The team that Wang Qi had put together didn't seem like they were going for a trial that involved seeking. Before they could even deal with their own nature, Mao Zhimiao and Wu Shiqin were already the kind of people that could cause trouble. Perhaps they would be better off in a combat-type trial, but...
However... Su Junyu's eyes then turned towards Wu Fan. This boy not only had weak spiritual power but his physique looked like it wouldn't be able to handle any real struggles. Even though Su Junyu, a Foundation Establishment cultivator, was there to take care of him, he still wasn't sure if this guy could make it out alive in the combat trial zones.
Thinking about this, Su Junyu couldn't help but ask, "You all really know what Wang Qi brought you here for, right?"
"I don't know, meow. But Xiao Qi said he need help, so I just came along, meow!"
Seriously, believing in the Sun God Sect, believing in the Tao, believing in... I swear, I am already starting to doubt the intelligence of half-demons! Or maybe this girl is some harmless creature when I'm not looking? Half-demon little sister, do you not know, if you keep going like this, you'll get sold by him and then help him count the money, you know?
"Trial... interesting."
Interesting? My foot, what kind of "interesting" is this? With your expression, you definitely are not the type to be crazy about calculations! You probably misunderstood what "trial" means completely!
"My parents are just wandering cultivators, and my talent can't compare to the rest of you. After getting into the sect by luck, I've had a hard time keeping up with everyone, and the chance to earn merit points is just too good to pass up. Also, I don't really have anyone to talk to in the Foundation Establishment stage, so I can't miss this opportunity."
Su Junyu was surprised by Wu Fan's answer. It was so normal. He couldn't help but take another look at this barely noticeable boy, wondering if he had been charmed by an illusion or something.
After confirming the intentions of the new recruits, Su Junyu took them to register at the sect. Since the theoretical lessons for the trial would be made up by a Foundation Establishment instructor after it ended, but the number of instructors was limited, the sect required that at least four people needed to be grouped to participate in a trial.
Once the necessary procedures were completed, Su Junyu led them as they performed body movement techniques, heading towards the peak of Xianshan Mountain.
As they passed the statues of the three palace masters of Tianjian Palace, the group soon saw the headquarters of the Immortal Alliance in the distance.
Contrary to what Wang Qi imagined, the headquarters of the Immortal Alliance wasn't a lavish palace with gold everywhere—it wasn't even particularly magnificent. The headquarters was made up of a single building. Its height was roughly equal to its width, making it appear like a short tower from a distance. But as they got closer, the grandeur of the building gradually revealed itself.
The building was several stories tall, with each floor about ten feet high. Though the bricks and tiles looked ordinary, when seen as a whole, the structure gave off an imposing and magnificent aura.
Seeing Wang Qi looking at the headquarters with an intrigued expression, Mao Zhimiao couldn't help but ask, "Xiao Qi, is this your first time seeing the headquarters, meow?"
Wang Qi nodded. "Yeah. I thought it would be some golden palace, even with golden toilets."
"Then what, is the yellow stuff on the toilet poop or gold?" Su Junyu shook his head. "That kind of decoration is just typical nouveau riche. But if they go for a metallic finish, there are some avant-garde cultivators who would like that. The Lei Yang Branch of the Nine Branches uses metallic-colored buildings. The Ze Nan region where Lei Yang is based also has this kind of style."
Wang Qi suddenly became interested. Su Junyu's description of the Lei Yang Branch sounded a lot like modern architectural styles Wang Qi was familiar with in his past life, so he started to feel a sense of familiarity.
At that moment, Wu Fan's out-of-breath voice came from behind. "Everyone... wait for me! I need to... rest for a bit."
Everyone turned around and saw that Wu Fan, whose foundation was shallow, had fallen behind by dozens of meters. Although Mao Zhimiao had only broken through to Tongtian a few days earlier than Wu Fan, she had accumulated several times the amount of spiritual energy in just a few days. Plus, she was a half-demon, so her physique was naturally stronger than an ordinary human's, which allowed her to keep up with Wang Qi and the others easily.
The bodies, spiritual power, and innate abilities of demons and half-demons were generally superior to those of the same level human cultivators. However, this advantage would gradually diminish as human cultivators advanced in cultivation and their magic power grew stronger. At the current stage, this advantage was most noticeable during the Qi Refining period, but even the powerful Dragon Clan could only resist a Gold Core-level human cultivator. Once a cultivator reaches the Yuan Shen stage, they could easily defeat all cultivators of the same level.
Su Junyu looked at Wu Fan's pitiful state and sighed inwardly, then raised his hand and cast a movement spell on him.
For Su Junyu, such a spell was nothing to him, but it was enough to allow Wu Fan to catch up with the group.
When they were almost at the summit, Su Junyu suddenly turned his steps and jumped in another direction. Seeing the confused looks of his juniors, Su Junyu smiled and explained, "Did you all see the top of the headquarters?"
Wang Qi and the others looked far ahead and realized that the top of the headquarters wasn't just another layer of roof tiles—it was like another building had been added on top of the roof.
"An illegal building?" Wang Qi chuckled. "Seems like the Immortal Alliance is also struggling financially?"
Su Junyu shook his head. "That's the main hall where the great cultivators of the Xianmen meet. The back hall is where the Immortal Master resides. Between the main hall and the back hall is the Tongtian Dao Hall, where we honor all the great predecessors. The main gate leads directly into the main hall, but out of respect, we usually enter from the side gate."
After entering through the side gate of the headquarters, Wang Qi's breath tightened. He almost thought he had traveled back in time!
The headquarters of the Immortal Alliance at this level was like an office hall. The decor was in line with the aesthetic of Shenzhou—white marble floors, dark-colored walls, and the ceiling intricately carved and beautiful. In the center of the hall was a round counter, where several Immortal Alliance personnel were in the process of exchanging tasks with numerous cultivators. If they only saw this part, it still looked like the usual xianxia style. But the surroundings of the hall... that really broke the mold.
Around the hall were layers of semi-transparent light screens, covered in countless words, and they would change every once in a while. Cultivators moved through these light screens, pointing at them or occasionally pulling out a bundle of light and bringing it to the counter in the center.
This looked exactly like the "cyber space" from those science fiction movies Wang Qi had seen in his past life! Did Shenzhou develop the ability to enter the virtual world with their physical bodies? But such a technique would require at least an immortal cultivator to use! How could it be applied so casually in an office!
Wang Qi silently shouted in his mind.