Chapter 9

The middle-aged man stood with his hands behind his back, his clothes fluttering in the wind, resembling a celestial being riding auspicious clouds, flying toward the inner part of the Cloudy Rain Mountain Range.

Wherever he went, the light flickered, and the clouds and mists scattered as if paying homage.

Although the auspicious clouds moved very fast, they gave Xiao Han a sense of stability, and he was not worried about falling off.

After a short while, the auspicious clouds began to descend gently.

Xiao Han looked down and couldn't help but swallow hard, his eyes wide open.

He saw that the inner peaks of the Cloudy Rain Mountain Range rose from the ground, piercing the clouds, their majestic and towering presence indescribable. Ethereal immortal qi lingered, and faint sounds of string and bamboo instruments could be heard. Some peaks were magnificent and splendid; others were full of vitality, covered with colorful flowers and fruits; still others had hundreds or even thousands of waterfalls cascading from the peaks, like countless jade dragons...

Ancient trees and rare flowers of all kinds were everywhere; countless golden eagles, great peng birds, and immortal cranes, among other flying creatures, circled and called in the blue sky.

Xiao Han even saw some sky cities, defying natural laws, floating in the air, shrouded in layers of mist.

The entire area exuded an ancient aura.

Additionally, a faint, glass-like light curtain enveloped this vast area, quite mysterious.

To enter the inner peaks, it seemed one had to pass through this glass-like light curtain.

"Young man, I will now randomly choose a peak for outer disciples to practice on, and take you there for the assessment," the middle-aged man smiled slightly, steering the auspicious clouds toward the glass light curtain.

"This is our Cloudy Rain Sect's 'Mountain Guarding Immortal Curtain,' which blocks all demonic qi. No demon can disguise itself and enter," the middle-aged man said with a faint smile.

"Whoosh~~~"

The auspicious clouds carried the middle-aged man and Xiao Han through the glass-like immortal curtain.

Suddenly!

"Buzz~~" The strange thing in Xiao Han's heart trembled slightly, then condensed into a speck of dust, as if treading on thin ice.

"Hmm?" Xiao Han was just surprised when the auspicious clouds successfully penetrated the glass-like immortal curtain.

"Huh? What's going on? The strange thing in my heart seems to be wary of this 'Mountain Guarding Immortal Curtain.'" Xiao Han was puzzled.

"Let's go~" The middle-aged man, unaware of anything, waved his sleeves, lifted Xiao Han into the air, and landed on a peak. The auspicious clouds turned into streams of light and were absorbed into the middle-aged man's body.

As soon as Xiao Han's feet touched the ground, he looked up and found himself at the edge of a square on the top of a peak.

The square was several dozen acres in size, paved with white jade, flat and level.

"Oh~~ This true disciple has honored us with your presence, we are truly sorry for not welcoming you from afar, truly sorry..." Immediately, several elders came forward from the middle of the square, fawning and flattering the middle-aged man.

Xiao Han looked at the elders, a total of three, all with white hair and youthful faces, their auras vast and majestic, moving like dragons and tigers, clearly having honed their physical bodies to the extreme.

"The physical strength of these elders is much stronger than mine," Xiao Han thought, impressed.

However, despite this, the three elders were still very respectful in front of the middle-aged man, as if afraid of offending him.

At the edge of the square, there were groups of young men and women, all tall and proud, with strong physical bodies.

"Is this outer peak under your jurisdiction? I just brought a young man here for the outer disciple assessment," the middle-aged man said casually.

"Ah? You personally brought someone for the assessment?" The three elders were stunned for a moment, then cautiously looked at Xiao Han.

Upon seeing him, they frowned.

Xiao Han was dressed poorly, with patches on his pants, looking like a nobody. Standing next to a true qi realm great figure, he seemed out of place.

One of the elders couldn't help but ask in a low voice, "True disciple, is this young man yours?"

"Oh... He has nothing to do with me. He's a live target who occasionally had a stroke of luck and consumed a 'Red Lotus Immortal Fruit,' cleansing his body and completing bone explosion," the middle-aged man said without elaborating. "With his physical strength, he should be more than qualified to be an outer disciple. Well, just follow the rules, it's up to you..."

After saying that, the middle-aged man left without lingering, turning into a stream of light and disappearing. Truly, like a dragon showing its head but not its tail.

"Send off the true disciple!"

The three elders quickly bowed.

Then, they raised their heads and stared at Xiao Han.

The many young men and women at the edge of the square also began to whisper and discuss...

"Really? A live target, a servant, actually wants to become an outer disciple? That's against the rules."

"Indeed, I've never heard of a live target becoming an outer disciple. This is unprecedented."

"Isn't a live target just meant to be beaten? Wanting to become an outer disciple and practice martial arts? That's absurd."

...

Many young men and women expressed their disdain. However, some laughed, "Didn't you hear the true disciple say that this live target accidentally consumed a 'Red Lotus Immortal Fruit' and completed bone explosion, thus qualifying for the outer disciple assessment?"

"Pity, what a pity. A treasure like the 'Red Lotus Immortal Fruit' was obtained by such a lowly person. It's infuriating just thinking about it."

Hearing the criticisms from all around, Xiao Han remained silent, just licking his lips.

"Live target?" One of the elders spoke to Xiao Han.

Xiao Han nodded.

The three elders exchanged glances.

"Do you really have no connection with that true disciple?" one of the elders asked cautiously.

"Alright, Situ, how could a live target have any connection with a true disciple? The true disciple clearly said that this live target got lucky and consumed a 'Red Lotus Immortal Fruit,' cleansing his bones. It's his fortune, but indeed, it's a waste of a treasure," another elder waved Xiao Han over. "We three are the overseers of this outer peak. Now we will assess you. We will follow the rules. If you pass, we will give you an outer disciple position; if you fail, you must leave quickly. You can start as an entry disciple and gradually advance."

"Alright." Xiao Han nodded.

Then, the three overseers led Xiao Han to the center of the square. In the center, a row of large bronze tripods was lined up.

More and more young men and women gathered at the edge of the square to watch.

Xiao Han looked at the row of bronze tripods. Each tripod had a number, such as '1', '5', '10'... varying.

"These are the strength-testing tripods," one of the overseers explained to Xiao Han. "To become an outer disciple, you need to meet the basic requirement of 100 bone explosions. With 100 bone explosions, you have the strength of three tripods, which is 3,000 pounds. Young man, how many bone explosions do you have?"

"Uh..." Xiao Han hesitated. He thought that if he told the truth, 200 bone explosions, it would be too shocking. After all, Xiao Han knew that among the current entry disciples of the Cloudy Rain Sect, no one had 200 bone explosions. Why draw attention? It's better to keep a low profile and make a fortune quietly.

Seeing Xiao Han's hesitant expression, some of the young men and women watching laughed mockingly. "I said it, a live target, a lowly person, even if he had a stroke of luck, what can he do? A stone in a cesspool will always be a stone, never a jade. I wonder if he even meets the basic requirement of 100 bone explosions. I think it's doubtful."

"Hmm?" The three overseers looked at Xiao Han with disapproval.

Xiao Han quickly said, "I just have 100 bone explosions."

"Then try to lift that tripod. Remember, you must lift it over your head with both hands and hold it for ten breaths to pass," one of the overseers pointed to the tripod with the number '3'.

"Alright." Xiao Han rolled up his sleeves and rushed to the tripod.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, Xiao Han exerted his strength, his muscles and bones stretching. He roared and lifted the tripod with both hands, which rose with a sound!

"Ah!!!" Xiao Han pretended to roar softly, making a desperate effort, but he felt that the tripod wasn't very heavy. If he used his full strength, lifting two such tripods would be no problem...

"Roar!" Xiao Han lifted the tripod over his head, his legs trembling as if he might not be able to hold on.

After ten breaths...

"Alright, that's enough," one of the overseers said.

"Phew~~~" Xiao Han put the tripod down, pretending to pant heavily.

"Just barely passed." The three overseers nodded.

"You see, even after consuming the Red Lotus Immortal Fruit, he only just meets the basic requirement. If I had consumed it, I would have at least 200 bone explosions," a young man glared at Xiao Han. "What a waste of that Red Lotus Immortal Fruit. Sigh, sigh..." He sighed repeatedly.

One of the overseers took out a thick book and a brush, and said to Xiao Han, "Now I will register you. What's your name, how old are you, and what family background do you have in the secular world? Tell me everything, and I will record it."

"Oh... My name is Xiao Han, I'm 15 years old, and I have no background, just a live target for a few years," Xiao Han licked his lips and said.

Thus, Xiao Han's information was recorded in the book...

"Outer Disciple:

Xiao Han

15 years old

100 bone explosions. Strength of 3 tripods

Live target"

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