(Haha, Wen Yu checked the Weekly Recommendation List and found that just one more vote would get the book listed—hope everyone can help push it up! Wen Yu sincerely thanks everyone! Also, Wen Yu would like to apologize to the new group members who joined today! Wen Yu wanted to remove a few inactive members, but accidentally kicked out several new ones as well. I hope these friends will forgive the oversight and be willing to join again—thank you so much for your understanding!) As for this "Invisible Needle," the two Daoists have long admired its reputation! This treasure is crafted from the finest elements of five metals, combined with the unique, invisible elusiveness technique developed by this master. It appears without a trace and vanishes without a trace, inflicting damage subtly and invisibly—truly remarkable. It's said that even a Yuan Ying-stage cultivator finds it extremely challenging when faced with it—this is one of the key reasons why this elder has been able to dominate so effectively. Even if one only possesses the symbolic artifact of the Invisible Needle, its invisible and magical effects still make it a life-saving wonder. At the very least, a Jade Dan-stage cultivator cannot effectively counter such a unique and surprising item. "Very well, then, I'll go with Master Qiong's suggestion!" The Daoist paused to consider and found nothing amiss, so he readily agreed. As for Master Li, thinking of the great advantages of winning the wager, she bit her lip and also nodded her assent. "Clap! Clap!" The three exchanged claps, thus formally settling the wager. "Master, how did you come to be here? Is it really you who leads the delegation from Yan Yue Sect?" As they were about to part ways, the Daoist suddenly recalled something and asked this question. "I lead the delegation? Will they feel secure? This time, the delegation is led by Miss Nishang. I'm merely here to make a visit—just to see if any new talents have emerged among the other sects." Master Qiong gave him a withering look, saying with some irritation. "Now that you mention it, they're rather ordinary, aren't they? I'm sure there are indeed gifted disciples—your junior nephews and nieces must be holding them back, treating them as precious treasures. But don't you think about that!" "Without going through several major trials, even the most gifted disciple is of no use—once confronted by those strange and unruly forces, they're always treated like a mere lamb, easily slaughtered!" This elder seemed deeply dissatisfied with the practices of each sect, radiating an air of "you all completely misunderstand everything." Li and his senior teacher listened quietly, showing no outward surprise, yet inwardly they were deeply frustrated. "You old fool speak so lightly! How easy is it for our sects to secure even a moderately gifted disciple? To send such a promising one to face this trial—almost certain to be fatal—only to treat us like fools? Besides, where is the difficulty in gaining experience from major events? Why must we come here, to this blood-soaked sanctuary?" Of course, such thoughts could only remain unspoken within their minds—saying them aloud to this man would surely be a source of discomfort. The two Daoist monks, however, proved remarkably tactful. This further confirmed the simple truth in the immortal world: whoever has the strongest power, holds the truth. The two parties' disciples had heard every word about the bet involving these three regarding their journey to the sacred grounds, and were now agitated, each displaying a distinct expression—strangely puzzled. Naturally, no one would be foolish enough to directly accuse the three of wrongdoing; if anyone did, they could only remain silent, inwardly furious. Otherwise, with just a slight gesture, the three would have easily claimed the lives of these novice cultivators. Upon seeing the two leave, Master Li turned and surveyed the faces of the disciples from Huangfeng Valley, then spoke coldly, a remark that left Han Li and the others utterly astonished. "I know you feel that we treating your life-or-death journey as mere gambling seems rather disrespectful. Others might offer numerous excuses to justify their actions. But I, Master Li, have never been one to do so. I simply make it clear to you—what the true nature of the cultivation world truly is, and how harsh it can be—that is my own advice." "Listen carefully—within the immortal cultivation realm, whether it be renowned sects or evil forces, all strive to transcend the natural order and achieve a system of merit-based competition. The established sects emphasize steady, gradual progress, achieving success naturally through gentle, harmonious cultivation methods. However, they often justify their actions under the banner of upholding righteousness, engaging in behaviors that are merely petty and self-serving—frequently appearing insincere, embodying the traits of hypocrites. In contrast, the evil sects and demonic schools focus intensely on rapid development of their inner power, relentlessly pursuing powerful techniques and often employing harsh, even cruel, methods during cultivation. While they claim to act according to their true intentions and follow their own desires, their methods can become increasingly aggressive and rigid as their techniques advance, gradually leading them to lose their human qualities and even evolve into exceptionally bloodthirsty and ruthless beings. "At this point, Li Shizhu paused, and in his tone, it seemed clear that he didn't particularly care about the so-called righteous and evil factions. This attitude left the disciples present somewhat puzzled. One of the more courageous ones couldn't help but ask: "Master, is our Huangfeng Valley a righteous or an evil faction?" "Ha! Neither righteous nor evil—quite simply, the other six factions in Yue State are no different." He gave a dismissive shrug and laughed coldly. "You're young and have only recently joined, so you haven't yet been informed of the origins of the immortal cultivation world in Yue State! A thousand years ago, Yue State was just like other regions—there was a clear division between the righteous and the evil. Back then, the seven major sects were merely minor, unremarkable ones. To survive, we had to constantly switch allegiances, leaning toward whichever side was stronger. We were constantly treated with contempt by the established, powerful righteous and evil sects." But later, a fiercely devastating battle erupted between the righteous and the evil factions, with all their top masters participating. As a result, both sides suffered severe setbacks and were no longer able to contain us, the smaller sects such as Huangfeng Valley. Eventually, after a period of time, we seven sects united and successfully uprooted both factions, even eradicating their traditions entirely to prevent any resurgence. "Many of the techniques you have learned today were actually remnants from that battle—war trophies left behind by the righteous and evil parties. This established our seven sects as the dominant force in Yue State. Should any other righteous or evil sect attempt to encroach upon this region, we will immediately unite and drive them back, ensuring they never gain a foothold. Therefore, the techniques passed down by our seven sects include both righteous and evil traditions, as well as some that are entirely unique to us. In terms of alignment, we are thus considered neutral sects." Li Shizhu spoke with growing pride as she continued. "You've always stayed within the valley, diligently cultivating, and those who have stepped beyond the valley gates have merely circled around the small territory of Yue State—never venturing into the true realm of immortality cultivation, nor having witnessed its darker, bloodier aspects. In reality, however, the forces of good and evil coexist side by side, with the five major schools of cultivation—Buddhism, Daoism, Confucianism, the demonic, and the fabled spirits—each flourishing in their own right. The chaos and disorder are far beyond your imagination. Events such as slaying people to seize treasures or entire families and clans being wiped out are nothing short of routine. Indeed, in many regions, the forces of evil and demons have consistently held the upper hand, often resorting to ruthless killings to assert their authority—brutal and bloody in their actions." At this point, his expression grew solemn, conveying deep seriousness. Yet, as he spoke, his demeanor softened slightly, and then he coldly added, "That's all I need to gently remind you—so that you may not grow overly proud." Remember, in the immortal cultivation realm, if your strength falls short of others, don't bother speaking any lofty or respectful words—such respect only exists among cultivators of comparable strength. Otherwise, you're merely setting yourself up for certain death! Hehe, how many of you will truly grasp this truth when you're still alive a few days from now? Han Li and the others had already been left speechless, deeply stunned—this was utterly unexpected for the disciples. Now, let's move on to the wager. You must have heard that this bet is of great personal significance to me. Should I win, I will absolutely not fall short in my treatment of you. All disciples who assist me in securing victory will receive substantial rewards. The most valuable contributors will be personally invited into my discipleship upon achieving the Foundation Stage. The disciples, still digesting the earlier advice, were immediately electrified by this extraordinary promise. To have a Ji Dan stage cultivator take you as a disciple—what a concept! Only a handful of people in Huangfeng Valley have ever enjoyed such good fortune—this is truly a once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity! Seeing the crowd now excited and eager, stirred into action one by one, Master Li smiled gently, deeply satisfied. As long as they win the wager, even if they only secure three or four named disciples, that would be a minor achievement—merely finding a suitable place to settle them, and teaching them a few basic techniques would be enough to handle the matter easily.