Chapter 614: Return to the Ancient Tai Xuan Heaven!

Night.

The sky was blanketed by thick dark clouds, and a cold wind howled.

The inner continent of the Xiang Jianzong, which usually revealed faint traces through the cloud layers, was now completely invisible.

Only seven divine aurora lists, inscribed with countless names, hung down from the hazy sky, their radiance undimmed.

Anyone who gazed intently, no matter how far away or what their cultivation level, could clearly see each name recorded on the lists.

Amidst the dark clouds and biting wind.

Inside the massive elliptical arena, voices roared like a boiling sea; the great array enveloping the entire venue flickered dimly, its inscriptions swirling unpredictably through empty air.

Around the arena were hidden special heavenly realms concealed behind the world itself.

On the high cloud terrace, several figures sat in stillness.

At the center sat Du Ruoheng, the Xiang Jianzong's Patriarch; on either side were four Tongxuan elders, each with distinct temperaments—some cold and stern, others calm and composed.

They were the four senior elders of this generation of the Xiang Jianzong: the Sword-Bearer, the Dharma-Transmitter, the Alchemy Master, and the Law Keeper.

Today was the final round of the "Xian Sect Special Recruitment."

As the actual leaders of the Xiang Jianzong's four most important departments, these four elders typically recruited a few outstanding individuals during the "Xian Sect Special Recruitment."

At the entrance to the arena.

One after another, young figures entered—cultivators who had already passed the "Three Dao Trials" and the "Five Heart Trials" in the final round.

Countless gazes came from all directions, tightening their hearts as they entered the arena.

Especially upon spotting the figures atop the cloud terrace—their tension deepened further…

The Xiang Jianzong Patriarch and the four senior elders of the Xiang Jianzong—figures they had only ever seen on the Spirit Net before!

Among those who had reached the arena fastest by clearing the "Three Dao Trials" and "Five Heart Trials," Ye Zhiwei retracted her gaze from the high cloud terrace and gripped her sword tighter.

During the "Five Heart Trials," she had nearly been trapped by memories of her childhood experiences…

Fortunately!

She had reacted in time, and her total time to complete the "Five Heart Trials" matched her expectation—less than one-third of the second-place finisher's.

Now came the "Three Law Trials."

Having achieved Creation Foundation Establishment, she held an absolute advantage over other Foundation Establishment cultivators.

She must leverage this advantage to achieve a dazzling result and demonstrate sufficient value!

Ye Zhiwei silently weighed her thoughts.

Until a warm, soothing flow continuously surged through her, coursing through her limbs, organs, and viscera, as if nourishing her soul with profound comfort.

She raised her hand and pressed it against the blood jade hanging around her neck, then moved toward the entrance of the hidden realm ahead.

The appearance of this blood jade had been sudden.

It had simply appeared in her storage ring without warning.

It seemed to be a supportive artifact; wearing it during cultivation provided considerable benefits.

Yet due to her ingrained caution, she had not accepted its powerful auxiliary effects blindly, but immediately investigated its origins.

In doing so, she actually uncovered some information about this blood jade.

It belonged to a charm cultivator named Jiang Yujiu.

She had once participated in the Secret Realm trial in Xuanjian City, later represented the Hehuan Sect in the Righteous Alliance's Martial Exhibition, and received a "treasure" gifted by a high-level expert.

That treasure was the blood jade.

Charm cultivators—you know how they are.

Concealing things wasn't their style; Jiang Yujiu naturally seized this excellent publicity opportunity and displayed the blood jade multiple times during her livestreams.

It looked exactly like the one she had obtained!

Moreover, the blood jade's described effects, mentioned by Jiang Yujiu, matched those of the one she possessed.

Further investigation revealed that even the Dao-Union powerhouse Zhong Jiajia claimed to have received a blood jade—and even provided images.

Though its exterior bore additional golden patterns, its core was identical to the one she had obtained.

Hmm…

It was as if they had been mass-produced.

But such a powerfully supportive treasure…

Could anyone really just hand them out everywhere?

Arriving before the entrance to the "Three Law Trials" Secret Realm, staring at the slowly rotating white vortex before her, Ye Zhiwei's scattered thoughts finally calmed.

She glanced sideways at the divine aurora list representing Foundation Establishment outside the arena, focusing especially on the top few names…

Then she retracted her gaze and stepped into the white vortex ahead.

…

…

A city on the edge of Jian Province, far from the Xiang Jianzong's main sect.

The massive broadcast arena was packed with people.

Since this year's Xian Sect Grand Competition was not broadcast publicly, many had turned their attention to this "Xian Sect Special Recruitment."

The reason so many had gathered here was because the Xuanguang Mirror didn't just project images—it also projected the strength of spiritual energy.

It was truly "being there in person."

Xi Li sat in an unremarkable corner, watching the projected Xuanguang Mirror ahead.

Though she planned to visit the Righteous Alliance, she was in no hurry.

Instead, she paused briefly wherever she went.

Watching the figures emerge from the Xuanguang Mirror's projection.

Based on what she had learned during this period, after passing the "Three Dao Passes" and the "Five Heart Passes," the final round was considered passed.

The "Fasan Pass" were merely for determining the final ranking.

It's just that…

"So this is the Foundation Establishment of the Tai Xuan Realm?"

The first pass of cultivation in the Earth Immortal Realm is to receive the Dao and train Qi.

Then, following the Dao one has received, the strength of the Dao Foundation one forges depends entirely on the Dao Vein received, as well as the affinity between the Dao Vein and oneself.

The Dao she had received back then was personally deduced by a senior, perfectly matching her 【Yin】 and 【Sword】.

Therefore, the Dao Foundation she forged was among the very top tier across the entire Earth Immortal Realm.

But now…

A trace of daze flashed through Xili's eyes.

It was no exaggeration to say that among these young cultivators, fifty percent had Foundation Establishments stronger than hers back then.

Especially that little Miss walking at the very front!

When she herself had built her Foundation, before that person she probably couldn't have lasted even a single exchange.

"Perfect Foundation Establishment, Creation Foundation Establishment…"

As far as she could see now, even the most top-tier Foundation Establishment of the Earth Immortal Realm still fell a notch short compared to a Perfect Foundation Establishment cultivator of the Tai Xuan Realm.

As for a Creation Foundation Establishment cultivator…

That was even more completely incomparable!

'That is to say, the "Nine Revolutions of Returning Dan" of the Tai Xuan Realm and the "Nine Revolutions Jin Dan of Dao Vein" of the Earth Immortal Realm likewise have an enormous gap between them.'

Just as she was thinking, the image on the Mysterious Light Mirror before her began to shift, splitting into nearly a hundred smaller images.

Xili raised her head, gave it only a cursory glance, then stood up and headed outside.

After coming here to watch for a while, she had instead thought things through clearly.

By the standards of the Tai Xuan Realm, her past cultivation still had great deficiencies.

If she wanted to truly reach the top-tier Return-to-Void level of the Tai Xuan Realm, she would have to consolidate her foundation.

As for the subsequent magical combat…

She wasn't very interested.

Soon Xili passed through the venue's exit and arrived outside the venue.

But she did not stop her steps there, and instead continued forward, until she was far from the venue and there was no one around…

Her feet paused, and she turned to look back.

A bright, slender figure was quietly standing there.

"You've been following me since just now, may I ask what Hezhi Sect you have?"