The day of the entrance competition dawned clear and sunny, naturally.
After all, cultivators used their arts to disperse any clouds—this wasn’t a time to preach about following the natural Dao.
The Heavenly Dao Sect was a pillar of the righteous path, and the entrance competition had been held for many years; they had the routine down pat.
They certainly couldn’t afford to lose face for the sect.
Moreover, while it was an ordinary event for existing sect disciples, for the many aspirants seeking to join, it was a day to leap through the dragon’s gate, a day of rebirth and transformation.
Those who managed to walk up from the mountain’s base to the summit were no ordinary folk.
They at least possessed sufficient cultivation talent, or their hearts for seeking the Dao were exceptionally firm.
Of course, among them were demonic sect moles.
This, in fact, wasn’t surprising.
Qi Xiao and Ning Fengxue walked side by side, following closely behind Li Wangyan, taking their designated positions.
“So, Qi Xiao has entrusted such important matters entirely to you, a steward who just joined the sect?
Is Dao Sword Peak so lacking in people these days?”
Hearing these words, Li Wangyan couldn’t help but look over.
The speaker was a female cultivator whose face was filled with scorn.
Her aura clearly marked her as a Golden Core cultivator.
Li Wangyan looked puzzled.
He cupped his hands in greeting.
“This junior has only recently joined the sect and is unfamiliar with fellow sect members… May I ask, Senior Sister, you are…?”
“Truly ignorant!
Well, you are an outsider, after all.
I am the Peak Lord of Dao Spear Peak, Shi Tongyan!”
Shi Tongyan?
He hadn’t heard of her.
In other words, she must have broken through to Golden Core within the last five years?
Otherwise, he should have known her.
Had a conflict with Senior Sister Qi?
“Senior Sister Shi, I have long heard of your great name!”
Li Wangyan bowed again.
“My Peak Lord is in seclusion, attempting to break through to mid-Golden Core and truly cannot spare the time.
My Eldest and Second Senior Brothers are traveling abroad.
Although I am crude, I have no choice but to shoulder the responsibilities for the peak.
If my presence offends Senior Sister’s eyes, I hope Senior Sister will not take offense.”
His demeanor made it difficult for Shi Tongyan to say anything more.
Continuing to mock would lead others to accuse her of bullying the weak—not a good reputation for a Peak Lord.
“You… are quite courteous.
Perhaps Qi Xiao didn’t choose wrongly.”
She forced out this line and said no more.
“You flatter me, Senior Sister.”
At this moment, Qi Xiao secretly sent a voice transmission.
“That woman broke through to Golden Core two years after me, caught up with that year’s internal sect competition, and was defeated by me.
Ever since, she’s held a grudge.
A narrow-minded woman.
Don’t bother with her.”
So, just roadside trash.
“That woman always believes that because I broke through two years earlier, I was simply more proficient in techniques.
If given more time, she would surely defeat me.”
Li Wangyan didn’t quite understand, but if Qi Xiao said so, then that must be the case.
“Shuang’er, later, you will use sword-control techniques to demonstrate our Dao Sword Peak’s core cultivation method.
Then, Huan’er, you will use spells to showcase our Dao Sword Peak’s offensive and defensive techniques.”
“As you command, husband (lord).”
They answered simultaneously.
Cultivators all had keen ears and eyes.
Instantly, many gazes turned towards Li Wangyan.
They saw Qi Xiao and Ning Fengxue.
And were stunned.
Wait, isn’t Dao Sword Peak being a bit too blatant?
This Li Wangyan, Steward Li, is directly bringing his two wives to the demonstration?
Is the atmosphere on your Dao Sword Peak too lax?
There must be some unhealthy trends here!
But this was, after all, an internal matter of their peak.
Qi Xiao and True Master Dao Sword were in seclusion; Lin Wushuang and Chu Jiao were absent.
Since Qi Xiao had entrusted peak affairs to this steward, if unhealthy trends arose, Qi Xiao would just have to bear it.
Many wore expressions of watching a spectacle.
“This entrance competition will be presided over by me, Jade Lotus True Dharma Gu Shengxiao of Heaven’s Law Peak.”
Heaven’s Law Peak!
True Master Prison Law was the Peak Lord of Heaven’s Law Peak.
Heaven’s Law Peak specialized in studying Dao arts.
At the same time, this “Law” also carried the meaning of “law enforcement.”
The sect’s Law Enforcement Hall was established on this peak.
It was a place the three of them present could never forget.
Golden Core cultivators on this peak were all named “so-and-so True Dharma.”
Jade Lotus True Dharma earned his name from his mastery of lotus-based spells.
His demeanor was as gentle as jade, hence “Jade Lotus.”
It sounded slightly effeminate, but this person—even Li Wangyan knew his reputation.
He was considered on par with Dao Sword Peak’s Eldest Senior Brother, Lin Wushuang.
The two had clashed several times, with wins and losses on both sides.
However—Jade Lotus True Dharma Gu Shengxiao’s fame was much greater.
He was highly esteemed throughout the sect.
As for his own Eldest Senior Brother Lin Wushuang, due to cultivating the Ruthless Sword Dao, he was overly indifferent.
Although he had his admirers within certain special groups, they were a minority.
Gu Shengxiao stood in the sky, then drew his finger across the void.
One petal after another of lotus blossoms drifted down from the sky, landing in the hands of the disciples who had passed the trial and reached the mountain gate.
“Later, your senior brothers and sisters will demonstrate the different cultivation methods and techniques of our Heavenly Dao Sect’s six Heaven Branch peaks and six Dao Branch peaks.
You may silently recite the name of the peak you wish to join in your heart; it will appear on the lotus petal.”
His tone was gentle, making people feel close.
Everyone watched the continuously falling lotus petals, already shocked by his skill.
This was slightly against the rules, as it was equivalent to Jade Lotus True Dharma personally showcasing his abilities to the many new disciples.
Not entirely according to the rules.
“Speaking of which, Wangyan, this Jade Lotus True Dharma is True Master Prison Law’s personal disciple.
Can you arrange to… bring him into the fold as well?
Once recorded in your Mystic Maiden Mirror, he could serve as a pawn to investigate True Master Prison Law.”
True Master Dao Sword’s voice transmission entered Li Wangyan’s ear.
He glanced at Qi Xiao, who looked puzzled.
Clearly, this transmission was for him alone, not Qi Xiao…
Master is quite interesting.
She doesn’t want Senior Sister Qi to know he can actually control the women in the Mystic Maiden Mirror.
Why?
He gave a slight nod, acknowledging the suggestion.
After all, he had intended to do this anyway.
True Master Prison Law absolutely had to be investigated.
But speaking of which, True Master Prison Law and his disciple Jade Lotus True Dharma were complete opposites.
True Master Prison Law cultivated a method called “The Ten Directions Yama Prison.”
It was renowned for its fierce combat prowess.
Though still considered righteous, its aggressiveness was extremely strong.
Yet Jade Lotus True Dharma cultivated the “Lotus Ferry Sentient Beings Technique,” which was almost diametrically opposed to “The Ten Directions Yama Prison”…
What are this master-disciple pair playing at?
Therefore, Li Wangyan had no intention of letting Jade Lotus True Dharma off.
He was determined to record this person in his Mystic Maiden Mirror.
Then he could investigate True Master Prison Law.
Put simply, even if True Master Prison Law was innocent, merely performing his duty impartially, carrying out the judgment from above…
Li Wangyan wasn’t the magnanimous type to say, “You were just doing your job; I shouldn’t blame you.”
He hated!
He hated True Master Prison Law for crippling his cultivation.
So, even if the other wasn’t his primary target, he would still seek revenge against True Master Prison Law.
As for those fifty who gave false testimony—they should be fortunate they died early!
If they fell into my hands, I’d make them wish they were dead!
As these thoughts ran through his mind, several peaks had already demonstrated their cultivation methods and techniques.
“Shuang’er.”
True Master Dao Sword soared into the air.
Regardless of anything else, her beauty truly attracted too much attention.
Especially from these disciples who hadn’t yet joined the sect.
“The core cultivation method of our Dao Sword Peak is the ‘Myriad Sword Canon.'”
As she spoke, the maximum number of flying swords a Foundation Establishment cultivator could control—ninety-nine in total—swirled around her.
Different styles, different sword intent, yet together they seemed to form a long dragon, soaring and weaving across the heavens.
“This method encompasses all things.
It can cultivate whatever Dao you wish to pursue.
The Ruthless Sword, the Mortal Sword, the Flying Sword, the Formation Sword, the Sword of Water and Fire… and so on.
All can be manifested!”
She used the flying swords to demonstrate various forms, showcasing the main features of the “Myriad Sword Canon.”
“Huan’er!”
At this moment, Qi Xiao shot forth on a sword, riding one flying sword with two others circling around her.
“Our Dao Sword Peak’s primary offensive spell is called the ‘Sword Spirit Art.’
It allows for the incorporation of other Dao arts into the sword.
As I cultivate thunder arts—thus…”
A thunder dragon roared, a spiritual sword held in its maw, imposing and magnificent!
It even caused many of the present disciples to tremble in awe.
“When did Dao Sword Peak produce two such extraordinarily talented disciples?”
“Still at Foundation Establishment, yet with such power!”
“Doesn’t that mean Dao Sword Peak is about to gain two more high-grade Golden Cores?!”
Shi Tongyan’s face turned ugly.
She never imagined Dao Sword Peak would grow even stronger!
After all, her Dao Spear Peak and Dao Sword Peak had always been competitors.
The spear was the king of a hundred weapons.
Fundamentally, spear cultivators didn’t think much of sword cultivators.
The spear was a weapon of the battlefield, a truly fierce weapon.
The sword was more of a ceremonial weapon—yet in recent years, sword cultivators often became famous for their “killing techniques,” which was rather awkward for spear cultivators.
So, spear cultivators naturally looked down on sword cultivators…
That’s why, after breaking through to Golden Core, she had faced Qi Xiao in the sect competition, trying to uphold the spear’s reputation.
And then she was defeated by Qi Xiao.
Her lingering resentment towards Dao Sword Peak stemmed from this.
Now Dao Sword Peak was putting on such a show!
They even produced two more disciples of such exceptional talent!
Wouldn’t that make her Dao Spear Peak look even worse?
Various thoughts spread in people’s minds.
Then, Qi Xiao and Ning Fengxue returned to Li Wangyan’s side.
They stood respectfully on either side.
For a moment, Li Wangyan was the undisputed center of attention.
He didn’t need to do anything; he already commanded the focus of everyone present.
The two who had just put on such impressive displays were now standing so respectfully by his side.
What more needed to be said?
He was only at Foundation Establishment—but precisely because he was at Foundation Establishment, it made it even more absurd.
If he were Golden Core, people wouldn’t say much.
The various peaks demonstrated their methods and techniques in turn.
Then, Jade Lotus True Dharma made another appearance.
He said, “Everyone, the peaks have demonstrated their Dao arts.
You should have made your decisions.
Next, it is your turn to demonstrate your aptitudes to the various peaks!”
He extended a hand.
The numerous petals scattered from the disciples’ hands, converging in the sky, forming a giant, intricate lotus flower.
“I am already aware of your choices.
Now, I shall activate the sect formation, allowing you to display your talents…”
Before he could finish his sentence, a pitch-black iron nail shot from the distance.
It transformed into a streak of eerie light, incredibly fast.
“Senior Brother, be careful!”
The two women were the first to fly over.
They were struck and sent flying by the iron nail.
Others snapped back to reality and rushed to act.
Yet, in front of everyone, Jade Lotus True Dharma was nailed to the main sect gate.
The entire venue fell into profound silence.
If You Notice any translation issues or inconsistency in names, genders, or POV etc? Let us know here in the comments or on our Discord server, and we’ll fix it in current and future chapters. Thanks for helping us to improve! 🙂