Chapter 034: Outer Sect Disciple

Xu Xuan took a deep breath and reached out to touch the bronze cauldron.

He knew well that the next moment could decide the fate of his life.

Whether he could enter the Immortal Sect was of utmost importance to Xu Xuan.

In this vast realm of cultivation, most regions were barren of spiritual energy and unsuitable for cultivation. The few spiritual veins that existed were all occupied by powerful factions. Only by entering the Immortal Sect could he gain access to a proper environment for cultivation. Otherwise, even with memories from his previous life, his future progress would be severely restricted.

The limitations imposed by spiritual energy might not be obvious during the early stages of body refinement, but as he advanced to the later stages or even further, they would become fatal flaws.

Even the remnant soul of his previous life in his mind was now focused intently, murmuring, “There should be a fifty to sixty percent chance.”

Fifty to sixty percent chance!

Xu Xuan activated the Breathing Technique, letting his blood and energy flow freely, his spirit rising to its peak, as his palm made contact with the bronze cauldron.

Hmm!

Within the bronze cauldron, the colorless spiritual liquid rippled ever so slightly—a faint wave visible.

From this sign, the reaction of the spiritual liquid indicated that Xu Xuan was, at the very least, not a useless spiritual root.

He let out a sigh of relief. As his blood circulated, his spirit was vibrant, his cultivation displayed openly.

The immortal practitioner holding the cauldron activated an immortal technique; azure light flickered in his eyes as he scrutinized Xu Xuan’s body.

Xu Xuan suddenly felt as if all his secrets were being laid bare. Fortunately, he showed no reservation, even deliberately displaying his physical advantages.

“Just barely reached the level of an ordinary spiritual root…” The immortal’s face remained expressionless. After a brief pause, he mused, “But you’re only fifteen or sixteen, and your cultivation has reached the fourth stage of body refinement. You are the second to arrive at the ‘Celestial Platform’ in this round. Clearly, your physique is decent, and your comprehension is not bad.”

“Proceed to the next round.”

When the immortal finally announced the result, Xu Xuan’s heart raced wildly, his face alight with joy.

As he turned from the cauldron, his gaze met Xu Yuan and Yang Xiaoqian. The former gritted his teeth in secret, his face dark, while the latter appeared cool and composed, a slight curve at the corner of her lips.

A short while later, a total of about ten youths barely passed the second round, each possessing ordinary spiritual roots and at least the fourth stage of body refinement.

Additionally, Yang Xiaoqian and another unknown youth, thanks to their inferior spiritual roots, entered the Immortal Sect directly. The luckiest was the young lady Yu Qin, who was accepted as a direct disciple by an immortal master.

“The final round tests your perseverance. Your talents are average, but your comprehension is decent. If you also possess great determination, you may yet hope to walk the path of immortality.”

Senior Brother Yun announced calmly.

Afterward, a group of ten youths was led to a metallic corridor winding in a circle, about a hundred meters long. The ten stood in a line before the corridor.

The rule was simple: starting from a fixed point, walk around the corridor once within half an hour.

It sounded easy.

However, as the youths stepped onto the corridor, their expressions changed abruptly, their bodies sinking as if weighed down.

Everyone’s feet felt as if filled with molten lead—heavy as mountains, impossible to lift, each step a struggle.

Some mysterious restriction seemed to be laid upon the corridor, exerting an uncanny force that absorbed over ninety percent of their strength, regardless of how much they exerted.

Xu Xuan’s brow was soon beaded with cold sweat. He activated the Breathing Technique, instinctively employing the secret of the “Drifting” technique. His movements were peculiar and awkward, but his body felt slightly lighter.

After a short while, Xu Xuan was at the front, though each step demanded all his strength, every advance arduous.

Halfway through, he was panting, while behind him, some youths had already collapsed onto the ground.

Xu Xuan’s breath was longest, still with reserve. He deliberately held back a portion of his strength, soon advancing to the fifth level of the Breathing Technique.

His breathing shifted subtly, his pupils contracted, his inner radiance subdued, his mind calm as an ancient well. All emotions and stray thoughts faded to smoke.

In this strange state of cool rationality, each of Xu Xuan’s movements was efficient—using minimal force for maximum effect, unaffected by emotion or external influences. Supplemented by the “Drifting” technique, he felt the burden ease somewhat.

“Hmm?”

Soon, Senior Brother Yun noticed Xu Xuan’s odd movements, smiling faintly. “To think a mortal’s body refinement technique could achieve such results.”

Yet he paid it little mind; no matter how ingenious, a body refinement technique was too low in grade to compare with the cultivation of immortals.

On the field, aside from Xu Xuan, the other youths were utterly exhausted, half of them sprawled helplessly on the floor.

“I must not lose to him!”

Trailing closely behind was Xu Yuan, gritting his teeth, driven by an inexplicable emotion. He managed to come in second.

But reality was harsh. After covering most of the route, Xu Yuan also collapsed, his face pale as paper, drenched in cold sweat.

Xu Xuan, meanwhile, restrained himself, using only seventy percent of his strength. Even so, he finished the metallic corridor within the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea.

“Congratulations, you have passed the three rounds and are now officially an outer disciple of the Wind Feather Immortal Sect.”

Senior Brother Yun looked down, sweeping him with a calm gaze.

“Thank you for your guidance, Senior Brother,” Xu Xuan replied with a slight bow.

“Well, well. Didn’t expect this lad to be so capable, breaking the record of the past century by crossing the third round—the ‘Heavy Iron Corridor’—in the shortest time.”

The chubby Wan Fushan’s eyes gleamed with interest as he sized Xu Xuan up.

After a long wait, the half-hour limit ended.

Ultimately, only four youths passed the third round, Xu Yuan among them, his face still haunted.

At that moment, Wan Fushan, assisting Senior Brother Yun, announced, “You six—Yang Xiaoqian, Chang Fei, Xu Xuan…—are now outer disciples of the sect.”

“Outer disciples?” The youth named Chang Fei, who also possessed inferior spiritual roots, looked puzzled.

“Disciples of the Immortal Sect are divided into three ranks: outer disciples, inner disciples, and true disciples. Outer disciples have limited rights—they may reside and cultivate within the sect, access a few books, and occasionally attend lectures by elders. However, they are also obliged to perform duties: cultivating and harvesting spiritual grains or vegetables, chopping wood, mining…”

Wan Fushan, his belly protruding, explained loftily the distinctions between the three ranks of disciples.

Xu Xuan, with memories from his past life in the Immortal Sect, already understood all this.

Outer disciples are the lowest in rank. Besides cultivation, they must toil, only by advancing to the seventh stage of body refinement or becoming an immortal practitioner can they hope to be promoted to inner disciple.

The true disciples hold the highest status, accepted by elders or masters of the highest rank as students and personally instructed. For example, Senior Brother Yun and Yu Qin with superior spiritual roots were true disciples—their status, position, and rights far surpassed ordinary disciples.

Lower-ranked outer disciples must submit to inner and true disciples, cannot argue back, and must obey orders within certain bounds; otherwise, they risk punishment, and may even be expelled from the sect.

These rules were clear to Xu Xuan without needing to listen carefully.

In his previous life, he had entered the sect as a true disciple from the start—what glory that was! But in this life…

“You need not be discouraged. If you were born a peerless genius, a true disciple from the outset, what would be the meaning of future fame? No challenge at all! With your mediocre talent, starting from the lowest rank and rising to the summit—that is true achievement.”

The voice of the remnant soul from his past seemed to carry passion and anticipation, almost as if Xu Xuan’s lesser talent made it happier.

Xu Xuan thought it made sense. He had already experienced being a genius and a true disciple in his past life—what was the point of repeating it?

Now, being mediocre and starting as a lowly outer disciple, rising from the very bottom, and one day standing over inner and true disciples—that was achievement.

Soon, led by Senior Brother Yun and Wan Fushan, the new disciples were taken deep into Star Feather Mountain.

Upon entering the mountain gate, they finally saw the real Immortal Sect.

Along the way, majestic pavilions and halls stood atop perilous peaks, every building constructed from cultivator’s stone and materials.

Faced with these grand structures, Xu Xuan and the other body refinement mortals felt a sense of oppression.

Even the bricks and tiles here were extraordinary, containing spiritual essence. Cultivating within these halls and houses, spiritual energy flowed smoothly—truly enviable.

However, such privileges were out of reach for outer disciples.

They were assigned to the rear mountain area, where the spiritual energy was less pure than the inner sect, but still superior to Pinghua Town.

Even in the rear mountain, the body refinement mortals felt content and grateful.

After all, entering the Immortal Sect was luck beyond measure. With perseverance, they could become inner disciples, eventually joining the ranks of immortals, respected by all.

Xu Xuan’s lodging was an ordinary house, yet far better than his family home in the village.

Upon entering the sect, each received an identity token, an outer disciple’s uniform, and a monthly stipend of three inferior-grade spirit stones.

Xu Xuan donned the poorly made yellow robe—it felt comfortable, the fabric unusually tough and durable, not easily damaged. Such a robe could last ten years without wear.

It was his first time wearing a cultivator’s robe; impoverished before, he had never dared dream of it.

Moreover, the monthly three inferior-grade spirit stones equaled his family’s entire income for a month.

“Outer disciple…”

Xu Xuan’s lips curled, a hint of interest in his eyes.

From today, he was the humblest outer disciple of the Wind Feather Immortal Sect, yet his heart was filled with satisfaction and joy.

Especially as he gazed through the window at the pavilions atop the mountain peaks, glowing with the sunset’s splendid light, sometimes an immortal practitioner drifted gracefully through the sky, carefree and elegant.

His heart surged with passion and fighting spirit.

—This is the dream I wish to pursue, no matter how humble an outer disciple I may be!

(Morning update—if you haven’t bookmarked the book, don’t forget to do so.)