Joining a sect

Xu Qingtong had disliked the old man to begin with. Having killed disciples of the Azure Sea Gate in the valley and now been berated by him, he disliked the Azure Sea Gate even more. But he dared only seethe in silence and had no choice but to walk with Dongfang Hui to the empty ground nearby.

They found a clean spot and sat down. Xu Qingtong was puzzled that no one had come to question them. All his preparations had been wasted. Once seated, he began looking around.

Three disciples had already emerged on the Azure Sea Gate's side. One was wounded, while the other two sat beside him looking dejected. Judging by their appearance, they had been out for some time.

On Biluozong's side were five disciples, all wounded to varying degrees. Every one of them wore a gloomy expression and sat in silence.

As for Gloomwind Valley, it had the fewest disciples out: just one. Dongfang Jin sat beside that disciple, as composed as ever, his face betraying neither joy nor worry.

Peng Muyang and Mu Ze were nowhere near as calm. One moment they looked toward the valley entrance; the next, they glared at each other.

Near noon, eight people suddenly poured out of the valley entrance, all wearing the robes of Gloomwind Valley disciples.

"Old Dongfang, your disciples are out! You old rascal, your luck's not bad. Nine of your disciples have already come out of this trial," Mu Ze said with some envy.

Dongfang Jin smiled faintly and glanced at Mu Ze without a word.

With only a quarter of an hour left before the entrance closed, no more disciples had emerged from either Biluozong or the Azure Sea Gate. Peng Muyang could no longer sit still and sprang to his feet.

Just then, light flashed at the entrance, and three figures appeared: two Biluozong disciples and one Gloomwind Valley disciple.

Seeing his own sect's disciples emerge, Peng Muyang's expression eased somewhat. He beckoned the two over to question them.

Less than half a cup of tea's time later, four more people appeared at the entrance: one Biluozong disciple and three Azure Sea Gate disciples. All four had disheveled clothes and were covered in blood.

Immediately after emerging, the four took up fighting stances, ready to battle again, but their respective Forefathers shouted them down.

Dongfang Jin looked at the sky, then at the disciples who had emerged from the three sects. "Fellow Daoist Peng, Fellow Daoist Mu, the agreed time has come. It seems some disciples may never make it out of the valley!"

Before Dongfang Jin could finish, Mu Ze cut in. "Nine disciples of my Azure Sea Gate still haven't come out. I refuse to believe they're all dead! Wait another hour. I'll cover all the costs."

Peng Muyang firmly opposed him. "Without a compass and square, you cannot draw circles and squares. Since we agreed on a time limit for the trial, it must be completed within that time. Otherwise, there will surely be chaos in the future."

Dongfang Jin glanced at Mu Ze. "Fellow Daoist Mu, I'm sorry! Rules are rules. How can we change them on your word alone?"

Then he announced loudly, "Time is up! Withdraw the formation and seal the valley entrance!" With that, he led the way toward the entrance.

Mu Ze followed behind, his face dark and his lips sealed.

In truth, Peng Muyang also hoped to extend the trial. Seven of his own disciples had yet to emerge! But he simply enjoyed opposing Mu Ze, and seeing Mu Ze swallow a bitter pill naturally delighted him.

The three reached the formation they had set up earlier and cast their spells together. They withdrew the formation passage and put away the formation discs and formation flags, restoring Mist Valley to its usual appearance.

The Azure Sea Gate had suffered grievous losses in this trial. Of its fifteen disciples, only six had emerged alive. Biluozong had fared little better, with only eight returning.

Only Gloomwind Valley's losses were fairly normal. With five disciples lost, it was the biggest winner of this trial.

Once Mist Valley's great formation closed, all three sects turned their attention to Dongfang Hui and Xu Qingtong. As long as the two could produce the medicinal herbs they wanted, they would not mind taking on another inner disciple.

Dongfang Jin looked at them and asked, "What are your names? Have you completed the trial assignment?"

Dongfang Hui hastily offered a formal curtsy. "My name is Dongfang Hui. I have completed the trial assignment."

After Dongfang Hui finished, Xu Qingtong said calmly, "My name is Xu Qingtong. I have also completed the trial."

Having heard their replies, Dongfang Jin walked over and looked at Dongfang Hui. "Lass, are you from the Dongfang Family of Purple Cloud Ridge?"

Dongfang Hui was startled. How did this old man know I'm from Purple Cloud Ridge? Could he also belong to the Dongfang Family there? She nodded and replied, "Yes, I am from the Dongfang Family of Purple Cloud Ridge!"

"Good, good! I never expected to encounter someone from my old family here. My blood runs in your veins. Would you be willing to join my Gloomwind Valley?" Dongfang Jin asked, beaming.

Only then did Dongfang Hui understand why her family had insisted that she join Gloomwind Valley. She hurriedly knelt and bowed. "Dongfang Hui pays her respects to the Forefather. I am willing to return to Gloomwind Valley with you."

Dongfang Jin laughed heartily, voicing his approval again and again. Seeing this, Peng Muyang and Mu Ze could only congratulate him. The young girl was Dongfang Jin's descendant, so how could they compete for her? They could only turn their attention to Xu Qingtong.

Peng Muyang swept his gaze over Xu Qingtong and discovered that he was only at the fourth layer of Qi Refining. His aptitude was poor as well: he had four spiritual roots. Peng Muyang immediately felt as though he had swallowed a fly.

Mu Ze had also seen Xu Qingtong's condition and was hesitating. He was truly reluctant to accept an inner disciple like this, yet he coveted the young man's trial herbs. For the moment, he could not decide.

Judging by Peng Muyang's indecisive expression, he was probably thinking the same thing as Mu Ze.

Only Dongfang Jin remained smiling. He looked at Xu Qingtong and said, "Young Xu, under the trial rules, as long as you complete the assignment and are willing to hand over the required medicinal herbs, you can become an inner disciple of a sect. Have you decided which sect you wish to join?"

Xu Qingtong had already discussed it with Dongfang Hui and intended to join Gloomwind Valley. Now, seeing the hesitation on Peng Muyang's and Mu Ze's faces, he hesitated no longer. He bowed to Dongfang Jin and said, "Senior, I wish to join Gloomwind Valley. Please grant my request!"

Dongfang Jin's smile broadened. "Good. Then join my Gloomwind Valley!"

Only then did Peng Muyang come to his senses. He turned to Dongfang Jin and said, "Fellow Daoist Dongfang, both rogue cultivators have been taken by you. That hardly seems fair!"

Dongfang Jin said, "This lass is my descendant, so she naturally belongs in Gloomwind Valley. As for young Xu, I only spoke after neither of you wanted him. Besides, he wishes to join Gloomwind Valley himself."

His words left Peng Muyang and Mu Ze speechless. They stared blankly at Xu Qingtong, lost in thought. Both could not help regretting it. Aptitude and the like did not matter; the medicinal herbs were what counted!

But regret was useless. They could only watch helplessly as Dongfang Jin gained two disciples.

Gloomwind Valley had won a sweeping victory in this trial. It had arrived with fifteen disciples and would return with twelve, the smallest loss it had suffered in any trial.

Deeply gratified, Dongfang Jin called Guo Tianyu over. "Tianyu, I'll take these disciples back to the valley first. Take these two to settle their worldly affairs, then return to the valley. Keep them safe!"

With that, Dongfang Jin summoned a flying boat, took the ten disciples aboard, and returned to Gloomwind Valley to reward their achievements.

Guo Tianyu called Dongfang Hui and Xu Qingtong to his side and asked, "Do either of you have anything left to take care of? Once you enter the sect, you may not be able to leave again for eight or ten years."

Dongfang Hui said, "I want to go home and bid farewell to my parents!"