I gain ten years' worth of cultivation every day, and even geniuses will only see my doorstep!

Two months later, Wanfa Sect.

He's going.

It's not for the rankings, it's not for resources, it's for—

The eighth token.

Two months later, the Wanfa Sect.

The Wanfa Sect is located in the Wanfa Mountains in the heart of Nanzhou, covering an area of ​​100,000 li and boasting 3,000 spiritual peaks. Its main peak, "Wen Dao Peak," is ten thousand zhang high, piercing the clouds. Its summit is shrouded in seven-colored clouds all year round, which is said to be the condensation of the Daoist essence left behind by the great masters of the Wanfa Sect throughout the ages.

At this moment, the area below Wendao Peak is packed with people.

Tens of thousands of cultivators from all over the Southern Continent gathered here. There were formal disciples of the three major sects, elites of the thirteen superior sects, experts among the rogue cultivators, and idle people who were just there to watch the spectacle.

The Daodao Conference, held once every century, is one of the biggest events in the entire Southern Prefecture.

When Qin Yuan and his two companions arrived, it was already the day before the conference.

As soon as they landed on the square in front of the mountain gate, a disciple in green robes came to greet them.

"Could it be Fellow Daoist Qin Yuan of the Taiyi Sect?"

Qin Yuan nodded.

The disciple in blue robes smiled broadly.

"I am Wang, an outer sect steward of the Wanfa Sect. I am here to await orders from the sect. Fellow Daoist Qin, please follow me. Your lodgings have been arranged."

Qin Yuan followed him inside.

Countless eyes fell on them along the way.

"That's Qin Yuan? He doesn't look particularly special."

"What do you know? In the realm of ice and fire, he single-handedly killed more than twenty Void Refinement cultivators from the Netherworld Sect, even a peak Void Refinement elder died at his hands!"

"Really? An early-stage Void Refinement cultivator killing a peak-stage Void Refinement cultivator?"

"It's absolutely true! I saw it with my own eyes! That finger strike was absolutely devastating!"

"Hiss—no wonder the Myriad Laws Sect sent someone specifically to receive us."

Whispers continued to circulate, but Qin Yuan remained expressionless and kept his eyes straight ahead.

The disciple in blue led them to a secluded courtyard.

"Fellow Daoist Qin, this is the 'Listening Bamboo Courtyard' prepared by our sect for our distinguished guest. The environment is serene and suitable for rest. The Dao Inquiry Conference officially begins tomorrow, and someone will come to invite you then."

Qin Yuan nodded.

Thank you.

The disciple in blue took his leave.

Qin Yuan and his two companions stepped into the courtyard.

The courtyard is not large, but it is exquisitely decorated. There are several clumps of green bamboo, a clear spring, and a few elegant rooms, making it quiet and refined.

Lei Dong stretched.

"Finally, I can take a break. I've been flying for half a month, I'm exhausted."

Ling Shuanghua ignored him and looked at Qin Yuan.

"What are your plans for tomorrow's meeting?"

Qin Yuan said, "Let's see how things go first."

Ling Shuanghua nodded and asked no further questions.

They all went back to their rooms to rest.

Night, Wanfa Sect, a secret room somewhere.

Three people were sitting in the secret room.

The person in the main seat was a middle-aged man with a refined appearance and gentle temperament, but his eyes were as deep as an abyss—he was at the Dao Integration stage.

Two young men sat to his left.

The man on the left, with a cold and stern face and a sharp aura, was none other than Jian Wufeng.

The person on the right is a woman with stunning beauty and a cool, aloof demeanor; she is none other than Liu Ruoxi.

"Master."

Jian Wufeng spoke, his voice low and deep.

"Qin Yuan has arrived."

The middle-aged man—the Dao Integration Elder of the Heavenly Sword Sect, and Jian Wufeng's master—Jian Wuhen nodded slightly.

"I know."

A hint of resentment flashed in Jian Wufeng's eyes.

"Master, he stole the Xingtian Sword that should have been mine in the Ice and Fire Temple. That sword clearly belonged to me!"

Jian Wuhen glanced at him.

"The Xingtian Sword's recognition of its master is not something you can decide. If you cannot grasp it, it means you are not destined to have it."

Jian Wufeng gritted his teeth.

"But--"

"No buts," Jian Wuhen interrupted him. "On the path of cultivation, gains and losses are commonplace. If you cling to a single sword, how can you go far?"

Jian Wufeng lowered his head and said nothing more.

Jian Wuhen looked at Liu Ruoxi.

"Ruoxi, you've dealt with Qin Yuan before. What do you think of him?"

Liu Ruoxi pondered for a moment.

"Unfathomable".

Jian Wuhen raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Oh?"

Liu Ruoxi said, "Although his cultivation is only at the early stage of Void Refinement, his combat strength far surpasses that of others of the same level. In the Ice and Fire Temple, he single-handedly killed more than twenty members of the Netherworld Sect, including an elder at the peak of Void Refinement. I am ashamed to admit that I am inferior to such combat strength."

She paused.

"Moreover, he is calm and composed, decisive in his actions, and neither greedy nor impetuous. I personally witnessed him relinquish the War God Token he had obtained and give it to me. Such a person is either a saint or has great ambitions."

Jian Wuhen remained silent for a moment.

"So, which type do you think he is?"

Liu Ruoxi shook her head.

"This disciple cannot see through it."

Jian Wuhen nodded.

"Alright, you may all leave."

The two got up and left the secret room.

Only Jian Wuhen remained in the secret room.

He stared at a painting hanging on the wall, remaining silent for a long time.

The painting depicts a door.

A huge bronze door, engraved with countless ancient patterns.

The Nine Heavens Palace.

The following day, the Inquiry Conference officially began.

The venue was set up at the "Questioning Platform" atop Questing Peak. This was a gigantic stone platform, a thousand feet in diameter, paved entirely with ten-thousand-year-old warm jade, radiating a gentle luster. Around the platform stood nine stone pillars, each a hundred feet tall, each covered with runes, faintly forming a massive array.

At this moment, the area around the platform for asking questions was already full of people.

The innermost circle consisted of elders and representatives from the three major sects and various superior sects. Further out were disciples from various sects and experts among the independent cultivators. The outermost circle was filled with countless ordinary cultivators who had come to watch the spectacle.

Qin Yuan and the other two sat in the Xuan Tian Sect's area.

Ling Shuanghua sat beside him, and Lei Dong sat on the other side.

"See that high platform?" Ling Shuanghua pointed to the center of the Dao Inquiry Platform. "That's the 'Dao Discussion Platform.' Later, the geniuses from each sect will gather on the platform to discuss the Dao and demonstrate their understanding of the Dao. Those who perform exceptionally well can enter the Dao Inquiry Pavilion to further their studies."

Qin Yuan nodded.

"And then what?"

Ling Shuanghua said, "After the Dao discussion, there will be the 'Inquiry Ranking' battle. Prodigies from each sect can freely challenge each other. The winners will advance, and the losers will be eliminated. The top ten in the final ranking will receive preferential treatment in sect resources and will be able to enter the second level of the Inquiry Pavilion."

She paused.

"If you're looking for clues about the eighth token, the Asking Pavilion might be a breakthrough. All the secret manuals of the Myriad Laws Sect throughout history are hidden in the Asking Pavilion."

Qin Yuan's eyes flickered slightly.

Ask the Way Pavilion.

It seems I absolutely have to get into the top ten.

"clang--"

A bell rang throughout the entire venue.

An elderly man in white robes landed in the center of the Dao Inquiry Platform and announced in a loud voice, "The Dao Inquiry Conference now begins. The first item is the discussion of the Dao. Prodigies from each sect may take turns to the stage and demonstrate their understanding of the Dao."

No sooner had the words been spoken than someone leaped onto the stage.

He was a disciple of the Heavenly Sword Sect, at the mid-stage of the Void Refinement realm, with a cold and arrogant expression.

He sat down cross-legged, his body radiating sword energy that soared into the sky, transforming into countless sword shadows that intertwined in the void to form a sword diagram.

"Heavenly Sword Sect, Sword Thirteen, I've made a fool of myself."

As he finished speaking, the sword diagram slowly unfolded, and the true meaning of swordsmanship contained within it drew gasps of amazement from the audience.

Qin Yuan watched quietly, his expression unchanged.

Jian Shisan's swordsmanship is indeed remarkable, but that's all he is—remarkable. Compared to Jian Wufeng, he's a level below.

Sword Thirteen has finished his demonstration and is now off the stage.