’So Junior Brother Yue came as well.’

Fu Lizi was quite surprised.

He remembered his junior brother, Yue Ziqi, had only recently been promoted to True Inheritance and was supposed to be in seclusion, meditating on a True Skill.

’To think he would leave Mingcang Marsh and rush to the Hongshui Dharma Assembly. It seems he also wants to compete for a Talisman Decree and find an Opportunity for his Dao.’

As everyone knew, the Taifu Sect and the Innate Sect were both titans locked in a north-south standoff. The former was entrenched in Mingcang Marsh, while the latter reigned over Hong Shui.

With the convention of this Dharma Assembly, both sides had dispatched their True Inheritance Disciples to fight for the limited number of Talisman Decrees to [Jukuzhou].

Among the Ten Great True Inheritance Disciples of the Taifu Sect, "veterans" like Fu Lizi and Lou Zhenxiao were, in truth, nearly at the point of ceding their positions.

And the "Junior Brother Yue" he had just mentioned was precisely one of these recently promoted juniors.

Grand, reputation-making events like this Dharma Assembly were always shouldered by the junior generation, while the senior members supervised from the sidelines.

Lou Zhenxiao was holding down the fort for the grand north-south situation, his eyes fixed on Xuan Chanzi of the Zhongyi Sect, to prevent any new complications and stop the man from jumping off the chessboard.

The duty of supervising the junior members, therefore, naturally fell upon Fu Lizi’s shoulders.

"Greetings, Senior Brother Fu."

A lean-faced young Daoist, clad in a robe patterned with a swirling mang dragon amidst dark clouds, made a Daoist salute and smiled at Fu Lizi.

"Besides myself, Senior Brother Yu and Junior Sister Xu are also here."

Fu Lizi rose as well, returning the salute.

"[Jukuzhou] is a territory jointly controlled by the Eight Sects. Each time it is opened, no more than sixteen Talisman Decrees are released.

"If you wish to enter and search for an Opportunity, Junior Brother Yue, you must put forth your utmost effort."

The young Daoist’s eyes were imperious, his tone firm.

"I shall exert every ounce of my strength and not bring shame upon our sect’s name!"

While the two were conversing, a wisp of smoke and clouds drifted across the sky, taking up a position in the center and revealing a handsome Daoist with a face as smooth and fair as jade.

"Junior Brother Xu’s bearing is even more impressive than before."

Fu Lizi raised his white eyebrows. This handsome Daoist was also a True Inheritance disciple of the Taifu Sect, a student of the Ziyun Grotto-Heaven and a fellow disciple of Yue Ziqi.

After the few of them exchanged greetings, a graceful, veiled woman arrived riding on a cloud.

The four True Inheritance Disciples of the Taifu Sect did not gather with the disciples of the Innate Sect’s eight peaks. Instead, they each sat poised in the center of the sky, unabashedly unleashing their immense Magical Power.

The immense pressure emanating from the Foundation Establishment True Masters displaced the very air, triggering fluctuations in the Spiritual Energy and creating all manner of strange vistas.

In the Li Peak encampment, just south of the great island, Feng Yuan looked up at the dazzling night sky and said slowly:

"The one on the Dharma Tower with hair and beard as white as snow and such an extraordinary bearing must be Fu Lizi.

"The young man in the mang robe is very likely Yue Ziqi, who just recently made a name for himself at the Mingcang Sword Contest.

"Judging by the Qi Mechanisms of the remaining two, one is of [Wood Virtue] and the other of [Water Virtue]. They must be Yu Changqing and Xu Wan."

The position of True Inheritance in an Ancestral Sect was by no means a hereditary, immutable title, solid and unbreachable.

The Eight Sects of the [Demon Dao] had always followed the principle of survival of the fittest: the capable rise, the mediocre fall, and the inferior are eliminated. This was a starkly different path from the great houses of the [Immortal Dao], where titles were passed down through generations, creating lineages of True Monarchs.

Most True Inheritance titles changed hands every thirty to fifty years. Incumbents were required to accept challenges from others; if they lost in Magical Combat, they would be stripped of their position.

The Taifu Sect operated on a forty-eight-year cycle, holding a sword-dueling assembly at Mingcang Marsh. One either had to voluntarily relinquish their title, or overwhelm all other contenders with their skill and compel their submission.

’Among these four, only Fu Lizi’s True Inheritance position has remained unshaken. The rest all earned their promotion by overthrowing the senior True Inheritance disciples who came before them.

’Every last one of them is incredibly skilled and far from mediocre. They cannot be underestimated.’

Feng Yuan mused to himself.

This Hongshui Dharma Assembly was truly a gathering of titans.

"Senior Brother Feng, how can we let the True Inheritance Disciples of the Taifu Sect walk all over us!"

A sudden shout came from the side. Feng Yuan glanced over to see it was Liu Jing from Zhen Peak.

The Eight Sects of the [Demon Dao] governed the Nanzhan Continent, presenting a united front for the most part. However, the undercurrents of infighting and conflict had never ceased, and they could hardly be said to be of one mind.

This was especially true for the Taifu Sect and the Innate Sect. Because their highest-ranking ancestral Daoist Monarchs were rivals, the juniors below were also full of animosity, each side wanting to one-up the other.

Feng Yuan nodded slowly. The Innate Sect had only occupied half of the massive island, which wasn’t to say they hadn’t left any room for the Taifu Sect.

And yet, the other party had chosen to remain entrenched in the center of the sky, their majesties hovering high above. The meaning behind this was self-evident.

Feng Yuan’s eyes glinted, and he replied in a low voice:

"Junior Brother Liu, would you be willing to go deliver a message and ’invite’ our friends from the Taifu Sect to come down?"

For this Hongshui Dharma Assembly, the Innate Sect was supposed to have five participants, whereas the Taifu Sect had only sent four.

If Feng Yuan were to go himself, it would inevitably create a standoff between the True Inheritance Disciples, giving others cause to gossip that the Innate Sect was using its superior numbers to bully the few.

Therefore, Feng Yuan simply let Liu Jing of Zhen Peak take the lead, since this junior brother was eager to show off and make a name for himself anyway.

"As you command, Senior Brother."

Liu Jing cupped his fist in salute, then soared into the vast sky, an aggressive and dazzling streak of Profound Light.

...

...

Atop the clouds, Yue Ziqi gave a playful smile as he gazed down at the great island below.

"For now, only Feng Yuan from the Innate Sect has arrived. I’ve heard that Gu Changling of Gen Peak’s Daoist Techniques are superb. I’d quite like to trade a few moves with him."

Fu Lizi shook his head.

"Gu Changling is about to break through to the Foundation Establishment Fifth Layer Heaven; it’s unlikely he’ll need to go to [Jukuzhou] to seek an Opportunity.

"The person most worthy of our attention at this Dharma Assembly should be Yuan Xiao of Zhen Peak. It’s rumored he possesses a unique ’Golden Thunder’ Daoist Technique that is truly formidable."

Yu Changqing said with a smile:

"Yuan Xiao’s great name has long been known. Ten years ago, in the North Sea, he annihilated the Guangyuan Temple from the Dongsheng Continent, slaying eight Foundation Establishment Cultivators in a row. He is skilled with a golden bow and thunder arrows. Junior Brother Yue, you must not be careless should you face him in Magical Combat."

Yue Ziqi appeared completely assured, laughing with confidence.

"I’m eager to test the might of that golden bow for myself."

Xu Wan spoke up softly.

"That Daoist will apparently be attending as well. Rumor has it among the Eight Sects that the Innate Sect’s Sect Leader pushed to open [Jukuzhou] specifically to pave the way for the Daoist’s Foundation Establishment."