PNB Chapter 1786: Visit Again
Chapter 1786: Visit Again
“Very good.” Mingchuan nodded. “Use this as a channel to release information about the truth of the Holy Domain’s talents in batches and in a targeted manner. Don’t release it all at once. Start with the relatives and friends of the missing persons and the geniuses of the small sects who once aspired to the Holy Domain. Let them discover clues by chance and piece together the truth on their own.”
“Okay.” Jinman understood. “The truth that you discover yourself is always more convincing than the truth that someone else forces on you.”
"What about the preparations for the Wangxiantai Grand Competition?"
"The site has been preliminarily selected. It is located 300 miles east of Dengyuntai. It was originally the site of an ancient sect. The terrain is open, and the foundation of the remaining array is still intact. It can be used with a little modification." Jin Man brought up the screen. "Sect Master Ye sent three elders who are proficient in arrays to assist in the setup. Sect Master Lin provided a large amount of Golden Thunder Bamboo as array base material. Sect Master Mu promised to mobilize a flock of cranes to create an auspicious atmosphere during the conference. Sect Master Chu has allocated 300 elite Xuantianmen to be responsible for the outer perimeter security."
"Regarding the rewards, the resources promised by each party have been delivered one after another, and the list is here." Jin Man handed over a jade slip. "In addition, our sect has set aside three extra spots for the Heavenly Mirror Secret Realm. Each spot allows for ten days of cultivation in the secret realm to comprehend the Dao of Space."
Mingchuan glanced at the list and said with satisfaction, "Quite a generous offer, very attractive indeed. What about the competition rules?"
"The preliminary plan is to have three parts: aptitude and potential assessment, practical combat arena, and secret realm trial. These will assess one's innate talent and temperament, combat skills, and adaptability and wisdom, respectively. The top 100 in the final overall ranking will receive rewards. The top ten will have the opportunity to be directly accepted as core disciples by the five major sects."
“Okay.” Mingchuan pondered. “The rules must be open and transparent, and the judgments must be supervised by multiple parties to ensure that all participants are convinced. This is a matter of credibility for the five major sects.”
"it is good!"
Just then, Ah Xiong rushed over, holding a gold-embossed invitation card in his hand, his expression strange: "Brother Ming, someone outside the mountain gate is requesting an audience. He says... Yue Wuhen, the foreign affairs steward of the Holy Domain Dragon Roar Temple."
"Yue Wuhen?" Mingchuan raised an eyebrow. "Yue Yao's people? They arrived quickly."
Jin Man frowned: "The four sect leaders left less than two hours ago, and they've already arrived. It seems we're completely invisible to them."
"It's alright." Mingchuan waved his hand. "It's a good opportunity to test the waters. Invite him to the side hall."
……
Inside the side hall, Yue Wuhen stood with his hands behind his back.
He appeared to be around thirty years old, with a fair complexion and refined demeanor. His moon-white robe was spotless, and a faint smile played on his lips. If it weren't for the immense spiritual pressure that emanated from him, he would have looked like a young nobleman traveling and enjoying nature.
Upon seeing Mingchuan enter, Yue Wuhen bowed slightly, his posture impeccable: "Yue Wuhen, on the orders of Fairy Yueyao of Longyin Temple, has come to pay my respects to Sect Master Mingchuan. Congratulations to Wanchuan Sect on the addition of a new vassal, which has further enhanced its prestige."
"You're too kind, Steward Yue." Mingchuan sat down in the main seat, his expression calm. "I wonder what brings Fairy Yue here to instruct me?"
Yue Wuhen's smile remained unchanged: "I dare not presume to offer guidance. However, Fairy Yueyao has heard that the sect leaders of the Spirit Realm seem to have some doubts about the talent selection and exchange meeting recently, and has specially ordered me to come and explain and clarify, so as to avoid any misunderstandings."
"Oh? A misunderstanding?" Mingchuan smiled but didn't. "Fairy Yue is overthinking it. It's a good thing that the Spirit Realm and the Holy Realm are exchanging ideas. It's just that our Spirit Realm has been through a lot lately. The Demon Abyss has just been pacified, and people's hearts are not yet settled. While we are grateful for the Holy Realm's kindness, we can't help but feel a little apprehensive."
"After all, my Spirit Realm is a small and insignificant place with limited talents. I'm afraid we won't be able to catch the eye of the Holy Realm and would only disappoint Fairy Moon's good intentions."
These words, though seemingly casual, were actually quite veiled, both pointing out the current state of the Spirit Realm and subtly implying the impure motives of the Holy Realm.
Yue Wuhen's smile faltered slightly before he recovered: "Sect Master is too modest. The Spirit Realm is a land of outstanding people and talents, and Fairy Yueyao has always cherished talent. This selection process was not intended to be coerced or controlled; it was purely to provide a broader stage for talents from both realms. Those selected will only be going to the Holy Realm for further study and exchange, and will be free to come and go as they please. There will be absolutely no underhanded methods such as soul imprinting."
"Such rumors, whose origins are unknown, are nothing but slander by petty people, attempting to sow discord between our two regions."
He spoke with righteous indignation, and if Mingchuan hadn't possessed solid evidence, he would almost have believed him.
"I see." Mingchuan nodded. "Then we were overthinking it. But..."
He then changed the subject: "The Spirit Realm has suffered a great calamity and is in dire need of rebuilding. Disciples from all sects need to stay and contribute, so it may be difficult to send too many talented individuals to the meeting in a short time. Moreover, the foundation of cultivation is solid. If one rashly travels to the Holy Realm, one may suffer from acclimatization issues and damage one's foundation."
“We appreciate Fairy Yueyao’s kindness, but this selection process needs to be carefully considered.”
A hint of coldness flashed in Yue Wuhen's eyes, but his smile remained unchanged: "The sect leader's concerns are understandable. However, in the path of cultivation, it is never a good strategy to work in isolation."
"The Holy Domain is rich in resources, has profound cultivation techniques, and is guided by many senior experts. It is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for young cultivators."
"Fairy Yueyao also promised that for those who are exceptionally outstanding, they could be granted the position of guest elder of the outer sect of Longyin Temple, enjoying the offerings of the Holy Domain, but without being subject to too many restrictions."
He began to throw out the bait.
The title of "Outer Gate Guest Elder" at Longyin Temple sounds prestigious, yet also suggests a free individual.
But Mingchuan sneered inwardly. Once he was associated with this title, he would be entangled with the Holy Domain. How easy would it be to break free?
Moreover, the so-called "outer gate retainers" are probably just another form of control.
"Your Excellency is too kind, and Mingchuan thanks you on behalf of the talented people of the Spirit Realm." Mingchuan remained noncommittal. "However, this matter concerns the future of many disciples, and each sect must decide for itself. It is inappropriate for the Wanchuan Sect to overstep its bounds."
He gently kicked the ball back.
Seeing that Mingchuan remained unmoved, Yue Wuhen was secretly annoyed, but she didn't show it on her face. She then took out an even more exquisite jade token from her sleeve:
"In that case, I will not insist. This is an invitation personally written by Fairy Yueyao, who specially invites Sect Master Mingchuan to attend the ceremony at Dengyuntai in one month. Fairy said that she has long heard of the profoundness of the Sect Master's spatial Dao, and that his battle in the Demon Abyss was even more dazzling. She hopes to sit down with the Sect Master to discuss the Dao and jointly plan for the peaceful development of the two regions."
He placed the invitation on the table, his tone becoming more serious: "This invitation represents only Fairy Yueyao's personal appreciation and respect for the Sect Master. I hope the Sect Master... will not refuse."
The last four words carried a subtle sense of pressure.
Mingchuan picked up the invitation. It felt cool to the touch, made of neither gold nor jade, but exuding a pure and ethereal aura unique to the Sacred Realm. He smiled and said, "I am deeply honored by the invitation from Fairy Moon. I will certainly be there on time for the Ascending Cloud Platform in one month."
Only then did Yue Wuhen reveal a satisfied smile: "In that case, I will not disturb the sect leader's cultivation any longer. Farewell."
"see a visitor out."
After Yue Wuhen left, Jin Man emerged from behind the screen with a grave expression: "His last sentence was almost a threat."