144: Destined person

At this moment, the Ferryman was still selecting those who were fated.

Among the crowd, a group of young Cultivators was particularly eye-catching.

There were about a hundred of them, dressed in moon-white Daoist robes, with sharp and powerful auras; each one possessed an inner divine light, and their movements carried a natural air of arrogance.

The leader was a young man with a posture as upright as a pine tree, a handsome face, and eyes that flashed with sharp light as they opened and closed.

His aura was impressively at the Peak Earth Immortal realm!

Standing with his hands behind his back, his gaze swept across the turbid Ruoshui River. With a tone of unquestionable confidence, he said to his fellow Disciples beside him, "Junior Brothers and Sisters, rest assured. With our talent and cultivation, obtaining the qualification to cross the river is a certainty!"

"Once we enter the core of the Secret Realm to compete for that true immortal inheritance, I will still need to rely on your strength."

Between his words, he already treated the Legacy as something already in his possession.

Not far away, the people from the Wending Sect also took in this scene.

Shi Tian crossed his arms over his chest, a playful smile curling at the corners of his mouth. "Interesting. I didn't expect to run into a few people in this Canglan Continent who are barely worth looking at. Their auras are much stronger than the riffraff nearby."

Hearing this, Yang Hao explained in a low voice to his fellow Disciples, "Senior Brother Shi Tian, those are people from the Taiqing Academy, one of the Three Great Academies of the Qinggu Heaven Domain."

"The leader is named Zhao Qian, a prominent figure of this generation in the academy."

"It is said that he possesses a special Physique and formidable combat power, claiming to be invincible within the same realm. He holds extremely high prestige among their younger generation."

"Invincible within the same realm?"

Xiao Bufan sneered, a sharp Sword Intent flashing in his eyes. "What a boast! If he were in the same realm as me, one sword would be enough to kill him!"

Possessing the Primal Sword Body and having received personal instruction from Lin Chen, he naturally had his own arrogance.

"Junior Brother Xiao, be careful with your words. The Taiqing Academy has deep foundations, and this person's aura is steady; he is indeed not someone to be trifled with," Shi Tian reminded him.

Su Muhuang also nodded slightly, a hint of solemnity flashing in her beautiful eyes.

Just then, the Ferryman on the dread-crossing skiff moved again.

The long pole tapped out, and several beams of clear light fell. This time, over seventy percent of the light beams actually enveloped the area where the Taiqing Academy Disciples were! Dozens of academy Disciples, including Zhao Qian, were drawn by the clear light and landed lightly on the boat!

"Look! It's Senior Brother Zhao from the Taiqing Academy!"

"As expected, the Geniuses of the academy are different; so many were chosen!"

"Sigh, comparing oneself to others is truly infuriating!"

A chorus of envious discussions immediately broke out on the shore.

Zhao Qian stood at the bow of the boat, feeling the reverent gazes from all around. His expression was calm, as if it were only natural.

His gaze swept across the shore, pausing for a brief moment when he saw the group from the Wending Sect.

This group's auras were mixed yet faintly extraordinary; a few of them even caused him to feel a slight, indistinct pressure.

"When did such figures appear in the Qinggu Heaven Domain?"

Zhao Qian's heart stirred slightly, but he immediately suppressed the thought.

These few people—one Peak Great Emperor, three Middle Stage Great Emperors, and the others were even less of a concern. Even if they had some talent, how could they compare to the Taiqing Academy with its ten-thousand-year heritage?

He withdrew his gaze and paid them no further attention.

On the shore, the remaining few Disciples from the Taiqing Academy who were not selected could not help but feel disappointed, yet they still kept their backs straight, maintaining the pride of the academy.

On the Wending Sect's side, seeing the Taiqing Academy so favored by the Ferryman, everyone's expressions varied.

Xiao Bufan curled his lip. "It seems this Ferryman also values background and status?"

Yang Hao frowned and said in a low voice, "The Taiqing Academy is powerful. I'm afraid this competition for the Secret Realm will not be easy."

Shi Tian, however, still laughed lazily. "What's the rush? Whether one is fated or not isn't determined by who is standing on the boat right now. The good show is yet to come."

Just as his voice fell, the Ferryman seemed to sense something. His bamboo hat turned slightly, as if he were 'looking' toward where the Wending Sect members were.

The long pole was raised once more.

This time, a clear glow—far more solid and gentle than before—fell like moonlight. It did not scatter but completely enveloped all twenty-plus Disciples of the Wending Sect!

"What?!"

"They... they were all chosen?!"

"How is this possible?! All of them crossing the river at once?"

"Which Sect do they actually come from?"

"..."

The shore fell instantly silent, followed by an even greater eruption of clamor!

Even Zhao Qian and the other Taiqing Academy Disciples on the boat looked over, their faces filled with shock and disbelief!

Taking away an entire team at once? What kind of 'fate' was this?

That clear glow contained an irresistible power, gently lifting the members of the Wending Sect and delivering them steadily onto the dread-crossing skiff.

One Prodigy felt indignant, anger flushing his face. He couldn't help but cup his hands toward the Ferryman and say in a deep voice, "Senior Ferryman, this move... is it perhaps a bit against the rules?"

"The Ruoshui crossing has always been about fate!"

"How can there be a reason for an entire Sect to be the fated ones?"

"If Senior acts like this, how can the Disciples of our other forces be convinced?"

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone was shocked!

This person really has guts!

He actually dares to question the Ferryman. Does he have a death wish?

The Ferryman's movements paused slightly. From beneath the bamboo hat came that indifferent, ethereal voice, clearly reaching everyone's ears: "Are you teaching me how to do things?"

The Prodigy's heart trembled, but he still braced himself and replied, "Junior does not dare. Junior just wants to understand, even if I must die!"

"The laws of fate are mysterious. How can they be measured by common logic? Their auras are connected, their destinies intertwined, and they share a single vein of Luck. This is a great fate of a Sect! The fate of one person can ferry an entire Sect! Do you have an objection?"

"This..."

The Prodigy's face turned pale. He wanted to argue further but was held back firmly by his companions. Though unwilling, he lost his nerve and retreated dejectedly.

After all, the power of decision was in the Ferryman's hands; whoever he said was fated, was fated.

There really was absolutely nothing that could be done.

Afterward, a few more fated ones were chosen. Then, the dread-crossing skiff slowly left the shore, sailing into the depths of the mist.

Those who were not chosen could only look at the boundless Ruoshui before finally leaving dejectedly.

The dread-crossing skiff did not look large, but its interior held another world.

As everyone stepped onto the boat, they felt a slight distortion in space. Their vision suddenly opened up, and they found themselves in an independent small world shrouded in clouds and mist, filled with Immortal Qi.

Beneath their feet was a floor paved with warm white jade. All around were tinkling spirit springs, and exotic flowers and herbs emitted a delicate fragrance. They could even feel pure Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi flowing, far denser and more tranquil than the outside world, like a moving blessed land for cultivation.

Su Muhuang looked around and said softly, "Senior Brother Xiao was right! This screening looks at one's skeletal structure, talent, and cultivation potential."

"Those with slightly inferior Aptitude don't even have the qualification to step onto this boat; they can only stay in the outer regions to seek some minor opportunities."

"If it really were only about that illusory 'fate,' the outcome would indeed be hard to predict."

"At least, our people wouldn't be so complete."

Xiao Bufan said triumphantly, "See, I was right! What fated ones? It's just a trick to fool people!"

"Fine, fine, we know you're amazing!"

Shi Tian teased with a laugh.

The Wending Sect group successfully boarded the boat and stood on the opposite side from the Taiqing Academy Disciples.

One side was the academy Prodigies with a long heritage, and the other was the mysteriously rising Sect newcomers. Their gazes met in the air; though no words were spoken, they had all noticed each other. It was just that... neither side really took the other seriously.

Zhao Qian's gaze swept over the Wending Sect members again, lingering for a moment on the four Personal Disciples, including Shi Tian. His gaze darkened slightly, and he sneered in his heart, "Just a few ants. No matter where you come from, if you dare block This Young Master's path, there is only one end—"

"And that is death!"