Chapter 280: Outer Realm Training

Three days after the Ascension event ended.

Outside the Xiang Jianzong's main grounds, a newly demarcated area.

Figures came and went; several teams from the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall were busily working, and a grand hall had already taken shape under their efforts.

Moreover, the materials used were all of high grade.

"What are they building now?"

High above, Chi Jiuyu sat atop a blue-gold sword, eating a skewer of grilled meat.

Today she had tied her hair into a bun, wore black capri pants, and a bright orange T-shirt; her pale lower legs dangled freely, and she muttered to herself occasionally.

The Xiang Jianzong does not require its disciples to wear the sect uniform.

It's just that the uniform is designed well and comfortable to wear, so many choose to wear it.

Soon, at the entrance archway, someone transported a white spiritual jade inscribed with three large characters.

"Ascension Hall…?"

What is an Ascension Hall?

Chi Jiuyu swallowed the rest of her skewer in two bites, her cheeks puffed out, then casually tossed the bamboo stick aside.

The bamboo sticks seemed alive, lining up in a long row and speeding straight toward a trash bin by the roadside.

Ordinary sword cultivators are forbidden from throwing objects from the air, but she isn't ordinary—she masters and excels in several profound sword-control techniques and has cultivated multiple mysterious abilities from the Grand Void Sword Scripture!

She pulled out a tissue to wipe her mouth, then cast a cleansing spell.

The cleansing spell was perfectly sufficient, but she always felt it wasn't truly clean unless she wiped with paper.

She gently patted the blue-gold sword beneath her.

"Let's go, let's go!"

The Sect Master issued a strict order: this area is a Xiang Jianzong sacred site, no one may approach too closely.

Even if she is the future Sect Master, the Sword Sovereign's disciple, and the top young cultivator of the Xiang Jianzong, it still doesn't matter.

Hum~

The sword trembled slightly, then gently carried her, drifting lazily away.

Toward the direction of the Transmission Tower.

A while ago, her master gave her a World Seed; lately, whenever she had free time, she'd immerse herself in the Transmission Tower, searching for suitable methods to nurture her Inner Realm.

But…

The Transmission Tower holds far too many scattered legacies; she flipped through countless texts and checked the Spirit Net, but none of the methods she tried worked well.

She considered asking her master for advice, but found him in seclusion.

Her senior sister wasn't in the sect either—no one knew where she'd gone…

Brother Yan Ming… he had his cultivation sealed and was sent to mine ore by her junior uncle.

Her intuition told her this matter might be connected to her, so she dared not show her face before her junior uncle.

Today, she happened to hear that Uncle Ji would be at the Transmission Tower.

Although she was a bit afraid of Uncle Ji… there was no doubt he, as the head of the Transmission Tower, was the most suitable person to consult.

The blue-gold sword drifted lazily toward the Transmission Tower, while Chi Jiuyu sat atop it, glancing restlessly around.

Soon, she noticed something unusual.

From the inner sect, the Divine Mist List hung down; on the orange Foundation Establishment list, a new name had appeared near the top.

Lin Qiu Xian, ranked third on the Foundation Establishment list!

"Lin Qiu Xian… the one who took the trial with Little Yunlu in Xuanjian City?" Chi Jiuyu scratched her head.

This Lin Qiu Xian seems to be from Seventh Senior Brother's family.

Back then, to attain enlightenment, he asked Uncle Ji to strip his cultivation so he could restart his path.

Now it seems…

"Not bad—he actually pulled it off."

Never mind anything else, the sheer courage to start over… that alone is…

Totally awesome!

…

…

Not long after.

Chi Jiuyu finally arrived atop the Transmission Tower on her core sword.

Though it looked slow and drifting, it was actually moving quite fast.

Around her, many others arrived by sword or sword-light beams, but none were quite like her—she was the only one.

Many cast her strange glances.

But once they recognized who sat atop the sword, they all relaxed.

Oh, it's little Xiao Shu Zu—no problem then.

Chi Jiuyu paid no mind to their stares, stepped lightly off the sword, sheathed her core blade, and walked inside.

A few steps past the entrance, she noticed the Transmission Tower was eerily quiet, almost silent.

Even she unconsciously softened her footsteps.

As she walked further in, she glanced toward the spot where Uncle Ji usually dozed off.

But when she saw the two people there, she froze.

Without hesitation, she turned and walked back out.

But it was clearly too late.

"Jiu Yu, come here."

The voice at her ear made her stiffen all over, then slowly turned around, dragging her feet with great reluctance until she stood before the two.

"Uncle Ji, Uncle Ji."

She bowed neatly, then stood there, gazing at them with innocent eyes.

"What? Are you this scared of me?" Xu Xing chuckled.

"How could that be, Uncle? You've always been one of the people I respect most," Chi Jiu Yu said solemnly.

Her tone was firm and sincere, and so were her eyes.

"Oh? Then why did you run?"

"I didn't run—I just saw you and Uncle Ji had something important to discuss, so as a junior, I didn't want to interrupt," Chi Jiu Yu's gaze flickered.

"Don't worry—I won't hold the traitor's actions against you."

Chi Jiu Yu froze for a moment; perhaps because 'traitor' had always meant herself, she blinked in daze before realizing he meant Brother Yan. 'Uncle is wise!'

She sighed inwardly, yet her expression remained utterly unchanged.

"What are you talking about, Uncle?"

Someone of Uncle's stature surely knew what she was thinking—but at moments like this, you pretended ignorance and slipped past.

Then, shift the topic quickly!

"By the way, when will Master come out of seclusion? I want to ask her some questions..."

"About the cavern realm?"

"Yes, yes! I tried many methods and checked the Spirit Net, but all of them were mediocre." She turned to Ji Yue. "Actually, today I came specifically to ask Uncle Ji about this!"

"Today, the Xiang Jianzong is here—ask him directly," Ji Yue said slowly.

Hearing this, Chi Jiu Yu looked beseechingly at Xu Xing again.

"Hmm... ordinary methods truly aren't suitable for nurturing the world seeds your Master gave you," Xu Xing paused thoughtfully.

!. Read

After all, they were left behind by the Beast God's demise—his potential is still very high.

Then he raised a finger and a streak of spiritual light sank into her brow, transforming into a mysterious cultivation method.

Chi Jiu Yu touched her forehead, then whispered the name of the method.

"The Great Void Expanding Realm Observing Divine Art..."

It sounded like a technique descended from the Great Void Sword Scripture.

"This method is one I recently created—it's perfect for nurturing world seeds. Remember, during the process, use this method to observe its internal changes closely; it will greatly aid your Soul Transformation, and even later, your Return to Emptiness," Xu Xing explained.

Master is in seclusion; naturally, I must teach her disciples.

"Thank you, Uncle!"

Recently created...

Uncle is truly amazing!

Xu Xing: "..."

"By the way, Uncle, can I pass on the Great Void Expanding Realm Observing Divine Art to Xiao Yunlu?"

"Do as you wish."

Of course—he's as generous as ever!

Chi Jiu Yu's eyes darted, then she asked curiously, "Uncle, I heard Brother Yan was sent to mine ore..."

"Oh? Do you want to go too?" Xu Xing looked at her with a half-smile.

"No, no!" Chi Jiu Yu waved her hands frantically.

After being startled by Xu Xing's remark, she finally fell silent and dared not ask further.

"Then, Uncle, Uncle Ji, I'll take my leave!"

"Go," Xu Xing nodded slightly. "In a while, you'll be going to other worlds for trial. Prepare well."

"Huh?"

Other worlds?

Was that what Uncle meant by "prepare" last time?

Several more days passed.

Zhang Yunlu finally returned from the Longxiang Qingtianzong.

After deliberation among the Seven Sect Lords, the Qidaxian Sect had finally drafted their plan to select outstanding disciples for training in other worlds.

The training participants ranged from Wu Li Qi Qi to Return to Emptiness.

After all, the training world was a Return to Emptiness-level realm—only those at Return to Emptiness could truly participate.

But the numbers were strictly limited: each Xian Sect could send at most one Return to Emptiness cultivator.

Below Return to Emptiness: at most three Soul Transformation, five Nascent Soul, twelve Golden Core, twenty-four Foundation Establishment, and unlimited Qi Condensation.

Of course, each sect's method of selecting trainees differed.

The Xiang Jianzong's method was simple and brutal—step onto the stage and fight.

For Return to Emptiness: select the top three from the Return to Emptiness rankings; the winner goes.

For Soul Transformation: top eight compete.

For Nascent Soul: top twelve compete.

For Golden Core: top thirty compete.

For Foundation Establishment: top fifty compete.

As for Qi Condensation...

Since there is currently only one Enlightened Principle, no selection is needed—he alone will go.

Besides the disciples of the Qidaxian Sect, Xiang Yuanjun also found Meng Xuan, who had reached Jin Dan completion; Huo also learned of this matter, so he planned to let his disciple Xiao Fan join this cultivation trial.

If the process of "selecting trial participants" had one sect that found it hardest, it was undoubtedly the Taishang Dao Sect.

Returning to Void and Qi Condensation were manageable; even Spirit Transformation Realm could barely be found.

But for Nascent Soul, Jin Dan, and Foundation Establishment levels...

... there was considerable inconsistency.

Interestingly, the competition on the side of the Hehuan Sect was surprisingly fierce—everyone was desperate to go.

The Xiang Jianzong cafeteria, the central area.

Inside a modest private room.

Two people sat facing each other at the table, the hotpot bubbling vigorously.

"By the way, my senior aunt told me to tell you that after this trial, go see her—she has something to assign you."

The rising steam blurred her features slightly.

"Something to assign?"

"Pfft! My senior aunt is just like that—always speaks in riddles, never finishes her sentences!"

These two were naturally Chi Jiuyu and Zhang Yunlu.

After Zhang Yunlu returned, Chi Jiuyu, as her senior sister and team leader, could not possibly ignore her—she immediately offered to host a welcome feast.

So the two came here. (End of chapter)