Crossing into Immortal Cultivation

  Su Xuan said: "For the Dragon Gate Assembly."

  Longmen 'Gate' Conference?

  Xu Ziqing shook his head: "Ah Xian younger brother, just speak directly."

  Su Xun then rubbed his nose and spoke bluntly: "Not to deceive Brother Qing, this Ascending Dragon Gate Conference is actually a gathering of the many talented young men from the nine continents of our Haotian Small World. It's just an opportunity for us to get together, make some friends, and help each other out in the future."

  Xu Ziqing seemed lost in thought, and this sounded like it had something to do with entering the Great World...

  As expected, Su Xun continued to speak.

  The Sheng Longmen Conference was also held once every ten years, and the time was set in the year before the majority of the foundation repair monks entered the Sheng Longmen Gate, which is also the ninth year of the Sheng Longmen event.

  However, not every master can participate in this gathering, and the selection has its own rules. There are many 'doors' and 'paths'.

  The selection rules are simple and complex.

  Simply put, first eliminate those over 50 years old, and they cannot participate in the grand gathering; then eliminate another batch based on their cultivation level, and those who have not reached the ninth layer of Qi refining are also not allowed to participate. Foundation-building cultivators are also not allowed to participate in the grand gathering.

  That's more than half of the monks gone, but this is just a prerequisite anyway.

  Then comes the details.

  According to the 'door' faction, each has a quota, and naturally, the big factions have more, while the small factions have fewer. After all, time is limited, so they must bring out their most outstanding disciples.

  There are also quotas for large and small families, but because there are more outstanding disciples in the "door" faction than in the family, many young masters have even joined the "door" faction and are not counted as part of the family. Therefore, there is only an upper limit and no lower limit.

  Then it's according to the quota of each force, such as the Loose Cultivation Alliance. And this quota depends on how big the force is and how many top-notch experts are in the force.

  As for what tricks are in it, just watch how they each make their moves. The organizers of the Ascending Dragon 'Gate' Convention don't delve deeply into it.

  However, there is an exception to this.

  It is calculated according to the spiritual root.

  This algorithm also occupies a quota, but the requirements for cultivation are more relaxed, with only age restrictions.

  Those with a coarse and fine double spiritual root, aged 13 or above and 25 or below, who have cultivated the six layers of refining qi or above, can directly participate in this grand gathering.

  There are those with a single spiritual root; as long as they are thirteen years of age, regardless of their cultivation, they can directly enter the Grand Assembly.

  However, in order to prevent someone from secretly plotting against them, these two must have a mentor accompanying them.

  Xu Ziqing listened for a long time and gradually understood, but he still had one thing he didn't know: "What's so special about this 'Dragon Gate' conference?"

  Su Xuan's eyes were filled with a smile, and he praised, "Brother Zi Qing is indeed sharp-witted." Then he explained to him, "The 'Dragon Gate' conference, apart from gathering many promising individuals who are about to enter the 'Dragon Gate', also has another enormous benefit."

  That one great benefit is the Three-Stage Spirit Pulse.

  It's just because there is a gatekeeper under the Ascending Dragon Gate, who lives on the Tenglong Mountain in front of the Ascending Dragon Gate.

  This place is surrounded by the Tenglong Mountain Range, which is extremely difficult to reach. In the mountain range, there is a main peak called Tenglong Peak, which contains a three-stage spiritual vein that can hide the entire Tenglong Peak. The spiritual energy contained in the three-stage spiritual vein exceeds the outside of the peak by more than 100 times, and even the three small secret realms of the Haotian Small World cannot be compared with it, showing its magnificent spiritual energy!

  Not to mention the Lingguang in the Lingguang Mountain where Xu Ziqing lives, even the small spiritual vein in the mountain where the Elder's Hall is located is far inferior!

  The Shenglong 'Gate' meeting was held on Tenglong Peak, led by the gatekeeper himself.

  Don't underestimate this gatekeeper, rumor has it that he is a person from the vast universe of Xuan Yin, and every ten years, a new person takes over. His cultivation is unpredictable, and no one in the small world of Huang Tian dares to match him.

  Being able to get him to lead into Tenglong Peak was already a great honor.

  And at this gathering, there was another grand event, where the guardian of the 'gate' personally selected outstanding talents and kept them on Tenglong Peak for a year to cultivate their foundation and smoothly enter the Ascending Dragon 'Gate'.

  There are many ways to choose and take.

  The limit of spiritual roots is the most important, often because the spiritual root participates in the grand gathering of double spiritual roots and single spiritual roots, it can be left directly without the need for other tests.

  Only twenty people were left after the trials of the gatekeeper, who made them fight each other or tested them in some other way.

  It is also because of this third-order spiritual vein that many aristocratic families and extraordinary talents have flocked to it.

  Before Su Xun's dual spiritual roots were fully formed, he was a coarse and fine dual spiritual root. When he met Xu Zi Qing, his cultivation was at the fifth layer of Qi Refining. He had only managed to grasp the foundation within two years, advancing to the sixth layer of Qi Refining, barely qualifying him to enter the Ascending Dragon Gate Conference. With this level of talent, he just met the conditions for entering the grand conference with a spiritual root. Afterwards, he would strive to successfully establish his foundation in the remaining year. This was what he had planned in his heart.

  He invited Xu Ziqing, but in fact he also had doubts about Xu Ziqing being a double-spirited genius. However, he didn't know whether Xu Ziqing's spiritual roots were one thick and one thin or two thick ones, so he also hoped that he could make rapid progress within the next two years and reach the cultivation of refining Qi to the ninth level.

  Now Xu Ziqing did not disappoint him and indeed made such progress!

  Dai Yu told Xu Ziqing everything and all her doubts were gone.

  Su Xuan smiled and said, "Since you've already met the requirements, I can let Master save a spot for you. At your age, having such achievements is something no one can criticize."

  Quotas are precious, and there are also factions within the scattered repair alliance, so there is naturally a struggle.

  Xu Ziqing also felt a little sentimental and nostalgic upon hearing this.

  He has been making it clear from the very beginning, and now he is not hiding anything at all. Even in the struggle for quotas within the alliance, there may be some sinister things that are vaguely hinted at to Xu Ziqing, which can be seen as a broad-minded and open-hearted person. Although there may be ulterior motives, it is clear and transparent, and not at all deceitful. Moreover, after experiencing many things, Xu Ziqing can also see that Su Xuan has been sincere with him, and not just pretending to be friendly. Such a person, Xu Ziqing will naturally also have some sincerity towards him, even if there are still some knots in his heart, he will treat him as a friend.

  Xu Ziqing smiled and raised a cup of tea, saying: "I'll substitute tea for wine, thank you, Ah Xian younger brother."

  Su Xuan smiled and said: "What's the need for thanks between you and me? When we enter the great world, just don't pretend not to recognize me."

  Xu Ziqing couldn't help but smile after hearing this.

  In this big world, there are countless dangers and uncertainties. Once you're trapped in it, I'm afraid we'll really have to rely on each other for mutual support.

  Three days later, Xu Ziqing indeed received a transmission from 'Jade' Sword, instructing him to go to the Inner Alliance to collect his entry quota.

  He went there willingly and when he arrived at the inner gate, he saw Xu Xun waiting for him. The two walked shoulder to shoulder into the Hall of Elders.

  The master of the alliance sat upright in the hall, waiting for him, as usual when they last met, and many elders followed.

  This time, however, no one tried to probe Xu Ziqing, but they all knew his cultivation with a sweep of their divine consciousness.

  The alliance master smiled and said: "Indeed, it's the ninth layer of Qi refining. Xu Xiaoyou is indeed a natural talent with boundless potential."

  Having heard this praise, Xu Ziqing did not reveal a pleased expression, but only smiled warmly: "The Alliance Master is overpraising."

  The leader's eyes flashed with a hint of appreciation, but he didn't lavish any more praise. He raised his hand and shot out a white light, saying "Let's end it."

  Xu Ziqing had already made preparations before he raised his hand. At the same time, he also stretched out his hand and grasped the white light into his palm.

  The white light disperses, revealing the true appearance of the object within.

  It is a very delicate 'jade' Ruyi, shaped like a lingzhi mushroom, extremely 'delicate'. The head is carved with dragon pattern, the 'jade' handle is slender, but implies openness, and has a sense of mystery...... extremely subtle, yet irresistible.

  The leader of the alliance said, "This is the certificate of joining the alliance. I have only eight scattered repairs in total. You got one, and Xing Er also got one, but because of different reasons, the certificates in your hands are also slightly different."

  Su Xun smiled and handed over the certificate to Xu Ziqing.

  Indeed there is a difference, although they are all 'jade' Ruyi, but his Ruyi is green in color, crystal clear and translucent, with a unique light and elegant meaning.

  If Xu Zi Qing were to reveal the matter of the Single Spirit Root, the evidence he holds should be the same as Su Xuan's. However, he is now a loose cultivator and it's not good to bring it up. Otherwise, his identity and background would again raise suspicions. But for now, with his current cultivation, he has obtained a spot, and other matters will have to wait until they reach Teng Long Peak.

  Thank you, Alliance Master, Xu Ziqing bid farewell.

  This time he entered the hall and was not tempted, but he could see that the faces of those elders were not all joyful. There were also a few people who showed displeasure, presumably also related to the quota.

  Xu Ziqing also has some self-awareness, so he won't linger here and get in the way of others.

  After leaving the temple, Xu Ziqing bid farewell to Su Xin again.

  The Shenglong 'Gate' Conference is about to open in half a month, and the two of them agreed to meet again at that time and go to Tenglong Mountain together.

  In the quiet room, Xu Ziqing sat cross-legged, as if in thought.

  He carefully recalled what Su Xun had said to him and couldn't help but feel a bit interested in that "guarding the door" life.

  The Dragon Gate opens once every ten years, and the gatekeeper also changes once every ten years... Is this to ensure fairness in the Dragon Gate Conference, or is there another consideration at play?

  The path of immortality is fraught with danger. Nowadays, Xu Ziqing has to think deeply about everything that happens, lest he fall into the trap of petty people's tricks and die a tragic death.

  After deliberating for a long time, Xu Ziqing still couldn't get a definite result.

  He knew very little, and even if he made an educated guess, it was still unfounded, just a wild goose chase. If there's anything to gain from this, it's that he had made some mental preparations beforehand. When the worst-case scenario arises, he can keep his composure and not be swayed by emotions.

  Xu Ziqing slowly gathered his thoughts and raised his left hand, glancing at the storage ring on his little finger.

  There are close friends in the circle of acquaintances, with extensive knowledge and a cold face but a warm heart... If you can ask him about it, even if there is still no news, it will make yourself feel at ease.

  But is it asked or not?

  For many years, he has been disturbing Yun Ge too much.

  Xu Ziqing has always been good at understanding people's intentions. In his opinion, a good friend like Yun Lian is a cultivator who is determined to follow the path of cultivation, even if only his soul remains, his thoughts are as firm as a rock, and he will persist in following the path he took when he was alive, rather than taking the path of a ghost cultivator.

  Let's think back to when the two first met, Yun Lian sat on a stone platform, closed his eyes and didn't speak, he must have been tempering his mind or reflecting on himself. If he hadn't gone to disturb him, Yun Lian would have remained unmoving as Mount Tai, it can be seen that Yun Lian extremely likes quietness.

  Looking at his sword aura, it was so sharp and unyielding, and should have been the result of bitter cultivation. However, even so, when Xu Ziqing's body suffered from various hardships or his mind wavered, Yun Liao did not hesitate to point him in the right direction... Such kindness, Xu Ziqing asked himself how he could repay it with his life.

  Now with some curiosity and speculation in his heart, how could Xu Ziqing still shamelessly rely on him?