I Disagree

On the plains, Fang Wang continued forward at his own pace. Seven people had already overtaken him, but he was in no hurry. He even wanted to see whether Zhou Xue could catch up.

Of the eight remaining people from Fang Manor, Zhou Xue was likely the only one who could catch up. Although Fang Hanyu had cultivated spiritual energy, he was still only a martial artist. Simply crossing that high mountain would be enough to stump him—how could he possibly make it this far?

Just as Zhou Xue had said, the trial here was intended for those with a certain foundation in cultivation. Ordinary people had no business taking part.

Time continued to pass.

Less than half an hour later, Fang Wang saw a vast bank of mist appear on the horizon. Within it, the outlines of mountain ranges could vaguely be seen—majestic and mysterious. Compared to those mountains, the lofty peaks on either side of the plains were nothing at all.

At first glance, Fang Wang thought of the Taiyuan Sect.

Could the sect grounds of the Taiyuan Sect be up ahead?

Fang Wang thought expectantly. Soon, he saw quite a few people halted before a cliff. Just as he was about to stop, he heard someone shout, "I give up!"

As the words fell, a streak of azure light descended from the sky and swept past that person. A wisp of azure light split off, wrapped around him, and carried him soaring away, swiftly vanishing into the vast mist beyond the cliff.

Was that a magical artifact?

Even with Fang Wang's eyesight, he could not make out what it was.

Fang Wang walked to an empty spot and stood at the cliff's edge, looking down. Below was a bottomless expanse of darkness, while thick mist obscured both sides. Looking up, he estimated that the mountain ranges beyond the mist were at least ten li away.

He had to fly across!

Fang Wang turned his head and saw that some of those who had used the Sword Control Technique earlier were now at a loss as well. Judging from their exhausted expressions, their spiritual energy had likely run dry. Some even sat down on the spot to meditate and take medicinal pills.

You could do that too?

Fang Wang was not unconvinced; he merely sighed inwardly. The children of great clans really were different.

"What are you looking at? Don't tell me you've run out of spiritual energy?"

A familiar voice came from behind him. Fang Wang turned around to see Zhou Xue descend before him, standing atop a flying sword.

Fang Wang was curious. Where had she gotten that flying sword?

Zhou Xue did not jump down from the flying sword. Instead, she lifted a hand and waved. A slender flying sword flew out of her Storage Bag, and Fang Wang reached out to catch it.

The instant he grasped the sword, he could sense the spiritual energy within it. This was no ordinary sword—it was a dharma sword.

Fang Wang looked at Zhou Xue in surprise and asked, "Where did you get it?"

The corners of Zhou Xue's lips curled upward. She waved a hand, turned, and flew away, vanishing into the mist in the blink of an eye.

Fang Wang inexplicably thought of the two figures who had been fighting earlier. Had Zhou Xue stolen it?

That made sense. It was perfectly reasonable for a Demonic Cultivator to act like that.

Fang Wang thought no more of it. He immediately linked his spiritual energy to the sword, then leaped into the air. The flying sword landed beneath his feet and carried him toward the mist.

His Sword Control Technique at Great Perfection allowed him to control this sword with ease. Of course, that was also because this sword was not an especially powerful magical artifact. According to Zhou Xue, powerful magical artifacts were difficult to subdue. Cultivators had to forge a Life-Bound Treasure Spirit before they could properly wield them.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—

The fierce wind howled across his face, and Fang Wang smiled. Flying on a sword was still the best.

Standing atop a flying sword and riding the wind filled him with exhilaration. Towering proudly beneath the heavens, a surge of lofty ambition rose in his chest. No wonder everyone longed to pursue the path of cultivation.

As he entered the thick mist, Fang Wang suddenly heard strange sounds. He immediately drew the treasured sword at his waist.

A black hawk suddenly swooped out, its talons viciously clawing at him. It was incredibly fast, already surpassing even the greatest masters of the martial world. Fang Wang raised his hand and slashed. Spiritual energy condensed into Sword Qi and cut it apart.

The black hawk turned into drifting smoke and dispersed, causing Fang Wang to raise his brows.

It was not a living creature!

So this was part of the trial too!

Fang Wang rode his sword onward while remaining vigilant. Black hawks occasionally burst forth along the way, attacking from every direction, but he dealt with them one by one.

It was not too difficult.

After flying onward, he passed through the vast mist and saw a majestic mountain range, as though it stood above the clouds. Peaks rose one after another behind the mountains, and the tallest peak thrust straight into the clouds, its height impossible to gauge.

White cranes overhead guided the way. Following their line, he descended onto a vast clearing, where Zhou Xue was already waiting.

After landing, Fang Wang gripped the flying sword in reverse and swept his gaze around. Aside from the Taiyuan Sect disciples stationed at the front, sixteen examinees had arrived. Every one of them looked far from ordinary.

Gu Li glanced at Fang Wang but paid him little attention. She remembered this boy—he had run here on foot, and one look told her his family was not particularly well-off. At the very least, he would pose no threat to her next objective.

Zhou Xue walked to Fang Wang's side and praised, "That was fast. I thought you'd need some time to get used to it."

Fang Wang smiled. "It did take a little time."

The two stood together and spoke in low voices, while everyone else scattered about, keeping their distance from one another.

Time continued to pass.

One cultivator after another emerged from the mist and landed in the clearing. Fang Wang noticed that even the weakest among them possessed the cultivation aura of the fifth level of the Qi Nurturing Realm, which left him deeply moved.

No wonder the treatment here was better. They were all top students.

An hour later.

The number of prospective disciples here had already exceeded fifty, leaving Fang Wang secretly alarmed.

There were fifty people here alone. Including those who had passed earlier, at least five hundred people had cleared the entrance trial—and this was only Taiyuan Town. Taiyuan City surely recruited even more disciples. Did they take in several thousand disciples every five years?

"This is why I chose the Taiyuan Sect. A hundred years from now, the Taiyuan Sect will become the strongest sect in Great Qi."

Zhou Xue's voice reached him through Sound Transmission Technique, making Fang Wang turn to look at her.

The strongest sect?

Fang Wang believed her. After all, Zhou Xue was a reincarnator. He found himself looking forward even more to his years of cultivation in the Taiyuan Sect.

After a while, a white crane descended from the sky. A short, plump old man was actually lying on its back. Fang Wang had noticed the crane earlier, yet he had not seen anyone on its back.

The white crane landed, and the short, plump old man slowly sat up. Though he wore the Taiyuan Sect's Daoist robes, they looked utterly mismatched on him. He was languid and sloppy, devoid of any immortal bearing.

The moment Fang Wang saw that air about him, he immediately stamped him in his heart as an expert.

This man was definitely powerful!

The short, plump old man stroked his beard and swept his gaze across everyone present before smiling. "Not bad, not bad. Fifty-two people in total. Looks like my Taiyuan Sect is about to rise again. Since you have made it here, you may already become Branch Disciples of the Taiyuan Sect."

"Within the Taiyuan Sect, treatment and status rank from lowest to highest as Outer Disciples, Inner Disciples, Branch Disciples, Sword-Holding Disciples, and Personal Disciples. Outer Disciples and Inner Disciples may also choose a branch to cultivate in, but they must begin as menial workers. Branch Disciples, however, may directly choose a master from the branch peak they select."

Everyone listened with rapt attention, and the short, plump old man smiled in satisfaction.

"Let me introduce myself first. I am an enshrined elder of one branch. You may call me True Person Greedy Sleep. Don't be fooled by how laughable my title sounds—in the cultivation world, it carries a formidable reputation."

The short, plump old man—True Person Greedy Sleep—said proudly.

A young man in blue revealed an admiring, worshipful expression. He clasped his hands in salute and said, "I have heard of True Person Greedy Sleep's great name. Legend has it that during the Righteous-Demonic Great War a hundred years ago, you charged alone into Ancient Demonic Mountain with a single sword and slew over a thousand fiends. That battle crushed the Demonic Path's morale, allowing peace to arrive ahead of time."

Upon hearing that, True Person Greedy Sleep raised his chin, looking down his nose at everyone.

Gu Li shot the blue-robed young man a glance. Though her face was veiled, unmistakable scorn showed in her eyes.

Most of the others wore expressions of worship. Clearly, this was their first time hearing the tale.

Just as I thought. He really is an expert! Fang Wang thought.

He was probably one of the Taiyuan Sect's very strongest figures. Usually he looked carefree and unserious, but when it truly mattered, he was surely terrifying.

"Enough. Back to business. You are already Branch Disciples, and now you may contend for the positions of Sword-Holding Disciple and Personal Disciple." True Person Greedy Sleep gave a false cough and turned serious.

A woman could not help asking, "We can directly compete to become Personal Disciples? None of the Nine Great Sects has ever had such a precedent."

The other scions of aristocratic families murmured among themselves, all visibly excited.

True Person Greedy Sleep declared proudly, "That was how things used to be, but things will be different from now on. The Taiyuan Sect is breaking old conventions to help geniuses grow better. All of you are in the Qi Nurturing Realm, so you may compete now. Anyone who wishes to become a Personal Disciple may step forward and fight everyone else alone. Win, and you can become a Personal Disciple. The five who perform best may become Sword-Holding Disciples."

Fight everyone alone!

The instant those words fell, everyone went quiet.

Fang Wang could not help glancing at Zhou Xue, asking with his eyes whether they should compete.

Zhou Xue slowly nodded, though her brows were faintly furrowed. Clearly, she had not expected this.

Could it be that she was not a Taiyuan Sect disciple in her previous life?

Fang Wang could not help complaining inwardly. He was beginning to suspect that Zhou Xue had ulterior motives for coming to the Taiyuan Sect.

Gu Li spoke up. "May I ask, Elder, if more than one person wants to become a Personal Disciple, who will fight everyone else alone?"

Her words drew nods from over a dozen people. Those who dared nod were all brimming with confidence.

True Person Greedy Sleep smiled without quite smiling. "That depends on you. Personal Disciples have the authority to enforce rules and manage disciples of their own branch. They must possess the ability to win the people's support."

Gu Li immediately took a step forward and said, "My name is Gu Li. I come from the Luobei Gu Family. I have cultivated for twelve years and have reached the ninth level of the Qi Nurturing Realm. I have learned my father Gu Tianxiong's Five Saints Sword Technique. I wish to become a Personal Disciple. Who disagrees?"

The Luobei Gu Family!

Most people present could not help being moved, making Fang Wang curious. Just how powerful was the Luobei Gu Family?

The black-clad man in a bamboo hat folded his arms over his chest and snorted. "The Luobei Gu Family does indeed have the qualifications. Then it shall be you. I'd like to see whether the Five Saints Sword Technique can overpower all enemies of the same realm."

After he said that, no one else dared step forward.

Fang Wang sighed inwardly. When will the Nanciu Fang Family ever command such prestige?

"Go on. A Personal Disciple enjoys benefits beyond anything you can imagine. This body of mine has poorer aptitude than yours. I have many opportunities I can fight for, but you are different. Your path of cultivation cannot keep relying on me forever, can it? Unless you also wish to become a demon. As for the Luobei Gu Family, they will be destroyed in twenty years at most. They cannot threaten you!" Zhou Xue's voice came through Sound Transmission Technique.

Fang Wang had long been prepared. Even without Zhou Xue urging him, he would have stepped out. But her words left him with even fewer reservations.

Having made up his mind, Fang Wang stepped forward and said, "I disagree!"

At once, every gaze fell upon him. His heart trembled, yet he still feigned composure and stared calmly at Gu Li.