Entering the Misty Cloud Sect

He raised his head and gazed into the distance. A massive snow-white mountain peak stood towering before him. From within the mountain came the faint sound of swords ringing, soaring into the heavens.

The Misty Cloud Sect, I'm here!

The Misty Cloud Sect was the most powerful force in the Jia Ma Empire.

Passed down continuously through generation after generation, this ancient sect had stood at the pinnacle of the Jia Ma Empire.

The Misty Cloud Sect was only a little over fifty kilometers from the imperial capital.

If not for the sect's rules forbidding it from seizing imperial authority, the Misty Cloud Sect would likely have taken complete control of the Jia Ma Empire during one of the empire's many dynastic changes.

"Nalan Yanran, Dou Qi, ninth stage."

A gigantic Black Stone Stele stood in the Combat Practice Square halfway up the mountain.

Under the gazes of the crowd, a girl with jade pendants hanging from her earlobes slowly turned around.

Beside her and the stone stele stood an elder in white robes, presiding over today's Entrance Ceremony.

The elder held a thin booklet in his left hand and a brush in his right. As he recorded the information, he said, "The Young Sect Master has taken a liking to Nalan Yanran and has decided to accept her as a disciple."

"Whoa!"

An uproar erupted beneath the Black Stone Stele.

"Quiet. If any of you possess exceptional talent, you may also have a chance to be noticed by the elders or the sect master and accepted as a disciple. Next!"

Under the elder's supervision, one person after another who had traveled from afar underwent the entrance assessment.

To join the Misty Cloud Sect, one had to meet two requirements.

First, one could not be older than twelve.

Second, one's Dou Qi had to be above the third stage.

The Misty Cloud Sect was a colossal presence in the Jia Ma Empire. The people of the Jia Ma Empire often said that joining the Misty Cloud Sect was better than becoming a civil servant.

A great many people had come to the Misty Cloud Sect to take the assessment.

Some prestigious nobles received treatment akin to that of honored guests and were assessed first.

For example, Nalan Yanran.

"Dou Techniques from the Battle Through the Heavens Plane, brought to the Douluo Plane—what would they be called? Self-Created Soul Skills!"

For the sake of powerful Soul Skills, Lin Hao endured.

After standing in line for an hour, it was finally Lin Hao's turn.

Lin Hao stepped onto the platform and walked beneath the Black Stone Stele.

In the Douluo Plane, he possessed Innate Full Soul Power. Now that he had arrived in the Battle Through the Heavens Plane, he was not sure what level he would be considered.

Dou Qi and Soul Power were simply different names for the world's spiritual energy in two different worlds. In essence, they were the same type of energy.

Lin Hao raised his hand and placed his palm against the slightly warm Black Stone Stele.

The Black Stone Stele immediately lit up. One segment after another illuminated upward.

"One!"

"Two!"

"Three!"

"Four!"

"Five!"

"Six!"

"Sixth stage Dou Qi. What is your name?" The elder looked at Lin Hao with slight surprise.

"Lin Hao." Lin Hao looked toward the platform.

"Lin Hao, sixth stage Dou Qi." The elder also turned his gaze toward the platform.

The elders seated on the platform remained completely still.

Judging by their expressions, none of them intended to accept Lin Hao as a disciple.

At the Dou Qi stage, one needed to condense a Dou Qi Vortex. Only those who successfully formed a Dou Qi Vortex could become true Dou Zhe.

Many people failed while condensing their Dou Qi Vortex.

The elder said, "According to the rules, you may become an ordinary Inner Sect Disciple. Upon entering the sect, you will undergo a three-month observation period. Go down and collect your sect uniform and waist token!"

To prevent spies from infiltrating the Misty Cloud Sect, even those who passed the entrance assessment had to undergo a three-month observation period.

During that time, if any issue with their identity was discovered, they would be expelled from the Misty Cloud Sect at best, or subjected to harsh interrogation at worst.

Lin Hao was anxious.

He was not from the Dou Qi Continent.

In Blue Star's terms, he was an undocumented resident in the Jia Ma Empire of the Dou Qi Continent.

The issue of being undocumented could be either minor or serious.

If someone with ulterior motives used it against him, the consequences would be grave.

Lin Hao knew his background could not withstand investigation. He had to find a powerful backer with influence in the Misty Cloud Sect.

Yet in a place like the Misty Cloud Sect, where geniuses gathered, sixth stage Dou Qi alone was not enough to make the elders want to take him as a disciple.

The sixth stage of Dou Qi was an awkward realm, neither high nor low.

Before coming here, he had already learned the entrance rules. If someone maliciously targeted him, he would hide in the Boundary Space or return to the Douluo World.

Instead of obediently leaving the platform, Lin Hao bowed slightly toward the platform and said on his own initiative, "Greetings, seniors. I am six years old this year!"

"Whoa!"

The entire square erupted.

The elder presiding over the ceremony, along with all the elders seated in the guest area, were stunned.

"It's him!" On the platform, Nalan Yanran, who stood beside Yun Yun, recognized Lin Hao.

"Yanran, you know him?"

"We only met once." Thinking of their first meeting, Nalan Yanran's face involuntarily flushed faintly.

The impatient people beside the platform began discussing among themselves.

"Sixth stage Dou Qi... six years old... Is that even possible?"

"Could he be lying?"

"Check his bone age and see whether he's lying!"

Spirit Masters of the Douluo World could determine age by feeling one's bones.

Dou Zhe of Battle Through the Heavens also possessed methods to determine a person's exact age.

The elder presiding over the ceremony grabbed Lin Hao's wrist. A sharp glint flashed in his eyes as he stared at Lin Hao. "He really is only six years old!"

"Whoa!"

The crowd erupted again.

The elders on the platform stirred restlessly.

"Little fellow, join my branch. I'll accept you as my disciple."

"Hold it. Your Third Peak has already accepted three people today. This one should be mine."

"Are you all trying to compete with me?"

"First Elder, you want to accept him as your disciple too?"

"Why not?"

The Misty Cloud Sect's First Elder, Yun Leng, stroked his beard with an expression that said victory was already his. His gaze fell upon Yun Yun beside him, and he added, "If the Young Sect Master wishes to accept another disciple, this old man would be happy to make it happen!"

Lin Hao nervously looked at the beautiful woman beside Yun Leng.

She appeared young. She wore a tight-fitting brocade robe of gold trimmed with purple, while her long black hair was arranged into the shape of a phoenix's cry, faintly exuding an undeniable nobility.

Her face was serene and beautiful, like a clear spring deep in a secluded mountain. Though her noble status inspired reverence, one could not help but feel a trace of longing.

The person capable of accepting Nalan Yanran as a disciple had to be Yun Yun of the Misty Cloud Sect.

If Yun Yun accepted him as a disciple, the problems caused by his undocumented status could almost be resolved.

If Yun Yun spoke up for him, who would dare continue investigating him, especially with malicious intent?

Yun Yun said, "I have already accepted one disciple today. I have no intention of accepting another."

Lin Hao was disappointed. Yun Yun did not wish to accept him as her disciple.

Lin Hao did not know that Yun Yun had never wanted to accept anyone else as a disciple.

She could not refuse her master. It was her master, Yun Shan, who had persuaded her to accept Nalan Yanran.

The reason was that Jia Xingtian and the imperial family's guardian magical beast threatened the Misty Cloud Sect's ruling position. Nalan Yanran needed the Misty Cloud Sect, and the Misty Cloud Sect also needed Nalan Yanran.