Chapter 96: Chapter 95: Ascension Ceremony

One month later, at 5:00 AM.

At the venue for the Ascension Ceremony—a massive plaza in Bixia Marketplace paved with white jade—a bustling, clamorous crowd had already gathered.

Dressed in a simple cyan robe, Lu Zhao had arrived early. He found a relatively quiet spot on some stone steps at the edge of the plaza and sat down to regulate his breathing. As his gaze swept over his surroundings, he was slightly taken aback.

The plaza was a sea of black-haired heads. A rough estimate put the number at no less than two thousand people! The group on the left was smaller, with about a hundred individuals. Most were children and youths with innocent faces and eyes filled with either curiosity or nervousness. Accompanied by their families and elders, they were clearly here for the Outer Disciple selection.

On the right side, however, was a uniform assembly of Late-stage Qi Cultivation Cultivators of varying ages, all with condensed auras. There were nearly a thousand of them! Some had their eyes closed in meditation, some conversed in low voices, and others scanned their competitors with sharp gazes. An invisible tension and a murderous air permeated the atmosphere.

So many Late-stage Qi Cultivation Wanderers had gathered in one place, all vying for the limited Entry Level slots. This demonstrated the immense allure of the Bixia Sect’s Foundation Establishment Pill, as well as the arduous path of a Wanderer.

Half an hour later, a low hum sounded from the horizon, growing louder as it drew closer. Every Cultivator in the plaza looked up in unison.

Two behemoths broke through the clouds and sailed slowly forward. Their shadows engulfed nearly half the plaza! Their design was somewhat similar to the Zhou Family’s Flowing Cloud Ship, but they were many times larger.

They were constructed entirely from a type of Spirit Wood that glowed with the luster of cyan jade. The hulls’ lines were smooth yet imposing, their surfaces engraved with complex Cloud Mist Spirit Patterns that were currently circulating a faint Spirit Light, pushing aside the surrounding clouds and mist.

The prows were not beast heads, but were instead carved with the massive emblem of the Bixia Sect: a rising sun illuminating the morning clouds. Just by hovering there, the ships emanated a heart-palpitatingly vast Spiritual Pressure and a profound sense of majesty.

’What an extravagant display...’ Lu Zhao sighed inwardly, a flicker of shock in his eyes. ’Either of these two Flying Ships is far superior to the Zhou Family’s. This is the true foundation of a Major Sect.’

The Flying Ships hovered as their cabin doors opened. Two groups of figures descended in an orderly file. One group wore indigo Daoist Robes. Their auras were mostly at the Mid-stage Qi Cultivation realm. They moved in a well-drilled manner with solemn expressions; they were the Outer Disciples of the Bixia Sect.

The other group was dressed in black robes with Tokens hanging from their waists. Their auras were even more condensed, all at the Late-stage Qi Cultivation realm, and their eagle-sharp eyes identified them as the Outer Sect Stewards responsible for maintaining order and carrying out specific duties.

Finally, three figures drifted down from the main cabins of the Flying Ships. They took several steps through the air before landing steadily on the high platform at the front of the plaza. All three wore the Profound Daoist Robes that signified their status as Inner Sect Stewards. Their auras were profound; they were all Foundation Establishment Cultivators!

Without needing an introduction, Lu Zhao’s gaze swept over them, and the information in his mind instantly matched the figures before him. The one in the center with a square face and a steady gaze must be Zhao Quzhou. The one on the left, slightly plump with a habitual smile but shrewd eyes, was Tian Bufan. The one on the right, with a cold face, thin lips pressed tightly together, and eyes as still as a Cold Pool, was undoubtedly Yun Lanyi.

After the three Foundation Establishment Stewards landed, Zhao Quzhou gave a slight nod to a capable-looking Outer Disciple in his thirties standing beside him. The disciple immediately took a step forward, channeled his Spiritual Power, and his voice rang out clearly across the entire plaza:

"By order of the Sect, the Ascension Ceremony begins now! All those participating in the Outer Disciple selection, form a line on the left side of the plaza! All those participating in the Outer Sect Steward selection, form a line on the right side of the plaza! No clamoring, no crowding! Violators will have their eligibility revoked!"

The crowd immediately parted like a tide, separating into two distinct groups. Lu Zhao followed the flow of people, merging into the massive contingent on the right, which was composed of nearly a thousand Late-stage Qi Cultivators.

On the left, the children and youths, guided by several Outer Disciples, began to have their Spirit Root Talent and bone age tested one by one. Meanwhile, Lu Zhao’s group of nearly a thousand people was led to a walled building complex behind the plaza. The courtyard gates opened, and everyone was brought into a spacious courtyard, on one side of which stood a row of ten Quiet Chambers.

A black-robed Steward stood in the courtyard and announced in a cold, hard voice, "Ten people will enter at a time. Follow the instructions once inside. The next ten may only enter after the first ten have all come out. Begin!"

Soon, the first group of ten entered one of the Quiet Chambers. Lu Zhao watched intently. In less than the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, the door opened and six people walked out with ugly expressions, their eyes filled with unconcealable disappointment and unwillingness. After another half a cup of tea’s time, the remaining four finally emerged one after another. Their expressions were more composed, and a waiting Steward gestured for them to stand on the other side of the courtyard.

Then came the second group, the third, and so on. A pattern quickly emerged: those who came out early were either at the Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer, or they were individuals who, despite being at the Qi Cultivation Eighth Layer or 9th Layer, already showed signs of old age.

’Lu Zhao understood. ’This first test is about age and Cultivation! The Bixia Sect clearly prefers to recruit vigorous Cultivators with greater potential. Those who, despite having high Cultivation, are too old and have slim hopes of reaching Foundation Establishment are ruthlessly eliminated in the first round.’

The line moved forward slowly but surely. On the other side of the courtyard, the number of people who had passed the first test grew slowly, while the eliminated candidates departed in dismay. A tense and oppressive atmosphere filled the air.

Half an hour later, it was finally Lu Zhao’s group’s turn. He entered the Quiet Chamber along with nine others. The room was simply furnished, containing only a single row of ten millstone-sized, lustrous white jade stones.

"Place your palm on the jade. Do not use your cultivation to resist," a black-robed Steward ordered expressionlessly.

Lu Zhao did as instructed, placing his hand on the cold surface of the jade. A faint light immediately glowed from within the stone, and eight distinct, light-blue marks appeared on its surface. Lu Zhao knew this represented his Cultivation at the Qi Cultivation Eighth Layer. Immediately after, two ancient seal-script characters materialized below the marks—"Forty." This was his bone age.

The Steward’s gaze swept over the ten jade stones, and he quickly announced the results: "A-One, A-Three, A-Four, A-Six, A-Eight, and A-Ten, you have failed. Get out!"

The six who were called paled instantly. One person’s lips moved as if to say something, but under the Steward’s icy gaze, he ultimately lowered his head in dejection and silently exited the Quiet Chamber.

After the six had left, only Lu Zhao and three others remained in the room. The Steward began to question them one by one: "Name, place of origin, a brief summary of your experience, and what Cultivation Hundred Arts, if any, are you skilled in?"

When it was Lu Zhao’s turn, he answered calmly, "Lu Zhao. From Northern Plains County. I previously served as an Honored Guest Elder for the Zhou Family in Changfeng County for over ten years. Seven years ago, I moved and settled in Bixia Marketplace. I am somewhat versed in the Puppetry Technique and am a Tier One Middle-Grade Puppet Master."

"A Puppet Master? Tier One Middle-Grade?" Upon hearing this, the Steward in charge of recording paused his brush. He glanced up at Lu Zhao with a hint of surprise but said nothing more, merely recording the information swiftly in the Jade Scroll.

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