The Heavens: From Film and Mythology to Conquering Myriad Realms

Tomb of the Living Dead.

Little Dragon Girl sat gracefully on the cold jade bed, her pair of fair white hands resting naturally in front of her.

The Cold Jade Bed was made from cold jade, which was dug out from under the solid ice hundreds of feet deep in the frigid north, as a gift from Wang Chongyang, by Lin Chaoying, the founder of the Ancient Tomb Sect.

Practicing martial arts while sleeping on a jade bed is equivalent to ten years of practice in one year, and it also has the effect of preventing qi deviation and demonic possession, making it a supreme treasure for cultivation.

However, Xiaolongnu's disordered breathing revealed that she was not at peace at this moment.

Little Dragon Girl slowly opened her eyes, took out the dragon-shaped jade pendant given to her by Lu Yao, and was slightly lost in thought.

"Is this considered a token of love?"

A faint blush appeared on Xiaolongnu's fair and aloof face.

Having never left the Ancient Tomb, Xiaolongnu didn't understand the feelings between men and women, so she couldn't understand why her senior sister Li Mochou was willing to betray her sect for a man.

Therefore, she regarded the birthday gift given by Lu Yao as a token of their love.

Xiaolongnu recalled the scene when Li Mochou ambushed her with the Ice Soul Needle, and Lu Yao pulled her behind him.

A faint smile involuntarily appeared on her fair and delicate face.

......

Quanzhen Sect, Chongyang Palace.

Lu Yao was summoned by his cheap master early in the morning.

Inside the room, Li Zhichang sat on a bench and took a sip of tea brought to him by a young Taoist disciple.

"Qingwei, the sect's grandmaster competition is in a little over a month. How is your martial arts training going?"

Li Zhichang looked at Lu Yao standing to the side and said with a serious expression.

The Grandmaster Martial Arts Competition is a tradition of the Quanzhen Sect, held every six months, mainly to test the martial arts skills of the disciples.

Those who perform well will be rewarded, while those who perform poorly will be reprimanded or expelled from the Quanzhen Sect.

Of course, expelling someone from the Quanzhen Sect is too harsh a punishment, unless they are truly beyond redemption and the Seven Masters of Quanzhen agree.

Lu Yao has been a disciple of Li Zhichang for almost half a year and must participate in the sect's senior martial arts competition.

However, Li Zhichang was a man who cared about his reputation. Although he didn't expect Lu Yao to perform exceptionally well, he couldn't expect him to perform poorly either, otherwise how could he hold his head high in front of his fellow disciples?

Therefore, the purpose of summoning Lu Yao today is both to test him and to instruct him in martial arts.

"Reporting to Master, I have mastered the basics of Qingwei Quanzhen internal energy cultivation and have also gained some understanding of swordsmanship. Please give me your guidance."

Lu Yao cupped his hands in greeting and told Li Zhichang about the schedule he had already planned.

The Quanzhen School is both a Taoist sect and a martial arts sect. It won't work to play dumb to fool others. If you play dumb for too long, everyone will want to kick you while you're down.

Therefore, Lu Yao's progress can be considered to be at a level of some talent.

"Oh? Such rapid progress! Come with me."

Upon hearing this, Li Zhichang looked at Lu Yao with a surprised expression.

After saying that, he beckoned Lu Yao to walk out the door.

A martial arts arena.

Several third-generation disciples of the Quanzhen Sect are practicing swordsmanship in the training ground.

Li Zhichang led Lu Yao to a deserted place.

"Come, demonstrate the Quanzhen Sword Technique once."

Li Zhichang signaled Lu Yao to use the Quanzhen Sword Technique.

"Yes! Master."

Upon hearing this, Lu Yao knew that Li Zhichang wanted to check how well he had learned swordsmanship.

Lu Yao drew the Quanzhen Sect's standard longsword and stepped into the center of the arena.

Lu Yao then performed a complete set of Quanzhen sword techniques; it wasn't particularly skillful, but it was very standard.

Lu Yao's Quanzhen Swordplay had already reached perfection; even if Wang Chongyang came, he probably wouldn't be able to see through Lu Yao's disguise.

"Good! Qingwei, your talent in swordsmanship has truly impressed me."

After Lu Yao finished demonstrating a set of sword moves, Li Zhichang clapped his hands in great satisfaction.

"It's all thanks to my master's excellent teaching."

Lu Yao sheathed his sword and said with a smile.

"Haha, I didn't expect Qingwei to be such a humble and steady person."

Upon hearing this, Li Zhichang was very satisfied with Lu Yao.

"Your Quanzhen Swordplay is quite good, but it's a bit too standard and rigid. You need to incorporate a fluid and dynamic spirit to take it a step further."

Li Zhichang first praised Lu Yao, and then offered suggestions and guidance.

"Thank you for your teachings, Master. I will remember them well."

Lu Yao cupped his hands in a respectful gesture and said earnestly.

"With your current swordsmanship, passing the senior colonel competition should be no problem, but you must not slack off. If you have any questions, you can come to me."

Li Zhichang nodded and gave Lu Yao some instructions.

After saying that, Li Zhichang turned and left.

"It's quite tiring to pretend like this, and you also have to listen to your cheap master's lectures."

Lu Yao sighed, somewhat helplessly.

Lu Yao has now achieved most of his goals in joining the Quanzhen Sect, and he is only staying here because of Yang Guo.

Thinking of Yang Guo, Lu Yao couldn't help but think of what he had recently learned.

After bringing Yang Guo up the mountain, Guo Jing left the Quanzhen Sect.

Out of respect for Guo Jing, the Quanzhen Sect arranged for Yang Guo to become the disciple of Zhao Zhijing, their current chief disciple.

However, Zhao Zhijing was narrow-minded and held a grudge because Guo Jing defeated him when he came to the mountain.

He disliked Yang Guo so much that he handed him over to his disciple Lu Qingdu to take care of.

Birds of a feather flock together. This Lu Qingdu is no better. In order to please Zhao Zhijing, he makes things difficult for Yang Guo at every turn.

However, Yang Guo did inherit some of his father Yang Kang's personality traits, and he always contradicted Lu Qingdu.

Furthermore, Lu Yao had also heard that Yang Guo was also going to participate in the Grandmaster Martial Arts Competition.

Yang Guo had only been a member of the Quanzhen Sect for less than a month. He hadn't even memorized the complete formulas for the internal energy cultivation method, nor had he learned any of the Quanzhen Sect's martial arts. He could only get beaten up if he went up against them.

In fact, Yang Guo didn't need to participate in the Grandmaster Martial Arts Competition, but unfortunately his master Zhao Zhijing signed him up, and no one else could say anything about it.

......

One month later.

On the training ground, all the third-generation disciples of the Qing generation gathered.

This martial arts competition was hosted by the chief disciple, Zhao Zhijing.

Dozens of disciples began their competition in turn, and the martial arts arena was filled with the sight of swords flashing everywhere.

"Junior Brother Zhichang, your disciple has performed well. His sword moves are steady and smooth, and his basic skills are very solid."

Zhao Zhijing sat on the bench, stroked his long beard, and spoke to Li Zhichang beside him.

"Haha, Senior Brother gave me a thumbs up instantly. As your disciple, I am already grateful for your praise. This trip has not been in vain."

Li Zhichang smiled, finding Zhao Zhijing's words quite agreeable.

The main subject of their conversation, however, was Lu Yao, who defeated his opponent after exchanging dozens of moves.

"Concession."

Lu Yao cupped his hands in greeting and then left the stage.

"Looks like we can pretend to lose and admit defeat in the next match."

Lu Yao glanced at the competition in the arena and thought to himself.

The next game is the penultimate one; if they win this one, they'll be in the final eight.

Among dozens of disciples, his ranking and achievements are already quite good, considering that Lu Yao has only been a disciple for a little over half a year.

If I make it into the top eight and outperform those senior brothers who have been practicing martial arts for over ten years, that would attract too much attention.