Surrounding him were dozens of people, some dressed similarly to him, suggesting they were from the same clan.
When Zhang Yan looked over, his gaze happened to meet the other’s. The man narrowed his eyes slightly before quietly retracting his gaze without a word.
Ke Xiu Jun said, "Brother Daoist Li, did you see that? That is Shi Yifan, a disciple of the Shi Family. Although he has not yet officially joined the Taihao Sect, in a few years, once he achieves Hua Dan Cultivation, entering the Mountain Gate will undoubtedly make him another True Disciple."
Ke Xiu Jun raised her delicate, alabaster finger and pointed to another area. "Brother Daoist, look there. That group consists of disciples from the Wu Clan."
Zhang Yan shifted his gaze again. This area was far more imposing than where Shi Yifan was. Not only were there dozens of Flying Boats and Flying Carriages hovering in the void, but there were also hundreds of Powerful Warrior servants accompanying them. It was unclear whether the leader had yet to arrive or if it was intentional. For the moment, even Zhang Yan could not discern who this group of cultivators was centered around.
Ke Xiu Jun continued pointing out several others. Each of them was either from a noble family or a disciple from a Great Xuanmen Sect. She finally sighed, "Brother Daoist Li, do you see? Those high-grade medicinal ginsengs must have already been secretly divided among them. Even if they haven’t come to terms yet, with their cultivation bases and the support of the cultivators by their side, how can we possibly compete with them?"
Aside from these disciples from noble families and great sects, there were also many from lower-grade families, along with their servants and Powerful Warriors. Together, these groups already made up nearly a quarter of those attending the Treasure Meeting.
Compared to them, Ke Xiu Jun and Zhang Yan indeed seemed utterly powerless on the surface, unable to contend with such forces.
Gongsun Mian chuckled lightly and said, "Why the gloomy tone, Ke Daoist? With Brother Daoist Li here, there might yet be a chance."
Gongsun Mian was a disciple of the Taihao Sect and also of noble lineage. Should the day come when he reached Solidifying Pill cultivation, the sect would supply him with medicinal ginseng grown elsewhere, sparing him the need to vie for them on Qingcun Mountain. Hence, his current demeanor was one of detached ease.
Ke Xiu Jun was well aware of this, glaring at him fiercely and letting out a cold snort. Just as she was about to speak, her expression suddenly shifted. In a low voice, she said, "Why is she here too?"
Zhang Yan turned to look and caught sight of a Cloud Couch descending from the sky. Within the fluttering curtains sat a woman clad in a wide-sleeved red robe.
Her snow-white arm lay bare, casually draped over the couch. Her posture radiated an indescribable air of leisure and languor. A touch of crimson on her lips was striking, her nose was elegantly refined, and her phoenix-like eyes opened and closed with spirit. A small, blood-red treasure jade, no larger than a fingernail, hung upon her smooth forehead.
It seemed that the crowd was wary of her. As soon as she arrived, nearby cultivators hurriedly activated their tunneling light techniques to distance themselves and flew far away.
Gongsun Mian studied the woman closely for a moment before suddenly recalling something and blurting out, "Could she be Yan Yuqin?"
Ke Xiu Jun’s face showed a trace of worry as she nodded slightly and said, "Indeed, it is her. This is troublesome. Rumor has it she is capricious and often kills without reason. If Brother Daoist Li and I enter Qingcun Mountain, we must be cautious to avoid her at all costs."
The Baozhi Conference opens once every three years, closes once every three years, and takes six years to cycle around. Only cultivators below Hua Dan cultivation can participate.
Since one must remain inside for the full three years before leaving, there are cultivators who would rather seek the One Qi Ganoderma elsewhere than waste their time here.
However, during these three years, due to the defensive array protecting the area, participants cannot freely enter or exit. This has led to some disciples from Great Clans attending simply to entertain themselves or release pent-up frustrations.
These disciples, burdened with their clan’s high expectations, often cultivate diligently without deviation for decades or centuries. Those with weaker minds inevitably seek some outlet for their suppressed frustrations. Thus, instances abound of individuals abandoning restraint and recklessly indulging themselves when vying for treasure.
In the past, a few disciples from Great Clans even managed to sharpen their temperaments through such experiences, pushing their cultivation to new heights.
However, when encountering cultivators with substantial backgrounds, they might not necessarily triumph—and certainly wouldn’t act lightly. Instead, they targeted Loose Cultivators or disciples of minor sects. This naturally led to many people at the Treasure Meeting seeking to align themselves with noble families to avoid being killed without cause.
Yan Yuqin was a Direct Lineage Disciple of the Xunlong Yan Clan. She did not need to personally search for medicinal herbs. It was rumored that her Mysterious Skill cultivation had deviated, and coupled with her eccentric personality, her purpose in coming here was self-evident.
Upon seeing this woman, Ke Xiu Jun, despite witnessing Zhang Yan’s strength previously, couldn’t help but feel a lingering sense of fear.
At this moment, on a mountain peak a dozen miles away, two of Chu Shaohong’s senior brothers—Pan Qing and Pan Ming—were surveying the surroundings.
These two were born of the same mother, bore strikingly similar features, were both tall and thin with clean-shaven faces, and even dressed identically. ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ NovᴇlFɪre.ɴet
Pan Qing, the elder, glanced around and chuckled lightly. "The one who killed Junior Brother Chu is likely here, don’t you think?"
Pan Yang’s expression was cold and indifferent. He said flatly, "Probably."
Pan Qing smiled and said, "You, my younger brother, are sharper than I. How do you think this matter should be handled?"
Pan Yang pondered in silence for a moment before saying, "The account from He and Cheng undoubtedly contains exaggerations and shouldn’t be taken at face value. However, since Junior Brother Chu lost in a fair contest, it suggests this Li Yuanba is a formidable opponent. While we brothers might win, it would likely come at great cost. With seven days until we enter the mountain, confronting him now would be unwise."
Pan Qing suddenly laughed. "What, then, does my younger brother think we should do?"
Pan Yang’s eyes flickered as he replied, "We don’t need to face Li Yuanba directly. Once inside Qingcun Mountain, how could a rootless Loose Cultivator survive three years?"
Pan Qing nodded with a smile. "Exactly. I had the same thought."
Pan Yang said in a low tone, "In that case, what about those two others?"
Pan Yang smirked intriguing and waved his hand. "Why not bring them along? Who knows, they might come in handy."
...(To be continued. If you enjoy this work, feel free to visit Qidian.com to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)