Chapter 452: Sect's Own Sword Spirit

From the day Earth's cultivation world was formed, even the immortals of the Heavenly Court had never considered the question Wang Sheng raised.

What should a cultivator do if the heavenly tribulation they'll face before ascending to immortality is too weak?

Had Shi Qianzhang been the one to ask it, he would have been strung up and beaten senseless. But since it came hesitantly from Wang Sheng, everyone was rendered speechless and felt helpless. They fell deep into thought and pondered a solution.

The simplest method, which Wang Sheng and Yaoyun had already thought of, was to use a "tribulation assistant" to deceive the heavenly tribulation. Once Wang Sheng was ready to face his tribulation, he could invite several top experts of the cultivation world to stand under the core of the tribulation cloud first. The heavenly tribulation would register them as aid, making it increase its power.

However, the top experts of the cultivation world, such as the Celestial Master and Qing Yanzi, were already far behind him in cultivation. They likely wouldn't even be at the Rebirth Realm yet by the time Wang Sheng had reached the middle stage of the Tribulation Realm and prepared to ascend.

Moreover, the heavenly tribulation's power was unpredictable. If it grew too strong, then he'd just be courting death. The immortal of the Small Nether Realm wasn't an option either. He wouldn't survive his heavenly tribulation if someone like Lady Meng, who was at the Immortal Realm, helped him strengthen it.

Despite putting some thought into it, even the Pure Yang Sword Faction's experts found themselves at a loss.

Cultivators usually only thought about how to endure their heavenly tribulation. Due to various reasons, though, Wang Sheng could simply ignore his heavenly tribulation at the Tribulation Realm for as long as it was at its normal power, which he found unfortunate. After all, he wanted to benefit from it as much as he could.

Failing to reach a definite answer, Qing Yanzi simply advised Wang Sheng not to be too greedy. Surviving the heavenly tribulation safely was already a rare blessing for any cultivator.

Wang Sheng agreed sincerely, but deep down, he still didn't want to waste such an opportunity. Had he not feared the heavenly might descending again, he would have already tried to analyze his Heavenly Tribulation Sword Intent and further refined the tribulation he could summon. Considering three were the maximum heavenly warnings he could get, he decided it was better to keep his last two "yellow cards" in reserve, in case he violated the Great Dao again someday.

The sense of danger was overwhelming.

Just as Wang Sheng's difficult problem was set aside, Qing Yanzi presented another.

"Everyone, give more thought to Little Sheng's problem. Talk to him about any ideas you can come up with. For now, let's talk about the method and criteria we'll use to select new disciples. When we hold the sect's inaugural ceremony, around sixty to seventy candidates will be brought here. We have to figure out a way to choose disciples without damaging the harmony among everyone."

The palace fell silent again. Everyone, even Wang Sheng, frowned in thought.

Xi Lian could not help but complain, "Being an elder doesn't seem to have any benefits at all. I swear our brain cells are burning out faster than ever."

The others chuckled softly in agreement.

Wang Sheng grinned. "How about letting them spar a few matches?"

"We can't encourage that kind of competition since we'll be conducting small classes that revolve around aptitude-based teaching." Qing Yanzi sipped from his thermos of wolfberry tea. "We'll choose our disciples based on their aptitude, comprehension, and affinity with our Dao of Pure Yang, not their current strength."

Although he had only been joking, Wang Sheng quickly lowered his head. "I understand, Master."

Everyone began proposing ideas.

Jingyun suggested the traditional method of making them climb from the foot to the top of the mountain. Ancient sects once commonly used this practice to test the temperament of the disciples. However, the mountain of the Pure Yang Sword Faction was far too steep. Even a grown man would struggle to climb it, let alone the "children."

Mu Wanxuan snapped her fingers, took out her phone, typed a few lines, and held it up.

We can test their honesty. Leave some Spirit Stones, alchemical pills, or money by the roadside and see who can resist the temptation.

Wang Sheng nodded immediately. "That's not such a bad idea."

Mu Wanxuan smiled and winked playfully, while Xi Lian and Xiaomiao rolled their eyes at Wang Sheng.

Jingyun laughed. "That test might be too simple. Children these days are clever. The truly cunning ones might deliberately act well-behaved."

"Then read their minds through their mental cultivation method," Xi Lian said. "We'll see their true thoughts in different situations."

Wang Sheng asked curiously, "You have a technique like that, Big Sister?"

"Of course... not." Xi Lian huffed. "But we've got Princess Yaoyun, don't we? Just ask her if there's a way."

Wang Sheng immediately summoned Spiritless from his Qiankun Ring and asked Yaoyun, who just shook her head.

"This kind of immortal art certainly exists," Yaoyun said, "but you'll have to be at least a Heavenly Immortal to use it. You might as well just resort to soul-searching techniques."

Xi Lian's proposal unsurprisingly fell flat.

The great palace lapsed into silence again. Sitting down, they racked their brains for the perfect way to test the children's hearts without offending any sect.

Yaoyun stood on Spiritless for a while, watching them struggle. Eventually, she commented, "The Heavenly Court once founded a sect in the endless starry sky that was devoted to gathering cultivation prodigies and training heavenly generals. It was called the Fate Sect. Every ten years, the Fate Sect would recruit new disciples. Their entrance test was called the 'Three Trials of Fate.'

"The first tested aptitude using a specialized immortal treasure. The second tested heavenly fate and fortune, also using a specialized treasure. The third was an illusion array that tested temperament, character, and adaptability in crisis. I don't know if the immortal treasures for the first two trials are still in the Moon Palace, but I do remember how to set up the array for the third."

Qing Yanzi and Wang Sheng exchanged glances.

Xi Lian asked, "Then why not just copy it?"

"There's no time," Wang Sheng answered. "Considering the time a round trip to the Moon Palace would take, we won't have time to set up the illusory array."

"We can just use the third trial." Qing Yanzi stood and bowed slightly toward Yaoyun. "Forgive my boldness, Your Highness, but please lend us a hand."

Instead of accepting the bow, the three-inch-tall fairy stepped aside and calmly said, "There's no need for such courtesy, Daoist Master. I am now just the sword spirit of your disciple, not a member of royalty. Since my sword master needs me, I will give my full support.

"My sword master is currently only at the peak of the Rebirth Realm, though. Refining the array markers would be far too slow. We'll need the help of a cultivator at the Grand Immortal-Ascension Realm or higher."

Xi Lian blinked. Yaoyun clearly meant her.

Wang Sheng grinned. "Big Sister?"

Xi Lian spread her hands and nodded in agreement. She then muttered, "Why do I feel like you're picking on me, Your Highness?"

Yaoyun snorted. She then turned into immortal light and returned to Spiritless, leaving Wang Sheng and Xi Lian baffled. The others also exchanged puzzled looks.

Yaoyun obviously had some resentment toward Xi Lian, but no one could figure out the reason.

***

The sect's ceremony was tomorrow. Considering gift-bearing Daoist masters would likely arrive early in the morning, they had to complete all preparations tonight.

Wang Sheng and Xi Lian went to the Daoist canon repository to refine the array markers, while Jingyun and Mu Wanxuan followed Qing Yanzi to prepare for the ceremony.

The newly hired cooks and attendants also knew there would be a major event tomorrow, but their only task was to serve tea, not much else. The six off-heritage sect members, however, had heavier duties. They would be running errands throughout the day.

Late in the evening, Xiaomiao and Chi Wen brought over a dozen sets of freshly made sect uniforms to their new off-heritage sect members. The two also assigned the six their duties for tomorrow.

The sect uniforms were just standard pale-white Daoist robes and cloth boots. However, "Pure Yang" was printed on the back of the robes.

The others also got a uniform. The founding members' versions were different and, well, a little eccentric. For one, Qing Yanzi's light-purple Daoist robe had the words "Sect Master" written across the back.

For Wang Sheng, it was "Second Senior Brother, Combat Specialist." For Mu Wanxuan, "Senior Sister, Beauty Representative." Xi Lian's robe had "Charming Fox Elder," while Jingyun's had "Gentle and Virtuous Vice Sect Master."

Xiaomiao's outfit was labeled "Useless Salted Fish No. 1," and Chi Wen's said "Useless Salted Fish No. 2." Their roles were evidently well-defined.

Xi Lian had come up with the idea, and Qing Yanzi accepted it. He found the style amusing and thought it would leave a strong impression.

Past midnight, Yaoyun guided Wang Sheng and Xi Lian in setting up behind and to the west of the great palace. The illusion array required eighty-one flags, arranged according to terrain and scenery. It was quite complex.

Fortunately, Wang Sheng and Xi Lian didn't have to understand the details. They simply followed Yaoyun's instructions to hide the flags and Spirit Stones in the proper places. Soon, the array was complete.

A thick mist spread across half the mountainside. When Wang Sheng entered it, he immediately sensed its mysteries. Even though he knew it was an illusion, he still almost believed what he saw.

He made a full round through the array and, as Yaoyun instructed, retrieved Flying Haze, which served as its core. The dense mist gradually dispersed.

Putting the sword back in its spot would activate the array again.

When Wang Sheng went to report to Qing Yanzi that the illusion array was complete, he couldn't help but ask, "Master, what if no one manages to pass the test?"

Qing Yanzi thought for a moment, then smiled. "At dawn, I'll have a friend send a few drones into the array. We'll record everything and watch how they do inside the illusion."

That's actually a pretty good solution.

Though it was still early, the Pure Yang Sword Faction was already bustling. The off-heritage sect members, now in their uniforms, began cleaning the sect grounds, while Xiang and her daughter were busy in the kitchen.

They had expected to be using firewood to cook, but to their surprise, the humble kitchen had a full set of modern appliances, including three exhaust fans and two large refrigerators filled with ingredients.

The male servant used a storage artifact to take two water tanks down the mountain. He filled them with fresh spring water for the tea that would be served later.

Everything was running smoothly and orderly.

In the cliffside loft, Wang Sheng took a shower, used some fresh-scented body wash, and changed into his sect uniform.

The founding ceremony of the Pure Yang Sword Faction...

𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

"It really feels like I've settled down here." Smiling, Wang Sheng adjusted his sleeves and picked up Spiritless. He was about to store it in the Qiankun Ring when a thought occurred to him. "Why do you seem to dislike Big Sister so much?"

Yaoyun telepathically replied, "

She knows you and Hua Qing have feelings for each other, and her heart already belongs to someone else. Nevertheless, she still allowed herself to develop thoughts she should not have. Do you still expect me to treat her kindly despite her having such a disposition?

"

Wang Sheng shook his head. "That's not it. Big Sister was just joking; she's not really like that. She turned into a devil because of her feelings for Daoist Master Qinglin, you know."

"

I don't know much about the matters between men and women, but if you ever betray Hua Qing's feelings, if you become fickle and lustful... Hmph!

"

Wang Sheng felt a chill down his legs. His mouth twitched as he tossed Spiritless into the Qiankun Ring.

Aren't sword spirits supposed to have ambiguous, tangled relationships with their sword masters? How did I even end up in this situation? Forget it. Some things are just hard to explain, and other people's sword spirits aren't worth envying anyway.