In Spirit Rhino City, Ji Bei had selected more than a dozen martial artists besides Lin Bai and Li Jianxing, taken them in as disciples, and brought them back to the Spirit Sword Sect.
More than a dozen swift horses arrived at Fallen Spirit Mountain.
Lin Bai looked up and saw a vast, unbroken mountain range in the distance, radiating captivating colors as the spiritual energy of heaven and earth lingered among the mountains.
Grand buildings and pavilions towered along the mountain cliffs, while spirit birds and flying beasts circled the rosy clouds and architecture, chirping merrily.
In the surging waters rushing downward, fish swam joyfully.
"It really is a blessed land."
Lin Bai only glanced at the place from afar, yet he fell deeply in love with it.
A sacred land of martial arts—the Spirit Sword Sect.
Ji Bei brought the group of new disciples to the Spirit Sword Sect's outer sect.
Ji Bei explained, "Although you have already reached the Martial Dao Ninth Level, you can still only be considered outer sect disciples!"
"I'll take you to settle down in the outer sect first and complete the procedures for joining the sect."
"Remember, seven days from now, the sect will put you through a trial. If you fail to complete it, you will be kicked out of the Spirit Sword Sect immediately."
"If you want to stay, you must first pass the trial."
"Only after passing the trial can you officially become disciples of the Spirit Sword Sect."
Ji Bei said this to the dozen or so martial artists behind him, including Lin Bai.
"Thank you for your guidance, Elder." The dozen or so martial artists shouted in unison.
Then Ji Bei took Lin Bai and the others to complete the procedures for joining the sect and distributed residences to them.
The residence token Lin Bai received was "Yellow Character Number Five."
"Take your residence tokens. You can go on your own now. Remember, the trial seven days from now will determine whether you can remain in the Spirit Sword Sect. I hope you'll work hard."
Ji Bei said this.
"Yes."
The group of disciples answered, thanked him, and left.
"Lin Bai, stay behind."
Lin Bai had just wanted to leave when Ji Bei called out to him.
"Elder, what do you need?" Lin Bai asked curiously.
"Lin Bai, although your martial soul is low-grade, this world is filled with miracles. Don't give up on the Martial Dao. Cultivate diligently, and you will surely accomplish something."
"Since the Spirit Sword Sect has accepted you, you can remain here as long as you pass the trial."
"The Spirit Sword Sect is a major sect. All cultivation resources must be fought for by yourself."
"I hope you'll work hard."
Ji Bei gave Lin Bai some special encouragement.
Because Ji Bei was truly very curious about Lin Bai.
How had Lin Bai, whose martial soul was only a Yellow Rank One martial soul, defeated Lin Zier, a genius disciple?
Since Lin Bai could defeat Lin Zier now, could he do the same a year from now?
Should he place a bet?
Ji Bei had taken a gamble, braving the pressure of being severely punished by the Azure Cloud Terrace Palace and forcefully bringing Lin Bai into the Spirit Sword Sect.
The other two sects, Blazing Fire Palace and Edgeless Sect, had seen Lin Bai injure King Zhao's disciple and avoided him like the plague.
Only Ji Bei had taken the gamble.
Because Ji Bei knew that if he bet correctly, the Spirit Sword Sect would once again trample the Azure Cloud Terrace Palace beneath its feet!
"Thank you for your guidance, Elder. This disciple will definitely cultivate diligently!"
Lin Bai smiled and said, "By the way, Elder, I'd like to ask you about something."
"What is it? Go ahead." Ji Bei was very approachable.
"Elder, do you know where Senior Ling Tianzi is?" Lin Bai asked curiously.
"Ling Tianzi? What are you looking for him for?" Ji Bei frowned as soon as he heard the name.
"I want to take him as my master." Lin Bai grinned.
Ji Bei took a deep breath and said, "Ling Tianzi has a strange temperament and dislikes dealing with people. Since you want to take him as your master, I'll give you a chance to meet him."
"Seven days from now, after the trial ends, there will be a grand gathering where elders accept disciples."
"By then, the disciples who perform exceptionally well in the trial will be sent before the elders and personally trained by them."
"If you perform well enough in the trial seven days from now, I'll go invite Ling Tianzi and let you meet him."
"As for whether he'll accept you as his disciple, that will depend on your fate."
Ji Bei said with a hearty laugh.
"Thank you, Elder." Lin Bai clasped his fists gratefully.
"Oh, right. Let me remind you of something. There may already be people living in your residences, but the Spirit Sword Sect's traditions aren't very friendly to new disciples. You must be careful."
Ji Bei gave Lin Bai another special warning.
After bidding farewell to Ji Bei, Lin Bai took the Yellow Character Number Five token and went to find his residence.
He arrived at an area filled with disciple courtyards.
"What are you doing!"
Lin Bai was just about to look for his residence.
Suddenly, he saw a disheveled man in front of one of the residences. His mouth was covered in blood, and someone had thrown him out of the courtyard.
Lin Bai recognized the battered man. It was Li Jianxing, who had come to the Spirit Sword Sect with him.
Li Jianxing's residence was Yellow Character Number Fifteen.
"What are we doing? Teaching you the rules."
"Beat him up!"
Three young men walked out of the courtyard of Yellow Character Number Fifteen, looking down at Li Jianxing on the ground with smug, mocking smiles.
All three young men were at the Martial Dao Ninth Level.
Although Li Jianxing was also at the Martial Dao Ninth Level, two fists could hardly withstand four hands. Surrounded by three attackers, he could barely defend himself.
Li Jianxing was beaten to the ground as the three men kicked and punched him.
"So this is the unfriendliness Elder Ji Bei was talking about?"
Lin Bai smiled faintly.
"Stop!"
A furious roar burst from Lin Bai's mouth.
The three men stopped and looked at Lin Bai smugly. "Another new disciple? Well then, brothers, let's trouble ourselves by teaching him what the rules are!"
The three men burst into laughter when they saw Lin Bai's travel-worn appearance.
They could tell at a glance that Lin Bai had only just joined the sect.
"Fine, then we'll put in a little more effort!"
The three men laughed and charged toward Lin Bai.
All three were at the Martial Dao Ninth Level. When they charged together, their immense strength fused into a torrent that came crashing forward like a mountain-shattering force.
"Blazing Sun Fist!"
"Mountain Splitting Claw!"
"Flying Hair Kick!"
The three men unleashed their martial techniques and attacked Lin Bai from all sides.
Clang!
Seeing the three men attack, Lin Bai's gaze instantly turned cold. The Spirit Severing Sword left its sheath, and he thrust it out in a single stroke, stirring the winds and clouds and piercing through the three men's attacks!
Spurt! Spurt! Spurt!
With three successive sounds, Lin Bai defeated all three men, sending them crashing heavily ten meters away.
"How can your swordsmanship be so powerful!"
"We actually lost despite joining forces!"
The three men lay on the ground, staring at Lin Bai in astonishment.
"Now, I'll teach you the rules!" Lin Bai rushed forward and kicked each of them, sending the three men flying again.
"If you dare cause trouble for Li Jianxing again, I'll make you regret it!"
"Get lost!"
Lin Bai roared.
"Brat, we'll remember today's grudge. In the trial seven days from now, we'll repay you a hundredfold!" The three men glared at Lin Bai resentfully in unison before crawling back into the courtyard.
Lin Bai went over and helped Li Jianxing up. "Are you all right?"
Li Jianxing wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, glanced angrily at the courtyard, and shook his head. "I'm fine. Thank you, Lin Bai."
"Don't mention it." Lin Bai smiled.
Li Jianxing felt somewhat dejected. He had been pampered at home, yet on his very first day at the Spirit Sword Sect, he had been beaten up—and had been utterly powerless to fight back.
"Do you understand the rules they were teaching you?" Lin Bai asked with a smile.
"What rules? That was merely an excuse they came up with. What they really wanted was to bully the newcomers." Li Jianxing said bitterly.
"Just wait. In the trial seven days from now, I'll make them regret it!"
"You're wrong. They really were teaching you the rules." Lin Bai smiled faintly.
Li Jianxing froze. "What rules?"
"In the martial world, the strong were respected." Lin Bai smiled.
Thump!
The sudden eight words from Lin Bai startled Li Jianxing.
"Do you think the Spirit Sword Sect doesn't know that new disciples are bullied by old disciples after entering the courtyards? They definitely know. But why don't they stop it?"
"Because this is the first lesson upon stepping onto the Martial Dao: the weak get beaten, while the strong naturally become kings!"
Lin Bai patted Li Jianxing on the shoulder and walked toward his own courtyard under Li Jianxing's bewildered gaze.