Chapter 73

The new disciples have been in the sect for a month now, and every year at this time, it is a significant decision for the new disciples.

In the Vast Heaven Sect, the month before the annual recruitment of new disciples is a transitional period, designed to make the new disciples understand this cruel world and the lawless way of survival. Only after a month does the formal cultivation begin, which is the Mirror Trial.

Today is the day for the new disciples to join the Mirror Trial, so many elders and senior disciples will be present.

On the outer square of the Vast Heaven Sect, there is a high platform, and on the platform is a Heavenly Star Array, which looks like a mirror. At this moment, a large crowd has already gathered, including all the new disciples from the past five years.

"Quite lively, isn't it?" Chu Yan smiled as he looked at the dense crowd in the square.

"Yes, the Mirror Trial has always been the most popular cultivation holy land in the Vast Heaven Sect. Apart from the Mirror Trial, there is the Vast Heaven Tower, but the Vast Heaven Tower is only open for half a month during the Mid-Autumn Festival each year."

"Vast Heaven Tower?" Chu Yan glanced at Mu Ye. He knew about the Mirror Trial, which is a massive illusion. The main body of this illusion is in the Wilderness, jointly created by the Wilderness, the Three Valleys, the Eastern Alliance, and many elders of the myriad sects, specifically for the disciples to cultivate.

In the Mirror Trial, one can experience absolute reality. Most importantly, even if one dies inside, they won't die in reality; they will only be expelled from the Mirror Trial. However, the pain is real, and it is something that ordinary people would never want to experience again.

Chu Yan didn't know about the Vast Heaven Tower.

"The Vast Heaven Tower is different from the Mirror Trial. The Vast Heaven Tower is specifically for disciples to awaken their bloodline power. It has seven floors, and the pressure on each floor increases exponentially, which is very beneficial for disciples at the Dustless Realm to awaken their bloodlines."

"Awaken bloodlines?" Chu Yan whistled softly. This is a very practical cultivation method, especially for disciples at the Dustless Realm. After all, bloodline awakening accompanies one's entire life, and who wouldn't want to awaken a higher-level bloodline?

"That's right. The Vast Heaven Sect can become the leader of the myriad sects mainly because of the Vast Heaven Tower. Among the myriad sects, only the Vast Heaven Sect has a Vast Heaven Tower. Because of this, every Mid-Autumn Festival, the other myriad sects also recommend their disciples to cultivate for fifteen days. However, since it belongs to the Vast Heaven Sect, the disciples of the Vast Heaven Sect have priority, which is why so many people try to join the Vast Heaven Sect, even if it means traveling a thousand miles."

"According to the rules, sects ranked outside the top thousand can only recommend one disciple every ten years, while in our Vast Heaven Sect, almost all Dustless Realm disciples can enter the Vast Heaven Tower."

"Have you participated?" Chu Yan asked curiously.

"Last year, I participated once. Unfortunately, I was only at the first level of the Dustless Realm at that time, so I only stayed on the first floor of the Vast Heaven Tower for one day. Even so, I vaguely sensed a bit of bloodline power." Mu Ye circulated his yuan qi, and there was a faint blood mark in his yuan qi, though it couldn't yet be integrated into his yuan qi.

Chu Yan was secretly impressed. Mu Ye had only stayed on the first floor of the Vast Heaven Tower for one day and could already understand some aspects of bloodline power.

"Hurry up, you have a ceremony later. After your ceremony, we'll go to the Mirror Trial for some fun." Mu Ye smiled.

"What ceremony?" Ye Xun asked curiously.

"You'll see. With your talents, you'll likely become this year's hotshots." Mu Ye teased, and they arrived at the Vast Heaven Sect's square.

In front of the Starlight Array in the square, some elders, Jiang Yi, and others were already there. Luo Tianyi was also present, and he glanced at Chu Yan with a deep meaning but said nothing.

"These are this year's new disciples?" Next to the elders were a group of senior disciples. These senior disciples were not all together but divided into three groups.

"The quality this year is good. That Fan Ye is already at the peak of the Dust Movement Realm, right?"

"Yes, Qian Dong and Zhao Yu are also good. If we recruit and cultivate them well, they can break through to the Dustless Realm by the end of the year, adding a lot of combat power to our Flame Alliance." A female disciple among the senior disciples smiled.

However, among these senior disciples, there was a young man who was very cold and proud. Everyone seemed to fear him a bit and respected him greatly. Xiao Ya was also by his side.

"Senior Brother Changsheng, that person is Chu Yan." Xiao Ya pointed at Chu Yan and smiled at the young man.

The young man glanced at Chu Yan with a deep meaning, his eyes full of disdain, but he said nothing.

At this moment, all the new disciples had arrived. Jiang Feng, as the mentor of the new disciples, said, "All new disciples, you have been in the Vast Heaven Sect for some time. I believe you know a bit about the Mirror Trial. So, I won't waste words. Today is your first day of the Mirror Trial. I hope you all have a 'wonderful' memory."

"Before the Mirror Trial begins, you need to choose your team. Remember, this choice is very important. Each person only has one chance, and any achievements of your team will directly affect your cultivation resources in the Vast Heaven Sect."

Hearing Jiang Feng's words, the new disciples were all confused. Ye Xun looked at Mu Ye.

"Before entering the Mirror Trial, the new disciples need to choose a team. In the Vast Heaven Sect, there are three teams: the Longevity Hall, the Flame Alliance, and the New Disciple Camp. The Longevity Hall is the strongest, followed by the Flame Alliance, and the New Disciple Camp is the weakest."

"What's the use of joining a team?"

"Although the Mirror Trial is just an illusion, every three months, there is a competition among the three teams in the Mirror Trial. The winning team gets a thousand honor points, the second place gets five hundred, and the third place gets only one hundred. Therefore, every year, the new disciples hope to join the Longevity Hall, as the Longevity Hall has always been the first place."

"Doesn't that mean the members of the Longevity Hall can get a thousand honor points for free every three months?"

"Pretty much, but this competition is only for new disciples within three years. Senior disciples cannot participate, so every year, senior disciples try to recruit talented new disciples and cultivate them, which can create endless wealth for them." Mu Ye explained.

"Which team are you in?"

"Before yesterday, I was in the Longevity Hall. Now... I have no team." Mu Ye sighed. "Lin Changsheng is the current hall master of the Longevity Hall, and he kicked me out."

Chu Yan and Ye Xun understood. The Longevity Hall, Lin Changsheng... truly domineering.

"Be careful. I think you'll have a hard time choosing a team. Don't even think about the Longevity Hall. Try to join the Flame Alliance; second place is still good." Mu Ye said helplessly. He knew Lin Changsheng well. If it weren't for the two weapons, he would have tried to recruit Chu Yan. But since they are now enemies, Lin Changsheng will definitely try to eliminate any potential threats and won't want Chu Yan to stand out.

Chu Yan nodded. At this moment, a female disciple walked over, very pretty, with a ponytail. She smiled at Chu Yan and his group. "Hello, juniors. I'm Yu Ruoxi from the Flame Alliance. How about it? Are you interested in joining our Flame Alliance?"

Yu Ruoxi spoke sweetly, giving a warm feeling. The fat guy drooled on the side. "Brother Chu, the Flame Alliance is great. I see a lot of beauties. If we join, we'll be in a place with more meat and fewer wolves."

Chu Yan glared at the fat guy. What was this guy's purpose in joining the Vast Heaven Sect?

But since Mu Ye had already said that Lin Changsheng is the hall master of the Longevity Hall, he knew he wouldn't go to the Longevity Hall. So, joining the Flame Alliance was also a good choice.

"What do you think?"

"I don't care. It's the same wherever I go." Ye Xun said indifferently.

Fan Ye and the others also nodded indifferently. They would follow Chu Yan anyway.

Chu Yan nodded. "Then let's join the Flame Alliance. Sister Ruoxi, do we need to register?"

Seeing that the new disciples were willing to join the Flame Alliance, Yu Ruoxi was delighted. She had been worried that they would all rush to the Longevity Hall like in previous years.

"Yes, follow me. Give me your Vast Heaven Tokens, and I'll add a mark to them. From now on, you will be disciples of the Flame Alliance. Take care of each other, little juniors." Yu Ruoxi smiled happily, her beauty attracting many male disciples.

"Okay!" Chu Yan and the others followed Yu Ruoxi.

"Yu Ruoxi is a good person. She entered the sect in the same year as me, three years ago. She is virtuous and suitable to marry. I think she seems interested in you. Do you want to try?" Mu Ye laughed beside Chu Yan.

Chu Yan rolled his eyes at Mu Ye. "Don't talk nonsense. I have a family."

"Acting!" Mu Ye rolled his eyes at Chu Yan. When they arrived at the Flame Alliance, there were quite a few people. Among them was a cold and elegant woman with short hair, holding a three-foot-long, thumb-thin jade sword, exuding a fairy-like aura.

"Her name is Zhou Ying. She entered the sect four years ago. She is very powerful. In the past thirty competitions, the Flame Alliance won nine times, all after she joined the Flame Alliance for a year and a half. However, last year, she exceeded the three-year standard and couldn't participate in the competition, so the Longevity Hall surpassed us again."

"The purple-clothed girl next to her is Lin Yuyan, the leader of the Flame Alliance. She is also very powerful and is a seed candidate for the Myriad Sects Grand Ceremony three years later. She is on par with Lin Changsheng. She comes from a military family in the Northern Ice Kingdom and has led troops since childhood, giving her a warrior's spirit."

Mu Ye introduced them one by one to Chu Yan.

The only two people in the Flame Alliance who caught Chu Yan's attention were these two.

"Sister Yuyan, our luck is good this year. These new disciples are all willing to join us." Yu Ruoxi smiled and turned to Chu Yan. "Give me your Vast Heaven Tokens, and I'll add the mark."

"Thank you, Sister." Chu Yan and the others handed over their tokens.

Just then, an unpleasant voice came. "Sister Yuyan, what? Is the Flame Alliance planning to dominate this year?"