"Tsk tsk, it turns out that Cloud Peak is actually like this!"

Yun Xiao, who rose to a great height, could no longer see Yao Tiansha, Li Gongnian, and others under the giant trees due to the obstruction below, but from above, he was able to glimpse the full view of Cloud Peak.

The passage that Yun Xiao had just passed through was actually between extremely smooth stone walls on both sides. It seemed long from below, but from above, it was a mountain wall that divided Cloud Peak into two halves, not just a space inside the mountain.

The wonders of creation often fascinated him, but Yun Xiao didn't dwell on it too much. With his Power of Soul, he immediately sensed Yu Shu on the other side of Cloud Peak.

Yu Shu only had the strength of the Qi Seeking Realm Middle Stage, so this time he didn't join the excitement with the Meridian Refining Masters.

As a former sect leader, he knew that if he went in, he might become a burden to Yun Xiao or be used by Yao Tiansha to threaten Yun Xiao, which would be worse than not going.

"Hmm?"

Yu Shu, waiting somewhat anxiously below, felt an unusual breeze from above. When he looked up, he saw an extremely unbelievable scene, one that had never existed in his mind.

A youthful figure familiar to Yu Shu descended from the sky, with Thunder Wings spread beneath his shoulders, glowing with silver lightning and appearing extremely mysterious.

"Yun Xiao, you... how did you..."

Until that figure stopped in front of Yu Shu, his dull gaze finally regained focus, but his tone was still filled with disbelief. That was the Power of Flight.

The legendary Power of Flight, said to be obtainable only upon reaching the Heavenly Rank Third Realm, how could it appear on a young man only at the Origin Seeking Realm Early Stage?

At this moment, even though Yu Shu was Yun Xiao's teacher, he felt he knew too little about his most outstanding disciple.

Yun Xiao seemed to be shrouded in layer upon layer of mysterious veils. When you uncover one layer, believing you see his full profile, you find countless layers underneath, each surprising you anew.

"Just a small trick, let's move quickly!"

Yun Xiao didn't explain much. After finishing his words, he glanced at the stone platform cave entrance nearby, unsure if Yao Tiansha would react. If he chased them out now, Yun Xiao could activate Thunder Wings to fly away, but Teacher Yu Shu would be in danger.

This was fortunate because Yao Tiansha hadn't noticed Yu Shu's presence earlier. If he'd acted against Yu Shu like Yun Xiao first did, Yun Xiao wouldn't have been able to escape alone, abandoning a teacher who had treated him so well after his rebirth.

Though Thunder Dragon's Wings were powerful, they could only support Yun Xiao himself. He couldn't bring another person to fly, otherwise, both would have to stand still. After all, Yun Xiao's Thunder Dragon's Wings were only in the initial manifesting stage.

Fortunately, no shadow appeared at the cave entrance, indicating everyone was inside seeking the needed herbs, including Yao Tiansha, who must find ten herbs to pass the second round.

"Small trick?"

Listening to Yun Xiao's words, even Yu Shu couldn't help but purse his lips. If the Power of Flight was just a small trick, then the means of ordinary cultivators like him might not even qualify to be displayed.

"Teacher, here are the five herbs you need, hold on!"

Just stepping forward, Yun Xiao touched his waist. Immediately, five special herbs appeared from thin air, causing Yu Shu to hurriedly catch them, thinking having such a disciple really saved a lot of trouble.

In fact, at the beginning of the first-round selection, Yu Shu wanted to pass the test on his own ability. However, due to subsequent events, he had to rely on Yun Xiao because his cultivation at the Qi Seeking Realm Middle Stage was somewhat inadequate.

Luckily, Yun Xiao was his disciple, which spared any burden of favors. The two quickly made their way down Cloud Peak, as there were only five days left to the final period of one month.

........

Refining Cloud Mountain Headquarters, on the plaza!

Today was the last day of the first round of Refining Cloud Mountain disciple selection. Once the sun sets and no longer visible, those who haven't appeared or acquired the ten herbs on the scroll will be automatically eliminated.

Among the nearly ten thousand participants, quite a few had exceptionally good luck. Standing in the center of the plaza, nearly thirty people appeared confident, suggesting they had gathered the ten herbs listed on the scroll, allowing them to be so self-assured.

On one side of the square stood dozens of figures, all of whom were chairmen of Meridian Refining Master Guilds from various cities. However, upon arriving at the Refining Cloud Mountain Headquarters, they didn't even have seats, clearly ranked much lower than the headquarters' elders.

"Tsk tsk, Chairman Ge, your Shiyun City is really making a splash this time. It seems there are two talents from your Shiyun City, right?"

One of the elders glanced at the central plaza where the dozens were gathered, then turned back, with a tone that seemed to carry a hint of flattery.

"You flatter me, indeed. My Shiyun City is not that great, but compared to some places, it is quite strong!"

Ge Buqi, the vice chairman of the Shiyun City Meridian Refining Guild, spoke modestly, but his gaze had long shifted to a certain person. Seeing the slightly anxious expression on the latter's face, he couldn't help but feel delighted.

The elder being watched by Ge Buqi was naturally Lu Liancheng, the vice chairman of the Lushan City Meridian Refining Guild. At the start of the first round, due to his confidence in Yun Xiao, he made a bet with Ge Buqi, using an Earth Void Thunder Pearl owned by Ge Buqi as the stakes.

But today was already the last day, and Yun Xiao had not even been seen, rendering the possibility of failure significantly high. The likelihood of Lu Liancheng losing the bet increased as well.

As for the other two Meridian Refiners from Lushan City who were selected, Lu Liancheng originally had no hope for them. Coupled with the fact that a certain amount of luck was needed in the first round, their absence was understandable.

But as for Yun Xiao, Lu Liancheng really couldn't accept it. With the meridian refining talent Yun Xiao displayed at the Lushan City Guild, there was no reason he couldn't get through the first round.

"Could it be bad luck?"

At this moment, Lu Liancheng could only attribute the results to luck. After all, no matter how high your meridian refining talent, how strong your discerning ability, if you spent a month in Refining Cloud Mountain without finding the ten kinds of herbs on the scroll, what use was it?

Without confidence, Lu Liancheng had no energy to retort against Ge Buqi's sarcasm. He just kept staring at the entrance of the Refining Cloud Mountain Headquarters, hoping to see the familiar figure in coarse clothing in his memory.

"Heh heh, Old Ge, it seems you'll definitely become an elder in my Shiyun City!"

Lu Liancheng remained silent, but Ge Buqi didn't want to let him go. The thought of bringing a distinguished vice chairman of Lushan City to his own Shiyun City as an elder made him somewhat excited.

In fact, Lushan City's scale wasn't much smaller than Shiyun City's. However, due to the lack of meridian refining talents in recent decades, Lushan City's status had plummeted.

To gain respect from other vice chairmen of cities, one must see how many outstanding meridian refiner talents your city could send to headquarters in this triennial Refining Cloud Mountain disciple selection.

In the decades since, Lushan City had harvested nothing. No one had entered the top ten of the Refining Cloud Mountain selection. This led to Lushan City's decline, to the point of being comparable to some remote small towns, and Lu Liancheng, the vice chairman, was underestimated.

In contrast, Shiyun City had some achievements in recent disciple selections, especially one person who reportedly made remarkable progress in meridian refining techniques after joining the headquarters, almost rivalling some of the guild stewards.

"Ge Buqi, the time hasn't come yet, so it's still uncertain who will win and who will lose!"

Even with Lu Liancheng's good nature, he couldn't help but respond to Ge Buqi's repeated provocation. However, everyone glanced up at the sky, a hint of mockery on their faces.

Although the sun hadn't fully set at that moment, it would set in less than an hour. Even after thirty days had passed, who could guarantee that among the returning Meridian Refiners in this last hour, there would be one from the Lushan City's group?

"Eh? It seems the two Thunder Children from Sky Thunder Valley and Li Gongnian from the Spirit Fighting Commerce haven't returned yet!"

During the exchange between Lu Liancheng and Ge Buqi, a voice filled with curiosity interrupted. Following this, everyone's gaze returned to the plaza, revealing a strange look on their faces.

For those talents chosen by the first-class forces, Ge Buqi and the others were not unfamiliar. They originally believed that figures like Li Gongnian and Xu Changgui would be the final highlights of this year's Refining Cloud Mountain disciple selection. However, none of those expected figures passed the first round.

If Lu Liancheng's candidates failing to pass could be understood, then Li Gongnian and Xu Changgui, failing to return, made this matter quite unusual.

"Look, someone's coming back!"

Amid such an unusual atmosphere, a loud voice was heard. Following that, everyone turned their heads towards the Refining Cloud Mountain Headquarters entrance and saw two figures coming together, one of which was extremely familiar to Lu Liancheng.

"It's Yun Xiao, it's him! I told you he could do it!"

Always thinking of that figure, Lu Liancheng couldn't help but shout in joy at that moment. However, this comment drew disdainful sneers from the surrounding vice chairmen, with Ge Buqi being the most notable.