Hu Jing and Wang Meng couldn't help but sigh. Zhang Xiaopang was the type of person you should never praise. His ears had a special ability: they could automatically filter out anything unpleasant and amplify any compliments.
Night had fallen. The three of them encouraged each other before parting ways. Whether they admitted it or not, they were all filled with anticipation for the Holy Hall. There, they would begin a new life in a world completely different from anything they had known.
「Three days later.」
One hundred and twenty-five new disciples waited at the main gates of the Holy Hall. This was this year's new batch, a number that set a new record for Thunderlight City. In previous years, sixty or seventy people would have been considered a large group.
Everyone was excited, their heads held high and chests puffed out. They looked at those around them, the arrogant pride and confidence of youth radiating from every face. Among the crowd, Wang Meng's trio was no exception. At this moment, Zhang Xiaopang stood out. His eyes, glinting with a sharp light, darted around like flying swords. Anyone caught in his gaze would feel it instinctively.
After a moment, the Little Fatty sighed. Wang Meng knew him all too well. "What's wrong? No luck?"
"Sigh. After a thorough inspection with my Dharma Eye, not a single one of them is even half as pretty as our Little Jing. It looks like our Little Jing is going to be the unrivaled beauty of the Holy Hall!"
Zhang Xiaopang didn't forget to lay on the flattery. In reality, Hu Jing truly was the center of attention. A natural at the Fifth Layer was extremely rare outside of the Cultivation Families, which just went to show her talent. It was said that a few Cultivation Families had already extended an olive branch to her.
Gaining the support of a Cultivation Family would make one's cultivation path in the Holy Hall much smoother, and it would also provide a greater advantage in the competition. But Hu Jing wasn't in a hurry to choose.
To the average person, this might seem like a blessing from the heavens, but Hu Jing's sights were clearly set higher.
"Zhang Xiaopang, could you be any more ridiculous?" Hu Jing wasn't buying it. "But, speaking of which, that's probably why the Arrow Sect's Elder thinks so highly of him. I heard his eyesight is the best among this year's Bow Cultivator disciples."
Zhang Xiaopang puffed out his chest and stomach, raising his eyebrows smugly to make his large, sparkling eyes seem even more prominent.
Just as the young people's voices grew louder, a RUMBLE echoed out. The usually sealed gates of the Holy Hall swung open, revealing four figures at the entrance.
Two of them were the very same Elder Big Beard and the handsome Elder who had decided Wang Meng's fate during the re-examination. There was also a shockingly muscular man—a Body Cultivator, no doubt—and a mature woman whose elegant aura made all the girls present green with envy.
The entire area fell silent at once. The gazes directed at the four of them became respectful. In the Cultivation World, power was the only thing that determined one's status.
Four Golden Swords, with Life Marks above the fortieth layer. To these rookies of the Cultivation Realm, they were like gods.
"I am Xu Huang of the Sword Sect, and I will be your guide for the foreseeable future. Now, split up and stand before your respective masters."
Big Beard Xu Huang's voice was domineering. The rookie Sword Cultivators immediately moved to stand by his side.
"I am Wan Jing of the Arrow Sect. Bow Cultivator disciples, come to me."
Wan Jing's voice was as cold as ice. This was likely a characteristic of Bow Cultivators: ruthless, with a gaze as sharp as lightning.
When Zhang Xiaopang followed the group over to Wan Jing, the surrounding Bow Cultivator disciples all stared at him.
"What are you looking at? Who says a fat guy can't be a Bow Cultivator!" Zhang Xiaopang declared, undeterred. Whenever Wang Meng and Hu Jing were around, the Little Fatty never knew the meaning of the word 'fear'.
A burst of laughter erupted from the crowd. Even the four Elders couldn't help but crack a smile. 'This little guy,' they thought, 'looks like the Arrow Sect is about to get a lot more lively.'
"I am Zhao Ya of the Talisman Sect. Talisman Cultivator disciples, please come over." Elder Zhao Ya's voice was completely different from the previous two. It was as pleasant as a spring breeze, causing all the innocent young boys to feel an uncontrollable sense of adoration.
Hu Jing took her place at the very front without a moment's hesitation.
"Body Sect, Wang Bodang. The rest of you little bastards must be the Body Cultivators. Alright, stop wasting time. Let's go!"
The Body Cultivator Wang Bodang's voice was like a clap of thunder, making the entire group's heads ring.
He wasn't doing it on purpose. Body Cultivators practiced Body Refining; their entire body was a weapon, including their voice.
As the group of young people entered the Holy Hall, the great gates rumbled shut behind them. The one who closed them was none other than Wang Bodang. The youths stared, dumbfounded, as Wang Bodang swung the gate—over thirty meters high and nearly a meter thick—shut with a single hand.
In that instant, the group of Body Cultivators was swept up by Wang Bodang's King's Dominating Aura, feeling their passion ignite. Suddenly, their future seemed incredibly bright.
Led by the four Elders, the group entered the Inner Sect. But everyone froze at the sight before them. There was nothing inside—no people, no other buildings—just a single, empty plaza.
The crowd immediately broke into whispers, but the four Elders showed no reaction. They had clearly seen this response many times before.
The four Elders were also observing the newcomers. The more outstanding ones, like Hu Jing, remained unperturbed by the strange situation. Of course, some of them might have already known what was coming.
Thunderlight City's Elemental Qi was decent, but it was merely nourishing. For mortals who were still growing, denser Elemental Qi was not necessarily better; it could even be dangerous if one's aptitude was insufficient. However, once a person came of age and their Life Mark appeared, this was definitely not the best place for cultivation.
All Cultivators had one common destination: the Small Thousand World!
A brilliant light flared, and the group of Cultivation Realm rookies experienced the sensation of a Teleportation Array for the first time.
When the light faded, they had already left the so-called Holy Hall. Everyone stared around in amazement at a completely different world. It was vast and boundless, but the most significant difference was the abundant Elemental Qi in this world, which was a world apart from the Thunderlight City outside.
"Welcome to the Small Thousand World." Zhao Ya of the Talisman Sect revealed a charming smile. Everyone preferred listening to her speak; the other three Elders were either cold or short-tempered. None of them were as gentle and elegant as Elder Zhao Ya.
As she spoke, she took a ship-shaped Talisman from her Qiankun Bag. With a flick of her hands, Elemental Power flared, and the Ship Talisman transformed into a giant wooden boat.
The four Elders leaped aboard. The rookies hesitated for a moment before jumping onto the boat as well.
"Rise!"
Following Zhao Ya's heavenly voice, the Flying Boat slowly began to rise, accompanied by the excited gasps of the young crowd.
"Go!"
With a wave of Zhao Ya's hand, the Flying Boat soared into the air. This time, it was the Talisman Cultivator disciples who were fired up with excitement. 'So cool!'
The feeling of looking down on the world from high above was simply marvelous. The lush, green landscape of the Small Thousand World, crisscrossed by rivers—for the Cultivators who had just arrived, it was all like a dream.
Hu Jing couldn't help but reveal a slight smile. Zhao Ya was her goal—the first target she had to surpass!
Zhang Xiaopang craned his head out, looking around gleefully, but the scenery held little appeal for him.
Wang Meng…
Beads of sweat trickled down Wang Meng's forehead. He gritted his teeth, cursing inwardly. 'What the hell is this?' He... was afraid of heights.
As a Sword Cultivator, his dream was Sword Flight. And he was afraid of heights… 'Fuck!'
It was impossible to tell how many years the four Elders had lived here. Their apparent age was not necessarily their true age—this was one of the advantages of being a Cultivator.