Using his childlike appearance as a cover, Ye Chen hitched a not-so-convenient ride and, after much hardship, finally arrived at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
As the number one auxiliary sect in the world, the sect regularly recruits outer disciples to make up for its inherent combat shortcomings.
A new round of recruitment trials began three days after Ye Chen arrived.
On the vast plaza outside the sect gates, a large crowd from all corners of the continent was divided into two lines based on age.
Children under six who had not awakened their martial spirits formed one line, while those aged six to eighteen formed the other.
Ye Chen glanced around. So that's how they filter candidates... They're clearly trying to find talented kids early for cultivation.
> "Xiao Er, Martial Spirit: Iron Chopsticks. Soul Power: Level 0. Eliminated!"
"Li Shang, Martial Spirit: Kitchen Knife. Soul Power: Level 1. Eliminated!"
"Lin Yirou, Martial Spirit: Three-Clawed Cat. Soul Power: Level 3. Eliminated!"
The crowd murmured and shifted uneasily. Most were quickly disqualified.
Watching the line ahead of him get shorter and shorter, Ye Chen felt a twinge of nervousness. My martial spirit is... too unique. Will the sect even accept me?
But then he thought about how his soul power had already reached Level 10 during his stay, and a hint of confidence crept in.
Though early training is easier, my Auto Cultivation System isn't much slower than a true genius. If I can sign in with more goddess-tier figures, my soul power will skyrocket even faster.
But reality hit hard. So far, only two or three had passed the test in his entire line—among thousands.
---
At the sect gate, Sect Master Ning Fengzhi watched the waves of dejected applicants leave and sighed.
> "When will our sect finally produce a genius with an assault-type martial spirit? Only then can our future truly be secured."
Though the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was among the top three, its auxiliary nature meant it lacked strong direct combat power.
Suddenly, a loud voice echoed across the plaza:
> "Number 101, Ye Chen—Innate Full Soul Power!"
The crowd went wild. Thousands of eyes turned to Ye Chen, filled with envy and disbelief.
A boy with short hair clenched his fists.
> "Damn it! Why does he get full soul power? I only have Level 5!"
A petite girl beside him giggled.
> "Come on, Level 5 is pretty good! But… yeah, still no match for full soul power."
> "What's that supposed to mean?! Are you mocking me? How much do you have?"
> "Hehe, Level 7. So yeah, I'm not really qualified to talk either."
Her grin was dazzling, making the boy shrink back with embarrassment.
---
Up front, Ning Fengzhi's eyes narrowed as he slowly made his way toward the line of older children.
> "Hmm? That child... there's something strange about him."
The examiner, now alert due to the sect master's presence, stood up straighter.
> "Ye Chen, what is your martial spirit? Let it manifest in your palm."
Ye Chen frowned, feeling a sense of unease. As the examiner's soul power guided him, Ye Chen found that he couldn't summon his spirit—his Fallen Angel Martial Spirit remained dormant.
The tension thickened. People whispered. Why can't he awaken it? Isn't it automatic?
Just then, Ning Fengzhi stepped forward.
> "Ye Chen, your martial spirit is... special, isn't it? Let me help you."
He gently placed a finger on Ye Chen's forehead. A soft surge of soul power flowed into Ye Chen, trying to awaken the spirit hidden within.
But nothing happened.
Instead, a blood-red longsword slowly materialized in Ye Chen's hand. Its blade was over three feet long, emitting a faint red glow, with seven black stars aligned in the shape of the Big Dipper.
Ning Fengzhi's eyes widened in shock.
> "This… is the Seven-Star Abyssal Sword?!"
This was a legendary God-level martial spirit, lost in history. It had only appeared once, wielded by the fearsome Sword Demon Lin Qi, who—according to myth—ascended to godhood and ruled half the divine realm alongside the Fallen Angels.
And now… it had reappeared.
---
Before the shock could settle, a beam of silver light descended from the sky.
A man clad in spotless white robes, with silver hair and a long, clean sword, hovered above the crowd.
He spoke in a cold, calm voice:
> "Come with me."
With a wave of his hand, Ye Chen's body was lifted into the air and flown toward the inner sect.
Ning Fengzhi smiled with excitement.
> "The day has finally come. Our sect… finally has hope."
---
In the quiet bamboo forest behind the sect, in a small, simple thatched hut, Ye Chen stood stunned.
He stared at the man before him. His aura was overwhelming, and the sword at his waist radiated silent menace.
Can fly with a sword, commands immense soul power, and hails from this sect... There's no doubt—he's Sword Douluo, Chen Xin!
Ye Chen quickly bowed.
> "Junior Ye Chen greets Senior!"
Chen Xin poured himself a cup of tea, his expression cold as ice.
> "Impressive composure. Most tremble or beg when they meet me. But you... seem quite calm."
Ye Chen chuckled.
> "Senior isn't a monster, right? Why should I be afraid?"
Chen Xin raised an eyebrow.
> "You know why I brought you here, don't you?"
> "Because of my martial spirit. You want to take me as a disciple."
Chen Xin gave a faint nod.
> "Smart. I was thinking of making you... my final student."
Ye Chen hesitated.
> "Wait… Senior, please!"
> "Hmm? You refuse?"
Ye Chen looked conflicted.
> "It's not that I don't respect you… In fact, I admire you greatly. But… I've always dreamed of learning under Bone Douluo."
Chen Xin's face darkened.
> "You reject me for that old bone collector?!"
With a final sip of tea, his voice dropped low:
> "Midnight, east forest. Be there."
Then, like a ghost, he vanished into thin air.
Ye Chen scratched his head.
He's serious? Is this a duel... or a second try at recruiting me?
But the system task clearly stated: Sign in at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect by becoming Bone Douluo's disciple!
He couldn't take two masters from the same sect.
---
Suddenly, a crisp voice rang from outside the hut.
> "Sword Grandpa! Look, I caught a butterfly!"
A five- or six-year-old girl in a white dress skipped into the room, holding a butterfly delicately.
Her soft brown hair and bright eyes made her look like a little princess from a fairytale.
She froze when she saw Ye Chen.
> "Who are you?! Why are you in Grandpa's sword hut?!"
Her large, curious eyes narrowed with suspicion.
Ye Chen smiled awkwardly.
> "Uh... I'm just a guest. Not a thief, I promise."
---
To be continued…