All the recruits, including Zhao Yan, dropped into a deep bow and called out in unison, "Greetings, Elder!"
The old man let out a scoff, his eyes glinting with a mix of pride and amusement. "You are fortunate to witness the Sword Immortal's presence during your sect recruitment."
"Even if you lived a hundred lifetimes, you would never encounter someone like him again."
With a swift motion of his sleeve, sixty blue-covered books materialized before them.
"These," he said, "are the first volumes of the Heavenly Sword Technique."
The books hovered briefly, then floated gracefully into the hands of each recruit.
The old man's gaze swept over the recruits as he spoke, his voice steady and commanding.
"I am the outer sect deacon. You may call me Elder Gao."
He paused, letting his words sink in.
"If any of you are thinking of returning to your homes, forget those thoughts."
"In the Heavenly Sword Sect, we live by one truth: the sword is the self, the self is the sword."
"Your life will be bound to this sect from now on."
Elder Gao's eyes hardened as he continued, "Those of you who can break through to the Qi Condensation 10th layer within thirty years will earn the honor of becoming outer disciples."
"Those who cannot will be assigned to Sword City, where you may find a partner, marry, and raise an heir to inherit your sword."
Murmurs ran through the new recruits, but Elder Gao's sharp voice cut through them.
"Silence! You may think our sect is harsh, but in time, you will see that our way of life here is far better than what other sects can offer."
With a sharp motion, he tossed several white jade tokens into the air.
"Drip your blood on these and claim a house within this courtyard."
"This will be your home as you cultivate."
He followed by distributing pouches to each of the new recruits.
"Inside these bags are basic swords forged by our sect and fasting pills to last an entire year."
"As new recruits, you are exempt from any labor for this first year."
"Focus solely on your cultivation. Next year, your assigned tasks will be based on your progress."
Without another word, he turned and left, leaving the courtyard in a tense silence.
Whispers erupted among the disciples, confusion and frustration written across their faces.
"What? We can't go back!" one exclaimed.
"I have a fiancé in Florence City!" another protested.
"My father is sick at home!" Yet another muttered.
"Heavenly Sword Sect is far too overbearing."
Amid the murmurs, some silently slipped away, vanishing into the depths of the courtyard, just as Zhao Yan had.
...
Zhao Yan surveyed the vast courtyard, where a hundred houses stretched in a neat horizontal line, each enclosed by a shimmering barrier.
He noticed that whenever a new recruit stepped inside a barrier with their jade token, it glowed red—marked as occupied.
Several houses were already bathed in red, a sign that some disciples were already inside.
He didn't dwell on it and made his way to room number seven, the only vacant spot among the crowded first thirty houses.
With a steady hand, he pricked his finger and let a drop of blood fall onto the jade token.
The moment it touched, the token shimmered, and a faint, electric connection surged through him.
"This is… interesting," he murmured, stepping into the room with the token in hand.
The instant he crossed the threshold, a gentle breeze stirred around him. Every fiber of his body seemed to awaken; he felt sharper, healthier, more alive.
Clenching his fists, he realized his strength had surged, a quiet power humming beneath his skin like never before.
"Is this… the legendary array I've only read about in novels?" he murmured, awe striking his voice.
A smile slowly spread across his face as realization hit him.
"This… this is exactly what a sect should be like," he thought, recalling the long, uneventful day he had spent in the Kunlun Sect.
"Now… I am truly a disciple of the Heavenly Sword Sect!"
He threw back his head and laughed, a wild, unrestrained sound that echoed through the entire courtyard.
His laughter carried like a storm, drawing the attention of countless new recruits who turned to glance at room number seven, memorizing it instantly.
Soon, everyone selected their own houses, the courtyard filling with quiet determination as each disciple began the first steps of their cultivation journey.
...
Inside room number seven, Zhao Yan let his gaze sweep across his new surroundings.
The place wasn't lavish, but it was well-arranged—almost like a 2BHK, with a chamber for rest, another dedicated to cultivation, and a smaller space for daily necessities.
Practical, simple, yet sufficient.
When he stepped into the practice room, he immediately noticed a set of fresh robes neatly folded and waiting for him, as though someone had anticipated his arrival.
Zhao Yan settled himself cross-legged on the mat, the quiet air wrapping around him like a cocoon, and drew out the slim blue book Elder Gao had handed over earlier.
When he opened it, bold characters greeted his eyes: Heavenly Sword Technique – Volume I (Nurture).
His pulse quickened as he turned the first page.
There, outlined with precision, was a breathing method called the Sword Breathing Technique.
Zhao Yan studied it intently, letting the rhythm and structure of the technique sink into his mind before moving further.
Beyond it lay the detailed process of nurturing the sword with Qi—a section so elaborate it spanned more than twenty pages, each page detailing the complex method.
He pressed on until he arrived at the next segment: a fundamental move known simply as Strike.
Though basic, it guaranteed devastating force when executed with a sword properly nurtured by Qi.
The accompanying diagrams were simple yet deliberate—six strokes in all. One forward, one backward, two angled to the front, and two angled to the rear.
They looked like simple strokes, but Zhao Yan felt that, if executed by a truly nurtured sword, they would unleash anything but simplicity.
Exhaling slowly, he shut the book with a soft thud, the weight of its knowledge already etched into his mind.
His hand hovered in the air for a moment before he summoned his status window.