Chapter 18: The Skyward Journey

With a steady breath and heart calm like still water, Tian Jue stepped through Qingyuan Town's west gate, the rising sun casting long golden shadows behind him. Cloaked in gray robes, face partially wrapped in dark fabric, he drew little attention—but that suited him perfectly.

At least, until a familiar voice rang out.

"...Tian Jue?" came the hesitant call.

Turning, Tian Jue saw Xian Yange, eyes squinting with confusion. It took several seconds—and a suspiciously long stare—before the younger boy clapped a fist to his palm in realization.

"By the heavens, I thought you were someone else! You look… intimidating now."

Tian Jue simply nodded, his eyes scanning the crowd.

Around them, new disciples were already assembling, about two dozen in total. Roughly half were clearly cultivators, their spiritual aura faint but detectable. The other half, including Xian Yange, had yet to cultivate.

But what truly caught Tian Jue off guard were the spirit beasts.

Nearly a third of the recruits were not fully human. Some had cat-like ears, others feathered wings or scaled arms, and one even had a bear's snout and claws that glinted in the morning light. Unlike the Dragon Snake he had met—who could perfectly transform—these spirit beasts still bore traces of their original forms.

So it's true, Tian Jue thought. The Dragon Snake's bloodline is truly rare. Most spirit beasts here… they're still transitioning.

He felt a flicker of admiration—and quiet caution. Several of these hybrid disciples would likely possess terrifying physical advantages, especially those with wings.

Just as the final few recruits arrived, a stern deacon in silver-and-blue robes walked out from a nearby building, a jade scroll in hand.

He looked up and began counting heads.

When his eyes landed on Tian Jue, he paused—but only for a moment. A brief flicker of recognition passed across his face before he smiled to himself.

Smart boy. Learned to keep a low profile already.

Once the headcount was confirmed—only twenty-three new disciples—the deacon nodded in satisfaction.

And then it happened.

From far on the horizon, a massive shadow began to approach,

Absolutely! Here's the continuation of your story, picking up from the moment the massive shadow appears on the horizon.

The figure splitting the air.

All eyes turned skyward.

From beyond the clouds, a colossal beast soared toward them—its wings spread over 300 meters, feathers shimmering like burnished silver under the morning light. The gust of wind created by its approach sent robes fluttering and stirred dust from the ground.

"A Sarus Crane…" someone whispered, eyes wide.

But this wasn't just any flying beast. It was an elder-class spirit beast. The massive bird descended in a majestic glide, talons landing with a muffled boom on the wide stone platform near the gate. Its head, streaked with bright crimson feathers, swept regally over the assembled recruits. A golden aura shimmered faintly around its eyes, its sharp beak gleaming like polished jade.

The Shenxian Sect deacon immediately bowed low and said, "Greetings, Elder."

The other outer disciples supervising the recruitment followed suit, heads bowed in deep respect.

Tian Jue felt his heart skip a beat.

This crane… it's not just a beast. It's a core formation spirit beast—and intelligent too.

He noticed the elder's eyes lingered on him. For the briefest moment, the Sarus Crane's golden pupils locked with Tian Jue's. There was no hostility—just… acknowledgment.

He sensed the token, Tian Jue realized. He might even sense the egg.

Then the elder's voice echoed through everyone's minds—a mental transmission, smooth and ancient:

"Good seedlings among you. Shenxian Sect welcomes those who walk the path with resolve. Come. Ascend."

No one dared hesitate.

One by one, the recruits climbed onto the crane's broad back, where a smooth platform had been laid between its wings. It felt like standing on a floating pavilion. The bird's feathers were unnaturally soft beneath their feet, yet sturdy and unmoving.

Tian Jue stood near the edge, his eyes scanning the vast horizon, heart thumping softly in awe.

The moment the last disciple boarded, the Sarus Crane gave a low cry, flapped its wings, and shot into the sky. The town of Qingyuan shrank beneath them, and the world opened up in a vast sea of mountains, rivers, and clouds.

For many of the recruits, it was their first time flying—and the silence was filled with gasps, wide eyes, and childish wonder.

Tian Jue, however, was focused. He studied the terrain below, mentally mapping landmarks and natural formations.

Every place has its secrets, he reminded himself. A cultivator's path is not just upward—it's outward and inward, too.

The flight lasted nearly five hours, though it felt far shorter to many. They passed over lush green plains, glacial waterfalls, and even forests of floating stones, wrapped in mist.

Then the deacon stood near the front and announced, "We are approaching the sect."

A silence fell over the platform.

Far ahead, the clouds began to part, revealing an awe-inspiring sight:

A colossal mountain, its peak stabbing into the heavens, wreathed in immortal mist, surrounded by floating pavilions, towering cranes, and rivers of golden qi flowing like serpents between cliff walls.

The new disciples were stunned into silence.

Tian Jue's golden eyes glimmered.

This… this is not just a sect. This is the dwelling of cultivators who step toward immortality.

As they descended toward a wide valley at the mountain's base, the Sarus Crane gently lowered itself onto an enormous stone terrace, where a group of outer sect disciples waited in formation.

The recruits disembarked one by one, each feeling smaller than ever—but more determined than before.

The deacon turned to them. "Listen well. From this moment on, your status is that of outer disciples—or trial disciples, depending on your cultivation. Follow the instructions of the pavilion elders and attend your orientation with discipline. Do not cause trouble, and you may one day step into the inner sect… or beyond."

To be continued....