Somersault Cloud

Inside Kaiyang Hall, it seemed as though everyone had been sent away beforehand. Within the main hall, only Zhong Shan remained, along with the three others who had just arrived by cloud.

Upon entering, the three of them stared at Zhong Shan, as if wanting to examine him closely.

"I am Zhong Shan. Greetings to the three seniors," Zhong Shan spoke first.

"This humble Daoist is Tian Xingzi, the current Sect Master of the Kaiyang Sect. This is my junior sister, Gu Shuangzi, the Peak Master of Snow Bamboo Peak. And this is my junior brother, Xuan Xinzi, the Peak Master of Flame Mountain Peak. Where did you obtain this jade slip?" the robed elder asked, staring at Zhong Shan.

"One evening, I was resting in my courtyard at home when a senior suddenly entered. He asked me to bring it to the Kaiyang Sect, saying that the Sect Master would fulfill a simple request for me," Zhong Shan said, and he repeated every word the person had said that day, including their appearance, voice, and tone, exactly as they were.

After he finished speaking, the three of them completely believed him. They looked at Zhong Shan, then exchanged glances, and finally, looked back at Zhong Shan.

"What is your request?" Tian Xingzi asked.

Hearing Tian Xingzi's question, Zhong Shan suddenly knelt down and said, "I, Zhong Shan, wish to join the Kaiyang Sect. I hope the Sect Master will grant my request."

Hearing Zhong Shan's words, and based on his recounting of the events that day, the three of them could roughly guess. Seeing him kneel, they all unconsciously released their divine sense and carefully examined Zhong Shan.

"You reached the Innate Realm by taking a pill?" Tian Xingzi asked with a frown.

"Yes, not long ago, I unexpectedly obtained a 'Restriction Breaking Pill' and reached the Innate Realm," Zhong Shan answered truthfully.

The three of them exchanged glances. Xuan Xinzi and Gu Shuangzi both unconsciously furrowed their brows. Clearly, they did not have a good opinion of Zhong Shan's aptitude.

Seeing his junior brother and sister like this, Tian Xingzi could only shake his head and smile, "Since that is the case, you may join my sect and cultivate with the other Innate Realm disciples. When one of the second-generation disciples takes a liking to you, they can then accept you as their disciple."

"Thank you, Sect Master," Zhong Shan exclaimed happily.

One month later.

Zhong Shan was in the midst of closed-door cultivation and recuperation.

Now, Zhong Shan was a member of the Kaiyang Sect. The Kaiyang Sect had three lineages of disciples: Kaiyang Peak, Flame Mountain Peak, and Snow Bamboo Peak. Gu Shuangzi was in charge of Snow Bamboo Peak, which only accepted female disciples. Xuan Xinzi was in charge of Flame Mountain Peak, which only had male disciples. And the Sect Master, Tian Xingzi, was in charge of Kaiyang Peak, which mostly had male disciples, although it was said there were occasional female disciples.

In the Kaiyang Sect, the Sect Master and Peak Masters had all reached the Nascent Soul Stage and were considered first-generation disciples. Those in the Golden Core Stage were second-generation disciples, and those in the Innate Stage were third-generation disciples. In the Kaiyang Sect, strength was valued. As long as your 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 these third-generation disciples. This past month, Zhong Shan had been continuously recuperating and also waiting for the return of the Kaiyang Sect members.

The Dragon Gate Meet was not only held in the place Zhong Shan had been to last time; there were other Dragon Gate Meets held in other locations as well. The Kaiyang Sect members had dispersed in all directions to search for disciples.

This month was the time for everyone to return.

Zixun Fairy, Zhong Shan had heard, was a member of the Kaiyang Sect, but he had not dared to ask.

Gently waking up from his recuperation, Zhong Shan tidied his clothes, opened the door, and slowly walked towards a distant plaza.

This was a large plaza at the foot of Kaiyang Peak. All the newly recruited disciples were to gather here today.

When Zhong Shan arrived, the plaza had already gathered over twenty people who had just reached the Innate Realm or had not yet reached it. A purple-robed young man was directing these people.

"You, stand over here. Line up properly. The Martial Uncles and Martial Aunts will be here soon," the purple-robed young man called out.

Zhong Shan immediately stood in line. Following him, over twenty more people arrived one after another.

Finally, when all the new recruits had arrived, Zhong Shan counted them. There were a total of fifty-six people. This time, the Kaiyang Sect had recruited a total of fifty-six disciples.

After everyone was lined up, the purple-robed young man spoke, "From today onwards, you are members of my Kaiyang Sect. The master-disciple relationships you formed at your respective Dragon Gate Meets do not count now. Remember, you are third-generation disciples. If you want to be noticed by a second-generation or first-generation disciple, you must cultivate diligently and reach the sixth level of the Innate Realm to form True Essence. Only then will you have a chance to be accepted as a disciple by the seniors. Otherwise, you will be a third-generation disciple of the Kaiyang Sect for life."

"Yes!" everyone immediately shouted.

Seeing the new disciples so cooperative, the purple-robed youth also felt a surge of pride.

"I am also in the Innate Stage, but I am already at the seventh level of Innate. I am your ninth senior brother, my name is Nan Batian. Today, I will explain some things clearly to you. Our Kaiyang Sect has many residences, each of you will have a courtyard. From now on, cultivate on your own and break through as soon as possible. Over here, do you see that Scripture Pavilion?" Nan Batian pointed to a small palace in the distance.

"Yes," everyone replied.

"Inside are many cultivation techniques for the Innate Stage of our sect. Each of you has ten days. You are not allowed to copy, only to find the techniques you need inside, memorize them, and then cultivate on your own. After ten days, you will not be allowed to step inside again. It will open for ten days every year, and only then will you be allowed to enter again to choose techniques. Is that clear?" Nan Batian said.

"Clear!" the rookies immediately shouted.

Seeing these new members like this, Nan Batian also felt a surge of pride.

"Little Nanzi, learning from my dad how to lecture people again!" At this moment, an abrupt voice suddenly interrupted Nan Batian's pride.

Everyone looked in the direction of the voice, only to see a young girl dressed in red, full of youthful vitality, like a porcelain doll, stepping on a red ribbon, slowly descending onto the square. Her face held a mischievous look as she watched Nan Batian lecturing this group of little rookies.

"Junior sister..." Nan Batian's face, which had been proud just a moment ago, instantly turned bitter.

"Huh?" The porcelain doll's eyes widened as she looked at Nan Batian.

"Senior... senior sister," Nan Batian said with a wry smile.

"Mm," the porcelain doll said proudly.

"Ling'er!" A voice of reprimand suddenly came from above.

Everyone looked up and saw the Sect Master and the two Peak Masters descending from the clouds first, followed by about twenty people riding on magical artifacts. The person who had just spoken was the Kaiyang Sect Master, Tian Xingzi.

"Dad, that's how it is! According to the Kaiyang Sect rules, whoever has higher cultivation is older. I'm already at the eighth level of Innate, so what's wrong with being Little Nanzi's senior sister?" the porcelain doll immediately said, dissatisfied.

"Alright, let's not talk about this. You don't need to say anything," Tian Xingzi shook his head, clearly unable to do anything about his daughter.

"Mm," the porcelain doll immediately stood behind Tian Xingzi.

Tian Ling'er? Everyone looked at this porcelain doll. So, this was the Sect Master's daughter.

After carefully examining the fifty-six newly recruited disciples, Tian Xingzi said, "Before, Nan Batian already told you. Later, go to the Scripture Pavilion to choose cultivation techniques. Then, you will cultivate on your own. After one year, we will gather again to assess your cultivation."

"Yes," everyone immediately responded.

"Mm," Tian Xingzi nodded.

Following that, Tian Xingzi, Xuan Xinzi, and Gu Shuangzi seemed to give instructions to the people behind them.

The second-generation disciples behind them all nodded in agreement, and then they all looked at Zhong Shan not far away. Clearly, they were mentioning the matter of the jade slip from that day.

The porcelain doll Tian Ling'er, and that Nan Batian, also cast curious glances in Zhong Shan's direction.

Then, the Sect Master and the two Peak Masters stepped on the white clouds beneath their feet and flew away. According to the direction Zhong Shan remembered, they should have left the Kaiyang Sect.

They went out?

An extreme curiosity flashed in the porcelain doll Tian Ling'er's eyes, but because Tian Xingzi was unwilling to take her with him, it also made her seem very angry. However, she looked at Zhong Shan with curiosity.

"Alright, enter the Scripture Pavilion to choose your cultivation techniques," a second-generation Golden Core Stage disciple said.

"Yes," everyone immediately responded.

However, everyone still went to the second-generation disciples, bowed to them, and the second-generation disciples, who had taken a liking to them earlier with the intention of taking them as disciples, were also delighted to see the people they had chosen arrive. After giving them individual instructions, they allowed them to proceed to the Scripture Pavilion.

Clearly, this was to guide these individuals on how to choose cultivation techniques. After all, if these people cultivated true essence, they would definitely become their disciples in the future, so it was natural to take extra care of them.

After notifying these future disciples, these Golden Core Stage powerhouses flew away one after another.

Watching everyone happily go to find cultivation techniques, Zhong Shan could only laugh at himself self-deprecatingly. Obviously, no one would help him choose a cultivation technique.

He slowly walked towards the Scripture Pavilion.

"Are you Zhong Shan?" Tian Ling'er suddenly stopped Zhong Shan out of curiosity.

Looking at the beautiful porcelain doll in front of him, Zhong Shan nodded. He didn't say much.

"Let me ask you, what was in the jade slip you gave to my father? It made my father and two uncles discuss for a month before deciding to go out?" Tian Ling'er suddenly asked.

"Uh?" Zhong Shan looked at Tian Ling'er strangely.

"I don't know either. An elder gave it to me and just asked me to bring it over," Zhong Shan said truthfully.

"If you tell me, I'll tell you a secret about this Scripture Pavilion," Tian Ling'er suddenly said mysteriously.

"Secret?" Zhong Shan looked at Tian Ling'er strangely.

"That's right. Aunt Gu Shuangzi told me. It can help you find the best one among those thousands of secret manuals," Tian Ling'er immediately whispered.

"Oh? Really?" Zhong Shan was surprised.

"Of course. I told Little Nanzi about it, and that's why he cultivates so fast, isn't it, Little Nanzi?" Tian Ling'er said, looking at the last person remaining on the square.

"Yes, Senior Sister," Nan Batian said somewhat awkwardly.

Hearing what the two said, Zhong Shan frowned. Cultivation techniques. Zhong Shan had a deep understanding of cultivation techniques. A good cultivation technique could save a lot of detours in cultivation. Coupled with the fact that Zhong Shan's own root bone wasn't very good, he was even more eager for good cultivation techniques.

However, Zhong Shan really didn't know anything. How was he supposed to say anything? But he didn't want to miss this opportunity for nothing, so this put Zhong Shan in a difficult position.

Looking at the two curious people in front of him, Zhong Shan was sure that the Sect Master and the two Peak Masters had not revealed any information to them. So, for the sake of the cultivation technique, he would just make something up. Obtaining the cultivation technique was the priority. At worst, he would compensate them later.

"You absolutely must not say that I told you this," Zhong Shan looked around, pretending to be nervous.

Seeing Zhong Shan being mysterious, Tian Ling'er's eyes lit up, as if something incredibly exciting was about to happen. Although Nan Batian on the side pretended to be indifferent, his sideways glance had already betrayed him.

"A magic treasure, an incredibly powerful magic treasure," Zhong Shan said to the two in a low voice.

"Oh?" Hearing it was a magic treasure, Tian Ling'er's eyes became even brighter.

"The magic treasure is called 'Somersault Cloud'. I heard that with the corresponding operation method, one somersault can cover a hundred and eight thousand miles," Zhong Shan said, using the deceptive spirit he had when doing business, his tone filled with seriousness, as if he was afraid they would reveal it.

Tian Ling'er's mouth opened into an O shape, her face full of surprise. It was also filled with joy.

And Nan Batian, however, showed an expression of disbelief. Somersault Cloud? One somersault a hundred and eight thousand miles?

"Well, I don't know anything else. After all, I haven't seen the contents inside, I just heard about it. Also, don't say that I told you," Zhong Shan said seriously again.

"Mhm, mhm," Tian Ling'er immediately nodded.

Nan Batian, however, looked at Zhong Shan with a questioning gaze.

"Um, how do I choose a good cultivation technique?" Zhong Shan asked Tian Ling'er.

"The best cultivation technique? Right, when you go in and look, any book with a white finger print on the back is the best cultivation technique," Tian Ling'er immediately replied righteously.

"Okay, thank you," Zhong Shan said. Then, he said goodbye to the two and quickly walked into the palace.

Leaving the two behind, recalling the abnormal Somersault Cloud.

PS: During the ranking period, I need to explode three more times to get on the list. I beg for recommendation votes.