22: Eight sects gathered, including the Holy Son of the Sword Sect.

At this time within the Cloud Heaven Sect, many True Disciples gathered together in a bamboo forest.

The bamboo forest was filled with green trees and emerald vines, with graceful flowing water, making it incomparably elegant.

Spiritual rhythm flowed through it, and there was no lack of small Spirit Beasts frolicking about.

As one of the Nine Great Sects of Donglin Prefecture, the True Disciples of the Cloud Heaven Sect went without saying.

They were naturally the cream of the crop in Donglin Prefecture, possessing extremely high talent and cultivation.

This time, it was extremely rare for so many Cloud Heaven Sect True Disciples, who usually fought constantly, to gather in one place.

Among those seated, some had a majestic appearance and a dignified air, like a fierce lion intimidating all directions.

Some were handsome and elegant, with a refined manner like a graceful Young Master, capturing people's hearts.

Some were covered in Evil Qi, like a god of slaughter, inspiring awe and fear.

There were also slender fairies, quiet and leisurely, like a blooming flower, beautiful and moving.

However, their faces all bore a heavy expression, lost in a thousand thoughts.

Most of them, as veteran True Disciples, had long ago entered the Foundation Establishment Realm or were even at the Half-step Golden Core stage, and they were full of covetousness for the position of Saint.

The position of Saint was of great importance.

Not only was the status noble, but there were also countless Sect resources tilted in their favor. More importantly, the status of a Saint sometimes even surpassed that of the Sect Master.

How could they not be envious?

Rumors were already circulating in the cultivation world that the identity of Zhang Yizhi, who had recently offended Black Blood Mountain City and killed two Foundation Establishment Stage Middle and Late Stage Cultivators in a row, was not simple.

It was highly likely that he was a Prodigy hidden or secretly nurtured by some great power.

To speculate further:

The Saint's investiture ceremony and the end of the new Disciple trials were both set for the same day, making it hard for them not to have wild thoughts.

They had been fighting for years, so how could they be at ease when a Saint was suddenly dropped in from above?

"He only killed two Foundation Establishment Middle and Late Stage Cultivators who used evil methods to force their growth while he was at a lower level. What right does he have to ride over our heads?"

"I'm afraid everyone here kills Black Blood Mountain City's Foundation Establishment Cultivators like slaughtering pigs and dogs, right? You call this skill?"

"Humph, I want to have a bloody battle with him and see who is the real candidate for Saint!"

A short-tempered True Disciple said coldly, his eyes revealing disdain.

"That's right, we are veteran True Disciples. Our cultivation and strength are far above theirs. How can we let a newcomer ride over our heads?"

Another True Disciple chimed in.

"Don't forget, Zhang Yizhi killed two Foundation Establishment Middle and Late Stage Cultivators while only in the Qi Refining Realm. This is not something an ordinary person can do."

An older True Disciple reminded them, his face full of worry, as if Zhang Yizhi was an unpredictable threat.

"Humph, so what? Our current strength is not inferior to theirs. As long as we are united, we don't need to fear him."

A handsome and elegant True Disciple said with full confidence.

"In that case, we will come out together on that day and take him down a notch."

"Our current positions were all fought for with real swords and spears."

"Everyone, be sharp when the time comes. Don't lose face."

For a time, everyone nodded in agreement, and the atmosphere in the venue reached its peak amidst the discussion.

However, in the furthest corner of the seats, a white jade-like Young Master sat quietly.

His skin was fair, and his pair of soul-hooking peach blossom eyes seemed to have great lethality on both men and women.

Bai Mengdie lightly shook the folding fan in her hand, her beautiful hair swaying slightly in the wind.

"That day will surely be very interesting."

...Time passed, like white clouds turning into gray dogs.

Today, the Cloud Heaven Sect's mountain gate was wide open, and the lords of the clouds descended one after another on immortal swords.

It was very lively, with busy Cloud Heaven Sect Disciples and Cultivators from their subordinate forces everywhere.

The crowds decorating the scene were endless, as if laying out a bustling and lively scroll.

The hidden Formations were closed, and the entire vast Cloud Heaven Sect mountain range revealed its face, stretching endlessly.

As expected of a power that had lasted for thousands of years; a single glance suggested that there were no fewer than three hundred thousand Disciples within.

Many Elders, who were usually elusive, came out one after another, and Formation spiritual runes appeared in the sky.

Everyone was on high alert, and some Disciples even put on brand-new Daoist robes, looking exceptionally solemn.

Because today was different; it was not only the new Disciple recruitment assembly but also the Saint's investiture ceremony.

The Cloud Heaven Sect, as one of the Nine Sects of Donglin Prefecture, held a grand Disciple recruitment assembly every ten years.

They would randomly dispatch a portion of Disciples to conduct selections, and finally, at the appointed time, candidates would reach the mountain gate through their own means, which was called the new Disciple trial.

And today, besides the end of the new Disciple trial, there was an even more important matter: the Saint's investiture ceremony.

The Saint is the future hope of the Cloud Heaven Sect and the inheritor of the Sect's Legacy.

Every Saint is only qualified to become one after rigorous selection and testing.

And today, a new Saint will be born!

Seats were arranged neatly on the square, like an army in Formation waiting for the arrival of noble guests.

In the center stood a magnificent high platform, symbolizing the Holy Land for selecting new Disciples and investiture of the Saint.

As time passed, more and more guests arrived one after another. They had various identities: Elders from other Sects, Loose Cultivators, and subordinate forces of the Cloud Heaven Sect.

Each guest brought many of their own Disciples and followers to attend this grand event.

This grand event gathered the attention of almost the entire Donglin Prefecture.

Even in the Void Realm, several obscure auras were constantly scanning those present.

Before long, the bright sun rose.

As a beam of morning light shone on the earth, the distant clouds were gradually torn apart by some colossal objects.

"Shenluo Sect has arrived!"

"Star Arrival Sect has arrived!"

"Dao Xian Palace has arrived!"

"Wuji Sect has arrived!"

"Ten Thousand Demon Gate has arrived!"

"Moyang Sect has arrived!"

"Ziyu Sect has arrived!"

Seven shouts rang out in succession. Everyone looked into the distance as seven huge Spirit Ships arrived together.

Standing atop the huge Spirit Ships were many Elders and Disciples of the eight immortal Sects. On each Spirit Ship, there were at least over a hundred Disciples.

Among them, the most eye-catching were those few beautiful and extraordinary figures.

This was because those figures were none other than the Saint and Saintess level figures recently invested by the eight great Sects.

Aboard the Ten Thousand Demon Gate's Spirit Ship, the wickedly arrogant Ten Thousand Demon Gate Saint looked down at the people in the Cloud Heaven Sect with a hint of disdain.

"They are all just mediocre people. If this were the ancient era, they wouldn't even be worthy of becoming my food."

"Hahaha."

Though he had not yet arrived, his arrogant voice carried from afar.

However, his gaze would always unconsciously glance toward another white Spirit Ship.

Aboard the Star Arrival Sect's Spirit Ship, an exquisitely beautiful young girl sat cross-legged on the deck, her aura solid and heavy.

"The Saintess is truly diligent. Even on the Spirit Ship, she Cultivates hard. She is truly a role model for us."

The Star Arrival Sect Disciples showed expressions of shame.

But more than that, they felt admiration and love for the Saintess, though they kept it hidden in their hearts.

"Saintess, we have arrived at the Cloud Heaven Sect."

As these words were delivered, the Xinglai Saintess slowly opened her eyes.

Suddenly, a dull thud was heard.

Her entire aura fluctuated violently, and a sound like popping beans came from her Meridians.

A powerful True Qi spread in all directions; her cultivation had actually broken through to the Foundation Establishment Realm at this moment.

"The Saintess actually broke through!" everyone exclaimed.

"Breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Realm at fourteen, this is simply incredible!" someone lamented.

"Say less. The Saintess's talent is extraordinary; we cannot understand it," someone advised.

However, after the Breakthrough, the Saintess did not show any joy; instead, she frowned slightly.

Feeling the powerful True Essence in her body, she realized the huge gap between the Qi Refinement Stage and the Foundation Establishment Stage.

If she were to face those powerful enemies, unless she used every means at her disposal, it would be difficult for her to win as easily as Zhang Yi did.

But...

Since she was here, there was only one thing to do: fight.

"Fight!"

Surging Battle Intent rose in her eyes again.

She couldn't wait to have a hearty life-and-death battle with that fellow named Zhang Yizhi.

"Dammit, that stinking woman actually broke through."

The Ten Thousand Demon Gate Saint, who had been watching from afar for a long time, had an angry expression, but today he wasn't here to pick a fight with her.

He was here to see the true face of the so-called Cloud Heaven Sect Saint.

Yes, that's right, it wasn't because he was scared.

On one of the Spirit Ships, five handsome men and beautiful women had already gathered.

They seemed to be chatting about something; these Saints and Saintesses had already formed a small group.

"Seven Emperor Sword Sect, arrived!"

A thunderous voice echoed in the air.

With a bang, a huge black Spirit Ship broke through the thick clouds.

It appeared before everyone like a terrifying exotic beast descending upon the world.

The expressions of the Saints and Saintesses from the seven Holy Lands immediately turned solemn, and they all looked over in unison.

On the Seven Emperor Sword Sect's Spirit Ship, a youth stood at the bow holding a sharp sword, accompanied only by a chubby Middle-aged Man.

However, when the Seven Emperor Sword Sect's Spirit Ship appeared, everyone's gaze was drawn to the youth holding the sword at the bow.

As soon as the youth appeared, many of the younger generation present felt like they were sitting on pins and needles, as an extremely dangerous aura rushed toward them.

The Seven Emperor Sword Sect Holy Son!

The Seven Emperor Sword Sect Holy Son stood there as if nothing else in the world existed, his eyes, which were like a pool of stagnant water, scanning the surrounding Nine Heavens.

Wherever his gaze landed, everyone's heart skipped a beat, and they all lowered their heads or shifted their gaze.

"Even this monster came." The Star Arrival Sect Saintess frowned, clearly full of wariness toward the Seven Emperor Sword Sect Holy Son.

On the Ten Thousand Demon Gate's Spirit Ship, the Ten Thousand Demon Gate Saint, Zuo Xiaotian, remained uncharacteristically silent, not daring to say much.

Including the other five Saints and Saintesses, even the geniuses of the younger generation traveling with them all remained silent.

This tense atmosphere did not last long; as the Seven Emperor Sword Sect Holy Son closed his eyes, everything returned to calm.

The tension of the many younger generation members gradually dissipated, and that sense of crisis also vanished into thin air.

"The Saints and Saintesses of the eight great Sects have gathered. I didn't expect this Cloud Heaven Sect Saint, who is about to be invested, to have such great influence."

"Yeah, I just don't know which True Disciple the Cloud Heaven Sect is planning to invest."

Before long, the final part of the Cloud Heaven Sect's Disciple recruitment assembly officially began.

Six extremely burly Yuntian Disciples stood on the high platform.

Each held a massive horn. They more or less possessed the Bloodlines and characteristics of Yao Beasts; they were Yao Beast hybrids.

"Hooo! Hooo! Hooo!"

The sound of the horns rang out, shaking heaven and earth.

This was the Cloud Heaven Sect's mountain-opening horn. With this, the Cloud Heaven Sect officially announced to Donglin Prefecture that today was the Cloud Heaven Sect's decennial grand recruitment assembly.

"Look, the clouds and mist have dispersed."

"Wow, what are those eight huge black shadows?"

"Those are Spirit Ships, you bumpkin."

At the foot of the Cloud Heaven Sect's mountain gate, a large group of young men and women looked up. They saw the mist at the peaks of the mountains gradually disperse, revealing a magnificent pavilion and jade hall hidden among the peaks.

The buildings were well-arranged and splendid, with waterfalls and clear springs gurgling in the small courtyards. Surrounded by mountains, the scenery was as beautiful as a painting. Even from afar, one could vaguely see the figures of Cultivators within.

Among the crowd, people lamented one after another:

"This is the rumored Cloud Heaven Sect! It really lives up to its reputation."

"As one of the Nine Sects of Donglin Prefecture, the Cloud Heaven Sect has solid strength. Seeing it today, it's indeed true."

This magnificent Sect was like an immortal's residence; who wouldn't yearn for it after seeing it?

"And so, I will be a Disciple of the Cloud Heaven Sect today..."

A young girl carrying a long spear stepped out. Looking at the incomparably brilliant Cloud Heaven Sect mountain gate before her, her heart was already filled with longing.

This was the path to becoming powerful; who wouldn't be moved?

"Haha, Cloud Heaven Sect, let my cultivation path begin here first."

Many young men and women scrambled forward, and soon, everyone approached the foot of the Cloud Heaven Sect's mountain gate.

There, a group of people had already gathered; they were the greeters of the Cloud Heaven Sect.

The two groups instantly packed the huge mountain gate square to the brim. A quick count suggested at least over ten thousand new Disciples.

Approaching the Cloud Heaven Sect mountain gate, everyone finally saw clearly the appearance of the eight huge Spirit Ships high in the sky above the square.

They were distinctly colored, and their hulls were adorned with magnificent decorations.

Atop the Spirit Ships were many blurred figures, which caused no small change in the state of mind of those young men and women who had traveled thousands of miles to reach the Cloud Heaven Sect.

The suspended giant Spirit Ships, the mountain gate with its Immortal Qi, and the Cultivators who had transcended the mundane world—all of these ignited the flames of desire within their hearts.

Transcending the mortal world and having powerful strength—who wouldn't crave that?

So what if there was some Zhang Yizhi? The path of the immortal Dao is long; who can say who will have the last laugh until the very end?

Good, good, good. This batch of Cloud Heaven Sect Disciples are all good seeds.

Looking at these Disciples with determined expressions, the Cloud Heaven Sect Elders were not stingy with various words of praise.

Among them, there was no lack of people with ordinary Aptitude. Talent does not represent everything; only those who truly survive are heroes... Outside the Cloud Heaven Sect mountains, on a mountain path.

The sun was high in the sky, shining brightly, like a fire god scorching the earth.

A bird flew into the mountain path. With a flick of its tail, it produced a lump of white substance that landed precisely on the head of the figure driving the carriage below.

"Is it raining?"

Zhang Yizhi frowned, feeling his hair suddenly become a bit wet, but he didn't care too much because it was now time to take his medicine.

"Come out, Heaven-Destroying Earth-Shattering World-Blessing Divine Pill."

Two brownish-yellow Medicinal Pills went down his throat, and immediately, an aura traveled through his entire body.

First came bitterness, followed by a surge of power into his Dantian.

Just as Zhang Yizhi thought the effects were over, an even greater change suddenly occurred.

Crack!

Zhang Yizhi discovered to his horror that his body was actually cracking. He hurriedly woke up Qin Dong and Qin Zixuan, who were meditating inside the carriage.

"Brother Qin! Sister Zixuan, wake up quickly."

"What is it, what is it? Can't a person sleep... Cultivate?"

Qin Dong's eyes were blurry with sleep. He glanced at Zhang Yizhi, whose expression was slightly panicked, while the latter hurriedly asked.

"Brother Qin, quickly look at me. What exactly is wrong?"

Hearing this, Qin Dong couldn't help but show a serious expression. He really did see that there was indeed something unusual.

"Brother, why is there a lump of bird droppings on your head?"

Zhang Yizhi subconsciously touched it; he really had hit the jackpot.

"Ah? *Gag*, not that."

Crack.

Another cracking sound rang out. This time, even Qin Zixuan, who had just woken up from her meditation, heard it.

"Little Brother Zhang, this seems to be the Physique evolution mentioned in records. Quickly enter the carriage and fully activate your Awakening power."

Qin Zixuan said with a solemn face. she had once read some rumors about Physique Awakening.

"Okay."

Zhang Yizhi didn't dare to delay and hurriedly entered the carriage to sit cross-legged.

Seeing this, Qin Dong also took over the task of driving the carriage, because they had to arrive at the Cloud Heaven Sect within half an hour.

"What about you?"

Glancing at Qin Zixuan, Qin Dong spoke slowly.

"Young Lord, Zixuan wants to stay with you."

Qin Zixuan somewhat awkwardly took the initiative to hold Qin Dong's arm, her face full of shyness.

Qin Dong did not refuse her and allowed her intimate gesture.

"Fine, as you wish."

With a crack of the whip, the precious carriage sped away.

In the distance, a vast immortal mountain stood majestic and grand.