Bachelor [EN]: Chapter 328

As its name implied, the Ancient Sword Sect specialized in sword control techniques. Their unique martial art, the ‘Great White Sword Technique,’ utilized various sword-shaped weapons—whether magical artifacts or treasures—and was renowned for its ferocity throughout the Gye Kingdom.

However, mastering the Ancient Sword Technique required exceptional talent. Those with even slightly inferior spiritual roots were barred from entry. This was why, despite being the most frequent recruiters among the three sects, they had the fewest actual disciples.

Yet, once an Ancient Sword Sect disciple reached a certain level of cultivation, their sword techniques’ powerful offensive nature often allowed them to overwhelm cultivators of the same rank. These elite disciples made them the most powerful sect on Mount Unmong, occupying the central mountain range.

The last, the Falling Cloud Sect, was somewhat similar to the Hundred Crafting Hall. Although their cultivation methods were a bit disorganized and didn’t reach the highest levels, they were quite famous for their pill refining techniques.

The legendary Spirit Pills could only be refined by a few elders of this sect in the Gye Kingdom. Although their power was inferior to the other sects, this aspect significantly contributed to their position on Mount Unmong.

Moreover, the Falling Cloud Sect accepted the most new disciples among the three sects, making it the easiest to enter. Basically, only two conditions needed to be met.

If one had excellent spiritual root talent and good potential, they were welcomed as disciples, just like in any other sect. Alternatively, if one had reached a relatively high level in basic cultivation techniques, they were accepted even with inferior spiritual root talent.

Besides pill refining, the Falling Cloud Sect had achieved some success in other miscellaneous areas, requiring many low-level disciples to ensure smooth operations.

Those with poor talent knew from the start that their future was not bright, but like Han Li, many entered the Falling Cloud Sect to live under the protection of a large tree for the rest of their lives [a metaphor for seeking security and stability].

Han Li chose the Falling Cloud Sect because they were not picky about accepting disciples, and the lure of the rumored Spirit Pills was also a factor. Although he hesitated for a bit, he didn’t hesitate any longer when he heard that the Falling Cloud Sect was about to select new disciples.

He parted ways with the two women without sharing his specific plans and flew straight there.

After waiting at the foot of the mountain for a few days, he noticed an increasing number of Qi Refining cultivators. Only then did he calmly start climbing the stairs, having already ascended for about an hour.

The mountain wasn’t that high, but the stairs were enchanted with an illusion, making them seem endless. This was to test the cultivators who came to join, implying that those who couldn’t endure even this much were not fit to be disciples.

At this point, the male and female cultivators walking ahead of Han Li also noticed something was amiss. They whispered to each other and, realizing the meaning of the illusion, proceeded without further delay.

After another half-hour of walking, the limestone stairs finally ended. The young male and female cultivators couldn’t hide their joy and quickened their pace.

Han Li, with a calm expression, ascended the last step and quietly surveyed his surroundings. Before him was a flat space of about a hundred yards, and except for a small pavilion, everything was covered in a hazy mist, making it impossible to see anything.

In front of the stone pavilion, dozens of cultivators in various attire were sitting cross-legged. No one dared to enter the pavilion.

Han Li chuckled at this sight. Although the Qi Refining cultivators could never know, he had seen through the surrounding illusion array with his spiritual sense [a cultivator’s ability to perceive the world beyond normal senses].

What was in front of him was not a shabby stone pavilion but a massive white jade pavilion with a golden plaque that proudly read ‘Illusion Cloud Hall.’

And in front of the pavilion, three people were talking, pointing at the Qi Refining cultivators who knew nothing. They believed in the illusion of the formation and didn’t even bother to conceal their presence.

Two of them seemed to be in the early stage of Foundation Establishment [a higher stage of cultivation], and the other was in the mid-stage, likely cultivators sent to guide those gathered here to the Falling Cloud Sect.

Han Li silently joined the crowd, took a seat on the outskirts, and closed his eyes, but he could clearly hear the conversation of the three cultivators using his spiritual sense.

A young man with a pale face, who looked to be about twenty-six or twenty-seven, scanned the gathered people and complained.

“Senior Brother Chu, there’s still some time left, but the number is less than expected. Moreover, most of them seem unqualified. Do they really think our Falling Cloud Sect is a place where anyone can enter? Some have only mastered seven or eight levels of basic cultivation techniques and dare to try to join!”

The mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, called Senior Brother Chu, wore a white robe and had a sharp look in his eyes.

“What can we do? It’s been three years since we accepted a batch of disciples, and we’re recruiting again. This is a lot of people. Besides, last time, Senior Jin was in a hurry, so our senior brothers exceptionally accepted two cultivators who had barely reached the eighth level. It’s understandable that outsiders might be mistaken. They probably think the threshold of our Falling Cloud Sect has been lowered.”

Another young man, who seemed full of vigor, chuckled.

“But this time is different. The low-level disciples who have joined recently are terrible in both cultivation and spiritual root talent. Elder Han has already reported this to the sect leader. Under the sect leader’s orders, we won’t accept just anyone this time, even if we don’t have enough people!”

The pale-faced young man once again looked around at the gathered people and sneered.

“If we don’t just fill the ranks, we’ll be lucky to accept even ten people. Most of the eighty or so people here should be sent away!”

Senior Brother Chu glanced at the young man and said calmly.

“Junior Brother Liu, it’s best not to underestimate them. Who knows if there might be a genius among them whose talent hasn’t been discovered yet? Even Junior Brother Son Hwa entered as a mere cultivator, but he succeeded in Foundation Establishment in just five or six years. It’s also because he chose a suitable cultivation method and received a Foundation Establishment Pill for his merits.”

“Hmm, Senior Brother is right. I apologize for my inappropriate words.”

The white-robed young man coughed, seemingly intimidated by the one called Senior Brother Chu.

“Junior Brother Liu…”

Senior Brother Chu was about to say something to the young man, but Han Li, having lost interest, withdrew his spiritual sense and began circulating his Qi [a form of energy used in cultivation].

He had already concealed his aura, making him appear to be at the tenth level of Qi Refining [the initial stage of cultivation]. At this level, entering the Falling Cloud Sect would be no problem!

As the hours passed, more people climbed the stairs, and by sunset, nearly a hundred Qi Refining cultivators had gathered. Most were young men and women, but there were also some middle-aged individuals with slightly higher cultivation.

Just then, a red light suddenly shot up from the pavilion in front of them. The illusion dissipated like mist, revealing a massive pavilion over ten yards high and the three figures.

Senior Brother Chu scanned everyone with sharp eyes and calmly announced.

“Welcome to the Falling Cloud Sect. My fellow disciples and I will be in charge of this disciple selection examination. Please listen carefully to my words and follow my instructions.”

Everyone was startled by the sudden change in their surroundings and Senior Brother Chu’s words. They all stood up, wanting to make a good impression since their entry into the great sect of the Falling Cloud Sect depended on these three.

Senior Brother Chu looked satisfied at the crowd’s obedient demeanor.

“I believe you all know the selection criteria of our sect. Without further ado, those with two or three spiritual roots [a measure of cultivation talent], special physiques, and those under twenty years old who have mastered the basic cultivation techniques to the sixth level or higher, please step forward.”

There was a brief stir in the crowd at Senior Brother Chu’s solemn command, and then four young people eagerly stepped forward.

“We will examine your talents. Follow Junior Brother Liu.”

At Senior Brother Chu’s words, the pale-faced young man stepped forward. Without saying a word, he released a light from his sleeve, and a large piece of silk unfurled and floated in the air.

“Everyone, get on. We will move to another location to verify your qualifications, and those who fail will be sent back here.”

The young people, having seen the pale-faced young man board the silk first, also boarded the magical artifact after exchanging glances.

With the young man’s hand seals, the silk instantly turned into light and disappeared into the sky. After confirming their departure, Senior Brother Chu turned his head again.

“Now, all cultivators above the tenth level of basic cultivation techniques, regardless of spiritual root talent or age, please come forward. If you follow Junior Brother Yu, you can join the sect as long as there are no major issues with your background or history. The rest of you will have to take an exam to join, and those who fail will have to wait for the next opportunity in a few years.”

A sigh escaped from the crowd at these words. It seemed that the standards had become stricter than before, and those who had gathered with a hopeful heart were disappointed. The fact that those who did not meet the qualifications could still take the exam gave them hope, but everyone knew it was just a formality.

With so many people gathered, it would be awkward to send them away without giving them any chance.

The exam was too strict for those who had not reached the tenth level of basic cultivation techniques. Those at the seventh or eighth level had almost no chance, and only those at the ninth level had a slight chance of passing.

Moreover, even among those who had reached the ninth level, only a handful had passed the exam and joined the sect. Those who had passed, even if they lacked talent in cultivation techniques, were exceptional in other ways.

For example, even if their future as cultivators was not bright, if they had achieved some success in other miscellaneous fields, the Falling Cloud Sect would not refuse them.

Amidst the envy of many, Han Li and six other cultivators stepped forward. Senior Brother Chu scanned them all and nodded.

The eager Junior Brother Yu immediately revealed a flying magical artifact in the shape of a copper bowl. However, this time, before he could even instruct them, Han Li and the others obediently boarded the artifact.

The copper bowl turned yellow and flew towards the depths of Mount Unmong. From atop the copper bowl, he looked at the six cultivators who had boarded with him with a rather intrigued gaze.

There were four men and two women. Except for the woman in yellow, all of them looked over thirty years old. The cultivator in the blue robe even looked to be fifty years old and had the highest cultivation among them, at the twelfth level of Qi Refining.

If Han Li, with his superior spiritual roots, hadn’t encountered the mysterious bottle, he probably wouldn’t have even reached the fifth or sixth level by the time he was fifty, like the cultivator in the blue robe. He was lost in thought for a moment, reflecting on the past.

He didn’t sense anything special about the others. They all just looked excited. However, his gaze lingered on a burly man with a full beard and mustache, from whom he unexpectedly sensed a sinister aura.

This coldness was so subtly concealed that even with Han Li’s cultivation, he would have missed it if he hadn’t looked closely. It was definitely not the spiritual energy fluctuation of someone who had only mastered the basic Qi Refining techniques. He must have been practicing some other special technique.

But it was also true that he was at the tenth level of Qi Refining, which confused him. While he was making various speculations, the giant copper bowl, operated by Junior Brother Yu, reached a space covered in mist.

The mist was thick and turbulent with white energy, and the sound of thunder and lightning could be heard within, so it was not to be taken lightly. Han Li, intrigued, tried to spread his spiritual sense, but it seemed to be blocked by something and could not explore further.

Startled, he quickly withdrew his spiritual sense. It seemed to be a restriction created by the protective formation of the Falling Cloud Sect. He couldn’t carelessly provoke it, or he might draw attention.

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