Chapter 1022: Missing a Name

He was incredibly unlucky; before even finding Qingxue, he’d offended the An Bei three demons and a nine-star sect. Fortunately, he’d left the city; otherwise, he’d have nowhere to hide when the sect elders arrived. Ye Mo trusted his stealth abilities, but doubted they'd withstand nine-star sect elders—at least Body Condensation or Cauldron Filling state cultivators.

Luckily, his name wasn't on the trial tablet; otherwise, they would have certainly noticed him. But Ye Mo couldn't entirely blame himself; who knew this individual possessed such a powerful background? The sect even dared to lockdown South Peace City because of him.

Ye Mo calmed himself. The sect expected him to return to the city, and he had. He noticed cultivators aboard a ship were being compensated in spirit stones and guessed it was a Lightning Cloud Sect setup. Cautiously, he'd already stowed Tian Aofeng's belongings in the Golden Page World.

Even nascent soul state cultivators wouldn't notice Ye Mo, let alone golden core state cultivators. An hour later, he quietly left the city gate, boarding his flying ship and fleeing as quickly as possible.

By daylight, Ye Mo didn't know how far he'd traveled, but his speed remained relentless, fueled by a constant supply of top-grade spirit stones. He even lavishly used his cultivation essence to increase speed, only refraining from using extreme-grade spirit stones for fear of damaging the ship.

The difference between the nine-star Lightning Cloud Sect and the Ghost Immortal Sect was vast. The Ghost Immortal Sect's highest-ranking cultivator was only Hollow Spirit state, and Ye Mo believed he could evade them. Nine-star sects, however, possessed Truth Realization state cultivators, against whom he felt utterly helpless. His only option was to flee.

The next day, South Peace City was busier than usual, thanks to Xiao Fei's name. People also anticipated Fang Zhongshi's reaction; both were nine-star sect core disciples, neither content with losing to the other.

Many guessed Fang Zhongshi would try again, crowding the trial tablet square. Speculation was so detailed, it even included the direction of Xiao Fei's hair.

"You know, after Xiao Fei, two more tried and failed," a golden core state cultivator from the previous night recounted. "But that night, someone else tried."

"So many overestimate themselves. Those three left no marks, obviously…"

"That cultivator, a 'Ye' something… I remember him best; he was hilarious. No name, but quite the spectacle…"

"Yes! He even used his magic artifact—first time I've seen that at the trial tablet. What a joke!" another cultivator added.

"Haha…"

"You said he used a magic artifact at the trial tablet?" a cold voice interrupted.

They noticed a young nun nearby. Her hair was coiled, but she lacked a whisk. Her snow-white skin and daoist uniform, combined with her exquisite beauty, seemed otherworldly.

"It's Ling Xiaoshuang, dao name Qing Shuang…" someone recognized her.

"I know, Serene Dream Mosque, South Peace State's second beauty…" the cultivator trailed off, realizing his words were somewhat inappropriate.

Everyone recognized the exceptionally beautiful young nun. She was clearly here for one reason: she was nearing nascent soul state; otherwise, she wouldn't be present. Many attempted the trial before ascending to nascent soul state to gain enlightenment.

People instinctively lowered their voices. Many felt a surge of honor at her proximity.

However, no one answered her question. Ling Xiaoshuang frowned. "Who said a cultivator used a magic artifact at the trial tablet?"

Her master had told her such cultivators were indescribably gifted. Since ancient times, only one nascent soul state cultivator had used a magic artifact at the nascent soul state trial tablet—tens of thousands of years ago. Reaching nascent soul state tertiary stage, he'd killed a Hollow Spirit state cultivator. Within a century, he reached Truth Realization state peak. Yet, for some reason, he was barred from ascension to the immortal realm. Enraged, he shattered the void, breached the Luo Yue continent's barrier, and left.

Her master believed the earlier a cultivator used a magic artifact, the more gifted they were. If true, someone using one at the golden core state trial tablet would be extraordinary—more powerful than that nascent soul state cultivator from tens of millennia ago. She needed to know who it was.

A golden core cultivator, urged by his friends, stepped forward excitedly. "It was me! I saw him, Martial Sister Ling…"

"Tell me." Ling Xiaoshuang nodded.

The cultivator, soothed by her polite tone, spoke. "Midnight last night, a cultivator came. I think he avoided ridicule by choosing nighttime."

Ling Xiaoshuang frowned. "No need for that; tell me the process."

"Yes. At 18 meters, nearing 21, he used a purple magic artifact, stopping at 21. He attacked for a while before going higher. Then…he marked his name…he's called…" The cultivator paused, searching for Ye Mo's name.

"Ye Mo," another cultivator supplied. "But his name isn't on the tablet. I think he used pills; Feng Honest's Tan Hua Pill supposedly has that effect."

Ling Xiaoshuang gasped. Someone actually used a magic artifact at the trial tablet! But why wasn't his name left? That wasn't right. Her master said the nascent soul state cultivator from tens of millennia ago left his name, ranked first.

First? Ling Xiaoshuang looked at the tablet; the name was familiar. It had been there for two hundred years and wasn't Ye Mo.

Many cultivators subconsciously followed her gaze.

"Wait, a name's missing!" one exclaimed.

"True! Only 299 names, not 300!" another confirmed.