329: Chapter 329: Generous Rewards

The Righteous Path and the Demonic Path were recruiting at the same time.

The news spread like it had wings, covering the entire Northern Territory within three days.

The announcement for the Righteous Path's Immortal Ascension Assembly was issued by the Supreme Dao Palace and endorsed by all Sects.

The announcement was written in large golden characters, with solemn and majestic wording.

"The Righteous Path is flourishing, and the world supports it. Any hero of the Northern Territory, regardless of background or origin, may go to the Supreme Dao Palace to participate in the Immortal Ascension Assembly."

"There will be three trials, and the best will be selected. The top-ranked person will receive a Heaven Rank Cultivation Technique and a Heaven Rank Magic Treasure, and the top ten will each receive generous rewards. The gates of the Righteous Path are open to you."

The announcement for the Demonic Path's Demon Refining Conference was issued by the Eternal Night Demon Sect and signed by the Six Great Demonic Sects.

The announcement was written in large dark red characters, with flamboyant and direct wording.

"The Demonic Path does not look at background or ask about origins. As long as you are strong enough, dare to fight, and dare to kill, the gates of the Demonic Path are open to you."

"The top-ranked person will be bestowed with one Yellow Springs Puppet and one Heaven Rank Cultivation Technique, and the top ten will each receive generous rewards."

"At the Demon Refining Conference, you are responsible for your own life and death. The winner takes all."

For a time, the Northern Territory was in an uproar.

In tea houses, wine shops, and on the streets, everyone was discussing this matter.

Loose Cultivators were discussing it, Sect Disciples were discussing it, and even ordinary people were discussing it.

The Righteous Path and the Demonic Path holding selection conferences simultaneously was a first in the history of the Northern Territory.

"Did you hear? The Righteous Path is holding an Immortal Ascension Assembly, and the winner gets a Heaven Rank Cultivation Technique and a Heaven Rank Magic Treasure!" A young Loose Cultivator slammed the table excitedly.

"What's a Heaven Rank Cultivation Technique worth? The Demonic Path is even more ruthless; the winner gets a Yellow Springs Puppet! It's a corpse at the Void Refinement Stage, with combat power that can instantly kill someone at the Peak Soul Transformation Stage!"

The middle-aged man beside him sneered.

"Isn't that even more generous than the Righteous Path?"

"What do you know? The Righteous Path gives you a future, while the Demonic Path gives you power. It depends on how you choose."

"If you go to the Righteous Path, you'll be a proper Disciple. If you go to the Demonic Path, you might end up as cannon fodder."

"Then I choose the Demonic Path. The Yellow Springs Puppet is too tempting."

"I choose the Righteous Path. A Heaven Rank Cultivation Technique is the foundation. Once you have the technique, what kind of Puppet can't you refine?"

"You don't know anything. The Yellow Springs Puppet is at the Void Refinement Stage. You try refining one and let me see!"

The two argued more and more fiercely, almost coming to blows.

The shopkeeper hurriedly came over to mediate, only then separating them.

Meanwhile, in various parts of the Northern Territory, countless young Geniuses began to take action after receiving the news.

...

Heavenly Sword Sect, deep within the Sword Tomb.

A young man sat cross-legged in the center of thousands of long swords, with Sword Intent flowing around his body, forming an invisible protective shield.

His face was handsome, his eyebrows were slender, and his eyes were half-closed, as if he were contemplating something.

His cultivation was at the Peak Soul Transformation Stage.

Jian Wuhen, an Outer Sect Disciple of the Heavenly Sword Sect.

Although his background was not high, his talent for the Dao of the sword was extremely high, and he was hailed as the "Sword Dao Genius of the Heavenly Sword Sect once in a decade."

A Jade Slip was floating in front of him; it was the announcement for the Immortal Ascension Assembly issued by the Supreme Dao Palace.

He had been watching it for a full hour.

"Immortal Ascension Assembly... Supreme Dao Palace..." He opened his eyes, and sword light flickered within them.

"The Heavenly Sword Sect is too small; it cannot contain my sword. The Supreme Dao Palace is where I should go."

He stood up and grasped the long sword beside him.

The sword was entirely silvery-white, with a faint blue light flowing on the blade; it was his own Natal Sword that he had refined himself.

Although its grade was not high, it was connected to his heart and mind.

He walked out of the Sword Tomb and flew toward the north.

Behind him, thousands of long swords made a humming resonance, as if they were seeing him off.

Far North Land, at the edge of the wilderness.

A young woman walked alone on the wasteland, carrying a long spear on her shoulder, with blood still dripping from the spear tip.

Her face was cold, her skin was wheat-colored, and her eyes were amber, like a leopard that had grown up in the wilderness.

Her cultivation was at the Middle Stage of Soul Transformation.

Mu Qing, a Loose Cultivator.

Her parents died young, and she grew up in the wilderness, accompanied by Yao Beasts, relying on hunting Yao Beasts to exchange for Spirit Stones to Cultivate.

She had no Sect, no Master, only the long spear in her hand and the cultivation she had killed her way to acquire.

She saw the announcement for the Demon Refining Conference, and a light shone in her blood-red eyes. She read the announcement three times, reciting it word for word.

"The Demonic Path... does not look at background, does not ask about origins, as long as you are strong enough—isn't this prepared for me?"

She put away the announcement, shouldered her long spear, and flew toward the south.

Behind her, the corpse of a Peak Soul Transformation Stage Yao Beast she had hunted was still steaming.

That Yao Beast was killed by her three days ago. To kill this Yao Beast, she had lurked in the depths of the wilderness for seven days and seven nights, killing it with a single strike.

Central Province, territory of the Shangguan Family.

A young man stood on the martial arts arena, surrounded by a circle of clansmen.

His face was handsome, his eyes were sharp, he was dressed in white, and he wore a long sword at his waist.

His cultivation was at the Peak Soul Transformation Stage.

Shangguan Yunyi, the nephew of Shangguan Yunhe, the most outstanding Genius of the younger generation of the Shangguan Family.

He held an invitation in his hand.

It was specifically sent by the Supreme Dao Palace to major Families, inviting their young Disciples to participate in the Immortal Ascension Assembly.

"Yunyi, are you sure you want to go?" An Elder asked worriedly.

"Your uncle, Shangguan Yunhe, is currently locked in a struggle with Alliance Leader Li. If you go to participate, will it..."

Shangguan Yunyi interrupted him: "Uncle is Uncle, and I am I."

"The Shangguan Family cannot live in Uncle's shadow forever. I need to walk out and walk my own path."

The Elder was silent for a moment, then nodded.

"Go then, be careful."

"The outside world is much more complicated than the Family."

Shangguan Yunyi turned around, transformed into a white light, and flew toward the north.

Western Northern Territory, a remote small town.

A ragged teenager squatted in the corner of a wall.

His face was dirty, but his eyes were very bright, like two stars.

His cultivation was at the Early Stage of Spirit Severing.

It was hard to imagine that an Old Ancestor at the Soul Transformation Stage would actually be wearing such ragged clothes.

In fact, this had to do with his experience.

His name was Shi Gan-dang, an orphan.

He grew up on the streets and survived by stealing and robbing. Later, he was guided by a kind Loose Cultivator who passed by, and only then did he embark on the path of Cultivation.

He had no resources, relying entirely on his own exploration, and he managed to Cultivate to the Early Stage of Spirit Severing.

Pure talent.

Later, Shi Gan-dang joined the Beggar Sect and ended up with this style of dress.

On the ground in front of him lay a tattered announcement.

It was the announcement for the Demon Refining Conference.

He had torn it from the notice board at the entrance of the town, where someone had crumpled it into a ball and thrown it on the ground; he picked it up and unfolded it.

"Does not look at background... does not ask about origins... as long as you are strong enough..."

He read it word for word, his eyes getting brighter and brighter.

"Isn't this talking about me?"

"I've had enough of the Beggar Sect; it's time to go to another place."

He stuffed a steamed bun into his mouth, patted the crumbs off his hands, stood up, and walked toward the south.