While walking along the path, Yulin and Devor approached the line of new Azure Sky Sect disciples.

  Devor’s eyes immediately landed on Wulin, someone he’d met before, standing with three others—two men and a woman—none of whom he recognized.

  "Devor? You’re here too?" Wulin asked, raising an eyebrow as he glanced from Devor to Yulin, who strolled up with Devor trailing behind.

  Yulin gave a slight shrug, a faint smile playing on her lips. "He’s been around for a while, but in some ways, he’s still like a new disciple."

  Wulin chuckled softly, nodding in agreement. He turned to Devor and offered a friendly nod, his expression calm as ever.

  Devor returned the gesture with a small bow, keeping his demeanor respectful.

  The three senior disciples, noticing the interaction, turned their curious gazes on Devor. His name seemed familiar, though none of them spoke.

  Feeling the weight of their attention, Devor shifted uncomfortably. The sight of nearly a hundred new disciples lined up neatly in rows, with him standing awkwardly among the senior disciples, made him feel out of place.

  "Should I join the line?" Devor asked quietly, his voice carrying a hint of unease.

  Yulin waved him off. "No need. This is just a formality for the newcomers."

  After a brief exchange among the senior disciples, Wulin stepped forward. His calm but commanding presence drew the attention of the gathered recruits.

  When Wulin began to speak, his voice carried effortlessly across the square, clear and commanding. His tone was steady, radiating confidence as he addressed the assembled disciples.

  "Welcome to the Azure Sky Sect," he began, his gaze sweeping over the crowd. "Here, you’ll learn more than just cultivation techniques. You’ll study Alchemy, Forging, Formations, and other disciplines, refining not only your strength but also your understanding of the Dao."

  The new disciples listened intently, their eyes filled with anticipation.

  Wulin continued, emphasizing the Sect’s commitment to well-rounded development, blending physical cultivation with intellectual growth. "True power," he declared, "doesn’t just come from strong spiritual energy. It comes from a clear mind and a deep understanding of the world around you."

  He went on to outline the Sect’s policies. "At the Azure Sky Sect, we value individual growth. For those interested in Alchemy, any Pills you refine beyond the monthly quota are yours to keep. You can use them for your own cultivation or trade them with your fellow disciples. This freedom is a testament to our support for your advancement."

  Devor listened thoughtfully, the words resonating with his own experience. As the caretaker of the Spiritual Garden, the Sect had granted him a personal plot of 200 square meters to cultivate plants of his choice, as long as he met his monthly quotas.

  Wulin stressed the importance of relationships within the Sect. "Building strong connections here is crucial. Cooperation and camaraderie don’t just strengthen individuals—they fortify the unity of our Azure Sky Sect. This harmony is the foundation of our strength."

  Devor, however, found his attention starting to drift as Wulin’s speech became repetitive. His gaze wandered to the line of new disciples.

  At the front of the crowd, four individuals immediately stood out. Unlike the others clad in light blue robes, signifying their status as Outer Disciples, these four wore dark blue robes, marking them as Inner Disciples.

  Devor’s curiosity was piqued. Becoming an Inner Disciple right upon entering the Sect was a rare accomplishment. Intrigued, he decided to take a closer look, activating his Attribute Analyzer ability.

  A translucent interface appeared in his vision, zeroing in on the girl at the far left of the group.

  [ Name: ??? ]

  [ Gender: Female ]

  [ Age: 14/135 ]

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  [ Cultivation: Stage-4 Qi Refining ]

  [ Spiritual Energy: 843 ]

  Devor raised an eyebrow, his mind racing. "She’s only at Stage-4 Qi Refining, one level below me, but her Spiritual Energy is higher?"

  It was an unusual discrepancy. Typically, a higher cultivation stage came with greater Spiritual Energy reserves. Devor couldn’t help but wonder what kind of Spiritual Root or cultivation technique she possessed to achieve such an impressive result.

  A gentle nudge from Yulin pulled Devor out of his thoughts. She leaned in slightly, her voice laced with amusement. "Curious, aren’t you?"

  Devor offered a faint smile, neither confirming nor denying it.

  "They’re not exactly ordinary," Yulin continued, her tone playful. "With their families backing them, it’s no surprise their Cultivation foundations are so strong."

  Devor nodded, processing the information. If she came from a powerful family, it would explain her impressive spiritual energy and the air of authority she carried.

  Sensing his growing curiosity, Yulin added, "The Azure Sky Sect doesn’t care about your background, but those from influential families definitely have certain advantages. Don’t let it bother you."

  Devor exhaled quietly, pushing down the competitive spark that had flared inside him. "I get it. Talent and resources matter, but hard work and persistence can bridge the gap."

  Yulin’s smile softened, clearly pleased with his response.

  Devor’s gaze lingered on the girl with short black hair that just brushed her shoulders. Her striking beauty was hard to ignore, captivating enough to tempt anyone into stealing a longer glance.

  Devor’s attention soon shifted to the group as a whole. Activating his Attribute Analyzer, he examined their cultivation attributes. Each of the four Inner Disciples surpassed him in terms of Spiritual Energy.

  What shocked him the most was the young man standing calmly among them.

  The boy, around 15 years old, was at Stage-5 Qi Refining, the same level as Devor. Yet his Spiritual Energy was an astonishing 1,500—double Devor’s own.

  "No wonder they were made Inner Disciples right away," Devor thought, stifling a sigh. Each one of them is exceptional.

  After Wulin’s long and somewhat monotonous speech, the senior disciples led the new recruits on a tour of the Sect.

  They visited the Alchemy Hall, the Forging Hall, and even the Farmer Hall, each bustling with activity and filled with the rich scents of incense, herbs, and the faint hum of Spiritual Qi.

  At each stop, Yulin explained how the new disciples could study disciplines like Alchemy and Forging. She also pointed out the Mission Hall, where they could take on tasks or assist other disciples in exchange for wages or contribution points.

  As the tour went on, Devor remained respectfully quiet, absorbing the information while letting his thoughts wander. But when they arrived at the Cultivation Hall, his interest sharpened.

  The Cultivation Hall was an expansive structure surrounded by wide training fields. Inside, disciples practiced various techniques, their movements fluid yet powerful. Streams of Spiritual Energy danced in the air, leaving glowing trails as the cultivators honed their skills.

  "In the Cultivation Hall," Yulin began, "you can study a wide range of Cultivation Techniques. For martial techniques, however, you’ll need to visit the Martial Hall."

  A young disciple hesitantly raised his hand. "Can we learn any Cultivation Technique we want here?"

  Yulin nodded. "Each new disciple is granted one free quota to learn a Cultivation Technique of their choice," she explained. "After that, you’ll need to use contribution points to access more techniques."

  Another disciple, a young girl, spoke up next. "Where does the Sect get all these techniques?"

  Yulin’s lips curved into a faint smile. "Good question. Many of the techniques come from ancient ruins or were acquired as spoils of war."

  The mention of war made several disciples shift uneasily, their expressions flickering between awe and apprehension.

  "But not all techniques come from such sources," Yulin continued, her tone softening. "Over the generations, many disciples of the Sect have created their own techniques. When they contribute these creations to the Sect, they’re rewarded with contribution points or equivalent goods."

  Devor’s eyes narrowed in thought. The idea of creating a Cultivation Technique intrigued him. After a moment of hesitation, he raised his hand, mimicking the respectful etiquette of the other disciples.

  Yulin noticed his raised hand and arched an eyebrow, mildly surprised. "What is it, Junior?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.

  Ignoring the "Junior" remark, Devor asked seriously, "Creating a Cultivation Technique is incredibly dangerous. How did past disciples manage to create techniques from scratch without... dying?"

  Yulin’s playful demeanor vanished, replaced by a more solemn expression. "You’re right—creating a new Cultivation Technique is risky and can indeed lead to death if approached recklessly," she said. "I can’t give you a detailed answer. If you’re serious about learning more, you’ll need to use your contribution points to meet the Cultivation Hall Master. He’s the expert on these matters."

  Devor’s eyes lit up at her suggestion. "Thank you, Senior Sister!" he said, bowing deeply, his gratitude genuine.

  Before Yulin could respond, Devor turned on his heel and began striding toward the entrance of the Cultivation Hall, his excitement evident in his quick steps.

  "Wait!" Yulin called out, her tone edged with exasperation. "Where do you think you’re going?"

  Devor paused, turning back to face her. "To meet the Cultivation Hall Master, of course," he replied, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

  Yulin sighed, rubbing her temple. "You can do that later. The tour isn’t over yet."

  Realizing his mistake, Devor stopped, nodded apologetically, and returned to the group.

  As he rejoined the line, Yulin felt an unexpected sense of relief. For some reason, seeing Devor follow her instructions brought her a surprising amount of satisfaction. She smirked inwardly, wondering if teasing him like this might become a habit.

  Oblivious to her thoughts, Devor refocused on the tour, already planning how he would use his contribution points to uncover the mysteries of creating Cultivation Techniques.