Jianzhou lies in the northern part of the Yue state, ranking second in size among the thirteen provinces. Its terrain is predominantly mountainous and hilly, with sparse population, and it shares borders with the neighboring Yuanwu state. To the west of Jianzhou lies the Taiyue Mountain Range, stretching over thousands of miles. Not only does it harbor a constant stream of wild beasts and birds, a realm of untouched, primitive forests, but it also occasionally features tales from woodcutters and hunters who claim to have seen deities and spirits—bestowing upon the region an aura of mystery. Yet few ordinary people realize that for over a millennium, the central portion of this mountain range has been fully occupied by Huangfeng Valley, one of the seven major Daoist cultivation sects. From a distance, the area appears no different from other mountain ranges—steep ridges and lush forests—but in reality, it is entirely enveloped by a vast, extraordinary Qi-mu array, creating a realm of illusions. Beneath the surface, countless pavilions and halls have been constructed in dense clusters, and Daoist cultivators riding leaf-shaped magical devices glide continuously through the lower skies, bustling with activity. Master Zhong Ling, the current abbot of Huangfeng Valley, is now over a hundred years old, yet still appears as a middle-aged man with three flowing beards. He has attained the late stage of the Foundation Period in his cultivation and is known for his calm demeanor, organizational skills, and high standing within the valley. His senior disciples and fellow teachers all deeply respect and trust him. Yet, this abbot, who has always been composed and self-assured, now sits with a furrowed brow, watching a middle-aged man and an elder passionately arguing before him, somewhat helpless. Several other cultivators, seated on either side of the hall, each with distinct expressions, are also present—these are the valley's administrative staff. "Master Ye, isn't this an unexpected turn of events! Something so rare—occurring only once every few centuries—where someone presents a Divine Ascension Scroll to enter our academy—we simply cannot ignore it. We must surely offer them a Foundation Pill!" The middle-aged scholar spoke calmly and composedly. "But this person isn't from a cultivation family at all. He's merely a wandering cultivator. Shouldn't we offer him a Foundation Pill? I'd rather just let him enter as a disciple—after all, that would already be a great blessing for him!" The elder protested, flushed with indignation. "Master Ye, you can't say that! How do you know the person's ancestors weren't from a cultivation family? Perhaps they simply declined due to a family's decline. After all, who can guarantee their own family will remain strong for generations? Maybe one day, Master Ye's own family, the Ye family, will face a similar fate. Wouldn't it then be the case that when the Ye family's descendants come to us with the Divine Ascension Scroll, we'd be expected to offer them only an entry invitation—nothing more?" "If my younger brother dares to make this sworn pledge right before everyone here, I, Mu Dongshan, will simply turn around and walk away, never again mentioning the foundational pill." The middle-aged man spoke with confidence, his words causing the elder's face to flush alternately pale and then crimson, leaving him speechless. How could the elder possibly make such a vow that would bring endless complications! Moreover, even if he did make it, it would only mean that this very person—whom he has always held in ill grace—would now be left to take care of it on his own. Who knew whether others might not rise up next? "But why specifically must it be my nephew's pill that he gives up? Can't anyone else do?" the elder protested, asking loudly. "That's because my younger brother's nephew has been so lacking in ambition! He managed to rank so low during the evaluation." The middle-aged man shook his head with a look of regret. Seeing the elder act so stiff and formal across the table, the elder felt a growing resentment, his teeth aching with frustration. But concerning the interests of his nephew's grandson, he couldn't afford to let anything else go, and still made a diligent effort to clarify: "My nephew's grandson indeed ranks a bit lower, but not the last among those taking the Foundation Pill, is he? Isn't there still another two people?" "Brother is right—the two others indeed ranked behind your grandson during the test. However, their circumstances are truly exceptional! Only by making room for your nephew's grandson can we accommodate them!" The middle-aged man spoke with a tone of genuine regret. "What's so exceptional? If you don't provide a convincing reason that I can accept, I won't let this matter rest!" The elder grew increasingly agitated, voicing his firm stance. "Ridiculous! What's there to be upset about? These two are indeed exceptional. In fact, I personally agreed to skip them and select your nephew's grandson directly. As for the reason—I'll explain it to you, even if Brother doesn't ask." Seeing the elder was truly unwilling to yield, Zhong Lingdao frowned and delivered a sharp reprimand. Upon hearing Zhong Lingdao express such firm resolve, the elder felt a sudden sense of urgency. He only knew that there should be two more behind his nephew during the test, but he had no idea who they were—this was truly the source of his frustration! Could it really be that there were exceptions, allowing the usually just and rigorous Master to show favoritism? Master Zhong, seeing the elder's demeanor, was not at all surprised. After all, as the only female among the Ju Dan-stage cultivators of Huangfeng Valley, the elder's protective nature was well known to everyone present. If the young girl's Ju Dan qualification were truly revoked, not only would the elder suffer, but even Master Zhong himself might find it difficult to enjoy a peaceful tenure in the future. But his nephew, though not his own grandson, had grown steadily under his very eyes since he first entered the household—so close to heart that he treated him as if he were his own grandson. How could he bear to tell him the news that his eligibility for the Foundation Stage had been revoked? Master Wu smiled slightly, didn't immediately answer the question, but instead turned to Zhong Ling and bowed respectfully, then asked in a clear voice: "May I ask, Master, has the attributes of the guest who holds the Scroll of Ascension to Heaven been tested? What is his potential?" "Seems rather ordinary! Brother Wang, you personally brought him and conducted the assessment—please share your evaluation." Zhong Ling said, addressing someone in the row to the left. "Yes, Master Brother. A middle-aged man with a pale green complexion stood up and spoke softly: "The guest is young, in his late teens, with a foundational cultivation level of nine in the Wood-based technique, and his spiritual root attributes are missing Metal—thus, he is considered a pseudo-spiritual root. Overall, he appears to have below-average potential. However, he must have had some fortunate encounter and has consistently worked hard, otherwise he wouldn't have reached his current level. Without further opportunities, he will likely only cultivate up to the eleventh or twelfth level of his foundational technique, falling short of reaching the Foundation Stage." Even if one takes a single Zhuji Pill, the chance of reaching the Foundation Stage is only one percent... "Good!" The elder named Wu interrupted loudly before the Wang brother-in-law had finished speaking. "What good?" asked the elder named Ye, who could no longer contain his curiosity. Others looked at Wu with expressions of bewilderment, while only Zhong Ling slightly furrowed her brows, guessing the gist. "Master Brother, if the visitor chooses to voluntarily forgo taking the Zhuji Pill, would that not count as us failing to uphold our promise?" Wu asked. "Of course. But no one may be pressured or coerced into doing so—otherwise, our reputation at Huangfeng Valley would be ruined!" Master Zhong gently reminded. "Ah, Master, please rest assured—of course!" Wu smiled slightly, then turned to Ye and said: "Brother Ye, would you mind spending a little more to purchase his Zhuji Pill?" After all, given his mediocre aptitude and the rather slim chances of successfully completing his Foundation Stage, he should have had a strong likelihood of abandoning the Foundation Pill in favor of something more practical!" The elder named Wu spoke with full confidence.