Bai Gan and Gao Qing each chose a pseudonym and agreed to address each other by these names, not mentioning their real names. They left the Myriad Poison Forest and arrived at Annan Town.

Annan Town is a small frontier town in the Central Plains. Because the Southern Border has been peaceful for many years, the Central Plains haven’t stationed too many troops or imposed strict controls in this area.

In this small town, there are four major cultivating families: Ye, Xiao, Su, Qin. Due to the remoteness of Annan Town, major Sects seldom visit, and imperial authority doesn’t reach this far. For many years, these four families have been the overlords of this town.

This is the hotbed for nurturing the protagonist.

What was considered a backward small town to the Central Plains People appeared quite luxurious in the eyes of Gao Qing and Bai Gan. At least there were no such urban areas in the Southern Border.

Gao Qing had ventured out before and wasn’t so excited, but Bai Gan, with her eyes almost too busy to take everything in, was playing with Gao Qing’s hand, hopping from left to right, utterly joyous. Gao Qing, who was originally a bit gloomy, felt much of her dark mood dissipate seeing Bai Gan so happy.

"Sister Gao, it seems like there’s a tournament happening up ahead," said Bai Gan.

Bai Gan noticed a crowd gathered around an area. Upon closer inspection, there was a banner hanging that read "Ascension in One Step," and there were people fighting on the stage. Bai Gan was very interested and nearly dragged Gao Qing to run over there.

As they got closer, the liveliness of the place became even more apparent with many spectators. However, Gao Qing wasn’t too interested.

The combatants on the stage, by Central Plains standards, were all in the Lower Three Realms. Bai Gan and Gao Qing followed a different cultivation path than the Central Plains, where skillful use of Gu Worm Techniques could threaten even those in the Celestial Knowing Realm. Without Gu, they might not even defeat someone in the Mortal Transcendence Realm. Overall, their power might be comparable to the Heart Guarding Realm.

No matter what, their cultivation levels were significant enough for them to be considered big shots in this small place.

Watching ordinary people spar was naturally uninteresting.

Bai Gan didn’t care about these details. She grabbed a nearby man who was watching the excitement and asked, "Young man, what are they competing in?"

The man, who initially was in a bad mood from being pulled at, softened when addressed as a young man by a beautiful woman with such a sweet voice. Not only did his resentment fade, but his attitude also became incredibly enthusiastic.

"This is the ’Ascension in One Step’ tournament, held by the five major Sects over three days. Children under eighteen with just good aptitude can have a chance to be chosen by the major cultivation Sects. If they’re over eighteen, they need to fight in this tournament. Winning or losing isn’t important, as long as they catch the eye of the sect officials from the five immortal Sects.

In my opinion, it’s really good that they don’t need to determine a clear winner. Otherwise, only people from the four big families would ever get selected," he said.

"The four big families?"

Curious baby Bai Gan felt that there were stories behind this term. Seeing her interest, the passerby was eager to showcase his knowledge, and he began to explain, "When it comes to these four big families, the most legendary of them has to be the Xiao Family..."

The stranger went on to recount the grudges and love stories of the four big families, telling the tales so vividly that even Gao Qing was captivated. This made the man even more excited, and he spoke with such fervor that, combined with the fights on the stage, it was quite a spectacle.

In his narration, in this world, power reigned supreme, and those with strength had the power of voice. The five great Sects were incredibly powerful, possessing the most formidable spells and Divine Weapons, as well as top-tier experts to protect their Sects. Joining these Sects was also a symbol of strength.

"...To ascend is to take a step towards heaven. Once you join these Sects, you can roam the world as you please. That’s why the four big families are sharpening their heads, trying to showcase themselves. But only true geniuses will catch the attention of these great Sects."

Bai Gan and Gao Qing, two newcomers unfamiliar with the Central Plains, were persuaded by the man’s spiel and began to harbor ambitions of joining these Sects. Moreover, the idea of walking sideways in the Central Plains sounded quite pleasing.

However, Bai Gan thought of Lin Yu, who belonged to the Shenxiao Sect. Lin Yu had mentioned this when introducing himself before, but among the five great Sects here – Li Fire God Palace, Guanghan Palace, Yu Ling Sect, Eight Tones Temple, Sword Sect – there was no Shenxiao Sect.

"So, may I ask, how does Shenxiao Sect rank in strength?" Bai Gan asked.

Bai Gan only wanted to gauge the standing of the Shenxiao Sect in the Central Plains, but upon hearing this, the passerby’s expression changed, and he lowered his voice, "Are you perhaps people from the neighboring mountains?"

Bai Gan and Gao Qing immediately became tense. Goodness, could they have given themselves away just like that?

Fortunately, the passerby didn’t think too much, just complained briefly and then said, "In front of these great sects, mentioning the Shenxiao Sect is taboo. If you girls wish to seek a master to learn the arts, you must never bring up the Shenxiao Sect. I think both of you young ladies have the beauty of flowers and the grace of the moon, and you would likely have a good chance of joining the Guanghan Palace."

"Although Guanghan Palace is not as glorious as it once was, a skinny camel is still bigger than a horse. Among the five major sects, it remains the best place to go."

The moment Bai Gan heard this, he was shocked. Are there really sects in the Central Plains that admit disciples based on beauty?

Those who can’t enter such a sect, wouldn’t they suffer a double blow?

For a time, he became genuinely interested in Guanghan Palace.

"Sister Gao, shall we also try our luck on the stage?"

Bai Gan was all excited, while Gao Qing shook her head and said, "You can go if you want, but I’m not interested in joining any sect."

"Just consider it as keeping me company. Look, everyone else going on stage brings a partner with them."

And indeed, Bai Gan’s observation was quite accurate because the competition did not focus on victory or defeat but rather talent, many people would invite familiar faces to join them on stage and even rehearse in advance to make the fight look as beautiful and elegant as possible, thereby increasing their chances of being chosen.

Others brought along playmates to deliberately perform poorly, to highlight their own strength.

The schemes of city life were revealed through these fine details.

Bai Gan had been worried about not finding an opponent if she went up alone!

"Alright then, I’ll help you out this one time."

Living up to the righteousness in her assumed name, Gao Qing, when the host asked if anyone else wanted to come on stage, pulled Bai Gan with her and they both hopped onto the platform.

The fluctuation created the moment they landed instantly enlivened the judges, who had been dozing off a bit.

This was well done!

Jumping onto the stage, Gao Qing and Bai Gan started fighting just like those before them.

Neither used the Gu Worm Techniques from the Southern Border, opting for simple hand-to-hand combat instead. Seeing women fight was quite a sight, as their movements resembled dancing. Plus, with one woman being innocent and the other enchanting, their back and forth on stage made the audience wish to take them somewhere else to fight.

Although those here to take disciples were cultivators, their cultivation levels were not very high, and neither were their states of mind, so they still harbored secular desires.

After all, who could resist the temptation of a big white rabbit!

After their performance, all the sects except for Guanghan Palace extended their olive branches.

"We wish to join Guanghan Palace!"

Bai Gan looked energetically at the representative from Guanghan Palace, a young lady in a white dress exuding an ethereal charm.

In front of her seat was also a small sign that read six words.

Guanghan Palace, Lu Lihua.