The rolling plains gave Riu Xian a brief sense of freedom, but the faint thrum of Qi in the air soon pulled his attention. As he walked, his spiritual sense picked up the presence of cultivators ahead. Approaching cautiously, he saw three figures clad in azure robes, their elegant attire bearing the emblem of the Azure Cloud Sect. The emblem displayed bold characters etched in gold, proudly proclaiming their affiliation.
The group consisted of two women and a man. The man, who appeared younger than the others, sneered as Riu Xian approached. His cultivation was at the Qi Gathering realm, far weaker than the women beside him, but his arrogance was unmatched. One of the women, her aura strong yet refined, stood at the mid-Foundation Establishment realm. The other exuded an even more commanding presence, her cultivation at the early Core Formation stage.
The man’s gaze swept over Riu Xian, lingering disdainfully on his travel-worn clothes. “Who are you?” he scoffed. “A country bumpkin like you—what are you doing here?”
Riu Xian’s expression remained calm, though a flicker of annoyance crossed his mind. For a moment, he considered releasing the pressure of his cultivation, enhanced by his latent Qilin powers, to silence the arrogance. But before he could act, the Foundation Establishment female stepped forward, interrupting her companion.
“We’re sorry,” she said, her tone much kinder. “We didn’t mean to be rude. But you’re near the Silent Forest, and this is the territory of the Azure Cloud Sect.”
Riu Xian relaxed slightly at her words. “I’m here to join your sect,” he said evenly.
The three cultivators exchanged surprised glances. The male scoffed again. “Join the Azure Cloud Sect? This isn’t the time for the entrance tests! And even if it were, someone like you could never—”
“Hmph!” The Foundation Establishment woman cut him off with a sharp glare, silencing him. She turned to Riu Xian, her expression skeptical. “How do you expect to join? The tests aren’t being held now, and our sect doesn’t accept outsiders so easily.”
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Riu Xian didn’t reply immediately. Instead, he reached into his spatial ring and summoned a jade tablet—a gift from Xiao Ming, proof of her recommendation. The moment he revealed it, all three cultivators froze in shock.
The Core Formation woman stepped closer, her eyes narrowing as she examined the token. “How do you have this?” she demanded. “This jade token belongs to Elder Xiao Ming, the young leader of our sect and the daughter of our sect leader. She’s a Nascent Soul realm cultivator. How do you know her?”
Riu Xian hesitated for a moment. “There are some things I cannot reveal,” he said. “But—”
Before he could finish, the Qi Gathering man snatched the tablet from his hand, inspecting it with a sneer. “This must be fake!” he declared and threw it onto the ground.
“Enough!” The Core Formation woman’s voice was icy as she waved her hand. The token flew back into her grasp with a surge of Qi. She examined it closely before continuing, “This token is genuine. I can feel Elder Xiao Ming’s Qi within it.”
Her gaze turned furious as she addressed the man. “Do you realize what you’ve done? If this token had been damaged, Elder Xiao Ming would have sensed it immediately. She would have come here herself. Apologize to him at once!”
The man’s face turned pale, and he stammered out an apology. Riu Xian accepted it with a nod, retrieving the token from the Core Formation cultivator’s hand.
“Can you help me reach the sect?” Riu Xian asked.
The Core Formation woman softened her tone. “We were on a mission, but it’s complete now. We’re heading back to the sect. You can come with us.”
She glanced at him thoughtfully. “I can tell you don’t have a flying sword or another mode of transport. That’s why you asked for help.”
Riu Xian inclined his head in agreement.
The Core Formation woman turned to her companions. “The Qi Gathering disciple will ride with the Foundation Establishment cultivator. I’ll carry him.”
The group prepared for departure, their flying swords gleaming as they ascended into the air. Riu Xian stepped onto the Core Formation woman’s sword, steadying himself as they soared upward. The sensation of flight was exhilarating, the wind rushing past him as the Azure Cloud Sect’s mountains drew closer with every moment.
The Silent Forest and its trials were behind him, but Riu Xian knew that his journey was only just beginning. As they flew together toward the sect, he felt a flicker of anticipation. The challenges ahead would be greater than ever, but he was ready to face them.