"Starting today, you are all outer sect disciples of the Mystic Blade Sect!"
Immortal Martial Continent, Great Cloud Dynasty.
At the Mystic Blade Sect's Outer Sect Plaza.
An elder with a full head of white hair cried out loudly.
"Su Yun, here are your outer sect disciple robes, a copy of the Breathing Technique, and a Disciple Token!"
"Remember, don't lose your Disciple Token!"
After the elder left, some of the older outer sect disciples began distributing items according to procedure.
The robes and token represented their status.
The Breathing Technique was a basic cultivation manual.
"Very well. Thank you for the reminder, Senior Brother."
Taking the items, Su Yun smiled and nodded.
Just moments ago, he had passed the Mystic Blade Sect's entrance test and successfully joined the sect.
In truth, he had been a little nervous before the test!
After all, he had been transported to this world eighteen years ago.
As everyone knew, transmigrators who took this kind of sect entrance test usually ended up as laughingstocks.
"I thought my aptitude would be low!"
Thinking back to the test results, Su Yun chuckled to himself.
The Mystic Blade Sect divided cultivation aptitude into four grades: low, intermediate, high, and top-tier!
The elder hadn't mentioned any aptitude higher than that.
Su Yun's aptitude was intermediate.
What's more, the test pillar had shown that his intermediate aptitude was close to high.
Not bad.
But intermediate aptitude was nothing to scoff at!
Su Yun remembered that among the more than two hundred people who had taken the test, only thirteen had intermediate aptitude and successfully joined the outer sect.
Only twenty-four had low aptitude, and they could become no more than nominal disciples.
Most of the other candidates had no cultivation aptitude at all and left dejectedly.
As for high aptitude?
There hadn't been a single one among the more than two hundred!
In other words, among those tested, his aptitude already ranked near the top.
But soon, as if he had thought of something, his face darkened.
Before transmigrating, he had naturally read plenty of novels and knew all the usual tropes.
Didn't these test results mean that...
He wasn't the protagonist, but just some passerby?
"Forget it. Since I'm here, I'll make the best of it."
"First, I should go see the outer sect dormitory."
He shook his head.
Su Yun pushed those thoughts to the back of his mind.
Then, he and the other outer sect disciples followed Senior Brother Song to the outer sect residential area.
"Make sure you have all your things. Follow me closely, don't look around, and don't wander off!"
Senior Brother Song, leading the group, strode forward steadily as he reminded them.
"Senior Brother Song, now that we've joined the sect, when can we start practicing martial techniques?"
Seeing that Senior Brother Song seemed easygoing, one disciple drew closer and asked curiously.
At that, Senior Brother Song glanced at him, then explained.
"Your aptitudes are decent."
"Once you've settled into your residences, you can take your tokens to the Scripture Depository and choose a cultivation manual."
"After that, you'll receive a share of outer sect resources every month."
At this point, Senior Brother Song looked around at everyone, his tone turning solemn.
"As for whether you can eventually enter the Inner Sect, that will depend on your own fortune!"
"Thank you for the advice, Senior Brother Song!"
As soon as Senior Brother Song finished speaking, the disciple who had drawn near hurriedly bowed.
His expression was rather fawning.
Then he pulled out a jade bottle engraved with a special pattern and discreetly passed it over.
"A Jade Marrow Pill!"
Su Yun had good eyesight, was standing nearby, and came from a decent family.
He recognized it at a glance.
Seeing this, he couldn't help but be speechless.
This new disciple really was eager to get ahead!
"Mm."
Senior Brother Song merely nodded, taking the jade bottle without a change in expression.
After all...
Why turn down resources handed to you for free?
A while later.
After Senior Brother Song had shown the new disciples around the sect grounds, he turned to leave.
Before going, though, he took the disciple who had just offered him the gift along with him.
The so-called outer sect dormitories were actually spacious wooden houses, each with a small courtyard.
Every disciple's house had its own number plaque, making it easy to identify.
"Number ninety-nine. That's right, this is the place."
Su Yun nodded as he looked at his Disciple Token.
The number ninety-nine was marked on his outer sect Disciple Token.
That meant his dormitory was number ninety-nine.
After finding his lodgings, Su Yun pushed open the door and went inside.
The wooden house was a little plain, but it had everything he needed. It was fairly clean, too. Not bad.
After changing into his outer sect robes, Su Yun picked up his token and immediately headed to the Scripture Depository.
"Elder, I'm a new outer sect disciple. I've come to choose a cultivation manual."
Outside the Scripture Depository.
A thin old man holding a wine flask lay leisurely in a wooden chair with his eyes closed.
Hearing Su Yun, he didn't even lift his eyelids. He spoke indifferently.
"New outer sect disciples may only enter the first floor of the Scripture Depository and choose one Human Grade manual."
Cultivation manuals were divided into Human Grade, Yellow Grade, Mysterious Grade, Earth Grade, and Heaven Grade!
There were certainly manuals above Heaven Grade.
But for the countless martial artists out there, even a Human Grade manual counted as a fairly top-notch one.
Outside the sect, anyone holding a Human Grade manual could establish a small lineage in a town.
But in the Mystic Blade Sect, any outer sect disciple could choose a Human Grade manual!
Those who joined the Inner Sect or made it into the outer sect's top ten had a chance to learn Yellow Grade manuals, or even Mysterious Grade ones!
"Yes, Elder."
Su Yun didn't mind the elder's attitude.
Senior Brother Song had already told him that the Scripture Depository's elder was cold-tempered and unfathomably powerful, so he should avoid disturbing him too much.
The first floor of the Scripture Depository was spacious and bright, with Human Grade manuals lining its shelves.
The room was filled with the rich scent of books, and there weren't many disciples there to choose manuals.
Su Yun walked around the room, choosing carefully.
"Blood Fiend Blade, Human Grade Mid Tier. It can absorb the blood essence of demonic beasts to strengthen the body..."
"Wind Shadow Art, Human Grade High Tier..."
"Great Primordial Step, Human Grade Mid Tier..."
Su Yun browsed through them, learning a great deal.
Most of the manuals on display were Human Grade Mid Tier.
There were fewer Human Grade Low Tier and Human Grade High Tier manuals.
The most common varieties were naturally blade techniques.
After all, the Mystic Blade Sect was renowned for its blades, so its disciples naturally specialized in blade cultivation.
"Which manual should I choose?"
Su Yun was a little troubled.
As he walked, Su Yun suddenly stopped.
His gaze fell on a wooden cabinet.
A blade technique lay there.
Extreme Shadow Fiend Blade, Human Grade High Tier!
"Why not open it and take a look?"
With that thought, Su Yun reached out and picked up the manual, then began reading.
It was a blade technique brimming with killing intent!
Ordinary training brought slow progress.
But training and comprehending it amid slaughter would bring rapid improvement.
Once mastered, it could condense a blade aura of slaughter!
Unstoppable!
Among techniques of the same tier, this one could be called top-notch.
"An excellent manual!"
Su Yun's face lit up. He decided this was the one.
Then he took the manual and left the first floor of the Scripture Depository.
"Elder, I've finished choosing."
Su Yun spoke as he came before the elder.
At this,
the Scripture Depository elder narrowed his eyes and looked at the manual.
Seeing that Su Yun had chosen the Extreme Shadow Fiend Blade, a difficult blade technique to master,
he couldn't be bothered to say anything.
"Do you know the rules?"
"Please tell me, Elder!"
"Bring the manual back in three days."
"Remember, don't share it without permission. You may only practice it yourself. Otherwise, you'll bear the consequences."
"Yes!"
After returning to his wooden house, Su Yun calmed himself.
He didn't practice the Extreme Shadow Fiend Blade he had just obtained. Instead, he picked up the Breathing Technique he had been given earlier.
"Breathing Technique, a basic cultivation manual!"
He murmured the words, then began reading carefully.
After a while, he had memorized everything written in it.
Then he sat cross-legged.
He began breathing according to the method recorded in the Breathing Technique.
After completing one Lesser Celestial Circuit, a prompt suddenly rang out in his mind.
"Ding!"
"Your Breathing Technique has begun cultivating automatically!"
"First cultivation: critical hit activated. Successfully completed thirty-six Greater Celestial Circuits!"
Before Su Yun could react, a wave of heat surged through his body.
Immediately afterward, a warm current coursed through him.
Boom!
The next moment,
his body trembled, and his qi and blood surged!
He successfully entered Body Refining First Stage!
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