An immortal crane shuttled and soared among the clustered peaks of the Yuhua Immortal Mountain. Fang Han lay prone on "Fairy Crane's" body and saw from afar that among the clustered peaks, a giant plain appeared before his eyes.
Upon this plain, a majestic and imposing city was established.
Within the city, there was academy after academy, Daoist hall after Daoist hall.
This was a plain amidst the mountains.
It was not natural, but seemingly man-made. An immortal with vast divine abilities and boundless magic power had moved away many, many mountain peaks within the Yuhua mountain ranges, forcibly creating this residential plain.
This kind of divine ability to move mountains and fill seas was truly too shocking to hear.
This was the place where the true disciples of the Ascension Sect resided and cultivated. The Ascension Sect had a terrifyingly massive number of people. Fang Han had already learned this point from Fang Qiang's mouth.
The Outer Court Disciples alone fully numbered in the hundreds of thousands.
The Inner Court Disciples of prominent status also numbered around five thousand.
This did not even include the servants who did odd jobs in the sect, raised spirit beasts, and managed the medicine fields. If added together, there was no knowing how many there were.
These disciples cultivated all day in the academies of the Ascension Sect, or were organized by the sect to go out for various perilous experiential learning to temper their will and physical strength, seeking to cultivate to the Divine Ability Realm and ascend to heaven in a single step.
They were all people of prominent status. Even if they failed to cultivate to the Divine Ability Realm, being able to cultivate their physical bodies to the pinnacle, establish some merit, and receive one or two magical tools or Spirit Artifacts bestowed by the Ascension Sect, they could return to their own families and royal courts, still enjoying boundless glory, splendor, wealth, and rank.
"Aiya! Fang Han, having reached this plain, I dare not fly recklessly, lest some of the disciples inside plot against me. Moreover, the sky above this plain has been laid with restrictive spells. I will put you down and return to the Purple Lightning Peak first. If you need me, call me through the 'Myriad Beast Tablet'."
Seeing that the giant plain was fast approaching, "Fairy Crane" hurriedly reduced her soaring speed, slowly descending, and eventually landed on a broad road.
"Alright."
Fang Han nodded his head. Treading on solid ground, he watched "Fairy Crane" fly back until she disappeared from sight, and only then did he walk step by step along the main road, entering that majestic and imposing city amidst the plain.
This city was entirely paved with uniform white stone, smooth and beautiful. It was unknown how many times more beautiful, how many times broader, and how many times cleaner it was compared to Longyuan City.
Compared to this, the ancient capital of the previous dynasty, Longyuan City, was simply a small rural nook.
However, Fang Han did not appreciate the scenery within this city; instead, carrying Fang Qingxue's handwritten letter, he went directly outside a mansion on the eastern side of the city.
On the horizontal-inscribed board above this mansion, three large characters were written, "Treading Immortal Courtyard"!
The meaning of these characters was: stepping over the threshold of this mansion meant stepping onto the Immortal Path! Grand, absolutely grand.
In actuality, this "Treading Immortal Courtyard" was an academy for entering the Ascension Sect, a place for accepting the assessments of entering disciples.
At this time, on the plaza in front of the "Treading Immortal Courtyard", stood quite a few young people wearing extremely rich and noble clothes, their gazes extremely sharp and capable, and their identities carrying a significant background. There were men and women, evidently all coming taking recommendations to enter the sect.
The Ascension Sect, one of the ten great sects of the Immortal Path, faintly controlled several great dynasties, sitting high above. A single Dali Dynasty alone had a population in the billions. How many members of powerful families, aristocrats, and royal lineages were there, each sharpening their heads trying to stand out among their peers. Undoubtedly, entering the Ascension Sect, even as an Outer Court Disciple, was a capital for promotion, and an opportunity to learn supreme immortal arts.
Therefore, every year, every month, there were people holding recommendations and quotas, coming here for the assessment.
Moreover, the entering disciples of the Ascension Sect were all young people. Because young people possessed vigorous blood and qi, holding hopese to step into the Divine Ability Realm. Whereas when a person reaches middle age, their blood and qi begin to deplete, making it impossible to cultivate to the Divine Ability Realm.
Also because of this, although Fang Qingxue's father, the Longyuan Governor Fang Zetao, was at the tenth tier of the Physical Body, Divine Transformation realm, he could not enter the doors of the Ascension Sect, because he lacked potential.
"These people are all important figures. Who knows which Governor's son, Royal Prince, Princess, Commandery Princess, or King's heir they are… in short, those capable of coming to this Ascension Sect's 'Treading Immortal Courtyard' are unfailingly people of prominent status… A status like mine could never be aligned with theirs, yet now I am actually about to become an Outer Court Disciple along with them."
Fang Han's current attire was a set of brocade clothes, looking dignified and imposing. Especially since he had stepped into the "Physical Body Sixth Tier" "Breath" realm, the impurities in his body had been completely expelled, naturally carrying an awe-inspiring presence and demeanor. Others looking at him could absolutely never imagine that he was merely a slave who raised horses.
"Entering the Ascension Sect, we are not even permitted to bring a single servant. In the future after we enter the sect, residing here, who will come serve us? Could it be that in life, for cooking and washing clothes, we must do these things personally with our own hands, then what is there left to cultivate?"
A prince holding a purple jade folding fan said while waving his fan.
"The Ascension Sect is a residence of immortals. As soon as you enter its doors, the daily meals are all arranged by the sect. The sect will issue 'Pure Cloth Talismans', 'Dust Repellent Talismans', 'Soul Fire Talismans'… With these magical tools, who still needs to wash clothes themselves? Simply wave a talisman over your body, and immediately your entire body is thoroughly clean, cleaner than if you took ten baths. The meals of the sect are all grand feasts of superior spirit medicine, better than the imperial banquets of the royal palace. This is merely the treatment of an Outer Court Disciple. After entering as an Inner Court Disciple, the treatment is even better. Liu Kang, if you dislike having no servants to serve you, you can give this quota to me. I happen to have a younger brother who did not obtain a quota this time."
Another person wearing a bright yellow outfit, visibly a royal disciple, said coldly.
"Hmph, wait until you can pass the assessment and enter as an Outer Court Disciple before talking. The Outer Court assessment of the Ascension Sect is not that easy to pass. Are you confident you can defeat the Divine Force Puppet?"
A girl around fifteen or sixteen years old, carrying a sword, wearing boots, with bright eyes and white teeth, said coldly.
The clothes this girl wore also indicated her extremely prominent identity, particularly a fire jade hairpin on her head inlaid with a thumb-sized luminous pearl, shining brightly. This kind of luminous pearl, Fang Han had never even seen in the Fang mansion.
"Commandery Princess Hongyi, it seems you are confident you can defeat the Divine Force Puppet and pass the Outer Court assessment?"
"Of course."
"That Divine Force Puppet, it is rumored perfectly embodies boundless strength and agile movements, especially with prolonged stamina. Furthermore, its whole body is invulnerable to swords and spears. Compared to the stamina of an expert at the Divine Force realm, it is fully three to five times more formidable, making it very hard to defeat. Last year, several royal princes of our Dade Dynasty failed to pass the assessment. Everyone must be careful."
Listening to the discussions of these prominent disciples, Fang Han gradually gained an understanding in his heart.
"What exactly is that Divine Force Puppet? Each and every one of these prominent disciples obviously possesses peerless martial arts, having broken through the Divine Force realm at the very least. Why are they still so extremely wary of that Divine Force Puppet? I must be careful, otherwise I won't even pass the first assessment to enter the sect."
When martial arts cultivated to the realm of Divine Force, one could serve as an army-commanding general. If one broke through Divine Force, reaching the sixth tier realm of Breath, that would be the aptitude of a superior person. Generally, only the children of powerful families and royalty with profound martial arts origins and immense wealth and rank could successfully cultivate it in their youth.
If Fang Han had not relied on the supreme "Nine Orifices Golden Pill" left behind by the Great Emperor of the Yellow Spring of the Demonic Path, he would never have had the possibility to reach the sixth tier realm of Breath in his entire life.
Yet now, those who came here to participate in the Ascension Sect's Outer Court Disciple assessment were all at the Breath realm or above, with a few even terrifyingly unfathomable.
Clang!
Right at this moment, the two large doors of that "Treading Immortal Courtyard" slowly opened wide. Two young Daoists wearing Daoist robes of water and fire walked out from inside. Taking a glance at these prominent disciples outside, they said in a loud voice, "Today the Outer Court Disciple assessment begins. All of you come in."
Immediately, these prominent disciples filed in.
As each stepped over the threshold, their spirit, energy, and mind instantly changed, as if they had truly stepped onto the Immortal Path.
"Halt!"
Just as Fang Han was about to enter, he was obstructed.
"In the quota of recommendations this time, it seems there is no image of you. What is your name?" The two young Daoists wearing red Daoist robes held a palm-sized mirror, shining it toward Fang Han. This mirror did not display Fang Han's face.
"I am recommended from the Purple Lightning Peak, this is the recommendation letter."
Fang Han hurriedly took out Fang Qingxue's handwritten letter.
"From the Purple Lightning Peak? That is the mountain peak bestowed to a True Heritage Disciple by the Supreme Headmaster." Hearing the name Purple Lightning Peak, the two young Daoists clearly paused, then took the handwritten letter in their hands, opening it, only to see the drifting purple lightning characters upon it.
"You wait, I will go report to the assessing masters."
A Daoist hurriedly grabbed the handwritten letter and walked inside.
Within the "Treading Immortal Courtyard", in a profound hall, several middle-aged men bearing towering imposing auras sat on chairs. The demeanor of each person was even more powerful than the Governor of Longyuan, Fang Zetao.
"Brother Ting, what do you think of this assessment, how many disciples can be listed among the doors of our Ascension Sect? To become Outer Court Disciples?" a middle-aged man asked.
"I observe that the disciples this time are all very not bad. None of them are without the distinguished backgrounds of powerful families or royal blood. If they can't even become an Outer Court Disciple, they will completely lose face. But if they wish to become Inner Court Disciples, I fear it will still be incomparably difficult." A middle-aged man wearing a water and fire Daoist robe smiled faintly.
The water and fire Daoist robe on his body was evidently a magical tool, with water clouds faintly lingering and emitting red light from within.
"If one or two geniuses emerge among them to become Inner Court Disciples, then our merit will also be great. If the disciples taught by us have heaven-bestowed exceptional talent and can achieve self-breakthrough to become True Heritage Disciples, then I fear we will be able to receive the appreciation of the Elder Council in the Ascension Heavenly Palace, rewarding us with an incomparably precious Yin Yang Myriad Longevity Pill, which would allow us to break through our current realms."
"How precious is the Yin Yang Myriad Longevity Pill? I do not seek that, I only seek for the Elder Council to reward a Spirit Artifact."
As the several Outer Court assessing officials chatted idly, suddenly, that young Daoist rushed in, taking out that recommendation letter from Fang Qingxue.
"What? Purple Lightning Peak? Did that Fang Qingxue not recommend several people from her Fang family to enter a month ago? Why is she recommending again today? Does she think that simply because she became a True Heritage Disciple, the Ascension Sect belongs to her?"
An assessing official said with slight anger.
"Shh! Careful, Fang Qingxue is incomparably fierce and tyrannical. A month ago, conflicting with the Emerald Flame Peak, she killed eight Outer Court Disciples consecutively. It is not worth offending her, moreover, moreover, look at the letter she left. The purple lightning on it has coalesced into handwriting, swimming by itself, possessing its own spirituality! If I guess correctly, this is having stepped into the Divine Ability Realm, the level of the fourth tier Yin Yang Realm."
An assessing official hurriedly said.
"Divine Ability Realm, fourth tier, Yin Yang Realm!" The several assessing officials all drew a breath of cold air! "Then if she goes one step further, reaching the fifth tier Heaven and Man Realm, she could set up grand formations with her magic power and refine Spirit Artifacts herself! Even the elders in the Elder Council of the Ascension Heavenly Palace only have this level of cultivation, this… how is that possible."
"I heard that when Fang Qingxue was acting as an Inner Court Disciple, during a sect mission once, she crossed blows with the son of the Devil Emperor of the Innate Demonic Sect, the Devil Commander Ying Tianqing, having some interactions… later on she stepped into the Divine Ability Realm in one swoop, becoming a True Heritage Disciple…"
"Shh, silence, do not make wild guesses. The Elder Council has already prohibited speaking of this matter. It is rumored that when the Supreme Headmaster promoted Fang Qingxue to a True Heritage Disciple, he personally took action to investigate, finding nothing wrong with Fang Qingxue, her primal yin was not lost, otherwise, would the Supreme Headmaster have promoted her to a True Heritage Disciple? I fear he would have directly charged into the Innate Demonic Sect to reason with the Devil Emperor Ying Xiantian. Our Ascension Sect, with hundreds of thousands of disciples, only has over a hundred True Heritage Disciples. How prominent is their status? Anyway, Fang Qingxue must not be offended, just give one more quota."
An assessing official said: "You go out, and let that Fang Han in, let him undergo the assessment along with the others. If he fails the assessment, hit him back to the Purple Lightning Peak, then that Fang Qingxue will have nothing to say. If he passes the assessment, then he is also a talent."