly acknowledge us, and only then will there be a possibility of sitting down to talk.”

Li Weiyi nodded slightly, trusting that Zuoqiut Ting’s understanding of top masters and the world’s situation surpassed his own, and his judgment would undoubtedly be more accurate. He suddenly asked, “Didn’t you say that only the ‘number one under heaven’ possesses the mindset of a true powerhouse? How can you view this from the perspective of the ‘number one under heaven’?”

Zuoqiut Ting smiled: “Have you forgotten that I have a younger sister? She is the one truly overseeing the overall situation for the younger generation of the Zuoqiu clan. She isn’t convinced by Ge Xiantong or Luansheng Linyou at all. She believes that the ‘number one under heaven’ isn’t a title bestowed by others, but one earned through battle.”

Li Weiyi asked, “She’s that strong?”

“Otherwise, how could she be the Hidden One of the Zuoqiu Hidden Sect?” Zuoqiut Ting replied.

Li Weiyi asked, “How confident are you about tonight’s battle?”

Zuoqiut Ting’s gaze sharpened like a sword: “To be honest, I have zero confidence. But only by enduring tonight, only by teaching Ge Xiantong, the ‘number one under heaven,’ a lesson, can we alleviate the fear that forces like the Vermilion Gate, Leixiao Sect, and Longmen harbor towards the imperial court. If we lose, then this Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival will simply become a stage for Ge Xiantong and Luansheng Linyou’s show!”

“Cang Li and Li Jiufu are here!”

Li Weiyi looked down the tower and indeed saw their figures: “Is there no other way to leave the tower?”

“Afraid to see your brother-in-law?” Zuoqiut Ting chuckled.

“Don’t talk nonsense. Li Ling is only sixteen, just a young girl. Some scoundrel started this baseless rumor, slandering her good name.”

Li Weiyi felt deeply victimized by the rumors.

Cang Li arrived at the top floor of the stone pagoda and quickly spotted Li Weiyi, who was secretly conferring with Qi Xiao. He immediately walked over, his eyes sharp and cold, and demanded, “Li Weiyi, where is Li Ling?”

Li Weiyi remained seated: “Are you sure you want to discuss this here?”

Cang Li frowned, then, recalling that the matter might involve the suspected spirit of Chan Hai Guanwu, he instantly backed down.

Yin Jiu advised, “Let’s go. Important matters take precedence.”

“Wait here. You’re not allowed to go anywhere.”

Cang Li left these words, then walked with Yin Jiu towards the west chamber of the pagoda, where the three inheritors of the Zuoqiu clan were located.

How could Li Weiyi stay and listen to his reprimand? He immediately rose, bid farewell, and quickly descended the pagoda.

If tonight’s battle was unavoidable, then he had to stay as far away as possible from the top masters of the Zuoqiu clan and the Jiuli tribe. As a minor martial cultivator at the fourth level of the Five Seas Realm, choosing self-preservation, surely no one would criticize him, right?

Li Weiyi used his Disguise Art, changing his form and appearance. He moved among the numerous martial cultivators, gathering various pieces of information, and at the same time, pondered how to respond to the unpredictable changes of the future.

Midnight arrived.

Above the Xuantian Stone Wall, within thick clouds of Dharma energy, a large number of peach blossoms drifted down, like a pink floral rain.

“These are petals from the ancient peach trees on Taoli Mountain!”

“They are as crystal clear as crimson jade, and it’s said that wine brewed from these petals is comparable to a precious elixir.”

“They bloom for ten years, bear fruit for ten years, and mature over ten years. There are three thousand such ancient peach trees on Taoli Mountain, and the Zuoqiu clan monopolizes too many resources!”

Countless martial cultivators released their Dharma energy and spiritual light of psychic energy to collect the petals.

Suddenly, gasps of astonishment rose: “The immortal masters of Du’e Monastery have descended!”

Li Weiyi looked up along with everyone else.

There, within the thousand-meter-high clouds of Dharma energy, thirteen figures in Taoist robes descended from the sky.

Each of them radiated auspicious glow, stood upon clouds, and had skin as clear as jade. The men possessed the demeanor of immortals, while the women were as beautiful as celestial maidens. Their willingness to descend from the clouds naturally indicated unfathomably profound cultivation.

The Immortal Master of Du’e Monastery appeared to be in his forties or fifties, with a Taoist bun and wooden hairpin. One could only discern him as a man with a youthful complexion and white hair, his true face obscured. The surrounding space was heavily distorted, his cultivation level unfathomably high.

The other twelve individuals consisted of six men on the left and six women on the right.

They were all young, but their cultivation levels surpassed the Five Seas Realm. They stood in a single line behind the Immortal Master.

The thirteen stood on the Xuantian Stone Wall, a hundred zhang above the ground. They truly embodied the otherworldly transcendence of external mystical cultivators, free from dust and impurity, untouched by mortal affairs.

The young martial cultivators in the square below all looked on with yearning and admiration. Some whispered, “It is said that those who perform exceptionally at this Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival might have the chance to join Du’e Monastery. That would truly be a single step to heaven!”

A stir went through the crowd!

After some communication, two men and two women from behind the Du’e Monastery Immortal Master floated down from the cliff face to the square below.

The four each took out a wooden plaque and hung it below the names of the top three cultivators from the four realms.

“Below the top three tiers is the Beta tier.”

“Each realm has twenty Beta-tier spots.”

Li Weiyi was quite concerned about whether he would receive an invitation. He continuously moved closer to the Xuantian Stone Wall.

For the twenty Beta-tier spots in the Southern Realm, a female Taoist in robes from Du’e Monastery was posting the list. Nine wooden plaques had already been hung.

“Dao Di” and “Mie Di” from Coffin Mountain, and “Shi Shishi” from the Earth Wolf Royal Army, were all among them.

Dao Di, who possessed a Pure Immortal Physique of the Nine Springs, was ranked in the Beta tier, evidently because he had lost an arm, severely diminishing his combat power.

“That kid Shi Shishi actually managed to rank so high; he must have broken through to the Seventh Sea Realm!” Li Weiyi mused.

With twenty wooden plaques, the available spots were dwindling.

Even for this Beta tier, most were cultivators of the Seventh Sea Realm, or renowned Grand Psychic Masters of the Calamity Fire Realm.

The Southern Realm’s Hell Arena was not just a name.

The Zuoqiu clan and the Jiuli tribe had taken too many spots.

When the nineteenth wooden plaque was displayed, Li Weiyi saw another familiar face: Yang Yue, a young master from the Bi Sect, second only to Yang Qingxi, and a Supreme Human of the Nine Springs.

“Does Du’e Monastery truly only select those with high cultivation?”

Li Weiyi naturally felt a sense of disappointment, but just as the thought crossed his mind, his pupils suddenly contracted as he saw the three characters “Li Weiyi” in the hand of the Taoist woman from Du’e Monastery.

The twentieth wooden plaque was hung.

As all two hundred spots were announced, the Xuantian Plaza was a mix of joy and sorrow.

Those who made the list were naturally elated and overjoyed.

The Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival was not held just anytime; making the list was enough for someone to boast about for a lifetime. If someone on the list were to become an Immortal Realm giant or a transcendent figure in the future, then their descendants could boast for dozens of generations.

“It’s one thing that Luansheng Linyou isn’t among the two hundred, but why isn’t Ge Xiantong on the list either?”

Li Weiyi looked around, but didn’t see Ge Xiantong’s wooden plaque among the forty in the Alpha tier.

Just as he was wondering, the Du’e Monastery Immortal Master, standing above the Xuantian Stone Wall, sketched two names in the air with his finger.

“Luansheng Linyou!”

“Ge Xiantong!”

Two glowing names fell from above, striking the stone wall heavily. They were directly engraved above the two hundred wooden plaques, one on the left and one on the right, as if carved by swords.

One must know, this was the Xuantian Stone Wall.

Words carved here would remain for thousands, even tens of thousands of years, for future generations to behold and admire.

What an honor that was!

The ethereal voice of the Du’e Monastery Immortal Master resonated: “Luansheng Linyou and Ge Xiantong possess the potential of young Heaven’s Chosen Emperors, a sight unseen for a thousand years. Naturally, they must transcend all other martial cultivators; the Alpha tier cannot contain their names.”

An uproar!

These words sparked fervent discussions from all sides.

No one dared to refute; instead, most agreed.

“This is going to attract a lot of animosity! This Immortal Master intends to make these two the targets of contention for all Alpha-tier masters,” a martial cultivator on the list said.

The voice of the Du’e Monastery Immortal Master resonated again, spreading throughout the entire city: “The invitations for this Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival will only be issued to the two hundred and two individuals listed on the stone wall. The date is the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the Lantern Festival. Cultivators on the list who wish to participate, please release a pillar of Dharma energy or a spiritual light from your glabella.”

Whoosh!

Whoosh!

Countless pillars of Dharma energy rose within the city.

Luminous spiritual lamps bloomed around some Grand Psychic Masters of the Calamity Fire Realm.

Li Weiyi circulated his Dharma energy, and a pillar of light rose from above his head. This caused many martial cultivators nearby to exclaim in surprise.

The Du’e Monastery Immortal Master observed for a moment, a smile playing on his lips. Ignoring those who deliberately released Dharma energy to cause trouble, he had a clear understanding of every martial cultivator on the list.

His Taoist robe fluttered, and his wide sleeves billowed like clouds.

Whoosh!

Glowing jade invitations flew to various parts of the city.

Over ninety percent of them, in fact, fell near Xuantian Plaza. Very few of those participating in the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival were not present there tonight.

Li Weiyi received the flying jade invitation; it was only palm-sized. It seemed to be cast from white jade and could be opened.

It was empty inside, with nothing written on it.

A martial cultivator from the Eastern Realm, who had also received a Beta-tier invitation, asked loudly: “There’s nothing on the jade invitation; where are we supposed to go for this grand event?”

The Immortal Master replied, “The invitations for martial cultivators of different tiers are not the same. The venue for the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival is only written on the invitations received by the top ten masters, as deemed by Du’e Monastery.”

The Beta-tier martial cultivator was short-tempered: “What is the meaning of this, Du’e Monastery? Do you want us to participate, or not?”

Others in the Beta tier were also displeased by the discriminatory treatment: “I understand now! Du’e Monastery means that we must pledge allegiance to one of the top ten masters to attend the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival. Our invitations are nothing more than waste paper.”

The Du’e Monastery Immortal Master smiled: “Beta-tier invitations are indeed no different from waste paper, but at least they grant you the qualification to participate in this struggle.”

“Inside the top three tier invitations, there is a dragon bone voucher. With this voucher, on the evening of the fifteenth day of the New Year, you can exchange it for a piece of dragon bone at the Lantern Festival venue to strengthen your physical body.”

“Inside the second tier invitations, there is a dragon seed voucher, which can be exchanged for a dragon seed.”

“And inside the Alpha tier invitations, there is both a dragon bone voucher and a dragon seed voucher.”

“As for the Longevity Pills that everyone anticipates most, Du’e Monastery will provide twenty this time. However, only the invitations of the top ten masters will contain Longevity Pill vouchers. Depending on their cultivation, some will receive one, some two, and some three.”

“Martial cultivators who received blank Beta-tier invitations, do not be disheartened. Because the time for exchanging treasures is the fifteenth day of the New Year, still half a month away.”

“The more vouchers one has in their invitation, the more dangerous these next two weeks will actually be.”

“The more you receive, the greater the challenge.”

The young martial cultivators in the square once again fell into fervent discussion.

“Du’e Monastery is deliberately pushing us into a struggle, making us fight among ourselves.”

“I’ve calculated it, not counting Luansheng Linyou and Ge Xiantong. Du’e Monastery has issued eighty dragon bone vouchers and eighty dragon seed vouchers.”

“A single dragon seed can allow a top-tier martial cultivator of the Five Seas Realm to break through to the Dao Seed Realm in an extremely short time. Moreover, their cultivation speed in the Dao Seed Realm will be incredibly fast. Within a few years, they should be able to become powerhouses below Immortal Realm giants, competing with the top figures of various prefectures.”

“With just one move, they’ve pushed a large number of young generation masters into an even greater maelstrom of worldly contention.”

Li Weiyi gave a wry smile. Only the top ten masters had Longevity Pill vouchers and knew the location of the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival venue.

This would be difficult!

Twenty Longevity Pills indeed far exceeded the ten that many had predicted. But which one would be easy to obtain?

More critically, the names of the top ten martial cultivators had not been announced, leaving everyone to guess.

The Du’e Monastery Immortal Master’s glabella radiated dazzling spiritual light. He slowly raised his right hand, and instantly, an overwhelmingly terrifying pressure emanated from beyond the heavens.

The clouds above Qiuzhou City violently shook. An ancient rune, dozens of miles long, hovered in the clouds. It emitted no light, appearing as if carved from a massive boulder, intermittently visible amidst the rapidly swirling clouds.

All formations in the city exceeding those set up by Grand Psychic Masters were suppressed, losing their brilliance.

The cascading waterfall from Taoli Mountain converged into a river. It flowed through the southern city and continued towards Bingzuze.

At this moment, inside a slowly moving boat on the twenty-zhang-wide Qiankun River, a slender, jade-like hand lifted a beaded curtain. On Chan Hai Guanwu’s exquisitely beautiful face, too perfect to be depicted in a painting, a smile emerged: “Dispel Character!”

Li Ling sat opposite her and asked: “Master, what is a Dispel Character? Such immense pressure, as if it could sink the entire Qiuzhou City if it fell.”

“Basically, it prevents the existence of any formations above Grand Psychic Master level. There’s no hiding from it; one can only resist with pure strength. We didn’t return too late, did we?” Chan Hai Guanwu asked.

Li Ling replied, “Well, we made it back before the New Year.”

On the Xuantian Stone Wall, the Du’e Monastery Immortal Master began to announce the rules of the impending struggle, one by one.