Outer gate, Morning Cloud Peak.
When Chen Shuangbai arrived at a man-made platform in the mountains on his Flowing Cloud Flying Pouch, he saw that many fellow disciples had already gathered there.
Looking around, Chen Shuangbai saw that the number of people far exceeded the number of his own batch of newly initiated disciples.
The longer he stayed in the mountains, the more he learned.
Aside from those like him, He Qi, and Fu Qianlan who entered the outer sect through the selection of immortal talents, the Jade Spring Sect also selects disciples from its affiliated lineages and the cultivation Lineage it depends on.
In addition to the disciples chosen by senior disciples who travel outside the sect, and the disciples sent by the Jing Kingdom's royal family... each year, the total number can reach up to a hundred, and at least fifty or so.
Chen Shuangbai thought to herself, "That makes sense."
Otherwise, with only twenty or thirty new disciples each year, there will inevitably be a shortage of talent and a lack of successors.
As soon as Chen Shuangbai landed, he looked around and quickly spotted Fu Qianlan and He Qi. The two of them also saw him, waved, and the three of them joined together.
Around dawn, the jade chime on the platform suddenly moved on its own without any wind, emitting melodious music.
Suddenly, the crowd on the stage felt a surge of sound, like the sound of waves crashing on the shore from a very distant place. At first, it was powerful and loud, but gradually it became melodious and rhythmic. In the end, the waves crashed together, as if they were singing some kind of unknown Daoist song.
As the song played, the sea of clouds in the mountains suddenly surged, releasing streaks of watery light that scattered in all directions, creating a breathtakingly beautiful scene, like being in a fairyland.
Suddenly, a crane flew in from the sea of clouds, followed by two crystalline rainbows, which were exceptionally beautiful. But when they got closer, everyone realized that a middle-aged scholar in a white Daoist robe was sitting on the crane. There seemed to be a halo behind his head, and the two crystalline rainbows behind him were not some kind of escape light. They were a boy holding a pearl and a girl holding a sword.
The crane slowly descended, and the Daoist priest sitting on its back seemed to slowly open his eyes from a slumber, his eyes filled with compassion. But what shocked everyone present even more was the immense pressure that suddenly pressed down on their hearts.
Foundation Establishment and repair!
It must be Foundation Establishment cultivation!
Only when Foundation Establishment cultivator appears will they create extraordinary phenomena that terrify people.
"That looks impressive!"
Chen Shuangbai sighed inwardly, guessing the identity of the person who had figured it out.
Just then, an old Daoist priest emerged from the high platform with several mortal attendants. He looked around at everyone, then turned towards the direction of the crane and shouted loudly.
"Disciples, follow me to welcome Exalted Cultivator Huo!"
It truly is Foundation Establishment path!
Chen Shuangbai was startled, the imposing presence of this person still echoing in her mind. She bowed to the Foundation Establishment cultivator along with the other disciples.
"Disciple greets Exalted Cultivator Huo!"
The disciples greeted them in unison with great fanfare, their presence so impressive that it startled the birds that flew away.
But it did not shake the hem of Huo Exalted Cultivator Huo's robes on the crane in the slightest.
Not long after.
The Foundation Establishment cultivator nodded in satisfaction, flicked his sleeve, and a light rain suddenly began to fall from the clouds. The rain fell on the disciples, washing away the dust of the mortal world and repairing the hidden injuries that the disciples had not noticed due to their cultivation.
The old Daoist priest hurriedly added, "This disciple thanks Exalted Cultivator Huo."
The disciples noticed the changes in their bodies and couldn't help but smile.
The crane stood motionless on the edge of the cliff, appearing exceptionally well-behaved.
Exalted Cultivator Huo landed on the ground, followed closely by the boy holding the pearl and the girl holding the sword, each wielding a Spirit Artifact that shone brightly and exuded a terrifying aura.
Chen Shuangbai sensed the power of the two Spirit Artifact; they were indeed Spirit Artifact that Foundation Establishment cultivator could use.
The old Daoist then gave a brief introduction to Huo Exalted Cultivator Huo, explaining that he was the deputy hall master of the Abyss Suppression Hall, and that his purpose in coming out of seclusion was to oversee the disciples' descent from the mountain to guard the area.
After a brief introduction, the old Daoist priest tactfully stepped aside, returning the space to Exalted Cultivator Huo.
The senior cultivator glanced around at the disciples, then slowly spoke, producing a sound similar to a chime bell—loud but not piercing, as if spoken clearly right next to the ear.
"It is a tradition of our sect for new disciples to descend the mountain to guard the area."
"This time, I will preside over this matter, and as in the past, we will follow the sect's old practice and set a three-year term. This place to guard is related to your Dao Path, accumulation of merits, and even your future development within the sect, so you must choose it carefully."
Exalted Cultivator Huo's voice was steady, yet carried an undeniable air of authority.
He suddenly waved his hand, and one hundred and eight tokens flew out from his sleeve. They looked like they were made of bamboo and hung in mid-air, which was quite mysterious.
"The list of these garrisoned locations is contained in these one hundred and eight bamboo tablets."
Chen Shuangbai inquired a little about the rules for choosing a place to guard in the past. The general process was that everyone could choose freely, and then a final decision was made.
In more stable and prosperous areas, there are often many people choosing, and in the end, one person is selected by lottery, and the remaining people who are not selected choose.
Some people had already decided on their preferred location: a remote, desolate place that was not under the emperor's control.
Exalted Cultivator Huo waved his sleeve again, and the 108 tokens that had been floating in mid-air fell into the hands of the disciples.
A document landed in front of Chen Shuangbai. He probed it with his spiritual sense and found a vast amount of information waiting to be reviewed.
Exalted Cultivator Huo added, "You have half a day to choose. Once you've made your choice, you can't change it. If you're not satisfied, then you may request to enter the Yin Wind Cave."
Exalted Cultivator Huo's last sentence, though spoken calmly, sent a chill down the spines of all the disciples.
That Yin Wind Cave is no good place.
It is a harsh and desolate place where disciples who have made mistakes within the sect are punished.
If you enter that path, your Dao Path will be ruined.
After saying this, Exalted Cultivator Huo stopped talking and sat cross-legged on the spot. It seemed that watery patterns spread around his body, forming a continuous expanse, like rays of light. It was unclear whether he was dozing or cultivating. This movement fully demonstrated the ability of Foundation Establishment cultivator.
Chen Shuangbai stopped daydreaming and began to use her spiritual sense to search for a suitable place to guard.
Falling Rosy Clouds Mountain... Azure Waves Pool... Cold Stream Valley... Black Reef Town...
Although the Divine Sense of Qi Refining Stage cultivator is not as powerful as that of Foundation Establishment cultivator, it is still comparable to that of an ordinary person, possessing a photographic memory and the ability to read ten lines at a glance.
Chen Shuangbai quickly traversed these areas without confusion, as if she had a purpose, ultimately settling on her target—
Wind Howling Ford!
He had previously learned about the locations of some sects' strongholds through Fan Yunsong's connections, especially the more dangerous ones.
Chen Shuangbai has thought it through.
If he wants to Foundation Establishment, he cannot simply hide his talents; he must step forward.
And this place of defense is the opportunity to rise to prominence.
All things under the frosty sky compete freely.
Spiritual practice is like rowing against the current; if you don't advance, you fall behind.
You should be low-key when you should be, but when you shouldn't be, you should show off your potential, gain more attention from the sect, and acquire more cultivation resources.