When the Nascent Soul Stage Elder Zhao Zhuchang from Divine Flame Industry Lotus Sect stepped into Luochen Sword Palace, she instinctively felt a sense of oppression. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but there was something off about the atmosphere here. Particularly, the way the low-level disciples of Luochen Sword Palace looked at her was unusual.

Was it lust? No, it didn't seem like it. While the low-level disciples of Luochen Sword Palace did look at her and their fellow low-level disciples with a trace of "desire" in their eyes, it was definitely not sexual. Moreover, these disciples, who were at most in the Golden Core Stage, should not be lusting after a Nascent Soul Stage cultivator.

At the very least, they should have that basic instinct.

"The atmosphere of the entire Sword Palace is quite strange…" Zhao Zhuchang whispered to her fellow sect sister, Zhao Zhuxiu, who was also at the Nascent Soul Stage: "Give the word for all our disciples to be careful. Although I don't think Luochen Sword Palace would risk the world's condemnation by doing us harm, they truly are peculiar."

"No matter how peculiar, it's nothing more than an interest in our physical bodies." Zhao Zhuxiu said with disgust, "Isn't it just that? What's the big deal? Maybe the people of Luochen Sword Palace called us here just to act as a release for the disciples who've gotten worked up due to their cultivation."

Hearing her sect sister speak so degradingly, Zhao Zhuchang almost bit through her silver teeth: "We do indeed understand the Joy Zen technique... but Divine Flame Industry Lotus Sect is not solely focused on the Joy Zen technique!"

Several months ago, on the day that "Mysterious Outer Demon" invaded, the only Divine Separation Stage cultivator of Divine Flame Industry Lotus Sect, Bai Lianxun, mysteriously disappeared. At the same time, Elder Bai's direct disciple, and the sect's future hope, Xie Ying'er, also vanished. This incident compromised the foundation of Divine Flame Industry Lotus Sect.

It was only under the protection of Luochen Sword Palace that the sect wasn't too severely swallowed up. Nonetheless, the sect did pay a price.

At the very least, the situations Zhao Zhuxiu described were not baseless rumors!

Zhao Zhuchang looked back at the six young women following her, thinking to herself, "Hopefully, this time these six young disciples can prove their worth... better than being treated as people to be summoned and dismissed at will in the future..."

"If at the Qionghua Conference, they could gain the favor of the Emperor..."

At this thought, Zhao Zhuchang sighed softly again.

The most promising Xie Ying'er is no more, and the hopes for the other disciples are quite slim.

Although one disciple encountered an adventure and inherited the ancient Demon Sect's Butterfly Magic Hand and Butterfly Dance Force, and another was taught the cultivation method "Nine Mystic Nine Fierce Ice Flame Method" by an expert, and another had some insights into the Fire Skill, compared to the geniuses of other sects...

At this time, the Fourth Elder of Luochen Sword Palace, Sima Jue, came out. Sima Jue was a powerful practitioner of the Divine Separation Stage. Although he was only the fourth elder of Luochen Sword Palace and Zhao Zhuchang was the actual power holder of Divine Flame Industry Lotus Sect, Zhao Zhuchang still saluted Sima Jue and said: "Greetings, senior."

The Fourth Elder Sima Jue nodded and smiled: "Currently, the three great elders of our sect are in seclusion, so I am the one in charge. Are you all here to exchange cultivation practices?"

"Yes." Zhao Zhuchang and Zhao Zhuxiu bowed: "Let me introduce our disciples to senior..."

"No need, no need." Sima Jue waved his hand: "Alright, just follow me."

Zhao Zhuchang and Zhao Zhuxiu exchanged a glance.

—It seems this Fourth Elder does not genuinely care about the "exchange of cultivation practices." Was he merely trying to establish authority?

—Whatever the case, let's follow for now, and not lose our decorum.

Sima Jue led several high-level cultivators from Divine Flame Industry Lotus Sect towards the main hall of Luochen Sword Palace.

With the Divine Separation Stage senior leading, the cultivators from Divine Flame Industry Lotus Sect did not dare to extend their spiritual sense, nor look around casually, so they did not notice two people pointing at them from not far away.

Ye Tianye was pointing out to Wang Qi those individuals among the Divine Flame Industry Lotus Sect cultivators who had obtained adventure inheritances: "The one on the far left of the first row, and the one on the far left of the second row. The taller one is He Ziwei, who obtained the ancient Witch Gu Secret Spell inheritance. The one behind, Jiang Chenxin, gained a sword technique called Demon Slaying and Demon Hunting Technique, which is most fierce and complements the cultivation method of Divine Flame Industry Lotus Sect..."

Wang Qi nodded and took note of it all.

Divine Flame Industry Lotus Sect, which had already become partially dependent on Luochen Sword Palace, arrived early. Afterwards, other sects like Thunder Night Sect, Sky Dragon House, and Four Elephants Pavilion would arrive as well.

Ye Tianye pointed out to Wang Qi the Golden Core Stage disciples who had had adventures, and Wang Qi noted them all down.

After all the external cultivators entered the main hall and Elder Ye and others left, the lower-level disciples who had gathered around left dejectedly: "Darn...we really wish those high beings would save us... Recently the elders have been acting so strange..."

Wang Qi didn't care about what exactly these Ancient Method Practitioners were planning for their "exchange of cultivation." He knew well their temperament; when they talked about "exchange," it was just a euphemistic term for "fighting."

Wang Qi began organizing in his mind the information he received from Ye Tianye.

Divine Flame Industry Lotus Sect, Thunder Night Sect, Four Elephants Pavilion, Sky Dragon House... all these sects had a common trait: they had all lost their Body Integration Realm cultivators and were currently positioned at the periphery of Spirit Phoenix Island.

Each sect had one or two individuals who had experienced an adventure. And just as Wang Qi suspected, those who got adventure inheritances, even if they weren't originally outstanding, after being trained by "mysterious experts" and gaining inheritances either suitable for themselves or complementary to their original cultivation, were easily remembered by their sect's leaders.

Because these people were indeed more likely to stand out and become core disciples, when Luochen Sword Palace called for bringing lower-level disciples for mutual exchange this time, most of these disciples were brought along.

In this "exchange training" event, there are actually seven people who have received fortuitous encounters with inheritance!

Additionally, Wang Qi discovered an unexpected delight.

The elder leading the team from the Thunder Night Sect this time had also once suffered the punishment of being demoted in cultivation!

Another research subject added.

"This time, maybe we can unveil the Holy Emperor Venerable's true purpose."

While those low-level cultivators from the Luochen Sword Palace lamented, the main hall of the Luochen Sword Palace already displayed a scene of host and guests enjoying themselves in harmony.

Sima Jue sat at the main seat, slightly cupping his hands to those around. For someone of his status as a Divine Separation Stage Cultivator, this was already a great show of courtesy. All around, the Golden Core and Nascent Soul cultivators stood up and returned the gesture. Only then did Sima Jue leisurely say, "Thank you all for accepting the invitation of our Luochen Sword Palace and bringing your disciples here to exchange knowledge!"

"Not at all, not at all. Being able to come to the Sword Palace and witness the wondrous swordsmanship of the Luochen Sword Palace is a blessing for these youngsters."

Including Zhao Zhuchang and her sisters, all the Nascent Souls leading the low-level disciples here from outside sects said this.

Even if they don't like the Luochen Sword Palace, proper courtesy must be shown.

Fourth Elder Sima Jue continued, "All of you know, the Emperor is holding the Qionghua Conference to select talents from all over the world. I believe this is an opportunity for us smaller sects, which is why our Luochen Sword Palace organized this exchange meeting, to give our talented young disciples an opportunity for combat, to expand their horizons!"

For Ancient Method Practitioners, their fundamental cultivation methods must not be leaked, otherwise it's easy for rivals to find flaws. That's also why they are very selective when taking disciples, subjecting them to countless tests.

So-called disciples are the ones most likely to know their master's secrets, hence they must be guarded carefully.

Therefore, their so-called exchanges only involve sharing the philosophy and mental realm behind their cultivation methods, never touching on specific Law Gates. Of course, these exchanges are not without benefits. At least, after seeing strong peers, those low-level disciples can understand how to cultivate and what goals to aim for.

Even if you take a step back, this kind of combat can enhance their experience, ensuring they won't panic when encountering similar enemies.

This initiative by the Luochen Sword Palace is quite impeccable.

After finishing his speech, Sima Jue didn't immediately arrange for those low-level disciples to engage in combat but first instructed the Luochen Sword Palace disciples to present spirit pills and spiritual wine to the guests.

At this, the powerful figures from other sects were somewhat surprised.

The elixirs sent by the Luochen Sword Palace were no ordinary ones but a mysterious elixir called "Quenching Fire Pills." The name implies quenching of a sword; this pill can temper mana, enabling a cultivator to naturally cultivate some Sword Qi. If a superior sword technique assists in refining the pill's potency, there's even a chance to elevate that sword technique to a higher level.

This elixir has always been a secret not shared by the Luochen Sword Palace.

And the spiritual wine is no less remarkable. Though none could name it, the rich and substantial mixed spirit power within the wine couldn't be understated.

This spiritual wine wasn't from the Luochen Sword Palace but from the collection given to Wang Qi by Feng Luoyi, brewed entirely by an ancient formula, the recipe of Luofu Xuanqing Palace, aged for a hundred years.

This wine is called Peiyuan Heart Wine; for cultivators, it's also a good thing, capable of enhancing the foundation.

Just these two items made those people feel their journey was worthwhile.

However, what they didn't know was that when they refined and absorbed the potency of the Quenching Fire Pills and the Peiyuan Heart Wine, a trace of mana would merge into them.

The intense, rich power made them overlook this trace of force.

That was Wang Qi's mana.

After Unity of My Method, Wang Qi's mana quantity hadn't increased, but its quality was exceptionally high, and it contained compressed information.

Even a Divine Separation Stage Cultivator couldn't easily refine it.

For these cultivators, who at most were late-stage Nascent Soul, it was even more impossible to refine this trace of mana without being aware.

And the Divine Plague Curse Technique embedded within this trace of mana by Wang Qi was also extremely peculiar. Although it could self-replicate, the replication was strictly limited in number. After several hours of incubation, the Divine Plague Curse Technique would expand and then cease replication, beginning to transmit Spirit Sense externally.

All the data Wang Qi was interested in could be extracted.