118: Write one randomly

Three months passed in the blink of an eye.

Tianxu City in Zhongzhou was already overcrowded.

Centered around this greatest city in Zhongzhou, the surrounding thousand miles were densely packed with people.

A sea of heads stretched from inside the city to the plains outside, and even to the distant hills.

Cultivators, Mortals, and common folk of all kinds.

It seemed as if everyone on the entire Azure Cloud Continent who could breathe or move had gathered here.

Every face wore an expression mixed with fanaticism, expectation, and tension.

They tilted their heads back until their necks nearly snapped, just to wait for the descent of the legendary immortal gate.

"It's coming!"

Someone let out a hoarse cry.

In the next second, the sky split open.

It wasn't dark clouds dispersing, nor was it space shattering.

Instead, it was as if a pair of invisible hands were treating the azure sky like a scroll, slowly pulling it apart from the center to both sides.

Behind the scroll was an indescribable immortal wonderland.

Divine mountains shrouded in mist, palaces with circling cranes, and immortal Realms with cascading spiritual waterfalls emitted a seven-colored radiance.

A vast, ancient, and holy aura fell upon the world like a silent spring rain.

Everyone enveloped by this aura, regardless of their cultivation level, felt their bodies lighten and their spirits refresh; even old injuries from years past showed signs of healing.

"A miracle! This is truly a miracle!"

Countless people fell to their knees on the spot, tears streaming down their faces as they kowtowed frantically.

At that moment, a staircase paved with pure white jade, its end nowhere in sight, extended down from the gate of the Myriad Dao Divine Mountain, eventually landing on the summit of the highest peak outside Tianxu City.

The Stairway to Heaven has reappeared in the world!

"Charge!"

After a brief, dead silence, a frenzy erupted like a volcanic explosion.

Millions of Cultivators surged like a tide toward that mountain peak... At the summit of the main peak of the Myriad Dao Divine Mountain.

The mist gathered into a giant reclining chair. Chu Xuanjin leaned back on it, while on the small table beside him sat a pot of freshly brewed Dao Comprehension Tea.

He was like a bored spectator, watching the spectacular scene below that could be called the "largest migration in human history."

"Dust Wind, Qingyang, you few go and keep an eye on the mountain gate."

"You're familiar with the process, so don't let anything go wrong."

"Yes, Revered Master!"

Several figures behind him bowed to accept the command and then vanished.

Chu Xuanjin took a sip of tea, a golden light flashing through his eyes.

[Heavenly Dao Dharma Eye], activated.

The dense crowd below instantly looked different in his eyes.

Countless pillars of Luck, some strong and some weak, some bright and some dim, soared into the sky.

Most were a jumbled mess of red, orange, yellow, and green.

However, there were also some dazzling green lights, and even a few that faintly shimmered with a blue glow.

"Not bad, the average quality is much higher than last time."

Chu Xuanjin nodded with satisfaction.

His gaze swept casually across the crowd.

Suddenly, his eyes narrowed, locking onto a figure in the crowd.

It was a young man in blue robes with a long sword on his back. His expression was cold, and his gaze was as sharp as a blade.

He didn't rush forward frantically like the others; instead, he stood his ground, staring intently at the Stairway to Heaven, his entire body radiating a soaring Battle Intent.

[Name: Xiao Han]

[Realm: Void Refinement Perfection]

[Root Bone: Ice Soul Sword Body]

[Luck: Sword Dao Leader, Destined Bottleneck]

[Recent Calamity: None]

[Recent Opportunity: If he joins the Myriad Dao Divine Sect, he may find a chance to break through his Realm within the 'Ten Thousand Swords Tomb'.]

"Oh? It's him."

Chu Xuanjin remembered.

Five years ago, in the Ten Thousand Beast Mountain Range Secret Realm, he was the Sword Dao Genius who challenged Ye Chenfeng.

Five years later, he had actually cultivated from the Mid-stage Soul Transformation to Void Refinement Perfection, only one step away from Body Integration.

This Aptitude and perseverance were truly extraordinary.

"A pity his Dao Heart is flawed; his spirit was severed by Ye Chenfeng's sword strike."

Chu Xuanjin shook his head.

This child can enter the inner sect, but he is not destined to be a Personal Disciple.

His gaze continued to wander.

Soon, he was drawn to two strange, intertwined lights of Luck.

They were in the outermost corner of the crowd.

A man and a woman, dressed in the most ordinary grey cloth clothes with some camouflaging dust on their faces, looked like two of the most unremarkable Loose Cultivators.

The man looked to be twenty-seven or twenty-eight with an ordinary face, but his eyes were exceptionally vigilant, like a venomous snake lurking in the shadows.

The woman had a petite build and kept her head down, making her face hard to see, but her entire body emitted a cold aura that warned others to stay away.

The two were far from the crowd, as if this immense immortal Opportunity had nothing to do with them.

"Qianhuan, are we really going in?" the girl's voice was soft, carrying a hint of uncertainty.

"Yes," the man's voice was brief and firm.

"Word has spread on the streets that Zhongzhou now belongs to the Myriad Dao Divine Sect; we can't continue in our line of work anymore."

"Either we join them."

"Or we get liquidated by them."

"I choose the former."

Chu Xuanjin's [Heavenly Dao Dharma Eye] fell upon the two.

[Name: Chen Qianhuan]

[Realm: Void Refining Middle Stage]

[Root Bone: Phantom Spiritual Root]

[Heart-Nature: Double-dealing (To Hua Ying: Unswerving until death)]

[Luck: Extremely Jumbled (Entwined with Hua Ying's Karma, beset by numerous death tribulations)]

[Hidden Information: Successor of the ancient assassin organization 'Shadow', proficient in assassination, disguise, and illusion techniques.]

---

[Name: Hua Ying]

[Realm: Void Refining Initial Stage]

[Root Bone: Gale Spiritual Root]

[Heart-Nature: Indomitable (A narrow escape from death)]

[Luck: A candle in the wind (Bearing nine layers of death tribulations, yet always able to find a sliver of life in desperate situations)]

[Hidden Information: Successor of the ancient assassin organization 'Shadow', proficient in tracking, stealth, and one-hit-kill techniques.]

"Assassins?"

Chu Xuanjin's eyebrows shot up.

This is interesting.

These two, in terms of Root Bone and Luck, could only be considered below average.

Especially that girl named Hua Ying; her Luck was as black as the bottom of a pot, making even Chu Xuanjin break into a sweat for her.

Yet these two, with mediocre Aptitude, managed to survive a bloody career as assassins and even cultivated to the Void Refinement Stage.

One could only imagine the effort and struggle behind this.

In particular, Hua Ying's Heart-Nature evaluation of "a narrow escape from death" made Chu Xuanjin take a second look.

Just how tenacious must her will to survive be to endure through nine layers of death tribulations?

"Quite interesting."

The corner of Chu Xuanjin's mouth curled into a playful arc.

"Let's see what surprises you two can bring me."

...The examination of the Stairway to Heaven officially began.

Just like last time, countless self-important prodigies were the first to rush up, only to be the first to be bounced back in a pathetic state.

The Heart Demon illusions and Divine Soul pressure never tested cultivation, but rather an indomitable heart for the Dao.

Xiao Han moved.

He stepped onto the stairs, and a cold Sword Intent soared into the sky, shattering all the Heart Demon illusions invading his Sea of Consciousness!

He didn't walk fast, but every step was exceptionally steady.

His goal wasn't the mountain gate, but to surpass that insurmountable sword scar left by Ye Chenfeng five years ago.

Before the mountain gate.

Shi Potian watched Xiao Han's determined figure in the water mirror and nodded while stroking his beard.

"This child has a decent Heart-Nature and a clear sword heart. He can enter the inner sect to be properly nurtured."

Outer Sect Grand Elder Li Xiaoyao fanned himself, smiling as he watched the Cultivators being bounced back.

"Oh my, another one's gone mad."

"Tsk tsk, this one's even worse, he literally pissed himself from fear."

Just then, two unremarkable figures in the corner of the water mirror caught their attention.

Chen Qianhuan and Hua Ying also stepped onto the stairs.

What greeted them wasn't Divine Soul pressure, but the deepest Heart Demons.

Before Chen Qianhuan's eyes were mountains of corpses and seas of blood, with the glint and flash of blades and swords.

He returned to his childhood of hunger and cold, where he had accidentally killed another beggar for half a moldy bun.

He saw his first contract, the terrified and desperate look in a wealthy merchant's eyes as he drove a dagger into his heart.

Countless people he had killed turned into vengeful ghosts, lunging at him frantically!

"Get lost!"

There was no fear in Chen Qianhuan's eyes, only a cold killing intent.

He wasn't fooled by the illusions because these were things he had personally experienced.

He simply gripped the cold little hand beside him tightly.

Hua Ying's illusion was even darker.

She saw herself being sold to a secret organization, undergoing a cruel slaughter like a Gu king among hundreds of children.

She saw her best friend die in her arms while trying to protect her.

She saw herself struggling on the brink of life and death countless times, barely surviving in mud and blood.

Despair threatened to submerge her like a tide.

But she did not let go.

She could feel the only warmth coming from the hand beside her.

The two of them supported each other, climbing upward step by step with difficulty through the Heart Demon illusions.

Their speed was very slow, and several times they were almost swallowed by the terrifying illusions and fell off the stairs.

But they never let go of each other's hands... Before the heart-questioning dao stele.

The Cultivators who had already passed the stairway trial formed a long queue.

"Next!" Outer Sect Grand Elder Li Xiaoyao shouted at the top of his lungs.

Xiao Han stepped forward and pressed his hand onto the stele.

"Buzz—!"

A dazzling, deep blue pillar of light soared into the sky!

Within the pillar of light, there was even a faint hint of noble purple!

"Blue with a hint of purple! Top-tier Root Bone! Top-tier Comprehension Ability! Excellent Heart-Nature! Luck..." Shi Potian's hand paused slightly as he stroked his beard while looking at the stele's display.

"Luck is slightly obstructed."

"Good! Good!" He was still full of praise.

"Nurture him well; he has the potential for the Mahayana Realm in the future!"

Hearing this, Xiao Han showed neither joy nor sorrow; he simply bowed slightly to the Elders and stepped aside.

The testing continued.

Green, light green, and yellow lights rose one after another.

Those who could pass the Stairway to Heaven trial wouldn't have poor Aptitude.

Just then, two unremarkable figures walked up to the stele.

They were Chen Qianhuan and Hua Ying.

Chen Qianhuan stepped forward and pressed his hand against it.

The stele remained silent for a moment.

Then, a jumbled yellow-green light lit up.

"Yellow with a hint of green, mediocre Root Bone, mediocre Comprehension Ability, Heart-Nature... Low Grade, too much killing intent, jumbled Luck."

Shi Potian frowned, a hint of disgust flashing in his eyes.

"Barely enough to join the outer sect."

Chen Qianhuan stepped back expressionlessly.

It was Hua Ying's turn.

She reached out and pressed her hand on the stele.

This time, the light from the stele was even dimmer.

There was only a faint, orange-yellow light.

"Orange light... Low Grade Root Bone, Low Grade Comprehension Ability, Heart-Nature... Eh?"

Shi Potian let out a sound of surprise.

He saw that the light representing Heart-Nature, though only a faint orange, was like a red-hot iron wire—tough and tenacious—standing firm no matter how the surrounding jumbled Luck impacted it.

"This..."

Just as he hesitated, a lazy yet supremely majestic voice drifted down from the Nine Heavens.

"These two, I shall take."

The voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears.

The entire area before the mountain gate instantly became silent.

Everyone's gaze converged on Chen Qianhuan and Hua Ying, filled with shock, confusion, and jealousy.

The Sect Master... the legendary Revered Master of the Myriad Dao Divine Sect, was actually going to personally take Disciples?

And he was taking these two, one with a Low Grade Heart-Nature and the other with a Low Grade Root Bone?

This... what kind of joke is this!

Even Chen Qianhuan and Hua Ying themselves were stunned, their minds going blank.

"Why are you still standing there?"

The voice spoke again.

"Come up."

Two soft beams of light descended from the summit of the divine mountain, enveloping the two.

In the next second, their figures vanished from the spot... Above the sea of clouds at the summit of the main peak.

Chen Qianhuan and Hua Ying felt their vision blur, and they suddenly appeared before that man.

They looked at the young man lying on the rocking chair, who appeared even younger than them, and for a moment, they were dazed.

This is the legendary Sect Master of the Myriad Dao Divine Sect?

"Do you know why I have taken you as my Disciples?"

Chu Xuanjin didn't get up, just asked calmly.

Chen Qianhuan was silent for a moment before bowing. "This Disciple does not know. But since the Sect Master has commanded it, this Disciple shall obey even at the cost of ten thousand deaths."

He was very smart; he didn't ask why but directly showed his loyalty.

Chu Xuanjin smiled and looked at Hua Ying.

"And you?"

Hua Ying lowered her head, her voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz.

"I... I don't know..."

"Because you are very similar," Chu Xuanjin spoke slowly.

"Similar?" The two were both startled.

"Similar to wild grass."

"Born in dark corners, ignored by all, trampled by anyone."

"Blown by the wind, beaten by the rain, bullied by the frost, and pressed by the snow."

"Countless times, you thought you were going to die."

"But as soon as spring comes, you still strive with all your might to break through the ground, growing wildly toward that tiny bit of pitiful sunlight."

Chu Xuanjin's voice was soft, but it was like a heavy hammer striking their hearts.

They suddenly looked up at Chu Xuanjin, their eyes full of shock.

How... how could he know!

"Before me, there are no secrets."

Chu Xuanjin reached out, and two jade plaques carved with intricate patterns flew before them.

One was as black as ink, with shifting phantom lights.

One was green with shadows, as fast as a gale.

"Chen Qianhuan, from this day forth, you are my, Chu Xuanjin's, eighth Personal Disciple."

"Hua Ying, the ninth Personal Disciple."

[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for successfully taking Disciple [Chen Qianhuan], triggering a 100,000-fold critical return!]

[Congratulations to the Host for obtaining: High Grade Immortal Level Cultivation Technique 'Great Dream of a Thousand Autumns Illusion Divine Scripture'!]

[Congratulations to the Host for obtaining: Low Grade Immortal Level Divine Ability 'Mirror Flower, Water Moon'!]

[Congratulations to the Host for obtaining: Cultivation Empowerment (Small amount)!]

---

[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for successfully taking Disciple [Hua Ying], triggering a 1,000,000-fold critical return!]

[Congratulations to the Host for obtaining: Peerless Grade Immortal Level Cultivation Technique 'Great Void Nine Lives Shadow Slaying Canon'!]

[Congratulations to the Host for obtaining: Medium Grade Immortal Level Divine Ability 'So Close Yet Worlds Apart'!]

[Congratulations to the Host for obtaining: Cultivation Empowerment (Small amount)!]

Chu Xuanjin felt the almost negligible increase in his cultivation, his heart completely unruffled.

He looked at the two assassins before him who were completely stunned.

"From today on, forget the past."

"The Myriad Dao Divine Sect is your home."

Chen Qianhuan's body trembled violently.

He looked at the token floating before his eyes, then at the girl beside him who was equally at a loss.

His heart, which had been frozen for decades, seemed to crack open at this moment.

Without a word, he kowtowed three times heavily toward Chu Xuanjin.

Seeing this, Hua Ying also hurriedly followed suit and kowtowed.

When their foreheads touched the ground formed by the mist.

Two lines of clear tears slid down silently... Finally, this unprecedented Disciple recruitment ceremony came to an end.

In total, 83,721 new Disciples joined the sect.

Among them were 50,000 Utility Disciples, 30,000 Outer Sect Disciples, and 3,720 Inner Sect Disciples.

As for Core Disciples, there were none.

However, everyone knew.

The Myriad Dao Divine Sect had gained two more Personal Disciples of the Sect Master.

---

PS: Oh boy, that was a real brain-drainer. Fam, give me some 'Inspiration Mushrooms' to eat. We're about to enter a new map, so comment quickly on characters and factions; send over any fun ideas. Having followed for so long, don't you want to participate a bit? (If I can't come up with anything, we'll just stay in the Lower Realm forever.)