Chapter 371

Chapter 371: Strange Regulations

"This place is too far away; I can’t see the full picture," Yuan Qi shook his head. "I can only discern defensive and confinement properties."

"Defensive confinement?" You You pondered, "Like the protective mountain formation?"

"Unclear." Tian Qi furrowed his brows. "The formation contains too many overlapping layers. We must inspect it closely after entering to determine its true nature."

She nodded and stopped questioning, waiting for the Spirit Ship to reach Jingling Institute. But instead of proceeding directly, the ship veered toward a massive city at the mountain’s base, landing in its central square.

The lead God Transformation Cultivator ushered everyone westward through the city, assigning individual quarters. Even You You’s group received a courtyard dense with spiritual energy.

You You blinked in confusion. "Weren’t we heading to Jingling Institute? Why are we settling here like long-term residents?"

"What is this place? Why stop here?"

"Likely Tianming City," Feng Rong interjected before she could ask others.

"Tianming City?" You You and Tian Qi echoed in unison.

"Correct." Feng Rong continued, "Jingling Institute’s mountain gate rarely opens. All Holy Spirit Ceremony participants must wait here until institute representatives escort them in during the official ceremony."

"So we’re staying here until then?" You You sounded surprised, having assumed this event resembled Immortal Realm’s sect competitions. "They don’t even provide lodging?"

"Exactly." Feng Rong nodded. "Chixing Country’s delegation arrived early. The gate won’t open until all nations’ cultivators gather."

"Makes sense." You You studied him. "But how do you know this?"

Yuan Qi also turned with curiosity.

"Chen Wei told me." Feng Rong shrugged. "You were right there, Yuan Qi."

"Who’s Chen Wei?" Yuan Qi looked blank.

Feng Rong gave him an accusatory glare. "You accepted his gift yet forgot his name? How rude!"

Yuan Qi paused, then recalled the lip balm from the cabin. "The man sitting beside you during the voyage?"

"The very same!"

Yuan Qi: "……"

Since when had they grown so close? Since when did Feng Rong casually extract information from strangers? Mortal social customs remained baffling.

"Chen Wei mentioned Jingling Institute restricts comings and goings," Feng Rong explained. "The mountain gate only opens during Holy Spirit Ceremony for escorted group entries. Last ceremony required eleven ascents."

"Eleven?" You You exclaimed. "Does the ceremony repeat multiple times?"

"Apparently." Feng Rong nodded. "They claim the ceremony aids cultivators’ enlightenment and advancement. Their protective mountain formation supposedly traps spiritual energy, so frequent gate openings would weaken cultivation efficacy. The ceremony’s frequency adapts to participants’ aptitudes – typically six or seven iterations."

You You frowned at the flawed logic, turning to Yuan Qi. "Your thoughts?"

"Jingling Institute controls multiple spiritual veins," Yuan Qi analyzed. "They shouldn’t lack energy. Standard protective formations separate spiritual arrays for energy circulation from defensive arrays activated during threats. Their explanation conflates the two – improbable for an organization managing so many veins."

"Agreed." You You nodded. "Keeping defensive arrays perpetually active while citing energy conservation contradicts basic formation principles. They’re hiding something."

"Meaning their formation’s compromised?" Feng Rong leaned forward. "Should we infiltrate now?" Though stripped of Demon God powers, his phoenix claws could shred formations.

"Patience." Yuan Qi disagreed. "We’ll enter legitimately during the ceremony."

Feng Rong snorted. "You You might enter. What about us?"

Yuan Qi froze, remembering their current roles as "family members" in this rigidly hierarchical world. The institute would never permit non-cultivator spectators.

His expression hardened. "Feng Rong’s right. We should breach their defenses!" If You You faced danger here like in the Six Realms…

You You facepalmed. "Yuan Papa, don’t catch Feng Rong’s impulsiveness! Why bother disguising ourselves then?"

———————

They ultimately waited properly. You You left a water mirror in their quarters to relay her observations to Feng Rong and Yuan Qi.

After fifteen days in Tianming City, the gathering crowds signaled most delegations had arrived. Despite the original one-month schedule, Jingling Institute abruptly opened its gates.

The Chixing Country leader hastily herded cultivators toward the mountain without proper headcounts. Arriving early, You You found flustered cultivators from various nations already assembled.

Two white-robed female cultivators brimming with spiritual energy guarded the mountain gate entrance, scrutinizing the crowd.

You You instinctively assessed them, then gasped.

"Xuanxian-level cultivators!" Yuan Qi’s voice echoed from the water mirror.