True to form, the few people ahead had crossed the checkpoint within moments.
But when it came to Feng Wuchen's turn, the stewards' attitudes instantly shifted.
"What's your spiritual vein type? Hurry up and show it!"
"I don't have a spiritual vein!"
Feng Wuchen replied, suppressing his inner turmoil.
The stewards exchanged glances, their expressions somewhat intriguing.
"No spiritual vein? How did someone without a spiritual vein pass our Qingchen Sect's assessment? Get lost!"
One of the stewards shouted, releasing the overwhelming pressure of his Ninth Heaven Qi Condensation realm, bearing down on Feng Wuchen like a mountain.
Yet, despite the immense pressure, Feng Wuchen's stance remained unmoved.
"No spiritual vein means I can't cultivate? No spiritual vein means I can't join Qingchen Sect? Who do you think you are, telling me to get lost!"
"Hmph! If you don't want face, that's on you. Around here, the four of us make the rules. Even if you argue to high heaven, today, you're rolling down this mountain!"
"Hahaha!"
In response, Feng Wuchen merely laughed instead of getting angry.
"So that's how it is! Qingchen Sect is willing to risk their old faces to shut me out?"
"Kid! You've only yourself to blame for making too many enemies. Too many people don't want you joining Qingchen Sect! If you don't want pain, then roll out of here yourself!"
Hearing this, Feng Wuchen suddenly grasped the reason.
Thinking it over, he realized he really did have a lot of enemies.
The true disciple Lin Wan from Qingchen Sect, the Qin family from the Imperial Capital, and the group of noble heirs he embarrassed the other night.
All these people must be eagerly awaiting his misfortune, right?
As he thought about it, a nameless anger ignited within him.
"If it weren't for my sister, I wouldn't even look at a trash sect like Qingchen Sect! I can ignore joining, but you'll never stop me from climbing the mountain! Remember this well—it's not that Qingchen Sect doesn't accept me, it's that I won't join Qingchen Sect!"
With that, he unleashed a burst of spirit energy, and the Blazing Sun Sword appeared in his hand. The aura of the sword sent the four stewards into disarray.
"He's a Sword Cultivator!"
Upon realizing Feng Wuchen was a Sword Cultivator, the four began to panic.
They had indeed taken bribes to keep him out of the sect's doors.
But they hadn't known he was a Sword Cultivator!
Sword Cultivators are exceptionally powerful—if he grows, he could become the sect's strongest force!
---
Any faction would jump at the chance to recruit a Sword Cultivator.
These stewards, however, lacked the talent to even break through to the Golden Body Realm. They were among the lowest of Qingchen Sect's attendants, which is why they took on these menial recruitment tasks.
If the higher-ups learned they drove away a young Sword Cultivator, their days in the sect would be numbered.
But was there still a choice?
No, there wasn't.
What's said is said, water thrown cannot be taken back.
Changing their attitude now would ruin their dignity, especially since Feng Wuchen already held murderous intent toward them. Even if he joined, they would suffer under his wrath.
"So what if he's a Sword Cultivator? Without growth, he's nothing to fear! Let's cripple him here!"
"Hmph! Even if he's a Sword Cultivator, his spiritual vein is defective. He's destined to fall short, so even if we kill you, the sect wouldn't care!"
As the four stewards attacked, Feng Wuchen didn't back down.
Though they were only gatekeepers, they all held cultivation at least above Seventh Heaven Qi Condensation.
Feng Wuchen quickly locked onto the weakest among them and struck with a precise thrust.
"How dare you attack a sect steward! It's a death sentence!"
The steward shouted, layering his Palm Qi like crashing waves.
"Raging Waves Palm!"
A lower-grade profound martial skill—Raging Waves Palm!
This steward meant to kill Feng Wuchen, unleashing his deadliest move right from the start.
"Die, boy!"
Facing a Seventh Heaven expert's attack, Feng Wuchen dared not be careless.
He poured every ounce of sword intent and killing intent into his strike. Only by merging these forces could his killer's sword reach its full potential!
"Old dog, taste my sword!"
Feng Wuchen's thrust was swift and direct, aiming straight for the steward.
In a split second, his blade clashed with the layered Palm Qi, which crumbled under his sword like paper.
"What?"
Before the steward could comprehend it, Feng Wuchen's sword was inches from his throat.
"Back off!"
Realizing the danger, the steward threw all his might into redirecting Feng Wuchen's blade.
"Ah!"
A scream echoed as the steward's arm severed from his body, blood spurting from the stump.
"Chu Feng!"
Seeing Feng Wuchen sever a Seventh Heaven steward's arm, the remaining three turned pale.
A pre-Heaven realm cultivator just severed a late-stage Qi Condensation expert's arm!
How absurd!
And yet, it happened right before them!
Feng Wuchen took a deep breath, calming his turbulent inner energy.
He could barely control that last strike, and given his opponent was a true Seventh Heaven cultivator, he couldn't avoid a backlash from clashing head-on.
"Heh… If I were at Qi Condensation, that strike wouldn't have taken your arm but your head!"
Feng Wuchen's cold words sent a chill through their hearts.
Such murderous intent!
Is he truly only sixteen?
"Dare to injure a Qingchen Sect steward! Today, you'll not leave here alive!"
"This one's swordsmanship is dangerous. Don't be careless—let's take him down together! We must kill him here, or this will forever stain Qingchen Sect!"
The three stewards attacked together, forcing Feng Wuchen to lift his sword once more.
But in that crucial moment, a light voice sounded.
"Tsk, tsk… Fascinating! Really fascinating! A bunch of old-timers bullying a young pre-Heaven, only to get an arm severed. These days, even alley cats and mutts can call themselves stewards of Qingchen Sect?"
"Who's there?"
The stewards instinctively looked back.
A young woman in red, sword in hand, strolled down a mountain path. She was slightly older than Feng Wuchen, with waist-length hair tied in a high ponytail, peach blossom eyes, willow-leaf brows, and fiery red lips—a true beauty.
"Which peak's disciple are you?"
The woman placed her sword before them, introducing herself with ease:
"Wuhen Peak's Senior True Disciple—Shen Hongyi!"
"Wuhen Peak!"
The four stewards turned pale.
Feng Wuchen also furrowed his brows.
As far as he knew, Qingchen Sect only had four peaks: Canglang, Danxia, Chilian, and Qingmu.
Where did this Wuhen Peak come from?
Of course, he didn't know.
Wuhen Peak was a forbidden branch of Qingchen Sect!
An ancient peak that should have long disappeared!
They neither recruited disciples nor performed missions, existing solely in legend.
Even these stewards, who'd been in the sect for decades, had never met someone from Wuhen Peak.
Ignoring the four stewards, the woman winked at Feng Wuchen from afar.
"You're a Sword Cultivator?"
"I am."
"You can tell I'm not like these ignorant idiots. Want to join Wuhen Peak?"
"Wuhen Peak?" Feng Wuchen raised an eyebrow. "Does it harness the Cold Ice Qi?"
"Naturally!"
"Deal!"
"…"
Listening to the brief exchange, the stewards' faces twisted as if they'd swallowed something foul.
"Is Wuhen Peak recruiting disciples now?"
Shen Hongyi scoffed. "Oh, don't misunderstand. I just came down to buy wine for the old man and figured this kid could help carry it. Why? You lot rejected him, yet won't let him go elsewhere?"
"Hmph!" One steward sneered. "A Sword Cultivator with no spiritual vein? Even Wuhen Peak wants him?"
"No spiritual vein?" Shen Hongyi glanced at Feng Wuchen. "Is it true?"
Feng Wuchen nodded calmly.
If her vision was no better than these fools, then Wuhen Peak was just as worthless. He'd rather not join.
"Without a dantian, you're trash!"
Hearing Shen Hongyi mutter, the four stewards began to smile.
But before they could fully enjoy it, the woman smirked and turned.
"Well, that's perfect—I just like useless trash!"