Chapter 14: The Union Sect

Yue Bei City

“How is the recruitment plan for this year?” An elderly man poured a cup of tea, brought it to his lips, and blew on it gently. “In the blink of an eye, sixty years have passed. Our Great Thousand Sect hasn’t taken in any new disciples for sixty years now.”

“It’s a pity, Master. But who can blame us when the Heavenly Stems Sect set such a rule at the sect conference back then? They said breaking the recruitment rules would mean expanding the sect’s forces, making us the target of all criticism,” said a younger man, shaking his head with a sigh. “It made the world think we’re only recruiting so few to monopolize the path of immortality.”

The elder was the Third Elder of the Great Thousand Sect, here to supervise this assessment. The one presiding over the examination was his most favored disciple, Liang Xiaolong.

“With the coming of the Age of Decline, the rifts between sects deepen. If you encounter someone from a rival sect, they’re killed without question. This goes against the way of immortality,” Liang Xiaolong paused. “The once glorious era when all sects stood united is no longer to be seen.”

“More so, there’s no longer a distinction between good and evil in this world. Anyone who disagrees with you is branded as the evil path.”

“The way of heaven takes from the surplus to supplement the deficiency; the way of man takes from the deficient to serve the surplus... Those who seek to prove the Dao will inevitably rise and fall in turn.” The Third Elder still smiled. “Xiaolong, enough of that. You’re hosting this year’s recruitment ceremony. What trials have you prepared?”

“According to the rules, I’ve prepared three trials in total. Then, at the final admission stage, there’s a hidden fourth trial to rank the potential of these new disciples.”

“Oh? Interesting. You’re quite clever.”

“This time, I’ve also arranged a ‘collaboration’!”

“Collaboration?”

“Yes, I’ve secured sponsorship.” Liang Xiaolong chuckled and pulled out a flyer. “After all, the recruitment ceremony of the Heavenly Stems Sect is a major event, watched by the entire Eastern Chen Continent. I thought it’d be good to get support from other sects. They can boost their fame by associating with us, and we in the Great Thousand Sect can use the advertising fees to alleviate our financial difficulties.”

“A win-win!”

The Third Elder hesitated briefly. “Sounds a bit strange, but I can’t see any real problem with it.”

“Yes, this time we’re collaborating with four sects.” Liang Xiaolong paused. “They are the Happy Lotus Sect, the Soul Refining Sect, the Xiao Red Gate, and the Joyful Water Gang!”

“I’ve even sent several junior disciples to assist. This admission examination will be more valuable than any before.”

“I hope the disciples we recruit this time won’t disappoint me.”

...

“Is this Yue Bei City?”

Qin Xi took a breath. He wasn’t very skilled with that flying sword just now and had nearly been scared out of his wits.

Watching others use it seemed like riding a skateboard, but when he tried, it felt completely different.

Thankfully, these flying swords weren’t sharp-edged; otherwise, he really wouldn’t have been able to glide and land holding the sword.

When landing, he hadn’t yet mastered the speed control and accidentally threw out his heroic fragment—the essence of Jiang Baiqiu.

Bu Weiwei clumsily descended as well. Though not skilled, she managed better than Qin Xi holding the sword. She was about to tease him when suddenly her flying sword flipped over, causing her to dive headfirst into the ground.

All the unlucky twists fate had prepared were quietly marking the next bout of misfortune.

But finally, they arrived.

And just in time—the day they reached Yue Bei City was the very day of the Great Thousand Sect’s admission examination!

The city walls snaked like a dragon, the stone bricks weathered yet sturdy. The watchtowers soared, banners fluttering in the breeze. A broad moat reflected the city walls in its clear waters.

It was clearly a fortress easy to defend but hard to attack.

Yet the city was bustling unusually, lacking its usual solemnity. Instead, it was festively decorated, packed with people—a lively scene.

“Oh... they even put up banners?”

At the wide-open city gate, a banner hung prominently.

“Welcome all future great talents to the Great Thousand Sect Admission Examination!”

“Wow, they’re really going all out to welcome us. Bet they’ve prepared a couple of performances, huh?” Qin Xi dusted himself off and swaggered into the city gate.

Jiang Baiqiu helped Bu Weiwei out of the ground and carried her with quick, small steps to catch up with Qin Xi.

At that moment, a burly middle-aged man approached Qin Xi.

“Young friend, are you here to take part in the Great Thousand Sect admission exam?”

“Yes, I happened to come across it and thought I’d try my luck,” Qin Xi bowed slightly.

The man laughed heartily. “Luck is indeed the most important part. When I was young, I wanted to join the Great Thousand Sect too, but the last admission exam was held more than ten years before I was born. Now I’m forty-six, too old to participate, so I guess I’m just unlucky.”

“There’s plenty of opportunity elsewhere. You may be out of luck with the Great Thousand Sect, but not necessarily with other immortal sects,” Qin Xi said politely.

“Exactly, so I chose to join my current sect, and I’ve never regretted it.”

“May I ask which sect you belong to?”

“The Happy Lotus Sect.”

“?”

Qin Xi stepped back, eyeing the man carefully. He was obviously a muscular man with explosive muscles and chest hair thick enough to serve as armor. At first glance, he looked like a physical cultivator.

Could this guy really be from the Happy Lotus Sect?

Wasn’t the Happy Lotus Sect known for its… well, women? Or men who looked rather weak?

Qin Xi hesitated and tentatively asked, “May I ask your position within the Happy Lotus Sect...?”

“Cauldron Master.”

Qin Xi suddenly felt a deep respect.

Though he didn't know whether this burly man was a Cauldron Master for men or women, from his expression, it was clear he enjoyed the role.

Someone who loves their work is never ordinary.

If this were a woman’s Cauldron Master, in his previous life, this man would be like a legendary figure. If a man’s Cauldron Master... then surely a formidable hero like the Beast Elder.

“This time, the Great Thousand Sect and our Happy Lotus Sect are collaborating. The first trial’s venue is provided by us,” the burly man said enthusiastically. “If you want to take the exam, get a scroll at the city gate.”

“The scroll contains the tasks you must complete within Yue Bei City. Complete all tasks, and you can join the Great Thousand Sect with the scroll.”

“Thank you for your guidance, senior.”

Qin Xi didn’t linger further with this beast-like senior. He called over the two following him and headed toward the city gate.

“Those who have passed the innate bone test, please collect a scroll here!” A cultivator sat beside the gate, a table full of scrolls before him.

“Innate bone test?” Qin Xi looked around but saw nothing like spirit root stones.

The clerk had clearly tested that way before.

“This is the Great Thousand Sect’s admission exam, so they can’t use such a low-level method. Besides, there are tens of thousands applying—testing each one individually would take forever,” Bu Weiwei smiled at Qin Xi’s rustic confusion. “They have their own method.”