"Zhou Shu!"
"Here!"
A young man stepped forward from the crowd.
He was about fifteen or sixteen, his features still a bit childish, but with sharp features and eyes as bright as stars.
Hundreds of people around him looked at him with envy.
"This guy's already a free cultivator at such a young age."
"Several of them already! The ones he mentioned will definitely be able to enter the immortal gate. I'm so envious."
"They're all free cultivators. They possess spiritual roots and have already mastered the immortal arts. Unlike us, who have to undergo various tests, it's certainly easy for them to enter the immortal gate."
These comments fell on the young man's ears. His expression was calm, without a trace of complacency, and his eyes revealed a maturity that belied his age.
"Come on stage, come forward."
Today, the Wuwang Immortal Gate in Dongsheng Prefecture opened its doors to recruit new disciples, attracting many applicants. Most of them were mortals unfamiliar with the concept of immortal cultivation, but there were also some free cultivators who had already mastered the inner cultivation techniques. Compared to mortals, their chances of entering the immortal gate were clearly much greater.
A majestic old man in traditional Chinese clothing and a tall crown stood on the platform, his gaze fixed on Zhou Shu. "Zhou Shu, a casual cultivator, first level of the Qi Refining Realm?"
Zhou Shu bowed. "Senior, that's right,"
the old man asked coldly. "Have you learned any magic formulas?"
Zhou Shu nodded. "I've learned one, the Cloud-Removing Formula."
"Don't hesitate. Unleash your full power on me. This will determine your future," the old man said casually.
Zhou Shu planted his feet, palms facing forward. With a clenched fist, a hazy cloud of mist quickly formed within his palms.
"Senior, I apologize."
As soon as he finished speaking, the mist in his palms suddenly thrust forward, sweeping away everything in a gust of wind.
The old man's clothes fluttered like a flag, and the tree behind him rustled in the wind, its trunk shaking and branches and leaves falling. With a crisp
snap
, the tree, over a foot thick, couldn't withstand the pressure and broke apart.
"So powerful!"
"Is this a cultivator? So much stronger than the last few!"
The crowd behind him exclaimed in amazement, their eyes gazing at Zhou Shu with not only envy and jealousy but also a touch of awe.
The wind alone was capable of snapping trees; this power was clearly far greater than those seen in the previous tests. If mortals like them were struck by it, they would likely be blown dozens of feet away, their bones broken and tendons shattered.
Some even scoffed.
"Don't you know that a tree that stands out in the forest will be torn down by the wind? This reckless display of strength will only incite envy. He'll surely be ambushed in the future, and die without knowing how. If I had that kind of strength, I would never flaunt it like this."
Listening to the crowd's chatter, Zhou Shu calmly withdrew his hand, his expression unperturbed.
He had no intention of concealing his abilities. While admitting to a larger sect might require concealing one's strength, the Wuwang Sect was a smaller sect with limited resources. If he failed to demonstrate his talent, even if he did gain admission, he would remain an outer disciple, unappreciated and no longer a casual cultivator.
To enter, he must strive for the position of inner disciple, or even a direct disciple, to receive better training.
He knew full well that the foundations of the path to immortal cultivation were paramount. The more resources one acquired initially, the greater their future achievements would be.
Furthermore, he hadn't fully revealed his true potential.
The old man gazed at Zhou Shu, a hint of surprise crossing his face. He thought to himself that the Cloud-Removing Art was merely a common, low-level technique. To be able to perform such an effect was practically equivalent to that of a third-level Qi Refining Realm cultivator. However, a closer look at Zhou Shu's cultivation revealed that he was indeed at the first level. It was clear that Zhou Shu possessed exceptional talent, far surpassing the average individual. With
this opening
, the Wuwang Sect was about to receive a genius. The old man's icy expression softened slightly at this thought. "Zhou Shu, you've passed the first level. Go to the left side of the platform and wait."
He produced a communication talisman.
After mumbling two words, the talisman transformed into a streak of yellow light, fading into the clouds and disappearing.
The discovery of a genius required immediate notification to those in charge, without delay.
Zhou Shu walked steadily to the left side of the platform and breathed a sigh of relief.
He was not from this world.
Three months ago, the original owner of this body was pursued by jianghu gangs and forced into a forbidden martial arts zone, where he died a painful death.
A master of calligraphy and painting, he was struck by a falling computer while passing a high-rise building and was reborn as Zhou Shu, a man with the same name and surname.
Within the forbidden zone, opportunities and tribulations arose. Opportunities led him to become a free cultivator, while tribulations strengthened his resolve to cultivate immortality. After avenging his former owner, he journeyed to the Wuwang Sect to seek the path and immortality, hoping to reach a higher level. Having
successfully passed the test, he can finally settle down after three months of wandering.
In the distance, amidst the soaring geese, a scholar in a ethereal, ethereal blue robe could be seen approaching. He
appeared to be strolling leisurely, but each step was a hundred feet long. In a matter of seconds, the scholar descended from the air and landed gently on a platform.
Upon seeing him, the old man immediately bowed and saluted. "Disciple Zhang Qi, greetings to Master Liu."
The Wuwang Sect has one hall and three peaks: Ruoxu, Ningjian, and Tianyun. The visitor was Liu Yuze, the master of Tianyun Peak, a man of high esteem.
Liu Yuze nodded gently and glanced around, but without making any movement, an invisible pressure spread out like ripples.
Everyone fell silent and lowered their heads, not daring to look directly at him.
His eyes finally fell on Zhou Shu, their gaze fixed.
Zhang Qi whispered, "Master Liu, this is the disciple. He's only at the first level of the Qi Refining Realm, but his spiritual power rivals that of a cultivator at the third level. He must be exceptionally gifted."
"Oh? I'd like to take a closer look."
Liu Yuze waved his sleeve from a distance of seven or eight feet.
Zhou Shu's entire body tensed, unable to move. An inexplicable, supple force enveloped him tightly, and strands of cool air flowed through the veins of his palms and into his body.
This spiritual energy detection method, accessible only to cultivators at the Condensed Veins stage, allows spiritual energy to penetrate the body and clearly reveal the tester's aptitude.
Zhou Shu remained unfazed. His experience and understanding from two lives, combined with this body itself, meant that, in the words of the immortal cultivation world, his aptitude could truly be described as genius, one in a thousand, without a rip-off.
Furthermore, even such a thorough investigation would undoubtedly fail to reveal the secret he had traveled with, his true hand.
Within a few breaths, a refreshing aura flowed through his meridians, then receded.
Liu Yuze nodded slightly, a rare smile on his face. "He is indeed a genius, with few impurities in his spiritual roots. Even more remarkable is the exceptionally smooth flow of spiritual energy through his meridians, even showing signs of a tidal current. Excellent, excellent!"
His fair face flushed with excitement as he uttered the two words "excellent."
The others gaped in astonishment at his praise.
Those disciples who had already cultivated immortality were especially well aware of the difficulty of generating a tidal flow of spiritual energy within their bodies. Without exceptional comprehension, it was simply impossible to achieve this even at the Qi Refining Realm, and even Zhang Qi, at the Foundation Establishment
Realm, could only occasionally achieve it. A tidal flow of spiritual energy is a rare state of cultivation, whereby the spiritual energy within the Qi channels and seas of Qi flows spontaneously, overlapping and flowing endlessly. Using the same incantation, they can unleash double or triple the power of ordinary cultivators.
Zhou Shu, however, remained calm, gazing at Liu Yuze with a respectful expression.
Liu Yuze turned to Zhou Shu, a pale golden talisman suddenly appearing in his hand. "Zhou Shu, the second stage tests your character. I will personally examine you."
Zhou Shu bowed, "Thank you for your kindness, senior."
Liu Yuze's expression was stern. "This is the Talisman of Honest Words. If your intentions are dishonest and you speak lies, the talisman will immediately explode, pulverizing you."
The golden talisman spun through the air, approaching, and delicately rested on Zhou Shu's head.
As spiritual power was activated, the incomparably profound runes emitted bursts of golden light. The light was gentle, yet it penetrated the heart, like the Buddha's universal illumination. Those with weak minds would be unable to withstand it.
Zhou Shu's mind was as steady as a rock, unaffected. He nodded and said, "Junior, I understand."
The onlookers were astonished.
"You're using the Zhengyan Talisman! One is worth tens of thousands of spirit stones!"
"The Zhengyan Talisman is a fourth-level talisman from Buddhism. It's extremely valuable. I'm afraid there aren't many in the entire Wuwang Sect."
"Master Liu Feng truly values this young man. Once he passes, he will definitely become an inner disciple."
Liu Yuze slowly approached, looking directly into Zhou Shu's eyes. Zhou Shu met his gaze calmly, his eyes clear, and did not shy away.
"Zhou Shu, do you have a master? What kind of mental method did you learn?"
Zhou Shu replied immediately, "I'm self-taught, never had a master. I practice the Guiyi Heart Sutra."
"What sect did you join before? Did another sect send you to Wuwang Sect?"
...
Liu Yuze's speech was getting faster and faster, but Zhou Shu remained calm and composed, answering fluently.
After half an incense stick, the golden light gradually dissipated, and the priceless Zhengyan Talisman became a piece of waste paper, sliding away in the wind.
Liu Yuze stared at Zhou Shu, clapping his hands and smiling. "The Guiyi Heart Sutra is just the most common mental method. You have reached this level of practice on your own. Your comprehension is extraordinary, and your future is truly limitless. Zhou Shu, are you willing to join the Wuwang Sect and become a disciple of my Tianyun Peak?"
Zhou Shu's heart was filled with excitement, and he bowed. "Disciple is willing!"
Liu Yuze was equally excited and immediately announced loudly, "Okay! From today on, Zhou Shu joins the Wuwang Sect and enters Tianyun Peak as a direct disciple!"
"Congratulations to the Peak Master for accepting such a fine disciple!"
"Direct disciple, my God!"
The disciples echoed in unison, shocked and envious.
Zhou Shu stood with his hands hanging down, gazing at the foot of the mountain not far away, his eyes full of longing.