Ji Xin turned gracefully, her robes flowing like violet flames as she gave a slight bow.
"Senior, if you would."
The young man in azure nodded once, his voice calm yet carrying the weight of mountains.
"Baili Dengfeng, the Heavenly Sword Sect will grant you the position of Inner Disciple, with an annual stipend of one hundred Spirit Stones."
"You will worship under one of our elders as his personal disciple."
His words hung in the air as he shifted his gaze toward Ji Xin.
Her eyes flickered with disbelief before narrowing, a sharp glint hidden behind her smile.
'The fools of Heavenly Sword Sect… so bound by tradition, they don't even realize how much the world has changed.'
'Their offers are outdated.'
Even the white-robed elder of Frozen Heart Sect and the black-robed master of Earth Demon Sect exchanged faint frowns, though neither dared to speak.
Ji Xin stepped forward, her tone smooth as flowing silk.
"The Immortal Miasma Sect offers these conditions, Baili Dengfeng."
"You will enter the sect as a Direct Disciple, exempt from sect tasks below your cultivation."
"Annual Stipend of Five thousand Spirit Stones."
"You may choose any elder to worship as your master, and you can also choose three techniques from the sect's library free of cost."
The square erupted in whispers, eyes turning to Baili Dengfeng, the boy at the center of every gaze. His face lit with unrestrained pride, his decision swift and unwavering.
He clasped his hands and bowed. "This disciple is willing to join the Immortal Miasma Sect."
The young man in azure robes frowned at Baili Dengfeng's choice, but he said nothing.
Instead, he lifted a hand, releasing a thin stream of light that vanished into the horizon—clearly some form of message or communication.
Zhao Yan, standing among the crowd, felt his mind whirl.
'Spirit Stones… This is a new currency.'
'I am stepping into a new world entirely.' His curiosity burned hotter with each passing moment.
Just then, Fan Xing tugged at his sleeve, breaking his thoughts.
"Brother Zhao," he whispered, "I've made up my mind."
"I'll join the Frozen Heart Sect. Where do you plan to go?"
Zhao Yan's lips curved into a faint smile.
"Brother Fan, I'll first try my luck with the Heavenly Sword Sect."
"If fate doesn't favor me there, then I will also join the Frozen Heart Sect."
Fan Xing hesitated, brows knitting together. After a pause, he gave a firm nod.
"Very well. It's only a gold coin."
"I'll take the test with you. At the very least, I want to witness what this so-called Sword Will aptitude test truly looks like."
With that, the two of them moved toward the azure-robed young man.
Around the square, the once-chaotic crowd had already divided, long lines forming before each sect's platform.
Zhao Yan's gaze shifted toward the platform of the Immortal Miasma Sect, where a small crowd had already lined up with hope in their eyes.
But Ji Xin, the purple-robed beauty, paid them no attention. Her smile remained reserved solely for Baili Dengfeng as she leaned slightly closer to him.
"Our sect is no longer recruiting," she declared sweetly, her tone leaving no room for argument.
The words struck the people in line like a hammer.
Disappointment rippled through the line as Ji Xin inclined her head toward Baili Dengfeng, who in turn turned and waved at the older couple standing nearby—likely his parents.
A heartbeat later, thunder rolled through the skies, lightning splitting the air.
In an instant, both Baili Dengfeng and Ji Xin vanished from the platform, leaving only crackling echoes of power behind.
The line dispersed quickly, its members scattering to join other sect queues with lowered heads and subdued expressions.
Meanwhile, the Frozen Heart Sect and Earth Demon Sect continued their tests without pause.
Each glowing sphere swallowed candidate after candidate, only to cast out most of them a moment later.
From murmurs in the crowd, Zhao Yan pieced together the truth: one minute outside equaled an entire hour within the ball.
It was a relentless sieve, and out of every ten who entered, barely one emerged accepted.
Standing in the line for the Heavenly Sword Sect, Zhao Yan remained still, his turn nowhere in sight.
Unlike the other sects, the azure-robed youth—hailed as the Sword Immortal—had yet to begin recruitment.
The air around him was calm, almost too calm, as though the storm was waiting to break.
After a long silence, the young man in azure robes finally stirred. His eyes opened, distant and unfathomable, and with the faintest motion of his hand, the air itself seemed to split.
Countless motes of light burst forth, streaking like shooting stars before drilling straight into the bodies of every youth gathered in the central square.
His voice rolled out like a calm tide, carrying an authority that brooked no doubt.
"Whoever can comprehend this sword technique and reach the level of basic mastery before the recruitment ends will be admitted as a menial disciple of the Heavenly Sword Sect."
With that single decree, he lowered his hand and closed his eyes once more, as though the crowd no longer existed.
His presence remained vast, yet detached, like a mountain watching the scurrying of ants below.
Around the square, gasps and murmurs spread as the foreign knowledge took root.
In the minds of every youth, strange diagrams bloomed into existence—strokes of light forming blades, arcs of energy becoming patterns of movement.
Even Zhao Yan staggered slightly as a sharp buzz filled his head, leaving behind the vivid impression of a sword technique etched into his consciousness.
He caught his breath, steadied himself, then instinctively pulled open his status window.
Zhao Yan
Age: 15
Cultivation: None (+)
Techniques: Phantom Step Technique - Beginner (0/5) (+), Plum Sword Technique - Not Initiated (+)
Revulsion Points: 8850
Pity Points: 24
Zhao Yan glanced over his shoulder and saw Fan Xing standing motionless, eyes glazed in deep concentration.
The young man was completely absorbed in the sword technique that had just been imprinted into his mind.
Zhao Yan waited patiently, watching the flicker of realization dance across Fan Xing's face.
A moment later, Fan Xing's eyes snapped open, gleaming with excitement. He leaned close and whispered urgently, his voice trembling with hope.
"Brother Zhao… this time, we truly have a chance!"