The awaited day finally arrived, and Fang Hao strolled out of the castle, standing by the gates and engaging in casual conversations with the guards.
He had learned that the sect recruited children every year once they reached the age of 15 and had attained the peak of the first realm in their cultivation.
Sensing the power coursing through his body, Fang Hao couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment.
Curiosity tugged at Fang Hao's thoughts as he pondered the nature of other worlds and whether they too practiced cultivation like his own.
Unbeknownst to him, it was exceedingly rare for a world to possess such a robust presence of spiritual qi in the atmosphere.
"My father mentioned that we belong to one of the strongest medium worlds, but what does that truly signify?" he mused aloud, his gaze scanning his surroundings while he waited.
In the distance, he caught sight of a figure gradually approaching through the air. As the person drew nearer, Fang Hao's intuition told him that the moment had come. His father had arrived.
"Let's go, Little Hao," his father's voice broke the silence, and Fang Hao was gently lifted into the air as they began to fly toward the location where his mother was engrossed in her cultivation.
Curiosity still lingering, Fang Hao seized the opportunity to inquire, "Why doesn't she stay at the castle, father?"
As they traversed the skies, Fang Xiong answered, "This area possesses an extremely cold Ice element, making it an ideal place for cultivation. That's why she chooses to stay here."
They landed near a cave enveloped by intricate formations. Fang Hao waited, his eyes fixed on the cave entrance.
Soon, his mother emerged from the depths of the cave, her gaze filled with tender affection as she looked upon him.
"Hao, you've certainly grown up. I remember when you were born, how tiny you were. Look at you now," his mother's voice carried a mixture of nostalgia and pride as she arrived before him, playfully pinching his cheeks.
Not particularly fond of this gesture, Fang Hao's discomfort was evident, and his mother chuckled.
"You react just like little Xiao used to. You had the same expression as she did," she remarked with a fond smile before her expression turned more serious.
"I'll give you the same advice I told her: don't trust outsiders in the sect, and if you're sent on a mission, always consider the possibility of a trap or hidden enemy," she offered from her own experiences.
"The competitions within the sect hold great significance. It's up to you whether you aim for the top ranking. That's all; take care of yourself and your well-being," she concluded, then swiftly removed his ring before he could react.
Sending her senses into the ring, she deposited some spirit stones, providing him with a form of currency within the sect. However, something caught her attention within the ring, causing her to pause briefly before resuming and adding the remaining stones.
Fang Hao noticed his mother's momentary freeze and became concerned. He thought she might have discovered his secret, but to his surprise, she took no further action. Their eyes met, and she gave him a knowing look, followed by a warm smile and a hug.
As she departed for the cave, she left him with a final piece of advice, "Remember, the Fang Clan is not afraid of trouble, Hao." With those words, she closed the door and the barrier behind her.
His father's sigh caught Fang Hao's attention, and he turned his head to listen as his father remarked, "She gave him spirit stones. I thought we agreed that the old-fashioned way is the best."
Shaking his head in response, Fang Xiong's wife followed a similar pattern for their daughter, without voicing any complaints. Fang Hao understood that although his father might not have liked it, offering some initial support was necessary.
However, he decided to take a different approach this time.
Since his wife had broken from their usual tradition, he was determined to make his sect entrance remarkable and stand out.
"Let's go," his father said, and they began their descent from the mountain, heading toward the city plaza near the mountain's foot to join the rest of the recruits. As they descended, a vast plaza came into view. Thousands of cultivators, all around Fang Hao's age, were seated cross-legged on the ground.
They were surrounded by a protective circle of city guards, ensuring that no interference would disrupt the proceedings. Behind the guards, the families and clans of the recruits stood, filled with anticipation and excitement.
Among the crowd, the city lord was present, and as the older generation of cultivators noticed his presence, they rose to their feet, their expressions showing deep respect. A loud wave of sound rippled through the air as they greeted, "City Lord."
A higher-ranked guard stepped forward, his position evident as he directed his attention to the city lord before going down on one knee.
"Lord, these are all the talented youths, ranging from blue to black talent," he announced, gesturing toward the young cultivators seated on the ground.
"Give me the number, Dun Gang," the city lord instructed the guard named Dun Gang. Fang Xiong's gaze scanned over the assembled youths, his inspection causing a mix of fear and anxiety to ripple through them.
However, their nervous expressions eased as they looked to their clan elders, finding a sense of reassurance.
"A total of 1049 blue-talented individuals, followed by 200 purple and 20 black," Dun Gang reported, providing the numbers to Fang Xiong.
Fang Xiong nodded, his attention shifting to the purple and black-talented individuals.
He recalled that they had been tested using the marble earlier that year, a task delegated to one of his aides due to his focus on Hao's situation at the time.
"That's good," Fang Xiong remarked, his gaze then turning to greet some of the loyal clans of the city that had gathered for the event.