Entering the Inner Sect

The group left the main hall and arrived at the square outside the Outer Sect Main Hall.

With a wave of Dugu Fang's hand, an enormous sword over ten meters long appeared before them.

Lu Yi and the others were fairly knowledgeable. At the sight of the great sword, their eyes widened slightly in surprise. "Is that a Flying Sword? A Flying Magical Treasure?!"

Generally speaking, Foundation Establishment cultivators could use Sword Flight, turning their own weapons into tools for travel. However, such flying tools could usually only carry their owner, making it rather inconvenient to take passengers.

Otherwise, Lu Yi would not have needed Lu Gaoyang to carry him through the air when he went to the Martial Arts Stage for the competition.

Besides using ordinary magical treasures for flight, there was also a type of Flying Magical Treasure made specifically for travel.

The core purpose of such Flying Magical Treasures was flight and travel. Not only did they possess more functions, but they were also much faster.

Naturally, such Flying Magical Treasures were generally quite expensive.

The enormous sword before them was clearly a Flying Magical Treasure.

Lu Yi and the others all revealed envious expressions. Flying Magical Treasures were extraordinarily precious, and their prices were anything but cheap.

A trace of pride appeared in Dugu Fang's eyes as well. He smiled faintly, maintaining the dignity of a Grand Elder as he said, "Get on. It is only a Flying Magical Treasure. As long as you work hard in the future, you will have one too."

Lu Yi and the others stepped onto the Flying Sword. With a sweep of Dugu Fang's sleeve, the Flying Sword rose into the sky, plunging into the clouds as it flew toward the Inner Sect.

The Flying Sword was extremely fast. During flight, it formed a Spiritual Qi barrier that blocked the fierce winds. Sitting within it was smooth and comfortable.

Along the way, Dugu Fang briefly introduced the Inner Sect's circumstances to Lu Yi and the others.

After all, the Inner Sect was different from the Outer Sect. Outer Sect Disciples were merely the foundation of the White Cloud Sect, while Inner Sect disciples were its true elites. Once they entered the Inner Sect, competition would inevitably become far more intense than in the Outer Sect, and there would be many more things to watch out for in every respect.

Lu Yi's group listened attentively. Before long, the Flying Sword passed through a layer of clouds, and a wondrous sight unfolded before their eyes.

It was a vast mountain range containing twelve enormous peaks that towered into the clouds, with smaller peaks surrounding them.

At the center of those twelve great peaks lay a massive basin. Within the basin was a small city, and at the center of that city stood a giant tower that soared into the heavens.

This was the White Cloud Sect's Trial Tower. Dugu Fang had introduced it before: it was a high-grade magical treasure brought back from a ruin by a senior of the White Cloud Sect, used for Inner Sect disciples' trials.

Pavilions, terraces, towers, and ornate halls surrounded the Trial Tower, with carved railings and painted beams. The place was exceptionally prosperous.

White clouds drifted throughout the entire region. Countless cultivators flew on swords, while white cranes danced through the air. It looked steeped in immortal splendor.

Lu Yi and the others stared in a daze. It was completely different from the Outer Sect.

As women, Lin Wan'er and Liu Tian's eyes shone even more brightly.

Lin Wan'er said softly, "It's so beautiful."

Liu Tian nodded repeatedly as well.

Dugu Fang chuckled. "This is the White Cloud Sect's Inner Sect region. From now on, it will also be where you cultivate and live."

Lu Yi and the others watched the disciples traveling by sword, their eyes gleaming.

Dugu Fang smiled calmly. "I will first take you to the Inner Sect Affairs Hall. You have only just arrived in the Inner Sect, so you must first register your identities as Inner Sect disciples and receive your identity tokens."

Lu Yi and the others all nodded.

Dugu Fang turned the Flying Sword and brought Lu Yi's group to the central city, soon stopping outside an enormous hall.

There was a vast square outside the hall. Great numbers of cultivators took off and landed on Flying Swords, each looking vigorous and full of spirit. The auras they gave off were all incredibly powerful; even Lu Yi sensed invincible auras from quite a few disciples.

However, some disciples' auras made Lu Yi feel that they were nothing special.

Lu Yi guessed inwardly that these disciples had probably only entered the Inner Sect not long ago. They did not seem all that strong?

The group arriving on a Flying Sword drew quite a bit of attention. After all, Flying Swords were not common even in the White Cloud Sect.

Once they saw Dugu Fang and Lu Yi's group atop the Flying Sword, the senior brothers and sisters suddenly understood.

"That is Elder Dugu Fang."

"Oh, if I calculate the time, the Outer Sect Competition must have just ended? Are these the top ten from this year's Outer Sect Competition?"

"The Outer Sect Competition... I heard that two geniuses emerged from it this time." One disciple seemed to recall something and smiled.

"Geniuses? Really? Most of us came from the Outer Sect. What kind of genius can an Outer Sect genius be?"

"Exactly. Calling them geniuses is a bit excessive, isn't it?"

"What do you know? I heard an elder who went to the Outer Sect mention it. One genius mastered a Foundation Establishment Technique at the Qi Refining Tenth Layer. The other was even more outrageous—he was only at the Qi Refining Seventh Layer, yet he cultivated two techniques and one cultivation art from the Outer Sect all the way to the Returning to Purity Realm. He even grasped sword intent! He has great hope of reaching the Spirit Transformation Realm in the future, and might even have a chance at the Void Realm. If that isn't a genius, then what is?!"

The others froze at those words and stared at Dugu Fang's group in astonishment. Even those who had not paid much attention before now turned to look, their faces full of shock.

Then the senior brothers and sisters erupted into an uproar.

"Really?! The first one is understandable—his talent is indeed exceptional. But what the hell is the second one?! There was someone like that in the Outer Sect?! Shouldn't such talent have been brought directly into the Inner Sect for training?"

"Yeah, with talent like that, he should at least be a Personal Disciple of a Nascent Soul elder, right?! It would not even be impossible for him to be a peak master's Personal Disciple."

"How would I know? An elder from my Dark Water Peak said it, so it should not be wrong."

"Who are these two disciples?" Numerous Inner Sect disciples asked curiously. "Perhaps we can get acquainted with them sometime."

Recalling the elder's words, that disciple spoke with a strange expression. "The one at the Qi Refining Seventh Layer seems to be the most handsome among the top ten. The one at the Qi Refining Tenth Layer seems to be... the most ordinary-looking one?"

Dugu Fang: "..."

Lu Yi: "..."

Bai Yulong and the others: "..."

Jiang Fan: "???????"

Although these Inner Sect disciples were somewhat far away and their voices were not loud, Lu Yi and the others were high-level Qi Refining cultivators after all. Their hearing was sharp—how could they not hear the discussion?

Every one of them wore an extremely strange expression.

As the Grand Elder, Dugu Fang's face merely twitched before he regained his composure. Lu Yi and the others, however, had far more colorful expressions.

Lu Yi looked at Jiang Fan, feeling somewhat embarrassed.

Putting everything else aside, when it came to looks, he truly crushed Senior Brother Jiang Fan. But saying it so bluntly was just too awkward.

Even Lu Yi felt embarrassed.

Even with Jiang Fan's exceptional composure, his face darkened with black lines at those words, and his expression stiffened.

He rubbed his nose and said helplessly, "Is it wrong to look ordinary?"

Lu Yi said solemnly, "Senior Brother Jiang Fan, do not overthink it. How could we possibly not know of your talent and ability?"

"Jiang Fan, a man's strength is what matters most. What use is a pretty boy? Just an effeminate brat." Li Yun crossed his arms and sneered.

Lu Yi: "???"

He felt personally offended.

Bai Yulong's expression also stiffened slightly. Tapping his folding fan, he asked, "They actually think Junior Brother Lu is the most handsome?"

"Isn't he?" Lin Wan'er glanced at Bai Yulong.

Bai Yulong coughed dryly, smiled faintly at Lin Wan'er, and straightened his back.

Liu Tian spoke quietly, "Bai Yulong, give up. When it comes to looks, you cannot compare to Junior Brother Lu."

Bai Yulong's expression froze, and he shut down.

Dugu Fang coughed dryly. "All right, let us go in."

The group came back to their senses and entered the Affairs Hall under the gazes of several senior brothers and sisters.

Thanks to the great patron Tianyi Palace Guard for the 1,500-point reward, and thanks to the great patron Feng Yu for the 100-point reward~