So that's how it is!

"They say it's a test of skills."

Chu Yuan paused slightly in his steps:

"Testing skills?"

"Yes, but it's not a test on the White Bone Palace's techniques."

Yun Qingyao said as she walked:

"It's to let us demonstrate the cultivation techniques we originally practiced. The sect master said he wants to see everyone's background before joining the sect in order to make a decision."

Chu Yuan frowned slightly.

To demonstrate the original techniques?

What kind of selection method is this?

According to the tradition of the Demonic Sect, disciples would fight each other, and the winner would visit a higher-ranking sect.

It can reveal both strength and practical experience.

Simple and direct, but effective.

But the White Bone Palace did the opposite.

"Anything else?"

Chu Yuan pressed for an answer.

He simply couldn't imagine that such a method would come about.

Moreover, there are no evaluation criteria whatsoever!

Is it really just a matter of whether you like the look of them or not?

Yun Qingyao shook her head:

"That's it, that's all. They said whoever gives the best presentation gets to go."

She paused, then added:

"Oh, right, the Palace Master also said that we are not allowed to display the White Bone Palace's techniques; we must use techniques we practiced ourselves before. He said he wants to see everyone's true background."

Chu Yuan remained silent.

The techniques of the White Bone Palace are not allowed to be displayed?

Do we only look at what everyone practiced before?

The feeling that something was wrong with him grew stronger and stronger.

Demonstrating the technique...

There's definitely something wrong here.

But for a moment, he couldn't figure out what the problem was.

"Senior Brother Yuan, to be honest, it's nothing."

Yun Qingyao walked ahead, chattering on and on:

"Anyway, with so many of us becoming independent cultivators lately, the Palace Master probably wants to see what everyone did before. What if one of us is a genius who secretly ran away from some major sect?"

Chu Yuan did not respond.

He suddenly stopped in his tracks.

I raised my head slightly, my gaze passing over the mountain path ahead, and looking in a certain direction in the distance.

It was empty there, there was nothing there.

But Chu Yuan knew that someone was watching him.

"Senior Brother Yuan..."

Yun Qingyao continued walking forward:

"Don't you think so? I think the Palace Master is just trying to pick up a bargain. What if he finds someone who used to be a disciple of the Xuantian Sect? Wouldn't that be a huge profit?"

No one answered.

Chu Yuan did not respond.

Yun Qingyao turned around and looked.

There was no one in sight behind me.

She was stunned.

"Senior Brother Yuan?"

No one answered.

Yun Qingyao looked around and realized she was all alone on the mountain path.

Chu Yuan, who was just beside me a moment ago, seemed to have vanished into thin air.

Where are they?!

Yun Qingyao was stunned.

She ran back a few steps, looked around, but there was still no one there.

The girl stood there, looking completely bewildered.

Suddenly, I felt a little regretful about sealing my cultivation.

If she still had her cultivation level, she could scan the area within a hundred miles with her divine sense and know exactly who was there.

Now look at them, acting like ordinary people, not even knowing where to look for someone who's gone missing.

"What kind of person is that? They just disappeared while walking around."

Yun Qingyao muttered something to herself and stood there with her hands on her hips.

After waiting for a while, still no one came.

She sighed:

"Never mind, let's go to the selection venue first. Anyway, I have your number plate, I'll find you later."

......

the other side.

Chu Yuan passed through an invisible barrier, and the scene before him suddenly changed.

The mountain path, the woods, and the buildings in the distance had all disappeared.

Instead, there was a hazy, gray space, with nothing around but solid ground beneath your feet.

A figure stood quietly in front.

Dressed in black, wearing a veil, with a curved sword hanging at his waist.

It was a secluded moon.

Chu Yuan sighed.

He already knew that Youyue would secretly follow him.

Therefore, the first person Chu Yuan sent a message to was none other than You Yue!

What I didn't expect was...

This girl really did follow him all the way to the Hall of White Bones.

Is this place safe?

Chu Yuan asked.

Youyue bowed slightly:

"Unless the three deities arrive in person, no one can investigate."

Chu Yuan nodded.

The concealment restrictions set up by Youyue, who was in the mid-stage of the Tribulation Transcending Realm, were indeed sufficient.

He didn't beat around the bush and asked directly:

What's the deal with the pilgrimage to the Hall of White Bones?

Youyue said solemnly:

"I confirmed with Qianji yesterday. The White Bone Palace has not submitted any pilgrimage request to the Xuantian Sect, nor has it sent anyone to the main altar."

She paused:

"It was Xue Lie. He issued an invitation in the name of the elders, saying that the White Bone Palace had voluntarily submitted and should be rewarded, and that they should be allowed to come on a pilgrimage."

Chu Yuan listened without saying a word.

Just as he guessed.

That old bastard Xue Lie is getting better and better at playing games these days.

Hide behind and let the puppet jump around in front.

If he succeeds, he reaps the benefits; if he fails, the puppet takes the blame.

Chu Yuan recalled the trajectory of fate he had seen with his True Eye of Truth.

Gu Ming is a puppet supported by Xue Lie, ordered to expand his power and gather loose cultivators, in order to accumulate bargaining chips for Xue Lie in his struggle for power in the elders' council.

This pilgrimage, ostensibly for the White Bone Palace, was actually a mission to probe Xue Lie's true strength and weaknesses.

But the problem is.

Chu Yuan narrowed his eyes.

If the goal was simply to test the waters, was it necessary to make such a big fuss?

They're frantically recruiting disciples and selecting pilgrims, practically wanting the whole world to know that the White Bone Palace is going to the Xuan Tian Sect.

This doesn't seem like a test, it's more like...

A thought suddenly flashed through Chu Yuan's mind.

He recalled the selection method that Yun Qingyao had just mentioned.

Demonstrating the techniques.

Show off the martial arts techniques you used to practice.

Instead of the techniques of the White Bone Palace.

Chu Yuan's lips slowly curled into a smile.

It turned out to be the case.

So that's what Xue Lie was planning all along.

"Youyue".

Chu Yuan spoke.

"Your subordinate is here."

"Send a message to Qianji right now, and have him send a message in the name of the Xuantian Sect to all the sects that have announced their allegiance."

Youyue looked up at him.

Chu Yuan said, word by word:

"It is said that in three days, each sect will select ten disciples to go to the Xuantian Sect's main altar to pay homage to the original master."

Youyue was taken aback.

All the sects that have submitted to them?

She asked instinctively:

"Master, what is this...?"

Chu Yuan smiled:

"Didn't Xue Lie want the Bone Palace to come on a pilgrimage? Fine, let them all come. Let all the sects that have submitted come; the more the merrier."

Youyue paused for a moment, then a glint of light flashed in her eyes.

She got it.

The so-called pilgrimage of the White Bone Palace was just a trick orchestrated by Xue Lie to make the White Bone Palace stand out and elevate their status among the various sects of the demonic path.

But now the cult leader is making all the sects that have submitted to him come on pilgrimage.

The Hall of White Bones is no longer an exception, but just one of many.

Xue Lie's abacus shattered with a snap.

Chu Yuan looked at You Yue, understood what she was thinking, and sighed softly.

This was only one of Xue Lie's purposes; the other was to use someone else to do his dirty work!

"Understood!"

Youyue bowed:

"I'll get on it right away."

She paused, then added:

"Rest assured, Master, I will handle this matter as soon as possible and then return to your side immediately."

Chu Yuan nodded in satisfaction.

As expected of the bodyguard I chose, his professionalism is impeccable.

He is always thinking about protecting himself.

"Go."

Chu Yuan waved his hand:

"Come back as soon as it's done!"

The tips of Youyue's ears blushed slightly beneath her veil. She bowed again, her figure gradually fading away and disappearing into the hazy space.