Exploring Immortality Cultivation-Chapter 1072 - 155: Qionghua Meeting

In the early morning, the young Li Liang would always awaken during meditation.

He was an ordinary youth on the island surface of Spirit Phoenix Island. A few months prior, a "kind-hearted" Immortal Master had casually thrown him a mysterious jade piece and a bottle of elixirs, marking the start of his cultivation journey.

Now, he was cultivating according to the mysterious voice within that jade piece.

On this day, for some unknown reason, he felt an unusual smoothness in his cultivation. The mana he refined seemed to have a vitality akin to the rising sun.

"What's going on? Could it be that I've comprehended something?"

He restrained his surprised thoughts and continued to circulate his mana until completing his daily task.

Although feeling exceptionally good today, he wanted to continue cultivating for a while longer, but the Qi Cultivation Stage cultivators have a limited amount of time to cultivate each day. At least he knew he shouldn't damage his own potential.

After finishing cultivation, before he could even open his eyes, he heard a peculiar rustling sound. He opened his eyes and was met with the most unbelievable sight—a small sprout was budding right in front of him.

This was a unique overseas herbal plant, whose seeds are usually spread by seabirds traveling between islands. However, Spirit Phoenix Island lacked resources, and the seabirds that came were often hunted down by the hungry islanders, making them a rarity. Thus, even seeds were considered precious on Spirit Phoenix Island.

He thought for a moment, then sneakily pinched off a part of the sprout and put it in his mouth to chew strongly.

The "vegetables" mortals on Spirit Phoenix Island could eat were usually just leaves and stalks. Having even grass to eat was actually quite good.

The same scene was being played out in many places on the island surface of Spirit Phoenix Island at the same time.

A powerful vitality descended upon Spirit Phoenix Island.

This vitality was more acutely perceived by the cultivators.

In Luochen Sword Palace, Mei Sicheng benefited greatly when the abnormality appeared, feeling as though his avatar, fused with the Spirit Wood, had been richly nourished.

"What is the reason behind this abnormality?"

And far away in the Heavenly Book Tower, Xu Xueqing perceived all of this: "Why are the herbs' spirits exceptionally good today?"

The intense vitality seemed to descend from the heavens, enveloping the entire Spirit Phoenix Island.

However, today of all days, no one found this phenomenon strange. Today was the time of the Emperor's Qionghua Conference, a grand event to select talents from across the empire. With the Holy Emperor Venerable's supreme cultivation, creating such phenomena was as easy as blowing away dust.

Yet, only the Holy Emperor Venerable knew that all of this had nothing to do with him.

"This... there must be something fishy in this," Tao Guanhong fell to the ground in a posture of advice, saying loudly: "The enemy's origin is unclear, I urge the Emperor to be cautious!"

The Holy Emperor Venerable extended his hand in a cupping gesture, a faint white light appeared in his palm. It was the "life force" he had forcibly collected using his supreme mana. He asked softly, "Why?"

Tao Guanhong said: "That enemy…"

"Guanhong, have you lost faith in me?" The Holy Emperor Venerable spoke indifferently, void of any emotional tone: "Are you fearing the Evil Demon?"

Tao Guanhong kowtowed: "I… am fearful!"

As one of the cultivators closest to the Holy Emperor Venerable, he was well aware that for the past year, the hidden enemy disrupting Spirit Phoenix Island repeatedly possessed power not inferior to the Holy Emperor Venerable's, who hadn't gained any advantage in the altercations over the year.

If anything happened to the Holy Emperor Venerable, Spirit Phoenix Island would cease to exist. As a member of Spirit Phoenix Island's ruling class, he unwillingly faced the potential disappearance of this safe haven.

"Do not let fear disturb your wisdom." The Holy Emperor Venerable tapped his head with a finger: "Do you see any harmful tactics in this surge of vitality?"

"No," Tao Guanhong said: "However, my vision is dull, and I cannot discern the Evil Demon's tactics…"

The Holy Emperor Venerable shook his head: "Don't imagine those Evil Demons to be overly formidable. He is merely a rat hiding in the shadows, skilled only in sneak attacks. In a direct confrontation, he is unlikely to be my opponent."

Tao Guanhong wanted to say more, but the Holy Emperor Venerable waved a hand, offering no further explanation: "Go, sound the bell."

"Yes." Tao Guanhong dared not defy.

Listening to the melodious bell ring, the Holy Emperor Venerable laughed coldly in the dark.

"Indeed, this might be a trick by our adversary. I am aware that the rat hiding in the shadows won't easily let me be. Yet, I will leap into the trap he sets, for he won't reveal himself otherwise!"

"This time, I will definitely defeat that guy.

.................................

As the melodious bell began to chime, everyone on Spirit Phoenix Island knew that the Qionghua Conference to select talents across the empire by the Holy Emperor Venerable had begun.

The first to change was the Phoenix Tomb in the Forbidden City. Scarlet spiritual fire rose to the sky, taking the form of fire birds. This was the current protective sect array of the Emperor's Extreme Split Sky Dao, a variant of the Fire Transmission Mysterious Array—Fire Phoenix Nirvana Array. The massive spiritual fire phoenix, nearly filling half of the underground city, lowered its wings as Liu Ruting cradled the Phoenix Tomb in the Forbidden City like an egg. With the bell's sound, the spiritual fire phoenix suddenly lifted its wings, the spiritual fire swept through, further intensifying the vitality in the air. The Fire Phoenix Nirvana Array also opened up from its former posture.

At this moment, all bans were lifted. From all Ancient Method Immortal Sects on Spirit Phoenix Island, countless escape lights rose up and flew towards the Phoenix Tomb in the Forbidden City from all directions, resembling a hundred birds worshiping the phoenix.

Then, Tao Guanhong's figure appeared atop the Wu Gate of the Forbidden City Phoenix Tomb.

"The decree reads: In ancient times, the Immortal Dao was illustrious, and gods and humans stood together. Though today, there are heterodox forces disrupting the cosmos, our heart of seeking the Dao remains undiminished. Today, Emperor's Extreme Split Sky Dao opens the Qionghua Meeting, widely selecting talents in cultivation, to follow the big trend of heavenly persons." Tao Guanhong announced the decree of the Holy Emperor Venerable, then took a deep breath and shouted loudly: "Open the Wu Gate!"

Two Nascent Soul Stage cultivators specializing in martial arts from Emperor's Extreme Split Sky Dao slowly pushed open the gate of the Forbidden City Phoenix Tomb. Subsequently, cultivators surged into Emperor's Extreme Split Sky Dao like a tide.

Among the crowd, all the "Reincarnation Warriors" secretly encouraged themselves.

This time, they must succeed!

...........................

In a certain eastern sea area of Spirit Phoenix Island, a giant dragon slowly rose from the seabed.

"Ah, ah, ah, it seems that Holy Emperor Venerable is quite serious this time, I'll help him a bit then."

"Just right, I want to see the attitude of those Heavenly Favored Clan towards 'Ascension'..."

He lazily meandered along. Along the way, countless sea demons fled in terror just at the sight of him.

However, soon a life being appeared who did not fear him.

An elder from the Human Clan floated above the sea surface, calmly watching him.

"Judging by your aura, you must be a renowned and powerful figure among the Human Clan, state your name."

"Xi Baiche." The Master of Calculation raised his hands and assumed a stance: "Today, you shall not pass."

...........................

Under the sea, Wang Qi was still writing vigorously.

With each calculation he conducted, he would negate certain ideas, furthering his understanding of "logic."

And his body was emitting a dazzling white light. This white light was a special divine skill, being amplified through the Heart Demon Mysterious Net, applying to Dao Spirit Phoenix Island.

His mood at this moment was also akin to this white light.

Internally exalted, yet outwardly serene.

At this moment, one of the calculators on him emitted a prompt.

This was a pre-arranged signal. When the Immortal Alliance began interacting with "helpers," Wang Qi would receive this signal.

"Is it about time?"

Wang Qi gently packed the draft papers before him, his form flickered, and he vanished.

.............................................

The purpose of the Qionghua Meeting is selection; theoretically, all cultivators on Spirit Phoenix Island can participate, the only caveat is to proceed in phases, grouping Golden Core Stage with Golden Core Stage, Nascent Soul Stage with Nascent Soul Stage, and so forth.

However, this is merely "theoretical." The Holy Emperor Venerable's intent is not to select combat power, but to select "geniuses."

This "genius" refers to individuals with "talent."

What qualifies as talent? Fast cultivation speed, rapid advancement, the ability to ignore various obstacles along the path, or possessing methods that surpass those of the same stage, with untapped potential and cultivation value.

Those who are frail and old, lingering at a certain realm for ages without any assurance of breakthrough, naturally do not count as "geniuses." Such individuals, owing to decades, centuries, or even millennia of accumulation at a particular realm, can naturally surpass some freshly entered geniuses of the same realm, but such individuals need not partake in the Qionghua Meeting for competition.

Even if they can use accumulation and combat power to forcefully overshadow those geniuses, they cannot guarantee they won't offend the Holy Emperor Venerable.

Thus, before participating in the Qionghua Meeting, it is quite vital to weigh one's worth.

At least, in the eyes of most, all participants of this Qionghua Meeting are "geniuses" with exploitable potential.

At this moment, various halls of Emperor's Extreme Split Sky Dao had been transformed into martial arts arenas. Countless individuals were practicing combat skills. The closer to Fengxian Hall at the core of the Forbidden City Phoenix Tomb, the higher the cultivation of the competitors.

And in front of Fengxian Hall, two young Divine Separation Stage cultivators were battling. Both had only reached Divine Separation Stage in the past one or two hundred years, being the latest to breakthrough to Divine Separation Stage, and also the highest cultivation among participants at the Qionghua Meeting. As the first "御前比斗" (Imperial Combat), these two Divine Separation Stage cultivators offering the Weisheng Emperor a battle of divine skills was most fitting.

More Divine Separation Stage cultivators and Unification Stage cultivators were standing in front of Fengxian Hall, watching this battle.

Both of these cultivators were sword cultivators, and the fight scenes were spectacular.

However, they were destined not to finish this bout.

A figure clad in black leaped onto the stage.