The Confucian and Taoist Sages of Mortal Cultivation

"Yellow Maple Valley?"

"Why is it this?"

Wan Xiaoshan shook his head vigorously, lowered his voice, and leaned close to Yang Qingyuan to introduce, "Yellow Maple Valley doesn't even rank in the top three among the seven major sects."

"With Brother Yang's talent, it would be a piece of cake for him to join the top-ranked Hidden Moon Sect or the second-ranked Spirit Beast Mountain."

"If all else fails, coming to the Giant Sword Sect, which is affiliated with the Wan family, is also a good option."

"Maybe in the future, Brother Yang and I will become fellow disciples."

"Why bother going to Yellow Maple Valley..."

Yang Qingyuan wanted to join Huangfeng Valley because there were many opportunities within the valley, such as the Spirit Eye Spring and the Great Evolution Technique, a legacy of the Thousand Bamboo Sect.

Joining Yellow Maple Valley is a sure-fire way to make money.

Choosing another sect, however, involves facing unknown risks.

"Well, that's fine then." Seeing that Yang Qingyuan had made up his mind to go to Huangfeng Valley, Wan Xiaoshan said, "All the experts are rushing to the Hidden Moon Sect and the Spirit Beast Mountain, so the competition in the arena of the other five major sects is not so fierce. It is an opportunity."

"Brother Yang, look, there are only a little over two hundred cultivators near the Yellow Maple Valley arena, which is only half the number of the Hidden Moon Sect."

Upon hearing this, Yang Qingyuan looked towards the arena with the Yellow Maple Valley flag and found that, as Wan Xiaoshan had said, the number of people queuing was indeed less than that of the other arenas.

"Huh?" Wan Xiaoshan suddenly exclaimed softly, his gaze fixed on the distance to the Yellow Maple Valley arena, and said in surprise, "It's Brother Han!"

"Brother Han actually came too!"

Upon hearing this, Yang Qingyuan's spirits lifted, and he followed Wan Xiaoshan's gaze.

Near the arena in Huangfeng Valley, a young man of about seventeen or eighteen years old was standing in a corner, quietly observing the cultivators queuing up. The mana fluctuations on his body were at the ninth level of Qi Refining.

The young man had dark skin and an unremarkable appearance. He was clearly startled by Wan Xiaoshan's voice and looked toward the source of the sound.

When the young man saw Wan Xiaoshan, he was stunned for a moment, then quickly stepped forward to greet him.

"Brother Xiaoshan, I didn't expect you to be here too?" The young man was overjoyed to see Wan Xiaoshan, and then glanced at Yang Qingyuan, saying, "Is this also a member of your Wan family?"

"No," Wan Xiaoshan waved his hand and said, "Let me introduce you two."

"This is Brother Yang Qingyuan, a rogue cultivator who saved my life and is also going to participate in this Ascension Ceremony."

"Brother Yang, this is Brother Han Li, who is also a rogue cultivator."

It turns out that the ordinary-looking young man in front of them is none other than Han Li, the protagonist of the novel "A Record of a Mortal's Journey to Immortality".

Yang Qingyuan clasped his hands in greeting and said to Han Li, "Fellow Daoist Han, I am Yang Qingyuan, greetings."

Han Li secretly used his Heavenly Eye Technique to investigate Yang Qingyuan's situation. Afterwards, he asked in surprise, "Fellow Daoist Yang seems to be only at the eighth level of Qi Refining, yet he's already participating in the Ascension Ceremony?"

"Brother Xiaoshan, didn't you tell me how dangerous the Ascension Ceremony is?"

Wan Xiaoshan quickly explained, "I and Uncle Qingyan tried to persuade Brother Yang for a long time, but Brother Yang insisted on going to the arena."

"We couldn't persuade them otherwise."

"But speaking of which, judging from Brother Han's expression just now, he seemed to be observing the arena in Yellow Maple Valley. Could it be that he also wants to go to Yellow Maple Valley?"

"That's exactly what Brother Yang thinks."

Upon hearing this, Han Li quickly waved his hand and chuckled, "Brother Xiaoshan has misunderstood."

"With my meager strength, how could I dare to challenge the arena? I merely wished to pay my respects to the Foundation Establishment seniors of Yellow Maple Valley."

"Unfortunately, the other party never showed up."

When Han Li denied it, Wan Xiaoshan sighed, "What a pity."

"If Brother Yang and Brother Han could both join Huangfeng Valley, they could look out for each other in the future."

"But don't be discouraged, Brother Han, we can come again next time."

Upon hearing this, Han Li smiled smugly and said, "Is that so? Then let's follow Brother Xiaoshan's suggestion and come again next time."

When Yang Qingyuan saw that Han Li could barely suppress his smile, he knew that the other party had not revealed the truth. He vaguely remembered that Han Li had a "Ascension Token" from Huangfeng Valley.

The seven major sects have long stipulated that those who possess the "Ascension Token" can directly join the corresponding sect without having to participate in a tournament and will receive a Foundation Establishment Pill.

Yang Qingyuan guessed that Han Li was probably looking for the guide from Huangfeng Valley to submit the Ascension Order.

Thinking of this, he greeted Han Li, "Fellow Daoist Han is too modest. In my opinion, there will definitely be a place for the two of us among the disciples who will be admitted to Huangfeng Valley this time."

Upon hearing this, Han Li's eyes flashed with surprise. He didn't understand why Yang Qingyuan recognized him so much. While he was surprised, he also felt a little more favorably towards Yang Qingyuan.

"Then I'll take your kind words, Fellow Daoist Yang, and see you again at Yellow Maple Valley someday." Han Li bowed slightly.

"Who's barking like a dog?!" Just then, a discordant, sarcastic voice rang out.

"One is a rogue cultivator at the eighth level of Qi Refining, and the other is a rogue cultivator at the ninth level of Qi Refining!"

"How dare you spout such arrogant words? You're delusional to think you can join Yellow Maple Valley."

"Wan Xiaoshan, only someone from your Wan family likes to associate with this group of insignificant rogue cultivators."

Upon hearing this, Yang Qingyuan, Han Li, and Wan Xiaoshan all turned slightly gloomy and looked in the direction of the voice.

Moreover, seven or eight rogue cultivators nearby, upon hearing someone mocking them, also glared angrily and turned to look.

A young man and woman, dressed in green robes and bearing a striking resemblance, stepped forward.

The two looked to be in their early twenties, and both had a golden "Yan" character engraved on their cuffs. They were both at the eleventh level of Qi Refining.

The man had a sinister appearance and held a wooden slip in his hand that read "Yellow Maple Valley, number twenty-two".

The woman also held a wooden slip in her hand, which read "Yueyan Sect, number thirty-one".

It is clear that the two have already completed the draw.

"Oh no! It's them!" Wan Xiaoshan's face turned extremely ugly the moment he saw the young couple.

The group of wandering cultivators nearby saw the character "燕" (swallow) on the sleeves of the couple, their eyelids twitched uncontrollably, and they hurriedly turned their heads away, pretending they hadn't heard anything.

"Brother Xiaoshan, who are these two? Do you know them?" Yang Qingyuan asked Wan Xiaoshan, who was standing to the side.

Wan Xiaoshan said with a wry smile, "Brother Yang, I've dragged you into this."

"This brother and sister are called Yan Nanfei and Yan Nanjiao. They come from the Gu Yushan Yan family, the number one immortal cultivation clan in Yue Kingdom. They have always been arrogant and look down on rogue cultivators."

"The reason they can be so arrogant is because the Yan family has a Core Formation stage cultivator in charge."

"The Yan family has had many conflicts with our Wan family, and our relationship is not good. Last year, when my seventh sister and I bought that yellow cloud mirror at a market, we had a conflict with the Yan siblings."

"I never expected that the Yan family would send these siblings to compete for the Foundation Establishment Pill."

"Brother Yang, take my advice and don't get into a fight with them."

"Both of them are at the eleventh level of Qi Refining, and they definitely have top-grade magic weapons with them."

"Look at the black bags on their waists, those aren't storage bags, they're spirit pet bags."

"Most of the creatures inside are the 'Two-Headed Duck,' a level-one demonic beast raised by the Yan family. This strange bird is as strong as a cultivator at the thirteenth level of Qi Refining."

"Now that my seventh sister isn't here, let's back down a bit for now."

Upon hearing this, Han Li frowned and stepped back behind the crowd.

Seeing that Han Li was giving way, Yan Nanfei and Yan Nanjiao, the brother and sister, became even more arrogant.

"When did Yellow Maple Valley become a place for people like you who are only at the late stage of Qi Refining to join?"

"Hehe." Yang Qingyuan chuckled and replied, "What if we could join us? What would you offer?"

"Haha," Yan Nanfei joked, "How about this, if you join Huangfeng Valley, I'll kneel down and kowtow to you."

"If you can't get in, then you and Wan Xiaoshan will kowtow three times to us siblings, and then obediently hand over the Yellow Cloud Mirror from the market."

Upon hearing this, Wan Xiaoshan secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

"I've never seen anyone so ruthless to themselves." Yang Qingyuan laughed heartily upon hearing this, then strode towards the registration area in front of the Yellow Maple Valley arena.

Seeing this, Wan Xiaoshan quickly followed.

Han Li had no choice but to bite the bullet and follow behind the two.

Many independent cultivators around cast curious glances at the person who dared to defy the people of Yan Family Fortress.

"Who are these three people?"

"How dare they provoke the Yan siblings!"

Just as everyone was wondering, Yang Qingyuan had already walked to the side of the line where Huangfeng Valley was drawing lots, and looked at the Qi Refining stage disciples of Huangfeng Valley who were distributing wooden lots behind the wooden table.

Seeing someone cutting in line, the Yellow Maple Valley disciple spoke up directly, coldly saying, "Go back and line up."

Yang Qingyuan remained silent, but instead channeled his magical power, extending his right hand, where silver-white arcs of electricity flickered in his palm.

"What is this?!" The Qi Refining stage disciple of Huangfeng Valley suddenly narrowed his pupils, feeling incredulous and uncertain. He exclaimed in surprise, "Palm Thunder? Could it be that you are...?"

Before the words were finished, the scene on the open space to the side distorted slightly, and then a middle-aged man's figure appeared out of thin air.

The man was dressed in a blue robe and appeared to be in his thirties. He had a square face, thick eyebrows, strong eyes, a high nose, and a wide mouth. Just by standing there, he exuded an aura far beyond the Qi Refining stage, clearly indicating that he was a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

The Qi Refining stage disciples of Huangfeng Valley, who were still distributing wooden slips, quickly put down their slips and bowed to the middle-aged man, saying, "Greetings, Uncle-Master Wang!"

However, this Uncle Wang stared intently at Yang Qingyuan with a rather solemn expression. He then released his divine sense, swept it over Yang Qingyuan's body, and immediately broke into a smile.

"It can't be wrong!"

"Such qualifications!"

"Young friend, I am a Foundation Establishment deacon from Huangfeng Valley, and also the guide for this Ascension Ceremony. My surname is Wang." After introducing himself, Uncle Wang asked Yang Qingyuan, "Would you be willing to join our Huangfeng Valley?"

"Our Yellow Maple Valley is willing to offer you a Foundation Establishment Pill, so you can take it first!"

Upon hearing this, the hundreds of independent cultivators who were still queuing to draw lots instantly erupted in uproar.

"What's going on?"

"The duel hasn't even started yet, how come you're already taking on disciples?"

Han Li, standing nearby, widened his eyes in bewilderment upon hearing this.

Yang Qingyuan remained calm, as if he had expected this. He nodded slightly and said, "Disciple Yang Qingyuan is willing to join Huangfeng Valley and pay respects to Martial Uncle Wang."

"Excellent, excellent!" Uncle Wang clapped his hands and laughed, saying, "I never expected that this trip would actually recruit a cultivator with a lightning spiritual root for the sect."

"A great achievement!"

Upon hearing the words "lightning spirit root," the hundred or so rogue cultivators in line exchanged bewildered glances and began to stir with excitement.

"Lightning Spirit Root!"

"This rogue cultivator actually possesses a lightning spiritual root!"