Chapter 41

Ten days later, He Pingsheng’s wood-element dantian cultivation broke through to the second level.

“Huh…” He took a deep breath, tidied his belongings slightly, and stepped out toward the Outer Gate Grand Hall.

Because today was the day the results of the Inner Gate selection would be announced.

The Inner Gate selection was peculiar indeed—it involved no trials, no tests, just a few simple questions to decide everything.

He Pingsheng had little hope for himself and walked slowly into the Outer Gate Grand Hall.

The place was packed shoulder to shoulder, teeming with people.

Yet the Inner Gate disciples had not yet arrived.

Since they hadn’t come, he might as well wait.

He waited and waited!

An hour later, a yellow crane flew down from the Inner Gate’s high mountain, landing precisely before the Outer Gate Grand Hall.

He Pingsheng recognized it: the yellow crane was actually a paper crane.

A man and a woman descended from the crane.

He Pingsheng had never seen them before and dared not casually sweep his spiritual sense over their cultivation levels.

“Everyone!”

The two did not enter the hall; instead, they waved their hands outside the Outer Gate Grand Hall and said: “Everyone, be silent!”

The man in black Daoist robes looked sternly at the throng of disciples at the entrance and said: “The top twenty disciples selected for the Inner Gate have been decided. When I call your name, step forward and stand behind me!”

“Si Ma Ju!”

“Lu Congyuan!”

“Zhang Kuiyun!”

“Shi Daqiong!”

“Gui Zhiyun!”

……

One by one, the cultivators, overjoyed, stepped out from the crowd and stood behind the man in black robes.

He Pingsheng stealthily extended his spiritual sense, scanning the cultivation levels of all these people.

Most were at Qi Refining seventh or eighth level; not a single one was at fifth level like him.

Forget it…

Eighty percent chance I’m not on the list.

Just as He Pingsheng shook his head, ready to leave, the man called out: “Last one—He Pingsheng!”

Huh?

He Pingsheng froze, then felt a surge of joy: I’m on the list? Wonderful—I’ll finally have a chance to join the secret realm trials.

He hurried out from the crowd and quickly stood behind the black-robed man.

Instantly, he felt countless spiritual senses sweeping over him.

But the next moment, someone protested.

“Why?” someone across the crowd shouted: “He’s only Qi Refining fifth level! Why pick him over me? I’m Qi Refining eighth level!”

“Me too—I’m seventh level!”

“My cultivation is higher than his!”

In an instant, dozens of voices erupted, all voicing discontent over the Inner Gate selection.

“Insolent!” the black-robed man roared: “The Inner Gate selection follows strict rules—do you think you have the right to question them?”

Shhh…

A sharp, clear sound rang out—the black-robed man instantly drew his sword and said: “Who else dares to object? Come and challenge me!”

Now, no one dared speak.

“Get out!” the man roared again, and the Outer Gate disciples scattered like birds and beasts.

The entrance to the Outer Gate Grand Hall emptied instantly.

The man turned to look at the twenty-odd disciples behind him, then softened his expression: “My fellow junior brothers and sisters, you are now Inner Gate disciples. From now on, we must stand together. Wait a moment—each peak’s reception disciples will arrive shortly.”

“Thank you, Senior Brother!”

Everyone bowed to the male disciple, their faces glowing with excitement.

After all, joining the Inner Gate brought countless advantages.

Not long after, He Pingsheng waited about half a stick of incense when he saw a dozen figures descending from the mountains behind, each riding a yellow crane.

Of course, these “yellow cranes” were all paper cranes too.

Paper cranes were the undisputed choice for low-level cultivators seeking travel assistance.

After landing, the dozen disciples immediately called out names.

“Lu Congyuan and Si Ma Ju, come with me!”

“Gui Zhiyun, come with me!”

“He Pingsheng… He Pingsheng and Shen Shigu, come here!”

A female disciple in moon-white robes stood forward and called out.

He Pingsheng and the tall man beside him stepped forward to join her.

Although Grand Void Gate’s Daoist robes were standardized, Inner Gate disciples wore more than one style—this moon-white robe was thus the uniform for Inner Gate disciples.

“Senior Sister!”

He Pingsheng and Shen Shigu bowed to the woman.

The woman nodded and asked: “You’re He Pingsheng?”

She was blunt—immediately extending her spiritual sense to scan him.

He Pingsheng bowed: “Disciple He Pingsheng!”

She asked: “I heard you can refine Grade One elixirs?”

He Pingsheng replied: “Yes.”

She nodded: “Don’t lie. Your master chose you for the Inner Gate precisely because you can refine elixirs—if you’re lying, you’ll die.”

He Pingsheng nodded calmly.

“Come with me!”

The woman leapt onto the back of the paper crane: “Both of you, get on!”

“Yes!”

He Pingsheng and Shen Shigu dared not disobey and leapt onto the crane’s back.

This thing could normally carry a thousand jin—three people’s weight was nothing.

Swoosh…

The crane soared upward, heading toward Grand Void Gate.

Previously, He Pingsheng had spent half a day climbing from the mountain’s foot to Xiuzhu Peak—now, aboard the crane, he arrived in an instant.

Amid He Pingsheng’s troubled expression, the crane landed at a place he knew all too well: Xiuzhu Peak.

Damn it!

He Pingsheng cursed inwardly: Not again? Xiuzhu Peak?

Though it was Xiuzhu Peak, this was a height He Pingsheng had never reached before.

The place where they landed resembled a fairyland.

Directly opposite stood a magnificent grand hall.

Beside it stood three smaller palaces.

Around each palace were countless pavilions, terraces, towers, and serene courtyards.

“This is Xiuzhu Peak,” the woman said calmly to the two of them. “I’m Zhao, Zhao Linger. Call me Senior Sister Zhao.”

“Yes, Senior Sister Zhao!”

The two bowed to her.

Zhao Linger continued: “Let me explain briefly.”

“Look—this grand hall opposite is the ancestral master’s sanctuary. Never approach it casually.”

Ancestral Master!

He Pingsheng nodded.

He had seen this Ancestral Master once two years ago.

“The three palaces behind are the sanctuaries of the Ancestral Master’s three Foundation Establishment disciples!” Zhao Linger went on. “From front to back: Master Yu Xuan, Master Yu De, and finally, my master, Master Yu Ning.”

“Shen Shigu, go to Zhongde Courtyard—that’s Master Yu De’s sanctuary. From today, you are his disciple. Someone will greet you there.”

“Yes!” Shen Shigu bowed and left.

“He Pingsheng, come with me…” Zhao Linger led He Pingsheng forward as they walked. “From today, you are my master’s disciple. We are now fellow disciples.”