Yunzhou, Taihang Mountains.
After several days of travel, Li Ming finally arrived safely at his destination.
Along the way, apart from the Qingyun Sword Sect causing trouble, no one dared to mess with him.
When he arrived at Taihang Mountain, it was already February 15th. The secret realm should open three days later.
...
At the foot of the Taihang Mountains.
Horse hooves trampled the mud, sending it flying.
Pedestrians on the road quickly dodged and backed away.
Some people complained while gazing enviously at the well-dressed, arrogant young men from prominent families, surrounded by their retinues.
"Tsk tsk, this dragon horse is really impressive. An ordinary martial artist probably couldn't withstand even one hoof strike."
Looking at the tall horse with two small bumps on its head and extremely beautiful hair, some people couldn't help but look on with envy.
In this world, a good mount is like a luxury car in Li Ming's previous life.
They make a grand entrance, and people can tell at a glance that this is someone you shouldn't mess with.
"Heh, even if you were to raise it, could you afford to?"
"We really can't afford to raise them..."
These fine horses are fed specially made feed and are taken out for walks every day to aid digestion; they live a better life than most people.
This is why Li Ming went alone.
"But what kind of day is this, with so many people?"
Among the passersby, a martial artist of average skill couldn't help but ask a question.
"Don't be fooled by how imposing these people are and how big a fuss they've made... they're really just so-so. These people are just there for the Spirit Profound Assembly, to join in the fun and see the real geniuses."
An old martial artist took a sip of wine, squinted his eyes, and said in a low voice.
"The Spirit Mystery Assembly, what's that?"
The old martial artist didn't actually know much; it was all just hearsay he'd picked up from various places.
But when asked at this point, he could only rack his brains to explain:
"In recent years, Lingxuan Temple has become increasingly popular, with a constant stream of tourists and pilgrims... It seems to be regaining its former glory, and this Lingxuan Assembly is their means of making a name for themselves."
"Inviting the most outstanding talents from all major forces to gather and discuss Buddhism and martial arts is also a great event to make these talents famous."
"You should know that Lingxuan Temple was once one of the top powers in the world, but it declined for a while and by the time of the Great Xuan Dynasty, it was no longer worthy of being called a holy land... However, such a power still has a strong foundation, and many strong people have emerged in recent years..."
The bustling crowds gathered, making the Taihang Mountains exceptionally lively.
Like the martial artists who were just watching the spectacle, Li Ming simply exchanged a few words with the people next to him and asked for directions before leaping up the mountain.
In the distance, one can see hundreds of temples built on the mountain, and a huge Buddha statue stands tall among the mountains, as if a real Buddha has appeared in the world.
In order to enhance its reputation, Lingxuan Temple not only sends people down the mountain every month to exorcise demons and protect the righteous path, but also to treat the sick and provide medical care for believers, thus gaining a good reputation.
As the word spread, many people even traveled thousands of miles to seek Buddha's help.
To facilitate travel, Lingxuan Temple also built a smooth and wide mountain road.
This conference.
Lingxuan Temple feigned generosity, claiming that anyone could come and discuss the Dao.
Of course, most people are just joining in the fun.
Only a small minority are the true protagonists.
"This place is indeed a blessed land..."
Li Ming sensed the spiritual energy of heaven and earth and looked at the mountains and rivers.
There's a reason why Lingxuan Temple chose this location as its mountain gate.
This place is blessed with beautiful mountains and clear waters, and abundant spiritual energy. Even ordinary people who stay here for a long time and eat normally will likely live longer.
As for martial artists, the more powerful they are, the more they can comprehend the universe and utilize all things in it to achieve their own immense power.
"Brother Li?"
Suddenly, a familiar voice called out to Li Ming.
Li Ming looked in the direction of the sound and saw that it was Guan Xin.
I had previously drunk and discussed martial arts with him, and we got along quite well. The Guan family was also a prominent clan that had served as officials in the Six Doors for generations, holding a pivotal position in Cangzhou.
Guan Xin was originally talking with some martial artists of similar age nearby when he unexpectedly saw Li Ming arrive, so he quickly came over and asked:
"Brother Li, are you also here to attend this Spiritual Mystery Conference?"
"Just joining in the fun."
Li Ming smiled.
Li Ming was extremely happy to run into an acquaintance. Guan Xin had come here, so he must know a lot of information, and they could exchange ideas.
Furthermore, having an acquaintance traveling with you will make the journey less boring.
At Guan Xin's enthusiastic invitation, Li Ming gladly agreed to go along and was introduced to several other martial artists.
These people all come from extraordinary backgrounds and have considerable cultivation.
At the very least, he is at the Golden Core Grandmaster level. Although he is far inferior to Li Ming, he is still quite good among his peers.
Guan Xin, on the other hand, broke through to the Refining Spirit Realm in one fell swoop, his aura was stable, and his foundation must be extremely solid.
The group chatted happily along the way, and none of them looked down on Li Ming because of his humble background.
After all, Li Ming's reputation wasn't just for show; they knew it was based on real achievements.
Although these people usually have a lot of arrogance, they can distinguish who they are arrogant towards. When facing Li Ming, they can't muster any arrogance at all.
"Brother Li, the experts at this conference are all formidable figures... This world is in utter chaos. Those geniuses of the past would probably be too ashamed to even lift their heads today."
Guan Xin walked halfway up the mountain and suddenly felt a little depressed.
After breaking through to the Refining Spirit Realm, Guan Xin was full of confidence and wanted to make a name for himself, but the news that came out one after another made him feel heavy-hearted.
Li Ming not only broke through to the Refining God Realm faster than him, but his cultivation was also unfathomable, and his combat power was so astonishing that he could kill a Grandmaster of Divine Power.
Upon leaving Cangzhou, he discovered just how many experts there were in the world. In the past, those at the Refining Spirit Realm could still cause a stir... but now, they can only be described as "not bad."
Those truly qualified geniuses who came to participate in the Spirit Profound Assembly this time are all extraordinary individuals.
From his background, lineage, achievements, and talent, he is an outstanding individual.
Guan Xin was disheartened to find that he was not only far inferior to a peerless genius like Li Ming, but also paled in comparison to these other geniuses.
"Brother Guan, the path of martial arts is never about who walks faster, but about who walks further."
Even if you're behind for now, do you really think you'll always be behind?
Li Ming smiled, stood tall against the mountain breeze, and slowly asked.
Upon hearing Li Ming's words, Guan Xin thought about it carefully again, then suddenly realized something, and nodded, saying:
"Brother Li is absolutely right. The path of martial arts is long. Even if you start out fast, you may not be able to keep it up... Brother Li is just like that. He accumulated knowledge and skills and then made a breakthrough. He went from being unknown to soaring to the top in just a short period of time."
Upon hearing Guan Xin's words, Li Ming's expression turned strange, but that was the only way he could think that way.
After all, he couldn't really explain how he rose to power...
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