"If I were to fight Yue Rong again, I’m seventy percent confident I could kill him right where he stands!"

Qi Yun’s gaze was as sharp as a blade. He stared at the rockery that had been split in two, a keen light glinting in the depths of his eyes.

Elevating the Sand Iron Skill to the Hundred-refined Steel level had indeed brought about a qualitative change.

Its hardness was not only astonishing, but it could also withstand extremely high temperatures.

This point alone was enough to counter Yue Rong’s scorching golden flames.

Moreover, the power of the Iron Sand surged explosively after being heated by friction.

Unless one was a Body Cultivator specializing in physical reinforcement, an ordinary Cultivator probably couldn’t even block a single strike.

In fact, this was a move he had envisioned as soon as he first mastered the Sand Iron Skill.

It was just that the quality of the Sand Iron was mediocre back then. It would melt into liquid iron under high temperatures, making it fundamentally impossible to support the technique. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

But now, things were different.

Even without using the Nanming Sword Demon, his killing power in Magical Combat had reached a terrifying level.

’The raw Attack Power of the Iron Sand is enough now. If I can add some other targeted, clever applications, this Magic could even rival Yue Rong’s Demon Body transformation.’

His gaze lingered on the Iron Sand for a moment. Then, with a flip of his hand, Qi Yun took out a large number of Evil-Exorcizing Talismans from his Storage Pouch.

He gazed at the mysterious and profound patterns on the Talismans.

A flash of inspiration struck Qi Yun. With a wave of his hand, he activated dozens of Talismans, and a brilliant Exorcism and Evil-breaking Light immediately fell upon the Iron Sand.

The originally jet-black Iron Sand was bathed in a golden-yellow light, appearing as if it had turned into Golden Sand.

However, the blessing of the Talisman Skill was ultimately temporary; after a little while, the light upon the sand dimmed.

Gazing at the Iron Sand, now imbued with the might of Exorcism and Breaking Fiend from the Talismans, Qi Yun’s heart stirred, and he thought to himself.

’What if I inscribe the Talismans onto the grains of Iron Sand beforehand, then store that batch separately?’

’Then, in battle, I could unleash them against my enemies.’

’That would avoid the disadvantage of having to apply the Talisman Skill on the fly, and the effect would last much longer.’

’Talisman Painting on Iron Sand is unheard of, of course.’

’But even if other Talisman Masters can’t do it, with the backing of my fail-safe mechanism, it’s not necessarily impossible for me to try.’

’If I succeed, this Iron Sand could possess power rivaling a Magical Artifact.’

Having tested the might of his Sand Iron Skill, Qi Yun lifted his head slightly to look at the sky, calculating silently.

’It should be about time...’

DONG!

A moment later, the sound of a bronze gong once again echoed throughout the entire Outer Mansion.

This year’s examination!

Was about to begin!

Above, the Taixu Mirror Heaven, with its layers of circulating splendor, suddenly erupted with infinite light. Like a gushing spring, countless streams of Flowing Light showered down upon the lands of the Outer Mansion with incomparable precision.

Qi Yun’s eyes narrowed, and he raised a hand to catch a ray of brilliant light shooting toward him.

The light dissipated, revealing an object in his palm.

It was an exceptionally magnificent scroll. The ends of its roller were made of smooth, lustrous jade, while the scroll itself seemed to be woven from a type of dark gold. It was cool to the touch and abnormally heavy.

Four large Ancient Seal characters were written upon the scroll in a style both powerful and elegant, exuding a cold, murderous intent that washed over him.

[Nine Mansions Conquest]

’Nine Mansions Conquest?’

Seeing the words on the Jade Scroll, Qi Yun’s brow twitched as he felt a wave of solemn killing intent wash over him.

The scroll unfurled on its own, and a message imbued with intent instantly flooded the minds of all who held one:

By order of the Sect, all Disciples of the Nine Great Outer Mansions are to proceed immediately to Da Wu Mountain!

This location was once an important Marketplace under the Holy Sect’s jurisdiction, but it has recently been plundered and occupied by the fiends of the "Zombie Alliance."

They have slaughtered our Sect’s disciples and challenged the majesty of the Holy Sect.

This year’s examination will use this place as its battlefield.

The primary targets for extermination are the disciples of the Zombie Alliance!

All Outer Mansion Disciples must participate.

Anyone who refuses to participate will be considered as having received two "Bottom Stream" evaluations and will be cast into the Talent Market.

During the conquest, merits will be judged by the number of heads or tokens of Zombie Alliance disciples acquired.

The one with the highest count shall be this year’s Champion Scholar!

As the message concluded, light flowed across the scroll, faintly forming a simple topographical map of the area around Da Wu Mountain, with a few key locations shimmering with a soft glow.

A grim, murderous atmosphere instantly replaced the previous clamor.

This year’s examination was no longer an internal Sect competition.

Instead, it was a true life-and-death struggle against the fiends of the Outer Dao.

And refusal was not an option!

In an instant, all the Disciples of the Nine Great Outer Mansions stared at the Jade Scrolls in their hands with strange expressions.

’When did the Zombie Alliance get so bold?’

’Daring to brazenly plunder and occupy a Holy Sect Marketplace.’

’No, that’s not right. The Zombie Alliance may be a giant of the Demon Dao, but they’ve been lying low for years. While there have been occasional border skirmishes with the Holy Sect...’

’...it has never escalated to the point of a large-scale confrontation.’

’And for just one occupied Marketplace, is it really necessary to mobilize every single Disciple from the Outer Mansions?’

’Isn’t that going overboard?’

Qi Yun scanned the words on the Jade Scroll once more, his eyes narrowed and his fingers tapping lightly.

At this moment, within the Nine Great Outer Mansions, quite a few people shared Qi Yun’s thoughts.

However, as if anticipating the doubts of the Outer Mansion Disciples, new words quickly materialized on the Jade Scroll.

[In This Conquest, Merits Will Be Rewarded]

[Based on the tallied heads and tokens of slain Zombie Alliance members, a final count will be settled after the battle. Meritorious individuals may enter the Holy Sect Treasure Vault to select a reward.]

These two short lines of text appeared, yet they instantly ignited the passion of all the Outer Mansion Disciples.

[The Holy Sect Treasure Vault]

That was a true mountain of treasure.

A Sacred Land that only those who had achieved great merit had the opportunity to enter.

Now, it was being opened to Outer Mansion Disciples!

’In that case, the place the Zombie Alliance has occupied is definitely not just an ordinary Marketplace...’ Qi Yun’s thoughts raced.

’Da Wu Mountain is located on the left bank of the Xiliang River. To the north, it borders the Zombie Alliance’s territory, and to the south... is the Cyan Sect!’

’The Zombie Alliance occupied an important location belonging to the Holy Sect. Logically, if the Holy Sect wanted to reclaim it, wouldn’t it be more appropriate to directly dispatch Foundation Establishment Masters and Inner Mansion True Cultivators?’

’Why send this ragtag bunch of Outer Mansion Disciples instead?’

’The only explanation is that if we small fry from the Outer Mansion go, it can still be passed off as a small-scale skirmish.’

’But once Foundation Establishment Masters and Inner Mansion True Cultivators take the field...’

’...it becomes a full-blown war between Sects.’

’That Cyan Sect is a notorious troublemaker, a bunch of warmongers.’

’The Holy Sect doesn’t want them getting involved.’

’That’s why they’re sending us Outer Mansion Disciples to gauge the situation first.’

’To weigh whether it’s worth taking drastic measures and seizing Da Wu Mountain by force.’

Just as Qi Yun was rapidly deducing the Holy Sect’s true objective based on the available information, the Jade Scroll in his hand began to grow faintly warm.

"This trick again?"

Looking at the Jade Scroll, which was now growing hot in his hand, Qi Yun gave a helpless smile. He and the other Outer Mansion Disciples had neither the power nor the right to defy the Holy Sect’s will.

’Whatever. I’ll go and see what’s happening first.’

’Since the Holy Sect is sending us Outer Mansion Disciples, the strength of the Zombie Alliance members entrenched at Da Wu Mountain should be roughly on par with our own.’

’The Zombie Alliance... they’ll be perfect nourishment for my new Skull Curse.’

With his mind made up, Qi Yun quickly gathered his things, pushed open his courtyard gate, and stepped outside.

The entire Outer Mansion was now a hive of activity, the clamor of the crowd shaking the very heavens.

The Jade Scroll in his hand grew hotter and hotter, urging all the Outer Mansion Disciples to depart at once.

In that moment, the entire Holy Sect’s Outer Mansion flashed with magical light as powerful winds howled.

Over a thousand Outer Mansion Disciples surged out of the mountain gate as one.

A horde of demons descending the mountain!

A bloody war against the Zombie Alliance!

...