The group entered the city in a hurry. In front of Darian stretched countless structures, palaces, and unusually tall buildings. The tallest reached three kiloters high, and even the shortest were nearly seven hundred ters. All of them were built from fire crystals and reflected an intense, scorching light.
On that planet, the fire elent was so abundant and active that everyone who lived there naturally gained a strong affinity for it. If he looked into the distance, he could see swift silhouettes dressed in red and gold, and from ti to ti, silhouettes of Fire Beasts and Flying Boats.
Darian took a deep breath, surprised. It all looked like he had stepped into a magical world of fire. He had been to high-level universes before, but... now that he had reached the Celestial Plane of this universe, his eyes truly opened. Everything here was dozens of tis more terrifying.
This universe was indeed unique. After all, it was the dwelling place of Heaven’s Will.
"The entire city belongs to the Golden Crow Sect," Pyreus looked at Darian and said. "Anyone who isn’t a disciple, or hasn’t received permission after a thorough evaluation, isn’t allowed to freely enter or leave. But since it was Master who brought you here, you don’t need to worry."
Darian nodded. Everything here was tightly controlled.
"My older brother already knows I’ve returned. I need to speak to him imdiately so he won’t worry too much. I’ll also quickly tell him about your situation," Chrysos declared swiftly. "Pyreus, use my emblem to get his initial approval. The test is about to begin."
Pyreus received a golden emblem and nodded respectfully. In the next mont, Chrysos disappeared, flying off in a hurry.
Brother? Darian was confused because he had felt that this figure was important; otherwise, he wouldn’t have left so quickly.
Without delay, Pyreus led Darian toward a region near the center of the sect.
Besides being the disciple of a Palace Master, Pyreus was also a mber of the Golden Crow Hall. His cultivation was already at the fifth level of the Celestial Origin Realm, the second cultivation realm of this universe. He was only thirteen and had started cultivating not long ago, yet his talent was far above average.
Within a few minutes, they arrived at the great hall where the final test for new disciples was being held.
Although it was called a great hall, it was a completely different concept from the "great halls" Darian knew. The mont he stepped inside, it felt like entering a vast, separate world.
The hall was two kiloters tall, and its limits couldn’t be seen with a simple glance. The place was boiling with countless sharp auras. At first glance, waves of people arranged with precision stretched across the entire hall as far as the eye could see.
Even with so many people present, the great hall remained particularly silent and solemn. Half were young cultivators from the Mortal Plane; the other half ca from smaller planets of the Celestial Plane.
The Golden Crow Sect was truly unique in the universe. Besides holding a great status, it accepted anyone with talent. That was why standing in the final test, on the verge of entering this sect, was a complete change of fate for most of them. Everyone was arranged in teams, each with extrely focused expressions for the test. They didn’t even dare whisper to each other.
Each team had around ten thousand mbers, and it was impossible for Darian to see how many teams were present.
Pyreus explained, "The entrance test lasts about seven days. Today is the last day. Each group is evaluated by a Vice Palace Master or a disciple from the Infernal Flas Hall; sotis, a Palace Master might even co personally to participate."
"Besides the successors of the Golden Crow bloodline, disciples who co from outside, especially those from the Mortal Plane, need to be evaluated ticulously. The basic requirent to participate in the exam is to have reached the Celestial Origin Realm before the age of twenty. But... you’re soone Master brought, so you don’t need to go through all that. You don’t need to truly take the test or even try. I’ll register you just for the sake of bureaucracy; afterward, I’ll get your semi-approved disciple emblem so you can formally enter in the future as a disciple with special abilities."
Darian shrugged. Honestly, entering through the back door was sothing that made him feel a bit embarrassed. But there was no reason to waste ti over pride.
When the two of them walked in, they imdiately drew the attention of so participants waiting to be evaluated.
Sensing Darian’s cultivation, they all showed disdain. But when they saw Pyreus, dressed in the robes of a disciple with frightening status, their pupils shrank and their gazes turned into envy. In their eyes, Darian looked like soone weak who was clearly being favored.
"Senior Pyreus." So disciples who were guarding the test approached and spoke with great respect. "May we ask the reason for your presence?"
"On behalf of my Master, I’m here to register him and obtain the emblem given to disciples with special abilities. I don’t intend to waste much ti," Pyreus replied calmly.
The guarding disciples looked at Darian and then showed surprise. One of them promptly responded, "The Palace Supervisor is currently overseeing this test. I will take you to her."
"Supervisor?" Pyreus’s brows furrowed slightly, as if he had so issue with that figure. He waved his hand and said, "No need, I’ll go to her myself. Go handle your duties. Darian, let’s go."
Pyreus spoke in a rather majestic tone before leading Darian straight toward the inner area of the hall.
It was extrely obvious that the hierarchy among the sect’s disciples was very strict; no one below Pyreus dared question him.
After walking for so ti through the solemn hall, Pyreus approached a middle-aged woman. The mont he neared, she turned and smiled. "Oh? Isn’t that Pyreus? Why are you here?"
"I’m here on behalf of my Master to register Darian for the test and deliver the emblem given to disciples with special abilities," he replied respectfully, then turned to Darian. "This is one of the Palace Supervisors, Naposell. A figure of unique status in the sect, holding one of the most important positions of all."
Darian nodded and bowed respectfully. She was a human hybrid with beast blood, likely from a powerful fire beast. Even so, the fact that she was a woman and had achieved a high status in this sect showed how talented she was.
From what he understood, there were many Palaces, and all of them had to deal with nurous planets and different matters. Because of that, it was impossible for the Sect Leader to coordinate and ensure everyone followed the rules; therefore, Supervisors were necessary.
Most likely, since there was a limited number of Palace Masters, those with great power and distinction who couldn’t obtain that status could still earn the extrely important position of Supervisor.
"Oh? On your Master’s order?" Naposell evaluated Darian with her gaze, and deep astonishnt flashed in her eyes. Then she asked, "Palace Master Chrysos brought this child from the Mortal Plane?"
"Yes," Pyreus answered honestly.
She simply nodded slowly. "This child’s cultivation... even to be a disciple with special abilities, there’s a minimum power standard for sect mbers. Well, whatever, follow . Ah, right, how has your Master’s health been lately?"
Just as Pyreus was about to answer her, a dry voice ca from behind:
"Hmph, isn’t that Pyreus from the 14th Palace? Today is the final big day of recruitnt. What are you doing here?"
Darian saw Pyreus’ body stiffen instantly at the sound of that voice, and even his expression turned sowhat unpleasant.
He hesitated for a mont before finally turning around. Lowering his head, he said, "Greetings, Palace Master of the 3rd Palace, Baynod... I’m here under my Master’s orders."
A tall, muscular man approached, his eyes radiating a blue light like stars. In his handso eyes, there was a coldness that made it impossible for anyone to look at him directly... and that coldness seed aid at Pyreus.
And from Pyreus’ appearance, it was clear he was afraid and also didn’t seem to like this person.
"Your master, Chrysos?" The corners of Baynod’s lips curled into a faint, contemptuous smile, revealing a trace of hostility. "What does he want you to do?"
Pyreus forced a smile, then turned to Darian. "This young man here, from the Mortal Plane, was discovered by my Master. He has special abilities and, since his cultivation is very low, there’s no reason to make him look ridiculous by taking the test, right? So I just ca to formally register him, so I can give him a semi-approved disciple emblem. After that, my Master will et with everyone to discuss his full approval."
"What? Him?"
Baynod’s expression changed. Darian was clearly already in the later part of his teenage years, and yet he was only at the fifth level of the Celestial Nascent Realm. Everyone in the final test was younger than him, had much higher cultivation, and radiated powerful auras.
But... that declining Palace Master, who had no one besides this disciple, discovered him? How could he possibly find anything good on the few lowest-level planets of the Mortal Plane that he controlled?
No one could believe it. But even if it were true... they didn’t want to give that Palace Master the chance to obtain sothing that might help him rise again.
Baynod suddenly stretched out his hand and pointed at Darian. "You’re letting trash like him in without even taking the test? Hmph, what a bad joke! What kind of place do you think the Golden Crow Sect is!?"
His voice was extrely loud and powerful, echoing throughout the entire hall.
Everyone waiting for the evaluation raised their brows, and countless looks of contempt imdiately turned toward Darian.
"Only the fifth level of the Celestial Nascent Realm? What the hell, this kind of person wants to join the sect like that?"
"Shhh, don’t talk nonsense. He probably has a backer. Didn’t you see he was brought by a disciple from the Golden Crow Hall?"
"Tsc, trash like this that sneaks in through the back door is really everywhere!"
All those people were stirred up by those words. They felt a mix of jealousy and extre disdain.
Darian frowned instantly, but kept his composure and didn’t say a word.
Pyreus’ face, however, changed drastically. He bit his lip lightly and said, "You... he’s not entering as an ordinary disciple... why the hell does he need that?"
"So what?" Baynod’s voice suddenly grew even louder. "Our Sect isn’t so random place; even those with special abilities need to et a minimum cultivation level. Unless he’s so abnormal he can warp reality or sothing, the sect can’t be embarrassed. If he has the ability, he should take the test and show everyone what he’s capable of! No matter the result, if he’s worthy, it’ll be clear to all."
Darian snorted. What a coincidence—he really could do exactly what Baynod had just described.
Pyreus clenched his fists tightly. His Master couldn’t reveal Darian’s ’purification’ ability yet, since he needed to ensure Darian would be added to his Palace.
He took a deep breath, and just as he was about to say sothing, he was interrupted by Naposell’s stern voice.
"The Palace Master is correct. There is no formal rule regarding the cultivation level of a disciple with special abilities, but he must take the test and demonstrate his skills. His result truly doesn’t matter."
She pointed at the youths standing in line waiting to be evaluated. "That is the fairest approach. After all, all of them have gone through countless hardships just to reach this test. If we can’t even uphold basic fairness and instead act shalessly out of selfishness, what reputation and dignity would we have in front of them?"
Naposell’s tone was powerful and resonant. Her words were fair, striking directly at the hearts of those youths.
"Get the hell out of here, trash! No matter how strong your backer is, you’re still trash... if you’ve got any real skill, co show it to everyone, clown!"
A huge wave of agreent echoed instantly as more and more people joined in angrily.
Darian simply watched, indifferent. Young people were truly immature, manipulated with extre ease.
"I heard Palace Master Chrysos was infected with the Divine Celestial Poison a long ti ago and was dood to certain death. If he died, the most qualified person to succeed him as Palace Master would be the son of the Palace Supervisor. However, Chrysos is the Sect Leader’s biological younger brother, so even though he was dood, the Leader didn’t hesitate to waste countless resources and top-tier dicines to prolong his life... he hasn’t died for over a thousand years, which ant his position, even in complete decline, couldn’t pass into the hands of soone capable..."
"Ah! So that’s how it is..."
The youths who were descendants of people within the sect and knew a bit of the inside story began speaking loudly, further inflaming the others.
Darian heard that and was slightly surprised. Chrysos’s older brother was the Sect Leader... that was great, it would make his life easier. His goal was to beco an immortal as fast as possible, so if he stood out in the sect, the Leader would benefit him to the utmost.
Pyreus turned pale, not knowing how to react. He was very young, and with so many people pressuring him, he froze for a mont.
Taking advantage of that, Baynod shouted in a deep voice, "Limdiss, co here!"
At his shout, a solitary figure quickly stepped out from among the youths waiting for evaluation. When she arrived in front of Baynod, she respectfully asked, "At your command, Palace Master."
She was a 14-year-old girl with long red hair and already well-developed feminine curves despite her young age.
"This is Limdiss, my biological niece. She is a top-tier alchemist and could also enter the sect as a special-ability disciple. But she took every single day of tests and will fight to be approved directly!"
As soon as those words were spoken, murmurs imdiately spread around, and everyone’s gaze turned toward her. Limdiss smiled, perfectly hiding her satisfaction, though she still shot a look of disdain at Darian.
"Her cultivation is currently at the third level of the Celestial Origin Realm, while the vast majority here in this test are at the fifth level. In a direct fight, in theory, she is weaker than the others. But as Palace Master, I didn’t act selfishly just because she’s my niece, nor did I exempt her from the exam because of her alchemy talent... I made her complete the entire test and prove to everyone that she was capable before even displaying her alchemy techniques. So... what qualifications does trash like him have!?"
Thunderous cries of agreent echoed out.
"Go back and ask your Master: is he shalessly trampling on the dignity of our Sect and even deliberately humiliating all these youths taking the test here!?" he finished with a roar.
Baynod’s shrill shout and the sudden public humiliation frightened Pyreus so much that he took two steps back. The stares around him also caused great confusion in his mind. He stamred, "I... I... no..."
"Enough of this shit."
Suddenly, a dry voice sounded right beside Pyreus.
Everyone imdiately fell silent in surprise. Then, at last, their gazes focused on the main actor of that entire spectacle.
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