Qū Prefecture is located in the westernmost part of Jīn Yàn Country, bordering Wū Lín Country. It is the largest prefecture in terms of area but ranks last among the thirteen prefectures in population. This is because Qū Prefecture is mostly composed of high mountains and large lakes, with very little arable land.

  The so-called high mountains and great lakes refer to the Qionglai Mountains and Heihu Lake.

  If its just that the Kuanglu Mountains are exceptionally high, steep and majestic, with unusually beautiful scenery, then similar mountains can be found elsewhere, which isnt particularly unusual. But Heishui Lake, which is closely connected to the Kuanglu Mountains, is a unique landscape in Quzhou. Most tourists who come to Quzhou for hiking and sightseeing are here for this lake.

  Hei Shui Lake is said to be over 3,000 miles wide, with very special water quality and a very dark color. From afar, it looks like a piece of black ink, hence the name Hei Shui Lake. The metal mineral salt content in Hei Shui Lakes water is extremely high, making it undrinkable; the lakes water density is also very high, so if someone jumps into the lake, they wont sink at all and will instead float on top like a piece of wood. In addition to this, Hei Shui Lakes water temperature is suitable and remains constant throughout the four seasons, always staying warm, even in snowy weather.

  The water quality is so peculiar that it attracts many tourists to play and have fun in the lake, but only in the southern outskirts of Hei Shui Lake. If you head north into the depths of Hei Shui Lake, you will encounter thicker and thicker fog, and after a hundred miles, the fog is so dense that its almost impossible to see anything, making it easy to get lost. There are rumors that soaking in Hei Shui Lake can wash away impurities, relax muscles, and prolong life; there are also rumors that Hei Shui Lake has many water monsters, such as two-headed water pythons, six or seven-meter-long man-eating fish, and giant crabs that can swallow clouds and spit out fog. All these add a thick layer of mystery to Hei Shui Lake.

  To the north of Hei Shui Lake lies the deepest part of the Kuang Lu mountain range, a place where mortals dare not tread due to its treacherous mountains and waters. This is precisely the location of the "Tai Xu Men", one of the four major sects of the Jin Yan Empires largest immortal cultivation school, the San Zong Si Men.

  These days coincided with the Tai Xū Mens annual recruitment of low-ranking disciples, and at this time, many young cultivators were surging inside the Kuāng Lú mountain range, all of whom had come for this purpose.

  A procession of young monks stretching for two or three kilometers was slowly making its way up the mountain road leading to Xiuyun Peak.

  Zhao Di was in the middle of the team, wearing an ordinary blue long gown, without a black cloak, walking with his head down, occasionally looking up.

  Dont look at his honest and simple appearance, he is actually muttering something in his heart.

  Since he and other young monks walked through a smooth mountain wall transformed by low-level magic, stepped on this bluestone-paved mountain road, they had been walking for nearly three hours, but still couldnt see the end of this bluestone-step road that extended all the way up.

  Xiu Yun Peak didnt seem too high, but after walking for so long and mostly climbing stairs, he should have already reached the top. However, he found himself still in the middle of the mountain. The two or three cultivators behind him, about ten meters away, seemed to have also noticed this point and were quietly discussing it. With Zhao Dis current spiritual awareness, plus these few cultivators didnt intentionally avoid him, naturally, he heard their conversation clearly.

  "Whats going on? Weve been walking for so long and still havent reached the top of the mountain?"

  "Hey, havent you noticed that white cloud by the roadside? Doesnt its shape look familiar? Ive found that every now and then, the scenery by the roadside repeats itself. Especially this white cloud, Ive been paying attention to it for a while now, although it drifts away from time to time, but it seems to be following us."

  "Are you saying this mountain peak has a high-level illusion set up, making us keep walking in circles?"

  "Its probably true, and I guess its those who are too proud to do so on purpose. Think about it, if someone cant even be patient enough to walk this mountain road, how can they possibly go far on the path of cultivation? We cultivators need great perseverance."

  "It makes sense, never mind, lets just take it slow and go with the flow. Anyway, the Taixu Sect cant possibly reject all of us who signed up."

  Zhao Di listened to the conversation of the several monks behind him, and nodded secretly. He also noticed the strange white cloud by the roadside, and felt that there was a faint sound coming from the white cloud.

  He didnt know that at this time, in a white cloud, there were three cultivators, two men and one woman, standing in a strange array and talking, all of whom had cultivation above the initial stage of foundation building.

  One of the handsome and elegant tall young men holding a jade stone circular instrument said to the female cultivator beside him: "Lei Shimei, look at those little guys who actually saw through the several arrays we set up. It seems that they are also talented materials. However, compared to you when you were their age, they still fall short."

  Leis smile added two red dimples to her already lovely face, making her look even more charming.

  "Liu Shixiong is indeed worthy of praise, among our batch of foundation-building cultivators, in terms of innate talent, who can surpass Cold Shixiong with his Seven Profound Frost Body? Moreover, Cold Shixiong also possesses the rare Ice Attribute Spiritual Root, which complements his exceptional physical constitution from the Seven Profound Frost Body. Cultivating ice-attribute techniques is simply like adding wings to a tiger for him. How could I possibly compare to that?" The woman surnamed Lei shifted the topic to another person beside her.

  The "cold Shixiong" in the girls mouth was indeed a man of his name, with a cold and pale face that didnt have any expression, if Zhao Di saw him, he would definitely think of the two words "zombie".

  He seemed to have not heard the two peoples words at all, and was gazing lightly at the monk team that was moving forward below him. Suddenly, he opened his mouth and said softly: "The monk in front of those few people seems to have a spiritual consciousness much stronger than monks of the same rank. Moreover, he also seemed to have noticed your conversation."

  "Impossible! Hes just a Qi Refining stage 11th layer cultivator, how strong can his divine sense be? Although we didnt set up any soundproofing measures, but being in this Phantom Cloud Formation, its not something that a Qi Refining stage cultivator like him can see through." The tall youth didnt believe it, and he had an inexplicable fire burning in his heart. Every time he heard about some abnormal talent of a cultivator, he felt annoyed and frustrated. With so many excellent spiritual roots and bodies in the cultivation world, why hadnt any of them been bestowed upon him?!

  "Heh heh, thats not necessarily true. Leng Shixiong is someone who rarely misjudges people, which is why the sect leader invited him to preside over this disciple recruitment event. We two are just assisting him. Leng Shixiong, dont you think its about time? Shouldnt we let these juniors head up the mountain?" The woman smoothed things over before turning to the "corpse face" man and bringing up the main purpose of their trip.

  "Thats enough, lets go to the top of the mountain and wait at Wanghu Pavilion first. Liu Shidi, please dispel the Phantom Cloud Formations Illusory Path." The "Corpse Face" mans words were polite, but contained a hint of an irresistible command.

  "Yes, Cold Master." The tall young man did not dare to disobey and responded in a low voice. Then he raised the jade stone law disk with his right hand, silently recited a few spells, pinched a strange law seal with his left hand, and injected a spiritual power into the law disk...

  Among the young monks walking slowly on the endless bluestone steps, a few careful monks noticed that one of the white clouds floating by the side of the mountain road was missing.

  But everyone noticed that above their heads, three white-robed monks appeared, each stepping on a green flute, a pink ribbon and an icy sword, flying with the instrument, rushing towards the top of the mountain.

  "Wow, theyre all from Taizu High! Judging by their clothes, they should all be from Taiwu Gate."

  "Flight of the Imperial Vessel! Only a foundation-building period cultivator can achieve this!"

  "That monk who plays the guqin is so handsome!"

  "The fairy in the middle is stunning!"

  "You guys dont understand anything! The transparent ice sword is absolutely the most powerful one, it must be a top-grade magic weapon!"

  "What a fantastic magic tool!?"

  "I can build anything, stepping on the ultimate treasure, flying with the artifact!"

  "You think every Foundation Building cultivator has a top-grade artifact? Top-grade artifacts are even rarer than Foundation Building cultivators!"

  "Less nonsense, hurry up and get moving, everyone ahead is speeding up!"

  "How come this mountain road has been going on for so long?!"

  "Dont worry, look, the person at the very front of the queue seems to be arriving."

  ……

  The cultivators on the mountain path were in an uproar, and their footsteps quickened significantly.

  (Todays update is complete! Tomorrow will also have an extra update, thank you for your support!)