Master

In the inn, Zhang Tie's brow was tightly furrowed, lost in deep thought about how to enter the Hundred Skills Sect.

Based on the information he currently possessed, there were roughly three paths for him to join the Hundred Skills Sect. The first was the conventional test of spiritual roots and bone age; the second was relying on his own talent for drawing talismans; and the third was the advantage in body cultivation that he had just learned about.

Actually, Zhang Tie was extremely reluctant to reveal information about his body cultivation. However, within a major sect like the Hundred Skills Sect, it was almost impossible to conceal this matter.

This place was by no means a remote area like the Qin Kingdom, where a single Core Formation cultivator could command the wind and rain. The cultivators' cultivation realms and their knowledge were worlds apart.

The difficulty of the path of body cultivation was universally acknowledged throughout the cultivation world. It was precisely because of this that body cultivators were so rare. Therefore, just as the man in the restaurant had said, the Hundred Skills Sect likely recruited those with body cultivation talent for the sect grand competitions of the major sects.

After all, if a sect invested heavily in cultivating a few low-level body cultivators, they would certainly expect a return. For such major sects, these types of body cultivators were barely considered to have basic combat power during normal times; at most, they would serve as cannon fodder.

Zhang Tie weighed the pros and cons repeatedly, deliberating back and forth. In the end, he decided to reveal both his body cultivation and talisman-making talents. This way, he should be able to obtain more resources to compensate for the deficiencies in his spiritual root aptitude.

As for the reason for his body cultivation realm, he would lie and say he had consumed a red, scaly fruit in the mountains. Zhang Tie had encountered information about such a fruit in miscellaneous records. It was said to be the legendary Crimson Profound Fruit, which could cleanse the marrow and strengthen the meridians and body after consumption.

Zhang Tie calmed himself. After making up his mind, he began to cultivate with his eyes closed.

Time flowed like a gurgling stream, ceaselessly moving forward. Although it was still early, the plaza in Hundred Skills Town was already filled with people, bustling and crowded. Roughly estimated, there were nearly a thousand people.

The entire plaza was initially arranged with two long queues, primarily for bone age testing. After passing the bone age test, there were three testing areas set up sequentially behind it: spiritual root aptitude testing, special talent testing, and body cultivation talent testing.

Zhang Tie quickly completed the bone age test. Holding a small wooden plaque with the number "twelve" written on it, he headed straight for the body cultivation talent testing area. After all, the number of people here was truly scarce, only a mere dozen or so.

It was soon Zhang Tie's turn. He reached out and handed over his wooden plaque. The youth in charge of registration completed the registration and then returned it to him. Next, Zhang Tie walked to a stone monument as required. This stone monument was about ten feet tall, with a strangely shaped stone carving at its base. It resembled a turtle, carrying the stone monument on its back.

"Begin. Strike the stone monument with all your might," the youth in charge of recording said. Zhang Tie nodded, approached the stone monument, took a deep breath, slightly bent his legs, pulled back his fist, and then slammed it fiercely onto the stone monument. He felt as if he had hit cotton; there was not even a sound.

Just as Zhang Tie was filled with doubt, the stone monument suddenly emitted a white light, then turned from white to red, and then slowly faded, returning to its calm state.

"It's actually Mysterious Tier aptitude!" the youth in charge of registration exclaimed. He looked at Zhang Tie and continued, "Come over here to me," then pointed to his right side.

Zhang Tie silently walked over and stood still. He saw the youth take out a yellow talisman from his storage bag, mumbled something, and then injected spiritual power to activate it. The talisman instantly disappeared.

In about twenty breaths of time, a red light flashed, and a middle-aged man in a white robe, with an ethereal and dignified demeanor, appeared before the youth in charge of registration. The youth pointed at Zhang Tie, and the middle-aged man walked towards Zhang Tie, saying, "What realm is your body cultivation currently at?"

"Your junior is fortunate; I am at the early stage of the Meridian Casting Realm," Zhang Tie replied honestly.

"Good, very good. Heaven truly blesses our Hundred Skills Sect," the middle-aged man said, looking at Zhang Tie, and continued, "You are very good. I am Miao Yu, and others call me True Lord Jing Ling. You do not need to linger here; come with me." With that, he was about to use a technique to take Zhang Tie away.

"Greetings, True Lord Miao. However, this junior still has one more test he wishes to try," Zhang Tie said quickly. However, True Lord Miao seemed not to hear him. A gust of wind blew past, sweeping Zhang Tie up. In an instant, the two appeared before a spacious house. True Lord Miao waved his hand to open the door, walked into the house, and sat on a chair.

"Come in," True Lord Miao said.

Zhang Tie obediently walked in and stood about ten feet away from True Lord Miao.

"Hold this talisman and answer my questions," True Lord Miao said, waving his hand to shoot out a talisman.

"Yes, True Lord," Zhang Tie replied, reaching out to grasp the talisman and nodding. He saw a faint red light emanating from the talisman, and wisps of energy flowed directly into his mind through his arm. As soon as it entered, it was dispersed by the Undying Pearl.

"What is your name, where are you from, and why have you come to the Hundred Skills Sect?" True Lord Miao asked in a calm tone.

"My name is Zhang Tie. I am from the Flowing Cloud Sect in the Qin Kingdom. I was chased here by my sect's Senior Brother and fled to this place. I wish to join the Hundred Skills Sect to cultivate and also to seek self-preservation," Zhang Tie said with a blank expression.

"Why, with only a four-element spiritual root aptitude, have you reached the ninth layer of Qi Refining and the Meridian Casting Realm at this age?" the old man nodded and continued to ask.

"When I went out once, I accidentally found a scarlet, scaly fruit in a cave. After consuming it, I fainted. When I woke up, I found my entire body covered in dirt.

Since then, my cultivation seemed to have no bottlenecks. Within a few years, I reached the ninth layer of Qi Refining and the early stage of the Meridian Casting Realm. However, I have been unable to make any further progress," Zhang Tie continued to answer.

True Lord Miao's expression showed confusion at this moment. After a brief pause, he quickly understood and continued to ask, "Do you have a family or relatives?"

"Your junior does not know. Ever since I can remember, I have been alone," Zhang Tie continued to answer.

True Lord Miao waved his hand, and the talisman in Zhang Tie's hand disappeared. Zhang Tie gradually regained consciousness.

"Zhang Tie, are you willing to take me as your master?" True Lord Miao suddenly said.

"I am willing, I am willing! Your disciple Zhang Tie pays respects to Master," Zhang Tie was stunned at first, then overjoyed. He immediately knelt down and kowtowed respectfully three times.

"You are my seventh disciple. After the disciple recruitment ends, you will accompany me to my cave dwelling and meet your Senior Brothers and Sisters," True Lord Miao said, nodding with satisfaction. "Your Qi Cultivation aptitude is extremely poor. Even after consuming the exotic fruit, achieving Foundation Establishment will require great fortune. I advise you to focus all your efforts on cultivating body cultivation. Perhaps in your lifetime, you can break through to the Aperture Opening Realm and become a mighty figure comparable to a Core Formation cultivator. Work hard."

Saying this, True Lord Miao took out a pair of gloves from his storage bag. The surface of these gloves was covered with black scales, and at first glance, they were clearly extraordinary. True Lord Miao handed the gloves to Zhang Tie and said, "This is something I obtained by chance. It is a mid-grade spirit artifact refined from the scales and tendons of a Unicorn Flood Dragon. Since it can only be activated by the power of qi and blood, I have kept it with me. I will give it to you now as a meeting gift."

"Thank you, Master!" Zhang Tie took the gloves, his heart filled with excitement. This was a spirit artifact, and a mid-grade one at that. Crucially, it was suitable for body cultivators. This meeting gift was truly perfect for Zhang Tie.