The sun slowly rose in the east, dispelling the last trace of dawn's darkness and filling the land with vibrant life.
A bedraggled figure raced through the forest, pursued by a tier-two demonic beast, an Iron-Armored Boar.
Just as it was about to catch him, a lake appeared ahead. He had barely reached the lakeshore when the pursuing Iron-Armored Boar slammed into his waist and sent him flying. A metallic sweetness welled up in his throat, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.
Then, with a splash, the figure fell into the lake. The Iron-Armored Boar prowled along the shore for a while, but when he failed to surface, it turned and left!
"I was still too overconfident!"
Only after a long while did the figure slowly swim from the middle of the lake toward the shore, letting out a lingering sigh.
He was none other than Chen Ming. While running toward the edge of the forest last night, he had suddenly spotted an Iron-Armored Boar sleeping in a muddy hollow. He had crept closer and struck it with a Fireball Technique, jolting it awake.
But once the fight began, he discovered that his spells had no effect whatsoever on the Iron-Armored Boar. Seeing that he could not win, he had turned and run, only to find that he could not outrun it either. If not for this lake, he would probably have had to beg the system to save his life again.
Chen Ming climbed ashore and sat cross-legged, circulating the Evergreen Technique to recover his spiritual power. All the while, he remained alert, wondering whether the Iron-Armored Boar had truly left or might suddenly wheel around and attack again. He was ready to leap back into the lake at any moment.
Just then, a figure flew over from the opposite shore on a sword, glanced at Chen Ming beside the lake, and continued onward!
"A mere Qi Refining Realm cultivator, daring to enter the tier-two demonic beast territory of Ten Thousand Demons Mountain? He really has no idea how close he is to death!"
Not long afterward, four more cultivators flew over from across the lake on their swords. They flew side by side, chatting and laughing. As they passed Chen Ming by the shore, one of the men spoke.
Chen Ming had never expected to stumble into the Ten Thousand Monster Mountain Range. If that Foundation Establishment cultivator had not mentioned it, he would not even have known.
Once he had recovered a fair amount of spiritual power, Chen Ming stood and headed for the opposite shore, using the Skywalking Art to tread across the water!
About thirty li beyond the Ten Thousand Monster Mountain Range, a small town came into view. As he entered, a carriage passed by.
The carriage was coated in glossy black lacquer, and even the horse drawing it was an uncommon, one-in-a-hundred fine yellow steed. Most striking of all was the small triangular black flag mounted on its frame, embroidered with the character "Shen." Its silver lettering and red border naturally lent it an indescribable air of mystery.
The carriage stopped outside an inn, and a young man stepped down and went inside.
"Fellow Daoist, please wait!"
Just as Chen Ming was about to leave after asking around town and learning the precise location of the Falling Moon Sect, a voice sounded behind him.
"What can I do for you, fellow Daoist?"
Chen Ming reluctantly turned around and saw a young man approaching him, with a square face, small single-lidded eyes, and a thin, drooping mustache.
"My surname is Shen, my given name is Yang, and my courtesy name is Gongbao! Your silhouette looked rather familiar just now, fellow Daoist, so..."
Shen Gongbao approached, offered a salute, and introduced himself.
"I'm Chen Ming! Was there anything else?"
Chen Ming returned the salute and asked.
"Judging by your attire, Fellow Daoist Chen, you must be an independent cultivator! And from the direction you were heading, I imagine you also wish to join the Falling Moon Sect."
Shen Gongbao continued.
"That's right!"
Chen Ming replied flatly.
"In that case, why don't we travel together?" Shen Gongbao suggested.
At Shen Gongbao's invitation, Chen Ming joined him in the carriage, and the two headed toward the Falling Moon Sect.
From Shen Gongbao, Chen Ming learned that the Wangshui Kingdom had two sects, one temple, and four other schools. The two sects and one temple were the Falling Moon Sect, the Fire Cloud Sect, and Jingfo Temple. The four schools were the Ten Thousand Monsters Sect, the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect, the Soul-Destroying Sect, and the Five Mountains Sword Sect.
The Falling Moon Sect lay thirty li outside Wan'an City and had seven main peaks. Falling Moon Peak was the sect master's peak, while the remaining six were Falling Flower Peak, Green Leaf Peak, Iron Bamboo Peak, Silver Bamboo Peak, Wild Blade Peak, and Soaring Sword Peak. The six Peak Masters all possessed Golden Core Stage cultivation, just like the sect master. Falling Flower Peak accepted only female disciples!
After three days, they finally arrived at the foot of one of the Falling Moon Sect's main peaks. Seeing the thick, reddish-black bamboo covering the mountain, Chen Ming reckoned this must be Iron Bamboo Peak.
Chen Ming and Shen Gongbao slowly followed the mountain path uphill together. Halfway up, they saw a massive stone over two meters tall standing to the left of the mountain gate, engraved with the words "Iron Bamboo Peak."
Two young disciples stood on either side of the gate, each holding a saber. They wore green robes with "Falling Moon Sect" embroidered in black across their chests and "Iron Bamboo Peak" on their cuffs.
"Stop! What are you here for? What business do you have at our Iron Bamboo Peak?"
When the Iron Bamboo Peak disciple on the right saw the two approach, he quickly stepped forward to block their way and questioned them.
"Senior Brother, we've come to join your sect!"
Shen Gongbao answered hastily.
"All right! Follow me!"
Hearing this, the green-robed disciple said nothing more. He merely gave them a cursory glance before turning and heading through the gate!
Chen Ming and Shen Gongbao followed him inside and found a spacious plaza. A row of buildings stood at its far end, seven in all by their count. The green-robed disciple led them toward the one in the middle.
Looking up, they saw a plaque above the entrance bearing the words "External Affairs Hall." Inside, a young man in yellow robes sat at the head of the room, busily leafing through books at a desk. His robes likewise bore the words "Falling Moon Sect," with "Iron Bamboo Peak" embroidered on the cuffs.
"Deacon Li, these two wish to join the sect!"
The green-robed disciple approached Deacon Li and pointed to Chen Ming and Shen Gongbao.
"Oh! Give me your names and take the test."
Deacon Li took a spherical stone from beneath his desk and set it on top. He glanced at the two and spoke calmly.
"Shen Gongbao! Chen Ming!"
Shen Gongbao and Chen Ming hurried up to Deacon Li and gave their names.
Shen Gongbao Spirit Root: lower-middle grade Attributes: metal, wood, water Cultivation: seventh Qi Refining layer
"A three-attribute spirit root. Average. Hold out your hand so I can check your bone age. Hmm! Eighteen years old. Not bad!"
After examining the spirit root and cultivation displayed on the stone, Deacon Li asked Shen Gongbao to hold out his hand, then had him step aside.
Chen Ming Spirit Root: low grade Attributes: metal, wood, water, fire, earth, wind, lightning. Cultivation: Twelfth Layer of Qi Refining
"Th-this... this..."
When Deacon Li saw Chen Ming's attributes, he had intended to send him away. But then he caught sight of his cultivation and was stunned, his whole view of the world shaken. Cultivators with five attributes who reached the Twelfth Layer of Qi Refining were already exceedingly rare, yet this man had seven attributes and had still managed to reach it. He looked quite young, too. As Deacon Li stared at Chen Ming, he could no longer speak smoothly.
Chen Ming was startled as well. Didn't the system say I had a fake spiritual root? With no attributes?
"Here! Hold out your hand and let me see! Hmm! Age: thirty-eight. You still have quite a future ahead of you!"
After taking a moment to recover, Deacon Li calmed down and continued.
Once the tests were complete, Deacon Li registered their identities, issued them outer disciple robes and supplies, and explained the sect's rules. Then he summoned an outer disciple to lead them to the outer disciples' living quarters.