"Old Fish, you've brought back another batch of new disciples. That Earth Grade Genius you found earlier... goodness knows where you got such luck to actually run into something like that."

An old man appeared out of nowhere, materializing silently before the crowd.

His tone was familiar and casual.

Elder Mo nodded quite smugly, "That goes without saying. My luck isn't just ordinarily good; this time, there are three with High-Grade Aptitude, which is quite rare in such remote places over there."

That Elder also let out a sigh, "That's why I say your luck..."

He was burning with envy and jealousy. When others went out to open the Mountain Gates far and wide, Elder Mo was in charge of that region year-round, which was a desolate and barren land within the territory of the Xuantian Dao Academy. Just getting someone with Middle Grade Aptitude would already be enough to fulfill his duties.

Who could have expected three High-Grade ones to appear—no, strictly speaking, four, except one had fallen—along with an Earth Grade Genius.

"Stop talking nonsense. Old Lin, give them their tests. Once they pass, just directly distribute the disciple Jade Tokens to them."

"Hahaha, because you lucked out this time, the academy head and other Elders will also come take a look."

This Elder Lin didn't continue chattering idly; with a wave of his sleeve, everyone's consciousness fell into an illusion.

Meanwhile, a mirror hung high inside the main hall, slowly emanating a soft glow that enveloped these disciples.

"Their backgrounds are clean; no problem."

"Three High-Grades, not bad, not bad."

Amidst formless air ripples, wisps of Divine Sense poured into this disciple hall.

Closing his eyes, those who had lost external consciousness were clearly unaware that quite a few Elders were already paying attention to them.

This was a situation that had rarely happened before.

It was also a rare fated opportunity. If any Elder took a fancy to them and took them as disciples, they wouldn't be completely without backing inside the Dao Academy.

However, this kind of thing was passive.

Lu Qing focused his mind and heart, and an illusion appeared before him.

When he saw a wolf appear before him, he was startled at first.

"What is this?"

But then, nothing else appeared in his mind.

A trace of sudden enlightenment blossomed in his heart.

That's right, this must be the second round of assessment.

His Averting Misfortune talent hadn't triggered, clearly indicating that this wolf couldn't possibly kill him.

He broke free, moving with extreme speed.

"This kid is not bad."

"His mental state is very good, devoid of fear."

"Deepen it a bit more."

In the blink of an eye, after the wolf vanished, Lu Qing fell into an even deeper illusion.

This time, although he wasn't sure what was going on, he saw a scene surging forward to congratulate him on becoming a peerless prodigy of the Dao Academy, with a supreme mighty figure personally taking him on as a disciple.

He remained expressionless, feeling almost like laughing. Stop messing around; he knew his own Aptitude best. With Earth Grade and Heavenly Grade prodigies around, it was impossible for him to believe such a scene.

The next second, the illusion was broken.

"Oh? Interesting," a faint voice sounded.

"Interesting. Want to take him as a disciple?"

"Hey, I calculated that my predestined person isn't appearing this year." The first voice hesitated for a moment before choosing to refuse.

More Divine Sense looked toward other places.

"This kid's Aptitude is quite a bit worse, but being able to single-mindedly pursue the path of cultivation is also commendable and rare."

"High-Grade Aptitude, but this mental state is a lot weaker."

"Is there no one you fancy? The Academy Master told us to come take disciples."

"Quit your nagging and whining! It's not like I've never taken a disciple before!"

"We've already taken Earth Grade ones this year. We can take them in the next batch instead; they have no affinity this year." As it drew to a close, a solemn voice spoke.

These speaking voices were extremely faint, yet they gave Lu Qing goosebumps all over his body.

Until a bad-tempered voice appeared later on.

He instantly recalled everything, but he didn't open his eyes immediately—what if this was still an illusion?

"Alright, congratulations on passing the assessment."

Elder Mo's voice rang out.

After this assessment, Lu Qing opened his eyes to see only two Elders standing in front.

Lowering his gaze, he had clearly heard a chorus of voices speaking just now, yet now he didn't see them. Without a doubt, the people who spoke were big shots.

He didn't want to reveal any place where he seemed unusual.

Lu Qing wasn't sure if only he had heard them or if everyone else had, and he wasn't about to gamble on that possibility.

As for taking masters or becoming a disciple, he left it to fate.

Whether there was any or not, the only thing Lu Qing always believed in was himself.

Not a single person at the scene took a master.

Those big shots who spoke had probably just come to watch the commotion.

So what if one was High-Grade? So what if one was a Genius? The death of a single High-Grade individual hadn't even stirred up any waves. Lu Qing clearly knew that what he needed to do was cultivation, keep a low profile, and stay low-key. He had already attained a form of alternative longevity, and with his Averting Misfortune skill, striving for supremacy was neither his preference, nor his forte, nor his necessity.

After giving a brief injunction, Elder Mo handed this batch of new disciples over to a dozen young people who had arrived shortly after.

Lu Qing went to one of the subsequently arrived Senior Brothers to collect his Jade Token.

After dripping his blood to gather spiritual light, his aura was branded onto it. Even though he hadn't started to cultivation yet, in some inexplicable way, he could feel a trace of connection with the Jade Token in his hand.

"Senior Brother, this Junior Brother has troubled you and wishes to ask, how should one choose a Dao Peak?"

After collecting their Jade Tokens, quite a few more disciples appeared and led the others away respectively.

The Senior Brother before him had a cheerful and forthright temperament. Hearing this, he laughed out loud, "Junior Brother, no need to worry. Dao Peaks are everywhere here. Since you haven't formally entered cultivation yet, everyone uniformly chooses a Dao Peak in the Outer Court for now. Later on, once you cultivation or your cultivation base deepens, you can also move elsewhere."

"That will depend on the cultivation method you choose in the future before a final conclusion can be made."

Lu Qing understood. In other words, since his cultivation hadn't officially begun, choosing which Dao Peak didn't really matter all that much.

"Many thanks for letting me know, Senior Brother."

"It's nothing. We just came out after claiming a task. Now, I'll take you to the Dao Peak over here first. The Dao Academy Jade Token is of the utmost importance, so Junior Brother, make sure not to lose it. If you lose it, remember to come back to the disciple grand hall here to replace it."

"If there's anything you don't understand, you can find me, or use the Jade Token to contact other fellow apprentices or Elders."

"These are your introductory items, Junior Brother, all of which are necessities for new disciples. After putting them away properly, you'll find Jade Slips inside introducing various places. Just press them against your glabella to view them."

Upon arriving at the destination, the Dao Peak Lu Qing chose was one wreathed in clouds and mist.

That task-claiming Senior Brother was quick-witted and exceptionally practiced, explaining a few matters in just a few words before handing over a parcel.

It was precisely the introductory stipend given by the Dao Academy to new disciples.

The Dao Peak Lu Qing chose was nameless. On the peak, a team of mortals was cleaning the courtyard.

The courtyard was three stories high. Pushing open the courtyard gates revealed a vast expanse. In the center, a pond was paved with jade stones, and the babbling of water could be heard as soon as one stepped inside. The main body of the courtyard had three floors: the entrance hall on the first floor, and some cultivation rooms on the second floor.

In the backyard, there was also a patch of spiritual fields.

The dozen or so mortals Lu Qing saw were busy cleaning the courtyard.

"Greetings, Immortal Master. The courtyard has already been cleaned. Please move in, Immortal Master."

Seeing Lu Qing, they bowed in unison and said.

"Mhm, you may withdraw."

"Yes."

Since practitioners themselves had to busy themselves with cultivation, when that Senior Brother brought Lu Qing here, he had already seen many people working on quite a few Dao Peaks.

After that team of people left,

the courtyard once again grew quiet and serene.

Entering the front hall, Lu Qing first opened the parcel and then took out a Jade Slip.

Following what the Senior Brother had said, he pressed it against his glabella to view it, and he saw the introduction about the Xuantian Dao Academy inside.

...