Chapter 606: Entering the Field (Middle)

A Mortal's Journey to Immortality, Volume 5: Renowned Far and Wide

Upon witnessing the unusual scene and hearing Senior Martial Brother Qiu's words, the cultivators on the platform, after an initial moment of surprise, quickly rose to their feet with attentive expressions, daring not to delay.

They understood that their ability to enter the cultivation sect of Falling Cloud Sect depended entirely on the three individuals before them. Naturally, they wouldn't risk leaving a bad impression.

Seeing that these rogue cultivators were sensible and didn't devolve into chaos, Senior Martial Brother Qiu's face showed satisfaction.

"I trust all fellow Daoists are already aware of our sect's criteria for accepting disciples. Therefore, I won't elaborate further. Now, any fellow Daoists possessing two or three spiritual roots or special spiritual physiques may step forward." Senior Martial Brother Qiu said slowly, his expression solemn.

At these words, a stir went through the crowd, but moments later, only four individuals—three men and one woman—stepped forward.

"You four, follow Junior Martial Brother Liu. He is responsible for assessing your cultivation aptitudes," Senior Martial Brother Qiu said calmly after a brief glance.

At this moment, the pale-faced youth beside him took two steps forward. Without a word, he raised his hand, and a white light shot out from his sleeve. After circling once, it transformed into a huge brocade scarf, gently hovering a few feet above the ground.

"All of you, come up. I'll take you to another location to test your aptitudes. Those who don't qualify will naturally be sent back," the pale-faced youth said expressionlessly, his body flashing as he stepped onto the brocade scarf magical artifact first.

The four men and women exchanged glances. After a moment of hesitation, they dutifully boarded the brocade scarf.

Only then did the white-robed youth perform a hand seal. The white light intensified, and the brocade scarf became a ball of white radiance, soaring into the sky.

After watching the pale-faced youth depart, Senior Martial Brother Qiu turned to look at the remaining cultivators, including Han Li. His expression softened slightly as he continued,

"Now, any fellow Daoists whose cultivation techniques are above the tenth level, please step forward. You will follow Junior Martial Brother Yu. As long as your background and origins are not problematic, you can join our sect. As for the remaining Daoists, if you wish to enter our sect, you must undergo a series of tests. If you pass, our Falling Cloud Sect will accept you. Otherwise, please diligently cultivate for a few more years and try again when your cultivation has advanced."

Upon hearing these words, the previously quiet crowd stirred. Aside from a few individuals, most of the rogue cultivators revealed expressions of disappointment.

This selection criterion was clearly much stricter than the previous one, greatly disheartening those cultivators who had harbored a glimmer of hope.

Although there was a later remark about being able to participate in a test, which seemed to not completely close the door, everyone knew these were merely polite formalities.

After all, so many people had eagerly come, and the Falling Cloud Sect certainly couldn't outwardly deny them any chance.

However, these tests were naturally extremely difficult for cultivators below the tenth level of foundational cultivation. Those at the seventh or eighth levels had virtually no hope, while rogue cultivators at the ninth level had a real chance.

In past tests, there had been instances of ninth-level cultivators passing, though their numbers were very few.

These successful individuals might not have excelled in aptitude or cultivation techniques, but they certainly stood out in terms of perseverance and determination.

Therefore, even if they had little hope on the path of cultivation, they might achieve something in other miscellaneous studies. The Falling Cloud Sect did not reject such individuals.

Under many envious gazes, Han Li and six other cultivators stepped forward.

Senior Martial Brother Qiu glanced at them and nodded.

The spirited young man, seeing this, wasted no time in also releasing a flying magical artifact: a large, round copper bowl. It appeared before Han Li and the others.

This time, the youth didn't need to say anything; Han Li and the other cultivators obediently boarded the artifact one after another.

Immediately, the copper bowl transformed into a yellow light, flying away from the area and heading straight into the depths of Cloud Dream Mountain.

As for whether any of the remaining unqualified rogue cultivators would participate in the test and enter the Falling Cloud Sect, Han Li could not witness it and had no interest in it whatsoever.

At this moment, within the copper bowl's yellow protective shield, he observed the six individuals with him with considerable interest.

There were four men and two women. Except for one quiet, yellow-clad woman in her twenties, the others all appeared to be over thirty.

One green-robed cultivator even looked to be over fifty. Although outwardly he appeared to be the highest cultivated among them, seemingly at the twelfth level of Qi Condensation, Han Li still shook his head with a slight sigh.

Low-level cultivators with poor aptitude, if they wished to cultivate beyond the tenth level without significant fortuitous encounters, would undoubtedly spend far more time on cultivation than ordinary people. This also meant that among these individuals, Han Li and the yellow-clad woman, despite being in their twenties, were the two youngest.

In his younger days, with his pseudo-spiritual roots, had it not been for the mysterious small bottle whose origins he still couldn't fathom, he probably wouldn't have been able to break through the fifth or sixth level even at the same age as this green-robed cultivator, let alone enter a major cultivation sect.

Han Li briefly recalled his experiences over the years, surprisingly falling into a rare moment of absent-mindedness.

Then, recovering his senses, he looked at the others.

The remaining individuals didn't seem particularly remarkable, all with expressions of excitement.

However, when Han Li's gaze lingered for a moment on a burly man with a full beard, his eyes suddenly narrowed slightly, but then returned to normal as if nothing had happened.

It wasn't that the big man's attire or appearance was unusual, but upon closer inspection, a subtle, indescribable sinister chill subtly emanated from his body.

This chill was exceptionally well-concealed. Even with Han Li's current unfathomable spiritual sense, if he hadn't scrutinized carefully, he nearly would have missed it. This was definitely not the spiritual energy fluctuation expected from cultivating basic Five Elements techniques; it clearly indicated the cultivation of some other special technique.

Yet, the big man's cultivation was indeed at the tenth level of Qi Condensation, without any pretense. This left Han Li outwardly calm but inwardly somewhat pensive.

While Han Li was secretly speculating, the massive copper bowl, guided by the youth named Yu, suddenly appeared before an endless sea of mist.

At first glance, this mist sea was dense with rolling white vapor, and faint sounds of fierce winds and thunder emanated from within, suggesting it was extraordinary.

Han Li's heart stirred, and he tentatively swept his spiritual sense. However, it only extended a dozen feet into the mist before being blocked by something, unable to penetrate further.

Han Li's heart tightened. He knew this white mist was no ordinary restriction; it was likely a powerful prohibitive spell generated by the Falling Cloud Sect's protective grand formation. He dared not probe recklessly again and hastily withdrew that wisp of spiritual thought.

The few rogue cultivators with Han Li gazed at the boundless mist sea, their faces filled with awe.

Although they had never encountered formations before, the astonishing sight of this powerful restrictive spell was enough to broaden their horizons.

At this moment, the youth named Yu changed his hand seals, and the flying magical artifact slowly came to a halt.

He casually reached into his storage bag and pulled out a cyan formation flag.

Before Han Li and the others, the youth began chanting incantations, and the cyan formation flag started emitting pale cyan刺芒, growing increasingly dazzling. "Open!"

As soon as the spirited youth finished chanting the incantation, he immediately opened his eyes wide and pointed the formation flag at the white mist before them.

A pillar of cyan light, as thick as a bowl, shot out from the flag's tip, piercing straight into the sea of mist.

An astonishing scene unfolded.

While the rest of the mist continued to roll as before, a small section of the mist sea suddenly became calm. Then, a clear ringing sound echoed, and the white vapor parted, revealing a two to three zhang wide passage before them.

Seeing this, the youth named Yu dared not delay. He urged the magical artifact beneath his feet, immediately carrying several individuals into the passage, disappearing from sight in the blink of an eye.

Not long after, the opened passage silently closed by itself, and the sounds of wind and thunder resumed.

After about an hour's time, Han Li and his group finally passed through the sea of mist, emerging into a paradise.

Before he could even clearly see anything, a rich spiritual energy washed over him. Han Li instinctively took a deep breath, and then, with delight in his heart, focused his gaze.

What a vast expanse of land! Lush greenery was everywhere, birds sang, and flowers bloomed. Several towering peaks, thousands of feet high, appeared in the distance and nearby.

Around these mountains, countless houses, halls, and pavilions of all sizes were scattered. Numerous cultivators in various robes moved in and out, flying back and forth, appearing very busy.

"Look carefully, this is where our Falling Cloud Sect's mountain gate, the Six Strange Peaks, is located. If you truly join our sect in the future, this will be your sect," the youth said with a knowing smile after taking in their surprised and excited expressions. He then pointed to the mountain closest to them. "But for now, follow me to Welcoming Pine Residence on Heavenly Spring Peak. We'll discuss your backgrounds and origins, and then conduct a detailed test of your cultivation techniques and levels. That will be all."

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