The air carried a sharpness entirely different from before.
It was a scent of unknown flowers and pure spiritual energy, separating all the dust of the mundane world behind them.
Beneath their feet lay a vast, endless white jade plaza, smooth as polished fat, with sunlight spilling across it.
Yet it wasn’t blinding—instead, it spread a gentle glow.
Ancient and intricate runes were carved across the plaza, resembling a massive formation.
The lines wound beneath their feet, stretching to the edge of vision.
All around were scattered strange artifacts, some like copper men enlarged dozens of times, others floating midair, rotating slowly—metal rings radiating faint fluctuations of spiritual power.
Beyond the plaza, mountains rose and fell in succession.
Mist wove between the peaks, wrapping the green slopes like a light veil.
Occasionally, the eaves and corners of pavilions peeked through, half-hidden in the fog, with bronze bells hanging from the eaves chiming faintly in the mountain wind, a sound delicate yet able to cleanse the heart.
The sky was far higher than what one could see in Qingyang City, blue as if washed clean.
At times, a brilliant sword-light would tear through the clouds, streaking across the heavens like a meteor with a long trailing tail, finally vanishing atop a distant mountain.
For Xiaoxiao, the sight of that immortal flying on a sword was a miracle beyond belief.
Her small mouth parted slightly, eyes wide, reflecting this brand new world.
The eyelids that once lowered from humility now tried to look upward, as if wanting to engrave everything before her into her heart.
“Gongzi…”
She unconsciously murmured, her voice trembling with a hint she herself did not notice.
Ye Chen did not reply immediately.
He simply stood quietly by Xiaoxiao’s side, gaze calm as he took it all in.
To a mortal girl, these scenes were paradise.
But in the depths of his sealed memories, they stirred not the slightest ripple.
It was as if he had once seen Starsea Divine Palaces a thousand times grander, and climbed Nine Heavens Stairways purer than this jade.
The feeling was strange, like viewing his own past through a layer of water mist—knowing clearly ‘it is as it is,’ yet unable to recall ‘why it is so.’
He withdrew his gaze, letting it fall instead upon Xiaoxiao’s side profile, filled with awe and yearning.
The light in her eyes was even purer than the sword-light in the sky.
He did not disturb her immersion, but instead observed his surroundings.
The new disciples who had walked through the light gate with them all displayed different expressions.
Some collapsed in exhaustion, yet clung to the cold jade ground, laughing wildly—tears running down their faces from hard-won joy.
Others sat cross-legged, their clothes soaked but their demeanor composed, immediately beginning to breathe and meditate, clearly ones of resolute spirit.
At the edge of the plaza, disciples in white robes patterned with red stripes leaned against railings in groups, pointing and whispering at the ‘newcomers.’
Most gazes carried a sense of superiority, mixed with the amusement of those who had walked the path before.
“Look at that fat one. He actually made it up here. Must’ve used up every last ounce of strength.”
“Heh, every year there’s always someone who thinks entering the outer sect is a leap to the heavens. Little do they know, this is only the start of hardship.”
Such scattered murmurs drifted on the wind, quietly cooling the rising excitement on the plaza.
Xiaoxiao heard them as well.
Instinctively, she edged closer to Ye Chen.
Only the small space beside Gongzi could bring her peace.
Ye Chen’s gaze swept lightly across those senior disciples, unbothered.
At that moment, on the high platform at the front of the plaza, the air twisted faintly—five figures appeared without warning.
At the head stood a middle-aged cultivator, lean and with slightly white hair.
The other four stood behind him, younger but all with steady auras.
Their robes resembled those of the outer sect disciples, but the cloud embroidery at their chests was far more intricate and radiant, indicating much higher status.
Behind the five stood two young disciples, one male and one female.
The men were upright and valiant, the women graceful and outstanding in bearing.
Their eyes were calm as they surveyed the crowd.
An invisible pressure descended with their arrival, silencing the entire white jade plaza in an instant.
Even the senior disciples who had been whispering bowed their heads, respectfully silent at the side.
“Congratulations to all of you for passing the Heart-Questioning Stairway and becoming outer sect disciples of the Purple Cloud Sword Sect.”
The cultivator in the center spoke, his voice clear in every ear.
His gaze swept across the crowd, as if appraising newly unearthed stones.
“However, there are ranks even among outer sect disciples. On the path of cultivation, one step ahead means every step ahead. Next, your Spirit Root attributes will be tested to determine your initial cultivation direction and assigned Deacon.”
He was concise and direct.
As he finished, his right sleeve flicked gently.
Five streaks of black light flew from his sleeve, humming softly as they split the air.
They traced arcs overhead, landing steadily at the center of the plaza as five strange black stones half a person tall.
The stones’ surfaces were as smooth as mirrors, but within, chaos seemed to churn.
“Form five lines. Step forward in order. Place your hand on the Testing Spirit Stone.”
The crowd stirred, but soon, five long lines formed naturally.
Xiaoxiao grew nervous, glancing back at Ye Chen.
Ye Chen gave her a reassuring look and nodded gently, signaling for her to stand ahead of him.
The line moved forward slowly.
“Fire Attribute Spirit Root, mid grade!”
A disciple standing beside the Testing Spirit Stone called out loudly.
A bright red light flared more than a person’s height atop the stone, blazing and intense.
A young man behind a high platform elder nodded slightly, beckoning to the burly man being tested.
The latter ran over excitedly.
“Water Attribute Spirit Root, low grade.”
Another stone flickered with a faint blue glow, somewhat dim.
The figures on the platform showed no reaction—only a Deacon disciple pointed indifferently to the side, indicating she should join the others.
For a time, red, blue, green, and gold lights crisscrossed the plaza, illuminating young faces with expressions of joy, disappointment, or calm.
Those whose light shone brightly were all courteously led away by the handsome men and beautiful women behind the elders; those with dimmer glows could only retreat silently to the side, awaiting further instructions.
The reality of disparity was revealed nakedly from the very first step into the Immortal Sect.
Xiaoxiao’s palm was slick with sweat.
She clenched her sleeve and moved forward step by step.
She had never imagined she would possess any Spirit Root.
To her, simply remaining by Gongzi’s side in this immortal realm was a blessing beyond measure.
At last, it was her turn.
She took a deep breath, imitating those before her, trembling as she placed her right hand lightly on the cool surface of the Testing Spirit Stone.
One second.
Two seconds.
The stone showed no reaction.
The disciple recording raised his eyebrows, about to scold impatiently.
A few in line behind showed schadenfreude on their faces.
Then.
Buzz.
A barely audible hum sounded from deep within the Testing Spirit Stone.
A gentle green light quietly bloomed from the point where Xiaoxiao’s palm touched the stone. It was as pure as a sprout after rain, filled with the breath of life.
Yet in an instant, that green began to transform and sublimate.
It deepened rapidly, turning from tender green to emerald.
Then, a clear cyan separated from within, swiftly filling the entire Testing Spirit Stone!
It was not the green of ordinary plants, nor the pure blue of the sky.
It was a color between green and blue.
It possessed the warmth of jade and the lightness of wind; the clarity of the heavens and a trace of life’s energy.
The cyan light soared upward—not dazzling, but carrying a strange affinity that stilled the surrounding spiritual energy in submission.
For a moment, the entire white jade plaza fell silent.
Every gaze—whether newcomer, old disciple, or Deacon—locked on that pillar of cyan light and the slim, bewildered girl beneath it.
On the high platform, the calm of the five sect elders melted away.
The leading cultivator’s hand, which had been stroking his beard, froze mid-air.
One elder beside him stepped forward unconsciously, eyes wide and lips trembling as if he wished to speak, but was struck silent by shock.
The five exchanged rapid glances—no longer calm, but thunderstruck and…incredulous.
The wind stopped.
The clouds stilled.
Even the bells in the distant mountains seemed to freeze.
Only that pure cyan light continued to flow, quietly illuminating the maid called Xiaoxiao, allowing her, for the first time, to be truly seen by the immortal world.