It wasn’t quite appropriate for Ao Yi, as a Severing Teaching disciple, to stand among the Virtue Realm Sect disciples below.

Fortunately, this prince understood well that Li Changshou, as the merit proxy for a certain Human Teaching expert, needed to maintain his identity’s secrecy.

After Li Changshou transmitted a few words of advice, Ao Yi smiled and said, “I’ll catch up with Brother Changshou after your sect competition.”

With that, Ao Yi flew back to the jade platform, returning to Sister Han Zhi and his senior brothers’ side…

Soon after, Sect Master Ji Wuyou flew out from the jade platform on a cloud. Below, disciples and sect members all held their breath, and the mountain gate fell completely silent.

Li Changshou carefully sensed that the Sect Master… might still be injured, his aura somewhat unstable.

After a moment, Ji Wuyou began speaking, his voice reaching through the mountain gate:

“Ahem…

On this auspicious day, young disciples recruited by our Virtue Realm Sect over nearly two hundred years have gathered here… *cough* *cough*…

Today’s sect competition isn’t meant to merely rank you higher or lower.

Ranking you is only to encourage cultivation – even if you fall behind now, you may well surpass others in the future.

That demon attack on our mountain seems as if it were just yesterday.

Your determination to stand with the sect then was visible to this poor Daoist, deeply moving me.

Now, with the Three Teachings Origin Conference approaching, our Virtue Realm Sect, founded by the Human Teaching’s Clear Virtue Blessing Immortal and Venerable Master Saving from Adversity, has been invited to attend.

In this sect competition, those ranking within the Heavenly Might number, or those recommended by elders, may accompany this poor Daoist to Central Divine Continent…”

As the Sect Master continued his grand speech, Li Changshou frowned slightly.

The top thirty-six would all go to the Three Teachings Origin Conference.

With the precedent of the Dragon Palace Demon-Cleansing Conference, Li Changshou naturally didn’t want to get involved in such ‘grand events’ – he just wanted to cultivate peacefully in the mountains.

Especially since, with her cultivation constantly rising, You Qin Xuanya was now increasingly dazzling. What if one or two foolish men with hearts clouded by infatuation appeared at the conference, crying and shouting, demanding to duel him as ‘Sister You Qin’s ordinary friend’…

That would be quite troublesome.

At such conferences, experts gather in crowds, and there might even be powerhouses like the Enlightenment Teaching’s Twelve Golden Immortals.

His bit of disguise might not be enough.

If he drew attention, things could easily develop beyond control…

‘Maybe I should control my ranking to somewhere between thirty-seventh and fortieth.’

Just as Li Changshou was about to make this decision, he suddenly noticed several gazes falling on him.

Quietly tracing these gazes to their sources:

There was Elder Wan Linyun on the jade platform, several familiar outer elders from Hundred Ordinary Hall, and several Celestial Immortal elders with glowing complexions and ‘renewed vigor.’

Li Changshou: …

It seemed more reliable to find ways to keep improving the “Turtle Breathing Qi-Settling Scripture.”

By the looks of it, his attendance at this Three Teachings Conference was already ‘set in stone by the lake’ – he could only prepare well in advance and handle it carefully.

The sect competition proceeded according to the established process.

After the Sect Master spoke, the Deputy Sect Master spoke, and after the Deputy Sect Master, the Supreme Elder had words to add…

Finally, Elder Ge from Hundred Ordinary Hall appeared to officially announce the competition’s start.

Two Supreme Elders flew from the jade platform, their white hair dancing in the wind, their thin frames showing unusual grace.

Their four long sleeves billowed, sprinkling a vast sheet of starlight, creating quite a spectacular scene.

These starlight motes transformed into jade slips, slowly descending toward the disciples below, each disciple receiving one.

The jade slips bore a number, headed by the Ten Heavenly Stems [Jia, Yi, Bing, Ding, Wu, Ji, Geng, Xin, Ren, Gui], followed by three counting numbers.

Li Changshou’s number was Ding-Zero-Two-Six, while Ling E’s was Xin-One-Two-One.

Coincidentally, this matched the method Li Changshou used to mark his refined ‘small’ treasure pouches.

When the jade slip lit up, it would be time to enter the arena.

Besides their individual numbers, the jade slips also had twelve blank squares – later, winning a match would light up one square.

These jade slips were part of a complete set of magical treasures, not easily refined, so the small text on the back read:

[Do not damage, return after the event; if lost or damaged, supplies are suspended for half a year.]

Then, dozens of True Immortal sect officials entered the arena first, taking positions around the perimeter.

The first two competing fellow disciples, holding their glowing jade slips, entered the arena to wait.

Near and far, various disciples began sitting down.

The more particular ones took out meditation cushions or soft pads, while the more casual ones simply sat on the ground, in intimate contact with heaven and earth.

“Senior Brother…”

Ling E called softly from beside him, taking out two meditation cushions and a bamboo basket from her storage bracelet, deliberately placing the cushions half a zhang apart.

Li Changshou transmitted: “Good performance, fifty recitations reduced from the Stability Scripture.”

Lan Ling E immediately puffed her cheeks and said softly: “Mean Senior Brother, I wasn’t doing it to write less scripture.”

“Then no reduction.”

“Ah, no, no…”

Li Changshou’s eyes crinkled with laughter as he lifted his robe’s hem and sat down with his junior sister.

Just as they settled down before Ling E could take out the snacks and cold tea she’d prepared for days from the basket, two small white hands reached from behind to secretly grab the basket…

“Hehe, let this Uncle Master see what our Ling E has made that’s so delicious?”

Jiu Jiu had snuck over, directly sitting between the two, opening the basket’s cloth cover.

Immediately, gazes shot over from all directions, many disciples who hadn’t seen Uncle Master Jiu before showing shock in their eyes…

Li Changshou had anticipated this and remained expressionless, closing his eyes to rest.

Ling E obediently called out “Uncle Master” and, with so many people present, didn’t dare play around with Jiu Jiu, watching helplessly as her carefully made snacks filled Little Uncle Master’s evil…

When Jiu Jiu huddled together with Ling E, it was a pleasing sight to the disciples’ eyes, beauty meeting beauty.

But when Jiu Jiu moved next to Li Changshou, asking how he planned to fight later, those disciples’ gazes underwent subtle changes.

“As for how to fight, we can only adapt to circumstances,” Li Changshou said with a light laugh.

Jiu Jiu didn’t ask further, offered a few words of encouragement, and then moved back to carefully instruct Ling E.

…

As matches proceeded one after another, Li Changshou secretly observed with his immortal consciousness.

Although these peer cultivators’ battles now held no reference value for him – some moves that previously seemed like immortal guidance now looked like baboons scratching their heads…

But watching more would help him disguise himself more naturally later.

In the seventy-ninth match of the first round, Ling E took the stage, wielding several immortal treasures and displaying Nascent Soul ninth-stage cultivation, easily suppressing a fellow disciple at the Returning Void realm.

Li Changshou was satisfied with Ling E’s performance and actively transmitted a couple of secret praises.

Though Ling E appeared unmoved on the surface, she was blooming with joy inside.

Li Changshou continued waiting; his first-round match finally arrived in the afternoon.

In the three-hundred-and-sixty-second match, Li Changshou’s jade slip gently vibrated, emitting a faint light, and the sect official called out his slip number.

Li Changshou stood up and flew toward the arena.

At the same time, from under the ‘Lin’ character banner, another disciple flew out, giving Li Changshou a slight smile.

Li Changshou’s brows furrowed slightly…

Having monitored Rain Forest Peak for so many years, he naturally knew who this person was.

This was Rain Forest Peak’s talented disciple, ranked nineteenth in the sect, at Returning to Dao second stage, just ahead of Li Changshou.

Such a coincidence?

This probably wasn’t coincidental – there had been other matches between closely ranked talented disciples before, seemingly deliberately arranged by the elders to have an ‘evenly matched’ contest every half hour.

Both landed on the formation-enhanced flat ground.

Two sect officials came forward to check their jade slips and explained the ‘stop at first touch’ rule.

—Previously, disciples had accidentally injured fellow disciples because their battles became too intense to control.

After the two officials confirmed everything was in order and retreated, Li Changshou and this Rain Forest Peak disciple made Daoist bows to each other.

Just then, Li Changshou heard a voice transmitted to his ear:

“Senior Brother Li, why don’t we go all out today, no need to stop at first touch.”

Hearing this, Li Changshou smiled and nodded slightly, talismans flying from his sleeve.

Defend first, then counter-attack!

Against a Rain Forest Peak disciple, he wouldn’t simply forfeit, but he also wouldn’t win too easily, since they were ‘similar in cultivation.’

This Rain Forest Peak disciple must have done his homework, studying how the sect’s high-ranking disciples fought before.

Moreover, most had seen Li Changshou’s sparring match with Ao Yi back then.

Now, this Rain Forest Peak disciple deployed three magical treasures – wielding a lightning-drawing wooden sword, topped by a plum blossom, with a precious pearl floating around him – cutting quite an impressive figure with full-coverage protection.

Then he flew directly into the air, pointing his wooden sword at Li Changshou from afar.

Dozens of fine lightning bolts burst forth, condensing into a lightning bird with a zhang-wide wingspan, swooping toward Li Changshou.

Li Changshou lightly tapped his foot, his figure drifting backward, his hands quickly forming seals as seventy-two yellow paper talismans above his head formed an Earth Fire Talisman Formation.

The formation spat out columns of fire, barely dispersing the lightning bird.

By now, Li Changshou’s feet had touched the ground again, his figure quickly sinking into the earth.

Seeing this, the Rain Forest Peak disciple smiled coldly, his hands quickly channeling magic to cast an Ice Sealing Spell, instantly creating a sheet of frost on the ground that rapidly spread in all directions.

He was indeed prepared.

However, the Earth Fire Talisman Formation continued unleashing its power, completely unaffected, sending forth countless fire snakes filling the sky, chasing after that Rain Forest Peak disciple.

The precious pearl blazed with light, and the red plum above his head descended with radiance, steadily protecting this Rain Forest Peak disciple…

For a time, fire splashed and lightning flashed everywhere.

But Li Changshou had silently disappeared without a trace, escaping the other’s spiritual vision lock…

As this battle began, most disciples were already watching with great interest – it was indeed a match between Returning to Dao realm cultivators.

Li Changshou hid underground unhurriedly, controlling the formation to constantly harass the enemy.

He decided to be more stable, fighting a big battle with this Returning to Dao disciple before achieving victory in a dangerous moment…

After such intense fighting for a while, Li Changshou had secretly replaced two waves of talismans in his formation.

The treasure light around that Rain Forest Peak disciple was beginning to struggle to maintain itself.

Though the magical treasures were good, they still required one’s magical power to maintain their might.

This person had simultaneously deployed three treasures but couldn’t find Li Changshou’s whereabouts, passively falling into a battle of attrition…

Anyone could see that although Li Changshou was somewhat inglorious, taking advantage of earth-burrowing, he had victory firmly in hand.

Gradually, this Rain Forest Peak disciple showed anxiety on his face and suddenly declared loudly:

“What’s this, Senior Brother Li only knows how to curl up in the earth?

Quite fitting with your Lesser Spirit Peak’s usual style!”

Many disciples frowned slightly, feeling this Rain Forest Peak disciple was somewhat disrespectful.

Underground, Li Changshou’s expression didn’t change at all.

What good were quick words?

Li Changshou now wouldn’t bother about such things with a Returning to Dao realm fellow disciple…

But he had to consider how to perform reasonably, given the apparent grudge between the two peaks.

So…

The talismans in the air imperceptibly multiplied.

From seventy-two talismans, they became one hundred and eight, then continued growing, gradually increasing to three hundred and sixty, matching Heaven’s Circuit number.

On the jade platform, Ao Yi raised an eyebrow – this formation’s power…

He had experienced it, and it was quite impressive.

Three hundred and sixty talismans unleashed their power together, endless heavenly fire rolling, fire pillars constantly crashing down.

That Rain Forest Peak disciple blocked left and right, his three magical treasures’ light gradually wilting, barely able to hold on.

Just as he was about to make one last desperate move, about to deploy his precious pearl, he suddenly heard fire roaring behind him.

Looking up, he saw the rolling heavenly fire above had condensed into a giant foot, stomping down on his head!

This Rain Forest Peak disciple’s expression changed as he defended with all his might. Though he protected himself with magical power, he was fiercely stomped downward, his figure rapidly falling!

Just as this person was about to crash into the ground, with the sect official about to announce the winner;

In that flash of lightning and fire, something suddenly emerged from the ground.

This object was thick at the head and thin at the tail, covered in sharp spikes all over, easily piercing through that layer of ice, extending half a chi, aimed at the falling figure above…

The spiked mace!

The disciples recognized that familiar weapon!

This Rain Forest Peak disciple had barely any magical power left and was now powerless to control his treasures!

And that spiked mace, whether intentionally or not, happened to be aimed at his posterior region where he wouldn’t suffer serious injury…

Blood splashed three chi high!

The crowd of fellow disciples collectively held their breath, nearby female disciples covered their eyes, not daring to look.

On the jade platform, Ao Yi unconsciously broke into a cold sweat…

The spiked mace withdrew as soon as it drew blood, only giving the opponent a minor lesson.

But this disciple let out a muffled groan, lay on the ground bleeding, his eyes rolled back, and he directly fainted from shock.

Li Changshou’s figure slowly emerged from the side.

His aura was weak, clearly having consumed too much magical power, his hands empty, showing no trace of that frightening weapon from before.

Li Changshou looked at his opponent on the ground, frowned, and said:

“It should have just been a flesh wound, why did fellow disciple faint?

Please, Uncle Masters and Elder Masters, take a look quickly!”

The two sect officials who had already flown up both had darkened expressions.

Why did he faint…

You ask why he fainted!

Soon, the two officials announced that the Rain Forest Peak disciple had only fainted from shock and wasn’t seriously injured, only then did Li Changshou sigh in relief.

“Ah, this truly was an evenly matched battle.”

With that, having received the officials’ permission, Li Changshou turned and flew back to his seat.

There, Jiu Jiu was holding onto Ling E, the former laughing uncontrollably while the latter tried hard to maintain composure.