102: Taihe Sect Outer Disciple

February 2nd, the twenty-second year of the lunar calendar.

The southeastern corner of Xuan Yin Continent.

Mountain winds, heavy with moisture, swept grandly from the depths of the ten-thousand-mile-long Taihe Mountain Range, passing over the broad platform built against the mountainside.

At this moment, the platform was densely packed with people.

A rough count revealed at least a thousand.

Most were middle-aged faces with varied clothing, their expressions mostly a mix of excitement, anxiety, or forced composure.

They were Loose Cultivators or Cultivators from small Families who had come with the intention of joining the Taihe Sect.

No Mortals were present.

Because the recruitment of mundane Disciples was handled separately.

And this was just one of dozens of locations where the Taihe Sect had opened its gates to recruit new Loose Cultivator Disciples.

At the end of the platform, dozens of white jade steps rose majestically toward a solemn main hall.

On both sides of the hall's entrance stood dozens of Taihe Sect Disciples dressed in moon-white Daoist robes, their cultivation levels all at Peak Qi Refining.

As their indifferent gazes swept over the crowd below, there was a distinct air of scrutiny.

Yu Xuzi stood toward the back of the crowd.

Dressed in an ordinary pale blue Daoist robe, he appeared to be in his forties, with a plain and unremarkable face.

On the surface, he controlled his cultivation to be at Peak Qi Refining.

It was neither too high nor too low, just above the threshold for the Taihe Sect's recruitment of Loose Cultivator Disciples, yet not at all conspicuous.

After all, there were many Dao Foundation Loose Cultivators here who also wanted to join.

"Silence!"

A clear shout came from the stone steps, carrying a faint aura of dharmic pressure, and the buzzing chatter on the platform immediately died down.

A middle-aged Daoist with a rounded face walked slowly to the edge of the steps, his gaze sharp as lightning as he scanned the scene.

With a Late Stage Dao Foundation cultivation, his status was clearly a level above the ordinary Disciples beside him.

Behind him were five assistants, three men and two women, with cultivation levels at the Early Dao Foundation Stage.

"My surname is Zhou, and I am one of the Deacons of the Taihe Sect's External Affairs Hall."

Steward Zhou spoke coldly, "Today is the day our Taihe Sect opens its gates to recruit Outer Sect Disciples."

"One final reminder: our Sect specializes in the Dao of Artifact Refining. This is the location for the Artifact Refining skill assessment. We only look at Artifact Refining skills, not Aptitude or talent. If any of you have come to the wrong place, leave as soon as possible!"

There were several paths for a Loose Cultivator to enter the Taihe Sect.

Combat competitions, Artifact Refining skills, outstanding natural talent, or having a recommendation from a Sect Elder or high-level figure—all were valid ways to enter.

There were also very few restrictions.

For example, the Artifact Refining skill assessment here only required one to be under sixty years old, have a cultivation level of Late Stage Qi Refining or higher, and be able to independently refine a Magical Artifact that matched one's own cultivation!

For instance, those at Late Stage Qi Refining must be able to refine a First-Order High Grade Magical Artifact, while those at the Early Dao Foundation Stage must be able to refine a Second-Order Low Grade Magical Artifact.

Aside from this, cultivation Aptitude and combat ability did not matter.

Of course, these conditions were by no means low.

After all, most Artifact Refiners could only refine items of a lower grade than their own cultivation; Artifact Refiners capable of refining Magical Artifacts that matched their level were much rarer.

Such people, even as Loose Cultivators, could manage well on their own and would not be destitute, so they might not necessarily be willing to join a Sect.

Most of those who were willing to come did so for the reputation of the Taihe Sect and True Monarch Taihe.

Steward Zhou looked around the platform, and seeing that no one left, he spoke again, "It is fate that you all passed the preliminary screening and arrived here. However, immortal destiny is not easily obtained; the Sect has its own rules."

"To enter my Taihe Sect, the most important thing is Heart-Nature."

"Next, you Loose Cultivators must pass the trial of the Heart-Interrogating Mirror."

"This mirror does not harm the Divine Soul, nor does it pry into privacy; it only discerns the true heart."

"Only those who pass may participate in the subsequent assessments."

With that, he flicked his sleeve, and a pale yellow treasure light soared into the sky, transforming into a massive treasure mirror a hundred zhang in diameter. Its gentle radiance instantly illuminated the entire platform.

*Buzz buzz~*

This was the Third-Order Low Grade Magic Treasure, the [Heart-Interrogating Mirror].

As a Magic Treasure, its power went without saying.

Once illuminated by its light, a Xuantai True Person might still have a chance to break free and hide the truth.

But for the Qi Refinement Stage and Dao Foundation Stage Cultivators on this platform, there was absolutely no possibility of hiding anything.

Amidst the crowd.

Yu Xuzi looked up, calmly watching the slowly rotating treasure mirror in the sky. As the treasure light shone upon him, not a single ripple stirred in his heart.

Hiding his natural talent was to avoid trouble.

Joining the Taihe Sect didn't mean he intended to harm the Sect; he just wanted to write a book for True Monarch Taihe. What ill intentions could he possibly have?

Nevertheless, his Divine Soul and will remained highly focused.

If something really went wrong, he would flee immediately and think of another way later.

"Next, there is only one question!"

"I will ask, and you will answer!"

Steward Zhou directly covered the entire platform with his Divine Sense and spoke softly, "You Loose Cultivators, do you harbor any harmful thoughts or malice toward this Sect in your hearts?"

"No!"

"I'm not!"

"I don't."

A dense chorus of denials rang out, though there were a few anomalies among them.

"I... I do—"

*Swish~*

Before the words could finish, Steward Zhou struck ruthlessly. A sharp sword light directly severed the head of that Peak Qi Refining Loose Cultivator.

Blood erupted instantly, causing a stir in the vicinity.

"Hmph, there are always fools like this every time."

"Hahaha, Senior Brother is right."

The surrounding Taihe Sect Disciples looked on with disdain, mockingly conversing via voice transmissions.

A hundred breaths of time passed.

More than a dozen corpses now lay on the platform.

Steward Zhou seemed to have expected this outcome and nodded, "The Heart-Interrogating trial is over."

"Next is the Artifact Refining skill assessment. Everyone must provide their own Materials. You have only one chance to refine a Magical Artifact that matches your own cultivation!"

"You will be in groups of a hundred, with a one-day time limit."

"Those who fail to refine or exceed the time limit will have failed the assessment."

"For those who succeed, you may keep the Magical Artifacts you refined, and from then on, you will be Outer Sect Disciples of my Taihe Sect."

...Five days later.

It was finally Yu Xuzi's turn.

Controlling his timing, he leisurely refined a First-Order supreme-grade Magical Artifact longsword, about two feet three inches long and two fingers wide, with its quality being at an ordinary level.

"Loose Cultivator Qiu Dao has successfully refined a First-Order supreme-grade Magical Artifact. Senior, please inspect it."

Yu Xuzi bowed with hands clasped, and the Magical Artifact longsword floated toward the Taihe Sect Disciple at the Early Dao Foundation Stage in front of him.

"You've finished?"

The man took the Flying Sword, and after a brief investigation with his dharmic power, his expression turned serious, showing a hint of satisfaction.

"Peak Qi Refining, in his forties, and the quality of this sword is decent. Follow me."

Yu Xuzi was led into the main hall, before Steward Zhou.

"Senior Brother Zhou, another new Disciple has succeeded."

Steward Zhou's Divine Sense swept over briefly. Without even lifting his eyelids, he nodded directly, "He can be enrolled as an Outer Sect Disciple!"

"Junior Brother understands."

Yu Xuzi's heart settled slightly, his face showing an appropriate amount of joy and gratitude as he bowed again, "Disciple Qiu Dao thanks Senior."

From then on, he was an Outer Sect Disciple of the Taihe Sect.