"I thought I could defy the heavens and change my fate with this Ancient Sanctuary, but it seems I couldn’t achieve my wish in the end!"
"I heard that to get this spot, he knelt before the Teachings Hall for three full months. In the end, he moved the disciple who was originally chosen, and that disciple secretly gave the spot to him!"
"If he’d known this would happen, that disciple might as well have kept it. Such a good spot, wasted just like that! And the Sect Master, how could he turn a blind eye?"
"The Sect Master definitely knew he couldn’t pass this trial. He just wanted the man to give up willingly. Besides... it wasn’t wasted!"
Upon hearing this, everyone suddenly looked into the distance. At some point, a young disciple dressed in the attire of the Fuyao Cave Heaven had appeared. He took the Holy Academy’s token from the hand of the Fuyao disciple who had just been expelled and patted him on the shoulder, whispering something unknown.
Finally, that young disciple soared through the air, passed through the Ancient Mirror, and boarded the celestial ark.
All of this was merely an interlude, yet to those with a keen eye, it was particularly poignant.
Those present were all geniuses, of course, but there were distinctions even among them. Of the ten thousand-plus geniuses here, the majority were around fifty years old and had reached the Golden Core Stage. This already marked them as the cream of the crop. How could there be so many who reached the Golden Core Extreme Realm by their twenties and could even overpower a Nascent Soul cultivator? Such individuals were as rare as a phoenix feather or a qilin’s horn in any faction.
In fact, even reaching the Golden Core Stage before the age of one hundred was already formidable. After all, a Golden Core cultivator’s lifespan could reach eight hundred years. If cultivation were that easy, what would be the point of such a long life?
Seeing the fate of that Fuyao Cave Heaven disciple, many cultivators present who were approaching one hundred years of age sighed with a mixture of sympathy and relief. Some among them had a cultivation level even lower than the one who had just been eliminated. Others had only stood out from their peers through a stroke of good luck or a fortuitous encounter.
It could only be said, just as Elder Hao had mentioned, "What is yours by fate will be yours in time." There was no getting around it!
Watching the scene unfold, Jiang Ling’er thought of something, and her smile vanished. "Auntie, aren’t you too old for this, too?"
Jiang Yourong’s face flushed crimson. "Nonsense!"
Jiang Ling’er pouted. "You’re definitely over a hundred years old!"
"..." Jiang Yourong’s chest heaved. "Well, I’m not human!"
Jiang Ling’er was speechless.
She has a point! But would the Immortal Alliance accept that reasoning?
Jiang Yourong pondered for a moment before saying, "The worldly rules of the Ancient Sanctuary shouldn’t have any restraints on a remnant spirit. However... if those people discover my existence, it will indeed be a problem!"
"Why?" Jiang Ling’er asked, confused.
Jiang Yourong sighed. "My existence is simply too far outside the rules. With me here, the various opportunities within the Ancient Sanctuary would be yours for the taking. That wouldn’t be fair to the other geniuses!"
Jiang Ling’er nodded as if she partly understood.
Jiang Yourong continued, "Let’s take it one step at a time. It would be best if we can pass. If not, then I won’t be able to accompany you on this trip. You must stick close to your Senior Brother. That boy hides his true abilities, has many tricks up his sleeve, and has now gotten on good terms with the Longhu Saint Heir. With him protecting you, I can rest easy!"
Hearing this, Jiang Ling’er nodded eagerly. "Mhm, Auntie, don’t worry! I won’t leave Senior Brother’s side for a second!"
Soon enough, it was the Sanqing Immortal Sect’s turn to board the ark. Jiang Ling’er followed cautiously behind Wang Xiu as they passed through the Ancient Mirror.
The Ancient Mirror remained ordinary, showing no reaction.
Just as Jiang Ling’er was breathing a silent sigh of relief, a nearly imperceptible beam of faint blue light suddenly shot out from the mirror and landed on her.
Beside the Ancient Mirror, Elder Hao and several other Great Abilities of the Emergence Stage exchanged a look, their brows furrowing slightly as they communicated via divine sense.
"It’s not an age issue!"
"The Directional Heaven Mirror indicates that the girl is carrying the remnant spirit of an Emergence Stage expert!"
"This spiritual aura feels familiar. If this old man is not mistaken, it should be from the Jiuli Cave Heaven!"
"Jiuli Cave Heaven? Wasn’t that sect wiped out long ago?"
"This little girl must be the final successor of the Jiuli Cave Heaven. The remnant spirit she carries... should be Jiuli’s last Saintess, Fellow Daoist Jiang Yourong. She perished hundreds of years ago in a battle against the Demon Race and only managed to preserve a wisp of her spirit thanks to Jiuli’s secret arts... The Sanqing Immortal Sect informed the Immortal Alliance of this matter."
"The world of the Ancient Sanctuary won’t reject a mere remnant spirit!" Fresh chapters posted on 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵※𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮※𝓷𝓮𝓽
"Still, this is somewhat against the rules, isn’t it? Should we stop her?"
The group rapidly exchanged thoughts.
Elder Hao slowly shook his head. "There’s no need. In her current state as a remnant spirit, she won’t be able to do anything once inside. She’d have to hide from a simple clap of thunder. She won’t have any impact! Besides, this little girl is, after all, a disciple of the Sanqing Immortal Sect! If we stop her, are you not afraid that the Sanqing Sect Master, Zhuo Canglang, will personally come knocking on your doors?"
Hearing this, everyone shivered as a chill ran down their spines. To show up personally and settle the score over a disciple’s minor infraction was a shameless act that the sect masters of the other Great Blessed Lands would never stoop to.
But Zhuo Canglang would! He truly would!
Moreover, with his habit of plucking a feather from every passing goose, he had already managed to get quite a few spots from them during his last visit. If he came again, there was no telling what else he might take!
At this thought, they all shook their heads repeatedly, their entire beings screaming refusal.
Forget it. Better to just turn a blind eye.
"It’s nothing. You can pass," Elder Hao said to Jiang Ling’er after they reached a consensus.