Mountain Venerable and Sea Immortal

At dawn, the sky was just beginning to lighten.

The spirit-gathering array within Qinglao Courtyard flowed gently, and wisps of mist swirled around the bluestone steps. The Laoshan disciples had just finished their morning lessons, their breathing still stabilizing, when Elder Xuanzhen strode steadily into the courtyard.

Master Xuan Yang stood silently in the courtyard, his expression calm. Elder Xuan Zhen's gaze swept over the twenty disciples in the courtyard, finally settling on Lin Yan beside him. He spoke slowly, "This time, our Laoshan sect hastily went to the alliance, and we didn't have time to make thorough preparations before setting off. The sect's usual supply of Qingxin Pills and Guben Pills has been used up very quickly. More than twenty people have been cultivating hard for days, and the reserves are already depleted. We certainly won't be able to last until the start of the competition. In order to ensure that everyone is in good condition for the competition, everyone must leave the city today and go into the secluded valleys on the outskirts of the city to pick spiritual herbs. Upon returning, we will refine pills on the spot to replenish our reserves."

Upon hearing this, the disciples remained calm and composed, none of them becoming agitated or making a fuss. They all stood quietly with their eyes lowered, awaiting instructions from the sect.

Master Xuan Yang spoke in a deep, steady voice, his tone cautious and discreet: "Recently, Haodu has been rife with undercurrents, and there have been repeated attacks on cultivators outside the city. Danger lurks in the shadows. To ensure the safety of everyone, today Xuan Zhen and I will lead the team together, and all disciples must accompany us. No one is allowed to stay behind alone or leave the team without permission. Once you have gathered herbs, you must return immediately and not linger outside."

"I will obey the sect leader's decree!"

Everyone agreed in unison, quickly tidying up their personal magic implements and pouches. In a short while, they had lined up and assembled in an orderly fashion.

Master Xuan Yang raised his hand and formed a hand seal. The protective array outside the courtyard rippled with spiritual light, quietly opening a passageway. A group of Laoshan disciples, dressed in plain white robes, silently left the courtyard, deliberately avoiding the bustling main streets of Haodu and choosing instead to traverse quiet alleyways, heading towards a secluded valley on the outskirts of the city where spiritual herbs flourished. Lin Yan followed in the group, his aura concealed, his mind calm and composed, neither striving nor impatient, silently accompanying them.

The entire team remained silent throughout the journey, strictly adhering to the rules of Laoshan. They ignored all attempts to spy on them, the whispers and gossips, and the power struggles among the various factions, focusing solely on completing their task of gathering herbs and supplies.

Half an hour later, the group successfully arrived at the secluded valley on the outskirts of the city.

This place is rarely visited by people, shaded by ancient trees, with gently flowing streams and abundant spiritual plants for alchemy such as Qingxin Grass and Ningqi Flower. The spiritual energy here is pure and tranquil, making it an excellent place to gather herbs.

Elder Xuanzhen instructed, "Separately gather the spiritual herbs, and meet at the valley entrance within one incense stick's time."

The disciples dispersed as instructed, quickly bending down to gather the spiritual herbs. The two True Immortals, Xuan Yang and Xuan Zhen, stood at two high points at the valley entrance, their divine senses spreading out to cover the entire valley, keeping watch in all directions and not letting any unusual movement slip by.

Just as everyone had finished collecting half of the herbs and the progress was steady, the air generator in the valley suddenly malfunctioned.

Boom—!

A deep, muffled roar shook the heavens and earth, and a thick, dark barrier descended from the sky, instantly sealing off the entire valley. The barrier isolated the spiritual energy inside and outside, cutting off all communication and calls for help. The light of day was completely swallowed by the black mist, and the valley instantly fell into darkness and gloom.

Immediately following, countless dark figures suddenly darted out from the surrounding dense forests, rock crevices, and ravines.

A group of masked cultivators, exuding a chilling aura and radiating murderous intent, stood in dense, layered formations. Dozens of black array flags unfurled in mid-air, their eerie, deadly array patterns instantly intertwining and locking down all directions. Sharp blade energy, insidious and malevolent magic, and a pervasive corrosive mist crashed down from all sides, their attacks resolute and ruthless, their target the entire Laoshan team, aiming for a pre-match annihilation!

"Ambush! Everyone form a defensive line and protect yourselves!"

Master Xuan Yang shouted loudly, and his pure spiritual energy suddenly surged. Golden protective spiritual light shot into the sky, condensing into a thick dome-shaped light shield that steadily protected all twenty disciples inside.

Elder Xuanzhen leaped to the front of the formation, his whisk dancing wildly, thousands of silver-white spiritual threads raining down as he directly confronted the barrage of evil magic attacks, managing to withstand the first wave of ferocious assault.

The twenty disciples of Laoshan instantly abandoned their herb gathering, swiftly gathered back to back, and remained calm in the face of danger. They simultaneously activated their Pure Heart Daoist Rhyme, and layer upon layer of Spirit Condensation Shields were deployed to stabilize their formation and hold their ground.

A dense, purplish-black poisonous mist, carrying a chilling, malevolent aura, rolled in. This mist was so potent and malevolent that ordinary protective shields would be instantly eroded and destroyed.

At the critical moment, three warm and clear spiritual lights simultaneously shone from within the group. The lights resonated together, instantly creating a pure and clear barrier that firmly resisted the oncoming poisonous miasma!

Surrounding Lin Yan, an ancient inkstone floated in mid-air, its spiritual light deep and enduring. The Dingyuan Pearl hung in the center of the inkstone, its deep blue divine light vast and suppressing evil. The Sea Spirit Crystal Marrow he carried slowly exhaled soft light. The three magical treasures complemented each other, their energies interconnected. The Dingyuan Pearl suppressed the evil energy from all directions, the Sea Spirit Crystal Marrow cleansed all yin and turbidity, and the inkstone spread out to stabilize the spiritual domain. Any poisonous mist, evil magic, or yin energy that came near was completely dissolved and could not get even half a step closer.

At Yunxi's waist, the sword-shaped black jade pendant was drawn from its sheath, transforming into a sharp, slender sword light that swirled around her. The pendant's spiritual energy resonated subtly with Lin Yan's magical artifact, the sword light cutting through layers of poisonous mist, forcing back the masked cultivators who were trying to ambush her, and steadily protecting her fellow disciples.

In Yi Ashi's palm, the warm, moist Sea Spirit Pearl slowly rose, its clear, ocean-like spiritual light spreading outwards, resonating with Lin Yan's Sea Spirit Crystal Essence, weaving a fine, purifying light curtain. Any remaining traces of faint, venomous aura were instantly purified and dissolved upon contact, protecting the disciples in the team from the miasma throughout the process.

The three treasures and four spiritual rays intertwined and merged, forcefully blocking the most deadly poisonous miasma attack, greatly relieving the pressure on the two elders, and making the team's defense as solid as a mountain in an instant.

"Form the Qingxin Guard Formation at Laoshan!" Elder Xuanzhen shouted sternly.

The disciples' steps were perfectly synchronized, instantly striking the correct rank. Their Daoist rhythms connected, their spiritual energy intertwined, and their individual shields coalesced into a unified grand formation. The sect's Pure Heart Dao Formation, the elders' defensive spiritual light, and the three disciples' magical treasure barriers overlapped, firmly locking the formation in place. No matter how fierce the external attacks, the formation remained as stable as a rock.

Seeing that the poison attack was ineffective, the masked cultivators immediately changed their tactics and launched a strong attack. A group of Foundation Establishment peak cultivators pressed forward together, their sharp blades whistling through the air, and their strange and evil spells bombarded the formation in succession, all aiming at the key point of the formation, attempting to break through and break in.

Lin Yan's palm surged, and the innate pure Yang Dan fire blazed forth, its righteous energy most effective against Yin and evil. He infused the power of the Dan fire into the inkstone and the spiritual energy of the Dingyuan Pearl, raised his hand to condense a refined Dan fire blade, and slashed down from the air, instantly shattering several poisonous blades that attacked. The pure Yang fire forced the surrounding Yin and evil to dissipate step by step.

Yunxi's sword light grew increasingly fierce, the gleaming white jade sword shadows darting and weaving, advancing and retreating swiftly, successively forcing back several masked cultivators who rushed towards them, and guarding the gap on the side of the formation.

Yi Ashi remained steadfast in the formation, continuously activating the Sea Spirit Pearl to purify the divine light, clear away the remaining miasma, and ensure that the team's spiritual energy flow was not obstructed by evil spirits.

At the front lines, Master Xuan Yang unleashed the sect's secret technique with all his might, the golden protective shield thickening layer upon layer, steadily suppressing the impact of the entire killing formation; Elder Xuan Zhen swept his whisk across the battlefield, thousands of strands of spiritual light piercing through the evil mist...

At the same time, in the Hao family's villa in Haodu, the sounds of martial arts practice and battles filled the air, but in a secluded corner, the atmosphere was gloomy and oppressive.

Hao Lei stood under the corridor, listening to his subordinates report that the ambush at Laoshan was still unbroken and that everyone was holding their ground firmly. His anger surged, and he coldly and sternly rebuked, "A bunch of useless trash! Dozens of men set up an ambush and killed them, yet you couldn't take Laoshan."

He was filled with resentment and hatred. Ever since Lin Yan easily thwarted his schemes several times before the competition, he had been holding a grudge and wanted to use the undercurrents of various parties to disrupt the situation, prevent Lin Yan from having peace, and prevent him from shining in the competition.

Not far away, Hao Jingchuan sheathed his sword and stood ready, his fighting spirit radiating intensity, his brows furrowed with impatience and sternness. He turned at the sound of the voice and said in a deep voice, "Hao Lei, haven't you been fooling around enough? Father has already strictly forbidden all private duels and underhanded tactics before the competition! You have repeatedly engaged in underhanded actions, disrupting the situation and giving others ammunition against you. If you hinder the family's plans and ruin the Hao family's great undertakings, I will not let you off easily!"

Hao Jingchuan has always been upright and honest, firmly believing that victory and defeat are determined on the field. He despises such cowardly underhanded and scheming behavior and feels that Hao Lei's actions have disgraced the Hao family.

Hao Lei was publicly reprimanded by his brother, and he felt resentful and unwilling, but he dared not openly contradict him. He could only suppress his anger and grit his teeth to reply, "I understand."

But the sinister look in his eyes hadn't faded, and his scheming hadn't stopped. He was secretly convinced that as long as the competition hadn't started, there would be countless opportunities. He didn't believe that Lin Yan could always be safe and sound and avoid trouble every time.

In the hall, Hao Lingjun strode in and bowed to Hao Qingyue, who sat at the head of the table, to report: "Patriarch, the forces behind the recent attacks on rogue cultivators and the ambush of disciples from smaller sects have been identified. It was Burning Heaven Valley that was secretly behind it. They intended to weaken the fighting power of all sides by taking advantage of the chaos before the competition, and seize the opportunity to grab the secret realm slots. In addition, the Wang family has been secretly contacting various smaller sects to form secret alliances, intending to band together to squeeze out the opportunities of other forces."

Hao Qingyue's eyes were cold and deep, his tone carrying an overwhelming domineering pressure: "The Burning Heaven Valley, a mere side sect, dares to cause trouble in my Haodu territory. Issue the order that if the Burning Heaven Valley dares to cause trouble in secret again, suppress it directly without any leniency. As for the conflict between the Wang Clan and the other minor sects, do not interfere. Let them balance each other out and weaken each other until they are both exhausted. Then my Hao Clan will reap all the benefits."

An atmosphere of impending violence permeated the hall, revealing the Hao family's overwhelming power and dominance.

On the other side, within the Wangzhu Garden of the Langya Wang Clan, beneath the gentle and elegant atmosphere, undercurrents were surging.

Yesterday, a top-tier rogue cultivator whom Wang Shiya had painstakingly recruited accidentally fell into a sophisticated trap on his way back at night and was severely injured. Not only did he completely lose his eligibility to participate in the competition, but he also publicly tore up his secret agreement with the Wang family regarding his spot.

This was the work of a group of small and medium-sized sects who were unwilling to be coerced by the Wang family and were wary of the Wang family's dominance, with the intention of deliberately undermining the Wang family's plans.

Upon hearing the report, Wang Jizhou's usual calm and gentle smile vanished completely, and a chill began to rise in his eyes.

"It seems many people think the Wang family is gentle and easily bullied." He tapped the table lightly with his fingertips, his tone icy. "Jingxing, immediately intensify your efforts, using high-level resources and top-grade spirit stones to win over another group of independent powerhouses. At the same time, secretly contact the Hao family to trace the source of the troublemakers and apply appropriate pressure and punishment, letting everyone know that the opportunities of the Wang family are never something to be plundered and trampled on."

Wang Jingxing cautiously reminded, "Father, if we go too far, we may violate the Hao Clan's prohibition and invite suppression."

"It's alright." Wang Jizhou waved his hand dismissively. "We will only maintain a balance of power in secret, without openly fighting or violating the rules of the alliance. As long as we do not violate them, the Hao Clan will have no grounds for criticism. Hao Du is now a dog-eat-dog game where the strong prey on the weak. If you want to gain a foothold and seize opportunities, you cannot tolerate any mercy."

Immediately afterwards, the Wang family secretly exerted their influence, and a reverse check and balance against small and medium-sized sects was quietly launched.

Meanwhile, smaller, more organized sects like Burning Heaven Valley and Danxia Valley were not to be outdone, setting up elaborate traps and ambushes specifically to kill the peripheral members of the Hao and Wang clans. For a time, the various forces in Haodu were locked in a cycle of mutual restraint, scheming, and attrition, leading to an increasingly chaotic and stalemate.

The Mo family of Jimo has always maintained neutrality and focused on self-cultivation, devoting themselves to the craftsmanship of mechanisms and avoiding involvement in power struggles, yet they still cannot escape the undercurrents.

Several Mohist disciples who went out to purchase mechanical parts were ambushed and killed by unknown cultivators on the way. Although they managed to escape with the help of their personal mechanical protective devices, they still suffered minor injuries.

Upon learning the news, Mo Shouchuan's expression turned solemn. He immediately issued a strict order: all Mo family disciples were to remain secluded, the Ingenuity Academy was to be sealed off, the barrier was to be firmly maintained, and they were to focus on preparing for the competition, completely isolating themselves from external conflicts and no longer getting involved in any vortex of competition.

At this point, all the top forces and small and medium-sized sects in Haodu were drawn into the pre-match chaos, checking and defending against each other, and falling into a tangled game of strategy.

In the afternoon, the atmosphere in the suburbs of Haodu changed again, and trouble arose once more.

A chilling and sinister aura suddenly erupted, its malevolent energy violent and rampant, corrupting the cultivators' spiritual veins. A core disciple of Burning Heaven Valley was unfortunately possessed by this evil energy, his spiritual veins became disordered, his Dao heart was lost, and he suffered a qi deviation on the spot, going out of control and attacking the surrounding cultivators in a frenzy, causing chaos in the scene.

In the end, the disciple was suppressed and subdued by the Hao clan's patrolling soldiers, but the incident caused panic throughout the city.

Only then did everyone realize that the chaos in Haodu was not only a battle for the interests of various forces, but also a hidden evil cultivator force taking advantage of the chaos to secretly devour the spiritual power of cultivators and disturb the energy of the earth's veins, with a huge scheme.

Blood-red sunset clouds blanketed the western sky as dusk settled.

The two immortals, Xuan Yang and Xuan Zhen, led the Laoshan disciples, who were covered in dust but all were safe and sound, back to Qinglaoyuan.

Upon entering the hospital, Lin Yan, who was meditating and adjusting his breathing, was suddenly jolted awake.

His innate inner fire inexplicably stirred and became slightly hot. A distant yet extremely familiar cold and evil aura drifted into the courtyard with the wind, completely of the same origin as the dark evil energy he had sensed several times before.

"It's that group of evil cultivators lurking in the shadows."

Lin Yan suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze serious and clear.

He instantly understood the root cause: the demonic possession of cultivators in the suburbs was no accident; it was caused by evil cultivators secretly infiltrating the spiritual veins and disrupting the earth's veins. This group of evil cultivators lurked in the shadows, using the chaos of the grand competition to conceal their whereabouts. Their target was the spiritual source of the Shaohao Emperor Ruins' earth vein, which was about to appear in the world, intending to take advantage of the chaos to steal the opportunities of the mountains and seas and wreak havoc on the Dongyi earth veins.

He had a slight thought and considered leaving the city immediately to trace the source, but he quickly suppressed it.

With the Alliance Grand Competition imminent, and the sect's strict orders in place, he cannot disrupt the entire group's preparations by privately investigating clues or leaving the base without permission, thus betraying his original intention of joining the Alliance in Laoshan.

Having made up his mind, Lin Yan stepped forward and whispered to the returning Xuan Yang Zhenren: "Master, I have found out the root cause of the cultivators in the suburbs who went mad with their cultivation. It was caused by the power of evil spirits in the shadows invading the spiritual veins. There are indeed evil cultivators hiding in the city, and their target is the earth veins of the Shao Hao Ruins."

Master Xuan Yang nodded slightly, his expression one of anticipation. He said solemnly, "Xuan Zhen and I already sensed it on the way. These evil cultivators have been lying in wait for years, waiting for the opening of the Imperial Ruins to cause trouble, intending to steal the source of the earth's veins. This matter concerns the overall situation and it is not advisable to make any rash moves at the moment. You only need to remember that after the competition begins, keep a close eye on the energy of Mount Tai's earth veins, and seize the opportunity to eliminate the evil and protect the veins. For now, focus on preparing for the competition and wait for the situation to change."

"Disciple will remember Master's teachings," Lin Yan replied, bowing respectfully.

He had already secretly vowed that this Mountain and Sea Alliance meeting would not only be a competition to live up to the alliance, but also a close watch on the traces of evil spirits, and would never allow them to succeed in disrupting the earth's veins and stealing the spiritual resources of the mountains and rivers.

Night completely enveloped Haodu. Before the grand competition even began, wind and rain had already swept through the entire city.