Atop Jiuye Mountain, the main trunk of the white fir Spirit Tree was incredibly thick, like a column reaching into the heavens, extending straight into the clouds.

The spirited leaves of the white fir were also exceptionally outstanding, cluster after cluster, radiating a lush, green Spirit Light.

What elicited admiration, however, was that every hundred meters there would be one or two gigantic spirited leaves, akin to a platform for Cultivation. With nine leaves, they formed the nine Dao Enlightenment platforms, a once-in-a-decade achievement.

The Cultivators ascending the mountain all stopped to gaze from afar, amazed at the grandeur of the white fir Spirit Tree and the profound mystery of the Dao Enlightenment platforms, growing increasingly expectant of today''s Jiuye Grand Competition.

Lin Shiming was among them, alongside him were Xie An, and Lin Xianzhi.

The Jiuye Grand Competition unfolded at the waist of Jiuye Mountain, though as this area belonged to the Spirit Beast Sect''s territory, unless one was from the Purple Mansion, they could only ascend by foot.

The numbers of Cultivators coming and going were extraordinarily large, owing not only to the bustling activity of Jiuye City but also to the significant number of Cultivators from Heavenly River State who had withdrawn to Jiuye City,

Cultivators from the Heavenly Demon Sect and Corpse Refining Sect could attack the city at any moment. Naturally, the Cultivators who usually secluded themselves in deep Cultivation became even scarcer while those coming to watch the Jiuye Grand Competition increased.

The three moved neither too quickly nor too sluggishly, arriving at a vast square, which had numerous beast-fighting platforms built within—these were typically used by the Spirit Beast Sect for Beast Taming battles, but today they had all been cleared out.

The stands were filled with Cultivators.

Above the stands were towering Observation Pavilions.

The stands were for all Spirit Beast Sect disciples and other Sect Cultivators at the Foundation Establishment stage to watch, while the pavilions were prepared for those from the Purple Mansion.

Lin Shiming, too, presented the token Xie An had helped him apply for in advance, registering with the deacon of the Spirit Beast Sect.

This time, the number of Foundation Establishment Cultivators participating in the Jiuye Grand Competition was thirty-two, which wasn''t many. But it is understood that the competition requires Foundation Establishment Cultivators under the age of sixty. To stand out, one should at least be in the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage before sixty.

Breaking through to Foundation Establishment isn''t like Qi Cultivation, where one might achieve a breakthrough every few years. If someone lacks sufficient talent, it could take them thirty to forty years to break through to the middle stage of Foundation Establishment.

Just like Lin Shiming''s father, Lin Houyuan, who''s been in Foundation Establishment for nearly twenty years but has yet to condense his True Yuan.

Therefore, even for Sect Cultivators with great talent, advancing to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage before the age of sixty is not common.

The moment the young cultivator released the talismans, he was filled with pride; with these three talismans, even a cultivator in the later stage of Foundation Establishment could fight.

Let alone facing a cultivator from a small family.

What''s more, Lin Shiming hadn''t even made a move yet!

Vines began to snake towards Lin Shiming through the air, followed swiftly by the bright flash of a Golden Sword chopping down. In his confidence, the young cultivator took out a superior-grade Flying Sword and slashed it towards Lin Shiming.

However, at that moment, Lin Shiming finally took action. His first move was the Purple Wood Profound Heavenly Sword Formation; the nine Formation Swords transformed into a screen of swords that completely sliced through the vines, setting up the Sword Array instantly blocking the Golden Sword Talisman.

The young cultivator was instantly horrified, but he quickly sneered.

With a Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivation level, controlling nine Formation Swords was already nearly his limit, which left him with no opportunity to defend.

The sneer barely left his face when he slightly lifted his hand and the luxurious Spirit Talismans unique to the Spirit Talisman Sect emerged one by one—a full ten of them, all Third Rank Superior Grade.

Fire Serpent Technique, Golden Sword Technique, Wood Binding Technique, and Ice Arrow Technique attacked Lin Shiming from all four directions, while beneath the ground countless Earth Spikes surged up.

In an instant, Spirit Light burst forth, and various spells filled the entire beast-fighting platform, engulfing Lin Shiming.

A crowd of spectating cultivators sighed repeatedly, especially those from Foundation Establishment families, who openly expressed pity.

Lin Shiming''s control of the Sword Array was certainly elegant, but it had significant drawbacks. With his Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivation level, how could he maintain control, considering sword cultivators require swift and thunderous attacks?

To have the initiative taken by a Spirit Talisman Sect cultivator was one thing, but not to deploy a Spirit Shield was quite another!

However, to everyone''s surprise, in front of Lin Shiming a huge shield suddenly appeared, its surging starlight blocking all the spells.

And the Sword Array had nearly severed all the vines, now heading towards the Spirit Talisman Sect cultivator.

"Impossible!" The Spirit Talisman Sect cultivator shouted in shock, his eyes filled with disbelief.

Lin Shiming was not only controlling the Formation Swords with spare effort but was also wielding a Supreme Grade Spirit Shield. To him, this was absolutely fanciful.

This would at least require the Divine Sense of a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, yet Lin Shiming''s cultivation level was only middle-stage Foundation Establishment.