[Act 1: Initial Entry into Qingzhou - City Gate Fiasco]
Three days later, outside Qingzhou City, the sky was still dark.
Lin Bufan stood among the mountains and looked at the magnificent, ancient city before him, slightly narrowing his eyes.
This was his first time stepping into a real "Great World Land."
The 100-foot-high city gate resembled an iron-walled moat, cast in black iron and inscribed with ancient formations. Cultivators, merchants, and caravans poured in like tidal waves. A single spirit beast pulled a giant floating carriage, forming a long line.
Su Wumian flipped through the Qingzhou Cultivation Record and began to introduce:
"Qingzhou is one of the seven counties in the borderlands of the Nine States. It is home to numerous sects and scattered cultivators. It is a purgatory and springboard for middle- and low-level cultivators."
"And now, coincidentally, it is the time of the once-every-five-years Sect Competition Recruitment Conference."
Luo Qingdao gripped the hilt of her sword and said, "Fish and dragons are mixed together, and it's easiest to hide killing opportunities."
Lin Bufan didn't say anything; he just took a step toward the city gates.
[System prompt: New map unlocked → Qingzhou Main City.]
Area Level: Basic Cultivation Area (Recommended Level: Late Refining Qi or above).
Current status: Identity: Unregistered (Temporary Visitor).
Suggestion: Bind the identity jade as soon as possible to avoid being mistaken as a black household.
"Have to run the process again..." Lin Bufan sighed and was about to hand over his silver to register when the gatekeeper stopped him.
"Are you... Lin Bufan?"
The man wore iron armor, and his eyes conveyed vigilance and suppression.
Lin Bufan raised an eyebrow. "Recognize me?"
"There is an order from above. Lin Bufan is not allowed to enter the city without the clan's guarantee for the time being."
"Please return the way you came or accept the 'Soul Suppression Hall' soul seal test."
This drew sideways glances from the surrounding cultivators.
"Is this the kid who killed the Soul Binding Hall's Vice Hall Master a few days ago?"
"Even the Soul Binding Hall has stepped in. What kind of background must he have?"
Su Wumian said in a cold voice, "The Soul Suppressing Hall is the sister organization of the Soul Binding Hall."
Luo Qingdao took half a step forward and said, "This is obviously an attempt to block us."
Lin Bu Fan, however, laughed.
"Fine. Since I'm not allowed to enter, I'll wait at the entrance."
He found a rock and sat down directly on it.
"I just don't believe you dare make a move at the entrance of Qingzhou City."
The deacon on the city wall looked angry, but didn't dare make a move.
Instead, he sat down loudly.
Act 2: The Wind at the City Gate: The Power Game
A few moments later, a clear female voice sounded.
"How can Qingzhou City allow you to do whatever you want? Who authorized you to detain people in the name of the Soul Suppression Hall?"
A team of green-clothed disciples broke through the air. The woman at the head wore a plain white dress and had an extraordinary temperament.
She wore a jade flower hairpin on her forehead, and her eyebrows exuded authority. Her status was extraordinary.
"Cloudy Sky Sect Vice Sovereign's daughter, Murong Qingxue," Su Wumian whispered. Su Wumian whispered.
She landed directly in front of Lin Bufan and said coldly to the city guard,
"My Cloudy Sky Sect invited this person to participate in this year's Sect Competition. They have already entered the city. If you don't believe me, you can check the record on the commander's platform."
The city guard's face turned ugly, but he could only back down.
"You have the Cloudsoar Sect's endorsement, but you can't mess around..."
Murong Qingxue ignored him, turning only to Lin Bufan.
"Are you Lin Bufan?"
"They say you killed people from the Soul Binding Hall in Sunset Town and struck the 'Destiny Soul Blade.'"
"I'm very interested in you..."
Lin Bufan raised an eyebrow. "I'm not very interested in you."
The surrounding cultivators were shocked. Who is this? Qianjin of the Cloudsoaring Sect had taken the initiative to approach him, yet he still disliked her?
Murong Qingxue was stunned, then smiled. "Sure enough, the rumors are right."
"I like unintelligent guys like you."
"After entering the city, don't die too early."
After saying that, she turned around and left with a group of disciples, disappearing into the street corner.
Luo Qingdao glanced at Lin Bufan but didn't say anything.
Su Wumian, on the other hand, laughed softly and said, "Weren't you a little stiff just now?"
Lin Bufan shrugged. "I'm just too lazy to play games with strangers."
"But this Qingzhou City is quite interesting."
[System Alert: Prestige Boost — Yunxiao Sect +5]
[Potential Interactive Character: Murong Qingxue (to be evaluated)]
[Quest update: The entrant has been activated.]
[Act 3: Bustling Main City — Sect Competition to Begin]
Qingzhou City is divided into nine districts. The main street runs straight through the city and is rich in aura. Cars and horses fill the streets.
The liveliest part of the city is the "Sect Square."
Hundreds of spirit formations have been set up here, and each clan has set up a formation platform to display techniques, divine weapons, and resources to attract casual cultivators to sign up and join.
Currently, the recruitment event is in its early stages, and the stalls of several top sects are overcrowded.
In the center of the square, at the highest point, a light golden list kept turning pages.
"Qingzhou Young Power Ranking (Trial Ranking)"
1. Jiang Wuduan (Xuan Lei Sect)
2. Song Qingzhu (White Feather Palace)
3. Murong Qingxue (Yunxiao Sect)
4. Ghost Chanye (Underworld Sect)
5. ????
[The challenge list is open, and trial points will affect the sects' ranking and resource allocation.]
Lin Bufan glanced at it, his eyes growing faint.
"The list? Not enough to look at."
At that moment, a commotion arose in the distance.
One could see only a group of cultivators clad in black, patterned battle robes, walking slowly alongside giant, demonic beasts.
One of them wore a mask that covered his face, and a fierce aura surrounded his body. As soon as he appeared, the aura of the entire plaza shook.
"Those are the people from the ... Seven Nights Sect!"
"How come they're here too? Didn't they say they never intervene in the Grand Competition?"
Su Wumian's complexion turned cold. "It seems like it's not just clan recruitment."
Suddenly, Lin Bufan felt a tremor in the system.
[Ding! The villain has appeared: Seven Nights Sect, Inner Sect Slayer, "Ghost Chanye." He has locked you as an object of observation.
Current status: not hostile, but on high alert.
Battle estimate: Mid Chukki.
Characteristics: Soul Dual Cultivator, Divine Sense Manipulation
Lin Bu Fan licked his lips and said, "It's getting more and more interesting."
Act 4: Entering the Game of Chaos — Dark Tide Lurking
That night, Lin Bufan and his companions stayed at a spiritual cultivation inn.
After nightfall, however, the system suddenly displayed a new warning:
[System Warning: Killing Aura Fluctuation Approaching.]
Special sealing aura detected — source unknown."
Lin Bufan jumped up and pushed open the window just in time to see a shadow disappear across the street.
"Did you see that?" Lin Bu Fan asked in a low voice.
Su Wumian gently shook her head. However, she raised her hand and threw something. The spirit bell rippled.
"I felt traces of a familiar technique."
"It's not the Soul Binding Hall. It's an even more ancient power."
Luo Qingdao added in a low voice, "It's like some sort of sealing technique, but extremely unstable."
Lin Bu Fan frowned.
[System Alert: Hidden Spur Opens → The Ancient Tattoo Reboot]
This is a remnant technique originating from an ancient lineage of warlocks.
There is a probability of clashing with the life soul bloodline.
Suggestion: Go to the Ancient Formation Division in the Inner City of Qingzhou to file an exploration.
He pondered for a moment and turned his head.
"It seems that our true 'innings' have just begun."