Eastern Sage Cliff

Eastern Sage Cliff . . .

"We have arrived." The crowd fixed their gazes ahead as they reached the top of the stairways. Countless experts stood there, radiating with coronas of immortal light, creating a dazzling spectacle.

However, the participants soon noticed another arched door behind these experts. The Eastern Sage Immortal Sect was vast, even larger than cities in the immortal realms. After the distance they had traveled, they had only just reached the entrance.

"We entrust these participants to you," declared the Prefecture Lord of the Eastern Prefecture. The thirteen prefecture lords headed to the front, while the immortal-foundation experts on top of the stairway opened a path for them and greeted them with respect. "A warm welcome to all the immortal kings. Seniors, don't worry about them; leave the participants to me."

The prefecture lords nodded and entered, leaving the participants behind.

"Since all of you are here to attend this banquet, it means your talents stand out among your peers in your respective prefectures. However, our Eastern Sage Immortal Sect does not accept ordinary individuals. Through this selection test, you will have the opportunity to join us. This time, we have only one thousand disciple slots available. You will compete among yourselves, and the majority will be eliminated, leaving the final one thousand. If those remaining one thousand are willing, they can join our Eastern Sage Immortal Sect as disciples, taking their first step into our sect."

An expert on the stairs, radiating with intense immortal light, addressed the participants. His words did not surprise any of them. The Eastern Sage Immortal Sect organized this event to recruit and nurture talent, and their goal was to strengthen their foundations.

"The next event is the first test. The top one thousand will become external disciples, and those who pass will have the right to take the next test. For those who reach the top three, their fame will echo throughout the world. They will become nominated disciples of the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor himself, gaining the opportunity to receive his guidance. If your talent is exceptional, there's even a chance to become his personal disciple. You must cherish this opportunity."

The expert spoke as if this were a tremendous privilege for the participants.

Despite being among the most outstanding talents from the thirteen prefectures, entering the Eastern Sage Immortal Sect was a matter of great pride. The sect was the true hegemon of the thirteen prefectures. While these participants might be the cream of the crop in their respective regions, the Eastern Sage Immortal Sect was where the most exceptional talents congregated. Therefore, the elimination rate would be high, and the majority would be cut.

Only one thousand would have the honor to join the Eastern Sage Immortal Sect.

"The first test will take place at the sacred cultivation grounds within the Eastern Sage Immortal Sect, the Eastern Sage Cliff," the immortal-foundation expert continued. "The Eastern Sage Cliff is the optimal place for disciples below the immortal-foundation realm to cultivate in our sect. This time, it will become the testing grounds for the geniuses of the thirteen prefectures."

The Eastern Sage Immortal Sect attached great importance to this once-in-a-century recruitment event.

"Eastern Sage Cliff," participants murmured upon hearing the name, their eyes gleaming with determination.

Among them, some had already guessed. With over ten thousand geniuses from all thirteen prefectures, ranging from the first to the ninth level of Celestial Phenomenon in terms of cultivation, it was clear that the Eastern Sage Cliff would be the most suitable place to test their talent.

The Eastern Sage Cliff disregarded the advantages of one's cultivation base, focusing solely on the cultivator's state of heart and comprehension ability.

"Now, follow me, and I will lead you there. The current sect members have already vacated the area for all of you. Let's move out," said the expert, motioning for the participants to follow him. As they proceeded deeper into the Eastern Sage Immortal Sect, they couldn't help but marvel at its sheer size. It resembled an ancient, majestic city with countless imposing buildings.

"Isn't the Eastern Sage Immortal Sect a bit too enormous?" many participants mused silently. Its vastness was beyond imagination, rumored to house a hundred thousand direct disciples and millions of external disciples. When counting the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor's troops, the number of experts surpassed tens of millions.

This was the hallmark of a supreme-tier power in the immortal realms, capable of dominating regions and governing countless particle worlds effortlessly.

Before the Eastern Sage Cliff, disciples from the Eastern Sage Immortal Sect stood nearby, observing the approaching 13,000 geniuses. Their eyes gleamed with anticipation—did these newcomers aspire to join their esteemed sect as well?

"I've heard there are some exceptionally powerful individuals in this batch. Let's hope they don't disappoint us too much," commented a young man, crossing his arms and wearing a smile.

The Eastern Sage Cliff stretched endlessly, its boundaries invisible. Countless peaks formed the Eastern Sage Cliff Mountain Range, surrounded by a luminous screen that resembled a formidable grand formation. Glowing runes flowed within the screen, exuding an air of mystique, weaving unique law energy throughout the area.

The participants hovered in the air. The immortal-foundation expert who had led them here turned to address them. "The Eastern Sage Cliff contains unique law enchantments that will temporarily restrict some of your powers. This enchantment will equalize your strength to that of a ninth-level Celestial Phenomenon Ascendant, allowing you to engage in intense battles. However, your condensed constellations and various innate techniques will be locked and unusable. You can only rely on your original strength, augmented by the power of your astral souls."

"Your astral souls won't be affected because they reflect your innate talent. Bloodline powers are also exempt as they are inherent abilities. However, constellations will be restricted."

The explanation was clear, and the participants understood. Astral souls and bloodline powers remained untouched as they were inherent aspects of a cultivator's talent. Constellations, on the other hand, could vary greatly in comprehension between first-level and ninth-level ascendants, potentially creating an imbalance in strength. Thus, they were restricted.

Innate techniques fell into a different category, being external to the participants, unlike astral souls and bloodline powers.

"Proceed now. The Eastern Sage Cliff is where our sect's disciples gain insights into their martial paths. There is great fortune awaiting you if you are qualified to receive it. When you return, your strength will surely have grown. Additionally, there are numerous spatial formations within this place. If you wish to exit early, simply step into the spatial formations to activate them. Only the last 1,000 participants remaining will pass this selection test. You may enter now."

With these instructions, the immortal stepped aside, opening a path for the participants to enter.

"To forget oneself and regain one's strength through re-comprehension," the immortal murmured as the participants sped into the Eastern Sage Cliff, their astral light shimmering brightly.

The Eastern Sage Cliff was a path where one could forget everything that had brought them to their current level of strength.

"Shall we proceed?" Qin Wentian, accompanied by his companions, ventured into the heart of the mountain range, passing through the shimmering veil of light. Instantly, spatial distortions enveloped them, and they found themselves inside the Eastern Sage Cliff.

Here, Qin Wentian stood alone, surrounded by solitude. The mystical energy of the law enchantments coursed through him, as if a colossal hand of cosmic order was rewriting his very essence. After a brief moment, Qin Wentian felt an unusual resonance with the energy in the atmosphere, connecting him with an unbreakable thread and infusing him with a towering strength.

"Is this the strength of a ninth-level Celestial Phenomenon? Everyone here will share this level of strength; the only variations will lie in our astral souls and bloodline powers," pondered Qin Wentian as he surveyed his surroundings. He was utterly isolated, a testament to the vastness of this mountain range.

"What's that...?" Qin Wentian noticed a golden spatial diagram hovering in the air. It appeared to be the spatial pocket formation mentioned by the immortal earlier—a means of swift escape should one face defeat in battle.

The sound of wind whistling reached his ears as another figure materialized nearby. This was the only person his heightened perception could detect, and it seemed that his presence had also been noticed.

"From the Jing Prefecture," Qin Wentian observed, noticing the medallion pinned to the newcomer's robes. His opponent was the 96th-ranked participant from the Jing Prefecture.

In an instant, a resplendent astral light emanated from the newcomer, forming a formidable avian beast astral soul behind him. Simultaneously, wings sprouted from his back. With a surge of malevolence, he charged toward Qin Wentian, launching a fierce assault that felt like the talon strike of a fearsome avian species.

Among the 13,000 participants, only 1,000 would emerge victorious. The implication was crystal clear: the remaining 12,000 could either meet their end in battle or escape using the spatial formations.

Qin Wentian attempted to retaliate with a palm strike, instinctively employing his palm-type innate technique. However, at the very moment his energy surged forth, the profound law energies intervened. No colossal palm prints materialized, and the power of the innate techniques was sealed away by the pervasive law enchantments.

A thunderous "BOOM!" echoed as the formidable talon strike connected, forcing Qin Wentian to stagger backward. His arms bore bloody wounds from the aftermath of the attack.

Their strengths were nearly identical, both at the ninth level of Celestial Phenomenon. They started on equal footing. However, while his opponent harnessed the might of his astral soul in his assault, Qin Wentian had habitually initiated an innate technique without tapping into his astral soul's power, leading to his forced retreat.

"This Eastern Sage Cliff truly levels the playing field," a smile graced Qin Wentian's lips. Yet, in his opponent's eyes, he only detected a trace of scorn. "Ranked 27th in the Cloud Prefecture? It seems you're not much of a challenge after all."