Inside Kaiyang Hall, it seemed that everyone had been sent away beforehand. There were only Zhong Shan and the other three people who had just ridden the clouds.
As soon as they entered, the three stared at Zhong Shan as if they wanted to examine him thoroughly.
"I am Zhong Shan. Greetings, seniors." Zhong Shan spoke first.
"I am Tian Xingzi, the current Sect Master of Kaiyang Sect. This is my junior sister, the Peak Lord of Snow Bamboo Peak, Gu Shuangzi. This is my junior brother, the Peak Lord of Flame Mountain Peak, Xuan Xinzi. Where did you get this Jade Slip?" The old man in a Daoist robe stared at Zhong Shan as he asked.
"One evening, I was resting in my household's courtyard when an expert suddenly entered. He asked me to bring him to Kaiyang Sect, saying that the Sect Master would fulfill a simple request of mine." Zhong Shan spoke, then repeated the person's appearance, voice, tone, and every word he had said that day exactly as they had been.
After he finished, the three completely believed him. They looked at Zhong Shan, then at one another, and finally back at Zhong Shan.
"What request do you have?" Tian Xingzi asked.
Hearing Tian Xingzi's question, Zhong Shan suddenly knelt and said, "I am Zhong Shan. I wish to enter Kaiyang Sect and become your disciple. I hope the Sect Master will grant my request."
Hearing Zhong Shan's words, everyone could roughly guess what had happened based on his earlier account. When he knelt, the three unconsciously released their divine senses and carefully examined him.
"You reached the Innate Realm by taking a pill?" Tian Xingzi asked with a frown.
"Yes. Not long ago, I happened to obtain a Restriction Breaking Pill and reached the Innate Realm." Zhong Shan answered honestly.
The three exchanged glances. Xuan Xinzi and Gu Shuangzi unconsciously furrowed their brows. Clearly, they had an extremely poor opinion of Zhong Shan's aptitude.
Seeing his junior brother and sister react this way, Tian Xingzi could only shake his head and smile. "Since that is the case, enter my sect and cultivate alongside the other Innate cultivators. Once one of the second-generation disciples takes a liking to you, have them accept you as a disciple."
"Thank you, Sect Master." Zhong Shan cried out happily.
One month later.
Zhong Shan was meditating with his eyes closed.
Zhong Shan was now a member of Kaiyang Sect. The sect had three branches of disciples: Kaiyang Peak, Flame Mountain Peak, and Snow Bamboo Peak. Gu Shuangzi governed Snow Bamboo Peak, which accepted only female disciples. Xuan Xinzi governed Flame Mountain Peak, which had only male disciples. Sect Master Tian Xingzi governed Kaiyang Peak, which consisted mostly of male disciples, though he had heard that there were occasional female disciples as well.
In Kaiyang Sect, the Sect Master and Peak Lords had all reached the Nascent Soul Stage and were first-generation disciples. Those in the Golden Core Stage were second-generation disciples, while those in the Innate Stage were third-generation disciples. Kaiyang Sect emphasized strength. As long as one's cultivation broke through, a former third-generation disciple could instantly become a second-generation disciple, or even a first-generation disciple.
Zhong Shan was one of those third-generation disciples. During this month, he continuously recuperated while waiting for the members of Kaiyang Sect to return.
The Dragon Gate Meet was not held only in the place Zhong Shan had visited previously. Other Dragon Gate Meets were being held elsewhere as well, and the members of Kaiyang Sect had scattered in all directions to seek out disciples.
This month was when everyone returned.
Zixun Fairy had supposedly been a member of Kaiyang Sect, but Zhong Shan had not dared to ask.
He gently awoke from his meditation, straightened his clothes, opened the door, and slowly headed toward a distant plaza.
This was a large plaza beneath Kaiyang Peak. All the newly recruited disciples had to gather here today.
When Zhong Shan arrived, more than twenty people who had just reached the Innate Realm—or had yet to reach it—had already gathered in the plaza. A young man in purple robes was directing them.
"You, stand over here. Line up properly. The martial uncles and martial seniors will come here soon," the young man in purple robes shouted.
Zhong Shan immediately took his place. More than twenty others arrived one after another behind him.
Finally, once all the newly recruited people had arrived, Zhong Shan counted them. There were fifty-six in total. This time, Kaiyang Sect had accepted fifty-six disciples.
Once everyone was standing properly, the young man in purple robes began, "From today onward, you are members of Kaiyang Sect. The masters you acknowledged at your respective Dragon Gate Meets no longer count. Remember, you are third-generation disciples. If you want to be taken in by a second-generation or first-generation disciple, you must cultivate diligently and reach the sixth stage of the Innate Realm, forming True Essence. Only then will you have a chance of being accepted as a disciple by the seniors. Otherwise, you will remain a third-generation disciple of Kaiyang Sect for your entire life."
"Yes!" everyone shouted at once.
Seeing how cooperative the newcomers were, the young man in purple robes seemed rather pleased with himself.
"I'm also in the Innate Stage, but I've already reached the seventh stage. I'm your Ninth Senior Brother. My name is Nan Batian. Today, I'll explain a few things clearly. Kaiyang Sect has many residences, and everyone has a courtyard. From now on, cultivate on your own and break through as soon as possible. Over there—do you see that Scripture Pavilion?" Nan Batian pointed toward a small palace in the distance.
"Yes," everyone replied.
"Inside are the many cultivation methods for the Innate Stage possessed by our sect. Each person has ten days. You are not allowed to copy anything; you may only search for the cultivation method you need, memorize it, and cultivate it on your own. After ten days, you may never enter again. It opens for ten days each year, and only then will you be allowed inside once more to choose a cultivation method. Is that clear?" Nan Batian said.
"Clear!" the rookies shouted at once.
Seeing the new members like this, Nan Batian was once again quite pleased with himself.
"Xiao Nanzi, are you imitating my father and lecturing people again?" At that moment, a sudden voice interrupted Nan Batian's smugness.
Everyone followed the voice and saw a young girl in red, full of youthful vitality and as delicate as a porcelain doll. She stepped on a strip of Red Silk and slowly descended into the plaza, wearing a mischievous look as she watched Nan Batian lecture the group of little rookies.
"Junior sister..." Nan Batian's smug face instantly fell.
"Hm?" The porcelain doll widened her eyes and looked at Nan Batian.
"S-Senior sister." Nan Batian forced a bitter smile.
"Mm." The porcelain doll looked pleased.
"Ling Er!" A shout of reprimand suddenly came from above.
Everyone looked over. The Sect Master and the two Peak Lords had descended from the clouds first, followed by more than twenty people riding magical treasures. The person who had just spoken was the Sect Master of Kaiyang Sect, Tian Xingzi.
"Father, that's how it is! The rules of Kaiyang Sect say that whoever has the higher cultivation is senior. I'm already at the eighth stage of the Innate Realm. What's wrong with me being Xiao Nanzi's senior sister?" The porcelain doll immediately protested.
"All right, enough about that. Don't speak." Tian Xingzi shook his head, clearly helpless against this daughter of his.
"Mm." The porcelain doll immediately stood behind Tian Xingzi.
Tian Ling'er? Everyone glanced at the porcelain doll. So this was the Sect Master's daughter.
After carefully looking over the fifty-six newly recruited disciples, Tian Xingzi said, "Nan Batian has already told you what you need to know. In a moment, go to the Scripture Pavilion and choose a cultivation method. After that, cultivate on your own. One year from now, we will gather again and examine your cultivation."
"Yes," everyone replied at once.
"Mm." Tian Xingzi nodded.
Then Tian Xingzi, Xuan Xinzi, and Gu Shuangzi seemed to give some instructions to the people behind them.
The second-generation disciples behind them all nodded. Then they looked toward Zhong Shan in the distance. Clearly, the matter of the Jade Slip from that day had been mentioned.
The porcelain doll Tian Ling'er and Nan Batian also cast curious looks toward Zhong Shan.
Then the Sect Master and the two Peak Lords stepped onto the white clouds beneath their feet and flew away. Based on the direction Zhong Shan remembered, they should have left Kaiyang Sect.
They had gone out?
Extreme curiosity flashed through Tian Ling'er's eyes. However, because Tian Xingzi had refused to take her along, she also seemed furious. Even so, she curiously glanced at Zhong Shan.
"All right, enter the Scripture Pavilion and choose a cultivation method," a second-generation Golden Core disciple said.
"Yes," everyone replied at once.
However, everyone still ran over to the second-generation disciples and paid their respects. Those second-generation disciples had chosen them in the first place because they intended to accept them as disciples. Seeing their chosen candidates arrive, they were delighted as well. They gave each of them some instructions before letting them head to the Scripture Pavilion.
Clearly, they were teaching these people how to choose cultivation methods. After all, if these people cultivated True Essence, they would certainly acknowledge them as masters in the future. Naturally, they would take a little extra care of them.
After giving instructions to these future disciples, the Golden Core powerhouses flew away one after another.
Watching everyone happily go off to search for cultivation methods, Zhong Shan could only laugh at himself. Clearly, no one would come help him choose one.
He slowly walked toward the Scripture Pavilion.
"You're Zhong Shan?" Tian Ling'er suddenly stopped Zhong Shan, looking curious.
Looking at the beautiful porcelain doll before him, Zhong Shan nodded without saying much.
"I'm asking you, what was in the Jade Slip you gave my father? Why did it make my father and the two martial uncles discuss for an entire month before deciding to go out?" Tian Ling'er suddenly asked.
"Hm?" Zhong Shan looked at Tian Ling'er strangely.
"I don't know either. A senior gave it to me and only asked me to bring it here." Zhong Shan answered honestly.
"If you tell me, I'll tell you a secret about this Scripture Pavilion." Tian Ling'er suddenly spoke mysteriously.
"A secret?" Zhong Shan looked at Tian Ling'er strangely.
"That's right. Gu Shuangzi told me. It can help you find the best one among those thousand secret manuals." Tian Ling'er immediately lowered her voice.
"Oh? Really?" Zhong Shan asked in surprise.
"Of course. I was the one who told Xiao Nanzi, and that's why he cultivated so quickly. Isn't that right, Xiao Nanzi?" Tian Ling'er looked toward the last person remaining in the plaza.
"That's right, Senior Sister." Nan Batian looked somewhat embarrassed.
Hearing the two of them, Zhong Shan furrowed his brows. He had deep experience with cultivation methods. A good cultivation method could save a cultivator from taking many wrong turns. Since Zhong Shan's own Root Bone was not particularly good, he craved a good cultivation method all the more.
But Zhong Shan truly knew nothing. How could he answer them? Yet he did not want to let this opportunity pass for nothing, leaving him in a difficult position.
Looking at the two curious people before him, Zhong Shan was certain that the Sect Master and the two Peak Lords had not revealed the slightest bit of information to them. In that case, for the sake of a cultivation method, he would simply make something up. Obtaining a cultivation method came first; at worst, he could make it up to them later.
"You absolutely must not say that I told you this." Zhong Shan looked around and pretended to be nervous.
Seeing Zhong Shan acting so mysterious, Tian Ling'er's eyes lit up, as if something extraordinarily exciting was about to follow. Nan Batian, who was standing nearby, pretended not to care, but the sidelong glance he cast had already betrayed him.
"A magical treasure. An incomparably powerful magical treasure." Zhong Shan whispered as he looked at the two of them.
"Oh?" Hearing that it was a magical treasure, Tian Ling'er's eyes shone even brighter.
"The magical treasure is called the Somersault Cloud. I heard that when combined with the corresponding method of operation, a single somersault can carry someone one hundred and eight thousand li." Zhong Shan summoned the spirit he had used to bluff people in business back then. His tone was full of solemnity, as if he were deeply afraid that they would tell anyone.
Tian Ling'er's mouth formed an O, her face filled with astonishment. She seemed equally delighted.
Nan Batian, however, wore an incredulous expression. The Somersault Cloud? One somersault could cover one hundred and eight thousand li?
"Mm. I don't know anything else. After all, I've never seen what's inside. I only heard about it. Also, don't say that I told you." Zhong Shan spoke solemnly once more.
"Mm, mm." Tian Ling'er immediately nodded.
Nan Batian looked at Zhong Shan suspiciously.
"Um, how do we choose a good cultivation method?" Zhong Shan asked Tian Ling'er.
"The best cultivation method? Oh, right. Go inside and look. Any book with a white fingerprint on its back is one of the best cultivation methods." Tian Ling'er answered loyally at once.
"Mm, thank you." Zhong Shan spoke. Then he bid farewell to the two of them and quickly entered the palace.
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