Within Heavenly Star City, Luo Tian gazed at the noisy, bustling streets, where crowds streamed past like woven threads.
The capital truly was different, with martial artists as numerous as carp crossing a river.
Along the way, there were quite a few martial artists in the Yin-Yang Realm.
Someone shouted at the top of his lungs, "The Falling Rosy Clouds Sect's triennial disciple recruitment has begun! Everyone, hurry over and take a look!"
"Ding Chunqiu, head to the Shadow Pavilion's contact point immediately. Make sure you establish our base properly first, and get a preliminary understanding of all the factions in Heavenly Star City!"
"If anything happens, contact me immediately through a transmission talisman!"
Ding Chunqiu answered respectfully, "Yes, my lord!!"
"My lord, don't you need me to protect you?"
"Don't worry. I have my own means of preserving my life."
Nobody knows I'm the person behind the Shadow Pavilion. There won't be any problems!
"All right, that's settled!"
The capital will be our headquarters in the future! For now, we need to secure our footing!
"Yes, my lord. Then this subordinate will go ahead!" Ding Chunqiu lowered his head and quietly acknowledged the order.
The testing site was in a square on the eastern side of Heavenly Star City, surrounded by towering spiritual trees.
At its center stood an altar built from spirit stones, emitting faint fluctuations of Spiritual Qi.
This was the Falling Rosy Clouds Sect's base within Heavenly Star City, where every disciple recruitment was held!
A disciple of the Falling Rosy Clouds Sect shouted, "Come! Come! Come!"
"Everyone, line up. After registering, wait here for the test!"
Talented young people from the various prestigious clans throughout the dynasty, along with young rogue cultivators trying their luck, had all gathered here.
Every one of them rubbed their fists and flexed their palms, ready to show their skills.
"I hope I can join the Falling Rosy Clouds Sect."
Luo Tian stepped into the crowd. Feeling the strong atmosphere of cultivation around him, he could not help feeling a slight stirring in his heart.
"There must be tens of thousands of people here, right? Quite a crowd!"
He closed his eyes and focused, mobilizing the faint spiritual power within his body as he prepared for the coming trial.
"I am an outer sect elder of the Falling Rosy Clouds Sect."
"I will be overseeing disciple recruitment this time. Welcome to the Falling Rosy Clouds Sect's testing site."
"This test will not only examine your cultivation, but place even greater importance on your potential and character."
"There are also several entry requirements:"
"First: those whose cultivation is below the Houtian Realm will become menial disciples."
"Second: anyone older than twenty-five will not be accepted!"
"Third: outer sect disciples must have cultivation no lower than the Houtian Realm."
"Fourth: those in the Sea Transformation Realm who are under twenty can directly become inner sect disciples."
"Anyone over twenty-five may leave now!"
Some people looked disappointed upon hearing this. "Ah, what a pity. I'm just a little over the age limit!"
Someone beside him asked, "Brother, how old are you when you say just a little over?"
"I'm over thirty this year."
That really was just a little!!
Those few requirements alone could eliminate many of the applicants! They had never expected the recruitment requirements to be raised this time!
Damn it!
"Next, the testing begins!"
"Those whose names are called, please come forward in order to be tested." A robed old man stood atop the altar, his voice ringing out in every direction.
As the testing began, one talented youth after another either departed dejectedly or went wild with joy.
"Next, Tian Luo!"
Standing in the line, Luo Tian strode toward the altar, his breathing steady.
Light blazed brilliantly, and an immense wave of spiritual power enveloped Luo Tian.
He closed his eyes to sense it. The spiritual power within his body seemed to be drawn by some force, surging continuously.
Then a dazzling beam of light burst from his body and shot straight into the clouds, causing an uproar all around.
"This is... exceptional innate talent!"
"Only seventeen years old! This boy's future is boundless!" Amid his shock, the old man announced loudly.
"Young friend, I am an outer sect elder of the Falling Rosy Clouds Sect."
"What is your name?"
"Where are you from?"
Luo Tian gave a false name. "Elder, my name is Tian Luo!"
"I'm from a small town in Fengluo City!"
Oh? The elder had thought he was a disciple of some great lineage.
He had never expected him to be a disciple from a small town!
"Mm, you are truly impressive!"
"So young, yet already in the middle Sea Transformation Realm."
"As long as you join the Falling Rosy Clouds Sect, you will directly become an inner sect disciple and receive the sect's focused nurturing!"
"Thank you, Elder!" Luo Tian replied calmly.
The looks cast his way by those around him were like raging flames, filled with envy, jealousy, and hatred.
To become an inner sect disciple the moment he joined the Falling Rosy Clouds Sect-what an honor that was!
"Mm, wait off to the side for now. Once the testing is finished, we'll take you all to the sect!!"
Outside the bustling capital of Heavenly Star City, mountain ranges wound and rolled amid drifting clouds and mist.
Hidden there was a cultivation sect-the Falling Rosy Clouds Sect.
The outer sect elder Yun Youzi wore flowing blue robes.
He returned from Heavenly Star City, with a group of newly admitted disciples following closely behind.
Elder Yun Youzi gently waved his sleeve, and ancient, simple buildings emerged from the mist. That was where the Falling Rosy Clouds Sect's outer sect was located.
He stopped and turned to the disciples. "Now that you have entered our Falling Rosy Clouds Sect, you must cultivate diligently and never forget your original aspirations."
"Today, I will make all the arrangements for your lodgings and cultivation."
With that, he summoned Feng Wuhen, a deacon dressed in gray robes with a kindly face.
"Deacon Feng, this is the newly admitted disciple Tian Luo. Take him to the inner sect disciples' quarters to collect his identity token, and arrange suitable lodgings for him," Elder Yun Youzi instructed.
"Oh? He's becoming an inner sect disciple directly?"
"Not bad, not bad."
Feng Wuhen was startled at this and stepped forward to address Luo Tian. "Young friend Tian Luo, come with me."
"The Falling Rosy Clouds Sect has many rules, but at their core are merely two words: diligence and comprehension."
"Since the sect has chosen you, you must have something exceptional about you. I hope you cherish this opportunity. One day, you will surely achieve great things."
Cherish it, my ass. I'm here to stir up trouble. Do you really think I came to cultivate? Luo Tian said inwardly with disdain.
Under Feng Wuhen's guidance, Luo Tian passed through stretches of spiritual fields and crossed several formations shimmering with flowing colors.
They arrived before a palace halfway up the mountain.
This was where inner sect disciples lived and cultivated, a place called High Heaven Hall.
As he stepped into High Heaven Hall, a thick rush of Spiritual Qi struck him in the face.
Lights of various colors flickered within the hall-the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi stirred up during cultivation.
A tiny sect, yet they put together all this flashy nonsense.