65: Invitation, Mirror of Truth

Lu Xian was already used to such proactive attempts at making connections.

He calmly cupped his hands and said, "I appreciate Fellow Daoist Chen leading the way."

The two walked to an open area in the back, where a Cultivator dressed in black Daoist robes sat cross-legged with his eyes closed.

"This is Deacon Gao, a second-tier Medium Grade Formation Master within the sect. I request the Deacon to perform the assessment."

Chen Guangan guided him.

Hearing the voice, Deacon Gao opened his eyes, scanned the area, and said in a flat tone, "Just demonstrate the Formation you are most proficient in, and I will judge accordingly."

As a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, he had seen countless Disciples, but those who could truly catch his eye were not even one in a hundred.

Lu Xian pondered for a moment.

Speaking of his best, besides those basic Formations, there was only the A Bridge ofSo close yet so far.

But it was impossible to demonstrate this Formation on the spot; it was one of his trump cards.

After thinking about it, Lu Xian decided to set up another defensive Formation.

Water Wave Flowing Cloud Formation!

He had repeatedly engraved this Formation onto Formation Plates many times, and he was already thoroughly familiar with its principles and variations, able to execute it with ease.

Coincidentally, there were enough formation bases.

The ground here was flat, requiring little deduction of positions, so Lu Xian immediately took out dozens of Formation Flags and formation stones.

His wrists flicked, his movements smooth as flowing water, as the Formation Flags and formation stones landed precisely in their respective positions. The entire process was completed in one go, without any sense of hesitation!

Chen Guangan, watching from the side, was dazzled.

Though he specialized in the Dao of Alchemy, he could tell this technique was extraordinary, secretly marveling at its brilliance.

In the past, he had seen fellow Disciples set up High Grade Formations, but never with such effortless fluidity!

This Junior Brother Han has a boundless future.

Even Deacon Gao, who had kept his eyes half-closed, now watched with piercing eyes and great seriousness.

Fifteen minutes later.

Lu Xian placed the final formation stone and then set the Spirit Stones in place.

In an instant, an azure curtain of light rose and flowed within a three-zhang radius.

The Water Wave Flowing Cloud Formation was complete!

"Good, good, good." Deacon Gao was extremely excited, and he couldn't help but clap his hands.

His figure shifted, and in an instant, he flashed before Lu Xian.

After carefully examining the Formation from all sides, his burning gaze fell back onto Lu Xian.

"How old are you this year?"

"In reply to Senior Gao, this Junior has just turned twenty."

There were many ways to verify age in the cultivation world; hiding it would be unwise.

"Good, very good!"

Gao Ping praised repeatedly, "No wonder Revered Master often says the Dao of Formations relies most on talent. I, Gao Ping, consider my own talent decent, having reached the High Grade level at your age, but it was absolutely impossible to be as effortless as you... Your talent in the Dao of Formations is the strongest I have seen in over a decade!"

He spared no praise and then asked:

"Are you interested in taking a Revered Master? I can introduce you! My Revered Master is Elder Qi Yun of Xuanshu Peak, one of the six peaks in the sect. He is very fond of exceptionally talented Juniors!"

This sudden invitation took Lu Xian slightly by surprise.

"This Junior... this Junior naturally desires it. If the Immortal Master favors me, I would be eternally grateful."

Lu Xian put on a look of being overwhelmed by the unexpected favor.

Refusing directly at this moment would be too conspicuous.

Besides, it wasn't that he didn't want a Revered Master.

After all, with a Golden Core True Person to rely on, why work so hard?

Maybe he could choose any Cultivation Technique, pick Spells at will, and not have to worry about Formation diagrams.

However, this matter still required careful consideration.

Gao Ping saw Lu Xian's hesitation and smiled slightly, taking out a jade talisman carved with mysterious Formation patterns:

"This is a token of Xuanshu Peak. Once your batch of Outer Sect Disciples enters the sect and completes the preliminary lessons, you will all have the right to choose a main peak. At that time, if you are interested, you can bring this token to Xuanshu Peak, and your treatment can be directly raised by one level!"

He handed the jade talisman to Lu Xian and added meaningfully, "The Demonic Path sweep is imminent. I believe Junior Brother Han will make a wise choice."

Lu Xian's heart stirred slightly.

What does it have to do with the Demonic Path?

But he didn't ask further; the other party's coded words clearly meant he didn't want to say more.

"Thank you for the advice, Senior!"

Lu Xian cupped his hands.

"Add fifteen points to Junior Brother Han's Formation score. His level is not far from Top Grade."

Gao Ping instructed Chen Guangan, who had been staring blankly for a long time.

Only then did Chen Guangan snap back to his senses and hurriedly took out a Jade Slip to record: Han Feiyu, High Grade Formation Master, assessed by Deacon Gao as exceptionally talented, awarded an extra fifteen points, Formation score: ninety-five!

...The two then departed.

Chen Guangan's tone became increasingly polite, even carrying a hint of flattery: "Fellow Daoist Han—no, I'm afraid I'll have to address you as Junior Martial Uncle Han in the future. To catch the eye of a Golden Core True Person is an Opportunity we all dream of!"

"Is it difficult for someone with a Loose Cultivator background to join an Immortal Master's lineage?"

Lu Xian asked, puzzled.

"Fellow Daoist, don't tease me." Chen Guangan smiled bitterly, "If it weren't difficult, why would we struggle to complete tasks every day, accumulating contribution points bit by bit just to exchange for a Cultivation Technique and a foundation establishment pill?"

"Once you join an Immortal Master's lineage, at least you won't have to worry about Medicinal Pills. The difficulty of obtaining high-level Cultivation Techniques will be significantly reduced, and you'll have higher-level access to read most Legacy Secret Manuals."

"In short, there are many benefits. Once you enter the sect, Fellow Daoist, you must seize the Opportunity and show your worth."

"I see." Lu Xian realized.

Status and background matter everywhere, and the Cangye Sect is no exception.

"If you become wealthy and noble, don't forget me. I hope Fellow Daoist can lend me a hand. Rest assured, I, Chen, will never let Fellow Daoist work for nothing."

Chen Guangan lowered his voice, his expression slightly fawning.

"Understood! We can discuss this in detail later..."

Lu Xian agreed offhandedly.

Whether to help or not would depend on the price.

If the other party could find one or two types of upgrade Materials for his buildings, helping with a small favor wouldn't matter.

"Then it's a deal! Junior Brother Han, I have tasks to attend to and cannot stay long. If you have some free time after returning to the sect, you can come to Danxia Peak, B-rank area, Immortal Cave number three hundred, to have a few drinks with me."

"Also, don't forget to come in the evening for rank confirmation and registration. At that time, Fellow Daoist will be an official Cangye Sect Outer Sect Disciple!"

Chen Guangan said this and then hurried away.

Lu Xian pondered for a moment and then went to the edge of the square to wait.

By sunset, only a few hundred people remained in the field.

When the list was announced, many more left dejectedly, leaving only four hundred people in the end.

Lu Xian found his name among them.

Forty-third, Han Feiyu, total score of 255.

"Not high, not low. It's mainly that my talent as a Cultivator is a bit lacking, but that actually fits my way of being steady."

Lu Xian felt emotional.

But when he saw the name of the person behind him, his eyebrows twitched.

Forty-fourth, Luo Yingxue, total score of 254.

Is it Luo Xuanmeng?

Lu Xian couldn't be sure; he couldn't imagine how she was disguising herself.

One had to know that Golden Core True Persons were currently overseeing things from the sky.

During the last recruitment, the people from the Dream Imprisonment Sect were seen through as soon as they appeared.

He himself had only hidden his Five Spirit Simultaneous Cultivation magic power and hadn't even changed his appearance.

"I'll have to ask her some other day what kind of secret technique it is that can actually hide from the detection of Cultivators above Foundation Establishment... If she refuses to say, then I'll just have to say, 'Fellow Daoist Luo, you wouldn't want your identity as a demonic Cultivator to be exposed, would you?'"

A mischievous thought crossed Lu Xian's mind.

Arriving at the registration desk, after completing the final confirmation with his quasi-immortal token, he was led to a sealed cubicle.

Sitting across the table was a Cultivator with a square face and broad forehead, with a stern expression that clearly marked him as being from the Law Enforcement Hall.

"Junior Brother Han, I am a Disciple of the Law Enforcement Hall."

"Now, look directly into this Magic Treasure, the 'Truth-Telling Mirror,' and answer my questions truthfully. If there are any lies, your status as an Outer Sect Disciple will be immediately revoked, and you may even face imprisonment."

In his hand, he held a palm-sized, simple and unadorned bronze mirror.

It was actually a Magic Treasure!

It seemed specifically used for testing whether someone was lying.

Lu Xian only glanced at himself in the mirror, feeling his Divine Soul sway slightly, but he wasn't panicked at all and replied calmly:

"Please ask, Senior Brother."