Chapter 293

Chapter 293: The Mountain Gate Opens, Vastly Welcoming Disciples

Longmen Mountain was crowded, and outside the Haotu Sect’s gate, there were even more people.

Li Hui brought along five followers and quickly got lost in the sea of people. Many young boys and girls, a hundred strong, stood in the center like stars surrounding the moon. Those dressed in various python robes felt embarrassed to greet anyone unless they had a thousand followers.

Looking ahead, Li Hui saw a triangular archway built from numerous stone slabs standing in the desolate desert. He had no idea that the number one sect in Dalong would place its gate in such a barren location.

The Haotu Sect had restrictions on age for recruits; one had to reach the Concentrating Spirit stage before the age of eighteen.

Li Hui clearly didn’t meet the requirements, but as his body aged and shrank, he consumed a Morning Light Dusk Grass and Yao’er’s peach of immortality, which restored his bone age back to thirteen. Now at fourteen, even without using the ancient dynasty’s seal bracelet for disguise, he wouldn’t be detected as old.

On the third day, Huang Tongliang came over, rubbing his hands in excitement, leaving behind two bags of treasures to greet people, but he didn’t return.

Some called out to friends, some sat in silence, and many strange-looking youths hastily arrived, dusty from travel.

By the day before recruitment, the desert was packed with people speaking with accents from everywhere, dressed in bizarre outfits that dazzled the eyes.

There were bare-belly girls playing with snakes, boys wearing pointed hats, big-footed strangers, and youth covered in tattoos—an eye-opening scene.

It seemed that oddballs from deep mountains and vast marshes sprang up from everywhere, suggesting that the Haotu Sect’s recruitment this time had a somewhat inclusive atmosphere.

As the first ray of dawn struck the top of the massive portal, a brilliant light burst forth. A solemn voice echoed in all directions: “Today we will recruit disciples based on merit. The first test is the Spirit Motion mark. Only those who meet the requirements may enter the mountain gate; those without the qualifications shall not enter. You have half an hour—let the test begin!”

Without any extra chatter, the assessment started. Many youths gasped and hurriedly ran to the mountain gate, while Li Hui and his group remained calm, packing their belongings and walking slowly forward. When they approached the gate, under the astonished gazes of others, Huo Qiniang, Chef Zhao, Song Zining, Zhong Yuan, and Jin Feng took out five tokens, placing them on the brightly lit barrier, and in a thunderous moment, their figures vanished.

“No way! Using tokens at this time is such a waste!”

“Ha, they’re just servants!”

“Everyone has their own aspirations. Some are willing to serve; what can we say? However, the treatment for miscellaneous disciples in the Haotu Sect is generous—anywhere you go, you can become a supervisor. Some see this as an opportunity and deliberately take this path; it could be a chance.”

Li Hui had no hesitation as he stepped into the light barrier, hearing a voice from afar: “Activate the Spirit Motion mark and determine your qualifications.”

As the voice fell, immense pressure descended, golden patterns rose on Li Hui’s body, covering his arms and legs, front and back, forehead and nape, with eight marks glowing vividly.

“The Dragon Scale pattern nearly reaches the Dragon Body pattern; you barely qualify for the upper tier’s second gate. You may enter!” The voice showed little fluctuation. The Haotu Sect had countless talents—though this qualification was decent, it wasn’t stunning.

While infiltrating the Haotu Sect, Li Hui aimed to stand out without drawing too much attention, so he concealed the true situation and only allowed the Dragon Claw pattern, Dragon Body pattern, Dragon Horn pattern, and Dragon Tail pattern to manifest, completely covering the Reverse Scale without revealing a hint.

After passing through the light gate, he received a plaque that read: “Bone age: fourteen; Spirit Motion activated at eight marks; upper tier’s second gate.”

The surroundings were a blur, making it hard to see; a guiding voice instructed: “Take nineteen steps to the left and go to the Golden Light Pool to determine your constitution; don’t take a wrong step.”

Following the directions, Li Hui walked nineteen steps and suddenly slipped down. He floated upward to see light and shadow flicker, and a vast golden water pool appeared beneath him.

Someone sitting in the water exclaimed, “Eh? I thought I’d be the first to reach the Golden Light Pool! It seems like there are many more people today; expanding the recruitment range has indeed created a fierce competition.”

Li Hui noticed a tall young man whose frame surpassed that of an adult; however, he looked only around fourteen or fifteen. The pool was shimmering with points of golden light gathering into complex patterns.

“Ha ha, come on down to soak! How else will you authenticate? You seem to control the winds and clouds,” the young man said, looking up with a mature and steady demeanor.

“I’m Li Yingjun. Shouldn’t the assessment of constitution take place in different locations?” Li Hui gradually entered the pool, feeling the warm water as golden specks rushed upward, swirling around him continuously.

The young man’s mouth dropped open in surprise, “Hello! I’m Xia Tianguan. I sat here for ages before getting a reaction, but you just entered and instantly filled the place with golden light; you must have a rare constitution. As far as I know, only Spirit Motion at the upper tier’s second gate qualifies for the Golden Light Pool assessment.”

With a “swoosh,” golden light crazily gathered around Li Hui, transforming into one mysterious pattern after another but failing to solidify fully.

“Odd! Have you consumed Heavenly Treasures and Earthly Treasures? Why can’t the gold light clarify?” Xia Tianguan found it strange and held up his plaque to allow the golden light to imprint. “Look at me—I only have one constitution: the King of Hell’s Cowardly Ghost Body.”

“The King of Hell’s Cowardly Ghost Body?” Li Hui found it amusing, thinking, “Is this the constitution? It seems the Deputy Inspector General’s Seal has built-in intimidation against ghosts!”

Just then, a loud crash echoed as a girl tumbled down from above, shrieking, “Ah! Why is there a man in the pool?”

The Golden Light Pool rumbled, and countless golden lights swirled around the girl, obscuring her face, leaving Xia Tianguan wide-eyed in shock.

“Hey, is this a common occurrence?” Li Hui asked Xia Tianguan.

After a moment, Xia Tianguan came to his senses, saying, “She must possess some kind of innate constitution. The sounds indicate something precious and rare; if she finds the right cultivation method, she will soar upwards. Such a qualification, even in the Great Xia…”

“Splash, splash, splash!” Three more boys dropped from above like dumplings, one of whom caused the golden light to dance wildly. Xia Tianguan shook his head vigorously, thinking, "Am I dreaming?"

While Li Hui was still waiting, the girl’s situation progressed swiftly, with golden light coalescing into a pattern the size of a grinding wheel, enveloping her completely.

“Am I the Fire Phoenix’s Embrace Body?” The girl sounded a bit dazed, not realizing her constitution was special and resonated easily with Dao techniques.

Passing through the Spirit Motion test and falling into the Golden Light Pool clearly placed them in the same tier, but after determining their constitution, they had to be separated. It felt like the Haotu Sect was making a big profit this time, clearly gathering all the talented minds into their grasp.

Whatever! Li Hui practiced talisman methods. Although it was far inferior to Dao techniques, it was efficient with low consumption and quick activation.

In truth, when spirit talismans reached a certain level, they approached the Dao. His Personal Artifact, the Green Emperor Yuanhong Vine, was developing in that direction but was stymied by resources. He hoped entering the Haotu Sect would offer a way forward.

After the three boys that fell completed their assessment, Li Hui finally slowly formed a pattern on his plaque. The girl and Xia Tianguan leaned closer, staring in wonder.