Before the man could finish, he had already thrown a punch.
He ruthlessly killed the man on the spot, leaving even his primordial spirit no chance to escape.
Boom... Dazzling holy light illuminated the heavens.
In an instant, the Four Extremes cultivator was engulfed by that terrifying holy light.
Even his flesh and blood were mercilessly burned away.
He was reduced to flying ash.
Chapter 39: Infiltrating the Yin-Yang Sect, Taking a Disciple?
Before long.
Taiyi left the mountain range.
He transformed into a divine rainbow and flew into the distance.
The minor interruption had not affected his mood.
The world of cultivators was just that cruel. There were always people with crooked hearts who would stop at nothing, hoping to rely on their strength to ambush weaker cultivators and seize their possessions through trickery or force.
Soon, Taiyi encountered two Sea of Bitterness cultivators.
This time, no fighting broke out. From them, he learned that he was not particularly far from the Yin-Yang Sect's headquarters.
Moreover, in another ten days to half a month, this great sect of the Central Plains would hold its triennial recruitment.
"Perfect. I stumbled into just the right timing!"
Taiyi's eyes flickered, and a cold smile appeared on his face.
Although the gains from this journey had already surpassed his imagination and were astonishing enough.
He had not forgotten why he had traveled all the way to the Central Plains.
He was determined to obtain the Yin-Yang Sect's Ancient Scripture.
"The Yin-Yang Sect is recruiting disciples!"
"I heard an important figure will appear to take disciples personally!"
"If you catch his eye, you'll have a chance to soar straight into the heavens!"
Half a month later.
Outside the magnificent Yin-Yang Ancient City.
By the time Taiyi arrived, a huge crowd had already gathered outside the city, with men and women of every age among them. More people were still streaming in.
There were ordinary people among them, as well as weak independent cultivators who had already embarked on the path of cultivation.
None wanted to miss this opportunity to join a supreme sect of the Central Plains like the Yin-Yang Sect.
As for Taiyi, who had finally arrived after some twists and turns.
He had already changed his appearance, becoming an unremarkable-looking youth who had successfully opened his Bitter Sea.
"Quiet, everyone..."
In the air.
Light flashed.
Several figures wreathed in radiance stepped out.
Their leader was an old man dressed in the Yin-Yang Sect's robes.
He stood with his hands behind his back, looking somewhat like an immortal sage and exuding authority without anger.
His indifferent gaze swept down over everyone who had come seeking a master as he said calmly, "The time has come for our Yin-Yang Sect's triennial recruitment!"
"Although our sect does not mind admitting independent cultivators who happened upon opportunities and embarked on the path of cultivation, bringing their existing skills with them, we still have requirements. Anyone above the Other Shore realm or with a bone age over thirty may leave!"
"Do not attempt to slip through. The Bone-Illuminating Mirror hanging above our city gate is not merely a decoration!"
As he spoke.
He pointed at an ancient mirror hanging above the enormous city gate, gleaming brilliantly.
"An illusion formation has been set up at the gate. Those who can pass through may ascend the Nine-Rank Heavenly Stairway to test their innate aptitude..."
Soon, under the Yin-Yang Sect elder's instructions.
Thousands upon thousands of people surged forward toward the city gate within a short span of time.
Fortunately, this was the Yin-Yang Sect's main city, and its gate was incomparably broad, far beyond anything an ordinary city could boast.
Otherwise, a serious bloodbath might truly have resulted.
Whoosh... whoosh...
Flashes of light flickered incessantly.
One figure after another was barred outside the gate.
Unwilling to accept it, they tried to force their way through again, but the invisible barrier still blocked them, preventing them from entering the city.
Every so often, however, someone passed effortlessly through the barrier without encountering any obstruction.
Taiyi was also among the crowd. Although he deliberately held himself back, not wanting to stand out too much.
He still passed through the illusion formation with ease.
Under the guidance of a Yin-Yang Sect disciple.
He joined the others before an enormous white jade stairway.
It had nine steps in all, shining brilliantly and brimming with mystery.
"This is the Nine-Rank Heavenly Stairway. How many steps you can climb has nothing to do with your cultivation. The better your talent and innate aptitude, the higher you can ascend!" an old man explained calmly as he stroked his beard.
He introduced the rules of the Nine-Rank Heavenly Stairway.
Anyone who reached the First or Second Stage would become a servant disciple; those who reached the Third Stage would become outer disciples, and those who reached the Fourth Stage would become inner disciples...
Only those who reached the fifth step could become true inheritance disciples and take a Yin-Yang Sect elder as their master. Those who reached the sixth could become core disciples and take a Yin-Yang Sect supreme elder as their master.
It was said that those who reached the Seventh Stage were qualified to catch the eye of a truly important figure in the Yin-Yang Sect and become their personal disciple.
As for the eighth and ninth steps, no one had reached them in a very long time.
Even the Yin-Yang Sect's Holy Son and Holy Maiden had stopped at the Seventh Stage back then, unable to climb onto the Eighth Stage.
Looking at the several hundred people with cultivation aptitude who had gathered one after another after passing the dual tests of the illusion formation and the Bone-Illuminating Mirror.
The elder announced, "Now, form a line and take turns climbing!"
At first.
People stepped onto the stairway one after another.
Most, however, stopped within the first three steps.
Few managed to climb onto the fourth.
Still, some people displayed considerable talent and made it onto the fifth step.
One or two even reached the sixth.
The many Yin-Yang Sect elders watching nearby could not help silently shaking their heads.
This recruitment was clearly inferior to previous ones.
Aside from a handful whose considerable talent made them worth noticing.
There were hardly any promising seedlings.
Looks like this year's disciples aren't much to speak of!
Among the crowd.
Taiyi stood waiting in line.
Outwardly, he looked reserved and nervous, but there was a playful glint in his eyes as he sneered inwardly.
When his turn came, the moment he stepped onto the Nine-Rank Heavenly Stairway.
Taiyi knew he could easily reach the ninth step and even break the Yin-Yang Sect's record.
But to avoid attracting too much attention, he did not deliberately reveal his aptitude. Upon reaching the second step, he began to look as though he was "struggling," and by the third, his face was already "flushed bright red."
Finally, panting heavily, he stopped at the Fourth Stage.
For no other reason than that he would not have to take a master.
"Jin Yang, Fourth Stage. Qualified to become an inner disciple!"
Just then.
Under the envious and resentful gazes of many disciples who had just passed the assessment and were awaiting their assignments.
"Oh? Jin Yang, is it?"
A beautiful middle-aged woman who still retained her charm stepped forward, dressed as showily as a flower in full bloom.
She carefully examined Taiyi's innate aptitude, licked her moist red lips, and asked with a beaming smile, "Would you be willing to take me as your master?"
The gaze she directed at Taiyi.
Held a heat she could not conceal.
It seemed full of greed, as though she could hardly wait to devour him.
"..."
Taiyi froze.
He had not wanted to attract attention in the first place.
That was why he had deliberately stopped at the Fourth Stage, without even intending to take a master.
He naturally knew that an ordinary inner disciple would most likely still be unqualified to access the Yin-Yang Sect's supreme inheritance-the Ancient Yin-Yang Scripture.
Before you continue