Golden Light Sacred Sect? Demonic Sect!

The Golden Light Sect stood tall with numerous magnificent peaks.

Outside the mountain gate, on the winding long steps of the outer peak, countless refugees slowly ascended the bluestone steps like ants.

Su Hao followed the crowd, his expression numb, completely uninterested in the Golden Light Sect's picturesque scenery. No matter how beautiful the landscape, he'd rather be holed up in his cramped rental from his previous life.

"Hahaha, this is a holy land of immortal cultivation, what an immortal aura! Old Su, we've hit the jackpot this time. Immortals can move mountains and fill seas, and destroy nations with a single finger. Let alone joining an immortal sect, even becoming a servant here would make royalty envious! It truly is true that great fortune follows great disaster!"

Beside Su Hao, his sworn brother Zhang Yunfei was as excited as if he'd been injected with chicken blood. He had already emphasized the so-called "immortal destiny" more than once.

The Qin Kingdom was in internal turmoil, leaving countless people displaced. Less than a tenth of the over 100,000 refugees successfully reached the Golden Light Sect. Su Hao's original body and Zhang Yunfei had been sworn brothers for over ten years, and it was thanks to Zhang Yunfei's care that he survived this escape.

Su Hao's eyes showed a hint of longing as he looked at the Golden Light Sect disciples in the air, their flying ship-like magical artifacts. Becoming one of them would indeed be a great opportunity. His gloomy mood instantly improved, although... these Golden Light Sect disciples, all in black robes, looked sinister and strange, none of them seeming like good people.

Some nearby refugees, upon hearing Zhang Yunfei's words, were filled with excitement and lost themselves in fantasies of becoming disciples of the immortal sect.

"Old Su, I'll look out for you from now on," Zhang Yunfei lowered his voice, full of confidence. "I'll definitely become a formal disciple, not a servant!"

Su Hao stared at Zhang Yunfei strangely, watching a phantom panel gradually appear.

[Name]: Zhang Yunfei
[Realm]: None
[Talent]: Fire Elemental Sword Physique (Blue): Intermediate Sword Dao Talent, possesses good comprehension and cultivation efficiency for Fire Element Cultivation Methods.

"Mmm, I believe you. With your skills and foundation, Brother Zhang, you definitely have a much better chance than us ordinary folk." Su Hao nodded hesitantly.

As long as he concentrated, he could see the panel of others, including his own. This ability to see the basic information of others had suddenly awakened ten days ago.

[Name]: Su Hao
[Realm]: None
[Talent]: None

Zhang Yunfei was the only refugee Su Hao had come into close contact with who possessed talent, and it was even a blue-tier talent! Many of those Golden Light Sect disciples only had white-tier talent! Zhang Yunfei was sure to join the Golden Light Sect steadily! Su Hao, on the other hand, worried about his own future, deciding that sticking close to Zhang Yunfei was the best strategy.

Zhang Yunfei beamed, "No, no, no, skills and physique aren't important at all. To cultivate immortality, talent and physique are the key! I once encountered an Old Immortal who tested my aptitude and said I have the Fire Elemental Sword Physique, making me a talent for sword cultivation! After he finished his business, he was going to take me to his sect and make me his personal disciple. I didn't expect to wait for him, but instead, I got the war. Since I'm here, I'll make the best of it. The Golden Light Sect is surely not bad! Once they discover my talent, they'll naturally cherish me like a treasure!"

Zhang Yunfei became more and more excited as he spoke, already envisioning himself achieving fame and astonishing all the cultivators. He then patted Su Hao's shoulder, "I'll look out for you from now on!"

"Thank you, Brother Zhang," Su Hao forced a smile.

Tens of thousands of refugees gathered in the mountain waist plaza, noisy and chaotic. The Golden Light Sect disciples were cold and somber until an old man in red robes appeared. The old man held an object resembling a Kongming Lantern, and as he appeared, many disciples bowed in reverence. The plaza instantly fell silent, and an inexplicable fear filled everyone's hearts, causing them to lower their heads involuntarily. Su Hao was no exception, instinctively avoiding the old man's gaze as he scanned the crowd, lowering his head.

Only Zhang Yunfei's eyes were bright, and his posture was proud.

"Oh?" The old man in red robes looked at Zhang Yunfei, lost in thought, before a sinister smile curved his lips after a moment. He flicked his finger, and a drop of essence blood shot out and landed on the object. "Blood Lantern Soul Illumination, spiritual light will reveal itself... Life Controlling Lantern, rise!"

The essence blood dissolved like ink, dyeing the Kongming Lantern red. It emitted a blood-red light and slowly rose, eerily floating above the plaza. The blood-red light gradually covered the crowd.

Everyone illuminated by it felt a chill run through their bodies, filled with unease.

Out of the more than ten thousand people, only four showed unusual phenomena, glowing with strange light.

Zhang Yunfei, in particular, was engulfed in flames, like a blazing inferno, the fire subtly taking on the shape of a sword.

"Tsk tsk, no wonder he's so arrogant. So it's the Fire Elemental Sword Physique!"

"Not bad, really not bad! Excellent!"

"..."

The light faded, and the artifact returned to the elder's hand.

He floated before Zhang Yunfei, holding the lamp, his gaze intense, making Zhang Yunfei's scalp tingle. He fumbled around, "A pillar of talent, a pillar of talent! A once-in-a-decade encounter!"

The hundreds of black-robed disciples rejoiced. Some of them surrounded him, acting wildly.

Zhang Yunfei's confidence began to erode in this bizarre atmosphere, replaced by growing fear and unease. He stammered, bowing, "I... I... Esteemed Immortal Master, this humble one is willing to join the Golden Light Sect, to become a part of the sect, to serve you day and night, to die ten thousand deaths without regret!"

"Hahahaha, good, good!

An opportunity to serve presents itself right now!

Shine and contribute to my Golden Light Sacred Sect, become a pillar, a foundation of our Sacred Sect's Myriad Souls Pagoda, and exist eternally with my Sacred Sect, enjoying glory for all time!"

The old man in red robes placed his hand on Zhang Yunfei's shoulder, his smile brilliant, but his voice grew increasingly chilling.

Just as Zhang Yunfei was about to bow humbly in response, his expression suddenly changed, and he let out a piercing scream, his entire face contorted in agony.

The old man's hand seemed to possess a terrifying suction. In an instant, Zhang Yunfei's body was locked in place, his flesh shrinking, veins bulging, eyeballs protruding and bursting, blood flowing from all seven orifices.

"Ah!"

The scream echoed throughout the entire square.

From the semi-transparent mist scattering from Zhang Yunfei, his pained, twisted face appeared, being absorbed along with his blood by the artifact.

Within moments, Zhang Yunfei transformed from a living person into a stiff, withered corpse, his body shriveled, while the artifact gleamed brightly.

With a casual remark, the old man had killed Zhang Yunfei.

Witnessing the horrific event up close, Su Hao was completely stunned. He slumped to the ground, staring at the desiccated corpse of his sworn brother, who had been alive and well just moments before.

Zhang Yunfei, whose talent was clearly superior to those other disciples, had died just like that?

"I will personally escort him to the Myriad Souls Pagoda... Junior Brother Lin, I leave the remaining matters to you. Take good care of those three with some cultivation aptitude for now; we'll discuss them later."

Su Hao watched in horror as the old man in red robes carried Zhang Yunfei's body away.

Where Zhang Yunfei had stood, a faint wisp of flame appeared. Seemingly unnoticed by anyone, it suddenly entered Su Hao's body.

"Detected talent 'Fire Elemental Sword Physique', do you wish to absorb?"

A cold, emotionless voice in his mind startled Su Hao, drawing his attention to the talent left behind by Zhang Yunfei.

Should I absorb it?

Zhang Yunfei had just died tragically before his eyes.

The thought of suffering the same fate as Zhang Yunfei made Su Hao too afraid to absorb it.

"Ten seconds have passed. Talent 'Fire Elemental Sword Physique' has been automatically absorbed."

[Name]: Su Hao
[Realm]: None
[Talent]: Fire Elemental Sword Physique (Blue): Intermediate Sword Dao Talent. Possesses good comprehension and cultivation efficiency for fire-element sword techniques and cultivation methods.

"It's over..."

Su Hao's face turned ashen, his body trembling uncontrollably. His legs felt weak, and he almost fell.

Zhang Yunfei had died so miserably precisely because of the Fire Elemental Sword Physique!

Su Hao's distress went unnoticed by anyone.

Fear was spreading across the square, and frantic screams could be heard everywhere.

Some people wanted to escape. This was hardly a cultivation sect; they treated people like livestock, killing them on a whim. Staying here would surely mean death!

Those who attempted to flee were killed, without exception.

"The three with cultivation aptitude will be provisionally accepted as disciple candidates and well looked after.

The rest, those with abundant vital energy and yang energy, will be sent to Joy Peak.

Those with abundant stamina and blood essence will be sent to the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall.

Those who fail to meet the requirements for both vital energy and stamina will be sent to Death Peak!"

The supervising middle-aged man made the assignments expressionlessly.

A black paper crane emitting black mist landed about ten feet away.

A Daoist with graying temples descended from the paper crane artifact and bowed politely to the supervisor. "Junior Brother Zhang, I require 30 people to serve as Medicine Slaves."

"Oh? Of course, Senior Brother Lin, shall I pick for you?" the steward stepped forward with a fawning smile, eager to please.

"No need, just pick 30 people from over there."

The Daoist pointed to the left side, and Su Hao was among the group indicated.

"Medicine Slave… that should be a servant who helps manage the medicinal fields and cultivate herbs, right?"

Su Hao, completely bewildered, became one of the 30 people.

Compared to going to some Death Peak, being a Medicine Slave seemed pretty good. If he could choose, the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall would be fine too, or maybe Joy Peak?

As for Zhang Yunfei's revenge… he truly felt powerless to help!

"Brother Zhang, if I can survive, I will definitely avenge you when I have the ability someday! For now, let's forget about it…"