Evelyn Foster saw the flowing clouds of dawn, radiant with brilliant colors. This was not a natural phenomenon, but a beautiful scene created by the disciples of Gengchen Immortal Palace using magical treasures to guide the clouds. Changing the appearance of the sky was no easy feat; only a place as grand as Gengchen Immortal Palace would dispatch so many disciples just to create such stage effects and set the mood.

From time to time, enormous immortal cranes and beautiful birds would fly by, each carrying a pavilion on its back, responsible for transporting guests and other disciples who came to observe the ceremony.

There was also a mist-like flow in the air, all of it formed by spiritual energy condensed into tangible form. The elders had opened the spiritual veins, allowing the spiritual energy beneath Gengchen Immortal Palace to surge upward, thus creating these spiritual mists. The spiritual herbs and plants bathed in the mist emitted a refreshing fragrance, and those who stood within the mist felt their pores open and their bodies become light, as if ascending to immortality.

Evelyn Foster had been here for several days, troubled by not knowing how to cultivate. But as she bathed in the spiritual mist, she was surprised to find her body naturally absorbing the gentle spiritual energy, her whole body warming, and her mind becoming clearer.

For the first time, she felt that cultivation was absolutely exhilarating.

Unfortunately, she couldn’t cultivate like this all the time. As a flag bearer—no, as a candidate for service, before going to pay respects at the Three Saints Mountain, she had to first meet the top leader, the legendary headmaster, who would give them a speech.

She wasn’t wearing the standard blue robe of Qinggu Heaven, but rather a white dress that had been issued to her. All one hundred female disciples would be wearing this uniform.

As usual, her master escorted her to the assembly. Over the past few days, the senior brothers had all been proud, but this master didn’t seem particularly happy. After delivering her to the grand hall for assembly, he worriedly reminded her not to make enemies lightly.

Not her real father, but even more caring than one.

The grand hall Evelyn Foster entered was the most magnificent she had ever seen. The high dome was carved with countless bas-reliefs of immortals, decorated with colorful gems and painted in dazzling hues. Several-person-tall golden lamps shaped like auspicious cranes stood beside jade pillars adorned with cloud patterns. The floor, heavy and hard, was so polished it reflected the bright lights of the hall, as if it were another mirrored world.

There were others, like Evelyn Foster, marveling at the surroundings, but they quickly composed themselves and stood properly in the center of the hall. On the glass lotus seats placed high in the hall, several hazy figures gradually appeared—the top leader’s true body had not come, but was using a projection.

Evelyn Foster: Video conference, not bad.

The mysterious headmaster in the center spoke in a solemn voice, “You have gathered here, and I have some words to instruct you. Once you leave this door, you must not speak of this to anyone else.”

“After Edward Grant emerges from seclusion, you will be sent into the Three Saints Mountain. Once inside, you must earn Edward Grant’s special favor. Whoever succeeds will not only receive the rewards previously mentioned, but also benefits a thousandfold greater—even your entire lineage will gain supreme honor. As for everything concerning Edward Grant, you must report back.”

Evelyn Foster: ...This doesn’t sound quite right.

“Edward Grant is no ordinary person. You must serve him with utmost care and devotion—do not anger him under any circumstances! Otherwise, there is only one path: death!”

Evelyn Foster started to feel a bit nervous. What’s going on? Weren’t they supposed to be gentle elders? Why does it sound like there’s a risk to her life now!

But even if she was scared now, she couldn’t back out. After the headmaster finished speaking, he waved his sleeve and led everyone out of the hall, heading to the Three Saints Mountain.

This magical “universe within a sleeve” technique was truly wondrous, taking a hundred people away at once. In the blink of an eye, Evelyn Foster felt darkness before her eyes, and when she opened them again—barely two seconds later—she was already standing in a different place.

“So this is the Three Saints Mountain?”

The woman beside her—whether a senior sister or an elder, she wasn’t sure—stared at the mountain ahead, so excited she nearly fainted, which made Evelyn Foster nervous, worried she might actually pass out from excitement.

The Three Saints Mountain before them was the most unique, meaningful, and mysterious spiritual mountain in all of Gengchen Immortal Palace, even more so than the headmaster’s own main peak, Taixuan. Legend had it that the Three Saints Mountain was so named because the three legendary saints of Gengchen Immortal Palace, who were the first to ascend to godhood, all cultivated on that mountain before their ascension.

Now, because Edward Grant was in seclusion, the entire Three Saints Mountain had been closed off for five hundred years, with no one able to enter.

Looking ahead, they saw the Three Saints Mountain shrouded in clouds and mist, radiating spiritual light. Looking back, there was a vast crowd—all the most prominent disciples of Gengchen Immortal Palace, each waiting patiently and fervently. In the sky above were the top experts of the palace, along with the ruling palace masters and headmasters, a circle of indistinct figures, all waiting as well.

It was a bit like a military parade, or like scenes from Journey to the West she’d watched as a child—a host of heavenly soldiers and generals standing on layers of clouds, waiting for the Monkey King.

This thought made Evelyn Foster laugh at herself. Whenever she got nervous, her imagination would run wild, and she couldn’t help but picture such scenes.

“Wong——wong——dong——”