Published: March 3, 2025
Chapter 369: Body Guarding Flame Shield and Unexpected Developments (Supplementing Yesterday's Missing Thousand Words)
In Liu Yu's view, Daoist Purple Cloud rambled on for quite a while, but most of it was meaningless drivel.
The gist of it was that ascending the mountain required passing a "qualification test" — not everyone was qualified to watch the battle.
Only those with exceptional strength, who gained recognition from many peers, could ascend the mountain.
Ultimately, it came down to gaining the acknowledgment of White Cloud Temple.
For each realm, White Cloud Temple would send out a cultivator as a challenger for the qualification test; only by defeating this person could one ascend to watch the battle.
As for qi refinement stage cultivators, it was mentioned lightly that they might face life-threatening risks, but no further elaboration was given.
"How ridiculous! Mount Tianwang is a lawless land."
"We should be able to come and go as we please; why do we need the recognition of White Cloud Temple to ascend the mountain?"
At that moment, the earlier strange voice echoed again in the crowd.
"Hmph."
If such tricks could fool ordinary foundation establishment cultivators, how could they deceive Daoist Purple Cloud, who was at the peak foundation establishment?
His gaze, sharp as lightning, scanned the crowd below, locking onto a specific position, and he let out a cold snort.
"Uh ah!"
Without any visible movement, a scream immediately rang out.
In the crowd, someone stumbled backward, clutching their head in pain.
"Spiritual consciousness attack!"
A seasoned cultivator watching the battle recognized this extremely rare secret technique.
"Daoist Purple Cloud has long reached the peak foundation establishment and possesses a supreme spiritual artifact, along with a spiritual consciousness secret technique."
"Among us, it seems no one can match him in a single blow."
Some cultivators whispered in the crowd.
"Spiritual consciousness secret technique."
"Indeed, the higher the cultivator's level, the less likely they are to have obvious shortcomings in various aspects."
Liu Yu's expression grew serious; it was his first time seeing another cultivator besides himself use a spiritual consciousness attack technique.
He silently reminded himself not to underestimate other cultivators just because he had the unique "art of spirit preservation."
Especially not someone so renowned as this major sect's direct disciple.
"What’s there to be afraid of? Even if Daoist Purple Cloud is powerful, he’s just one person."
"Can he really leave us, so many peers, helpless?"
In the crowd, a clever cultivator continued to incite the group.
They spoke of radical opinions, eager for the situation to escalate.
Liu Yu couldn't help but glance over, locking eyes with the shifty-eyed cultivator who looked cunning, while secretly pondering.
"Could this person be a plant sent by a sect?"
"The goal is to stir up trouble."
It was no wonder he had such thoughts; several people among the spectators were instigating, seemingly eager for a conflict between the cultivators and White Cloud Temple, which did not resemble the stance of ordinary cultivators at all.
Though the influence of the sect hadn't reached this far, it would be too easy to just send a few cultivators here.
However, those who could practice at the foundation establishment stage were rarely foolish enough to alienate themselves from White Cloud Temple over a few words.
Once Daoist Purple Cloud announced the "qualification to ascend the mountain," cultivators who felt they had some strength fell silent.
Most cultivators, though unwilling to accept it, still hoped to make some efforts to get White Cloud Temple to make more concessions.
But with their relative lack of strength, they could only helplessly accept reality.
The once boisterous group of cultivators suddenly fell apart, their eyes flickering as they observed the unfolding situation.
They were not a united front to begin with, so there was no need to consider others' feelings.