Entering the Sect

Amid a ring of majestic, towering mountains, a grand and magnificent Immortal Cultivation sect stood proudly above the misty clouds.

At the sect gate stood an enormous stone stele over thirty meters tall, carved with the three bold characters "Flowing Cloud Sect." Every stroke was vigorous and powerful, as though it contained endless immortal charm.

Today was the Flowing Cloud Sect's once-every-five-years disciple recruitment day.

The vast plaza before the mountain gate was already bustling with people.

Immortal Cultivators from all corners of the land had gathered here, carrying fervent hopes and deep longing for the path of Immortal Cultivation.

Some looked nervous, some were brimming with confidence, and others wore expressions of utter amazement.

Warm sunlight poured down generously, illuminating the expectant faces of the crowd until they seemed to shine.

Colorful banners fluttered around the plaza, snapping loudly in the wind.

The sect's elders and disciples stood at various points, their expressions stern as they meticulously maintained order.

As a long, solemn bell rang out, the entire plaza instantly fell silent.

An elder with an immortal bearing slowly flew into the air. His gaze was as sharp as lightning as he swept it over the densely packed crowd below, his voice loud and clear. "Young friends, today is an important day for our sect to recruit new disciples.

"The path of Immortal Cultivation is rugged, difficult, and endlessly long. It requires unwavering faith and perseverance beyond that of ordinary people.

"I hope you will all display your talent and potential without reservation, become members of our sect, and pursue the great Dao of Immortal Cultivation together."

The moment his words fell, a faint stir arose among the crowd.

Then, the tense and crucial testing officially began.

The crowd formed lines and stepped forward one after another.

First was a handsome young man. He took a deep breath, trying to calm the turmoil in his heart, then slowly pressed his trembling palm onto a crystal-clear Spirit-Testing Stone that resembled a gemstone from a dream.

Several breaths later, a faint five-colored glow appeared on the Spirit-Testing Stone. The light flickered unsteadily, like a candle flame in the wind.

The middle-aged man conducting the test frowned slightly and shook his head in disappointment. "Mixed Spiritual Root. Next."

The young man's face instantly filled with dejection like a frost-struck flower, and he stepped aside in despair.

Next, a young girl dressed in luxurious robes walked forward with light steps. Her head was held high, confidence shining from her eyes as though she had already known the test result in advance.

When her jade-white hand touched the Spirit-Testing Stone, it instantly erupted with intense, dazzling purple light, brilliant as purple fireworks tearing through the night sky.

A wave of astonished exclamations immediately rose around them, and the crowd's eyes filled with envy and surprise.

A proud smile bloomed on the young girl's face. The elder conducting the test was equally stunned, and in an instant, he appeared beside the Spirit-Testing Stone. His voice trembled with excitement. "Lightning spiritual root! It's a Lightning spiritual root! Heaven truly blesses our Flowing Cloud Sect!"

After saying this, he pointed at the young girl. "Come over here and stand here." Upon hearing this, her cheeks flushed red with excitement. She hurried over and stood to the old Daoist's left.

The Spiritual Root tests continued in an orderly manner. Most had ordinary Mixed Spiritual Roots and could only leave with disappointment and regret, unable to enter the gates of the Flowing Cloud Sect.

Occasionally, a lucky person with a Triple Spiritual Root appeared, but no Spiritual Root as astonishing as the Lightning spiritual root appeared again.

About an hour later, a burly young man stepped forward. His body trembled slightly, clearly nervous, but he still pressed his hand onto the Spirit-Testing Stone.

In that instant, the Spirit-Testing Stone lit up with four-colored radiance, and the boy's eyes immediately filled with excitement.

However, the middle-aged man conducting the test said with a disdainful expression, "Metal, wood, water, and earth Quadruple Spiritual Roots. You may enter the Outer Sect. Stand behind me and wait."

The young man did not care in the slightest about the middle-aged man's contempt. He simply ran excitedly behind him, where more than a dozen people were already standing.

This young man was none other than Zhang Tie, who had come to take the entry test.

Zhang Tie had arrived here a month ago. After carefully weighing the differences between the Flowing Cloud Sect and the Golden Sun Sect, he had ultimately decided to try the Flowing Cloud Sect first.

The Golden Sun Sect's main Cultivation Methods were Fire Attribute methods. Their techniques were supremely forceful and blazing, with formidable combat power, and the sect had very few other methods.

The Flowing Cloud Sect, however, was completely different. It cultivated many different paths. Although its overall combat strength was somewhat weaker than the Golden Sun Sect's, it possessed numerous Cultivation Methods, as well as cultivation arts such as alchemy, artifact refinement, talisman crafting, and formations.

Zhang Tie's Evergreen Skill had already reached the point where he needed to cultivate its fourth layer. Naturally, he did not want to start over from scratch, and he was determined to find a Wood Attribute Cultivation Method to continue cultivating.

Moreover, he knew that his aptitude was poor. He also hoped to uncover his talent through cultivation arts, so Zhang Tie resolutely chose to come to the Flowing Cloud Sect first.

The tests continued amid a tense atmosphere, each result like a stone cast into the crowd's hearts, sending ripples spreading outward.

Some tested excellent Spiritual Roots and rejoiced wildly, as though they could see a bright future; others had poor Spiritual Roots and hung their heads in despair, as though they had fallen into endless darkness.

After more than another hour, the tests finally came to an end. Those without the fortune to pursue Immortal Cultivation could only leave the Flowing Cloud Sect one after another, filled with disappointment and unwillingness.

Zhang Tie, meanwhile, remained in the plaza with the other people who had passed the tests, quietly awaiting the next arrangement.

There were roughly a hundred people who had passed the tests and entered the sect this time. Quadruple Spiritual Roots accounted for more than eighty percent of them, while there was only one Lightning spiritual root, one Dual Spiritual Root, and nine Triple Spiritual Roots.

Before long, the white-haired old Daoist casually released a huge scroll.

Mountains, waters, trees, rivers, and lakes upon the scroll looked vividly lifelike, like a real world. The instant the scroll appeared, the surrounding Spiritual Qi gathered toward it, and the density of Spiritual Qi in the area seemed to rise sharply.

Zhang Tie secretly guessed that this must be a Spiritual Qi treasure used by a Foundation Establishment expert.

Then the young girl with the Lightning spiritual root, the young man with the Dual Spiritual Root, and the other nine young men and women with Triple Spiritual Roots stepped onto the scroll.

The white-haired old Daoist stood at the front. With a wave of one hand, the scroll rose into the air and flew into the depths of the sect in the blink of an eye, disappearing from sight.

"Stop staring. They are destined to be different from you."

The middle-aged man standing before Zhang Tie's group looked at them and said, "The moment they enter, they become Inner Sect disciples. That young girl with the Lightning spiritual root may very well be accepted by a Golden Core Ancestor and become a True Disciple, while you can only become Outer Sect disciples."

The man paused, then continued, "I am the Outer Affairs Hall Elder responsible for Outer Sect affairs. From now on, you may call me Elder Su."

With a flick of his sleeve, a small boat fell to the ground and instantly expanded to more than thirty meters long and over a dozen meters wide. Elder Su formed a hand seal with one hand, and a gentle current of air lifted the crowd onto the flying boat in an instant.

Elder Su formed another hand seal, and the flying boat immediately rose from the ground, speeding toward the depths of the sect.

Standing on the flying boat, the crowd could not feel even the slightest breeze, and their emotions gradually calmed.

They looked around curiously. White clouds streaked past them like cotton candy, seeming close enough to touch. In the distance, mountain ranges rose and fell one after another, majestic as winding dragons, inspiring awe.

Elder Su stood at the front of the flying boat with his hands behind his back, his expression calm and detached like an immortal untouched by the mortal world.

With the slightest movement from him, the flying boat shot forward like an arrow loosed from a bow. The disciples only saw a blur before their eyes as the flying boat passed through layers of clouds and sped into the unknown distance.

As the flying boat continued onward, the scenery below gradually became clearer.

They were about to arrive at their destination—the Flowing Cloud Mountain Range. The Flowing Cloud Mountain Range was where the Immortal Cultivation sect was located, as well as the place where they would cultivate in the future. At this thought, the disciples' hearts filled with anticipation and longing.

At last, the flying boat slowly descended before vanishing from sight, and the disciples appeared steadily on the ground.

This place was a vast plaza paved with bluestone, simple yet sturdy. At the center of the plaza stood a stone stele several meters tall, engraved with the two bold characters "Outer Sect," its strokes vigorous and imposing.

Looking upward from the plaza, they could see rows of buildings scattered across the slopes at varying heights.

These buildings had an ancient, rustic style, with upturned eaves, interlocking brackets, carved beams, and painted rafters.

Some were residences for disciples, while others were functional buildings such as the Pill Repository and Alchemy Room.

Between the buildings, lush trees provided shade and flowers and grasses flourished, adorning the tranquil and mysterious mountain landscape.