Chapter Sixteen: Entering the Sect in the Twelfth Month

In the blink of an eye, it was already the twelfth month. From the first to the third day of the twelfth month, the numerous sect outposts throughout Anchan City would uniformly accept disciples.

"Wow."

Meng Xin, Meng Jun, and Meng Yan walked out of the alley and onto the main street.

"So many people today," Meng Xin exclaimed in amazement.

Meng Jun's face lit up with excitement: "No need to say that. Today is the first day of the twelfth month, the first day to join sects. Countless people in Anchan City are trying to join sects. There are ordinary people, innate lifeforms, and even us Violet Mansion cultivators! But some top-tier sects generally only accept early-stage Violet Mansion cultivators! We're all early-stage Violet Mansion, so joining a sect should be much easier."

Meng Xin secretly glanced at Meng Yan beside her. Back when they encountered the Snow Dragon Mountain disciples' ambush, Meng Yan had used a forbidden technique to save her, damaging his foundation. Joining a sect would be difficult for him.

"Xin Mei, let's go," Meng Jun called out. Suddenly he caught sight of Meng Yan nearby, and a smile immediately appeared on his face. "Stone, even though you've damaged your foundation, you're still an early-stage Violet Mansion cultivator. With some luck, or if some sects aren't too thorough in their inspection, you might still get into a sect."

Meng Yan's face could barely conceal a flash of anger.

What did he mean by 'not too thorough in inspection'? Accepting disciples was the future of a sect—which sect would be careless?

"Oh, getting angry?" Meng Jun sneered, then turned and walked away.

"Brother Stone," Meng Xin couldn't help calling out.

"You go ahead. I'll try the sects on my own," Meng Yan said in a low voice.

Meng Xin hesitated for a moment, then said, "Brother Stone, I'll go with you. We'll join sects together."

Meng Yan couldn't help but feel pleasantly surprised.

"Xin Mei!" Meng Jun, who had already walked some distance, turned back and urged.

"I'll go with Brother Stone," Meng Xin said, standing beside Meng Yan. This brought a hint of excitement to Meng Yan's face.

Meng Jun's eyes widened: "You're going with him? What sect could he possibly get into?"

"Brother Stone used a forbidden technique to save your life too, yet you speak of him like this," Meng Xin said, anger showing on her face.

Having been pretty and quite talented since childhood, Meng Xin was very much doted on and thus somewhat proud. Although she looked down slightly on both Meng Yan and Meng Jun, she was still grateful to Meng Yan for saving her life earlier. As for Meng Jun... treating his savior like this, Meng Xin naturally held him in contempt.

"You..." Meng Jun glared.

"Hmph," Meng Xin snorted coldly.

"Just wait and see what sects you two get into," Meng Jun said, turning and leaving.

Meng Xin then looked at Meng Yan beside her: "Brother Stone, let's go." Meng Yan's heart was burning with warmth at that moment, and he followed Meng Xin to begin trying to join sects.

...

West City of Anchan, Beishan Black Tiger Manor.

"Brother Baiwei, no need to see me off," Ji Ning said with a smile.

"Then I'll await good news from you, Ji Ning," Beishan Baiwei said with a smile.

Ji Ning clasped his hands.

Then he turned and, together with the Whitesnake, headed straight for the Black-White College.

These past days living in Beishan Black Tiger Manor had been quite peaceful. Through Beishan Baiwei, Ji Ning learned that during this time, the strength he had displayed in the Carefree Cave had indeed led many sects to send people to Beishan Black Tiger Manor, hoping to recruit him. The conditions they offered were all very favorable.

Becoming a disciple of an immortal master.

A gift of a thousand catties of liquid essence.

Preparing a Heaven-grade magic treasure...

And many other conditions, all enough to make even Primal Daoists envious. In value, they were not inferior to the yuan stone vein within Ji clan's territory. Unfortunately, none of these sects included the Split Heaven Sword Sect, let alone the Black-White College.

Among the three major sects of the eight great powers in Anchan Commandery, the Hundred Flowers Fairyland accepted only female disciples, the Split Heaven Sword Sect had its pride and would not curry favor with disciples, and the Black-White College was even less likely to actively recruit.

"Those sects are far weaker than the three major ones. Their qi refining techniques, divine abilities, secret arts, etc., are also a tier lower," Ji Ning shook his head. A tier lower meant a difference between heaven and earth. Naturally, the more顶尖 the qi refining technique, the higher the chance of becoming an immortal.

A moment later.

"We're here." Ji Ning looked up at the distant Black-White College. The Whitesnake was also watching.

"There really are a lot of people today," Ji Ning remarked.

"The Black-White College is extremely strict in accepting disciples. Ning'er, don't be careless and get eliminated," the Whitesnake transmitted mentally.

"Don't worry, Uncle White," Ji Ning nodded.

...

Today, the gates of the Black-White College were wide open, allowing outsiders to enter. Ji Ning, along with the Whitesnake, went inside.

In the bustling crowd were cultivators from all sides hoping to join the Black-White College.

"Father, I will work hard and enter the Black-White College in one go."

"I'm definitely getting into the Black-White College!"

"I must become a disciple of the Black-White College. Once I do, Ru Mei will agree to be my wife."

Cultivators gritted their teeth, and beside them were many spirit beasts, servants, family members, friends, etc.

"There must be thousands upon thousands of people," Ji Ning clicked his tongue.

From ahead came an angry shout: "You, a mid-stage Violet Mansion qi refiner, what are you doing at my Black-White College? Get down immediately! Listen, all of you who want to join my Black-White College: your qi cultivation must be at the early Violet Mansion stage. My Black-White College only accepts early-stage Violet Mansion cultivators! If you're not early-stage Violet Mansion, leave now and spare me the scolding."

"Next."

"Hmm, your meridians lack flexibility. Get down."

"Next."

"You've used a forbidden technique and still come to my Black-White College? Get lost!"

"Next."

"Meridians not wide enough. Get down."

"Next."

"Hmm, barely acceptable. Go wait over there."

Ji Ning's ears clearly distinguished that voice. Hearing the distant sounds, he was shocked. Just by looking at physical aptitude, most were eliminated, showing how strict the requirements were.

A moment later.

Ji Ning finally reached the front and saw the scene in the distance. There was a lake, and on the lake was a boat. At the bow sat a middle-aged man with black hair, leisurely holding a wine flask. Meanwhile, a huge bronze mirror floated high in the air, shining down on the cultivators flying over one by one.

"Greetings, senior." A young man flew over, standing on the water without sinking.

Hum.

The bronze mirror shone directly on him.

"Hmm, barely acceptable. Go wait over there," the black-haired middle-aged man said casually.

"Thank you, senior." The young man immediately walked on the water, quickly crossing the lake to the other shore, where dozens of young men and women had already gathered, some merely in their teens.

One by one, cultivators were either eliminated and returned to the shore to leave, or they passed and flew to the other shore.

Another elegant young gentleman floated down and landed on the lake, cupping his hands: "Meng Tang pays respects to senior."

The huge bronze mirror in the air shone down.

"Go in," the black-haired middle-aged man said, showing a rare satisfied smile.

Meng Tang bowed humbly, then also flew to the other shore of the lake.

"Uncle White, wait for me here," Ji Ning said to the Whitesnake beside him, transmitting mentally.

The Whitesnake nodded.

Whoosh!

Ji Ning's figure flickered, and he appeared on the lake, bowing: "Greetings, senior."

"Wearing animal skins?"

"This young man wears animal skins? How ridiculous."

"Who knows where this bumpkin came from."

"But he looks like just a youth; his aptitude might be quite high." The onlookers in the distance discussed.

...

Ji Ning was very calm. Those people looked down on him for wearing animal skins, but the style of this animal skin was a complete imitation of the one his mother had sewn. Wearing animal skins made him feel extremely comfortable, as if his mother were by his side. As for the animal skin his mother had sewn with her own hands, he couldn't bear to wear it and kept it stored away.

The black-haired middle-aged man at the boat's bow glanced at Ji Ning: "Fast, but no need to show off."

The bronze mirror in the sky also shone on Ji Ning.

"Hmm?" Ji Ning felt as if his entire body—bones, sinews, skin, and flesh—were being penetrated.

"Oh? Divine body cultivation?" The black-haired middle-aged man looked at Ji Ning with surprise, then nodded with satisfaction. "Good aptitude. And your divine body cultivation has also reached the Violet Mansion level. It seems quite perfect. What technique are you practicing?"

"The Crimsonbright Diagram of the Nine Heavens!" Ji Ning said directly.

As soon as he spoke, exclamations arose.

"The Crimsonbright Diagram of the Nine Heavens?"

"It's the number one divine body cultivation technique in legend, and someone has actually cultivated it to the Violet Mansion level?"

"He looks like just a youth. Truly, the younger they are, the less they should be underestimated. To have cultivated the Crimsonbright Diagram of the Nine Heavens to this level at such a young age is impressive."

"There are so many geniuses trying to join the Black-White College. I came early in the morning, and this is already the second person to have cultivated the Crimsonbright Diagram of the Nine Heavens to the Violet Mansion level."

...

Ji Ning's ears perked up. Oh, there was someone before him who had also cultivated the Crimsonbright Diagram?

"Hmm." The black-haired middle-aged man nodded with a smile. "Go on. Don't be careless in the slightest. Perhaps you might enter our college."

"Thank you, senior," Ji Ning bowed, inwardly alarmed.

The Black-White College was indeed strict in accepting disciples. Even the seventh level of the Crimsonbright Diagram only gave a possibility of entry. After all, the Black-White College attracted peerless geniuses from the entire Anchan Commandery, and even from beyond. Each year, they accepted at most three to five, and in some years, none at all!

With just the seventh level of the Crimsonbright Diagram, one could easily enter a sect like the Split Heaven Sword Sect.

But entering the Black-White College, which had few disciples, was extremely difficult!

Whoosh!

Beneath Ji Ning's feet, the water seemed to be part of him. With ease and naturalness, his figure flickered and he reached the opposite shore of the lake.

"Fifth Brother, here comes another one who cultivates the Crimsonbright Diagram," a young man said to the black-clothed youth beside him.

The black-clothed youth glanced at Ji Ning.

Ji Ning also looked at him.

"What level of the Crimsonbright Diagram are you at?" the black-clothed youth asked coldly.

Ji Ning turned his head away, not even looking.

The black-clothed youth frowned. In his tribe, he was an absolute prodigy, used to being arrogant. He had cultivated the Crimsonbright Diagram to the seventh level, reaching the stage of rebirth from a drop of blood. This time, he was determined to join the Black-White College. He was accustomed to looking down on his peers, and with his divine abilities, he could even fight across levels, so naturally, he was very proud.

"Hmph, nonsense," the black-clothed youth glanced at Ji Ning and then ignored him.

Ji Ning casually chose a large rock, sat down cross-legged, and couldn't be bothered with the black-clothed youth.

As time passed, more and more young men and women gathered around. Some came from large tribes, even from outside Anchan Commandery, and even members of the Anchan Northmont clan arrived. Ji Ning occasionally watched the excitement but didn't join any discussions. He knew that among this group, perhaps only one or two would enter the Black-White College.