Rebirth of the Supreme Immortal Emperor

July of Renchen, a divine artifact descended upon the Great Thunder Swamp. The whole world was astonished, and the Heaven's Chosen gathered.

Great Thunder Swamp spans three thousand li, encircled with lightning that strikes day and night, hence its name.

Anyone who dares to enter the swamp carelessly can be struck by lightning, their soul shattered and extinguished. It is also known as the land of thunder punishment, a forbidden area of death, and one of the ten major forbidden areas of Penglai.

Near the Great Thunder Swamp lies a city called Thunder City.

This place is desolate and remote, with merely tens of thousands of indigenous residents. Usually, the streets are bleak and barren, seldom seeing a shadow.

Yet recently, it has been overwhelmed with people. Within a few days, over a hundred thousand people surged in, filling the small city with noise and bustle.

With so many wanting to enter the city, Lei Hong, the City Lord of Thunder City, thought of a very efficient idea.

A gate pass was established at the city gate to collect an entry fee!

Of course, there are nuances to this entry fee.

For the Heavenly Extreme Sect's Heaven's Chosen and Holy Daughter, not only is there no fee, but they're also provided with the best dwelling places and all kinds of flattering hospitality.

For the Heaven's Chosen of Earth-level Sects, no fees are charged either, and appropriate housing is arranged. Of course, the specifications and facilities are far inferior to those of the Heavenly Extreme Sect.

Disciples from Human-level Sects, and stronger Sect Disciples, are symbolically charged one or two Spirit Stones. For weaker ones, the fee doubles or triples to three to five Spirit Stones.

For other lesser Sect Disciples and background-less Loose Cultivators, I'm sorry, but without ten to twenty Spirit Stones, don't even think about entering the city.

Even so, a long queue still formed at the city gates.

Currently within this queue, a man and a woman stand out prominently.

The man has eyebrows like swords and eyes like stars, and an imposing aura. The woman has a stunning appearance and a graceful figure. The appearance of this pair indeed attracts many onlookers.

They are none other than Li Chen and Lian Hongshang!

"Chen, it seems there really are a lot of people coveting that treasure!" said Lian Hongshang quietly as she watched the sea of heads ahead.

This phenomenon had already been anticipated by Li Chen, after all, who doesn't love the Jade of Mt. Jing?

No matter how many people there are, that thing is mine!

Li Chen tightened his fist slightly, thinking resolutely in his heart.

"I am Bi Tao, an Inner Sect Disciple of Azure Sea Pavilion, may I ask which sect do the Fellow Taoists belong to?"

While Li Chen and Lian Hongshang were whispering, a lavishly dressed man came directly over with a smile full of self-satisfaction.

Although he mentioned "Fellow Taoists," his eyes never left Lian Hongshang.

Facing such a suitor, Lian Hongshang was too lazy to respond and directly retreated behind Li Chen.

Li Chen gave him a glance and responded coldly, "No sect, no school!"

"Ah, you are Loose Cultivators?" said Bi Tao, his expression and body movements excessively exaggerated, drawing sideways glances from the crowd.

Instantly, including Bi Tao, the gaze of all Sect Disciples towards Li Chen was filled with disdain. They all felt superior to him.

Even many male Disciples had already started scheming about Lian Hongshang in their minds.

Although the lady in red was stunningly beautiful, she was merely an inferior Loose Cultivator, not worthy of their noble Sect Disciple status, unsuitable to be a Taoist couple. However, enticing her and keeping her in a golden house would not be bad.

As for Li Chen, he was completely ignored by them.

A mere lower-ranked Loose Cultivator in the Foundation Establishment Stage, and these noble Sect Disciples deign to look at your woman, it's your good fortune, you should be endlessly grateful.

"This lady, our Azure Sea Pavilion has recently been promoted to an Earth-level Sect. We are now broadly recruiting talents from all over. I have an uncle who acts as an Elder within the sect. If you're willing, I can have him recommend you and join our Azure Sea Pavilion. What do you think?"

Although Bi Tao's speaking manner looked very polite, the arrogance in his words and the condescending attitude were undeniably apparent.

Hearing that this was a Disciple from an Earth-level Sect, many people, especially those Loose Cultivators, looked at Lian Hongshang with envious eyes.

For ordinary Loose Cultivators, being able to join a Human-level Sect is akin to a phoenix rising from a chicken, let alone an Earth-level Sect.

Among them, some self-proclaimed attractive Loose Cultivator women were posturing and flirting in front of Bi Bi Tao, trying vainly to catch his attention.

With everyone's admiring gaze, Bi Tao, who was already full of arrogance, felt an even stronger sense of superiority, viewing everyone else as beneath him.

As for Li Chen, he had been completely ignored.

The path of cultivation requires not only innate talent but also guidance from a reputed master and vast resources. He believed Lian Hongshang would make the smartest choice.

"Not interested!"

Lian Hongshang frowned slightly and coldly responded.

Seeing Lian Hongshang actually refuse his invitation, Bi Tao was immediately dumbstruck, and everyone else's faces were filled with disbelief.

Of course, many people, while feeling pity for Lian Hongshang, also greatly admired her integrity.

After all, resisting such temptation also requires great courage.

Bi Tao was not willing to give up, persuading her again with a 'heartfelt' appeal, "Miss, I see you have good talents. Staying out in the wild is merely burying your talents. If you join our Azure Sea Pavilion, your achievements will be boundless in the future, please consider it again!"

"This is my jade slip, if you have considered it, you can directly contact me!"

As he spoke, he handed over the jade slip.

Yet, just as he extended it, it was crushed by Li Chen.

Acting so blatantly at poaching, does he think I, Li Chen, am just for show?

"With no interest shown, how can you still shamelessly impose yourself? Is this how all disciples of the Azure Sea Pavilion behave, lacking any sense of shame?"

Seeing a Loose Cultivator daring to speak so presumptuously to him, a Disciple of an Earth-level Sect, Bi Tao's anger surged rapidly.

"I'm doing this for this lady's benefit. With her talent, under the guidance of a renowned master from our Azure Sea Pavilion and with appropriate cultivation resources, she's bound to achieve great things. Following you, a rural Loose Cultivator, what future can she have? It's practically a waste of heaven's gifts!"

"Slap!"

Before Bi Tao could even finish speaking, Li Chen backhandedly slapped him resoundingly.

Bi Tao had never expected a Loose Cultivator to dare to hit him, and without any guard, he got struck until he spun several times in place before he finally stopped.

"You, you, you dared to hit me?"

Li Chen dusted off his hands, saying: "It was you, this buzzing fly, making noise here, aren't you annoying, hurry up and scram!"

"I am a disciple of the Azure Sea Pavilion, and you dare to hit me, are you looking for death?"

Bi Tao, furious and ashamed, clenched his fists tightly, about to strike Li Chen.

However, just as he lifted his fist, Li Chen kicked ferociously, sending him flipping backward pathetically.

Seeing this comical scene, everyone burst into loud laughter.

"Damn you..."

Bi Tao, teeth almost clenched to breaking, was about to continue, but as he met Li Chen's chilly gaze head-on, he choked back his words. His previous sense of superiority instantly deflated.

"Following the principle of 'a wise man does not eat losses in front of him', he covered his burning face with one hand, and, pointing at Li Chen with the other, furiously yelled: "You all wait for me, this isn't over, I, Bi Tao, will remember this!"