CHAPTER 65: MING YUAN SECT

One by one, they handed out initial registration tokens to participants who had filled out the forms. These were not participant tokens; there was another phase where they had to prove their alchemy skills.

If they met the sect’s standards, the initial registration tokens would be replaced with participant tokens. The selection process was quite simple; one only needed to touch a soul power pillar to determine a person’s soul power level.

Alchemists were closely related to soul power. Without sufficient soul power, it was impossible for them to form cultivation pills, even healing pills.

Usually, the soul power pillar would detect a person’s soul power from a range of 1-12. The higher the value, the stronger the soul power.

Each sect has different minimum soul power requirements. In the past, the Azure Pillar Sect set 6 as the minimum requirement to enter the Alchemist Pavilion. However, each sect’s policy may differ or be the same.

Now, Li Shen did not know what the minimum soul power requirement was to pass. He did not want to attract attention at the beginning, so he controlled his soul power so that it would not be too dominant in the detection tower.

The initial registration tokens have been exhausted. A total of 350 cultivators have joined this tournament, divided into 170 Core Formation cultivators, 130 Nascent Soul cultivators, and 50 Soul Formation cultivators.

Regarding cultivation levels, pill making had no significant influence. There were Soul Formation cultivators who were not skilled in alchemy, and there were also Core Formation cultivators who were skilled in pill making to the point where they could make 5th grade pills.

It all depended on how strong their soul power was, not their cultivation strength.

"Everyone, listen to me carefully!" said the committee member from Ming Yuan sternly.

"Those who have obtained the initial registration token are permitted to arrive at the Ming Yuan Sect to take the soul power test," explained the man.

"The minimum score to participate is 5. If your score is less than five, then you fail to become a participant."

"The Soul Power Test will be conducted today and tomorrow. If you arrive late, you fail!"

Everyone obeyed, including Li Shen. One of the Ming Yuan Sect staff approached Li Shen and asked if he was ready to take the soul power test today. Li Shen said he was ready.

"You will depart with us. There are many cultivators outside the city who do not know the location of the Ming Yuan Sect. So, we will leave together," explained the man. Li Shen nodded slowly.

He turned and saw 35 cultivators with robes of different colors lined up behind him. They had come from other cities and kingdoms, so it was understandable that they didn’t know the exact location of the Ming Yuan Sect.

Following the staff, Li Shen and the others flew away from the city center towards the north. The staff said that the Ming Yuan Sect Pill Tournament was an annual event, always involving many cultivators from the Ming Zhao Kingdom and its surroundings.

That was because the Ming Yuan Sect was one of the major sects in the Ming Zhao Kingdom, where they also received abundant resources from the Imperial Palace thanks to Ming Gong’s status.

The Ming Yuan Sect was not located on a mountain or hill, nor was it in a forest. Instead, it stood on thousands of islands by the sea.

Each island had its own pavilion that served different functions. Some focused on refining pills, artifacts, and weapons, while others focused on soul training, cultivation, techniques, and so on.

Due to the diversity of knowledge they possessed, the Ming Yuan Sect garnered more attention from the palace and the entire kingdom.

The staff flew low and stood in front of a palace with sea-blue marble, adorned with shell, water, and whale ornaments. The magnificent palace in front of Li Shen was the main hall of the Ming Yuan Sect, but it was not the destination of the tournament participants.

"The location of the Soul Power Test is not in the Main Hall. We are going to the eastern side of the island, where the pill and weapon artifact research center is located," replied the staff member. Li Shen nodded in understanding.

He flew after the man again, crossing the sky of the sect while noticing many sect disciples cultivating on small islands. Clearly, these were not real islands.

"Do the disciples of the Ming Yuan Sect have the ability to create islands?" Li Shen asked.

"That’s correct! Initially, the Ming Yuan Sect was established on the coast. However, due to a massive tidal flood, the entire area was submerged," the staff member explained.

"Fortunately, the sect leader collaborated with the Ming Palace to restore the sect’s condition. Now, we are a sect thriving atop the sea."

"Regarding the ability to create islands, only our elders know the method. They will decide whether or not to grant an artificial island to each disciple," the staff member answered.

Li Shen fell silent. Though they had the advantage of being able to create their own islands, the spiritual energy there felt thin, unlike the spiritual energy found on hills, mountains, or forests.

The man did not ask any further questions and focused on following the staff member. They arrived at one of the large islands with towering pill research and artifact towers. Many cultivators flew freely, carrying scrolls of pill recipes and other items.

Li Shen and the others landed in front of the Pill Research and Artifact Tower. The staff member turned around and explained the Soul Power Test to all the participants.

Not only were there 35 people present, but more participants arrived with escorts from outer sect disciples of Ming Yuan. They arrived at the Pill Research and Artifact Tower without getting lost, as if they were already familiar with the place.

A total of 254 people arrived on the first day. They lined up behind the initial 35 participants to take the Soul Power Test. Li Shen already understood how it worked.

One by one, they touched the Soul Power Test ball and channeled their power into it. The ball would light up and display a number corresponding to the cultivator’s soul power, which could be higher or lower than the Ming Yuan Sect’s minimum limit.

"Yeaayy! I did it," said a woman in a yellow robe, whose soul power reached 9.

"Soul Strength 9 despite being at the Core Formation stage? What an astonishing talent," Li Shen explained.

Some were happy and relieved, while others were angry and disappointed. They were angry because their abilities turned out to be lower than they had expected. However, the test was only once. Those who failed must hand over their initial registration tokens and wait until next year to join again.

"Next, Shen Li."

Li Shen nodded. He used the name Shen Li in the hope that no one would know he was from the Li family.

Arriving in front of the Soul Power Pillar, Li Shen placed his palm on it and touched the energy ball. The energy ball emitted a bright blue light with a soul power number displayed above Li Shen’s hand.

"Soul Power 7. Congratulations, you passed," replied the man. Li Shen nodded.

Li Shen handed over his initial registration token, and another staff member replaced it with a participant token. He walked to another area, where those who had passed were gathered.

Li Shen’s attention was still focused on the woman in the yellow robe who had a soul power of 9. That was quite impressive, even Li Shen was interested in inviting her to join the Azure Pillar Sect.

However, Li Shen had to put that aside. His main focus now was to force Ming Gong to obey his will, of course by using Ming Yue.

A father would not let his daughter get hurt. That was an unbreakable law of nature. It also made Ming Gong weak, because of Ming Yue’s influence.

"Win the tournament and force Ming Gong to obey me. That way, he won’t have much choice," Li Shen explained.

"While participating in the tournament, I will spy on the abilities of this sect. I must not act rashly!"