Mountain Venerable and Sea Immortal

As dusk falls, the sunset paints the sky over Shandong, and the lights of thousands of homes in Haodu gradually illuminate the city.

At the heart of the ancestral vein of Shangcheng, several ancient lamps burn eternally, arranged along the earth's veins. Their light is faint and distant, carrying wisps of ancient cultural heritage, guarding the foundation of the entire Qilu ancestral vein.

The palaces and buildings of the Central City of Hao Clan were adorned with glass lamps hanging from their eaves, each burning with a special kind of spiritual oil from the Eastern Yi people. The soft, clear light shone through the lamps, casting a warm glow on the gilded eaves. The vermilion palace walls reflected the lamplight, creating a magnificent and dignified scene. A breeze stirred, and the tassels of the black bird-shaped lanterns in front of the palace gates swayed gently. The entire royal city was tranquil and serene.

Inside the banquet hall next to the Xuanyun Hall, spirit lamps hung high, filling the room with warmth. A light fragrance wafted through the air, and the ancient wooden furnishings exuded the weight of time. Without elaborate or extravagant decorations, they everywhere displayed the solemn demeanor accumulated over ten thousand years of Dongyi culture.

The welcoming banquet specially prepared for Master Xuanyang of Laoshan and Lin Yan is being held here.

The clan leaders and elders of the Dongyi people, as well as envoys from various sects, gathered here.

Master Xuanyang sat upright in the banquet hall, his plain Taoist robe accentuating his graceful figure, his aura gentle and restrained. Lin Yan stood quietly beside his master, dressed in a plain white Taoist robe from Laoshan, his posture upright, his features handsome and refined, attracting the attention of many cultivators at the banquet.

During the casual conversation, the dynamics of the three major powers of the Eastern Yi were clearly revealed in the exchange of words:

The Hao clan is the direct descendant of the ancient Shao Hao, rooted in the sacred land of Qufu. They are in charge of the sacrificial rites, ancient mountain and sea systems, and tribal alliances of the Dongyi people. As the common master and core of the Dongyi cultural lineage, they inherit the ancient divine lineage and the right to speak on the covenant. They have always taken it as their responsibility to maintain the stability of the Qilu land and coordinate the various Dongyi tribes. They are the rightful orthodox symbol of the power of the Qilu clans.

The Hao clan is an ancient clan of the Dongyi people, sharing the same origin and coexisting with the Hao clan for generations. The Hao clan is primarily martial, specializing in guarding the mountains and rivers and defending the key areas of Qi and Lu. With the northern branch of Mount Tai as its core fighting force, its branches are spread throughout Qi and Lu. They are proficient in earth vein formations and mountain defense techniques, and have been suppressing evil spirits and strange beasts on the borders for the Hao clan for many years. The two clans maintain their bond through generations of intermarriage, jointly managing the foundation of the Dongyi clans.

Laoshan is an independent top-tier immortal cultivation sect since ancient times. It is located between the mountains and the sea in Laoshan, Qingdao. It controls the East China Sea defense line and the mountain-sea barrier. It mainly cultivates Taiqing Xuanyuan Gong and is proficient in sword control, formations and the way of mountain defense. It owns many immortal cultivation holy lands and has formidable strength. It never relies on the Hao and Hao clans. Instead, it forms an alliance with them based on the ancient equal covenant to jointly guard the Qilu territory and resist evil spirits from outside the region. It is the core pillar of the Dongyi immortal cultivation sect.

A moment later, footsteps sounded from the east side of the banquet hall. Hao Lei, the direct grandson of the Hao clan patriarch, entered the hall with a group of clan members. Dressed in brocade robes, with an arrogant face, he exuded the unique martial arts sharpness of the Hao clan members. When his gaze swept over Lin Yan, it carried a hint of scrutiny and competitiveness left over from the previous conflict at Wanlingfang.

Hao Bailian sat quietly beside Hao Cang, the patriarch of the Hao clan. She wore a plain white dress embroidered with pale gold black bird patterns, and her black hair was tied up with a single jade hairpin. Her beautiful eyes and brows carried the unique majesty of the Hao royal family, and her temperament was otherworldly. Her gaze toward Lin Yan was gentle and contained a hint of approval, completely devoid of the arrogance of a noble family's scion.

As the commotion in the hall subsided, Hao Cang slowly rose to his feet. His hair and beard were as white as snow, and his expression was solemn. A faint, almost imperceptible aura of the Shao Hao Divine Vein surrounded him. His voice was steady and powerful, resounding throughout the hall: "Today's banquet is held for two reasons. First, to entertain the entourage of the Xuan Yang Sect Leader of Laoshan and to continue the ancient alliance. Second, to announce a momentous event concerning the eternal foundation of the Dongyi people and the safety of the Qi-Lu land veins."

Everyone immediately fell silent, their gazes all fixed on Hao Cang.

Hao Cang raised his hand and gestured, and in the void, the majestic phantom of Mount Tai slowly unfolded. Amidst the surging clouds and mist, ancient golden light faintly flowed from the depths of the mountain, exuding a sacred aura: "The spiritual energy of heaven and earth is stirring. Deep within Mount Tai, the ancient ruins left behind by the ancient Shao Hao are about to appear. These ruins contain the inheritance of the Eastern Yi Zhenmai lineage and the spiritual source of the earth's veins, which are crucial to the stability of the entire Qilu land."

His gaze swept over all the younger cultivators present, and his tone grew increasingly solemn as he clearly stated the rules for the competition rankings and the selection of secret realms:

"Our Hao and Hao clans, together with Laoshan and various Dongyi tribes and sects, will hold the Dongyi Youth Grand Competition three days from now at the summit of Mount Tai. This competition is not for empty fame, but only to select talented young people from all tribes, cultivate the backbone force to protect the earth's veins and guard the borders, and even the future successors of the tribes and sects."

A total of sixty slots were available for selection at this ancient site competition, allocated directly based on individual rankings in the youth competition:

The winner of the grand competition can bring five people with them into the secret realm.

The second-place winner in the competition can bring three people with them into the secret realm.

The third-place winner of the competition can bring two people with them into the secret realm.

The remaining forty-six spots will be filled by cultivators ranked fourth through sixtieth in the competition, selected individually according to their ranking. This rule applies to all, regardless of clan affiliation or sect affiliation; ranking is paramount, strength is the ultimate measure, and only those who reach the top will gain access to more secret realm opportunities and secure more inheritance rights for their clans and sects!

Upon hearing this, everyone present understood completely. This ranking and quota system was intended to encourage the younger generation to compete with all their might, and also to allow top geniuses to lead their peers to grow and develop together, thus truly selecting leaders and backbone forces who can lead their clans and sects to protect the earth's veins.

Hao Cang then added: "Danger and opportunity coexist within the ruins, intended to temper one's character and select successors. Those who enter must take it upon themselves to protect the Qi-Lu land veins, and are strictly prohibited from killing each other or damaging ancient traditions. Violators will be jointly expelled by all the Dongyi tribes and will never be accepted again!"

A commotion erupted at the gathering, the younger generation's eyes burning with fighting spirit. Hao Lei immediately stepped forward, his voice resounding: "I, Hao Lei, will surely seize the top spot in the competition, win the most secret realm slots for the Hao Clan, and live up to the mission of guarding the veins!"

Hao Bailian also stood up, gently gathering her sleeves with her delicate hand, her gaze resolute: "Disciples of the Hao clan should do their utmost to strive for a good ranking and protect the cultural heritage of the Eastern Yi."

"So their identities are so special." Lin Yan only realized another side of the children of a large family when he saw the two of them.

Two pairs of eyes fell directly on Lin Yan, and an invisible competitive spirit among peers quietly permeated the room.

Lin Yan listened intently, while the Xuan Yang True Man beside him straightened his expression slightly, transmitting his spiritual power directly into his ears: "The Taishan Ruins are related to the sect's inheritance and the Qilu land veins. I have already informed the sect, ordering the head of the Enforcement Hall to lead twenty sect elites to Haodu within three days. As the core guardian of Laoshan's veins, you must do your utmost to strive for a top ranking in the competition, secure more entry qualifications for the secret realms for the sect, and live up to your original aspiration of guarding the veins."

Lin Yan bowed respectfully, a faint blue sea aura swirling around him. His tone was calm and resolute: "Disciple obeys. I will fight with all my might to secure a spot in the secret realm for Laoshan, to honor my sect, and to guard the earth's veins!"

Then, Hao Cang raised his glass to the entire audience: "With the three families united and with all of you talented individuals striving together, we will surely select the future pillars of the Eastern Yi, safeguarding the eternal peace of Qi and Lu!"

Amidst the clinking of glasses and the increasingly lively atmosphere, this welcoming banquet in Haodu had definitively sounded the clarion call for the Mount Tai Grand Competition. A contest of geniuses, concerning rankings, quotas, opportunities, and responsibilities, was about to officially begin atop Mount Tai.

Lin Yan looked out the window, his gaze piercing through the night and landing on Mount Tai, thousands of miles away. His heart was filled with a mix of fighting spirit and a sense of mission as he awaited the arrival of the grand competition.