Chapter 33

As Nie Donghai spoke, he took out a token from his chest and extended it toward Nie Tian.

The token, about the size of a palm, was cold to the touch, as if carved from a single piece of cold jade.

On the front of the token, a pavilion adorned with pearls and treasures was intricately carved. The eaves of the pavilion were hung with numerous exquisite spirit artifacts. When Nie Tian flipped the token over, he immediately saw the three large characters “Lingbao Pavilion.”

“What is this?” Nie Tian asked in confusion.

“A token for participating in the trial,” Nie Donghai pondered for a moment before explaining in detail, “As you know, around our Black Cloud City, there are six other cities of equal size. These six cities are Broken Bone City, Thunder City, Dark Star City, Cold Stone City, Cold Moon City, and Yellow Sand City.”

“Within these six cities, there are many families like our Nie family, and these families, like the Nie family, are affiliated with different cultivator forces.”

“Between the seven cities, there are four powerful cultivator sects, and Lingyun Sect is just one of them.”

“Besides Lingyun Sect, there are also Lingbao Pavilion, Ash Valley, and Xuanwu Palace.”

“In our Black Cloud City, the Nie family serves Lingyun Sect, while the An family is affiliated with Lingbao Pavilion, and the Yun family... belongs to Ash Valley.”

“The other six cities also have families like our Nie family, who are subordinate to Lingbao Pavilion, Lingyun Sect, Ash Valley, and Xuanwu Palace. They cultivate mines, plant spirit herbs, or manage secular affairs for these four major cultivator forces.”

Nie Tian listened attentively, nodding his head, “I see.”

“It is said that Lingbao Pavilion, Lingyun Sect, Ash Valley, and Xuanwu Palace also belong to a cultivator alliance. Although these four cultivator forces are part of the same alliance, they naturally have competitive relationships, and conflicts among the younger generations often occur.”

“Competition is a necessary trial for cultivators.”

“The leaders of these four major cultivator forces deliberately allow the conflicts below them. In their eyes, cultivators who truly stand out and continuously climb to the peak of their realms must go through such processes.”

“This is because they themselves, in their youth, also surpassed their peers step by step, eventually achieving their current status.”

“To hone the younger generation, these four major forces often deliberately create conflicts and unique environments, allowing the younger generation to engage in battles, to master the subtleties of spirit energy, and to understand the various wonders of different realms.”

“Of course, under their control, everything remains within a manageable range.”

“For example, this time...”

At this point, Nie Donghai paused slightly, allowing Nie Tian to digest his words.

After a moment, Nie Tian quickly understood the well-intentioned efforts of the four major cultivator sects, nodded, and signaled for him to continue.

“The vast land is home to many mysterious realms, each with its own unique characteristics, though they do not exist in the same world as us.”

“Some of these realms are extremely dangerous and have yet to be fully conquered.”

“Others have been thoroughly studied and have no secrets left, thanks to the efforts of the four major forces.”

“The Lingbao Pavilion controls a realm called 'Qinghuan,' which has been completely conquered. I heard that when Qinghuan was first discovered, it contained high-level spirit beasts and savage alien races different from us.”

“However, under the joint efforts of the four major forces, the savage alien races and high-level spirit beasts in Qinghuan were completely eradicated.”

“The high-quality spirit materials, the remains of the spirit beasts, and the secrets of the alien races in Qinghuan have long been divided among the four major forces.”

“Yet, Qinghuan still exists.”

“To hone the younger generation, the four major forces deliberately left low-level spirit beasts alive and arrange for cultivators at the Qi Condensation stage to enter Qinghuan for trials every few years.”

“They let the younger generation face these appropriately threatening spirit beasts and engage in battles with each other, to refine their combat skills, temper their character, and understand the wonders of different realms.”

“Since Qinghuan belongs to Lingbao Pavilion, they have fifteen slots for each trial.”

“Lingyun Sect, Ash Valley, and Xuanwu Palace each have ten slots.”

“This time, the four major forces will arrange for a total of forty-five cultivators at the Qi Condensation stage to enter Qinghuan.”

“I only recently learned that Nie Xian is among the ten slots for Lingyun Sect. Nie Xian has reached the ninth layer of Qi Condensation, just one step away from the Netherworld stage. Lingyun Sect hopes he can use this opportunity to better understand the subtleties of spirit energy and smoothly advance to the Netherworld stage.”

“Lingyun Sect has only ten slots in total, and a few of them are taken by the grandchildren of some elders within the sect. The remaining slots are given to families like ours, who are affiliated with them.”

“The Nie family is not among them.”

“Since the Nie family has no slots, I didn’t mention this to you.”

At this point, he looked deeply at the token in Nie Tian’s hand and said, “I didn’t expect that the An family girl would give you such a token.”

“Clearly, she intends to use this token to send you into Qinghuan, so that someone from Lingbao Pavilion or the An family can keep an eye on you in Qinghuan, hoping to uncover the secret of the spatial rift in the Nie family.”

“Although I know her intentions, such an opportunity is too rare, so I decided to let you try.”

In fact, before coming in, Nie Donghai was still hesitant about whether to let Nie Tian enter Qinghuan.

Those entering Qinghuan include disciples from Lingbao Pavilion, Lingyun Sect, Ash Valley, and Xuanwu Palace, as well as the talented young people from the major families of the seven cities.

Most of the entrants have reached the sixth layer of Qi Condensation or higher, and there are also many who have reached the ninth layer, just one step away from the Netherworld stage.

In Qinghuan, any kind of battle is allowed as long as no one dies.

In such a situation, battles will be frequent, and being severely injured is no one’s fault.

With only the sixth layer of Qi Condensation, Nie Tian was originally very concerned about entering Qinghuan and planned to give up.

However, when he entered the room, he noticed that the table made of green stone had cracked into pieces on the ground...

—This made him change his mind.

“Grandpa! I must enter Qinghuan! Don’t worry, I won’t suffer any losses there!” Nie Tian clenched the token given to him by An Shiyi, his eyes shining with determination and a fighting spirit.

For some reason, the thought of engaging in battles with peers in Qinghuan made him extremely excited, and he couldn’t wait to rush in.

It seemed that he had a natural inclination for battle!

“Good!” Nie Donghai also sensed his fighting spirit, “This token comes from Lingbao Pavilion, so you will enter with their people. Early tomorrow morning, someone from Lingbao Pavilion will come to the Nie family to take you to Qinghuan.”

“Anything that might cause spatial anomalies, you should hide in a secret place and not bring it into Qinghuan.”

“Also, in Qinghuan, I believe there will be people from Lingbao Pavilion watching you, so you need to be cautious.”

“I understand.” Nie Tian nodded.

He also knew that An Shiyi wouldn’t give him a token to enter Qinghuan without reason. In Qinghuan, there would certainly be people from the An family watching him, hoping to uncover the secret of the spatial anomaly in the Nie family, to control a more mysterious and powerful realm.

Therefore, he decided not to bring the beast bone into Qinghuan.

...

At the same time, at the Yun family.

Yun Zhiguo returned home with a joyful expression, humming a tune all the way.

Inside the house, Yuan Qiuying, her son Yun Song, and a few trusted people from the Yuan family were already waiting anxiously.

Seeing Yun Zhiguo enter with a smile, Yuan Qiuying’s spirits lifted, and she quickly asked, “How did it go? Did you secure the slot?”

Yun Zhiguo laughed heartily, “Song is only eleven years old and has already reached the sixth layer of Qi Condensation. Naturally, he is the only one in the Yun family qualified to go to Qinghuan!”

“I knew it,” Yuan Qiuying giggled, “Even if you don’t consider the relationship, my Yuan family is the strongest in Cold Stone City. Even among the families affiliated with Ash Valley, my Yuan family ranks first. Marrying you was already a compromise for me, so your Yun family naturally has to give my father this face.”

“Of course, of course,” Yun Zhiguo laughed heartily, “If it weren’t for marrying you, this slot might not have been given to Song. I owe it to you.”

“Good to know,” Yuan Qiuying was very satisfied with his attitude.

Just as she was about to say more, a person with a strange expression slipped in. It was the old servant from the Yuan family who had arranged the assassination of Nie Qian and Nie Tian.

“Madam, I just received news that An Shiyi sent a token to that Nie Tian boy.”

“Nie Tian!” Yuan Qiuying’s eyes widened, and she remembered the humiliation Nie Tian had inflicted on her at the entrance of Lingbao Pavilion, instantly feeling furious. “Song! Your cousin Yuan Feng is also going to Qinghuan. I’ve always been fond of him. He reached the ninth layer of Qi Condensation a year ago and was officially accepted by Ash Valley.”

“When you get to Qinghuan, follow Yuan Feng. If you encounter that Nie Tian, do your best to cripple him!” Yuan Qiuying ordered viciously.

“Mother, don’t worry, I know what to do!”

...