Reaching the entrance of the sect where the entrance examination would take place, Xuan Hao was met with the sight of a bustling city spreading far into the horizon.
This was the Flying Sword city. One of the many cities under the Flying Sword Sects direct management inside of their territory.
"That should be the place..."
Looking away from the bustling city and instead focusing his attention on the examination ground located a little away from the entrance to the sect, Xuan Hao slowly began making his way over towards the examination ground that was currently bustling with activity as children had come from all over the northern region of the Heavenly Sky Kingdom to try their luck at joining the Flying Sword Sect.
Swish~
ignoring the people present and directly making his way towards a small outdoor pavilion that had temporarily been set up to overlook the entire examination ground atop a small hill.
Not only was the pavilion beautiful to the eye, but it was also here that the other core elders of the sect who had come to watch the yearly entrance examination were sitting.
Two core elders like himself, the vice sect master and sect master were present there, while the outer and inner elders were walking around the examination grounds to prepare the first round of tests.
Although most of them were not present as they remained inside the sect...
All things considered, it was quite a rare thing that all of the higher ups of the Flying Sword Sect had come to watch the entrance examination together.
"Who is that?!"
"I don't know, but for him to enter the pavilion where the higher ups are… Maybe he's a core disciple!?"
"A core disciple?! No way! I think he might be a personal disciple... Or even an elder!"
All the children between the ages of twelve to eighteen were looking towards the pavilion with hopes that one of the powerful elders would notice them during the upcoming tests and take them as a personal disciple.
Therefore, the sight of someone who looked to be at most a few years older than them directly entering the pavilion without anyone stopping him, caused quite a stir among the group of children waiting for the tests to start.
"Everyone! The first round of tests will begin shortly. Report to the place you were assigned upon entry into the examination grounds!"
Just at this moment, a loud voice echoed across the entire examination ground. Interrupting the children happily talking with each other.
"""...""""
Not even a minute had passed before everything on the examination ground had quiet down, as the children all began moving towards their designated area. Deep down, filled with both anticipation and nervousness at the upcoming tests.
Would they fail or jump over the dragon's gate and ascend to a new high? All of it depended on how they did in the upcoming tests!
…
"Elder Xuan, I didn't expect you would be joining the examination this time. Looking to take in your first disciple?"
The moment Xuan Hao entered the pavilion, he was blocked by a giant of man towering high above him, his robust muscles were easily visible under the robe he was wearing.
"Elder Wang Hu, it's been quite some time and yes, I've come to see if I can find someone suitable to take in."
Xuan Hao did not bother hiding his intentions of taking in a disciple as he said this with a small smile on his face.
The person in front of him was called Wang Hu and was one of the two core elders of the Flying Sword Sect, a Nascent Soul expert like himself.
"Really!? You? Take in a disciple!?"
"Yes."
Not expecting for him to respond positively to his question, Wang Hu blinked his eyes as he looked at Xuan Hao with a shocked expression on his face.
"Haha, I see, I see... Guess it really is time for you to take in some disciples…"
Listening to Wang Hu as he gave a few encouraging words about how to take care of his future disciple, Xuan Hao quickly made his way towards the seating space of the pavilion and greeted the rest of the upper echelons of the Flying Sword Sect.
They were...
The Sect Master Feng Chen, a Seventh Stage Nascent Soul expert.
The Vice Sect Master Zu Fei, a Fifth Stage Nascent Soul expert.
The other core elder, Wang Lan, who was the twin brother of the second core elder Wang Hu had both reached the Third Stage of the Nascent Soul Realm.
To be honest, Xuan Hao still found it surprising how big both of the Wang brothers were and could not help but think about whether or not they had the blood of giants flowing through them.
"Looks like the first round of tests are about to start..."
Spending some time talking with the rest of the elders present, the first round of tests soon began, causing Xuan Hao spread out his divine sense to keep an eye on the examination ground. Hoping to find a suitable disciple among the children taking part in the test.
Wang Hu and the others also stopped chatting and put all their focus on to the examination ground. The children and young adults outside were an important part of the future and would become the new generation of outer disciples and inner disciples of the Flying Sword Sect after today!
…
"Did you see that young man who entered the pavilion? I could not sense his cultivation, so he is most likely above the third stage of Core Formation! Our Fire bird city does not even have someone at the seventh stage of Core Formation, yet some random person among the elders of the Flying Sword Sect is at that level!"
"Hehe, if I can become a disciple of the Flying Sword Sect, then in the future, I will also have the support of a Nascent Soul expert... When I return, even the family's ancestors will have to be polite to me!"
"It's said that the Flying Sword Sect's Sect Master is not only at the seventh stage of the Nascent Soul Realm, but he's only a single step away from the eighth stage!"
There were exclamations of awe and admiration from the listening crowds of people upon hearing about how strong the Flying Sword Sect's Sect Master was. In this world where martial arts were respected above all, experts were naturally sought after and looked up to.
"Not to mention the Sect master, there is still the Vice Sect Master and two Core Elders still at the Nascent Soul Realm."
"I even heard rumours about the Flying Sword Sect recently adding a new Core Elder as well!"
"How strong! If I could become a disciple of the Flying Sword Sect, then my clan's crisis would be easily resolved! Even though the Black Rose Sect is strong, the Flying Sword Sect is even stronger!"
In the crowded examination grounds, a young girl who was about fifteen or sixteen years old stared intently towards the pavilion overlooking the examination grounds where Xuan Hao and the rest of the Flying Sword Sect's strongest experts were seated.
The girl's name was Qing Yi and she was the daughter of the head of the Qing clan that was located in a small city called Bright Sun City.
The Qing Clan that she was part of was not a small clan. Instead, it was one of the two strongest in Bright Sun City!
But when compared to a large sect like the Flying Sword Sect, it was simply not in the same league!
Bright Sun City was a city located in southern part of the northern region. Although it was located in the northern region together with the Flying Sword Sect, the distance between the two was still quite far.
Back when they set out for the Flying Sword Sect, it had taken Qing Yi and the other disciples of the Qing family nearly two months to reach the Flying Sword Sect from Bright Sun City.
As the daughter of the current head of the Qing family, her status was naturally above the normal members of her family and everyone inside the Bright Sun City would be respectful towards her.
However, this status was limited to Bright Sun City and the few cities and towns located nearby.
Qing Yi knew very well, that once she had left the Qing family's sphere of influence, she would no longer be able to enjoy any of the influence or power that came with being from a large family clan.
No one would give her any face due to her being part of the Qing Family. Especially in the core part of the Flying Sword Sect's territory!
Thus, she had kept a low profile since she had left her family's territory towards the start of her journey. Trying her best not to provoke any disasters along the way.