43: Chapter 42: The New Disciple 43: Chapter 42: The New Disciple On the second day at dawn, a messenger bird took flight, its cry echoing throughout Jin City;

This was the rule set by the Quanzhen Sect during its grand recruitment, each messenger bird would circle the sky above Jin City three times before flying towards the cultivator it was meant to bring good news to; however, it wouldn’t be like the mortal world with throngs of people, gongs, and drums, heralding their achievements with fanfares and rewards.

In the realm of cultivation, the standards were much higher, and it had completely transcended mortal affairs; no one desired the envy of their neighbors.

Some messenger birds flew directly towards Jin City, while others headed off into the distance.

Of those, especially many landed in the outer court of Sword Mansion in Jin City, descending like a flock of sparrows swooping down for food.

With over sixty individuals in the outer court and over fifty messenger birds…

Hou Niao couldn’t help but smirk inwardly; this truly was the opening of a gateway of convenience.

Why bother with a sword bravery examination at all?

They might as well just say all are welcome.

Had the situation in Shan Country deteriorated to such an extent that it required such desperate recruitment?

This wasn’t for him to ponder.

A messenger bird descended into his courtyard, an impressive sight, but Hou Niao knew it was because of a strand of aura taken from him when he first met with Capital Commandant Li, something incredible to minor cultivators like him, yet quite ordinary for upper-level cultivators.

He held out his palm and the bird landed in the center, immediately transforming into a heavy, bird-shaped sword talisman…

This wasn’t a real bird but rather a kind of cultivation puppet.

On the front of the sword talisman was an image of a sword that could slice through the wind and waves, below which were the ancient seal characters for ‘Quanzhen’.

On the back were his names, Hou Niao, Hou Tianquan.

He curled his lips; he also had a nickname, Hou Xiaoshi, so why hadn’t they engraved that as well?

The outer court began to buzz with activity, nearly everyone had received one, and all passed…

except for the few unlucky ones who had perished during the previous demon-slaying excursion outside the city.

Thus, destiny seemed to dictate one’s future, and luck was indeed a factor.

The cultivators, in groups of twos and threes, left in company to pay their respects to the master at Sword Mansion; this was somewhat similar to the scenes of scholarly examinations in the mortal world.

It wasn’t as though a day’s teacher was a lifetime’s father, but being branded by Jin City’s Sword Mansion was a certainty, which was, in fact, a faction of Quanzhen Sect in Shan Country, the Jin City branch.

Hou Niao trailed behind; this was like students entering the palace for a holy pilgrimage, with the high achievers strutting in the front, the thick-skinned scrambling in the middle, and only two types of people at the back: those who genuinely lacked confidence and those who bite without barking…

So, from the queue arrangement, one could already tell the various cultivation levels; a few Bridge Connection Realm cultivators led, followed by the Grain Avoidance Realm, Essence Building Realm, and Energy Induction Realm…

More and more people joined this procession, other cultivators scattered within the city who most likely knew of the results announcement, so had come in advance.

Gradually, the group swelled to about a hundred people; such a number was quite remarkable for a country or a continent.

Surprisingly, two ladies from the Dugu Family were also following from behind, but they did so with intention…

“Thank you, Junior Brother Hou, for drawing your sword in our aid.

The Dugu Family acknowledges this favor…” Dugu Lan’s beautiful eyes held a shifting gaze, lingering on the junior cultivator before her.

She couldn’t figure out how a mere minor Energy Induction cultivator managed to slay someone on the verge of reaching the late Essence Building stage?

The chaos had come too swiftly, and the parties involved kept tight-lipped…

Hou Niao didn’t glance aside, “It has nothing to do with the Dugu Family.

They were looking for trouble with me.

He was just a drunkard speaking nonsense.

To defeat him brought no honor, to kill him would’ve been a disgrace.

Should such an incident arise again, I would rather brew him a sobering soup.”

Xiao Qiang’s voice was soft and tender, “Junior Brother, you are a heroic figure, modest and restrained, unwilling to claim undue credit…

Now that we are fellow disciples, I hope we can interact more.

My swordsmanship is far from perfect, so I would be grateful for any guidance from Junior Brother.”

Hou Niao felt quite awkward; you, an Essence Building cultivator, asking a minor Energy Induction for advice?

It was merely an attempt to pull another supporter for her family’s power.

“Exchanging insights and improving together, once you enter the sect, everyone is brothers and sisters.

There are hidden dragons and crouching tigers here; it’s better not for me, with my humble abilities, to embarrass myself,” he said.

This woman had the skill to create chaos behind the scenes; he had many secrets himself, which he dare not get involved with.

Not to mention that she was merely trying to win him over, not showing any particular favor; even if she had, he wouldn’t fall into that trap.

He liked flowers, but the wild and naturally grown ones were plentiful by the roadside.

If he really picked this one, wouldn’t he have to take care of a whole garden?

It was said that the Xiao Family from the neighboring continent was an even more colossal cultivation family than the Dugu Family.

The cultivators came in great numbers to the Sword Mansion; well, it was actually like entering a wealthy district without walls.

Led by Quanzhen cultivators, they arrived at the center of this affluent area, where a huge and majestic palace made entirely of stone appeared before them, resembling an enlarged version of the Sword Mansion in Jiangyou Town.

It seemed that Quanzhen Sect indeed had a fondness for this simple and archaic stone style.

They streamed in, and at the end of the grand hall, three cultivators sat high above, flanked by dozens of elders standing on either side; even with Hou Niao’s limited knowledge, he recognized the three main officials of Jin City—the one in the central principal position was Mu Shuai You Sunzhi, to the left was his mentor Capital Commandant Li Chuping, and the tall, proud man on the right was naturally Gao Jianli of the Central Office.

The elders on either side were Jin City’s Tongxuan or higher-level Upper Cultivators, the core force of the Quanzhen Sect in Da Feng Yuan Continent.

He was uncertain about where this power structure stood on the whole Continent, but it seemed like it might be slightly stronger than Anhe Country.

The Daoist Sect of Anhe Country was too concealed; they stayed behind the scenes, and with his status at that time, he wasn’t qualified to learn more.

Below the principal seat, on both sides, stood dozens of Quanzhen disciples arranged in a geomantic pattern.

Hou Niao could not tell their realms, but they were likely beyond Bridge Connection and Grain Avoidance; even cultivators of Essence Building Realm probably didn’t qualify to stand there, let alone the Yin Qi Realm.

He did spot two familiar faces, Daoist Wang and Senior Brother Zheng; it appeared they held some status in Jin City.

Still arranged according to their realms, Bridge Connection in front, Energy Induction at the end, it was an established convention.

In the cultivation world, one’s realm was the ultimate truth.

They played ceremonial music, elevated totems, offered the sacred sword, invited the ancestral masters…announced sect rules, clarified sect teachings, reminisced about history, and envisioned the future…

Although Quanzhen Sect, being part of the Demon Sect, had greatly simplified these rituals, there was still a profusion of complicated formalities.

But compared to the Daoist Sect, they were minor; it was said that the Daoist Sect alone took three whole days just to complete the entry rituals.

The cultivators, gathered in the grand hall, worshipped the heavens, the sword, and the ancestral masters.

Once the ceremony was complete, everyone was overjoyed.

This time Jin City’s sect opened its doors wide and accepted over a hundred new disciples, reaping a fruitful harvest, but how many would ultimately make it out was another matter.

Regardless of the outcome, at least the local government offices would be significantly strengthened—an immediate benefit.

There was also the battle against demons and other malevolent beings, a danger they would all inevitably face.

Since they joined Quanzhen, of course there was a welcome gift for everyone: each received a Treasure Gourd with its own universe inside, capable of containing heaven and earth; of course, the ones they received were the most basic, probably just enough to carry some essential personal items.

Most cultivators were familiar with this and had their own, but for Hou Niao, this was a novel and amusing object.

He still had too little exposure.

…Though the gourd is small, it conceals a whole world, accompanying me as I traverse thousands of miles.

Hidden away, even deities cannot spy upon it, but when used, it can bring about a springtime for things.