The Great Void Jade Token

After two days of anticipation and unease.

When the golden radiance of the third day's sun spilled across this mirror-like sky, twelve dazzling streaks of divine light shot down from the towering mountain gate like meteors tearing through the heavens, landing precisely before the crowd.

The light faded, revealing twelve young Daoists in pale gray robes, their presence deep and steady.

Knowing the initiation ceremony was about to begin, the prospective disciples waiting impatiently outside the mountain gate rose to their feet and fixed their eyes on the twelve Daoists.

The Daoist at their head had silver hair like snow and a face so handsome it seemed beyond the mortal world. A fiery crimson cloud-patterned mark between his brows lent him an added air of mystery.

He stepped forward slowly, his eyes faintly swirling with dim azure light as his almost tangible gaze swept across the hundreds of young, nervous faces before him.

He turned his palm over. Golden light flashed, and a jade register abruptly appeared.

"You have trodden the blood steps to knock upon heaven's gate, endured tribulations to cleanse your mortal flesh.

Today, with your Dao hearts as your covenant, you are granted the profound jade decree.

Henceforth, temper your hearts and bones to prove the Great Dao; become pillars that uphold the heavens and bring glory to our sect.

Should you betray the Holy Sect!

Your three souls shall fall into karmic fire, your seven spirits shall feed the nether abyss;

Only when ten thousand demons gnaw at your hearts shall you know-sacred might grants no pardon!"

A mighty, thunderous heavenly voice instantly rang in everyone's ears. Without warning, a vast, boundless, terrifying majesty descended with a crash, as though heaven were collapsing and earth overturning, weighing heavily upon every head!

Deep as the abyss, vast as the sea, its might swept all before it without end.

In a single instant, nearly everyone's back was drenched in cold sweat. Their hearts hammered wildly in their chests, and their blood seemed to freeze.

Taking in everyone's reactions, the silver-haired Daoist remained expressionless. He formed a Method Formula and pointed at the jade register in his hand.

In an instant, countless jade tokens turned into a thousand streams of light and flew into the prospective disciples' palms.

"These Great Void Jade Tokens will serve as proof of your status as disciples of the Holy Sect. Refine them with True Qi to use them. You will need them for all manner of affairs within the sect, so be sure to keep them safe."

Hearing the silver-haired Daoist's instructions, Qi Yun instinctively looked at the Great Void Jade Token in his hand.

The token was about the size of his palm, translucent deep blue throughout, and warm and smooth to the touch. The two characters [Wuji] were carved in ancient seal script on the front, while the back was completely blank.

Qi Yun tried channeling a wisp of True Qi into it. Fine rays of light immediately bloomed from the token, and a line of writing appeared on its previously blank back.

[Outer Mansion disciple—Qi Yun!]

It even came with account binding?

Seeing the mark exclusive to him on the back of the token, Qi Yun clicked his tongue in wonder. The mysterious methods of this cultivation world truly far surpassed his imagination.

"Next comes the mansion assignment." The silver-haired Daoist's voice interrupted everyone's amazement. "Everyone, pay attention to your Great Void Jade Tokens. They will display the Outer Mansion to which you belong."

Remember it well. That will be where you cultivate after entering the sect."

He paused, his gaze sweeping across the crowd once more. His voice softened slightly, though it still carried unquestionable authority:

"The Dao Path stretches far, and the immortal Dao is boundless.

Here, this humble Daoist offers his congratulations in advance to all you junior brothers on entering our Holy Sect."

He nodded slightly. The eleven inner prefecture disciples behind him followed suit, cupping their hands in a perfectly synchronized salute to the hundreds of prospective disciples.

"May you all cultivate diligently and advance to the inner prefecture soon."

The silver-haired Daoist left them with one final expression of hope.

"I shall await your good news in the inner prefecture. May the day come when I can explore the Great Dao alongside you all!"

As his words fell, the twelve lingered no longer. Their figures flickered, turning into twelve dazzling streaks of divine light that soared skyward and vanished into the towering mountain gate in an instant.

"We respectfully bid our senior brothers farewell!"

Before the mountain gate, hundreds of voices filled with awe and excitement converged into a torrent as everyone saluted in unison to see them off.

With that, the initiation ceremony everyone had so eagerly awaited officially ended.

"Brother Qi, which Outer Mansion were you assigned to?"

As soon as the ceremony ended, Wu Tao came over eagerly.

"The Seventh Outer Prefecture." Qi Yun glanced at the Great Void Jade Token in his hand, where faint rays of light had formed the words [Seventh Outer Prefecture].

"I'm in the Ninth Outer Prefecture. It's a shame we can't be together." Seeing that Qi Yun had not been assigned to the same Outer Mansion, Wu Tao was a little disappointed.

After all, they had traveled here together, and both were mud-legged peasants with no roots or backing. Being in the same prefecture and supporting each other would undoubtedly have made things much easier.

"No matter. Cultivate well after entering the sect. We'll meet again in the inner prefecture!" Qi Yun said with a smile.

"Mm!" Qi Yun's words also kindled Wu Tao's confidence. He nodded firmly. "Then it's a promise. We'll reunite in the inner prefecture."

After the initiation ceremony ended, the previously shut mountain gate stood wide open. Twelve radiant stairways, seemingly paved with gold, extended from within.

The twelve stairways led to twelve Outer Mansions respectively.

Finding the stairway to the Seventh Outer Prefecture, Qi Yun stepped forward. Just then, he also noticed that Shen Fan and the other two seemed to have all been assigned to the same Outer Mansion.

The Fourth Outer Prefecture...

Silently committing this information to memory, Qi Yun joined the stream of people heading toward the Seventh Outer Prefecture's stairway and set foot on its golden steps.

He walked up the long stairway and stepped over the threshold of the towering mountain gate.

The scene before his eyes changed instantly, and Qi Yun found himself in a private courtyard residence.

The courtyard had an old-fashioned elegance, with a small bridge and flowing water. Side rooms stood on both sides, along with a kitchen and stables. There was even a grape trellis set up on one side of the courtyard.

"Why is this so different from what I imagined?"

Looking around the small courtyard he stood in, Qi Yun found the courtyard gate and was just about to draw back the bolt and go outside for a look.

But with a creak, the gate was pushed open from outside.

Startled, Qi Yun looked at the smiling young Daoist standing outside the gate. He took half a step back and asked hesitantly:

"And you are...?"

"Hehehe, you're a newly admitted junior brother, right? A quick introduction: my name is Cao Song. You can call me Senior Brother Cao." After introducing himself, Cao Song walked in with easy familiarity and beckoned for Qi Yun to follow him.

"No need to be nervous. I'm just here to explain what newly admitted disciples need to know."

A beginner tutorial?

How thoughtful. Does even a demonic sect provide such attentive service these days?

Marveling inwardly, Qi Yun cupped his hands slightly and said:

"Then please go ahead, Senior Brother."

"Mm, it's actually very simple." Cao Song spoke slowly, but every word was clear, as though he had recited them countless times.

"As you've seen, this courtyard will be your cultivation residence here in our Seventh Outer Prefecture. Please do not leave without permission unless necessary.

Aside from cultivating, you can insert your Great Void Jade Token into the spirit screen by the entrance. It will display some sect affairs.

Accepting and completing sect affairs will earn you [Sacred Yuan].

Sacred Yuan is the sole currency designated by our Wuji Sacred Sect.

You could say that everything within the sect-your clothing, food, lodging, and travel, purchasing cultivation supplies, consulting cultivation texts, buying and selling information, greasing palms, hiring killers... all requires Sacred Yuan."

Why was hiring killers in there too... Qi Yun glanced at Cao Song in surprise. Seeing that he had no intention of explaining, Qi Yun did not ask.

"Outer Mansion disciples must undergo an assessment at the end of each year. Those who rank at the bottom will receive corresponding punishments."

Those who fail to meet the standard for two consecutive years will be thrown into the human materials market.

In short, you must think of every possible way to cultivate diligently and raise your cultivation realm.

All right, that concludes my explanation. Thank you for listening."

The instant he finished speaking, the warm smile on Cao Song's face vanished. Without lingering at all or even looking at Qi Yun again, he turned, pulled open the courtyard gate, and disappeared outside in a flash.

Staring at the gently swaying courtyard gate with an odd look on his face, Qi Yun wore a complicated expression.

This so-called newcomer briefing... couldn't also be one of the sect missions, could it?