Time flew by like a white steed flashing past a crevice.
The middle of each year was fast approaching, and in the barren lands, many sects were actively preparing, because in a few days, the emissaries from the Middle Domain sects would break through the barren lands barrier to select talented disciples.
As the overlord of the barren lands, Heavenly Severance Manor had as many as five people who entered the Middle Domain last time, along with one from Heaven Sword Sect in Central Spirit State, one from Blood Demon Sect in Western Spirit State, one from Sword Sect in Northern Spirit State, one from White Sand Sect in Eastern Spirit State, and one rogue cultivator from Southern Desolate Barren.
As the competition was about to begin, according to custom, this year's competition should have been hosted by Heavenly Severance Manor in Central Spirit State, but for some unknown reason, when the sect emissaries from the Middle Domain arrived in the barren lands, they were drawn by a mysterious aura from Southern Desolate Barren.
The group from the Middle Domain did not go directly to Southern Desolate Barren, but instead settled down in Heavenly Severance Manor in Central Spirit State.
Seeing the Middle Domain emissaries descend from the sky, Heavenly Severance Manor's Grand Elder, Great Elder Tu Zhan, immediately came forward to greet them.
"Greetings, Venerable Feng and all esteemed sirs."
"Oh, in previous years, wasn't your sect leader the one who came out to greet us? Why is it you this year?"
"Venerable Feng, my sect leader is at a critical stage of breaking through to the Dao Integration Realm, so it's not convenient for him to come out. Please understand."
"Hmm, no worries. Reaching the Dao Integration Realm is indeed a formidable presence. Your sect leader reaching the Dao Integration Realm before he's even fifty can be considered a true genius. If he hadn't been reluctant to leave the barren lands a few years ago, he might have already joined my sect."
"This is all thanks to the kindness of the Venerables. When my sect leader emerges from seclusion, I will certainly inform all esteemed sirs."
"Hahahaha, how would you inform us? Your messages can't even reach the Middle Domain. Never mind. If your sect leader can advance during this disciple recruitment period, that would be for the best."
Great Elder Tu Zhan's eyes swept over everyone who came from the Middle Domain. Besides Venerable Feng, who was in the Dao Integration Realm, and a group of attendants in the Divine Transformation Realm, Great Elder Tu Zhan felt his spirit falter when he saw the last old man.
"This person is a master."
"May I ask, Venerable Feng, who is this esteemed sir?"
"This esteemed sir is Elder Sima from Myriad Saints Palace in the Upper Domain. He was originally a guest in my Middle Domain, and upon hearing that disciples were being recruited in the barren lands, he became very interested and wishes to seek a disciple during this event."
"Great Elder Tu Zhan pays his respects to Elder Sima. If anyone can gain Elder Sima's favor, they would surely soar to great heights," Great Elder Tu Zhan said.
Elder Sima from Myriad Saints Palace merely nodded and said nothing further.
Great Elder Tu Zhan wasn't embarrassed; that's just how important figures are. However, he was secretly plotting. An elder-level figure from Myriad Saints Palace must at least be in the Void Refinement Realm. If someone could be chosen by him, they would truly soar to great heights.
Subsequently, Great Elder Tu Zhan led the entire group into the reception hall specifically for guests from the Middle Domain.
"I already informed your sect about the location for this year's disciple recruitment competition before I came. Your sect should notify the various sects in Southern Desolate Barren to choose one sect to host this recruitment ceremony."
"Venerable Feng, I think we should just let Azure Spirit Sect in Southern Desolate Barren host it."
"Oh, Elder Great Elder Tu Zhan, you seem to have a high regard for this Azure Spirit Sect?"
"Yes, although this sect has only been established for a hundred years, they annihilated the overlord of Southern Desolate Barren, Fallen Cloud Sect."
"Oh, such a thing happened. It seems this Azure Spirit Sect is not simple."
Great Elder Tu Zhan did not mention that his group had gone to Southern Desolate Barren and been scared away.
He thought that with people from the Middle Domain, and even an elder from Void God Sect in the Upper Domain present this time, that black dog would be more restrained. He was truly terrified by that black dog.
Azure Spirit Sect.
When the Heavenly Severance Manor disciples arrived with the notification, everyone thought Heavenly Severance Manor was preparing to attack Azure Spirit Sect again.
In the end, it turned out that the Middle Domain's disciple recruitment competition was starting, and the location for this competition was officially set at Azure Spirit Sect.
Upon hearing this news, Azure Spirit Sect was both happy and worried. They were happy that the Middle Domain's disciple recruitment competition was being held at Azure Spirit Sect. That meant Azure Spirit Sect's status would greatly improve through this opportunity.
Their worry was that since Fallen Cloud Sect's annihilation, much of its wealth had not yet been fully sorted out. Azure Spirit Sect had just been rebuilt, and if anyone wanted a share, they would have to give it some thought.
Ultimately, Yu Xuzi made the decision that Azure Spirit Sect must make this event lively and grand, and do their best to entertain all sect disciples from the barren lands who wished to participate in this recruitment competition.
At Dragon Phoenix Mountain, Wang Yufan sipped his tea. He had thought for a long time that instead of sitting around, it would be better to go out and see the world. He had been cooped up for millions of years, and he was quite bored.
He then spoke to the black dog gnawing on a bone in its kennel.
"Little black, how about we go down the mountain for a stroll?"
"Woof woof woof."
"Alright, then let's get ready. We'll go down the mountain tomorrow. I believe that after millions of years, the human world's landscape must be vastly different now," Wang Yufan said.
In Wang Yufan's heart, he wondered how he could break the shackles of his eternal life and find the answers he sought.
The next day, one person and one dog stepped out of the small courtyard that had existed for millions of years. As soon as they left, the courtyard directly vanished, and the area was instantly overgrown with weeds and jungle.
The entire essence of the courtyard had been placed into Wang Yufan's inner world using his heaven-reaching methods. Wang Yufan's body had begun forming a small inner world ten thousand years ago, and now it was already filled with the sounds of birds and the fragrance of flowers.
However, the birds within it had golden feathers radiating endless majesty, and their nimble eyes seemed to have flames burning within them.
If people from the All Heavens and Myriad Realms were to see them, they would be utterly shocked, because they were the empress of birds—the Golden Phoenix.
Within the boundless ocean of his inner world, low roars continuously emanated.
This time, when he descended the mountain, he did not conceal his appearance. He didn't care; in other words, he was just enjoying himself in the human world. The black dog followed him enthusiastically.
At the market near Azure Spirit Sect, it gradually became more lively with the hosting of the Middle Domain's recruitment ceremony.
Among them, a young man in white clothes with a face as fair as jade, accompanied by a black dog, stood out particularly.
However, this black dog was adorably cute, a living, breathing lump of coal, and both the person and the dog attracted repeated glances from many girls nearby.
"Wow, what a cute and adorable doggy. I love it so much."
"Yes, indeed. But not only is the dog cute, that person is also a handsome young man, so dashing."
"I really want to have many little children with him, but I need to act a bit reserved. Will he even glance at me?"
...
A group of women nearby had eyes filled with fervent light. Even Yu Mingkong had been captivated the first time she saw Wang Yufan, let alone these women who hadn't cultivated.
Wang Yufan sighed inwardly, thinking that if he were in his previous world, he would definitely be a person even top tier models can't compare to.