It wasn't just about needing to cultivate to improve his strength; the higher his cultivation, the more secure he would feel.
Moreover, Liu Chun was carrying a significant sum of money from the sect's trade with Duobao Pavilion. He feared that if he went out and encountered trouble again, as he had before, and if this sum were stolen, it would be a disaster.
So, he dared not leave his room.
Having returned to the cultivation world for just over ten days, Liu Chun already felt a distinct aversion to the environment, despite having lived in it for decades before.
He began to miss the days at Lingxian Sect.
He hoped that he could achieve a good ranking in the Fu Master Conference this time and possibly find some clues about his younger sister's whereabouts...
If he could find her, he would bring her back to Lingxian Sect.
With these thoughts in mind, he closed his eyes and began to meditate.
There were still fifteen days until the official start of the Fu Master Conference.
During these days, Lin Xiao and Jiang Youfu went out almost daily to capture demonic beasts.
For safety reasons, Lin Xiao spent some spirit stones at Wànwàn Tōng, the information store in Banshang City, to buy a map showing the general distribution and levels of demonic beasts outside the city.
Since the Southern and Northern Spiritual Regions were relatively remote in the cultivation world, the concentration of spiritual energy wasn't particularly high, meaning the demonic beasts here generally weren't very strong.
Most of the demonic beasts had cultivation levels between the Qi Refining stage and the Foundation Establishment stage (equivalent to the human cultivator's Golden Core stage). Demonic beasts at the Nascent Soul stage were extremely rare.
Because demonic beasts typically stayed within their own territories and didn't easily encroach on others' grounds, the map was fairly accurate.
Lin Xiao and Jiang Youfu avoided areas with high-level demonic beasts. Although Lin Xiao himself was at the Golden Core stage, Jiang Youfu was only at the Foundation Establishment stage, and many demonic beasts tended to appear in groups. If they encountered something they couldn't handle, it would mean a hasty and potentially dangerous retreat—not worth the risk.
It was better to play it safe, targeting only Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment stage beasts. It was easy, allowed them to complete their mission, and earned them spirit stones.
Meanwhile, Yuan Qing spent his days gathering information and contacting his fellow sect members.
In the evenings, when everyone returned to the cave dwelling, they would gather to soak their feet, chat, and snack.
Often, by the time Yuan Qing returned to the cave, the inner room had an isolation array set up, even though Lin Xiao and the others were still outside.
However, Yuan Qing didn't pry into this matter. He figured it was something his benefactors wanted to keep secret. If they didn't tell him, it meant he didn't need to know. Pretending not to notice or understand was the best approach.
Days passed like this, one after another.
Finally, after fifteen days, the Fu Master Conference officially began.
On this day, Banshang City was packed with people.
Flying with swords was allowed here, but at a regulated speed.
As a result, many cultivators were flying at varying heights, all gathering around the massive Fu Master Conference venue in the center of Banshang City. Everyone's attention was focused on the grand arena.
Lin Xiao and Jiang Youfu were among the crowd.
The two of them were sharing a sword, eagerly looking out over the arena.
All around them, conversations buzzed in their ears.
"I heard that the number of Fu Masters who signed up for this competition is countless. Before the conference even started, ninety percent of them had already been eliminated."
"Whoa! That many? Then there must be very few left, right?"
"You're mistaken. I heard from a friend in the Tianxuan Sect that there are still at least this many left."
The speaker held up a hand, spreading their fingers for emphasis.
"Five thousand?"
"Fifty thousand! Why do you think the Fu Master Conference lasts so many days?"
Hearing this, Lin Xiao and Jiang Youfu quietly gulped as they looked at the massive line of Fu Masters waiting to enter the arena.
Wow, fifty thousand participants.
Just then, more voices arose from the spectators nearby.
"Hey, look! The Sect Master of Tianxuan Sect is here!"
"Oh my! That's the Resplendent Light Venerable!"
"Ah! I see our sect's master! How majestic!"
Someone else chimed in:
"What's so special about seeing your sect master? Haven't you seen them before?"
"Hah! Easy for you to say. Our sect is a large one, with many disciples. Our sect master is busy every day—how could we see them often?"
"Fellow Daoist, you must be from a small sect, huh? That's why you can see your sect master every day and don't find it special."
"Nonsense! Our sect master is just approachable! That's why they often interact with us disciples!"
It seemed these two were about to roll up their sleeves and start a fight when someone nearby, eager to avoid trouble, interjected:
"Alright, alright, look where you are. With so many powerful seniors here, you should control yourselves!"
Realizing they were in the presence of such important figures, the two cultivators turned their heads away, ignoring each other to avoid further conflict.
Although the Fu Master Conference venue was large, it couldn't possibly accommodate all fifty thousand participants at once.
So the competition was divided into rounds.
Each round had a little over five thousand participants, with ten rounds in total.
Numerous talisman-making platforms were set up in the center of the venue.
The participants entered in order, each taking their place at a talisman-making platform.
Because it was the first day and the number of participants was large, the assessment involved basic talismans.
Each participant had to create ten basic talismans within the allotted time.
Afterward, they were quickly ushered out to make way for the next group.
Lin Xiao and Jiang Youfu didn't spot Liu Chun among the first batch of Fu Masters.
To Lin Xiao's surprise, the powerful figures in the arena didn't just make an appearance and leave. They remained at their posts, diligently observing the proceedings and occasionally exchanging a few words with the other seniors nearby.
Seeing this, Lin Xiao found it rather curious.
Before long, others around him seemed to have the same thought, with one person remarking:
"I originally thought these powerful seniors would just show up for a bit and then leave. But it seems they have no intention of going anywhere."
An older cultivator, who had lived for over a hundred years and seen much of the world, explained:
"It was the same at the last Fu Master Conference. These seniors are truly our role models—dedicated in everything they do. No wonder they've achieved such greatness."
At that moment, Liao Pantao, speaking through the soul-nurturing pendant, transmitted a message to Lin Xiao and Jiang Youfu:
"Those old geezers are bored out of their minds back at their sects, always stuck in seclusion. But they have to maintain their prestige, which leaves them little to enjoy. Now that they finally have a chance to get out, with old friends to chat with, there's no way they're leaving anytime soon."