Li Mingfu sat quietly outside the tall pavilion, completely focused on reading his newly chosen cultivation manual.
Around him, people constantly entered and exited the building.
Some looked excited.
Others looked frustrated.
Some even argued with the elders inside.
The selection process continued for the entire day.
Li Mingfu didn't pay much attention to the commotion.
Instead, he carefully studied the Thousand Thread Qi Weaving Art, trying to understand the strange cultivation method.
By the time the last group finished choosing manuals, night had already fallen.
They were told to return and rest.
At dawn, Outer Sect Elder Mo Shou gathered all the disciples again.
This time, he led them deeper into the sect.
The scenery became more majestic as they traveled.
Ancient stone paths.
Floating platforms.
Massive training grounds.
Eventually, they arrived at a large square.
Several elders were already waiting.
Their auras felt deep and oppressive.
Some disciples immediately stepped forward and walked toward certain elders.
These were the ones who had been preselected earlier.
About thirty children left the group and stood behind different elders.
Li Mingfu quietly watched everything.
The elders began discussing among themselves while observing the remaining disciples.
As expected, the elders focused mostly on the top-grade talents and high-grade talents.
However, almost no one looked at Li Mingfu.
The reason was simple.
Everyone already knew which cultivation manual he had chosen.
Thousand Thread Qi Weaving Art.
A notoriously difficult and slow technique.
Many elders had already labeled him a waste of talent.
After some time, the elders finally started recruiting disciples.
"Come with me."
"You'll join our peak."
"Stand behind me."
One by one, disciples were selected.
Lines slowly formed behind each elder.
Li Mingfu originally believed someone would recruit him quickly.
After all, he had high-grade spiritual roots.
But as time passed, no one approached him.
Li Mingfu scratched his cheek.
Seriously?
Am I being ignored?
Just as he started thinking he might become an outer disciple, two elders finally walked toward him.
They both spoke at the same time.
"Come to Venomroot Peak."
"We need someone with your talent."
The other elder immediately countered.
"Join Shadow Weave Peak instead."
Both elders looked at Li Mingfu calmly.
Venomroot Peak specialized in poison and alchemy.
Shadow Weave Peak specialized in stealth and assassination.
Both offered him the same deal.
Inner Sect Disciple status.
However, neither elder offered to take him as a direct disciple.
Li Mingfu didn't even hesitate.
"I chose Shadow Weave Peak."
The poison elder snorted and left.
Li Mingfu stepped behind the Shadow Weave elder.
I'm not wasting my new life planting herbs, he thought.
Assassination sounds way more interesting.
Once all the disciples had been assigned, the elders left.
The Shadow Weave elder briefly glanced at them.
Then he waved his sleeve.
A flying boat appeared.
He brought them to their peak, handed them off to another disciple, and immediately left.
The disciple who received them smiled calmly.
"Welcome to the sect."
"My name is Leng Shuyin."
"I am currently at Foundation Establishment Perfection."
"I'm stabilizing my foundation before attempting to break through to the Core Formation realm."
The new disciples immediately showed respectful expressions.
Leng Shuyin nodded.
"Today I'll give you a quick tour of our mountain peak."
They followed him along a stone path.
"This mountain is called Shadow Weave Peak."
"It specializes in stealth and assassination."
"Most disciples who want to kill like shadows choose this peak."
He pointed toward a large open area.
"That is the public practice field."
"You can train there."
"If you perform well, you might attract the attention of an elder and gain a master."
They continued walking.
Leng Shuyin pointed toward a distant area.
"That is the Inner Sect Elder's residence and the Peak Master's hall."
"Do not trespass."
"Unless you enjoy courting death."
Everyone nodded nervously.
Next, he pointed to a large building.
"That is the public teaching hall."
"Every day, either an elder or a senior disciple will give lectures."
"Tomorrow will be special."
"The Peak Master himself will speak."
"All new disciples must attend."
They all nodded eagerly.
After that, Leng Shuyin brought them to the Outer Sect area and gave them a brief tour.
Once the Shadow Weave Peak tour finished, Leng Shuyin summoned a flying boat.
"Next, I'll show you the rest of the sect."
The boat lifted into the sky.
He pointed toward the largest mountain in the distance.
"That is Sect Master Peak."
"The Sect Master and his personal disciples live there."
Then he pointed toward another peak.
"That is Venomroot Peak."
"Poison and alchemy."
He pointed to the next peak.
"Thousand Mechanism Peak."
"The place where weapons are forged."
Li Mingfu's eyes instantly lit up.
Weapons?
That's perfect.
His dream of building cultivation guns suddenly seemed possible.
I definitely need to visit that place later.
Leng Shuyin continued the tour.
"That peak is Shadow Weave, our home."
They flew past another mountain.
"Blood Contract Peak."
"That's where the mission hall is located."
Then he pointed toward a dark and gloomy peak.
"Bone Judgment Peak."
"The sect's law enforcement."
"Disciples there enforce rules and punish criminals."
He smiled faintly.
"Try not to go there."
"It's easy to enter… but leaving without torture is rare."
Many disciples swallowed nervously.
Finally, the flying boat landed on another peak.
"This is Black Intel Peak."
"This is where you can purchase items using contribution points."
"You will also register your identity here."
They entered a large pavilion.
Inside, several staff members helped them register.
Each disciple received an identity card.
They filled out their information and pressed a drop of blood onto the card.
The card instantly bonded to them.
It displayed their identity and contribution points.
Next, they received a small spatial pouch.
It was about one cubic foot in size.
Inside were their monthly supplies.
Two uniforms.
Two robes.
The uniforms were black.
One for daily wear.
One for training.
The robes were also black but decorated with silver lines.
Finally, they received a badge.
The badge displayed SG.
Shadow Weave's badge was black with silver outlines.
They also received several books explaining the sect's history and rules.
After registration, Leng Shuyin brought them back onto the flying boat.
While flying back, he added:
"Our robes and badges use silver markings."
"Each peak has different colors."
"Venomroot Peak uses green."
"Blood Contract Peak uses red."
They soon returned to Shadow Weave Peak.
Leng Shuyin looked at them and smiled.
"Read the books."
"And arrive early for tomorrow's lecture."
Then he shrugged.
"Now go find a room."
"And try to stay alive."
He laughed.
Then he stepped onto his flying sword and shot into the sky.
Li Mingfu and the other disciples walked toward the Inner Sect residence area.
Rows of large courtyards lined the mountain.
Many were empty.
Li Mingfu scratched his head.
"Which one should I pick…"
Then he remembered something.
"Oh, right."
He flipped out his coin.
"Heads means this one."
Flip.
Tails.
Next courtyard.
Flip.
Tails.
Next.
Flip.
Heads.
Li Mingfu looked up.
The courtyard gate stood slightly open.
Inside was surprisingly spacious.
Tall stone walls.
A large practice yard.
The house itself was a three-story villa.
"Wow."
"This is perfect."
He stepped inside.
The backyard contained a small garden and pond.
Stone benches and a table sat beside the pond.
Li Mingfu walked around and inspected everything.
After finishing the tour, he sat at the stone table and began reading the sect books.
Halfway through the first book, his eyes widened.
"Oh!"
He suddenly ran inside the villa.
In the center of the building's basement was a formation array circle.
Li Mingfu placed his identity card in the center.
Then he poured Qi into the formation.
The array glowed.
After half of his Qi drained away, the array activated.
Li Mingfu quickly stopped.
The villa now officially recognized him as the owner.
According to the book, the array provided several protections.
He walked outside again and activated them.
Invisible barriers formed around the courtyard.
The formation could:
Block spiritual perception.
Create a defensive barrier.
Prevent others from entering.
Even make the entire area soundproof.
If someone touched the barrier, Li Mingfu would instantly know.
He could then allow them inside or meet them at the entrance.
Li Mingfu nodded with satisfaction.
"This is very convenient."
He returned to the stone table and finished reading the books.
Once he memorized everything important, he walked into the villa again.
Inside was a specially designed room.
The cultivation chamber.
Li Mingfu sat down cross-legged.
He placed the Thousand Thread Qi Weaving Art manual in front of him.
Then he smiled slightly.
"Alright."
"Let's see how crazy this technique really is."