286: Chapter 286 Disguise and Infiltration: A Personal Investigation of the Mortal Path

At this moment, Jiang Chen sat perched high atop Yipin Residence, coldly overlooking the entire scene.

The disputes of the mortal world were nothing but fleeting shadows in his eyes, and with a single glance, he grasped the full picture.

A moment later, a voice transmission cut through the void like a cold blade: "Today is the Ascension Assembly, not a colosseum. Want to compete? Wait until the assembly is over. If anyone dares to cause trouble at the Worlds Number One Sect—they will be executed without mercy."

Sect Leader Wang acknowledged the order and immediately relayed it.

Initially, the Spirit Masters were burning with rage, but upon looking around, they hesitated—millions of mortals and Spirit Masters were gathered here, while overhead, over a hundred massive floating mountains loomed, with hundreds of thousands of cultivators entrenched within.

These were no ordinary characters; each was a peerless genius chosen from ten thousand, possessing heaven-defying strength.

On their side, however, they were nothing but scattered stragglers; if they truly started a fight, they would likely fall into chaos before even forming ranks.

Start a fight? Unwise.

Swallow their pride? Even more impossible!

Having traveled thousands of miles to get here, were they just supposed to squat and wait around?

Someone had a sudden inspiration and loudly declared: "Since this is an Ascension Assembly, it should be about talent! The eight major sects of our Yan Kingdom are here today; why don't we help you screen everyone, how about that?"

Before the words had even faded, the sky suddenly trembled!

A cold shout boomed down from the horizon. The man didn't even have time to react before he was sent flying dozens of zhang away by the sound waves!

"In front of my Worlds Number One Sect, I could even turn a dog into a divine beast! We set thresholds solely to select disciples—is it your place to point fingers? What do you think you are!"

The voice came without a visible speaker, yet it swept across the area like a tide, pouring into everyone's eardrums from all directions.

Though formless, it carried immense pressure.

Everyone was terrified, all knowing the source lay in the unreachably high heights above!

To be able to project one's voice to millions, with every word striking the mind like thunder—such cultivation was beyond human reach!

They finally understood that with the slightest transgression, their lives would be forfeit.

They had expected the other party to be thunderously enraged and suppress them directly.

Unexpectedly, the voice suddenly chuckled: "However... you are somewhat interesting. Since your ambitions are not small, don't just stand around—Spirit Masters don't have to join my sect; as long as you pass the assessment, you can obtain a genuine cultivation technique."

As soon as these words were spoken, the whole crowd erupted!

Countless eyes lit up, and hearts raced—was there really a chance to step onto the path of cultivation?

Even the Eight Great Sects, who had originally intended to stir up trouble, were now wavering.

But just as hearts were wavering, the leading elder's eyes flashed, and he ordered in a low voice: "Seize the techniques, study their Dao, break their arts—and then, surpass them!"

Everyone solemnly agreed.

In this world, there had never been any so-called "Immortals."

The so-called immortals were merely... Spirit Masters who had cultivated stronger techniques.

Whoever mastered this could ascend to the heavens in a single step and become incomparably powerful!

Countless people made up their minds on the spot—they had to participate in this assembly!

Not only did they have to participate, but they would also completely surpass everything of the past, fuse cultivation techniques with spirit pets, and create an unprecedented, brand-new system!

Just as the crowd was boiling with excitement and thoughts were churning, Jiang Chen at Yipin Residence had already realized: the time had come.

It was time to let them taste a little "surprise."

But Sect Leader Wang was completely unaware of this, still burying himself in executing the previously assigned tasks, focused solely on selecting more geniuses for the Worlds Number One Sect.

What he did not know was that at this moment, Jiang Chen had already quietly disguised himself and blended into the crowd.

He was promoting universal cultivation not just to start a trend, but to personally witness whether this path could actually be walked.

If he didn't delve into it himself, he could never judge the truth from hearsay.

Only by being on the front lines could he see clearly whether these people were truly worthy of that brand-new era.

At this time, Jiang Chen had quietly stood among the ordinary trial-takers.

A young man beside him couldn't help but eye him, asking with a face full of confusion: "Shouldn't you have been unable to get in a long time ago? The million-person quota was reached, so how are you still standing here? Did you use a backdoor?"

Jiang Chen chuckled, his tone indifferent: "I arrived early; I just went to the side to use the restroom, which is why you only see me now."

This sounded absurd, and the other person clearly didn't believe it, but seeing his calm expression, he didn't feel like pressing the issue further and had to step aside to watch silently.

On the stage, Sect Leader Wang had just finished his opening remarks, and the subsequent matters were handed over to representatives of the major sects to preside over.

These representatives were all righteous and stern, their words forceful, as if they shouldered the entire cultivation world.

The selection unfolded rapidly, conducted in batches.

On hundreds of mountain peaks, a million trial-takers competed and fought.

However, how cruel was the trial of the Worlds Number One Sect?

After just two rounds, five hundred thousand people were directly eliminated.

This elimination speed was terrifying.

Even the Eight Great Sects were shaken, not daring to underestimate it.

By the fifth round, only thirty thousand remained.

And these thirty thousand were all top-tier geniuses chosen from ten thousand; any one of them, if plucked out, would be a monstrous talent capable of sweeping through a region!

The Eight Great Sects were secretly alarmed: just how many hidden cards did this Worlds Number One Sect have? How did they have such methods?

Various speculations spread in the shadows, with much discussion.

But the selection continued.

The thirty thousand were screened layer by layer again, and in the end, only two thousand remained standing on the mountain peaks.

But this was still not enough.

Many people were already burning with rage.

Especially those disciples from the Eight Great Sects, many of whom had been eliminated midway, rose up on the spot to question: "On what grounds are you weeding us out? What mistake did we make!?"

Responsible for this round of assessment was a formation master from the Worlds Number One Sect, who was also an important figure among the various cultivation sects.

Upon hearing this, he merely smiled faintly, but his gaze fell upon the person who had spoken—it was actually a young woman.

The Sect Leader had long since given clear orders: do not provoke anyone, and do not harbor arrogance in your heart.

But if someone actively provokes you, you must make them fully understand—what the price is for provoking them!

While the young girl before him might not necessarily be an enemy, the hostility in her eyes was undisguised.

Duan Chengfeng's gaze turned cold, and his voice was low: "What do you want to do? Want to challenge me?"

The person speaking was none other than Liu Changyue, a genius disciple of the Jishan Sect, one of the Eight Great Sects, who was hailed as a "Heavenly Pride" within her sect; when had she ever suffered such humiliation?

She immediately shouted coldly: "I—want to challenge you!"

As soon as these words were spoken, Duan Chengfeng raised an eyebrow, anger rising in his heart, and he retorted with a cold laugh: "Fine. But your cultivation is far inferior to mine. How about this—as long as you can touch me once, I will immediately let you enter the Worlds Number One Sect, how about that?"

Liu Changyue immediately scoffed: "Are you serious? All I have to do is touch you once?"

Duan Chengfeng stood with his hands behind his back, his expression resolute: "Naturally. There is no need to defeat me; simply touching me is enough to enter the sect. I swear it upon my Dao heart."

Although the Sect Leader had instructed them to keep a low profile, if someone actively came to provoke them... then he could not be blamed for tearing off his mask and baring his fangs.

At this moment, Duan Chengfeng no longer concealed his sharp edge.

He stepped into the air, his robes fluttering, and his voice resonated across the heavens: "If you can truly touch me today—I will pass all of my cultivation to you!"

"I am giving you a chance, but if you lose—don't blame me for being ruthless!"

Liu Changyue raised an eyebrow, the corners of her lips curling upward, her tone light but carrying arrogance: "If you can defeat me, what does it matter if I let you do whatever you want with me?"