Ancient Dragon Elephant Technique

“Thank you very much, elder, after I enter the Star Cloud Pavilion, I will definitely remember your kindness,” Lin Feng said with his fists clasped in gratitude.

“Yes, indeed,” Han Shuo nodded vigorously.

“I also have a treasure here to offer to my senior. This treasure was obtained by chance and serves no use in my hands. I hope the elder will kindly accept it.”

Yu Fan said, and took out a jade box.

The Great Ability opened the jade box and saw inside a thumb-sized, silver-white mineral.

Within this silver-white ore were streaks that looked like tears.

“Immortal Tears Qilin Iron.”

The elder was visibly moved.

A thought crossed Lin Feng’s mind, he had heard about the Immortal Tears Qilin Iron. It was rumored to be an unsurpassable Divine Stone capable of forging powerful Tao Artifacts.

Though it was only as large as a thumb, its value was immeasurable. Lin Feng marveled at how Yu Fan, hailing from the Ancient Immortal Dynasty, could present such a precious item to the elder before them.

Lin Feng knew one thing well: entering a sect would be fraught with difficulties, and if one could establish good relationships with the higher echelons of the sect beforehand, their path within the sect would be smooth and unobstructed.

Lin Feng first offered the “Soul Sword” as a secret technique, eliciting a hint of favor from the elder, and now Yu Fan contributed this piece of Immortal Tears Qilin Iron, significantly boosting the impression the elder had of them.

“I hope this item will be of use to you, elder,” Yu Fan said respectfully.

The Great Ability subtly accepted the item and smiled, “You are thoughtful. You all came together to the Star Cloud Pavilion to partake in the tests—are you friends?”

“Yes, we three have been through many life-and-death situations together and are friends who can trust each other with our lives,” Yu Fan responded.

The Great Ability nodded and said, “Good, very good. The complexities within the sect make having trustworthy friends by your side extremely beneficial. When coming to the sect to take the tests, did you bring any letters of introduction?”

It was clear that the sect’s tests were not something anyone could merely attend.

Yu Fan said, “We brought them.”

Han Shuo also nodded, saying, “Yes, I have one,” and seemed about to produce it when the elder, seeing Han Shuo’s simplicity, waved his hand, “No need to show me.”

Lin Feng didn’t have any introduction letter. He thought the sect’s tests were open to everyone, but who knew they required a letter of introduction?

He told a white lie, “In a previous fight, a storage bag containing my introduction letter was stolen by thieves along with other items.”

“The elder said, “I see, that’s all right.”

Then he produced an array talisman, and after imprinting a few Array Patterns on it, the talisman turned into an Array Talisman. He handed it to Lin Feng and said, “When the time comes, hand this Array Talisman to the reception steward. Participate well in the tests. I believe with your abilities, joining the Star Cloud Pavilion should be no problem. Whether you can achieve something afterwards, however, depends on your own efforts.”

The elder was in fact bluffing somewhat. Firstly, Lin Feng’s martial realm cultivation made joining the Star Cloud Pavilion not so straightforward—at least for the average military general cultivator. While joining might not be easy for others, it definitely wasn’t an issue for Lin Feng, although the elder did not know Lin Feng’s true capabilities.

And for Han Shuo, being somewhat dim-witted, passing the test by conventional means would likely be daunting.

However, the elder’s statement, “With your abilities, joining the Star Cloud Pavilion should be no problem,” suggested something. This meant, by the time of the tests, the elder would definitely inform the examining elders in advance, allowing Lin Feng, Yu Fan, and Han Shuo to pass the sect’s test automatically. Perhaps, this was what was meant by ‘members are bound by the gifts they receive.’

“It is best not to stay here long, let’s go.”

With a grand wave of his hand, the elder enveloped Lin Feng and his companions, swiftly dashing toward the distance.

Several miles away in the mountain forest.

A group of people in black looked extremely displeased.

“How infuriating, it’s all because of that little beast being too cunning,” a leader among the men in black said fiercely, wishing he could hack Lin Feng into thousands of pieces.

“It looks like we need to lie low for a while, I can’t believe the Fifth Prince won’t come out. We’ll kill him the moment he leaves the city,” the second leader among the men in black stated.

The first leader sneered, “And that little beast, if it weren’t for him, we would have completed our mission already.”

The second echoed with a nod, “By then, we’ll surely hack him into thousands of pieces.”

…

Lin Feng felt a shiver up his spine and cursed under his breath, Was someone plotting against him?

“What’s wrong?” Yu Fan asked quietly.

Lin Feng shook his head.

The speed of this great figure from the Star Cloud Pavilion was too fast; it had taken them just three hours to bring Lin Feng and his companions to Star Cloud City.

“The test is in ten days. You all can find a place to rest within Star Cloud City, and after ten days, bring the introduction letter or token to participate in the test at Star Cloud Pavilion,” the great figure announced profoundly.

Lin Feng and the others quickly responded with a “Yes.”

The great figure nodded and then left.

“It seems we are already sure to join the Star Cloud Pavilion,” Yu Fan let out a sigh of relief.

Han Shuo looked puzzled and asked, “What? Sure to join? We haven’t even participated in the test yet.”

Lin Feng and Yu Fan exchanged a smile, finding Han Shuo’s simple-mindedness somewhat amusing.

Lin Feng and his friends entered Star Cloud City, which was magnificent and imposing, resembling a primordial beast lying on the ground, creating a profound sense of suppression. It indeed deserved to be one of the Ten Great Ancient Cities of the Desert Domain.

Inside the bustling Star Cloud City, Lin Feng and his companions reached the lively district near the Star Cloud Pavilion, because it was the busiest and most flourishing area, and many cultivators came to participate in the tests at Star Cloud Pavilion each year, choosing to stay nearby.

In the heart of Star Cloud City were endless palatial structures, the residence of the Star Cloud Pavilion; countless people gazed into the Star Cloud Pavilion, curious about this ancient power, but no one dared to trespass.

Lin Feng and his companions found an inn to stay in.

“Is that the residence of Star Cloud Pavilion deep within? Cultivating here must be a blissful thing,” Han Shuo said excitedly while standing in the pavilion on the top floor of the inn and looking towards the Star Cloud Pavilion.

At that moment, a laugh emerged, “You must be new arrivals to Star Cloud City?”

They met a young gentleman.

Lin Feng and the others nodded.

The young gentleman spoke with a smile, “What we see of the Star Cloud Pavilion is just the tip of the iceberg. The Star Cloud Pavilion is divided into the Outer Court and the Inner Academy; the Star Cloud Pavilion here in Star Cloud City is merely the Outer Court where servant disciples and Outer Disciples cultivate. However, the Star Cloud Pavilion’s Inner Academy is located in a mysterious place surrounded by Dragon Veins, a Cultivation Sacred Land, which is also the ancestral land of the Star Cloud Pavilion, not within Star Cloud City. Inner Academy Disciples and Core Disciples will enter the ancestral land of the Star Cloud Pavilion for cultivation. Although both places nurture disciples of the Star Cloud Pavilion, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth differs by tenfold between these two places.”

“What? The spiritual energy differs by tenfold? Wouldn’t that mean the speed of cultivation is also ten times different?”

Lin Feng and his companions were greatly shocked; clearly, the competition within these great sects was extremely fierce, and it was evident that only a tiny proportion of disciples could enter the ancestral land of the Star Cloud Pavilion to cultivate.