Chapter 161: Entrance (I)

In a mountain range more than 20 kilometers south of Jiangnan City, Xiangyun Restaurant was in a small town at the entrance of the Myriad Phenomena Sect.

In the restaurant, a few customers chatted in low voices from time to time. The sound of pots and pans clanging could be heard from the kitchen as food was being prepared.

Chen Yiming and Wan Rong sat around a dining table and waited for the food to arrive.

Not far away, a young woman sobbed with tears in her eyes. “Master, I entered the martial arts school when I was 12 years old. I’ve never slacked off for even a day in the past six years, but I can’t even pass the requirements to become an outer sect disciple?”

The middle-aged woman in front of her let out a long sigh and comforted her. “Jinghong, the age limit for outer sect disciples of the Myriad Phenomena Sect is 20 years old. This is just one attempt. You still have a chance next year or the year after.”

In the various cities in Jiangnan province, core disciples were constantly being recommended to the Myriad Phenomena Sect by the heads of the martial arts schools.

Every core disciple who went to the Myriad Phenomena Sect for the first time had a lot of hope for their future. They fantasized about entering the Myriad Phenomena Sect to cultivate and become a warrior in the future like the head.

However, reality was cruel. Most of the core disciples of the martial arts school could not meet the standards to become an outer sect disciple of the Myriad Phenomena Sect within the age limit.

The young woman still had a disappointed expression on her face. She smiled bitterly and said, “Master, I’ve resigned myself to my fate. Actually, I’ve already learned about their situation from my senior brother. At the age of 18, they’re already at the end of the age limit. The chances of them passing in the next two years will be even lower.”

The middle-aged woman closed her eyes and sighed. She opened them again and said calmly, “The Myriad Phenomena Sect is a large sect that can be ranked among the top in the entire Jiangnan province. This is a place where true martial arts geniuses gather. They only care about those who have potential and are worth nurturing.

As for the young people recommended by the martial arts schools, about 80 to 90% of them would be eliminated. Therefore, Jinghong, you don’t have to be too discouraged.

With your talent, it’s not too difficult for you to reach the warrior candidate realm. At this level, you are already standing at the top of Yi’an City.”

The middle-aged woman said a lot in one breath. These words were all true, but they were still a little painful for the young woman to hear.

The young woman was silent for a moment. After collecting her emotions, she looked up and said, “Master, I understand. I won’t be dispirited easily.”

The middle-aged woman also revealed a smile. “Actually, it’s not that you stand no chance at all. You have to know that women generally have a better talent for meditation. Jinghong, you might be the one to create the miracle and return to the Myriad Phenomena Sect as a warrior one day.”

Cultivating the concept diagram and tempering the body were two completely different cultivation paths.

This involved one’s will. Those with a strong will could often withstand greater mental pressure. In a situation where one was about to break through to the warrior realm, there was a very small chance that one could break through with just their tenacious will.

Chen Yiming heard the conversation between the middle-aged woman and the young woman.

Hearing the middle-aged woman’s last sentence, “return to the Myriad Phenomena Sect as a warrior,” he and Wan Rong looked at each other.

Wan Rong was a little embarrassed and said in a low voice, “Yiming, you were already 17 when you entered the school. Your situation is different from others. I’ve never seen anyone in your situation.”

He entered the martial arts school at the age of 17 and broke through to the warrior realm at the age of 18. In a year, he had undergone nine transformations and entered a meditative state to draw the concept diagram.

In the eyes of the outside world, Chen Yiming’s ridiculous breakthrough speed was just like a pearl covered in dust.

However, the truth was even more ridiculous than what he saw. Chen Yiming’s true cultivation level was at the second stage of the warrior realm, where he had mastered the transformation of his internal force.

“Your food is ready.”

A waiter pushed a food cart over to Chen Yiming’s side.

After placing the dishes on the table, the waiter picked up the list on the table and used a pen to cross out the dishes that were already served.

After confirming that all the dishes had been served, the waiter quickly pushed the empty food cart away.

When the middle-aged woman and the young woman heard Wan Rong’s words, they glanced at Chen Yiming before continuing with their meal.

In their subconscious judgment, since he had only entered the school at the age of 17, he must have been brought by the master to broaden his horizons. He could not even be considered cannon fodder.

Chen Yiming had no interest in their contemptuous gazes.

Both tables fell silent as they ate.

Not long after, the middle-aged woman and the young woman left the restaurant and disappeared in the direction away from the Myriad Phenomena Sect.

After Chen Yiming and Wan Rong finished eating, they rested for a while before walking out of the town and heading up the mountain to the Myriad Phenomena Sect.

…

10 minutes later, Wan Rong brought Chen Yiming to the entrance of the Myriad Phenomena Sect.

The Myriad Phenomena Sect had a mountain range behind it. From the entrance, one could see the buildings on the mountains.

Each of the 12 inner divisions occupied one mountain peak. Countless disciples were focused on their cultivation, giving off a completely different atmosphere from the foot of the mountain.

A huge archway stood at the entrance. The words “Myriad Phenomena Sect” could be clearly seen on it.

The disciples from the Myriad Phenomena Sect who were in charge of guarding the mountain gate kept reminding the disciples who had returned to the mountain gate to show their identity tokens. Only after confirming that there were no mistakes did they let them pass.

Wan Rong walked forward and showed his identity token, explaining the situation to the disciples guarding the mountain gate.

Then, Chen Yiming was called over to register his name.

Soon, Wan Rong led Chen Yiming into the Myriad Phenomena Sect.

Along the way, Wan Rong introduced the areas to Chen Yiming as they walked past.

Chen Yiming compared the Myriad Phenomena Sect to the Blue Cloud Sword Sect and realized that the sect was much larger. Be it the size of the sect or the number of disciples, there was a huge difference.

This was especially true for the library. This was the most important place in the sect. Each division of the Myriad Phenomena Sect had its own library, while the Blue Cloud Sword Sect shared a library.

Wan Rong pointed at a group of outer sect disciples who were practicing their swordsmanship and said with a smile, “That’s where the outer sect is.”

Chen Yiming looked in the direction he was pointing.

A thick mountain seemed to have been cut in half by a sword.

There was a circle of low houses around it, and in the middle was a wide square. In the square, there were more than 1,000young men and women practicing the sword techniques of their division.

Wan Rong continued, “The outer sect disciples are usually at the level of seven or eight transformations. When they break through to the warrior candidate realm, they can automatically advance to the inner sect corresponding to the martial arts technique they cultivate.”

Chen Yiming nodded his head.

The Myriad Phenomena Sect was indeed one of the top sects in the entire Jiangnan province. The level of seven or eight transformations was already at the level of the clan head of an upper- or middle-level martial arts clan in East Lake City, while this was at the bottom of the Myriad Phenomena Sect.

They passed by the mountain peak of one of the inner divisions.

Wan Rong continued, “The 12 inner divisions are the foundation of the Myriad Phenomena Sect. The inner sect disciples are formed by warrior candidates and warriors. Among those inner sect disciples, those who have the potential to break through to the second stage of the warrior realm can become the true disciples of the head of the division.”

Chen Yiming sensed the hidden meaning in Wan Rong’s words and asked, “What does it take to have potential? Can it be tested?”

Wan Rong let out a long breath and said in a low voice, “That’s right. Even if you break through to the warrior realm at an extremely fast speed, there’s a high chance that you will have to go through a test.

This is because there have been similar cases in the past. They progressed through the disciple realm like a hot knife cutting through butter, but at the warrior realm, they suddenly became mediocre.”