Chapter 226: The Envoy
At the same time, on the outskirts of the Immortal Spirit Valley.
A middle-aged man dressed in white was walking, his heart surging with emotion as he marveled at everything before him.
Today's Immortal Spirit Holy Land is built upon the Immortal Spirit Valley. Outside the valley, mountains rise and fall, shrouded in spiritual mist. Inside, the spiritual energy is as dense as liquid, with lush vegetation where spirit beasts and rare birds reside, truly like a fairyland on earth.
Ten years ago, a golden spirit rain fell within a thousand-li radius of the Immortal Spirit Valley. This caused the concentration of spiritual energy in this land to suddenly increase several-fold.
Since then, the number of individuals born with spiritual roots in Green Prefecture surged. Especially in the area within a hundred li of the Immortal Spirit Valley, the abundance of spiritual energy even surpassed that of the ancestral grounds of many top sects.
And yet, for such a sudden grotto-heaven, it was strangely and miraculously free from anyone coming to covet it.
Therefore, after ten years of rapid development, the Immortal Spirit Holy Land was no longer what it was when it was first established a decade ago. It was a world of difference.
Five years ago, when the Immortal Spirit Valley first officially recruited disciples, it attracted geniuses from across the entire Profound Ocean Continent to vie for a spot, an unprecedented spectacle. Now, the structure of the Immortal Spirit Valley was already clear.
The most important part was naturally the Inner Gate, located in the southwest of the Immortal Spirit Valley. Personally overseen by the current Sect Master, Xiao Chen, it was the true core of the Holy Land.
The Inner Gate disciples were all individuals of outstanding talent. They either possessed extraordinary comprehension, exceptional aptitude, or a fortitude far surpassing their peers.
Those who could enter the Inner Gate would surely become pillars of the Holy Land in the future, and even had hopes of touching that legendary Heaven-Human Realm.
Therefore, the Inner Gate of the Immortal Spirit Valley was also the cultivation ground that all ambitious young cultivators dreamed of.
Of course, for those with limited aptitude who could not enter the Inner Gate, the second choice was to join another component of the Immortal Spirit Holy Land—Immortal Spirit City.
Immortal Spirit City was led by Xiao Chen's junior martial sister, Ji Lingxiu. While its status was not as transcendent as the Inner Gate's, its resources were equally abundant.
Among them, the most conspicuous was the City Guard Army. They were not only responsible for maintaining order in Immortal Spirit City but also enjoyed generous cultivation resources provided by the Holy Land.
Those who performed exceptionally in the City Guard Army could even be given special promotion to enter the Inner Gate for cultivation.
However, neither the City Guard Army nor the ordinary cultivators of Immortal Spirit City could enter the Immortal Spirit Valley without permission.
And if one could not even pass the City Guard Army's assessment, then the final destination was the Outer Gate of the Immortal Spirit Holy Land.
The Outer Gate was managed by the Outer Gate Great Elder of the Immortal Spirit Holy Land, Li Hanzhou, and was mainly located in the outer regions of the Immortal Spirit Valley.
Although Outer Gate disciples could also enjoy the Holy Land's resources, their treatment was naturally far inferior compared to the Inner Gate and Immortal Spirit City.
However, the Outer Gate was not without opportunities.
Every three years, the top three of the Outer Gate Grand Competition could be specially admitted to cultivate in Immortal Spirit City, with even hopes of advancing further!
However, although the Immortal Spirit Valley was open to Inner Gate disciples, there were three Forbidden Lands that even they could not enter without authorization.
The first was the center of the Immortal Spirit Valley—the Depths of the Mist.
The center of the valley was perpetually shrouded in dense fog. It was said to be the secluded residence of the Holy Land's Founding Master.
Once, a disciple accidentally entered, only to be sent out by a gentle force in an instant, unable to even recall how he had gotten out.
The second was north of the Immortal Spirit Valley—the Cold Pond Forbidden Land.
This place was rumored to be the cultivation site of the Founding Master's friend. It was perennially wreathed in cold air; even a Return to Origin Realm cultivator who approached would find their spiritual power frozen and be unable to move a step.
The third was west of the Immortal Spirit Valley—the Sword-Asking Cliff.
If the first two forbidden lands are impossible to enter, then the Sword-Asking Cliff is a place where even if you enter, you might not be able to leave.
On the cliff face, there is a poem carved with a sword in place of a brush. It is said to be the personal work of the Founding Master, and it contains supreme sword intent.
Once, a disciple watched from a distance, only to have their mind be seized by the sword intent, causing them to spit blood and faint on the spot.
Even the current Sect Master, Xiao Chen, once nearly met with danger here in his early years.
Therefore, while the Sword-Asking Cliff does not prohibit people from approaching, if one rashly attempts to comprehend it without sufficient strength, the light consequence is severe injury, and the heavy consequence is the collapse of one's Dao heart, reducing them to a cripple.
The middle-aged man was an envoy sent by the Heavenly Secret Pavilion.
Originally, although the Heavenly Secret Pavilion was not ranked among the top forces of the Profound Ocean Continent, its prestige was by no means inferior to them.
So, as he traveled, thinking of a power that had only begun to show its prominence a decade ago, he still retained a trace of arrogance in his heart.
But now, all that remained in his heart was an unceasing shock.
Before him, palaces and pavilions stood in great numbers among the mountains, with endless stretches of spirit fields and medicinal herb gardens. Disciples came and went like a tide, some flying on swords, others practicing spells, all with steady auras and solid foundations.
Even the most ordinary servant disciples would be considered elites in any ordinary sect.
And this was merely the Outer Gate of the Immortal Spirit Holy Land!
"To think that just the Outer Gate would have such a grandeur..." the envoy marveled to himself. "No wonder the Immortal Spirit Holy Land was able to rise in just ten short years to join the ranks of the top sects of the Profound Ocean Continent."
He continued forward and finally arrived at the entrance to the Immortal Spirit Valley.
At the valley entrance stood a majestic, jade-like stele, upon which four large, powerful characters were carved—"Immortal Spirit Holy Land."
The calligraphy flowed like dragons and snakes, faintly exuding a vast, oppressive pressure. The envoy took only one glance and felt his mind tremble, so he quickly lowered his head, not daring to look for long.
"It is said this inscription was personally carved by the Holy Land's Founding Master and contains supreme Dao rhyme. It truly lives up to its reputation..." His reverence deepened in his heart.
Further ahead lay the true core area of the Immortal Spirit Valley. The spiritual energy was as dense as fog, and one could vaguely see immortal birds dancing and spiritual lights flashing, truly like a fairyland on earth.
The envoy did not dare to advance rashly, standing respectfully at the valley entrance to wait.
Before long, two young cultivators dressed in the Holy Land's disciple attire arrived, moving with ethereal grace. One had a gentle temperament, while the other's sharp edge was contained within.
"This friend, may I ask what brings you to our Immortal Spirit Holy Land?" one of the disciples asked, cupping his hands. His tone was polite, yet it carried an inherent dignity that could not be slighted.
The envoy quickly returned the courtesy, saying, "I am an envoy from the Heavenly Secret Pavilion, tasked by the Pavilion Master with an urgent matter to request an audience with Sect Master Xiao. I hope you will announce me."
The two disciples looked at each other. One of them nodded slightly and replied politely, "So it is an honored guest from the Heavenly Secret Pavilion. Please wait a moment."
The other then turned and departed, his form like the wind, disappearing in the blink of an eye into the depths of the valley's spiritual mist.
The envoy waited patiently, but his mind was racing. "It is said the Immortal Spirit Holy Land has strict rules. Even giving face to the Heavenly Secret Pavilion might not guarantee an audience with the Sect Master. I wonder if this trip will be successful..."
However, in the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the disciple who had left had already returned. He said respectfully, "The Sect Master will see you. Envoy, please follow me."
The envoy felt a sense of relief and quickly followed, heading deeper into the Immortal Spirit Valley.
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