Chapter 232: Opening the Mountain to Recruit Disciples
A few days later.
As the first light of dawn broke, several thousand young cultivators had already gathered. They were before the mountain gate of the cloud-enshrouded Immortal Spirit Holy Land, there to participate in the entrance assessment.
Unlike five years ago when the Immortal Spirit Holy Land first opened its mountain gates, many people came with a mentality of trying their luck, which led to the grand occasion of ten thousand people on the same stage. But now, the Immortal Spirit Holy Land's name alone was enough to make many feel it was unattainable, so the number of people who came was naturally smaller.
However, the quality of this group could not be compared to the last time. It could be said that, at least in Qingzhou, joining the Immortal Spirit Holy Land was the childhood dream and supreme pursuit of all young people aspiring to cultivate.
Ye Fan stood in the crowd, looking up at the majestic mountain gate. Even though he had heard it described before, he was still speechless with awe. The mountain gate towered into the clouds, carved entirely from white jade.
It was covered in complex runes, with a faint spiritual light flowing over them. Above the gate, the four large characters "Immortal Spirit Holy Land" were written with the fluidity of dragons and snakes, as if containing some profound mystery.
Just one glance was enough to make one's spirit tremble. "And this is just the outer sect..." Ye Fan muttered to himself.
The round-faced youth beside him opened his mouth wide and stammered: "Brother Ye, this outer sect is too magnificent! What must the inner sect be like?"
The longsword youth, with his arms crossed, sneered: "Bumpkin. The Immortal Spirit Holy Land is the number one sect in Qingzhou and a top-tier power on the Xuanying Continent. The outer sect is merely for servant disciples and those who have not yet entered."
The true inner sect, it is said, is in a valley deep within the clouds, filled with cranes carrying clouds in their beaks and spiritual springs with flying waterfalls. Ye Fan listened, his heart burning with passion, but he did not show it on his face, merely tightening his grip on the longsword at his waist.
Everyone followed the green stone steps upward, passing through numerous restrictions, and finally arrived at a giant plaza. The plaza was paved entirely with green jade. Around it stood twelve stone pillars carved with coiling dragons, and atop the pillars burned ever-burning spiritual flames.
In the center of the plaza, a high platform stood majestically. It was empty, but the area below it was already crowded with people.
"Silence!" Suddenly, a cold shout exploded like a clap of thunder, shaking everyone's eardrums. The originally noisy plaza instantly fell silent.
Everyone looked up and saw a black figure appear silently atop the high platform. It was a man in black, with a stern face and sharp, knife-like features. An oppressive aura that made it hard to breathe emanated from him.
He stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze like lightning. As he swept his eyes over the crowd below, it was as if he could see through every person's soul.
The round-faced youth shivered in fright and quietly tugged on Ye Fan's sleeve: "Brother Ye, who is this person? His aura is too terrifying..."
Before Ye Fan could answer, the longsword youth had already lowered his voice and said: "This is the Outer Sect Grand Elder of the Immortal Spirit Holy Land, Senior Li Hanzhou! He is a big shot in the Longevity Realm, and he is personally presiding over this entrance assessment!"
Ye Fan's heart jolted, and he stared intently at the man in black on the platform. He had actually heard long ago that, unlike the inner sect where brothers were friendly and respectful, developing harmoniously, in the Immortal Spirit Holy Land's outer sect, cruel competition was the only main theme.
And all of this was brought about by this very man before him, who had overridden all objections.
On the stage, Li Hanzhou's gaze was cold and sharp as he slowly spoke:
"The Immortal Spirit Holy Land does not nurture the useless."
These eight short words sent a chill down everyone's spine.
"Today's assessment will only select the top fifty. Each person's performance will be personally graded by me, with aptitude and character each accounting for half." With a wave of his sleeve, the coiling dragon pillars around the plaza suddenly lit up with a dazzling light.
"The first trial is to test aptitude."
Ye Fan took a deep breath, a burning desire igniting in his eyes.
The path of cultivation was long, and today was the starting point!
...
Leaving aside how Li Hanzhou was presiding over the ceremony.
Deep within the Immortal Spirit Valley, a slender figure stood quietly on a mountaintop, his robes fluttering in the wind, like a banished immortal descending to the mortal realm.
The distant mountains were dark green, shrouded in clouds and mist.
Xiao Chen stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze looking toward the direction of the outer sect. Even from a great distance, he could still feel the lively and bustling atmosphere—the new entrance assessment was in full swing.
A faint, gratifying smile could not help but appear on his lips.
The Immortal Spirit Holy Land had long since become his true home.
Compared to the cold, ruthless Xiao family, which only knew how to fight for power and profit, every blade of grass, every tree, every brick, and every tile here made him feel warm.
Even though with his current status, the Xiao family could no longer hope to reach him, he had never thought of returning. Apart from Xiao Ling'er, those so-called blood ties had long since faded in his heart, as insubstantial as clouds and smoke.
Now, his tacit allowance for the Xiao family to occasionally use his name to throw their weight around in Jingning City was already the greatest concession he could make, considering the surname "Xiao." But over the years, the only thing he had truly dedicated his heart to was the development of the Immortal Spirit Holy Land.
The mountain breeze blew by, bringing a trace of coolness.
Just then, a silent footstep came from behind him. Before the person arrived, a faint scent of orchids had already quietly drifted over.
The corners of Xiao Chen's lips lifted slightly, and he spoke without turning his head: "Junior Sister, I hope you have been well since we last met."
"Hmph!" A playful, coquettish mutter came from behind. "My 'Graceful as a Startled Swan Art' can never escape your notice, Senior Brother."
Xiao Chen smiled without saying a word.
He wanted to say that, in truth, his junior sister hadn't fooled anyone—it was just that the other three preferred to play along.
He slowly turned around, and a stunningly beautiful face, a mix of joy and displeasure, came into view.
Ten years had passed, and the once lively and spirited young girl had now fully blossomed. Her brows were like distant mountains, her eyes like stars, and her skin as lustrous as jade.
A faint spiritual aura lingered around her, and her entire being was like a fairy who had stepped out of a painting, her beauty intoxicating.
Even having watched her grow up, Xiao Chen could not help but be stunned.
But that was all.
In his heart, the status of Chen Xingcai and the other three junior brothers and sisters was already irreplaceable—they were his true, and irreplaceable, family.
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