Chapter 63 The Nine Major Sects

With two low-grade spirit treasures in hand, Ye Fan was in a great mood, whistling as he returned to his Immortal Cave to prepare for tomorrow's departure.

The scale of this Heavenly Pride Assembly far exceeded previous ones, and it even exceptionally allowed Loose Cultivators to participate. The total number of people had already exceeded ten thousand, far surpassing any previous session.

It turned out that the Nine Great Sects intended to use this opportunity to expand their strength; the higher one's ranking, the better the chance of receiving an olive branch from a Sect, which attracted many Loose Cultivators to participate.

If not for the hard requirement that one's cultivation must not be lower than the Fifth Level of Qi Refining Realm, the number of participants would likely have increased several times over.

Considering the danger of this trial, Ye Fan also made many preparations to ensure everything was as foolproof as possible.

Just as he was calculating how to get more Medicinal Pills for protection, that Little Girl Yun Li actually came to his door of her own accord.

Ever since receiving Ye Fan's painting last time, Yun Li had been so shy she wanted to sink into the ground, and she hadn't run to Profound Spirit Peak for many days.

Seeing her intention today, she must have heard about the Heavenly Pride Assembly and came to see the two of them off.

Thinking of everything that happened before, Yun Li's small face couldn't help but flush crimson. She glared huffily at Ye Fan, then threw herself directly into Murong Wan's arms.

"Master won't let me participate no matter what this time. Sister Murong, you must be careful."

Although Yun Li had extraordinary talent in the Dao of Alchemy, her own cultivation was still a bit too weak, barely reaching the Fifth Level of Qi Refining Realm.

Participating in the Heavenly Pride Assembly with this level of cultivation was basically no different from being cannon fodder; how could the one from Pill Cauldron Peak possibly bear to let her participate?

"I have a few bottles of Medicinal Pills here, all refined by my own hand. There's everything from Qi-supplementing to wound-healing. Sister Murong, please take them."

Murong Wan doted on Yun Li as she rubbed the girl's small head, accepting her kindness and stating that she would act carefully.

"Stinky Senior Brother, this is your share. Be careful not to die."

Yun Li said huffily, making Ye Fan not know whether to laugh or cry.

"Why is it always this phrase?!"

While Murong Wan went back to her room to pack, Yun Li plucked up the courage to come to Ye Fan's side.

"Senior Brother... I'm also going to participate in the Dao Companion Assembly next year... At that time, do you think... do you think... I..."

Yun Li stammered with a red face for a long time, and just as she was about to speak, she was interrupted by a sudden knock at the door.

"Ye Fan, open the door! Your father has come to see you!"

Lin Lei's laughing and scolding voice came from outside the door, causing Yun Li's pretty face to burn as she fled back to Pill Cauldron Peak like a flash.

Seeing Yun Li fleeing in a panic, Lin Lei and Xu Xin were both stunned, but then they showed knowing smiles.

"This fellow Ye Fan is really bold, daring to steal a bite right under Murong Wan's nose."

Lin Lei and Xu Xin had also heard about the Heavenly Pride Assembly, but with their Aptitude, they naturally couldn't participate and could only come to see Ye Fan and Murong Wan off.

"You must be careful during this trial. I'm still waiting for you to provide for my funeral in the future," Lin Lei joked.

"Get lost for your father. If I don't see you carrying my funeral banner, I won't be able to close my eyes even if I die."

After some mutual bickering, Ye Fan took out a Storage Pouch and gave it to Lin Lei.

"There are twenty thousand Spirit Stones inside. Take them to buy some Cultivate resources."

"If something really happens to me, consider it your inheritance," Ye Fan joked.

Lin Lei was stunned and hurriedly shook his head like a rattle, saying, "Pah, pah, pah! What nonsense are you talking about? Slap your own mouth."

"This isn't for you; it's for my future big fat grandson."

Ye Fan's teasing made Xu Xin's face blush red, but she was unwilling to accept such a large sum of Spirit Stones no matter what.

Lin Lei couldn't win against Ye Fan and could only accept the Spirit Stones, treating it as keeping them for him temporarily.

"Alright, it's not a life-and-death parting. When I come back, let's find a place to have a good drink."

"Fine, then we won't return until we're drunk."

...

Early the next morning, all the Disciples participating in the trial gathered at Tongtian Peak. Sect Head Qing Mingzi personally led the team, and the group took a flying boat treasure ship to Qingyun Sect.

"This is a flying boat treasure ship?"

Looking at the flying boat treasure ship that resembled a large cruise ship, Ye Fan couldn't help but marvel.

To power such a massive Flying Magic Treasure, the consumption of Spirit Stones was astronomical; even a large Sect like the Joyous Union Sect found it quite painful.

If it weren't to keep up appearances, Qing Mingzi would not have been willing to take it out for use.

There were five or six hundred Disciples participating in the Heavenly Pride Assembly this time, the lowest having a Fifth Level of Qi Refining Realm cultivation, and there were even a few Foundation Establishment Realm Disciples among them.

They all looked quite a bit older than Ye Fan and Murong Wan, but their cultivation was only at the first or second level of the Foundation Establishment Realm. They likely came just as they were reaching the thirty-year-old limit.

The Heavenly Pride Assembly was held every twenty years. Unless you were a one-in-a-ten-thousand genius who could participate in the first session before age ten, you would likely only have one chance in this life, and most people didn't even have the qualifications to participate.

As the flying boat treasure ship started up, everyone ascended above the clouds in an instant.

For most Disciples, this was their first time flying through the air, so they were naturally more excited than the next.

"Silence! What kind of behavior is this, acting so flustered? You must remain calm in everything when outside. Do not disgrace the reputation of my Joyous Union Sect."

Tie Wuqing was also one of the people in charge of this trip. With one sentence, he made many Disciples afraid to speak.

As for Su Ningxue, she stood at the bow of the ship early on, gazing at the distant scenery. Her incomparably beautiful figure made countless Disciples' hearts race, but they dared not show any disrespect.

"Greetings, Master."

Murong Wan pulled Ye Fan over to pay their respects. Su Ningxue only gave a soft "mm" in response.

"Are you all prepared?" Su Ningxue asked casually.

"We are all prepared."

"Hmm. Remember, for this trial, I do not ask you to become famous; everything is about preserving yourselves. Do you understand?"

Murong Wan was slightly stunned, then nodded.

She always felt that her Master was a bit different today, but she couldn't say exactly how.

After Su Ningxue spoke, she returned to her room, not saying another word to Ye Fan from beginning to end.

"Women really are such coy creatures," Ye Fan lamented in his heart.

The speed of the flying boat treasure ship was extremely fast, taking only half a day to arrive at the location of the Qingyun Sect.

At this moment, the Qingyun Sect was extremely lively. Not only had the Disciples and Cultivators of the Nine Great Sects arrived, but Loose Cultivators from all walks of life had also gathered here.

Everyone was rubbing their hands together, all with expressions of being eager to try.

Clearly, they all wanted to take this opportunity to leap over the dragon gate and make a name for themselves.

The Joyous Union Sect's arrival was neither early nor late, basically arriving right on the heels of the other major Sects.

Looking at the various Flying Magic Treasures parked nearby, Ye Fan's eyes were truly opened this time.

"That Flying Boat shaped like a giant sword is the Magic Treasure of the Qingtian Sword Sect."

"That Pill Furnace is the Magic Treasure of the Medicine King Valley."

"Those flying Yao Beasts are all raised by the Myriad Beast Sect, specifically used for transportation."

...

Murong Wan's experience was clearly greater than Ye Fan's, and she introduced the origins and characteristics of each major Sect one by one. The conversation benefited Ye Fan greatly.

"Qionghua Sect, Qingtian Sword Sect, Glazed Sect, Qingyun Sect, Kunlun Palace, Heavenly Thunder Temple, Myriad Beast Sect, Medicine King Valley, plus my Joyous Union Sect... it really is lively."