Numerous immortal cultivators could be seen converging toward the mountain gate of the Yuanzhao Sect. Some flew through the air, some relied on magic tools, and others traveled on foot. These were likely all cultivators taking part in this Ascension Assembly.
However, not all of them were necessarily rogue cultivators.
Martial Uncle Yue had warned them not to let their guard down against any opponent once they entered the Eight Trigrams Forbidden Ground. As an orthodox sect with a prominent reputation in the neighboring cultivation world, the Yuanzhao Sect drew disciples from many immortal cultivation clans to its Ascension Assembly. Far from impoverished rogue cultivators, every one of these clan scions possessed substantial backgrounds and would certainly carry heirloom magic tools for protection.
As Qin Sang stood at the foot of the mountain looking into the distance, two cultivators swept past him.
They were all competitors. They might cross paths after entering the Eight Trigrams Forbidden Ground, at which point it would be a matter of life and death. There was no need for pleasantries.
***
"What is your name?"
"This disciple is named Qin Sang."
"Where are you from?"
"A native of the State of Ning, and formerly a general in the mortal realm of Great Sui."
***
Faced with the questioning of the Yuanzhao Sect Foundation Establishment cultivator, Qin Sang answered truthfully as Martial Uncle Yue had instructed. If he passed the Ascension Assembly and entered the Yuanzhao Sect, the sect would send people to investigate his background.
"The State of Ning... Great Sui..."
After a moment of thought, the Yuanzhao Sect cultivator said with a hint of surprise, "Those who come to attend the Ascension Assembly have indeed been coming from farther and farther away these past few times."
Qin Sang replied respectfully, "Since childhood, this disciple has yearned for the immortal path, yet I was never able to find a way in. Having heard that the Yuanzhao Sect is willing to guide rogue cultivators like us and open its doors wide, my heart was filled with longing, and I did not hesitate to travel thousands of li to come here."
The Yuanzhao Sect cultivator stroked his beard and smiled. "For a mere rogue cultivator to cultivate to the sixth layer of the Qi Refinement stage at your age is truly no small feat. There is no need to belittle yourself. Take this jade token and go to the retreat lodgings behind the mountain to rest and recharge. At dawn the day after tomorrow, sect cultivators will take you to the Eight Trigrams Forbidden Ground. Be sure not to miss the hour."
"Yes!"
Qin Sang took the jade token and followed a junior Yuanzhao Sect cultivator toward the rear mountain. Along the way, he crossed paths with a senior martial sister from the Kuiyin Sect. Their eyes met, but both pretended not to recognize one another.
After settling into his quarters, Qin Sang pulled out the jade token to inspect it, recalling the rules of the Ascension Assembly that Martial Uncle Yue had explained to them.
Unlike other immortal cultivation sects, the Yuanzhao Sect's Ascension Assembly was not decided through arena duels.
The Eight Trigrams Forbidden Ground was divided into nine regions. Everyone would be randomly transported by the restrictions to the eight outer regions. While restrictions separated these eight regions from one another, all eight connected to the core region.
Among all those taking part in the Ascension Assembly, the first twelve to reach the core region would be the victors.
Due to the presence of the restrictions within the Eight Trigrams Forbidden Ground, even immortal cultivators could not discern their direction. Every participating rogue cultivator received a jade token. After being transported inside, they had to seize the jade tokens of others. Only after collecting ten jade tokens would the token reveal guidance toward the core region.
Without enough jade tokens, even if one happened upon the core region by chance, entering would be impossible.
Inside the Eight Trigrams Forbidden Ground, clashes with others were inevitable. With good luck, one might encounter weaker opponents and quickly gather the required tokens. With poor luck, one might run into an opponent far too strong, losing not only the tokens but their very life.
Beyond that, numerous demonic beasts roamed the forbidden ground, making every step fraught with peril.
***
At dawn on the third day.
Qin Sang hurried to gather outside the lodgings, only to find that four to five hundred people had already assembled, with more arriving in an endless stream. When the hour arrived, a Yuanzhao Sect cultivator explained the rules of the Ascension Assembly, which did not differ much from what Martial Uncle Yue had told them.
Finally, the Yuanzhao Sect cultivator summoned an ordinary-looking wooden raft. Hearing the discussions of those nearby, Qin Sang learned that this raft was called the Moon-Crossing Raft, a fairly famous magic tool of the Yuanzhao Sect.
Though the Moon-Crossing Raft looked small, it expanded by a fraction with every person who boarded, ultimately lifting everyone into the sky as it soared upward.
The raft flew through the clouds, the chilling astral winds held at bay by the azure light radiating from its hull. Even bearing so many passengers, it still moved like lightning. Rivers, mountains, and lakes flitted past below in rapid succession, a wondrous sight that left everyone marveling.
The mountain range where the Yuanzhao Sect resided was as vast as Mount Youshan. The Moon-Crossing Raft flew through the mountains for two shichen before finally landing on a stone platform atop a barren peak.
Looking out in all directions from the platform, one could see only desolate, rugged mountains with not a soul in sight. There was no unusually dense spiritual power as one might have imagined, leaving one to wonder where the so-called Eight Trigrams Forbidden Ground was.
As Qin Sang looked left and right in quiet bewilderment, he noticed a cave dwelling beside the stone platform. Just as the Moon-Crossing Raft touched down, the cave dwelling's heavy door opened, and four Yuanzhao Sect cultivators walked out. All four were at the tenth layer of the Qi Refinement stage or higher. Upon seeing the raft, they briskly stepped forward and bowed in salute.
"Disciples greet Martial Uncle!"
The Yuanzhao Sect cultivator piloting the Moon-Crossing Raft nodded and said, "The Ascension Assembly begins today. Go open the restrictions."
"Yes!"
The four cultivators walked to the edges of the stone platform, each occupying one corner. They sat cross-legged and began chanting incantations under their breath.
Runes of spiritual power materialized across the stone platform, forming an intricate, mysterious array. Next, each cultivator summoned a short sword. The four swords were distinct, gleaming with azure, red, yellow, and white light respectively, their materials impossible to identify.
With grave expressions, the four cultivators tapped their fingers against their short swords several times in rapid succession. The short swords instantly blazed with brilliant radiance, coalescing into four fluctuating orbs of light swirling at their fingertips.
In the next instant, the orbs stretched and lengthened, transforming into four giant swords several zhang tall.
The four men abruptly raised their hands, pointing obliquely toward the heavens, and roared in unison.
"Strike!"
The swords of light shot forth.
*Whoosh!*
To everyone's surprise, the swords did not fly off beyond the clouds. Instead, as if colliding with an invisible barrier, their momentum ground to an abrupt halt. Immediately afterward, the void above the light swords rippled violently, sending massive ripples spreading across the empty air. Wind and clouds churned on all sides as the outline of an ancient restriction was laid bare before everyone's eyes.
A colossal tear seemed to rip through the sky. Endless astral winds howled within the massive breach, where visible wind blades shredded everything in their path. Multicolored divine lights collided and dissolved, the terrifying pressure of their aftershocks making everyone's scalp tingle.
Confronted by this apocalyptic scene, the faces of everyone on the Moon-Crossing Raft turned deathly pale. They had no doubt that if they were accidentally sucked into the restriction, they would instantly be torn to shreds.
At that moment, the four cultivators uttered a low shout, and the four swords of light plunged into the opening, shattering completely.
As the giant swords dissipated and specks of light scattered into the dark rift, the turbulent restriction quieted for a fleeting moment. Seizing the opportunity, the Yuanzhao Sect cultivator urged the Moon-Crossing Raft into a shudder before it surged into the air, darting like lightning straight toward the restriction.
Amid a chorus of alarmed cries, the Yuanzhao Sect cultivator suddenly retracted the Moon-Crossing Raft the moment they crossed the breach. Like dumplings dropped into boiling water, everyone plummeted straight in.
Qin Sang felt his vision spin uncontrollably as he tumbled into utter darkness, everyone around him vanishing without a trace.
Chapter 69