txolops Chapter 24 Han Li Enters Yellow Maple Valley
Chapter 24 Han Li Enters Yellow Maple Valley
Seeing that his ranking remained at fifth place, Zhang Tie let out a long breath and jumped off the stage.
The surrounding rogue cultivators immediately cast envious glances. Joining one of the seven sects was the lifelong dream of these people, not to mention that this spot represented a Foundation Establishment Pill!
Only by joining a sect can one have the opportunity to advance from the Qi Refining stage to the Foundation Establishment stage, thus ensuring the continuation of one's cultivation path!
This is the most irrefutable truth among the independent cultivators of Yue Kingdom.
Perhaps there are methods in the cultivation world that allow one to establish a foundation without the Foundation Establishment Pill, but those methods generally have extremely severe side effects and may even turn one into a monster that is neither human nor ghost.
Even if one manages to establish a foundation using evil methods, once discovered by other cultivators, they will surely be annihilated by the seven sects!
...
Two hours later, the battle on the last arena of Tianwu Platform came to an end!
On the Huadaowu arena, a rogue cultivator at the Great Perfection of Qi Refining defeated his opponent and stood on the stage covered in blood. As his aura weakened, he learned that he had won the tenth spot. His eyes flashed with relief, his legs went weak, and he almost collapsed to the ground!
This is how most people perform. Even if they don't lose a single match, they still have to fight seven matches. Even someone at the Great Perfection of Qi Refining would be unable to hold on much longer!
At this point, all the spots for the Ascension Ceremony have been decided.
On the high platform, Nangong Wan stood up, her voice echoing throughout the entire Heavenly Mist Platform: "This Ascension Ceremony is now concluded. Those cultivators who have obtained a spot will proceed to their respective sects with the Foundation Establishment cultivators. Everyone else must leave the Heavenly Mist Platform within one hour. Those who violate this rule will be treated as trespassers!"
As soon as he finished speaking, some of the rogue cultivators below the stage began to stir, and some even hid in the crowd and shouted loudly.
"Seventy spots, nearly forty of them are taken by clan cultivators, and less than half are occupied by independent cultivators! What kind of bullshit conference is this!"
These words immediately caused a stir among the eliminated rogue cultivators, and soon someone dared to speak up.
"That's unfair! The Ascension Ceremony is meant to be an opportunity for independent cultivators, so why should those family disciples have to compete for it?"
"Exactly! They already have families to support them, yet they still want to compete with us for Foundation Establishment Pills. Isn't that bullying?"
"The seven sects are clearly favoring their family cultivators; we independent cultivators are just there to make up the numbers!"
"..."
Angry voices rose and fell, and more and more people joined the condemnation.
Zhang Tie stood on the periphery of the crowd, watching everything with a blank expression.
Han Li stood beside him, looking somewhat puzzled: "Aren't they afraid of dying?"
No sooner had he finished speaking than a sharp sword beam descended from the sky!
"Pfft!"
In the crowd, a middle-aged cultivator's head flew off, blood gushing out, and his body fell straight to the ground.
Xuan Jin of the Hidden Moon Sect stood at the edge of the high platform, his gaze coldly fixed on the audience below. The aura of a Foundation Establishment Grand Perfection cultivator swept across the entire Heavenly Mist Platform.
"Who else is dissatisfied?"
The audience fell silent instantly, a deathly stillness.
At this moment, most of the rogue cultivators who had followed suit and spoken up were trembling and pale-faced. After calming down, they wished they could slap themselves!
What did they just do? Denounce the Seven Factions?!
Is this something a rogue cultivator like them could do? It's like an old man committing suicide, tired of living!
Xuan Jin glanced at the crowd and said calmly, "The rules of the Ascension Assembly are that there are seven factions. Anyone who is dissatisfied is considered an enemy of the seven factions, and I don't need to elaborate on the consequences of being an enemy of the seven factions!"
"Leave Tianwutai within one hour. Remember, don't make a mistake!"
The rogue cultivators began to leave Tianwu Platform, especially those who had spoken earlier, who left very quickly, fearing that the seven sects would single them out as a warning to others.
At this moment, Zhang Tie looked at Han Li and nodded slightly.
Han Li took a deep breath, stepped out of the crowd, and walked towards the high platform.
Many of the rogue cultivators who hadn't left yet witnessed this scene and immediately paused in their tracks.
No way! Surely no one would actually dare to touch the tiger's whiskers?
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Han Li walked down from the platform, took out the Ascension Token, held it up with both hands, and said loudly, "I am Han Li, a rogue cultivator, and with this Ascension Token, I humbly request to join the Seven Sects!"
The entire Tianwutai fell silent instantly.
An Ascension Order?
Not only rogue cultivators, but many Foundation Establishment cultivators from the seven sects also showed expressions of doubt.
However, some people still recognized the true nature of the token in Han Li's hand.
"An Ascension Token? How could he have an Ascension Token?"
"It's been almost a century since any of the seven sects joined with an Ascension Token! How did it end up in the hands of a rogue cultivator?"
"Perhaps their family fortunes have declined... This Ascension Token seems to belong to Yellow Maple Valley!"
"Who cares how he got it? With the Ascension Token, even a rogue cultivator can directly join one of the Seven Sects!"
The rogue cultivators were buzzing with discussion, their eyes filled with envy and jealousy. However, they were unaware that the Ascension Token could also grant a Foundation Establishment Pill; otherwise, they would have found it even more unacceptable.
Some rogue cultivators, having learned of the Ascension Token's function, stared intently at Han Li, wishing they could rush up and snatch the token. However, upon seeing the Foundation Establishment cultivators on the high platform, their gazes immediately shrank back.
On the high platform, the Foundation Establishment cultivators led by Huang Feng Valley were middle-aged Taoists. They glanced at Han Li, and then at the Ascension Token in his hand.
This is indeed from their Yellow Maple Valley!
With so many people watching, he couldn't possibly deny it. However, the matter of the Foundation Establishment Pill was beyond the control of a Foundation Establishment cultivator like himself; it required the decision of his senior uncles within the sect.
"The Ascension Token is indeed real. According to the rules, the holder of the Ascension Token can directly join Yellow Maple Valley!"
Han Li was overjoyed, but showed no sign of it on his face. He bowed respectfully and said, "Thank you, senior!"
The middle-aged Taoist nodded, gesturing for Han Li to join the Yellow Maple Valley's group.
Han Li walked into the group in Huangfeng Valley, his heart filled with excitement. He turned back to look in Zhang Tie's direction, where Zhang Tie was raising an eyebrow at him.
...
Half an hour later, the various sects gathered and prepared to leave.
Before leaving, Han Li found Zhang Tie, and the two remained silent for a moment.
"Brother Tie, thank you! Without you, I'm afraid I would have been killed by Mo Juren by now!" Han Li suddenly said.
Zhang Tie chuckled: "Do we need to be so polite between us? Without you, I'm afraid I would have been captured by Mo Juren and turned into a puppet!"
"I'll cultivate diligently in Yellow Maple Valley and strive to reach the Foundation Establishment stage as soon as possible!"
"Han Li, the cultivation world is not like the Seven Mysteries Sect. It is dangerous everywhere, and anyone could be Mo Juren! Plan everything carefully, be cautious, and don't easily trust anyone!" Zhang Tie said solemnly.
Han Li nodded solemnly: "I know!"
"Also, don't tell anyone about the little green bottle. Absolutely no one!"
"I know!"
Zhang Tie looked at Han Li and patted him on the shoulder!
"Take care of yourself!"
"Hmm!" Han Li's eyes reddened slightly.
In the distance, the cultivators of Spirit Beast Mountain had begun to gather.
The leading Foundation Establishment cultivator began summoning flying spirit beasts. Several sharp eagle cries pierced the sky as three enormous iron-feathered eagles swooped down from the clouds and landed on the platform.
"Newcomers to Spirit Beast Mountain, come quickly!"
Zhang Tie glanced at Han Li, having said what he needed to say, and stopped being coy, turning to walk towards the Spirit Beast Mountain team.
Han Li watched his retreating figure, his lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he said nothing.
For some reason, a phrase that Zhang Tiezong always said suddenly popped into my mind: "On the path of cultivation, loneliness and separation are the norm!"
Han Li didn't understand before, but now he seems to have some insight.
Zhang Tie leaped onto the back of the Iron Feather Eagle and sat down with the other nine newcomers. The Iron Feather Eagle flapped its wings, a howling wind arose, and it soared into the sky!
I believe that not long from now, when the winds of change rise in Yue, he and Han Li will be able to meet again!