Opening defeat.

This is an unprecedented occurrence in the grand opening ceremony of our sect.

Lin Xing asked softly,

"Sect Leader Senior Brother, is Xu Lengshi hiding his cultivation level?"

"Yes."

"But how did he manage to deceive even you? Even if Green Blade Sect's Sect Leader Liu Ye personally helped him conceal it, it shouldn't be possible to mislead you."

"It's that Crown Prince Li, Ye Yixian," Mei Jinqiu's expression darkened slightly, "He has probably colluded with these people long ago to give us a 'surprise' at this grand ceremony. There's surely more than just Xu Lengshi; perhaps most of the disciples who want to spar have hidden their true cultivation levels. And... Junior Brother, do you feel it?"

Lin Xing sensed slightly,

"Something has been taken away by Xu Lengshi."

"Fortune. It's Lv Zheng's fortune. Moreover, it's not just his fortune, it's the fortune of our Eternal Immortal Sect!"

"What!" Lin Xing was shocked.

"Ye Yixian brought over the Great Li's Dragon Qi."

"Dragon Qi!" Lin Xing's pupils shrank, "That Great Li King actually dares to let the Dragon Qi leave the nation!"

Dragon Qi, the foundation of a nation's destiny, is the essence of fortune. It is like the blood flowing in a cultivator's body, divided into ordinary blood and essence blood. Essence blood nurtures a cultivator's soul and vitality, Dragon Qi nurtures a nation's grand destiny, ordinary vassal states do not possess it, only a dynasty and above hold it.

"This can only mean they are determined to win!"

"Our Eternal Immortal Sect has not offended the Great Li Dynasty, why this hostility?"

Mei Jinqiu sighed,

"Little South Continent is about to become unstable. It seems Ye Yixian came with Dragon Qi not only targeting our Eternal Immortal Sect but also because of the impending Drifting Blessing Land. A blessed land is a place of abundant fortune, something that the Great Li Dynasty will certainly not miss."

"So, is this just a trial run on the Eternal Immortal Sect?"

"I think so. Those forces that have coveted our sect's position for a long time are likely swayed and incited by him, aiming to gain a share of the benefits."

Lin Xing asked worriedly,

"What should we do next? If every disciple wanting to spar has hidden their cultivation, wouldn't it be hard to arrange our disciples to respond?"

Yes.

This is a game of strategy.

"Luye Academy, student Yu Ming'an, carrying the Holy Sage Book, wishes to seek guidance." A tall, thin scholar in Confucian robes stepped forward to challenge.

Mei Jinqiu sensed his energy… though the cultivation of scholars slightly differs from cultivators, they share the same origin in energy resonance. He estimated that he was at about the Peak of Foundation Establishment level.

However, given past experiences, he needed to estimate his cultivation level higher.

Mei Jinqiu guessed he was at the Third-Layer Golden Core level. As he was about to arrange a disciple, he suddenly noticed Crown Prince Li Ye Yixian's gaze, a dragon shadow swirling within it, mysterious and full of confidence.

No, something's not right! He might be higher than Third-Layer Golden Core!

Qi Ming saw Mei Jinqiu's hesitation and said,

"Sect Leader Senior Brother, how about letting Changkong go?"

Mei Jinqiu shook his head,

"No. Changkong is currently the disciple with the highest cultivation in the sect, he must not act recklessly."

He hesitated for a moment, then spoke to a female disciple,

"Li Fang, spar with him."

Li Fang, a fourth-phase student of Fate Peak, Third-Layer Golden Core cultivation.

"Yes, Sect Leader!"

In the second round, Li Fang faced Yu Ming'an.

Having learned from the first round, Li Fang dared not be careless, and used her normal strength right away. She practiced palm techniques, with a sweep of her palm, waves surged and water vapor billowed.

"Catch my palm!"

This palm strike, carrying the might of the waves, attacked Yu Ming'an. Yu Ming'an waved his hand, releasing a classic saying, attempting to block.

But, as their attacks collided, the palm's force overwhelmed like mountains collapsing and rocks crumbling, breaking through Yu Ming'an's defense and striking him heavily.

He spat a mouthful of blood onto the stage.

Victory.

But Li Fang, along with the elders of Eternal Immortal Sect, were all stunned.

What happened? Down in one hit? Could it be that Yu Ming'an was really only at the Peak of Foundation Establishment?

No, Mei Jinqiu's pupils contracted abruptly, Yu Ming'an wasn't even at the Peak of Foundation Establishment, his level was at the Sixth-Layer Foundation Establishment!

Then he felt an intangible "force" leave Li Fang and enter Yu Ming'an.

Next, Luye Academy's Principal Li Changke, supporting his student, said in deep distress,

"Sect Leader Mei, this child has barely breached the threshold, hearing that Eternal Immortal Sect is a grand and noble sect, came to learn, and getting to spar with your sect's talented disciples is already fortunate. Alas! It was just sparring, there was no need to strike so harshly, that palm strike nearly ruined his future!"

Ye Yixian grinned and said,

"Sect Leader Mei, letting a disciple with significantly higher cultivation levels compete is a hollow victory."

Hollow victory!

Simply those four words suddenly made Mei Jinqiu feel a thorn in his back.

The Eternal Immortal Sect has always presented itself as a "prestigious righteous sect," the "Little South Continent Immortal Path Alliance Leader." At this moment, is this alliance leader unscrupulously pursuing victory? Can it still be worthy of the "alliance leader" title?

Unworthy!

Even if this is a distorted fact. But right now, at this venue, in the witness of that Dragon Qi in Ye Yixian's eyes, it's an irrefutable fact!

The Eternal Immortal Sect had another thread of fortune snatched away.

Mei Jinqiu suddenly realized, he's been thoroughly schemed against, there's no solution whether they lose or win.

"Luofu Mountain, Yi Shanhe, please instruct."

Third round.

Mei Jinqiu looked at this disciple with an apparent Eighth-Layer Golden Core cultivation on the surface, undecided. Letting a disciple with far lower cultivation than Eighth-Layer Golden Core compete? No, if they lose, they will still be robbed of their fortune. It must be a disciple with similar cultivation to his, and then they must win.

But, is his cultivation truly Eighth-Layer Golden Core?

Mei Jinqiu felt like he'd walked into a maze, towering walls surrounding him, weighing on him, leaving him almost breathless. He, a Sect Leader, a Peak of Fetal Movement Realm cultivator, was now like a blank sheet of paper in front of Ye Yixian.

He spoke softly,

"Yu Jin… spar with him."

...

Fortune.

Immortal energy, scholarly aura, incense smoke, inner strength True Qi... There are many forms of Qi in the world that jointly sustain this vast world, operating ceaselessly day and night.

The Unwarranted Qi Creation Skill is a cultivation technique for sensing "Qi". Whether it's the Qi inside the body or the Qi outside, one can feel it.

If Fan Wubing fully activates the Unwarranted Qi Creation Skill, the world in his eyes will transform into a vision built from lines. Each line is the Qi of a particular thing.

With utmost seriousness, preparing the main dish for the feast naturally requires fully activating the Unwarranted Qi Creation Skill.

As he was stir-frying a dish, he suddenly paused.

Seeing this, Gu Lan asked,

"Junior Brother Wubing, what's wrong? Is the fire not right?"

Fan Wubing shook his head,

"No, Senior Sister Gu, you've cooked it well."

He looked towards the window, at the towering pavilion hosting the grand ceremony, and slightly furrowed his brow.

Just now, it seemed like some Qi disappeared from the Eternal Immortal Sect.

He didn't know exactly what this Qi was, but his intuition told him it was important, crucial to everyone in the Eternal Immortal Sect, including himself.

Is it my imagination?

Soon enough, the same feeling came again.

The second strand of "Qi" vanished, completely disappearing from the Eternal Immortal Sect. In that moment, he noticed even his own Qi flow seemed slightly affected. This influence was very subtle; an average person might not sense it at all.

But with the Unwarranted Qi Creation Skill, he felt it very distinctly.

Not only the Unwarranted Qi Creation Skill, but even "tongue desire" reacted.

In the sensory realm of "tongue desire", it was as if someone was taking him and supplementing themselves. This was something insatiable "tongue desire" simply couldn't accept.

Strange, truly strange!

Next came the third strand,

the fourth strand,

the fifth strand,

...

It didn't stop until the eighth strand.

Moreover, the amount increased each time, meaning more and more disappeared with each instance.

Accumulating bit by bit. After those eight strands, Fan Wubing could clearly feel his own Qi flow was undeniably affected.

Damn!

Fan Wubing couldn't stand it anymore. He had always been the one taking things from others, and now for the first time, someone was taking things from him, in such an inexplicable manner!

What on earth is happening over there!

At this moment, Wei Changkong hurriedly entered the kitchen and asked,

"Junior Brother Wubing, is the banquet ready?"

Fan Wubing nodded,

"It's all prepared, just waiting to be served."

"Ah... this opening ceremony of the sect, it's made us a laughingstock..."

Fan Wubing hurriedly asked,

"Why?"

Wei Changkong recounted the entire contest among the disciples regarding the Qi fortune battle,

"... there were a total of ten rounds. Except for Junior Sister Fu Manman, the Sect Leader's direct disciple, and me, who were not plundered of fortune, the other eight junior brothers and sisters all suffered. Moreover, the Master told me it's not just their fortune that was taken; it's the fortune of the entire Eternal Immortal Sect."

Fan Wubing was stunned; so, the disappearing "Qi" he just felt was actually the Eternal Immortal Sect's fortune being taken.

"You mean, it will affect everyone in the Eternal Immortal Sect?"

"Yes, neither you nor I are exceptions. Moreover..." Wei Changkong gritted his teeth, "It's far from over; that Crown Prince Ye Yixian from the Great Li Dynasty is clearly intent on reversing the fortune of our Eternal Immortal Sect completely."

Fan Wubing swallowed nervously,

"What will happen after it's completely reversed?"

"Our thousand-year foundation could be destroyed today. We disciples will no longer enjoy the sect's fortune and may miss many opportunities for immortality."

Fan Wubing forced a laugh,

"Senior Brother Wei, do you think it's still possible for me to leave the sect now?"

Wei Changkong was taken aback,

"What?!"

"Just kidding, just kidding."

Wei Changkong knew Fan Wubing wasn't an ungrateful person and sighed,

"It has come to this point; we'll have to see if the celestial dishes at the banquet can turn the tide."

Fan Wubing suddenly felt even more pressure,

"I don't understand a single thing about the matter of fortune. Besides, no matter how delicious the celestial food is, it has nothing to do with fortune."

"Ah... the sect is indeed facing difficulty this time. Some elders already think the crux of the problem lies on Enlightenment Peak, saying it's the crack in fortune that began there." Wei Changkong quickly realized his slip of the tongue and tried to cover, "Junior Brother Wubing, these words have no basis; just let them go in one ear and out the other."

"Enlightenment Peak huh..."

Fan Wubing gazed in the direction of Enlightenment Peak, thinking of his master who disappeared into seclusion, and his senior sister who was out busily for his special constitution...

Perhaps, I can do something. He asked,

"Senior Brother Wei, the key to fortune lies in 'momentum', right? It emphasizes gathering strength all at once."

"Yes, that's also the reason the sect wants to host the grand ceremony so well, to demonstrate that the Eternal Immortal Sect remains strong."

"If every disciple in the Eternal Immortal Sect can partake in the celestial food, wouldn't that be a strong display of momentum?"

"Of course!"

"In that case, Senior Sister Gu, switch to a bigger pot, raise the flames, and prepare for a large-scale cooking!"

Wei Changkong was dumbfounded,

"Junior Brother Wubing, you aren't planning to..."

Fan Wubing flashed a smile,

"Today is the grand succession ceremony of the Eternal Immortal Sect, so naturally, every disciple must be involved. How could we only entertain the outside guests and neglect our own family?"

"Can your body handle it?"

"No worries, Senior Brother, of all things, prolonged battles are what I fear the least."

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