4: Chapter 4: The Divine Eyes that Break Delusion

The Azure Profound Sect, in Xuan Province, is a well-known and prominent cultivation Sect.

Since its establishment, it has nurtured countless powerful individuals who have dominated their eras. They either safeguarded the peace of a region or turned the tide in times of chaos, making the name of the Azure Profound Sect resound throughout Xuan Province.

The Sect has always upheld the principles of fairness and impartiality, never favoring any single force, nor participating in worldly power struggles.

Regardless of their background, as long as they possess sufficient talent and potential, everyone can receive equal opportunities in the Azure Profound Sect.

No matter where they come from, as long as their Heart-Nature is upright, they can find their own place here.

Here, strength and virtue are the only standards by which a person is measured.

It is precisely for this reason that the Azure Profound Sect enjoys extremely high prestige in Xuan Province, standing tall through a thousand years of trials and tribulations.

At this moment, on the Sect's mountain gate plaza, stood over a hundred young Cultivators.

They were all elites who had passed the Azure Profound Sect's rigorous multi-stage assessments. Their brows still held a hint of youthful inexperience, yet their eyes shone with keenness and aspiration.

Next, it was time for the Sect Elders to select Disciples.

Once chosen by an Elder to become a Personal Disciple, it meant receiving the most generous resources and meticulous guidance, with unlimited prospects.

Therefore, each of these young people straightened their backs, gazing fervently at the Elder's seats in front, eager to be noticed.

"This year's crop of talents is indeed good. Look at that young man in the blue shirt; his bone structure is unique, a fine candidate for Body Refining."

The Elder of Dan Ding Peak stroked his beard, a satisfied smile in his eyes.

The Elder from Jianxiao Peak looked over upon hearing this and nodded slightly: "More than just Body Refining, that girl to the east, Sword Qi flows at her fingertips when she holds a sword; she is a born sword embryo."

"When selecting successors, talent is important, but character must also be up to par."

The Elder of Qingyun Peak spoke in a deep voice, "The Legacy of our Azure Profound Sect cannot be entrusted to those with ill intentions."

The Elders all agreed, their gazes sweeping back and forth over the young people on the plaza, carefully screening them.

Just then, all the Elders' gazes simultaneously fixed on the entrance of the plaza.

A peerlessly handsome man, dressed in a plain white flowing cloud Daoist robe, slowly walked over. The Purple Bamboo patterns on his sleeves shimmered with a soft glow under the sunlight.

His incomparably handsome face had sword-like eyebrows that slanted into his temples, and his star-like eyes sparkled as if they contained the entire Nine Heavens galaxy.

With a high nose and lips like stained cinnabar, he possessed a peerless countenance rarely seen in the Xuanhuang Great World for millions of years.

How handsome exactly? Let's just say he was as stunningly handsome as the esteemed reader currently reading this text.

All the female Cultivators present unconsciously held their breath, and several young Disciples with insufficient self-control stared in a daze.

After a while, a few less experienced Elders regained their senses, frowning.

"Isn't that Gu Changge from Zizhu Peak? Why is he here?"

The young deacons beside them exchanged glances, clearly unfamiliar with the name, and couldn't help but ask in a low voice: "Elder, this is..."

"He is the Peak Master of Zizhu Peak, Gu Changge."

An old Elder with white hair and beard stroked his beard, his expression somewhat complex.

"Zizhu Peak?"

A low gasp immediately rose from the crowd, and many also looked bewildered.

The seven main peaks of the Azure Profound Sect were widely renowned, but besides these main peaks, there was also a very special existence—Zizhu Peak.

This peak nominally belonged to the Azure Profound Sect but had almost independent autonomy. It neither participated in the Sect's daily affairs nor enjoyed exclusive access to some Sect resources.

When the Sect Master, against all objections, established this rule back then, many people had reservations, but out of respect for the Sect Master's authority and Daoist Zizhu's reputation, they did not voice them.

And the Peak Master of Zizhu Peak was an even more mysterious figure.

Since Gu Changge took over Zizhu Peak ten years ago, he rarely appeared within the Sect, to the extent that many newly promoted Disciples didn't even know such a person existed in the Sect.

"That Gu Changge... seems to only have a Core Formation Realm cultivation?"

A low exclamation suddenly rang out from the crowd. The speaker was an outer Sect deacon who had just been promoted.

His cultivation was also in the Core Formation Realm, and he sensed the spiritual energy fluctuations emanating from Gu Changge; it was clearly the aura of a Core Formation Realm Cultivator.

"What do you know? Peak Master Gu is not even twenty years old yet! When you were twenty, you were probably still in the Foundation Establishment Realm!"

An older Disciple, more familiar with Gu Changge, retorted.

At these words, the plaza immediately quieted down a bit,

"A Core Formation Realm at less than twenty years old, this Aptitude is already comparable to Senior Brother Li, the Sect Master's Personal Disciple!"

Then a louder murmur erupted.

"However, which of the Peak Masters of the seven main peaks isn't in the Cave Heaven Realm? How can he, a Core Formation Realm, be a Peak Master?"

"Don't talk nonsense. Daoist Zizhu has rendered great service to the Sect. Is there anything wrong with his Disciple being a Peak Master..."

Gu Changge paid no attention to the discussions. He walked to the Elder's seats and cupped his hands slightly towards everyone.

A somewhat casual smile on his face: "Changge greets all Senior Brothers."

The Peak Master of Dan Ding Peak shook his head helplessly.

"You rascal, has the sun risen from the west? In previous years, no matter how much we invited you to the Disciple recruitment ceremony, you wouldn't come. Yet today you've appeared?"

"I was bored staying at home, so I came to join the fun."

Gu Changge spread his hands, his tone very casual, "All Senior Brothers, please feel free to select Disciples. Don't mind me, I'm just here to watch."

"Just watching?"

The Peak Master of Zhenyue Peak frowned slightly, his tone carrying a hint of seriousness.

"Changge, as the Peak Master of Zizhu Peak, you should at least consider the Legacy of your peak. You haven't even taken a Named Disciple in these ten years. Zizhu Peak still needs you to carry it forward!"

Gu Changge touched his nose, just about to speak, when the System's prompt suddenly sounded in his mind:

"Ding! Triggered limited-time mission: [Purple Bamboo Lantern]"

"Mission requirement: Recruit a Personal Disciple, with Aptitude no lower than Saint-Grade."

"Mission reward: Unknown."

The smile on Gu Changge's lips stiffened, and he couldn't help but complain to the System in his mind: "No, System, you're making the mission reward unknown? Are you messing with me?"

The System's cold voice sounded in his mind.

"Host need not question. Rewards are guaranteed to be generous upon mission completion. If the Host completes the mission, an additional Eye of Illusory Breaking will be granted. This divine eye can see through all illusions and discern the essence of all things."

"Eye of Illusory Breaking?"

Gu Changge's heart stirred. This ability sounded quite practical. With it, wouldn't it be clear at a glance whether someone was sincere or if a treasure had a hidden trick?

He thought for a moment, then asked in his mind: "Are you sure the rewards are generous? Don't just give me a few broken Spirit Stones to get rid of me."

"System's credibility is guaranteed. Please complete the mission as soon as possible, Host."

The System's tone remained flat.

Gu Changge pouted, no longer speaking to the System.

Anyway, there was nothing to lose. He would just watch, and perhaps he might actually encounter someone who met the requirements.

But he had his own scale in his heart—if someone didn't catch his eye, even if they were a cultivation prodigy rarely seen in ages, possessing some Heaven-Defying Physique, he would never give them a second glance, let alone take them as a Disciple.

Recruiting Disciples, after all, still depended on fate.

As for the System mission, anyway, relying on check-ins over the years, he had long stood at the peak of this world. A mere mission reward was truly not something he cared about.

He looked up at the Disciples on the plaza. Just then, his eyes warmed slightly, and a strange power surged into his pupils.

The moment the Eye of Illusory Breaking quietly underwent its Awakening, a clear understanding of Physique Ranks simultaneously emerged in his mind.

The Aptitude in this world, from low to high, is divided into Mortal Rank, Spirit Rank, Heaven-Grade, King Rank, Saint-Grade, and Emperor Rank.

Each Aptitude corresponds to a minimum achievement.

For example, Heaven-Grade Aptitude can reach the Heavenly Human Realm in the future.

King Rank Aptitude, as long as one Cultivates normally, can at least become a King Realm, and with Opportunity, may even knock on the door of a Saint.

Saint-Grade Aptitude is even more profound; the minimum achievement is a Saint, and those with extraordinary talent can reach the Saint King Realm, or even a Great Saint, and some can even achieve the position of a Great Emperor.

And the legendary Emperor Rank Aptitude, as long as one doesn't fall midway, will eventually step onto the position of a Great Emperor, becoming the Dominator of a world.

Of course, Aptitude is not absolute.

Just as some are born Mortal Rank, yet break through shackles with Heaven-Defying perseverance and endless Opportunity.

Others possess Saint-Grade Aptitude but, due to insufficient Heart-Nature or premature death, ultimately fade into obscurity.

But generally speaking, Aptitude is still an important measure of potential.