Li Mofan looked at Su Yun beside him and spoke in a clear, resonant voice.
"Disciple, come with me."
As soon as he finished speaking, he casually flicked his broad sleeve.
An invisible stream of spiritual energy instantly enveloped Su Yun from head to toe.
Before Su Yun could react, the ground vanished beneath his feet.
His whole body rose into the air.
He felt light as a feather, no longer in control of himself.
It was as if a pair of invisible hands were gently lifting him.
"Ah!"
Su Yun's heart skipped a beat, and his body stiffened slightly.
This was the first time he had left the ground and soared into the air.
He clearly felt the weightlessness, while the wind whispered past his ears.
Once his panic subsided, a strange sensation welled up inside him.
A flash of spiritual light appeared beneath Li Mofan's feet, and he rose into the air.
His white robes fluttered as he flew gracefully toward the depths of Azure Cloud Mountain.
Wrapped in spiritual energy, Su Yun followed close beside him.
Behind them.
The four elders could only watch as the sect master took Su Yun and soared away.
The impatience they had shown while vying for him was gone from their faces, replaced by helplessness.
The First Elder sighed and shook his head with a rueful smile.
"Forget it."
"We can't compete when the sect master steps in."
The Second Elder's expression was cool as he glanced at the boys still waiting in line below, no longer interested.
"There's no need to watch the rest."
"Unless they have at least a high-grade spirit root, there's no point in giving them another look."
After seeing a Heavenly Spirit Root of the metal element, he simply couldn't muster the slightest interest in these ordinary talents.
The Third Elder nodded and remarked casually, "In previous years, a mid-grade spirit root would have counted as a genius."
"But now? It doesn't even catch my eye."
The Fourth Elder stroked his chin, looking regretful.
"What a pity. If that boy had become my disciple, I could have piled every last resource I had on him."
After exchanging a few casual remarks, the four elders had no desire to stay at the Spirit Testing Plaza.
One after another, they turned and drifted away from the high platform.
As far as they were concerned, the rest of the Disciple Recruitment Ceremony was utterly meaningless.
Only Liu Qing, an outer sect steward, remained on the high platform.
Liu Qing watched the two distant figures in the sky, unable to calm himself for a long time.
Even now, his fingertips still tingled.
Today's Disciple Recruitment Ceremony had completely upended everything he had thought he knew.
A Heavenly Spirit Root of the metal element.
That alone was enough to go down in the hundred-year history of the Azure Cloud Sect.
Even if not one of the remaining candidates had a mid-grade spirit root, this year's Disciple Recruitment Ceremony would still be an unprecedented success.
He had personally tested Su Yun's spirit root.
For that achievement alone, the sect was sure to reward him handsomely.
Spirit stones, pills, cultivation resources—he would receive more than enough.
Liu Qing took a deep breath, then turned toward the crowd below, his voice stern once more.
"Continue the tests."
High above the ground.
The wind howled.
Li Mofan carried Su Yun past the mountains.
Su Yun instinctively looked down.
His view stretched endlessly into the distance.
The Spirit Testing Plaza below, packed with people, had shrunk to the size of a game board.
The crowds looked like swarms of ants.
Stone steps wound around the mountainside, while dense forests spread in endless waves of green.
Mountain streams glimmered like silver threads, and strange rocks hung from the cliffs.
In the distance, clouds churned around a succession of jagged peaks.
Immortal mists curled through a breathtaking landscape.
It was a sight no mortal could hope to see in their lifetime.
Li Mofan glanced at the curious boy beside him and asked softly,
"Are you afraid?"
Su Yun clenched his fists. The wind tousled the hair over his forehead, and his eyes shone brightly.
"No."
He wasn't just unafraid.
He was even a little excited.
So this was cultivation.
Soaring through the sky and gazing down upon the mountains and rivers.
Li Mofan nodded slightly, a faint smile playing at the corners of his lips.
"When we reach the main hall on the main peak,"
"I'll have someone take care of the formalities for you."
"Your own cave dwelling, clothes, and direct disciple token—I'll have it all arranged."
"Wash up and rest for now, and familiarize yourself with the surroundings. Once everything's taken care of, come see me at the main hall."
Su Yun obediently lowered his head.
"Yes, Master."
The two flew at tremendous speed, the air silently parting around them.
In the blink of an eye, they passed through layer after layer of clouds and landed before an immense white jade hall.
Azure Cloud Main Hall.
The entire hall was built from white jade stone, with vermilion pillars reaching up to support the heavens.
Glazed roof tiles reflected the sunlight with a gentle gleam. Cloud patterns and spirit beasts adorned the eaves, lending the hall a solemn majesty and imposing grandeur.
Before the hall lay an even wider plaza of white jade.
Many inner sect disciples sat cross-legged in meditation or practiced their swordsmanship.
Their robes were neat, and their auras steady and deep.
Every disciple was vigorous and full of spirit, far beyond the ordinary boys at the foot of the mountain.
The sect master's descent from the sky caused little commotion, yet it instantly drew everyone's attention.
The disciples in meditation opened their eyes, while those practicing swordsmanship stopped.
Every gaze fell on Su Yun beside Li Mofan.
Their hushed murmurs spread in a steady stream.
"Who's that kid?"
"He looks pretty young, and his clothes are ordinary."
"How did he get the sect master to bring him here personally? I've never seen the sect master personally escort a new disciple."
"How strange! This is too strange! The sect master hasn't taken a disciple in over a hundred years. Could it be..."
"No way. Could he be a new direct disciple?"
One curious, puzzled, scrutinizing gaze after another fixed on Su Yun.
Su Yun remained composed, showing no sign of discomfort.
Having lived a second life, his mind was far more mature than those of other boys his age.
He ignored all the stares around him and quietly followed behind his master.
Li Mofan's expression remained unchanged as he walked straight into the hall.
The interior was spacious and open, its floor smooth as a mirror.
Several thick red pillars supported the ceiling. Antique lamps hung throughout the hall, and a faint sandalwood fragrance filled the air.
Several disciples on duty stood ramrod straight. As soon as they saw the sect master enter, they bowed in greeting.
Li Mofan's gaze fell on a young inner sect disciple with clean-cut features.
"Chu Fan."
The disciple hurried forward. "This disciple is here."
"This is Su Yun, the third direct disciple I've taken."
It was a simple sentence.
The disciple named Chu Fan shuddered, an enormous wave of shock instantly rising in his eyes.
The sect master's direct disciple?
The third one?!
He forced down his astonishment and didn't dare let the slightest hint of it show.
Li Mofan continued with his instructions. "Take him to the Internal Affairs Hall."
"Have him change into the clothes reserved for direct disciples, and issue him an identity token and sect waist token."
"Assign his cave dwelling to Heavenly Pivot Peak, in the best detached courtyard on the mountain."
"Make sure he has everything he needs: daily necessities, bedding, clothes, basic pills, and spirit stones."
"Yes, sect master!"
Chu Fan bowed and accepted the order, his voice betraying a barely perceptible tremble.
He watched Li Mofan enter the inner hall.
Only after the sect master had disappeared from sight did Chu Fan slowly raise his head and sneak a glance at Su Yun.
He was slender and frail, dressed in old, coarse clothes, and looked utterly ordinary.
Yet this very boy had become the sect master's direct disciple.
Chu Fan screamed wildly inside.
My heavens.
The sect master hasn't taken a disciple in a hundred years.
Just what kind of heaven-defying talent does this kid have?
Could he have a high-grade spirit root?
Or something even more outrageous—a heavenly-grade one?
Envy, shock, and curiosity tangled together in his heart.
Chu Fan composed himself, straightened his posture, and bowed respectfully to Su Yun.
"Senior Brother Su, please come with me."
The cultivation world had a strict hierarchy, and its rules were sacrosanct.
Even though Chu Fan was a seasoned inner sect disciple and six or seven years older than Su Yun,
even though Su Yun had just joined the sect and didn't have a shred of cultivation,
the moment Su Yun entered the sect master's tutelage, his seniority rose a full tier.
Chu Fan had to address him as Senior Brother.
There was no room for discussion.
In cultivation sects, one's master outranked one's cultivation, and seniority trumped everything.
A direct disciple of an elder already held a status above all inner sect disciples.
And the sect master's direct disciple was another matter entirely.
He was among the highest-ranking members of the younger generation in the entire Azure Cloud Sect.
Even the chief inner sect disciple would have to bow his head respectfully when he saw Su Yun.