Heavenly Union Association Emerald Cloud Peak Branch.
After arriving, Chen Yu spotted the Senior Brother Yan he had met yesterday.
The man was reading with his head lowered.
"Senior Brother Yan." Chen Yu cupped his hands in greeting.
Hearing him, Senior Brother Yan frowned and looked up. When he saw Chen Yu, a warm smile immediately spread across his face. "Oh, it's Junior Brother Chen."
As he spoke, Senior Brother Yan put down his book and walked over to Chen Yu, asking with a smile:
"Here to collect your Identity Token, Junior Brother?"
"That's right."
Chen Yu was a little surprised. When he had come with Senior Sister Lü yesterday, Senior Brother Yan had been quite cold. Why had his attitude changed so much today?
"Just a moment, Junior Brother." Senior Brother Yan turned around and took a red wooden Identity Token from beneath the table behind him. As he handed it to Chen Yu, he said with a smile, "The Heavenly Union Association hasn't had a new member in a while. Passing the assessment on your very first attempt is truly impressive."
"You flatter me, Senior Brother."
Chen Yu accepted the Identity Token and said modestly, "I was just lucky."
"Sometimes, luck is part of strength."
Yan Junfei smiled, but inwardly he thought, With how difficult the admission assessment is now, anyone who passes within ten attempts is practically a god. Yet this kid passed on his first try. There has to be something going on behind the scenes. And with that person suddenly visiting yesterday... could he be her kept pretty boy?
But if that's the case, what's his relationship with Junior Sister Lü?
He can hook up with other Senior Sisters while being kept? Could this kid have some real skills? Yan Junfei glanced at Chen Yu's crotch.
Whatever the case,
in short,
this was not someone he could afford to provoke lightly.
Looking at the Identity Token in his hand, Chen Yu knew that from this moment onward, he was officially a member of the Heavenly Union Association.
Still, the Heavenly Union Association Emerald Cloud Peak Branch was quite cramped. Across his two visits, Chen Yu had not seen a single other member besides Senior Brother Yan.
Logically, as the only organization recognized by the Dao Sect's Outer Sect, and one founded nearly a hundred years ago, the Heavenly Union Association ought to have a great many members... With that thought, Chen Yu asked Senior Brother Yan, "Senior Brother Yan, why haven't I seen any other members here?"
Hearing Chen Yu's question, Yan Junfei explained with a smile:
"The branch only handles assessments for newcomers. If you want to meet the other members or learn more about the organization, you'll need to visit the Heavenly Union Association Headquarters on Purple Bamboo Peak."
"I see." Chen Yu nodded. "Thank you, Senior Brother."
"No need to be so polite, Junior Brother."
Yan Junfei waved a hand with a smile.
As they chatted, two Emerald Cloud Peak disciples approached and cupped their hands toward Yan Junfei. "Senior Brother Yan, we're here to take the admission assessment..."
Seeing this, Chen Yu took the opportunity to leave, cupping his hands. "I'll let you get back to work, Senior Brother."
"Very well!"
Yan Junfei nodded.
First, he warmly told Chen Yu, "Take care, Junior Brother."
Then he looked coldly at the other two:
"Follow me."
Chen Yu soon arrived at Purple Bamboo Peak.
He had to admit, the gap between Dao Sect Outer Disciples was greater than the gap between humans and dogs!
Emerald Cloud Peak was crawling with swindlers, with an endless stream of scams leaving its disciples under crushing debt; while the disciples of Heavenly Flame Peak and Jade Yao Peak faced less pressure from debt, they were nothing but beasts of burden. As for the disciples of Ten Thousand Mountains Peak, they were practically the Dao Sect's human-shaped mountain-protecting formation.
Only Purple Bamboo Peak offered a quiet, secluded cultivation environment. Even the air carried the refreshing scent of medicinal herbs, and every passing disciple looked relaxed and free of any great pressure.
"There really are social classes wherever you go."
While eating in the Dining Hall, Chen Yu occasionally heard other disciples discussing Purple Bamboo Peak, so he knew that most of its disciples were either rich or well-connected.
In fact, that had been apparent during the Registered Disciple assessment. If Ah Zhen had not selected someone with connections like Xu Yunnian, prompting Elder Song of Purple Bamboo Peak to secretly rig things, she would never have been refined into spiritual essence.
He put those thoughts aside.
Chen Yu arrived at Purple Bamboo Peak's square.
He soon spotted a pavilion with a plaque hanging at its center. The words "Heavenly Union Association" were written upon it in bold, sweeping calligraphy, like dragons soaring and phoenixes dancing. Two Outer Sect disciples stood guard at the entrance; judging by the emblems on their chests, they were also Emerald Cloud Peak disciples.
Chen Yu walked over.
"Stop!"
"Show us your Identity Token."
The two Emerald Cloud Peak disciples blocked Chen Yu's path.
At their words, Chen Yu took his Identity Token from inside his robe and held it up before them.
Upon seeing it, both disciples immediately looked surprised. "You're Chen Yu?"
"Yes."
Chen Yu nodded.
His name was engraved on the Identity Token, so there was nothing strange about them reading it aloud.
Their expressions, however, puzzled him. "What is it?"
"Nothing." The two disciples smiled. "We heard you passed the admission assessment on your first try, so we were curious. Go on in."
"Oh."
Chen Yu nodded and entered the pavilion.
Straight ahead stood a reception counter. Behind it was a female disciple dressed in white robes, with a water droplet embroidered on her chest-the emblem of Jade Yao Peak.
There were tables and chairs off to the side of the hall, but they were all empty.
Chen Yu approached and asked the Jade Yao Peak disciple behind the counter, "Senior Sister, I'd like to learn about the Outer Sect Prodigy Rankings. Where should I go?"
"The Outer Sect Prodigy Rankings? You can consult the records yourself in the reference room on the second floor, Junior Brother," the female disciple replied with a welcoming smile.
"Thank you, Senior Sister." Chen Yu nodded.
"You're welcome."
The staircase was right beside him.
He went up to the second floor.
Chen Yu quickly found the reference room, but when he approached, he discovered that its door was closed. There was a recess in the door.
"This shape..."
Chen Yu took out his Identity Token and compared it against the recess.
A perfect fit.
Yet after he inserted it, the reference room's door did not react at all.
As Chen Yu puzzled over this,
a sudden clatter of footsteps came from nearby.
At the same time, a voice called out.
"Fellow Daoist."
Chen Yu turned to look.
There were four Outer Sect disciples: two from Heavenly Flame Peak, one from Jade Yao Peak, and one from Emerald Cloud Peak.
All four were looking at him.
"Are you calling me?"
Chen Yu pointed at himself as he asked.
The leader nodded:
"That's right."
"Elder Zheng of Jade Yao Peak has issued a mission. Xu Xingyao, a Heavenly Flame Peak disciple, has failed to repay his loan for a long time. We've been tasked with capturing him and delivering him to Jade Yao Peak for Elder Zheng to deal with."
"This mission requires a team of five, and we're one person short. Would you care to join us, Fellow Daoist?"
Chen Yu froze at those words.
Before this, he had known very little about the Heavenly Union Association, only that it was the sole organization recognized by the Dao Sect's Outer Sect and wielded considerable influence.
But now, hearing what the disciple before him had said,
he suddenly seemed to understand why the Heavenly Union Association had gained the Outer Sect's recognition.
It was the elders' blade.
When Chen Yu failed to answer, the Heavenly Flame Peak disciple leading the group glanced at the Identity Token he had inserted into the reference room's recess. Seeing the name "Chen Yu," he realized this was the newcomer who had joined only yesterday, so he explained with a smile, "You've only just arrived, Junior Brother, so you might not know yet. Entering the reference room costs one contribution point."
"Completing a mission earns you one contribution point."
"On top of that, once you finish the mission, you can also receive a reward in points from the elder."
"What do you say, Junior Brother? Would you like to join us?"