The Grand Wei Treasure Palace towered at the zenith, its immense radiance illuminating the entire sky. It was like an incomparably massive torch, lighting up the land for a hundred miles around.

"The Innate Sect’s Daoist!"

"To think they brought out the Grand Wei Treasure Palace."

"He’s only in the Qi Cultivation Realm. How could he possibly control such a powerful artifact?"

The colossal palace suddenly shifted, appearing above the great island of Hong Shui. Its oppressive presence caused the surrounding clouds to churn and howl, surging violently.

Overwhelmed by its might, the True Inheritance disciples of the Taifu Sect had no choice but to descend from their clouds.

Fu Lizi looked up, his eyes filled with Magical Power. A divine light shot from them, slowly piercing through the Grand Wei Treasure Palace’s multiple layers of restrictive spells to behold the figure seated within.

The young man had a calm expression and profound eyes. He wore magnificent robes and had a remarkable appearance, like an imperial prince raised deep within a palace, destined to inherit a title.

’The Spiritual Energy of the Changming Heavenly Pond is truly nourishing.’

Fu Lizi sighed to himself.

Compared to when he had seen him in Fengdu, Jiang Yi’s demeanor was now worlds apart.

"The Grand Wei Treasure Palace is a mid-grade Magical Treasure... I’ve heard that to forge one, it must be nurtured in the Earth Lung Fire Caves for three hundred years, with several Foundation Establishment Realm artifact refiners taking turns to perfect its restrictive spells, consuming countless materials and Spiritual Objects."

Yu Changqing gazed into the distance. ’To use a Magical Treasure as a personal conveyance... Only an Ancestral Sect could be so extravagant.’

’Senior Brother Zhang, who is also a Daoist, has a "Chexuan Sky Palace" as well, one that can roam the Qingming and travel thousands of miles in a flash.’

Yue Ziqi’s Nine-Bend Soul-Bewitching Smoke had been broken, and his expression was extremely foul.

"I thought that by making an outsider a Daoist, the Innate Sect would surely stir up great dissatisfaction among the True Inheritance disciples of the Eight Peaks’ Grotto-Heavens, and that the grand figures at the top might not be pleased either..."

Xu Wan said with a smile:

"Senior Brother Yue, your information is outdated. This Daoist of the Innate Sect recently gathered the Liuhe Great Medicine, condensed Supreme-grade True Qi, and took the top spot on both the northern and southern ranking lists.

The Beiju Continent’s Water Mirror Pavilion even ranked him as the number one Qi Cultivation cultivator of all time."

Yue Ziqi, however, was completely unconcerned and sneered coldly:

"That’s a long list of titles, and not a single one of them is useful. No matter how incredible a cultivator in the Qi Cultivation Realm is, someone in the Foundation Establishment Realm can still kill them with a single finger."

Yu Changqing smiled but said nothing. ’Junior Brother Yue is too hot-headed,’ he thought, ’which is why he looks down on him.’

’But this Daoist Jiang has Daoist Monarch Mingxuan’s backing. He has taken charge of the Changming Heavenly Pond, and his future ascension to the Flying Foundation Establishment Realm is practically a certainty.’

’At this Hongshui Dharma Assembly, numerous True Inheritance disciples will have to engage in Magical Combat to compete for a single Talisman Decree to Juku Continent.’

’But Jiang Yi, as the Daoist, doesn’t need to lift a finger. He only needs to watch from the sidelines.’

’Such is the vast difference in status.’

’The Daoist paths of our generation all depend on the whims of a great figure. Only if a patron is willing to point the way do we have a chance to attain the Golden Position...’

A trace of envy rose in Yu Changqing’s eyes. ’Perhaps in Junior Brother Yue’s eyes, Daoist Jiang is just a pawn used by the Ancestral Daoist Monarchs of the Innate Sect to test the waters.’

’In the future, he will either fail in his bid for the Golden Position and perish, his Dao dissipating, or he will die under the supreme radiance of the Tai Yang after five thousand years.’

’At least he has a chance to try for the position.’

Yu Changqing sighed softly.

’Even for someone born into an Ancestral Sect and promoted to one of the Ten Great True Inheritance disciples, achieving Perfection in the Five Fates, Five Elements, and Five Dharmas to win the favor of a Dao Fruit is as difficult as ascending to heaven.’

"Junior Brother Yue, you must not act rashly."

Fu Lizi advised in a low voice:

"The Daoist is the face of the sect. If you show even the slightest disrespect, True Inheritance disciples like Gu Changling, Yuan Xiao, and Feng Yuan will absolutely not stand by and do nothing."

Yue Ziqi turned his face away and said flatly:

"Don’t worry, Senior Brother. I know my limits."

After speaking, he found a peak and sat down. Immense Magical Power poured out from him, directly refining and reshaping the surrounding terrain. He transformed it into a suitable Spiritual Aura filled with the sounds of rushing Ren Water and tinkling Kui Water.

Yu Changqing and Xu Wan gave Fu Lizi a Daoist salute, then each occupied a spot to wait for the Dharma Assembly to begin.

Fu Lizi’s gaze remained fixed on the Grand Wei Treasure Palace. He watched as its great, layered gates slowly parted, revealing the figure of a high-spirited young man.

His large sleeves billowed as he trod upon fiery clouds. Behind him, five-colored lights swirled, like a thousand streams of auspicious mist rising from the earth to the heavens.

Such a magnificent aura made it hard to believe he was only a Qi Cultivation Cultivator.

’Supreme-grade True Qi, capable of transforming the Five Elements... Truly miraculous.’

Fu Lizi mused to himself. ’With such a profound foundation, once Daoist Jiang ascends to the Flying Foundation Establishment Realm, he’ll be like a dragon soaring through the nine heavens, completely overwhelming his peers.’

’No wonder the Innate Sect gave him the Grand Wei Treasure Palace! No wonder the True Monarchs Dongtian remained silent and just grudgingly accepted this imperially appointed Daoist.’

At the Li Peak encampment, Feng Yuan was the first to leap into the air and fly forward to greet him.

Liu Jing, who had just narrowly escaped with his life, also stood below, his head bowed in the utmost respect.

’He never would have expected that his "benefactor," the one who had saved him, was actually Daoist Jiang!’

For a moment, his heart was filled with a complex mix of emotions.

As Jiang Yi stepped out of the Grand Wei Treasure Palace and stood at the sky’s zenith,

all the disciples of the Eight Peaks’ Grotto-Heavens bowed their heads. A cheer like crashing mountains and a surging tsunami washed over him:

"We are deeply honored by the Daoist’s presence!"

Whether they truly accepted him or not, Jiang Yi held the title of the Innate Sect’s Daoist, so the disciples of the Eight Peaks could not afford to be discourteous.

Upon the great island, the cultivators from other Dharma Lineages, branch manors, and Lower Courtyards saw this scene and, as one, fixed their gazes on Jiang Yi.

"A Daoist from an Ancestral Sect... how imposing!"

"I heard that not long ago, this Daoist was just struggling to get by in Beimang Ridge. Now he’s transformed into a dragon overnight. He’s not the same person he was."

"The only Daoist in the Innate Sect’s ten-thousand-year history with an outside surname..."

"And among the Eight Sects, the only Daoist to be appointed while still in the Qi Cultivation Realm..."

"His luck is just off the charts!"

"This is how a true man should be!"

Jiang Yi stood upon the fiery clouds, his expression perfectly calm and composed as he faced the scrutinizing gazes of the Foundation Establishment True Inheritance and Qi Cultivation disciples.

He clasped his hands behind his back and said with a light chuckle:

"I have long heard of Brother Feng’s profound mastery of fire techniques, but I’ve never had the chance to witness your prowess in Magical Combat. It seems I’ll finally have the opportunity today."