Chapter Nine: Entering the Starfeather Sect

“Are you saying he passed?”

Beneath the mottled vermilion walls, two figures stood side by side.

Bai Huaiwu nodded. “The Star Feather Sect changed the entrance examination rules this year. I don’t know if it was deliberate.”

“If it was deliberate, that won’t bode well for us.”

Bai Huaiwu gazed toward the distant horizon, lost in thought for a long moment before slowly speaking, “I think it’s time for him to come into contact with that thing…”

…

At the White Jade Capital Tavern.

The sudden scene before them caused everyone present to gasp, especially those watching Chen Zhu on the street. In their minds, two words echoed simultaneously:

“Formidable!”

Liu City was so small that it limited one’s vision and perspective.

Above the rank of Martial Disciple were Warrior, Martial Master, Grand Martial Master…

“Young Master… save me…”

Chen Zhu, who had just fainted, somehow regained consciousness. Wang Bucai stepped out the door and lightly tapped Chen Zhu’s forehead with a folded fan. Chen Zhu fainted once again.

Wang Bucai turned, slightly bowed, and apologized, “I’m truly sorry for what just happened.”

Then, he gestured behind him. Several tall men dressed in black appeared from nowhere, lifted Chen Zhu onto a bamboo cart, and pushed it toward the city gate.

“To you gentlemen, may we meet again by fate.”

Wang Bucai took from his sleeve a small sword about the length of an index finger and placed it on the ground. Instantly, it bloomed into a flying sword three feet long and two palm widths wide. Wang Bucai stood on it, soared up, and vanished beyond the horizon in the blink of an eye.

Only a swirl of dust remained in his place.

“Flying sword flight—that’s a Martial Master!”

“Yes, a Martial Master!”

The crowd on the street looked toward the direction Wang Bucai disappeared, hardly able to believe what they had witnessed.

“A Martial Master, huh…”

Gazing at the vanishing point, Bai Jingyan murmured.

“Scared you, didn’t it?”

Bai Xiaoran pulled Bai Jingyan close, whispering in his ear.

“To be frank, big brother is already a level-five Warrior. Give him a year or two, and he’ll become a Martial Master!”

Bai Jingyan smiled at Bai Xiaoran’s pride, though he himself was only a level-five Martial Disciple, just one step from level six, yet still unable to find the breakthrough. This was very different from his previous life.

He recalled that, ten thousand years ago, Bai Jingyan marched south and north alongside the Roaring Forest Army, expanding the empire’s borders. Every battle pushed his limits further.

“Could it be that life is too comfortable now?” he wondered silently.

After the celebration banquet, it was already dusk when Bai Jingyan returned to the Bai residence.

Upon entering his room, he felt something was different, but couldn’t quite put his finger on it.

Sitting cross-legged on his bed, Bai Jingyan formed hand seals and silently began circulating the “Demonic Art” from the Chaos Divine Demon Technique.

“The Divine Art cultivates the spirit, the Demonic Art tempers the body, and the Chaos Art refines the cultivation method.”

Opening his right palm, a flicker of spiritual fire suddenly leapt to life.

Bai Jingyan stared intently at the fire, then pressed it against his chest and began circulating his energy, guiding the fire through his body’s meridians.

This was the “Spirit Fire Circulation” from the Demonic Art, using spiritual fire to scorch the meridians and accelerate the flow of spiritual energy within.

Normally, circulating spiritual energy through one full cycle of meridians, called a “Heavenly Cycle,” took an entire day for ordinary people. After tempering with the Spirit Fire Circulation, it only required half a day.

After three of these cycles, it was already noon the next day.

As for the entrance exam for new disciples, it was merely a formality. Initially, only Duan Luoyun, Liu Shihong, and Feng Yeshen were on the list. Wu Yaoqing hadn’t expected Bai Jingyan and Nanmen Chuyao to appear halfway through. When Bai Huaiwu registered them, Wu Yaoqing didn’t care much, thinking a servant and a crippled young master posed no threat. It was just a favor to Bai Huaiwu, after all, he was one of the heads of the four great families of Liu City.

Who would have thought Bai Jingyan and the others would actually pass?

He had to scramble to find reasons to admit Duan Luoyun and Liu Shihong into the sect.

Bai Jingyan opened his eyes as the jade slip in his chest vibrated continuously.

The message was from Nanmen Chuyao, telling him to hurry to Liu City Square to prepare for the Star Feather Sect.

After reading the message, Bai Jingyan washed up, changed into traveling clothes, and went to the square.

After four days of travel, they finally reached the outskirts of the Star Feather Sect.

A towering sect appeared before their eyes.

Built against the mountain, it resembled a colossal beast, dominating atop Star Sea Peak. One pavilion rose after another, dazzling with gold and jade brilliance. Coupled with the peak’s unique sea of clouds, the entire sect was shrouded in mist, like a fairyland.

At the mountain gate, three bold characters seemed carved by heavenly thunder:

Star Feather Sect!

“We’ve arrived. This is the Star Feather Sect,” Wu Yaoqing announced. He formed hand seals and slowly descended, landing before the mountain gate.

As the group appeared, a figure suddenly sprang forth from somewhere and respectfully cupped his fists at Wu Yaoqing.

“Disciple greets Elder!”

“No need for formalities,” Wu Yaoqing waved his hand, then gestured to Bai Jingyan and the others behind him. “These are the disciples I recruited this time, accompanying me. I hope you will allow them passage.”

The disciple nodded, said “Yes,” then stepped back two paces, clearing the way.

Wu Yaoqing, Bai Jingyan, and the others entered the Star Feather Sect.

Inside, they followed Wu Yaoqing directly into a grand hall.

The hall was vast and imposing, painted in crimson and black, exuding an ancient aura. At its center stood a towering statue, hundreds of feet tall, carved in the likeness of a man in his forties.

Though weathered by time, the statue still radiated the man’s majesty, exuding a domineering air.

This man was the founding ancestor of the Star Feather Sect, once a renowned warrior.

A thousand years ago, when wars broke out, the Star Feather Ancestor fought alongside other heroes from north to south until peace was restored. Then he came to the southern lands and established the Star Feather Sect.

“Brother Wu, you have finally returned,” several figures rose from outside the hall.

Seeing them, Wu Yaoqing’s expression shifted slightly. He bowed, “Outer sect elder Wu Yaoqing pays respects to the inner sect elders.”

Seeing this, Bai Jingyan and Nanmen Chuyao also cupped their fists in greeting.

“Haha, no need for formalities,” the leading inner sect elder waved his hand and beckoned everyone to rise. “Brother Wu, are these the new disciples you’ve recruited?”