The day after the formation of the Soul Pact.
Feng Jiuli stood at the entrance of the Profound Heaven Sect's Outer Sect, gazing up at the towering, majestic mountain gates.
She wore a plain white dress, her ink-black hair held up by a simple wooden hairpin. She looked exactly like an ordinary, unadorned rogue cultivator.
Yet, her innate temperament—that otherworldly nobility and absolute grace—could not be entirely concealed no matter how hard she tried.
"Next."
The disciple in charge of registration looked up. When his eyes landed on Feng Jiuli, a flash of pure astonishment crossed his face.
"Miss, are you here to participate in the Outer Sect assessment?"
"Yes," Feng Jiuli nodded, her voice cold and clear.
"Name?"
"Feng Ling."
"Origin?"
"A rogue cultivator from the borders of the Eastern Region."
The registering disciple hastily recorded the information and handed her a wooden token.
"This is your assessment token; you will need it to participate in the trials. The assessment is divided into three stages: Spirit Root testing, Cultivation Base testing, and Combat testing. If you pass all three, you will officially become an Outer Sect disciple of the Profound Heaven Sect."
Feng Jiuli took the token and nodded slightly.
"Thank you."
She turned and walked toward the testing grounds, Gu Changyuan's strict instructions echoing in her mind.
"Remember, you must conceal your strength. Your true cultivation is at the Ninth Level of Qi Condensation, but you need to act like you are at the Early Foundation Establishment Realm."
"Early Foundation Establishment is considered above average among Outer Sect disciples. It won't attract too much unwanted attention, but it also won't make you look too weak to be bullied."
"Also, do not expose our relationship. Inside the sect, we are absolute strangers."
Feng Jiuli understood Gu Changyuan's intentions perfectly.
Her current identity was that of a rogue cultivator. If she displayed too much terrifying power, it would inevitably arouse suspicion. And if she was seen interacting closely with Gu Changyuan, that would raise even more eyebrows.
After all, why would a talented female rogue cultivator associate herself with a crippled servant disciple?
Don't worry, she said silently to Gu Changyuan in her heart.
Although they were physically far apart, through the Soul Pact, she could vividly perceive his emotions.
At this very moment, his overarching emotion was... worry.
The corners of Feng Jiuli's lips turned up slightly.
This man really worries a lot.
The testing grounds were located right next to the Outer Sect's martial arts arena, and a large crowd had already gathered.
Feng Jiuli swept her gaze across the area. Most of the participants were young rogue cultivators, ranging from fifteen to their early twenties. Their cultivation bases varied wildly—the lowest were merely at the early stages of Qi Condensation, while the highest were only at Early Foundation Establishment.
"The first stage: Spirit Root testing!"
A middle-aged deacon standing on a high platform announced loudly.
"Spirit Roots are divided into five grades: Heavenly, Earthly, Profound, Yellow, and Crippled. Those with Heavenly or Earthly Spirit Roots will directly become Inner Sect disciples. Those with Profound or Yellow Spirit Roots will become Outer Sect disciples. Those with Crippled Spirit Roots will be eliminated immediately."
"The testing begins now."
The candidates lined up, walking up to the testing platform one by one.
On the platform sat a massive testing stone. As long as one placed their hand on it, the stone would emit different colors of light based on the quality of their Spirit Root.
Feng Jiuli stood in the middle of the line, waiting quietly.
Her Spirit Root...
To be completely honest, she had no idea what grade her Spirit Root was.
In the Divine Realm, things like "Spirit Roots" were utterly irrelevant. The cultivation system of the Divine Realm was fundamentally different from the lower realms; what mattered there was one's divine bloodline and innate comprehension of the Dao, not Spirit Roots.
But she knew for a fact that her talent was absolutely not lacking.
After all, she was the Goddess of the Divine Phoenix Clan, a peerless genius rarely seen even once in ten thousand years.
"Next."
It was Feng Jiuli's turn.
She stepped onto the platform and gently placed her hand on the testing stone.
Instantly, the stone ignited, erupting with a blinding, terrifyingly brilliant golden light.
"This is..."
The middle-aged deacon's eyes widened to the point of nearly popping out of his skull.
"A Heavenly Spirit Root!"
The entire arena erupted into a massive uproar.
A Heavenly Spirit Root was the absolute highest tier of existence among Spirit Roots. Those who possessed it cultivated several times faster than ordinary geniuses, and they could comprehend the laws of heaven and earth with terrifying ease.
In the entire history of the Profound Heaven Sect, the number of disciples who possessed a Heavenly Spirit Root could be counted on one hand.
"Miss, what is your name?!" the middle-aged deacon asked, his voice trembling with sheer excitement.
"Feng Ling."
"Miss Feng Ling, congratulations! You can directly enter the Inner Sect—"
"No," Feng Jiuli cut him off calmly. "I wish to start from the Outer Sect."
The middle-aged deacon froze.
"What?"
"I said, I wish to start from the Outer Sect," Feng Jiuli repeated smoothly. "I come from a background as a rogue cultivator and am unfamiliar with the rules of major sects. Starting from the Outer Sect will allow me to better adapt to sect life."
The deacon opened his mouth to argue, but ultimately, he just nodded slowly.
"Alright. Since you insist, you may start from the Outer Sect."
"However, I must report your Heavenly Spirit Root to the sect's higher-ups. If they wish to recruit you directly, you must be prepared."
Feng Jiuli nodded.
"Thank you for the warning."
She turned and left the testing platform, sighing internally.
She had originally intended to keep a low profile, but she hadn't expected the very first test to cause such a massive scene.
A Heavenly Spirit Root...
So much for keeping a low profile.
For the next two stages, Feng Jiuli deliberately suppressed her strength to the extreme.
During the Cultivation Base test, she only revealed the aura of Early Foundation Establishment.
During the Combat test, she only used thirty percent of her actual power, making it look like she barely managed to defeat her opponent.
Although her performance was still considered excellent, compared to the shocking revelation of her Heavenly Spirit Root, it was much more low-key.
"Feng Ling has passed the assessment and is officially an Outer Sect disciple of the Profound Heaven Sect!" the middle-aged deacon announced.
Feng Jiuli received her Outer Sect identity token and uniform, then headed toward the female disciples' quarters.
The female disciples' area was located on the eastern side of the Outer Sect region, existing as an independent courtyard. There were dozens of small cabins in the courtyard, each meant to house two or three people.
"Junior Sister Feng Ling, you will be staying in this room."
The senior female disciple in charge of housing led Feng Jiuli to a small cabin.
"You will have this room entirely to yourself. It's quite peaceful."
Feng Jiuli nodded.
"Thank you."
She pushed open the door and walked inside.
The room wasn't large, but it was meticulously clean. A bed, a table, a chair, and a simple wardrobe.
Compared to the damp, cold cave in the back mountain, this was practically a luxury.
Feng Jiuli closed the door, sat down on the bed, and slowly closed her eyes.
Through the Soul Pact, she could sense Gu Changyuan's exact location.
He was in the Servant Quarters, quite a distance away from here.
Gu Changyuan.
She called out his name softly in her heart.
Although they couldn't speak directly through the Soul Pact, she knew he could vividly feel her emotional state.
At this very moment, her overarching emotion was... peace.
She had successfully infiltrated the Profound Heaven Sect and obtained a legitimate identity.
From this day forward, she was Feng Ling, an Outer Sect disciple of the Profound Heaven Sect.
She was no longer Feng Jiuli, the most wanted fugitive of the Divine Realm's Phoenix Clan.
Night fell.
Feng Jiuli quietly slipped out of the female disciples' quarters and headed straight for the back mountain.
She and Gu Changyuan had agreed to meet in the hidden cave every single night.
By day, they were complete strangers whose paths never crossed. By night, they were companions bound by life and death.
When she arrived at the cave, Gu Changyuan was already waiting for her.
"How did it go?" he asked immediately.
"Smoothly." Feng Jiuli sat down on the stone bed. "I am now an Outer Sect disciple."
"Did you arouse any suspicion?"
"A little," Feng Jiuli frowned slightly. "During the Spirit Root test... it measured me as having a Heavenly Spirit Root."
Gu Changyuan's brows instantly furrowed.
"A Heavenly Spirit Root?"
"Yes," Feng Jiuli sighed softly. "I wanted to keep a low profile, but there was no way to hide the quality of my Spirit Root."
"A Heavenly Spirit Root will absolutely draw the attention of the sect's higher echelon," Gu Changyuan warned seriously. "You must be extremely careful."
"I know." Feng Jiuli nodded. "I will try my best to remain low-key and avoid drawing any more attention."
The two fell silent for a moment.
"What's the next step?" Feng Jiuli asked.
"We proceed according to plan," Gu Changyuan said. "You cultivate in the Outer Sect, and I cultivate in the Servant Quarters. We move independently during the day and meet here at night."
"When the time is right, we will make our move together."
"What time is that?"
"The Grand Sect Tournament." A razor-sharp glint flashed through Gu Changyuan's eyes. "In exactly three months, the Grand Sect Tournament will begin."
"When that time comes, I will stun the entire world and forcefully take back absolutely everything that belongs to me."
Feng Jiuli looked at him, a strange light shimmering in her eyes.
"You are very confident."
"It's not confidence," Gu Changyuan said lightly. "It's sheer resolve."
"Three years. I have waited far too long for this day."
Feng Jiuli fell silent.
She could vividly feel the violent emotions surging within Gu Changyuan through the Soul Pact.
It was an explosive fury that had been suppressed for three agonizing years, an ambition that had laid dormant in the darkness, and a suffocating unwillingness to accept defeat.
"Gu Changyuan."
"Mm?"
"During the Grand Sect Tournament, I will help you."
Gu Changyuan looked at her, a trace of surprise flashing in his eyes.
"You?"
"Yes," Feng Jiuli nodded firmly. "We are companions. Your enemies are my enemies."
"Besides..." She paused, the corners of her mouth turning up in a wicked, stunning smile. "I also really want to see how you're going to thrash that Chen Xuanfeng."
Gu Changyuan froze for a second, then a matching, sharp smile touched his lips.
"Then it's a promise."
The two shared a knowing smile.
Outside the cave, the moonlight flowed like water. Inside the cave, the campfire flickered and danced.
A brand-new chapter had officially begun.