From the end of the street, the bedraggled Ji Zhaoyang and his entourage slowly approached the courtyard.
At this moment, Ji Zhaoyang no longer had the pride of the Third Imperial Prince of Great Yin; his spirit treasure robe was covered in scars, and the aura of someone at the Spirit Refining Peak fluctuated erratically as if he would plummet at any moment.
Seeing Ji Zhaoyang and his party, Ji Xuanyi couldn’t help but show a hint of surprise in his eyes.
"The three Return-to-Void Great True Beings couldn’t kill you all, it seems that the Third Imperial Brother has indeed many life-saving measures."
Just yesterday, Ji Xuanyi heard the news that Ji Zhaoyang and others had left Linzi City, hence he dispatched the three Return-to-Void and three Spirit Refining under his command to ambush Ji Zhaoyang, while he and Zhao Yuan stayed in front of the Taoist courtyard, waiting for the opportunity to meet the Taoist.
With the absolute suppressive power of the three Return-to-Void and three Spirit Refining, it should not have been difficult to deal with Ji Zhaoyang and others, but Ji Zhaoyang’s escape from this assassination was indeed somewhat unexpected to him.
Of course, it was just a surprise. Ji Zhaoyang was able to escape because Zhao Yuan had not made a move.
Otherwise, just Zhao Yuan alone was enough to suppress all members of the Third Prince’s Faction.
Ji Zhaoyang’s face was as dark as water, and he moved towards the courtyard door without uttering a word.
Ji Xuanyi’s expression turned slightly cold as he glanced at the only remaining Return-to-Void Great True Being beside Ji Zhaoyang and said with mockery:
"It’s important to know one’s own limitations. On this All-Worlds Luotian Convention journey, the Third Imperial Brother has only two Return-to-Void Great True Beings for support, how can you compete with me?
If you had retreated earlier and stayed around Jixia Academy, perhaps you could have barely survived until the end of the convention.
Rashly touching things you are not qualified to touch will only lead to a crushing defeat."
Ji Zhaoyang still didn’t utter a word and walked straight to the courtyard gate.
Holding a storage treasure box in both hands, Ji Zhaoyang spoke loudly:
"I am Ji Zhaoyang, wishing to offer a treasure to the Taoist!"
As he spoke, Ji Zhaoyang opened the treasure chest in his hand, and a plant of peculiar appearance appeared before everyone.
It was a section of yellow-black root, whose upper part seemed to merge into the void as if it were connected to the firmament of this world, while the lower part spread from the treasure chest to the ground, pulsating with the earth.
The seemingly ugly root of the dead wood connected heaven and earth, and the spiritual power it contained seemed inexhaustible, revealing the profound and elusive Tao.
"The Root of Heaven and Earth!"
Everyone was taken aback, and then their expressions changed drastically.
"How does he have such a treasure?"
"Even within the Luotian Realm, the Root of Heaven and Earth is among the top Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, said to bear one of the sources of the Supreme Tao Impartation!"
"He’s actually willing to present such a treasure, just to win a chance with the Taoist? He must be mad!"
Ji Xuanyi’s gaze was fixed on Ji Zhaoyang, his face filled with unspeakable ferocity and distortion.
Twenty thousand years ago, a predecessor of the Great Yin imperial family had entered the All-Worlds Luotian Convention and found clues about the Root of Heaven and Earth.
But back then, the Root of Heaven and Earth was not yet mature, plus the convention was coming to an end, so the predecessor did not harvest it, but instead used a special secret method to transmit the information.
Many powers among the heavens have similar means.
When Ji Xuanyi entered the All-Worlds Luotian Convention, he had searched for clues about the Root of Heaven and Earth but found nothing; he simply thought that the span of twenty thousand years was too long, causing the clues to the Root of Heaven and Earth to be lost.
Looking at it now, what lost clues? It was clearly Ji Zhaoyang who got the news in advance and sealed it off.
Looking at the Root of Heaven and Earth in Ji Zhaoyang’s hands, Ji Xuanyi’s heart was bleeding at the moment.
The treasure that should have fallen into his own hands was now being used by Ji Zhaoyang to gamble for a chance, making him feel like bursting with rage.
"Third Imperial Brother, give me the Root of Heaven and Earth in your hands, and I guarantee you will leave the All-Worlds Luotian Convention alive!"
Ji Zhaoyang completely ignored Ji Xuanyi’s words.
To get this Root of Heaven and Earth, he had suffered an ambush from Ji Xuanyi’s subordinates, and his powerful experts suffered heavy casualties, leaving him with no strength to confront Ji Xuanyi.
Ji Zhaoyang knew very well that even if he used up the Root of Heaven and Earth, he would at best break into the Return-to-Void Realm, which wouldn’t change the situation at all.
Rather than waiting to die, he would rather offer the Root of Heaven and Earth to the mysterious Taoist and take his chances.
Ji Xuanyi relied solely on Marquis of Xinyang, Zhao Yuan, a Void Refining expert. Once Ji Zhaoyang succeeded in gaining the protection of a Taoist, the significance of a mere Void Refining would be nothing and the situation was bound to take a turn.
In front of the courtyard’s main gate, eyes from all sides fell upon Ji Zhaoyang.
Though Ji Xuanyi was grinding his teeth in frustration, he was helpless against the current state of Ji Zhaoyang, creating a somewhat subtle atmosphere.
After a long while, the door of the inconspicuous courtyard slowly opened, and the Green Ox stepped out at a leisurely pace.
Its gaze fell upon Ji Zhaoyang, and the Green Ox spoke in a deep voice,
"Please, come in!"
As these words were spoken, the various factions waiting there were all thrown into an uproar.
Ji Zhaoyang’s face revealed wild ecstasy, and he hurriedly followed the Green Ox into the courtyard, cradling the storage treasure box.
"Bang!"
The gate closed again, leaving the various factions outside staring at each other, nonplussed.
Inside the courtyard, Shen Yuan witnessed everything that was happening outside, and he couldn’t help but feel a sense of oddity emerge within him, as if sensing something subtly incongruent.
At this moment, the Green Ox also brought Ji Zhaoyang in front of Shen Yuan.
Ji Zhaoyang cautiously glanced at the young man in white before him, finding it hard to imagine that such a youth was one of the renowned Hundred Schools scholars in the Luotian Realm.
For some reason, Ji Zhaoyang faintly felt that this Taoist in front of him seemed somewhat familiar.
He immediately put away his somewhat offensive gaze and said respectfully while holding the treasure chest,
"Ji Zhaoyang wishes to offer a treasure to the Taoist!"
Shen Yuan quietly looked at Ji Zhaoyang, and as his words were spoken, Shen Yuan already understood where that earlier subtle dissonance came from.
Shen Yuan already had an agreement with Ji Zhaoyang to protect him during this All-Worlds Luotian Convention, and it was Ji Zhaoyang’s biggest reliance on confidently opposing the Crown Prince Ji Xuanyi.
However, in the recent exchange between Ji Xuanyi and Ji Zhaoyang, there was no mention of Shen Yuan.
Moreover, the fact that Ji Zhaoyang was presenting treasures directly to Shen Yuan without any surprise, seemingly not recognizing him, confirmed to Shen Yuan that the Luotian Convention had erased his existence, causing all the participants to forget about him.
In the Luotian Realm, there was only a Taoist of Taoism, and not the Falling Clouds Taoist of the Primal Chaos Realm.
"This must be the influence of Tao Achievement’s Great Seat."
Without a doubt, this was good news for Shen Yuan.
The participants from all worlds being unaware of Shen Yuan’s identity undoubtedly provided him with the opportunity to plot from within.
His gaze landed on Ji Zhaoyang, and Shen Yuan felt a wave of emotion.
Before entering the Luotian Convention, he had already made a promise to protect Ji Zhaoyang, and now, even if his existence had been concealed, Ji Zhaoyang had still sought him out, roundabout as it was.
"To seek survival in desperate straits, intelligence and courage are both remarkable."
"Tell me, what do you seek?"
Outside the courtyard, the various powers gathered watched curiously, each harboring different thoughts.
Only the Great Yin Crown Prince Ji Xuanyi appeared particularly restless after Ji Zhaoyang had entered the courtyard.
Seeing the Crown Prince’s unease, Marquis of Xinyang Zhao Yuan spoke to comfort him,
"Your Highness, there’s no need to worry. Even if Ji Zhaoyang brings out the Root of Heaven and Earth, it’s merely an opportunity to meet the Taoist.
How could a mere Spirit Refining Peak True Being catch the Taoist’s eye? It’s only a matter of time before he’s expelled!"
No sooner had these words been spoken than the Great Sound of Silence resounded throughout Linzi City from within Jixia Academy.
Following that, a majestic voice echoed through heaven and earth,
"Ji Zhaoyang is talented and virtuous. He shall become the Taoist’s disciple and be the lead disciple of the Taoist school.
He shall represent the Taoist in the mortal world, and all scholars shall honor him!"

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