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On the plain, Fang Wang maintained his own pace, moving forward. He had already been overtaken by seven people, but he was not in a hurry; he even wanted to see if Zhou Xue could catch up.
Among the eight remaining from the Fang Residence, only Zhou Xue was likely to catch up. Although Fang Hanyu had developed Spiritual Power, he was still merely a Martial Artist after all. Just climbing over that high mountain would be enough to stump him, so how could he catch up to this place?
As Zhou Xue said, this assessment was intended for those with a certain foundation in cultivation, not for mere mortals to participate in.
Time continued to pass.
After about half an hour, Fang Wang saw a great fog rising from the horizon, vaguely revealing the contour of mountains, magnificent and mysterious. In front of these mountains, the high mountains on both sides of the plain were nothing in comparison.
At first glance, Fang Wang thought of the Great Abyss Gate.
Could it be that the area ahead was the territory of the Great Abyss Gate sect?
Thinking with anticipation, Fang Wang saw that many had stopped in front of a cliff. As he was about to stop as well, he heard someone shout, "I give up!"
As soon as the words were spoken, a streak of green light descended from the sky, flashed past the person, and a splinter of the green light wrapped around the person, lifting them into the air and quickly disappearing into the immense fog before the cliff.
Was that a Magic Artifact?
Even with Fang Wang's eyesight, he could not clearly discern what it was.
Fang Wang walked to an unoccupied spot and stood on the edge of the cliff to look down. It was bottomless and pitch-dark below, and the sides were obscured by the fog. Looking up, he estimated that to reach the mountains behind the fog, there would be at least a ten-mile journey.
One must fly over!
Fang Wang turned his head to see that some people who had previously employed the Sword Control Technique were now at a loss, looking exhausted. He reckoned they had depleted their Spiritual Power, and some were even meditating on the spot, consuming Elixirs.
Could it be done like this?
Fang Wang was not resentful, but he couldn't help feeling that the scions of great families were indeed different.
"What are you looking at? Have you depleted your Spiritual Power?"
A familiar voice came from behind him. Fang Wang turned to look and saw Zhou Xue landing in front of him on a Flying Sword.
Fang Wang was curious—where had this Flying Sword come from?
Zhou Xue didn't dismount from the Flying Sword; instead, she waved her hand, and a slender Flying Sword flew out of her storage bag, which Fang Wang caught.
The moment he gripped the sword, he could feel the Spiritual Power within it—it was not a common sword but a magic sword.
Surprised, Fang Wang looked at Zhou Xue and asked, "Where did this come from?"
Zhou Xue's mouth curled into a smile, and she waved her hand dismissively before turning and flying away, disappearing into the fog in the blink of an eye.
Mysteriously, Fang Wang thought of the two figures who had fought earlier. Could it be that Zhou Xue had taken it by force?
Indeed, such an act would be very consistent with a Demonic Cultivator.
Fang Wang no longer dwelled on it. He connected his Spiritual Power with the sword directly and then leaped up, with the Flying Sword landing under his feet, carrying him toward the fog.
The Great Perfection level of the Sword Control Technique allowed him to control this sword with ease. Of course, it was also because this sword was not considered a very powerful Magic Artifact. According to Zhou Xue, powerful Magic Artifacts are very difficult to subdue, and Cultivators need to create their Lifespirit Treasure in order to manipulate them properly.
Whooosh—
The strong wind whistled past his face, and Fang Wang smiled. It was still best to travel by sword flying.
Standing on the Flying Sword and progressing with the wind, he felt elated, standing exalted in the Firmament, a natural sense of pride welling up in his chest, no wonder everyone aspired to the path of cultivation.
Entering the fog, Fang Wang suddenly heard some peculiar sounds and immediately drew his Treasured Sword from his waist.
A black eagle suddenly lunged out, its claws fiercely striking at him with speed that surpassed even the top Martial Artists, Fang Wang responded with a swing of his sword, condensing his Spiritual Power into Sword Qi, slashing the bird to dissipate it.
The black eagle turned to smoke and vanished, which made Fang Wang raise an eyebrow.
It wasn't a living creature!
It appeared to be another part of the assessment!
Fang Wang cautiously continued on his way, defending against black eagles that intermittently lunged out from all directions. Fortunately, he managed to fend them all off.
It wasn't too difficult.
As he passed through the immense fog, he saw a majestic mountain range that seemed to stand above the clouds, with peaks rising behind the mountains, the highest of which reaching into the clouds, its height beyond measure.
Above Fang Wang, cranes signaled the way, aligning with them, he landed on a vast open ground where Zhou Xue was already waiting.
After landing, Fang Wang grasped the Flying Sword in his hand and saw, besides the Tai Yuan Sect Disciples guarding the forefront, a total of sixteen candidates had arrived, each of them looking far from ordinary.
Gu Li glanced at Fang Wang but didn't pay too much attention. She remembered the young man who had run on foot, seemingly from not a very wealthy family, at least not posing a threat to her subsequent goals.
Zhou Xue approached Fang Wang and remarked, "That was quick. I thought you'd need some time to get used to it."
Fang Wang laughed, "It did take me a moment."
The two of them stood together, conversing quietly, while the others were scattered around and not approaching one another.
Time continued to elapse.
One after the other, Cultivators passed through the fog and landed on the ground. Fang Wang noticed that even the weakest had the cultivation level and aura of the fifth layer of the Qi Cultivation Realm, which made him feel deeply moved.
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No wonder the treatment here is better; they're all top students.
An hour later.
The number of junior disciples in this place had exceeded fifty, causing Fang Wang to secretly be alarmed.
Just here, there are fifty people, plus those who passed before, at least five hundred people have passed the entry assessment. And this is just Taiyuan Town; the number of disciples recruited by Taiyuan City is certainly even greater. Could it be that every five years, a few thousand disciples are recruited?
"This is why I chose the Great Abyss Gate. A hundred years from now, the Great Abyss Gate will become the strongest sect in the lands of Grand Qi."
Zhou Xue's voice came, using the Sound Transmission Technique, which made Fang Wang turn his head to look at her involuntarily.
Strongest sect?
Fang Wang believed her since Zhou Xue was a reborn person, and he looked forward even more to his own years of cultivation at the Great Abyss Gate.
After a while, a white crane descended from the sky, carrying a short and chubby old man on its back. Fang Wang had noticed this white crane before but hadn't seen anyone riding on it.
When the white crane landed, the short and chubby old man slowly sat up. Even though he was dressed in a daoist robe of the Great Abyss Gate, he appeared rather sloppy and indolent, with none of the imposing manner of an immortal.
Seeing the man's demeanor, Fang Wang immediately tagged him as a master in his mind.
This person must be very powerful!
The short and chubby old man, twisting his beard, glanced over all the present individuals and then said with a smile, "Not bad, not bad, a total of fifty-two people. It seems that my Great Abyss Gate is on the rise. Your arrival here qualifies you to become a branch disciple of the Great Abyss Gate."
"Within the Great Abyss Gate, status and treatment range from low to high: Outer Sect Disciples, Inner Sect Disciples, Branch Disciples, Sword-Bearing Disciples, and Direct Disciples. Outer and Inner Sect Disciples can also choose to follow a branch for their cultivation, but they must start from menial tasks. Branch Disciples can directly choose a master on the peak they select."
All the listeners were fully engrossed, which pleased the short and chubby elder and made him smile with satisfaction.
"Let me introduce myself, I am a Revered Elder of the sect, and you may address me as Greedy Sleeper. Don't you laugh at my title; it carries a significant repute in the Cultivation World," said the short and chubby old man, now identified as Greedy Sleeper, laughing proudly.
A young man in blue robes, with a look of respect and admiration, saluted and said, "I have indeed heard of the great reputation of Greedy Sleeper. Legend has it that during the great war between the righteous and the demonic a hundred years ago, you charged into Ancient Demon Mountain with a single sword, slaying over a thousand demon heads. That battle vastly demoralized the Demonic Dao, enabling peace to come early."
Upon hearing this, Greedy Sleeper couldn't help but raise his chin, looking down his nose at others.
Gu Li glanced at the young man in blue robes; though her face was veiled, her eyes showed undisguised disdain.
Most of the others showed looks of admiration—notable, it was their first time hearing this legend.
Fang Wang thought to himself that this was indeed a master! Probably one of the top figures in the Great Abyss Gate—seemingly nonchalant, but undeniably formidable when it mattered.
"Alright, back to business. Now that you have become branch disciples, you may vie for the positions of Sword-Bearing and Direct Disciples," said Greedy Sleeper, coughing deliberately and speaking seriously.
A woman couldn't help but ask, "Directly contend for the role of a Direct Disciple? None of the Nine Great Sects have precedents for this."
The other scions of noble families discussed in low voices, clearly exhilarated.
Greedy Sleeper proclaimed proudly, "It was so before, but things will be different from now on. The Great Abyss Gate is breaking old norms precisely to help talents grow better. All of you are at the Qi Cultivation Realm. You can vie for it now. Those who aim to become Direct Disciples may step forward, alone challenging all others, and the one who wins will become a Direct Disciple. The best five will be promoted to Sword-Bearing Disciples."
Alone challenging all others!
Upon these words, everyone fell silent.
Fang Wang turned to glance at Zhou Xue, asking through his gaze if they should contend.
Zhou Xue slowly nodded, but her brows were slightly furrowed, clearly surprised.
Could it be that her previous life was not as a disciple of the Great Abyss Gate?
Fang Wang couldn't help but mock in his mind, beginning to suspect Zhou Xue had other intentions for the Great Abyss Gate.
Gu Li spoke out, "May I ask the elder, if more than one person wants to be a Direct Disciple, who will challenge everyone alone?"
This question caused a dozen people to nod, all full of confidence.
"That's up to you," replied Greedy Sleeper with an ambiguous smile. "A Direct Disciple must have the ability to enforce law and manage fellow sect members. You must be able to command respect."
Gu Li stepped forward at once, saying, "My name is Gu Li. I come from the Luo Bei Gu Family. Having practiced cultivation for twelve years, I have reached the ninth layer of Qi Cultivation Realm, and I have learned the Five Saints Sword Technique of my father Gu Tianxiong. I wish to be a Direct Disciple. Who disagrees?"
The Luo Bei Gu Family!
Most of the people present were visibly moved, making Fang Wang curious about the strength of the Luo Bei Gu Family.
The man in black clothes and a bamboo hat, with his arms folded across his chest, snorted, "The Luo Bei Gu Family is indeed qualified. Then, I shall leave this opportunity to you. I'm curious to see whether the Five Saints Sword Technique can overpower numerous rivals of the same realm."
With that said, no one else dared to step forward.
In his heart, Fang Wang wondered when the day would come for the Fang Family of Southern Hills to hold such prestige?
"Go on, a Direct Disciple enjoys benefits you cannot begin to imagine. My talents are not as good as yours, and though I have many opportunities to contend for, it's different for you. Your cultivation journey can't always depend on me, unless you also wish to turn to the Demonic Dao. As for the Luo Bei Gu Family, it will be destroyed within twenty years—it poses no threat to you!" Zhou Xue's transmitted message arrived.
Fang Wang was already prepared, and he would have stepped forward even without Zhou Xue's urging, but her words lessened his burden.
Without further thought, Fang Wang stood out and declared, "I disagree!"
All eyes immediately turned to him, causing his heart to quiver, but he still managed to maintain a facade of composure, staring calmly at Gu Li.
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