352: Sand Sable Master Test

"Fellow Daoist, have you decided on the test? If you are unwilling, my Qingtian Sect will not force you." Seeing Lei Zhentian standing there grinning foolishly, Li Big Saber asked helplessly.

"Ah, ah, willing, willing! This junior is willing to participate in the test." Lei Zhentian reacted, nodding in agreement somewhat awkwardly.

"Since you are willing, then fly into this mirror yourself. As soon as you pass the test, you will become an affiliated power of my Qingtian Sect," Li Big Saber said, pointing to the illusion demon mirror floating in the air.

"Yes, yes, this junior will enter now." Lei Zhentian agreed and, with a flash, rushed into the Illusion Demon Realm.

"Buzz buzz!"

As Lei Zhentian entered the illusion demon mirror, the entire illusion demon mirror hummed, then rippled, displaying the scene of Lei Zhentian's illusion.

Lei Zhentian, who was currently inside the illusion, had long since led his power to submit to the Qingtian Sect and was serving within the Qingtian Sect.

And his Cultivation Realm, after many years of Cultivation, had reached Eighth Level Great Emperor, just one step away from Breakthrough to Ninth Level Great Emperor.

Currently, he was sitting cross-legged in a manor in the Qingtian Sect Elder District, preparing to charge past the barrier of Eighth Level Great Emperor and Breakthrough to Ninth Level Great Emperor.

Just as he settled his legs and prepared to charge the Realm.

Seven or eight Experts radiating dense Immortal Qi instantly appeared above the Qingtian Sect.

These people, both male and female, had extremely stern expressions, and the terrifying coercion emanating from their bodies turned the mountainous space where the Qingtian Sect was located into a void.

Facing the coercion of these seven or eight terrifying Experts, a large number of low-level Disciples of the Qingtian Sect were instantly vaporized. Only a small portion of Disciples survived, protected by Li Big Saber and his group.

"Elder Lei! You take these Disciples and leave, preserving hope for our Qingtian Sect. We will go and block these people." Li Big Saber in the illusion said to Lei Zhentian, who had appeared beside him.

"No! Grand Elder, you take the Disciples and leave. Even if I, Lei Zhentian, have to risk this old life, I must hold them off for a moment." Lei Zhentian was furious, staring intently at the Experts radiating Immortal Qi in the air, wishing he could rush up and bite them to death.

"Elder Lei, you are not their match. Hurry and take the Disciples away, or it will be too late."

Li Big Saber roared, pulled Lei Zhentian behind him, entrusted the Disciples to him, and then rushed into the air with Zhao Da and his group to fight those Experts who were radiating dense Immortal Qi.

Watching the dozen or so people fighting in the air, causing space to distort and the continent to crack.

Lei Zhentian knew he was not their opponent, and going up to help would only sacrifice his life in vain. So, he gritted his teeth and quickly left, leading the surviving Qingtian Sect Disciples.

However, before they had gotten far, the Middle-aged Man among the eight chased after them with a sinister smile.

"Hehehe! None of the Qingtian Sect remnants can escape. Just obediently accept death!"

Seeing the sinisterly smiling Middle-aged Man charging over, the faces of the surviving Qingtian Sect Disciples turned pale with fear.

"All Disciples, scatter and run! This Elder will use my life to hold him back. Whether you live or die depends on your fortune!!"

Seeing this scene, Lei Zhentian, with a determined expression, ignited his Emperor Soul and Emperor Body, charging directly toward the sinisterly smiling Middle-aged Man who was approaching, using Self-detonation to stall the Middle-aged Man's advance.

"Boom! Boom!"

Where Lei Zhentian Self-detonated, earth-shattering sounds erupted, and large amounts of space were turned into nothingness.

And with Lei Zhentian's Self-detonation, the entire screen of the illusion demon mirror turned into static, and his figure was thrown out by the illusion demon mirror.

"Cough, cough!"

"Am I dead? Is this the legendary Land of Reincarnation? But this place seems very familiar?"

As soon as Lei Zhentian was thrown out by the illusion demon mirror, he lay on the plaza, coughed twice, and then scanned his surroundings with a confused expression.

"Heh heh, this is not the Land of Reincarnation, but the place where your destiny turns."

"Congratulations on passing the test and becoming an affiliated power of my Qingtian Sect."

Looking at the bewildered Lei Zhentian, Li Big Saber spoke up with a smile from the side.

Regarding the progress in the illusion just now, he also saw Lei Zhentian's loyalty in the final scene; otherwise, he wouldn't have allowed him to die in the illusion.

"Ah, the place where destiny turns?" Hearing Li Big Saber's voice, Lei Zhentian looked at him suspiciously, and only then slowly remembered that everything he had just experienced was merely an illusion.

"Hiss, the Upper Sect is truly terrifying! The illusion generated by this Illusion Treasure is actually so real?" Lei Zhentian recovered his senses, sucked in a cold breath, and showed an expression of horror.

He hadn't noticed anything at all while in the Illusion Demon Realm just now; he thought everything was real. The Qingtian Sect's Illusion Demon Realm is truly terrifying.

"Fellow Daoist, get up quickly. After I take you to meet Lord Sect Master, your Qinglei Imperial Sect will officially become an affiliated power of my Qingtian Sect."

Seeing Lei Zhentian still in shock, Li Big Saber couldn't help but remind him.

"Yes, yes, Grand Elder, this junior will go pay respects to the Upper Sect Master now!" Lei Zhentian climbed up from the ground and replied excitedly.

Although he had just experienced a realistic Death Illusion, he had at least passed the test and become an affiliated power of the Qingtian Sect. Now, as long as he paid respects to the Sect Master of Qingtian Sect, their relationship would officially take effect.

If the relationship was formally confirmed, and he could Cultivate at the Qingtian Sect just like in the illusion, it would be absolutely worth it.

He should know that in the illusion, he Cultivated to Eighth Level Great Emperor in just a hundred years, and was close to charging Ninth Level Great Emperor.

As long as the affiliated power benefit mentioned by Li Big Saber was Cultivation at the Qingtian Sect, then he could definitely reach Peak Great Emperor in a hundred years, just like in the illusion, turning the illusion into reality.

"Mhm, follow me."

Li Big Saber said with a smile, and then walked toward the Qingtian Sect Main Hall.

Seeing this, Lei Zhentian followed closely behind Li Big Saber like an attendant.

The two walked along unhurriedly. When they were close to the Main Hall entrance, the sharp-eyed Lei Zhentian quickly spotted the enlightenment tea tree planted next to the Main Hall.

"Hiss, isn't this the enlightenment tea tree? The Upper Sect actually uses it as a landscaping tree? Isn't that too extravagant?" Looking at the extremely lush enlightenment tea tree next to the Main Hall, Lei Zhentian secretly clicked his tongue in amazement, even slowing his pace.

You must know that enlightenment tea leaves are rare items on the Seven Star Continent. Before he Cultivated to the Great Emperor Realm, he could only watch others drink it and smell the fragrance of the enlightenment tea leaves.

After Cultivating to the Great Emperor Realm, although he had only obtained over a hundred enlightenment tea leaves, he usually couldn't bear to drink them, treasuring and collecting them. He didn't even share them with Sand Sable and Sha Xiaomeng when he was poisoned and about to die.

Now, the enlightenment tea leaves that he treasured and couldn't bear to drink were casually planted next to the Main Hall in the Qingtian Sect. This was too much of a blow.

"Fellow Daoist, hurry up. The Sect Master is still waiting for you in the Main Hall." As if sensing that Lei Zhentian was so shocked that his steps had slowed, Li Big Saber quickly spoke up to remind him.

He was already used to Lei Zhentian's strange behavior.

After all, the expressions of those who submitted before were similar when they saw the enlightenment tea tree at the entrance.

"Yes, yes, Grand Elder!" Hearing this, Lei Zhentian immediately snapped out of his shock, nodding and bowing as he quickly followed Li Big Saber.

When the two reached the entrance of the Qingtian Sect Main Hall, Li Big Saber immediately bowed and saluted toward the hall, saying, "Reporting to Sect Master, the Great Emperor Expert of the Qinglei Imperial Sect has passed the test and has specially come to pay respects to Sect Master!"

"Let him in!" Jiang Chen's slightly lazy voice came from inside the Main Hall.

"Yes, Sect Master!" Li Big Saber responded, then turned to Lei Zhentian and said, "Fellow Daoist, go in yourself."

"Yes, Grand Elder!" Lei Zhentian bowed in response, then straightened up, wiped his forehead, and stepped into the Main Hall feeling incredibly nervous.

He knew that Elders like Elder Zhao Da could instantly kill a Peak Great Emperor. As the Sect Master of the Qingtian Sect, he must certainly be a world-shaking figure.

Facing such a person, he had to be fully alert, or saying one wrong word could cost him everything.

As he walked into the Main Hall.

Lei Zhentian dared not look directly at Jiang Chen on the main seat. Instead, he kept his head slightly lowered until he reached the center of the Main Hall.

He immediately knelt down on the ground, performed the Kneeling Worship Ritual toward Jiang Chen, and shouted, "This junior, Lei Zhentian, pays respects to the Upper Sect Master! I wish the Upper Sect Master an unimpeded immortal path and an early ascent to the Immortal Realm!!"

When the Phantom of the immortal path appeared above the New Continent, Great Emperor Realm Experts like them all sensed it. They knew the immortal path was already condensing, and once it solidified, Peak Great Emperor Experts could step onto the immortal path, Cross the Immortal Tribulation, and head to a higher-level world.

Therefore, there was absolutely nothing wrong with his blessing.

"Heh heh, an early ascent to the Immortal Realm?" Hearing Lei Zhentian add that line, Jiang Chen chuckled, sized up the kneeling Lei Zhentian, and then said faintly, "Dispense with the formalities!"

"Thank you, Upper Sect Master!" Hearing this, Lei Zhentian sighed in relief, bowed once more to Jiang Chen, and then slowly stood up, secretly glancing at Jiang Chen before quickly lowering his head again.

Although Jiang Chen looked younger and handsomer than his Sand Sable Disciple, Experts cannot be judged by appearance.

Beneath Jiang Chen's excessively young appearance, he might very well be an old monster who has lived for tens of thousands of years. He must be careful and cautious, ensuring that he does not displease Jiang Chen in any detail.

Seeing Lei Zhentian's cautious demeanor, Jiang Chen smiled and asked as a matter of routine, "Xiao Tian, are you sure you want to lead the Qinglei Imperial Sect to submit to my Qingtian Sect and pay tribute every year?"

Although Lei Zhentian had passed the test and expressed his intention to submit, as the Upper Sect Master, he still had to actively confirm it, otherwise, he would appear too casual.

Facing Jiang Chen's inquiry, Lei Zhentian quickly knelt down on the ground again and shouted, "Reporting to Upper Sect Master, this junior sincerely leads the Qinglei Imperial Sect to submit to the Upper Sect. I ask the Upper Sect Master to accept us."

Cold sweat streamed down Lei Zhentian's forehead. He didn't understand why Jiang Chen would ask this question when he had already passed the test outside.

Had he been disrespectful somewhere, causing Jiang Chen displeasure?

Seeing Lei Zhentian kneel again, Jiang Chen spoke up with a smile.

"Heh heh, don't be nervous. Get up quickly. Since you are sincere, This Sect Master accepts."

"From now on, your Qinglei Imperial Sect shall pay tribute and submit to my Qingtian Sect, and my Qingtian Sect will protect your safety and never break this promise."

[Ding, successfully accepted an Emperor-level power, rewarding one epic treasure chest]

The moment Jiang Chen agreed, the System's reward sound rang in his ears, and an epic treasure chest appeared in his System Backpack.

"Thank you, Upper Sect Master, for accepting us!" Hearing that Jiang Chen had agreed, Lei Zhentian bowed to Jiang Chen before standing up with relief.

Although he was standing, he was secretly complaining internally.

As a submitting power, he had to undergo a test and multiple kneelings before Jiang Chen accepted him as an affiliated power of the Qingtian Sect. It was truly difficult.

"Mhm."

Seeing that the System treasure chest had arrived, Jiang Chen nodded with a smile and continued speaking to Lei Zhentian, "Xiao Tian, my Qingtian Sect has benefits for affiliated powers. You can ask my sect's Grand Elder about them later."

"Since you are a Great Emperor Expert, if you wish to serve within my Qingtian Sect, you can also express your intention to my sect's Grand Elder, and he will arrange it for you."

"Yes, Upper Sect Master, this junior has remembered!" Lei Zhentian replied excitedly, cupping his fists and bowing.

Being able to serve in the Qingtian Sect meant he could Cultivate within the Qingtian Sect. That is to say, reaching Peak Great Emperor in a hundred years, as he did in the illusion, could truly be realized.

"Mhm, go now. If you have any matters, go find my sect's Grand Elder." Jiang Chen waved his hand, signaling that Lei Zhentian could leave.

"Yes, Upper Sect Master, this junior takes his leave!" After bowing and saluting, Lei Zhentian cautiously retreated from the Main Hall.

Seeing Lei Zhentian emerge, Li Big Saber called him to follow, walking toward the plaza, and said to Lei Zhentian as they walked, "Fellow Daoist Lei, since your Qinglei Imperial Sect has officially become an affiliated power of my Qingtian Sect, I will now tell you about the benefits and responsibilities of an affiliated power."

After Li Big Saber finished speaking, he told Lei Zhentian everything about the affiliated power benefits: fifty slots daily for Cultivation in the Time Pagoda for Two Shichen, as well as the duties of performing odd jobs.

"What?! The Upper Sect actually possesses such a Heaven-Defying Cultivation Divine Artifact?" Lei Zhentian's mouth gaped wide open, his expression utterly horrified.

He had previously thought that the affiliated power benefit mentioned by Li Big Saber would, at most, be Cultivating in the Qingtian Sect's dense Spiritual Qi.

He never expected the Qingtian Sect to have such a terrifying Cultivation Accelerator.

If he could Cultivate inside it, he wouldn't need a hundred years at all; at most fifty days, he could Cultivate to Peak Great Emperor.

Lei Zhentian recovered his senses, so excited he was nearly crying.

Previously, having to go through a test and several kneelings just for Jiang Chen to accept the Qinglei Imperial Sect as a submitting power, he had felt wronged.

After all, he had come to offer a treasure, yet he was treated like worthless trash nobody wanted.