2: Disciple Recruitment Conference

"Ding! Congratulations, Host, for successfully signing in. You have gained five thousand years of cultivation!"

"Because the Host's cultivation has reached the limit that this world can bear, the cultivation gained from signing in will be temporarily stored in the System. The Host can extract it when needed."

Gu Changge's mouth twitched as he listened to the System's prompt.

He pinched a freshly picked purple bamboo grape between his fingers. The juice dripped down his fingers onto the white jade table, spreading a small, sparkling stain.

"The Great Emperor Realm is the Peak?"

He raised an eyebrow, looking into the Void Realm, as if he could pierce through the clouds to see the world's boundaries.

He was still imagining what higher Realms might be like, perhaps immortal gods who shattered the Void Realm, or cosmic travelers who roamed the star seas.

But the System's prompt was like a bucket of cold water, extinguishing all his fantasies.

A warning that had just flashed through the System appeared in his mind.

"Detected world barrier strength is mortal-grade. Forcibly breaking through the Great Emperor Realm will cause the Laws to collapse, likely leading to plane collapse."

Gu Changge smacked his lips and tossed the grape into his mouth.

Plane collapse? Wouldn't that mean even his Zizhu Peak would turn to dust?

He had no interest in being a world-destroying culprit, nor did he want to perish with the entire Profound Yellow Continent.

"Forget it, temporary storage it is."

He spread his hands, not too disappointed.

Anyway, his Peak Great Emperor Realm cultivation was more than enough for him to squander.

Having died once, the current Gu Changge cherished his life immensely, only wishing for longevity.

He recalled when he first activated the System, he was so excited by the introduction of the Hongmeng Divine Body that he couldn't sleep all night, always feeling that one day he would tread upon all heavens and punch down gods and devils.

But once he truly reached an invincible state, he became even more protective of his life.

Just like now, his Divine Sense could easily sweep across the entire Eastern Region, seeing an old monster breaking through a Bottleneck in a hidden mountain valley.

He could also glimpse the towering waves stirred up by ancient behemoths lurking in the deep sea when they turned over.

But the more he understood the vastness and danger of this world, the less he wanted to leave the small corner of Zizhu Peak.

"Even though I'm invincible now, what if people from the heavens really do exist?"

Gu Changge, who often read novels in his previous life, was very familiar with the tropes of Xuanhuan worlds.

Gu Changge stroked his chin, deciding to stay steady and not be reckless.

In his opinion, as long as he could safely sign in at Zizhu Peak, continuously improve his strength, and stay away from disputes and dangers, that was enough.

As for the outside world's splendor and struggles, let them go with the wind... Ten years had passed, and his understanding of this world grew.

This world, named Xuanhuang Great World, was vast and boundless, with countless powerful Cultivators, Secret Realms, and ancient Legacies.

The Realms, from low to high, were: Body Tempering Realm, Foundation Establishment Realm, Core Formation Realm, Purple Mansion Realm, Cave Heaven Realm, Heavenly Human Realm, King Realm, Saint Realm, Saint King Realm, Great Saint, Quasi-Emperor, Great Emperor...

Gu Changge had already reached the Great Emperor Realm, and now far surpassed it.

The Xuanhuang Great World was divided into five great regions: the Eastern Region, Western Region, Southern Region, Northern Region, and Central Region.

Each great region had countless powerful forces.

Central Province was the center of the Xuanhuang Great World, gathering countless top-tier forces and powerhouses.

Besides these great regions, the Xuanhuang Great World also had many mysterious areas, such as forbidden zones, Secret Realms, and ancient stars.

Forbidden zones were extremely dangerous places, said to be inhabited by ancient existences of unfathomable strength, which few dared to enter.

Secret Realms were places with rich Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi and abundant resources. They would open periodically, attracting countless Cultivators to explore and seek treasures.

Ancient stars were ancient planets floating in the starry sky, which might also contain powerful civilizations and Legacies.

The Azure Profound Sect was located deep within the vast mountain range of the Eastern Region of the Profound Yellow Continent. With its mountain gate as the center, no other Sect dared to contend with it within a radius of ten thousand miles.

In this area, the Azure Profound Sect was the absolute Dominator. Wherever its mountain gate reached, Cultivators and common people alike held it in awe.

Together with the surrounding six great Sects, it was known as the Seven Great Sects of Xuan Province.

However, when placed in the boundless Eastern Region of the Profound Yellow Continent, the Azure Profound Sect's significance became negligible.

The Eastern Region was vast, spanning hundreds of millions of miles, with countless ancient Sects and Holy Lands with Legacies spanning tens of thousands of years. Any one of them possessed a Foundation and strength far beyond what the Azure Profound Sect could compare to.

To these behemoths, the Azure Profound Sect was merely an inconspicuous, ordinary Sect in the Eastern Region.

The Azure Profound Sect's ability to establish itself in a corner of the Eastern Region relied on its Foundation—the Seven Great Main Peaks.

Qingyun Peak, the Sect Master's residence, was perpetually shrouded in clouds and mist, like a celestial palace, and was the center of power for the Azure Profound Sect.

The other six Peaks were Dan Ding Peak, Jianxiao Peak, Qingyue Peak, Sunset Glow Peak, Zhenyue Peak, and Flying Cloud Peak.

These Seven Great Main Peaks had a thousand-year Legacy, each excelling in different areas, collectively supporting the Azure Profound Sect's reputation.

And beyond the Seven Great Main Peaks, there was a special mountain—Zizhu Peak.

A hundred years ago, Daoist Zizhu traveled here and happened upon the then Sect Master being pursued by powerful enemies, his life hanging by a thread.

Daoist Zizhu intervened and saved the Sect Master's life.

The two had similar temperaments and became fast friends.

Later, the Sect Master, grateful for Daoist Zizhu's life-saving grace, overcame all objections and invited him to join the Azure Profound Sect.

To show his respect, he specifically allowed Daoist Zizhu to open up a Peak outside the Seven Great Main Peaks, naming it Zizhu Peak.

Although Zizhu Peak was not listed among the Seven Great Main Peaks, it enjoyed the same status as them.

However, Daoist Zizhu had always been a free spirit, disliking constraints.

Although he joined the Azure Profound Sect, he never took a Disciple, residing alone on Zizhu Peak for many years, not involving himself in Sect affairs.

It wasn't until Gu Changge arrived that Zizhu Peak had a second Revered Master.

But after Daoist Zizhu left, the vast Zizhu Peak was once again left with only Gu Changge.

Gu Changge stood at the Peak of Zizhu Peak, gazing at the surging clouds in the distance, filled with emotion.

"Ten years have passed. I wonder how the people in that world are doing..."

He sighed softly, then smiled.

"However, since I've come to this world, I might as well enjoy it."

Suddenly, a distant bell chimed, three long and two short, signaling the start of the Azure Profound Sect's Disciple recruitment assembly.

Gu Changge looked towards the direction of the Azure Profound Sect's mountain gate in the distance.

Amidst the swirling clouds, there were throngs of people, like a colony of ants moving house.

Just then, a light footsteps sounded along the bamboo path, accompanied by the subtle flow of spiritual energy.

The person's steps were steady, and their breathing was long, clearly indicating a cultivation that had reached the Core Formation Realm.

"Martial Uncle Gu, are you there?"

The voice was clear and bright, with a hint of cautious respect.

Gu Changge turned his head, only to see a young man in a moon-white Daoist robe standing outside the bamboo house.

He had a face like jade and two shallow smile lines at the corners of his eyes. It was Li Xuanfeng, the Sect Master's Personal Disciple.

Li Xuanfeng was twenty years old this year, two years older than Gu Changge. Logically, they should be of the same generation, but by seniority, he had to call him Junior Martial Uncle.

He held a glowing white Jade Slip in his hand. Seeing Gu Changge look at him, he quickly bowed, the characters 'Qingxuan' embroidered on his cuffs gleaming softly in the sunlight.

"Martial Uncle Gu, today is the day our Sect recruits Disciples. Revered Master specifically asked me to invite you over to see if there are any Disciples you fancy, to add some vitality to Zizhu Peak."

Li Xuanfeng said respectfully, with a hint of anticipation in his tone.

As Li Xuanfeng raised his eyes, his gaze unconsciously swept around, and his Adam's apple subtly moved.

This Zizhu Peak truly was a treasure land.

As soon as he stepped onto the stone steps, he felt the spiritual energy in his Dantian become much more active. Now, standing in front of the bamboo house, he felt all his pores open up.

His Sea of Consciousness felt faintly swollen, and the sluggishness he felt at the Middle Stage Core Formation Realm Bottleneck even showed signs of loosening.

Upon hearing this, Gu Changge's head immediately swelled like a bucket.

"It's time to recruit Disciples again?"

He sighed helplessly, his tone full of resistance.