Chapter 41: System Revitalization in the Cultivation World (41% complete)
The Palace Master of the Holy Prayer Palace couldn't even muster the thought of resistance.
Lin Ming's words made his meaning very clear. Not only him, but almost everyone present immediately thought of the rumors that arose from the Liuyun Sect three years ago.
Having been so arrogant and fearless for so many years, this was the first time he realized what it meant to reap what you sow. He couldn't help but complain in his heart, "Why is he still meddling in the cultivation world after ascending to immortality for ten thousand years? People from the immortal realm not only have to overcome countless difficulties and dangers when they descend to the mortal realm, but they also have to damage their own cultivation. They can't return unless they ascend to immortality. The Heavenly Evolution Dao Ancestor is willing to sacrifice his own disciple. He doesn't even care about the karmic backlash from meddling too much."
If he were afraid, he wouldn't be Jun Huilian.
Lin Ming had watched a good show, and now it was his turn to make his appearance.
He was actually quite surprised. According to the original plan, the farce should have occurred between Jiang Yun, Xu Lingyou, and Liuyun Sect. Jiang Yun could have specially come from Yongzhou, made full preparations to kill Wang Yikun, the eldest disciple of Liuyun Sect, at the Lingzhou Grand Gathering. Wang Yikun was the murderer who hired bandits to kill all 120 members of the Jiang family three years ago, and then exposed all the evil deeds committed by Liuyun Sect.
Most of the mission participants were passionate young people who, having been arrogant and different for a long time, had become somewhat haughty. Even though they knew that their cultivation and strength were not as great as those of high-level cultivators who had lived for thousands of years, they had never directly experienced this insurmountable gap. They naively thought that even if they couldn't win, they could escape. However, with the sect leader of the Xuan Tian Sword Sect, the head of the nine sects, present at the Lingzhou Grand Gathering, any tricks would be futile against the insurmountable gap in strength.
Knowing Jiang Yun's plans, Jun Huilian, who was in control of everything behind the scenes, thought that the mission takers needed to experience some appropriate setbacks. Occasional minor setbacks could better stimulate their desire to strive for advancement. Therefore, she deliberately opened the Ice Plains instance and gave a slight hint to Helian Yi, who had always wanted to get rid of the title of "Young Master Helian" and make his own way in the world. The other mission takers in Lingzhou would spontaneously come to the Lingzhou Grand Gathering without being reminded. In this way, a large number of mission takers were gathered together. She was ready to see how they would handle unexpected situations, and then send Lin Ming to protect their safety. She also took the opportunity to promote Tianyan Academy while there were many people.
She did not show favoritism. Not only at the Lingzhou Grand Gathering, but similar scenes also occurred in different occasions on the other three continents. The only thing they had in common was that they were all set against the backdrop of a conflict between a particular mission participant. One hundred and eight mission participants gathered at four planned locations and faced the first crushing defeat of their lives.
After sharing his unexpected gains in the small group chat in his mind, Lin Ming used the clouds as a ladder to leap onto the high platform.
The Palace Master of the Holy Prayer Palace stiffened, his pleading gaze once again turning to the Sect Master of the Profound Heaven Sword Sect and his allies behind him.
The latter, with their eyes closed and their minds at ease, had witnessed Lin Ming effortlessly and completely suppress the strength of someone in the early stages of the Integration Realm. Furthermore, considering the expression on the face of the Palace Master of the Holy Prayer Palace, who had somehow clearly confirmed the other party's identity, they were unwilling to confront the disciples of the Heavenly Evolution Dao Ancestor, no matter how arrogant they were, when the flames of conflicting interests burned over them.
The Palace Master of the Holy Prayer Palace was so angry that he vomited blood. When their interests were intertwined, they were all smiles and friendly, but when trouble came, they became complete strangers.
He had no choice but to put on an expression of heroic sacrifice and righteously defend himself: "Your Excellency is unaware that the cultivation world is in decline. Everything I have done is for the sake of the cultivation world!"
After their bodies have been cleansed by a large amount of spiritual energy, cultivators in the Integration Stage, no matter how filthy their hearts may be, still maintain an air of otherworldly elegance. Coupled with their aggrieved tone, this truly fooled many onlookers.
Lin Ming interrupted him with a half-smile: "Your so-called 'for the sake of the cultivation world' means you want to plunge the cultivation world back into the darkness shrouded in demonic energy, sacrificing living beings to force its fortune to rebound from rock bottom? Are you doing this for the cultivation world or for yourself?"
The Palace Master of the Holy Prayer Palace paused in his protest, his white beard trembling along with his lips.
Even though the Heavenly Dao Ancestor is far away in the Immortal Realm, does he know this?
Jun Huilian, who was writing teaching materials and flipping through books until he was numb, looked up expressionlessly: "As expected of the successor of the Holy Prayer Palace, his ideas are exactly the same as his ancestor's."
It goes without saying who "he" is.
"The ending will be the same; I was caught before it even started." Jun Feibai transformed into a small beast the size of a cat, curled up on the couch, and lazily looked up to say this while monitoring the emotional reactions of each mission participant when they encountered a power gap.
After being exposed, the Palace Master of the Holy Prayer Palace couldn't come up with any explanation she had prepared.
The truth was clear in just a few words, and the crowd instantly erupted in excitement.
They are the ones who condoned the sacrifice of demonic energy, causing suffering to all living beings! I can't even imagine what kind of hell the cultivation world would become if the plan succeeded.
Countless pairs of resentful eyes glared at the kneeling man on the stage; if Lin Ming hadn't been there, they would have rushed up and torn him to pieces.
"Are you out of your mind!" The sect master of the Xuantian Sword Sect looked at him with eyes full of disappointment, and shook his head with a sigh. "Even if you want to rebuild your path to ascension, you shouldn't have such evil thoughts. How many things have you done for your own selfish reasons that we don't know about!"
The Palace Master of the Holy Prayer Palace turned around in shock.
They're putting all the blame on him?!
"That's right, Fang Hong, you're getting senile." The elders of the Liuyun Sect immediately realized what was happening and joined in the criticism.
Others followed suit.
The Xuan Tian Sect Master was slightly relieved. Although he was watching the Palace Master of the Holy Prayer Palace, his peripheral vision remained fixed on Lin Ming.
Lin Ming naturally wouldn't ignore the gazes of others. He smiled and looked back, his gentle eyes seemingly able to see through all the pretenses in the world.
The Xuan Tian Sect Master felt like he had nowhere to hide. His heart tightened, and he subconsciously began to consider the possibility of joining forces with others to eliminate Lin Ming.
But when he thought of those old cowards behind him who were afraid of dying, he felt a chill in his heart.
Just as he was filled with anxiety, Lin Ming spoke up: "Fortunately, no major mistakes have been made yet. Fang Hong, you need to rebuild your Dao heart."
The meaningful words seemed to be addressed to the Palace Master of the Holy Prayer Palace, or perhaps to certain people present.
The entire upper echelons of the cultivation world are rotten. If they were all killed, the order of the cultivation world would be thrown into chaos. This is not the purpose for which Jun Huilian stayed behind.
Through Lin Ming's eyes, she scanned the faces on the stage, blinded by self-interest. These people were all her juniors, and although, excluding the time she spent sleeping, she might not even have as much experience as them.
She glanced at the young people behind her who were staring at her expectantly, and couldn't help but smile.
Let this generation of young people overthrow the old system. She won't touch the Xuan Tian Sect Master and the others; she'll leave these bosses to them as their graduation defense.
Thinking they had escaped a calamity, the high-level cultivators who were actually slated to become trial stones for the mission takers were unaware of her plans. Upon realizing that she wouldn't pursue the matter, they all breathed a sigh of relief. However, their earlier actions of abandoning each other in the face of disaster had created resentment among their allies, and the community of shared interests was quietly disintegrating from within.
Jun Huilian made a few operations in the system background, and system 12345 immediately whispered something in Shen Suxi's ear.
Shen Suqi was surprised at first, then her eyes lit up, and then ambition spread through her.
She stepped forward and said to the defeated Palace Master of the Holy Prayer Palace, word by word, "I heard that the first Palace Master of the Holy Prayer Palace once said that the position of Palace Master of the Holy Prayer Palace does not depend on bloodline or inheritance. As long as one is a talisman cultivator, one can have a chance to challenge for the position. The capable shall prevail. I wonder if this is true or not."
The Palace Master of the Holy Prayer Palace widened his eyes.
How did she know this rule?! Wasn't this rule hidden away thousands of years ago during the internal strife within the Holy Prayer Palace? Only the successor to the throne can know it.
With Lin Ming staring at him, he forced himself to say, "It's true."
Upon hearing the answer she wanted, Shen Suqi's smile brightened: "The Holy Prayer Palace will only get worse under your leadership. Ten thousand years ago, the Talisman Cultivators rose to prominence under the leadership of the first Holy Prayer Palace Master. No one dared to say that Talisman Cultivators were only fit to hide in the background and draw things. However, under your leadership, the status of Talisman Cultivators has returned to what it was ten thousand years ago. Fang Hong, you deserve to die a thousand deaths. I will defeat you and lead the Talisman Cultivators to reshape our status."
"You dare to challenge me?" The Palace Master of the Holy Prayer Palace knew he had escaped the death penalty. He was still afraid of Lin Ming, but he didn't expect that a mere rogue cultivator who had just formed the Golden Core would dare to challenge him. He immediately showed a disdainful expression.
"Yes, but not now," Shen Suqi declared loudly. "The day I graduate from Tianyan Academy will be the day you, Fang Hong, have nothing left!"
Her words reminded everyone of the Tianyan Academy.
The crowd erupted in uproar.
Some people were so eager that they couldn't care less about anything else and rushed to the edge of the arena to ask, "Venerable One, may I ask if it is true that the Heavenly Evolution Academy has opened its gates?"
Lin Ming glanced approvingly at Shen Suqi, who had done the publicity for him, and nodded to the man: "It's true."
"Then, can I do it?" The man's eyes lit up as he excitedly pointed to himself.
Lin Ming smiled, still with his gentle demeanor: "The first batch of disciples will only recruit cultivators under the age of thirty with a cultivation level of Foundation Establishment or above. The academy teaches without discrimination, and anyone who studies any kind of Dao technique or comes from any sect can come to participate in the entrance examination. In the end, three thousand disciples will remain."
"Your Excellency, may I ask where the academy is located? In the central sea area of the four continents?" someone asked boldly, having heard the storyteller's tale.
“That’s right.” Lin Ming looked at Xu Lingyou. “Those who hold the jade pendant will be met by boat, while the rest will need to go to the island on their own.”
Xu Lingyou reached for the Pixiu jade pendant at his waist, remembering that the system shop had just updated the "Pixiu Jade Pendant" exchange rate to 0/1. It seemed that he could still have one, so he asked, "Can that jade pendant be transferred?"
“Of course.” Lin Ming nodded.
Su Xiaoyao suddenly shone brightly.
When she saw that exchanging for the jade pendant required 50 Heavenly Heart Flowers, 50 Brahma Lotus Flowers, 50 Python Ginseng, 50 Spirit Rhinoceros Grass, and 50 Crimson Blood Spirit Fruit, she exclaimed that the system was robbing her. She thought the jade pendant was just a travel guide and provided a safe means of transportation, and they could still get through without exchanging for it. But now she had discovered a huge business opportunity.
She may not care, but plenty of others do! Which pretentious rich kid wouldn't want to ride on a ship provided by the Heavenly Dao Ancestor?
"Tianyan Academy will open in half a month. Anyone who meets the requirements in terms of aptitude and age can come to the island." Lin Ming smiled. "The hope of revitalizing the cultivation world rests on thousands of cultivators. It cannot be saved by one person alone. Master has specially sent us down to the mortal realm to assist. I hope that you will not go astray."
Everything that happened today was recorded with a photographic stone, and it is estimated that it will spread to all four continents in less than half a day.
Lin Ming had achieved his goal and was in a good mood, winking at his acquaintances.
Xiao Tingyuan was thrilled.
"Brother Lin, you saved me again," he said softly, knowing that Lin Ming could hear him.
"Then work hard, the cultivation world needs you," Lin Ming said to him, and to everyone else.
He completely ignored the Xuan Tian Sword Sect Master, who was immersed in playing the role of an ignorant person, as if the other party was not even worthy of his attention. After leaving a sentence, he was surrounded by golden light and disappeared from the spot.
"Sect Master, stop acting." Shen Suqi smiled charmingly, subtly sowing discord. "They didn't hold it against you, so don't get in their way. Hurry back and select disciples to go to the island. Pray that your disciples won't be at a natural competitive disadvantage because of what you've done."
Although things ended hastily, anyone with eyes could see that no one on stage was clean, but no one dared to say it.
"Who said I would send a disciple?" the Palace Master of the Holy Prayer Palace said coldly, glaring at Shen Suqi with a murderous look after Lin Ming left.
Shen Suqi sneered: "Fine, keep putting on airs. Let's see if your disciples will give up their future for you, or kill anyone who wants to leave you to silence them? This time you escaped a blood feud without actually causing any killings, but if you really want to make a move, let's see if the Dao Ancestor will make you, this parasite, disappear into nothingness."
She wasn't afraid of him at all. Before he could make a move, she showed him the Pixiu jade pendant in her hand: "Look what this is. It's a token from the entrance exam. It contains a life-saving protective shield. Do you want to try it?"
The Palace Master of the Holy Prayer Palace gritted his teeth.
Xu Lingyou said, "Palace Master, you'd better not try it."
He missed the look in his eyes and turned to the Liuyun Sect elder, whose face was equally pale: "The Liuyun Sect elder should recognize this item. As far as I know, the Liuyun Sect Master is still healing his hidden injuries."
The elder of the Liuyun Sect looked even more displeased.
"Withdraw from the competition," Jiang Yun said calmly, wiping the sword in his hand.
His purpose for this trip was not achieved due to an unexpected event, but it doesn't matter. Wang Yikun will definitely take the entrance exam, and they can settle their score later.
"I'm backing out too!" Shen Suqi laughed at the others. "Come on, I'll treat you all to dinner at Quanjulou! I want to thank you properly!"
As he spoke, he swaggered over and pinned the jade pendant in the most conspicuous place.
Before leaving, Su Xiaoyao took the opportunity to wave to the audience: "I have some entrance jade pendants for sale here, highest bidder wins!"
A farce quietly came to an end. Some people discovered business opportunities, some were eager to take the lead, some were excited, and some were filled with anxiety.
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