I Can Fix My Talent in Hundred Lives-Chapter 405 - 332: Talents Gather Like Clouds

The tranquility of half a month’s arduous cultivation was shattered by a crisp tolling of a bell.

At the top level of the Jiuli Tower, the star mist slowly dispersed, revealing Mansion Master Bai standing alongside Inspector Guan He and General Tu Lie, followed by Chen Sheng and five others.

Today was the day to travel to the Yun State Prefecture. Outside the Martial Arts Hall, a gigantic Teleportation Array was already glowing with a faint silver light.

The square around was crowded with cultivators. Most of the thousand cultivators who advanced in the state competition were already waiting here, including many who had previously shone in the mansion competition.

When they saw Mansion Master Bai and the others approaching, their gazes fell on Chen Sheng and his companions with a mix of reverence and envy.

The Teleportation Array was controlled by a team of Divinity Transformation Cultivators clad in the standard attire of Jiuli Mansion. Upon seeing Mansion Master Bai, they quickly stepped forward with respect:

"Greetings, Mansion Master Bai, Inspector Guan, General Tu! The Teleportation Array has been adjusted as per your instructions and can be activated at any time!"

Mansion Master Bai nodded slightly and turned to the people behind him:

"The Yun State Prefecture is the core of a state, with many rules. Remember to be cautious with your words and actions upon arrival."

His gaze swept over Chen Sheng and his companions, speaking solemnly:

"The city hides dragons and crouching tigers; even an old man selling goods on the street might be an Integration Dharma Master playfully wandering the mortal world. Do not cause trouble due to a moment of bravado."

"Yes!"

Everyone responded in unison. Chen Sheng took these words to heart; since such a warning was given, there must have been past incidents as a lesson.

"Activate the Teleportation Array! Everyone, please enter the array!"

With the loud shout from the cultivators controlling the array, the Spirit Crystal at the Array Hub burst forth with a blazing silver light, and thirty-six silver lines weaved along the Array Pattern, instantly forming a light net covering the entire Teleportation Array.

Mansion Master Bai was the first to step into the array, stabilizing its fluctuations. He would lead the team, while General Tu and Inspector Guan remained in Jiuli Mansion to guard the place.

Chen Sheng and his companions followed closely behind, standing at designated positions in the array alongside other Jiuli Mansion cultivators.

...

"Woosh—"

The silver light surged, enveloping the entire Teleportation Array. Everyone felt as if they were being tossed into a turbulent river, surrounded by the howling spatial turbulence, with countless light and shadows flashing before their eyes.

Soon, the feeling of weightlessness vanished abruptly, and the light before their eyes gradually receded, revealing a majestic city that defied imagination.

"This... this is the Yun State Prefecture?"

Chen Xihua instinctively gasped, his eyes filled with shock.

The entire city was unbelievably vast, towering like the Celestial Peak before him, its surface densely inscribed with Runes, making Jiuli Mansion seem insignificant by comparison.

Even more astonishing was the three hundred and sixty-five gigantic stars suspended around the city in the void, each emitting immense Star Power, guarding the city like loyal sentinels.

The Double Star Wonders Chen Sheng had seen in the Celestial Abyss Realm seemed like mere fireflies before the full moon compared to these stars, not even a ten-thousandth of their size.

Many cultivators visiting this place for the first time were already struck silent, their mouths agape, forgetting to breathe—they never imagined a city could be so grand.

Yet Chen Sheng’s gaze went beyond the city walls, falling on the Array formed by countless interwoven Runes.

On the city wall, the Array Patterns spread like a spider web, every path imbued with profound Dao Principles.

The Star Power from the three hundred and sixty-five stars continuously poured into the city through the patterns, subtly harnessing the forces of heaven and earth, forming an invisible aura covering hundreds of miles.

Even standing in the Teleportation Array square, he could feel an overwhelming pressure that made his Primordial Spirit tremble slightly.

Mansion Master Bai’s eyes swept over the three hundred and sixty-five stars, his tone carrying a hint of pride:

"This city has existed for tens of millions of years, dating back to Ancient Times."

"Successive State Lords have all put great efforts into reinforcing the city. The ’Great Circulation Star Shaking Immortal Array’ on the city walls is arranged using these three hundred and sixty-five stars as Array Hubs."

"Once this array is triggered, the Star Power will flood like a celestial river. Even an Integration Dharma Master caught within will be forcibly suppressed, and with the slightest misstep, could fall within the array."

"Such a majestic city, even beneath the Immortal Mansion, there are only twelve."

"Strong cultivators fill the city. Remember, while walking in the city, adhere to the saying ’observe more, speak less, and avoid conflicts’, understood?"

Everyone responded in unison: "Understood!"

...

Jingxin Palace, a Daoist Palace with a blue-tiled roof built against the mountain, had cloud-patterned inscriptions on its red columns.

This place was specifically set up for state competition cultivators, and though it was not as magnificent as an Immortal Mansion, it exuded the orderly solemnity of a cultivation site.

The talents from various mansions gathered here!

Chen Sheng and his group followed the Attendant of the Daoist Palace around the Third Layer corridor and were led to three side chambers in the western courtyard.

Not far away, Venerable Wuyue was chatting with several spirited cultivators.

Everyone wore Tokens of the Yun State Daoist Academy at their waists. After a brief conversation, Venerable Wuyue motioned for them to come over.

"Haha, fellow Daoist, I will introduce you!"

...

Through Venerable Wuyue’s introduction, Chen Sheng and his companion gradually met many of the talents from the Yun State Prefecture in the following days.

Upon learning that Chen Sheng and his companion defeated the Daoist Soldier, and were granted the Token of the Daoist Academy, these talents were very polite.

Especially realizing that Chen Sheng was not yet a thousand years old, several of these talents were quite impressed and extremely enthusiastic.

"Is it true that Fellow Daoist is not yet a thousand years old?"

"With such talent, even our Direct Senior Brothers in the Academy might not compare!"

"Fellow Daoist Life-Annihilating’s talent is extraordinary, I am impressed. In the future, at the academy, we should certainly get to know each other better."

...

Through these chats with talents, the structure of the state competition gradually became clear.

One afternoon, Chen Sheng, Chen Xihua, and Miao Shan sat around an Eight Immortal Table in the side chamber.

Their blue porcelain teacups were filled with special tea from the Daoist Palace. As boiling water was poured, the tea leaves unfurled slowly in the water.

Chen Xihua gently swirled his teacup, gazing at the floating tea leaves, unable to help but sigh:

"Truly a gathering of talents!"

He set his teacup on the table with a clank, filled with emotion:

"Yesterday, I heard that in the Yun State Prefecture alone, there are over five hundred talents who defeated the Daoist Soldier, with over ninety percent coming from the Yun State Daoist Academy."

"Although the Bai Lei Three Mansions are not as prosperous as the Yun State Prefecture, each mansion also has nearly a hundred experts who have defeated the Daoist Soldier."

"In contrast, the other nine mansions like Jiuli Mansion are far behind; the most I’ve heard of is no more than ten people, and the least, only three."

Upon hearing this, Chen Sheng nodded slightly, silently pondering:

"Throughout the thirteen mansions of Yun State, there are only seven permanent Integration Dharma Masters."

"Each Bai Lei Mansion has one, who has established Dao Vein branches. The state city has three major figures overseeing all state affairs, plus the head of the Yun State Daoist Academy."

"Crucially, the three giants of the state also serve as teaching staff at the academy, meaning the academy can draw on the resources of four Integration Great Cultivators—be it Cultivation Techniques, Elixir Pills, or Secret Techniques, they’re never lacking, no wonder talents gather."

...

Chen Xihua sighed heavily, downing his tea in one gulp:

"At this rate, making a mark in the state competition seems difficult for me."

He patted Chen Sheng on the shoulder with a somewhat relieved expression:

"But Life-Annihilating, you still have a chance to break into the top hundred."

However, Chen Sheng slowly shook his head:

"Difficult! Especially those Direct Disciples and Inner Sect Disciples of the Dharma Masters, all practicing Integration Secret Techniques, are hard to compete with."

The Dharma Masters’ disciples at the academy are divided into three tiers, with Direct Disciples being the most precious, and few in number, with Dharma Masters imparting all they could.

Inner Sect Disciples come next, also receiving Secret Technique inheritances, like Venerable Wuyue, while Named Disciples are far too numerous, only occasionally getting guidance from Dharma Masters.

Miao Shan saw their sighs and encouraged them with a smile:

"Once you join the Yun State Daoist Academy, won’t you also have the chance to receive guidance from a Dharma Master? With some luck, you might even directly join as Inner Sect Disciples."

With her words, the atmosphere in the room lightened considerably.

Chen Xihua, hearing this, laughed loudly and said:

"Indeed, let’s keep a steady mindset; after all, just participating in the Dao Assembly has achieved its purpose. Even if we don’t break into the top hundred, we can still join the academy."

Chen Sheng nodded again: "Well said."