"Chapter 11" Sky Heaven Tower

"Brother Xuan, this is the outer part of the sect, rarely used during recruitments like this," Liu Xing informed Xuan as he led him towards the outer court.

After a 20-minute walk, they arrived at a barrier surrounding the outer court. Liu Xing effortlessly crossed the barrier and looked back at Xuan.

"Brother Xuan, don't worry; with your token, you can easily enter," Liu Xing said reassuringly.

Xuan nodded and placed his right hand on the barrier. To his surprise, his hand passed through it effortlessly, and he soon crossed the barrier as they continued heading towards the Inner court.

"Brother Xuan, you can feel how different the Qi in the air is here compared to the outside," Liu Xing said with a proud smile. "But wait until we enter the Inner court; then you'll realize that the abundant Qi here is nothing compared to the Inner court."

Xuan listened quietly, observing how Liu Xing was trying to make a good impression on him. Though he didn't know Liu Xing's motive, Xuan decided to play along.

As they walked, Liu Xing continued to show Xuan around the outer sect, pointing out various landmarks such as the Library Pavilion and the Disciple Hall for Outer Court Disciples.

During their tour, the outer court disciples caught sight of them, and many recognized Liu Xing, keeping a safe distance from him.

Those who were closer greeted Liu Xing and Xuan warmly before taking their leave.

Xuan observed how timid the outer court disciples were around Liu Xing, and an image of a bully began to form in his mind.

This reminded him of his own experiences at the Twin Blade Sect, where he had been bullied.

However, he had eventually escaped from the sect before killing the disciple who had bullied him the most.

After two hours of walking, they reached another barrier. "Brother Xuan, I welcome you to the Inner Court of the Sky Heaven Sect," Liu Xing said with a smile. "Don't be surprised at what you're about to see inside."

As Xuan crossed the barrier, he was met with an even more breathtaking sight than before. The Inner Court's atmosphere was filled with an even denser Qi than the Outer Court, which he had anticipated.

However, what caught him off guard was the majestic floating pagoda suspended in the air, invisible from outside the barrier.

"What is that?" Xuan asked, his curiosity getting the better of him. It was the first question he had asked Liu Xing, who had anticipated this.

Liu Xing's face lit up with awe as he replied, "Brother Xuan, that is the Sky Heaven Tower, a Heavenly artifact and the base of our sect. It's a wonder in its own right. Legend has it that it was created by the Immortals and Gods themselves."

"Immortals and Gods," Xuan murmured, his gaze fixed on the majestic Sky Heaven Pagoda.

Liu Xing smiled, urging Xuan to move forward. "Let's go, Brother Xuan. I'll take you to the Disciple Hall."

Xuan nodded, still captivated by the pagoda's grandeur, and began following Liu Xing.

After walking for a while, Liu Xing and Xuan entered a grand hall, with the sign "Disciple Hall" prominently displayed above the entrance.

Liu Xing led Xuan to the Elder, saying, "Elder, this is our new disciple. He's here to register."

The Elder first glanced at Liu Xing with a smile, then turned to Xuan and nodded. "Give me your token and wait."

Xuan handed over the token given to him by Kim Joon and waited patiently as the Elder disappeared into the storage room to retrieve Xuan's belongings.

After a short while, the Elder returned with a new uniform, a spatial bag, and a token in hand. "This is your Inner Court outfit," he said, handing Xuan the uniform.

Next, he handed Xuan the spatial bag. "This is your Spatial Bag, provided by the sect. It contains 1,000 Spirit Stones and a Spirit-grade sword."

Finally, the Elder handed Xuan the token. "Pour a drop of your blood on this token, and you'll be all set."

Xuan pricked his finger and dripped a drop of blood onto the token, which shimmered with his name.

"You're free to choose any empty cave abode," the Elder said. "This token will serve as your key, so don't lose it. It will also grant you access to other restricted areas. One last thing: after three days, you can choose your faction. Return here to register at that time."

Liu Xing smiled. "Let's go, Brother Xuan. I'll show you around."

Xuan thanked the Elder, and they departed with Liu Xing.

After they left, Elder whispered, "that must be special to have Liu Xing touring around him, seems he's going to join Prince's faction."

Meanwhile Liu Xing then took Xuan to another place little far from the previous one, "brother this place Inner court library pavilion, here you can access to great cultivation techniques and martial arts."

Xuan nodded, finally feeling overwhelmed by Liu Xing's constant chatter. "Brother Xing, I think that's enough for today. I'd like to find my cave abode and rest."

Liu Xing nodded, "Yes, of course, Brother Xuan. Follow me."

He led Xuan to a hill filled with cave abodes. "Brother, you can use your disciple token as a key to unlock any of the empty cave abodes. This hill has a unique Spiritual Root beneath it, making it an ideal cultivation spot for disciples."

Xuan asked, "Brother Xing, what did the Elder mean by 'faction'? And which one of these cave abodes is yours?"

Liu Xing chuckled, "Brother Xuan, I don't live here. I live on another peak, and you can join me there after spending some time here. However, to do so, you'll need to join our faction and prove your loyalty."

Xuan nodded, understanding Liu Xing's motives. He thought to himself, "So, all of this is for the faction!"

"What is the purpose of these factions, Brother Xing?" Xuan asked, seeking more information.

Liu Xing smiled, "Brother Xuan, joining a reputable faction isn't easy, especially ours, which is ranked first."

"As for what's at stake," Liu Xing pointed toward the Sky Heaven Tower, "you cannot enter the Sky Heaven Tower unless your part of one of the top 10 factions in the sect."