The sect selection process was a time of exhilaration and tension. As the elder had previously announced, only the top 1000 participants held the right to choose their sect, though the unprecedented appearances of Earth-grade and Heaven-grade spiritual roots created exceptions. Any candidate regardless of their rank, who possessed an Earth-grade was given a chance to select their preferred sect.

To facilitate the selection, the sect elders gathered in deep discussion, deciding on how they would handle the remaining candidates—a staggering number of nearly 88,000. These participants had either inferior or human-grade spiritual roots and would likely be accepted as Menial Disciples, tasked with essential but low-ranking duties like mining, tending to spiritual farms, or performing various odd jobs around the sect grounds. Through these tasks, they could earn merits, slowly building enough standing to become Outer Sect Disciples.

In this hierarchy, Menial Disciples stood at the bottom, followed by Outer Sect Disciples, who received basic resources and techniques. Inner Sect Disciples enjoyed better resources, higher regard, and significant cultivation opportunities. Beyond them were the Core Disciples, often personally chosen by high-ranking elders, sometimes even the sect master, to receive personalized training. And finally, there were the Legacy Disciples—those appointed as the sect’s official successors, representing its future.

Once the decisions regarding the non-top thousand candidates were made, the Sect Ranking dictated the order in which they would choose. The Azure Cloud Sect, as the top-ranked sect of the Golden Lotus Dynasty, had the first choice, followed by other sects in descending order, with the Black Valley Sect ranked 50th and being the last to choose. For these lower-ranking candidates, the path to success would be long and arduous. However, the promise of a future as an Outer or even Inner Sect Disciple kept many determined to prove themselves.

After hours of deliberation, placement, and selection, the bulk of the candidates found their paths. Some faces were downcast, realizing they were to become Menial Disciples, while others maintained hopeful expressions, planning their strategies to ascend through the sect ranks. With the lesser-ranked candidates sorted, it was now time for the top 1000 to make their choices.

Starting from the last-ranked candidates, each participant approached the stage, announcing their preferred sect. If they met the specific sect’s criteria, they were accepted immediately. Most of the top candidates had no issue meeting the standards of their chosen sect, with some particularly ambitious candidates aiming for sects renowned for their rigid entry requirements, like the Celestial Dan Sect and the Azure Cloud Sect.

One by one, the top candidates joined their desired sects, and the options dwindled. Those with Earth-grade spiritual roots still remained undecided, and excitement filled the air as each candidate stepped forward to announce their allegiance.

The first of the Earth-grade candidates, a young cultivator with a rare water-earth dual elemental root, confidently chose the Azure Cloud Sect. The elder of the Azure Cloud Sect gave a slight nod of approval, welcoming the youth as an Inner Sect Disciple. The elder murmured to his peers, impressed by the candidate’s potential. The Azure Cloud Sect, famed for its cultivation techniques, saw his choice as an asset to their ranks.

Next, a candidate with fire-metal dual elemental roots approached the platform. His choice was the Hundred Forge Sect, ranked 7th. Renowned for its emphasis on blacksmithing and metallurgy, the Hundred Forge Sect was a perfect fit for him. The elder of the sect, a burly man with soot-streaked robes, grinned widely as he welcomed the young cultivator. In the Hundred Forge Sect, where fire was key to both forging and cultivation, the boy’s potential was unmistakable.

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Qin Yulan, the daughter of the prestigious Qin Family, was next. Her fire-wood dual elemental root made her a natural fit for the Celestial Dan Sect, the foremost alchemy sect in the Golden Lotus Dynasty. The Celestial Dan Sect elder observed her with a discerning eye before nodding in approval. With her noble background and the dual elemental root suited for alchemy, she was not only accepted but was granted the status of an Inner Sect Disciple, with a promise of becoming a Core Disciple should she excel. A wave of admiration rippled through the crowd; her choice had cemented her path as a talented alchemist.

Following her was Zhao Shan, the prodigious heir of the Zhao Family. His ice elemental root—a rare variant of the water root—perfectly matched the Frozen Lake Sect’s specialization. Known for their unique cultivation techniques that focused on control, meditation, and the refinement of elemental Qi, the Frozen Lake Sect was reputed as one of the few places where ice element cultivators could fully realize their potential. The elder of the Frozen Lake Sect accepted him with open arms, pleased to have such a promising candidate join their ranks. The crowd buzzed with excitement, Zhao Shan’s icy aura marking him as a force to be reckoned with.

Finally, only Wei Jun remained.

His Heaven-grade metal root had captured the attention of everyone in the arena, from the lowest candidate to the mightiest elder. The entire assembly held its breath as he stepped forward, ready to announce his choice.

Wei Jun’s voice rang clear and steady. “I choose the Iron Mountain Sect.”

A collective gasp swept through the crowd. The Iron Mountain Sect? Ranked only 14th, it was far from the top echelons, and many had assumed he would select a more prestigious sect. Whispers and murmurs filled the air, candidates and elders alike struggling to comprehend his decision. The Iron Mountain Sect was well-regarded for its emphasis on defense and resilience, but it lacked the prestige and legendary techniques that the top-ranked sects could offer.

The elder of the Iron Mountain Sect, a burly man with gray-streaked hair, broke into a laugh. He looked overjoyed, his eyes gleaming with pride and ambition. “The golden years of the Iron Mountain Sect have arrived!” he declared, clapping Wei Jun on the back. His joy was unmistakable; with a Heaven-grade metal root disciple, the Iron Mountain Sect’s strength and reputation would surge in the coming years.

However, not everyone shared his enthusiasm.

The Azure Cloud Sect elder’s expression darkened slightly, and for an instant, a faint glint of killing intent appeared in his eyes. Wei Jun’s decision was a blow to the Azure Cloud Sect, which had long enjoyed an uncontested position at the pinnacle of the sect rankings. Wei Jun’s potential threatened to disrupt that balance, a prospect that displeased the elder.

Still, the Azure Cloud Sect elder quickly composed himself. He reminded himself of the agreement among the sects, which forbade any interference or violence during the sect exams. Violating this agreement would result in a united response from all other sects, even those weaker ones that might otherwise align with Azure Cloud. Although the Azure Cloud Sect was the strongest, it couldn’t face the combined might of over forty sects in the Golden Lotus Dynasty.

The elder exhaled, reigning in his frustration, and observed the rest of the proceedings with a measured calm. He knew that, for now, he would have to watch from the sidelines and wait. But he also knew that as Wei Jun rose in strength, Azure Cloud would have to strengthen itself in response.

As Wei Jun joined the Iron Mountain Sect, the selection process officially concluded. The top thousand candidates had each found their paths, and an air of finality settled over the arena.

Now, the sects were left to gather their new disciples and prepare them for the journey ahead. The lesser sects collected their Disciples and began organizing transport back to their respective grounds, while the higher-ranking sects discussed plans for training and orientation.

For Wuji, standing beside Bai Xuanfeng, a sense of anticipation filled him. The spiritual test and sect selection were over, but his journey as a disciple of the Thousand Path Pavilion was just beginning. He glanced around, observing the other chosen disciples, knowing that many of them would become his allies, competitors, or even foes in the years to come.

The era of the Golden Lotus Dynasty’s rise was about to commence, with new alliances and rivalries already forming among the young cultivators. The events of the selection would be remembered for generations, marked by Heaven-grade and Earth-grade spiritual roots and a young man named Wei Jun.