South Wind Ancient Country, Jinling City.

The spring breeze blew gently, as softly as a caress.

Li Zijun lightly pursed her lips, leaning against the balustrade of a curved pavilion, her eyes blinking softly as she looked up at the mirror in the sky.

Er Yuan's body still hadn't fully recovered. Coupled with the Confucian Sage now presiding over the royal court, even if she stayed in Jinling City with many disciples of the Confucian School around, there was no need for her to worry about her safety.

Her gaze fixed intently on the slender figure behind the South Emperor, contemplating the rather long scar on his hand. The Devouring Heaven Demon Art, the Southern Border Miao Clan, the South Emperor's close guard... What could be the connection among these? she murmured to herself. She could see the scar—the one left by Er Yuan's piercing—very clearly.

The girl, who in the eyes of others was in the prime of her youth, squinted. Her brows furrowed slightly, her fair fingers tapped lightly, and her eyes grew a shade deeper. This situation is increasingly beyond my expectations, she thought. Initially, I believed the Devouring Heaven Demon Art might be a fluke, or perhaps the work of a newly emerged small organization. But now, it seems like a long-standing plot. Or perhaps the schemes behind it are far greater than I ever imagined! If... A new idea began to spread through her heart.

Li Zijun gently raised her hand, playing with the spring water beneath the pavilion. She flicked a droplet from her fingertip and gazed tenderly at the night sky.

Looking at the person in her memory, she saw fireworks cascading from the mirror high above.

Speaking of which, in this lifetime, you haven't yet accompanied me to watch fireworks, have you?

The fireworks drifted and faded away. Atop the high platform, disciples from various great sects began to ascend. Li Zijun stood up, straightened her dress, and thought softly, I just wonder if in this lifetime, at the City God Temple in Cold Mountain Bell Forest, I will still have the chance to see you, Master?

「Sacred Land, Wu City.」

Atop the high platform.

Nearly a hundred Disciples of Wuhua Palace surged with Spiritual Energy, floating high in the sky. A colossal yin-yang fish pattern emerged, transforming continuously, creating a beautiful and magnificent scene. Compared to the opening ceremonies of previous years, this effect was on another level, truly remarkable!

Even the Saintess, seated high upon the Sacred Sanctuary's platform, watched the spectacle unfolding before her with keen interest.

The elders of the Sacred Land behind her nodded in approval, their admiration heartfelt.

"Worthy of Wuhua Palace. Their opening ceremonies are always like this!"

"Speaking of which, the performances of the sects tonight were quite impressive, with several acts that were truly eye-catching. Who's performing after Wuhua Palace?"

"It seems to be the Sword Sect..."

As soon as that elder spoke, silence fell upon everyone. Then, another elder, half-joking and half-serious, pondered, "Hahaha, maybe this year the Sword Sect will prepare something good as well?" His remark, however, lacked confidence.

As for the Sword Sect, they had shown a complete lack of preparation in previous opening ceremonies. Would it just be a single person pointing a sword towards the heavens again? Or perhaps the sect disdained to make a grand display during these opening ceremonies?

"Wuhua Palace has certainly put in a lot of effort," an elder commented. "Even though there were some minor frictions with other sects before today's ceremony, a sect like this should truly have its pride."

"Speaking of which, Wuhua Palace and the Sword Sect have always been at odds. The Ascension Platform is going to be quite a spectacle."

"I'm just afraid that if the Sword Sect doesn't handle their opening ceremony well, they won't be a match for anyone on the Ascension Platform either..."

"The Sword Sect truly is lacking in finesse!"

Above the platform, Wuhua Palace's performance was drawing to a close!

In an instant, the hundred figures in the sky formed several large characters: Wuhua Palace!

With fireworks filling the sky, this part of the performance officially ended.

Thunderous applause erupted immediately!

A Sacred Land Disciple with a smiling face walked towards the Wuhua Palace members on the high platform and asked, as was customary, "Sir, who has Wuhua Palace brought this time?"

The Wuhua Palace Disciple, brimming with pride, squinted his eyes and replied, "The hundred on the high platform are all around thirty years of age, and their cultivation is entirely at the Golden Core realm."

The Sacred Land Disciple was taken aback, obvious surprise in his eyes. He continued with a smile, "Then you must certainly be elite disciples at Wuhua Palace Sect. Reaching the Golden Core Realm by thirty is quite rare throughout the world." But why would the Wuhua Palace Disciple say such a thing? he wondered.

The Wuhua Palace Disciple smiled faintly, scanning the crowd below. His gaze lingered pointedly on the area where the several thousand disciples from smaller sects, those who had previously clashed with Wuhua Palace, were seated.

"In Wuhua Palace, only those with absolute talent and strength have the right to stand here!" he declared.

"The world's elite are in Wuhua Palace, and Wuhua Palace tolerates no one weak or inferior.

"It is a principle that Wuhua Palace reinforces at all times: the world of cultivators belongs to the strong, and strength is everything.

"As for the worthless or those of negligible strength, their only reason for existing in this world is to serve as a foil!

"The worthless are just that—worthless. They will never be able to accomplish anything."

Everyone below turned their gaze upward toward the high platform, including the several thousand who had recently quarreled with Wuhua Palace.

They could not stay seated any longer.

Worthless? Never able to achieve anything? The thoughts seethed within them.

Their fists clenched tight, a pent-up frustration simmering with nowhere to vent!

"Does having talent give you the right to mock others?"

"On what basis can you determine we'll be weak for life? On what basis?"