Projection of the Heavens: I prove my immortality through slaughter.

At the valley's exit, the scattered figures resembled those who had survived a catastrophe. The young men and women who had successfully passed the "Path of Refining the Heart" test emerged one after another. In stark contrast to Lin Xuan's nonchalant demeanor, most appeared dazed, their steps unsteady, their clothes soaked with cold sweat and clinging tightly to their bodies. Some had unfocused eyes, still immersed in the lingering fear of the illusion; others were as pale as paper, needing the support of their companions to stand; still others collapsed to the ground as soon as they left the valley, gasping for breath, as if they had just been rescued from drowning.

The fact that they were able to break free from the Thousand Illusions Array, which directly targeted their hearts, within the allotted hour proved that their willpower was among the best of their generation, and their spiritual strength far surpassed that of ordinary people. However, compared to Lin Xuan's almost leisurely stroll, as if he had merely passed through a layer of ordinary mist, their current disheveled state made the azure figure who had been standing outside the valley the first to appear even more unfathomable and unapproachable.

In the end, only about 120 people survived the most dangerous third stage. Compared to the initial thousands who came with dreams in their hearts, this cruel elimination rate silently tells the story of the hardship and ruthlessness of the path of cultivation.

All eyes, whether willingly or not, were drawn involuntarily to the young man in blue robes who had been the first to emerge from the valley and now stood calmly beside Elder Mo. Shock, envy, jealousy, awe, curiosity… a complex mix of emotions flowed and intertwined silently through the crowd. They had witnessed firsthand the inhuman, wild power with which he shattered the Strength Testing Monument with a single punch, and now they heard that he was the first to step out of the Thousand Illusions Array, a formation even Foundation Establishment cultivators had solemnly warned against. His performance could no longer be described simply as "excellent" or "genius"—he was simply a prodigy! A monster!

Elder Mo's gaze was gentle, like a spring breeze, slowly sweeping over the hundred or so faces that still bore traces of youth, lingering fear, yet concealing a mixture of resentment and anticipation. Finally, his deep and warm gaze settled steadily on Lin Xuan, the admiration in his eyes almost undisguised. He did not immediately announce the next test that everyone was anticipating or fearing. Instead, he slightly turned his head and whispered a few instructions to the Foundation Establishment cultivators standing beside him. Though his voice was soft, it carried an undeniable authority.

The Foundation Establishment cultivator bowed and accepted the order, then stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over the crowd. He announced loudly, his voice clearly reaching everyone's ears: "The third trial, the 'Path of Refining the Heart' assessment, has now concluded! Those of you who stand here have all passed the preliminary selection, proving your unwavering will and possessing the basic qualifications to enter the outer sect of my Qingyun Sect!"

"boom!"

An uncontrollable commotion erupted from the crowd, ecstasy spreading across the faces of most, many trembling with excitement and their eyes reddening. Having endured a rigorous selection process testing their physical strength, cultivation, and willpower, they had finally emerged victorious from among thousands of competitors, obtaining the key to enter this immortal sect and change their destiny! The path to immortality seemed to be unfolding before their very eyes.

However, the Foundation Establishment cultivator's next words were like a bucket of cold water, extinguishing most of the joy that had just risen among the crowd, and their hearts tightened again: "However, sect resources are limited, and the training of disciples must also differentiate between those with high and low potential. Outer disciples are also divided into levels, and the spirit stones, pills, and access to cultivation techniques they receive vary! Next, we will face the final hurdle, which is also the key to determining your starting point after entering the sect—the arena competition! This will determine the final ranking! The top ten will not only receive extra rewards from the sect, but will also have priority in choosing a master, and may even have the opportunity to be noticed by the elders and deacons of each peak and taken in as disciples!"

A duel in the arena!

These four words were like a drop of water thrown into boiling oil, instantly sharpening everyone's gaze. The atmosphere, which had just eased slightly due to their shared passing of the test, became tense and turbulent once more. Those who had reached this point were all proud and self-assured; who wouldn't want to give it their all in this final moment, striving for a better future and a higher starting point?

Those outstanding performers in the strength test, such as the burly, towering Man Shi and the aloof, elegantly dressed youth, stared intently at Lin Xuan, their spiritual energy concealed, their auras concentrated. They were determined to avenge their previous defeats on the public stage, to regain their honor, and to prove they were no less formidable!

Just as the fighting spirit was about to ignite, Elder Mo, who had been silent all along, slowly spoke. His voice was not loud, but it carried a peculiar penetrating and soothing power, like a clear mountain spring, instantly calming all the restlessness and clamor: "Wait."

The entire hall fell silent instantly, all eyes turning with doubt to this venerable elder whose aura was unfathomable.

Elder Mo's gaze remained fixed on Lin Xuan, a gentle smile on his face as if he were looking at a rough, unpolished piece of jade. He said slowly, "Lin Xuan."

Just two words were enough to make everyone's hearts leap into their throats.

"At the Strength Testing Gate, you shattered the monument with a single punch, shaking the entire arena; on the Heart Refining Path, you disregarded countless illusions, becoming the first to emerge from the valley. Such performance is exceptional and extraordinary, far surpassing your peers. I witnessed it with my own eyes and am delighted." Elder Mo's tone was calm, yet every word was clear, reaching everyone's ears. "I am Mo Yuan, one of the sect's Transmission Elders, in charge of some of the inheritance of cultivation techniques and the teaching of disciples. Today, seeing your talent, I am delighted and cannot bear to see such a gem go to waste. I wish to make an exception and accept you as a disciple. Are you willing?"

Transmission Elder! Registered Disciple!

These eight words, like eight thunderclaps, exploded in everyone's minds one after another, causing a deathly silence in the entire venue, followed by an uncontrollable uproar and gasps of astonishment!

The Qingyun Sect has numerous elders, each with their own responsibilities, but the Transmission Elder holds an extremely special position. Only those with profound cultivation and a thorough understanding of the sect's techniques can assume this role! They are responsible for the transmission, selection, and revision of the sect's core techniques, as well as the instruction of outstanding disciples. Their status is highly respected, second only to the Sect Master and a few powerful Peak Masters! Being accepted as a disciple, even the lowest-ranking "nominal disciple," signifies a meteoric rise! It means access to the best cultivation resources, top-tier training guidance, and a solid backer that most inner and outer disciples can only look up to!

More importantly, Elder Mo's words clearly meant that he was directly shooing Lin Xuan for the top spot, exempting him from all subsequent arena matches! This meant that no matter how hard others fought for rankings on the arena, the highest glory and the best starting point had already been easily taken by this young man named Lin Xuan in a way that they could not even dream of!

In an instant, countless gazes, like poisoned arrows, mixed with disbelief, overwhelming jealousy, and a profound sense of powerlessness, were fixed on Lin Xuan. Man Shi's clenched fist cracked, his knuckles turning white from the force, before he could only slump open, his face filled with defeat. The richly dressed youth's eyes flickered rapidly, his expression shifting constantly, as if he were plotting something. The others were even more terrified, not daring to even breathe, their hearts filled with resentment, yet they dared not reveal a trace of it before the elders.

Lin Xuan was also slightly moved. He had anticipated that his high-profile performance would attract the attention of the sect's higher-ups, but he hadn't expected Elder Mo to act so decisively, accepting a disciple on the spot and skipping all the tedious procedures.

His mind raced, instantly weighing the pros and cons. Becoming an elder's disciple had obvious advantages. Not only would he immediately gain access to far superior cultivation resources and higher-level guidance compared to ordinary disciples, but he would also receive powerful protection, temporarily mitigating any potential threats after Zhao Qian's death. Furthermore, the status of a "disciple" was exceptional, granting him far greater freedom than ordinary outer disciples, making it easier to conceal his black token and project the secrets of the heavens. As for the so-called arena competition, in his eyes, competing with these peers was a complete waste of time and utterly meaningless.

Having made up his mind, Lin Xuan appropriately showed a hint of "overwhelmed with gratitude" on his face. He stepped forward, bowed deeply, and said in a respectful yet composed tone, "Disciple Lin Xuan greets Master! I am deeply grateful for Master's favor and acceptance into my fold! I am willing to serve you diligently, dedicate myself to the Dao, and never fail Master's high expectations!"

Without the slightest hesitation, he agreed immediately. This decisive and swift action, along with the perfect balance of excitement and composure, deepened the smile in Mo Yuan's eyes, and even made his gesture of stroking his beard lighter.

"Good, good!" Mo Yuan said twice, clearly in a good mood. "Now that you've joined my sect, you must abide by my rules, respect your teacher, and diligently cultivate. Don't waste your talent and this opportunity. As for the arena competition, you don't need to participate. Come with me."

"Yes, Master," Lin Xuan replied respectfully once again, his posture impeccable.

This scene left the other teenagers with extremely complex emotions, like a jumble of conflicting feelings. Some were envious, but most felt a deep sense of powerlessness and despair. When the gap became so large that even the thought of catching up was difficult to conceive, even jealousy seemed so pale and laughable.

Seeing this, the Foundation Establishment cultivator immediately understood and stepped forward to announce loudly, thus concluding this pre-arranged selection: "In that case, according to Elder Mo's decree, Lin Xuan is directly ranked first in this outer disciple selection and will enter Elder Mo's tutelage as a registered disciple! The rest of you, rest for a moment and prepare for the upcoming arena competition to determine the rankings!"

The dust has settled, and there's no turning back.

Under the gaze of countless eyes filled with complex emotions, Lin Xuan remained calm and composed, walking leisurely to stand behind Mo Yuan. This simple action had already declared that his identity was now completely different from that of the people below the stage.

Mo Yuan nodded slightly to the Foundation Establishment cultivator, signifying that he had finished giving instructions, and then said to Lin Xuan, "Come with me."

Without any visible movement, with a gentle flick of his sleeve, a pure, gentle yet irresistible force, like an invisible cloud, instantly enveloped Lin Xuan. Lin Xuan felt the scenery before his eyes rapidly change, lengthen, and blur; the wind whistled past his ears; and his feet felt unsteady, as if he were floating on clouds. This wasn't the feeling of him using his own wind-controlling technique, but rather the sensation of being enveloped by a higher-level force. In just a moment, before he could even fully process it, his body felt light, his feet firmly planted on the ground, and the scene before him had completely changed.

The noisy training ground, the dense crowd, and the various complex gazes all disappeared.

Instead, a secluded and otherworldly mountain peak stood. The summit was flat and open, dotted with several elegant bamboo huts, their exquisite structure blending seamlessly with the surrounding environment. All around, clouds churned and mist swirled; taking a deep breath, one felt a rich, pure spiritual energy of heaven and earth fill their lungs—several times more concentrated than in the outer gate area! In front of the bamboo huts was a meticulously tended medicinal garden, planted with dozens of spiritual herbs of various shapes and sizes, emitting a faint, refreshing medicinal fragrance—clearly not ordinary herbs.

"This place is called 'Xianyun Peak,' where I usually cultivate in seclusion. Ordinary people are not allowed to enter." Mo Yuan's voice rang out from the side, breaking the tranquility of the mountain peak. "Since you are now my disciple, you will cultivate on this peak from now on. You can stay in that empty bamboo house over there for now." He pointed to a bamboo house near the edge with a wide view.

"Thank you, Master." Lin Xuan bowed respectfully again, his gaze quickly sweeping over the surrounding environment, memorizing this place that would become his future dojo.

Mo Yuan looked at him and said gently, "You don't need to be so reserved. I accepted you as my disciple because I value your talent, foundation, and unwavering Dao heart. Your physical body is strong, as if you've had some extraordinary encounter; your Dao heart is clear and pure, untainted by worldly dust. You are an excellent candidate to cultivate several of the Qingyun Sect's most treasured techniques, especially the 'Qingyun Manual.' However, the 'Qingyun Manual' is a fundamental method that directly leads to the Golden Core Dao. It requires foundation building and the transformation of spiritual energy into true essence before you can begin cultivating it. Your cultivation is still shallow at present. Your immediate priority is to consolidate your foundation and purify your spiritual energy. Do not aim too high."

He paused, then flipped his hand, revealing a finely crafted cyan storage bag embroidered with flowing cloud patterns. He handed it to Lin Xuan: "Inside are your standard equipment as an outer disciple—two sets of cyan cloud-patterned disciple robes, an outer disciple token representing your identity, and your monthly allowance of spirit stones and pills as the top performer in this selection and as my registered disciple. In addition, there is a jade slip personally engraved by me, which details the sect's rules and regulations, maps of the sect's interior and exterior, and some basic cultivation knowledge, as well as illustrations of spiritual herbs and demonic beasts. You must read it carefully and memorize it; it will be crucial for your future success within the sect."

Lin Xuan accepted the heavy storage bag with both hands. He could feel its extraordinary material just by touching it, and the internal space was probably much larger than his own simple storage bag. "Disciple will remember Master's teachings and will certainly study the rules carefully and abide by his duties."

"Hmm." Mo Yuan nodded, quite satisfied with his attitude. "You're new here, so familiarize yourself with the environment and solidify your cultivation. If you encounter any difficulties or have any questions about cultivation, you can come to the main house to find me. Remember, although there are rules and laws to maintain order within the sect, cultivators defy the heavens and contend with both heaven and man. Resources are limited, and conflict is inevitable. As my disciple, Mo Yuan, you are not someone ordinary people would dare to easily provoke, but this is not a reason for you to be complacent or arrogant. You must know that there are always people more capable than you, and there is always something beyond your understanding. Be careful in your words and actions, cultivate diligently, and improve your own strength. This is the foundation for your survival and the righteous path."

His words contained both the guidance and care of a master, as well as admonitions and expectations for his disciples.

"Disciple understands, and will certainly cultivate diligently to live up to Master's kindness." Lin Xuan replied in a deep voice, knowing that this identity as a "nominal disciple" was both a protective talisman and a potential target of public criticism, attracting countless hidden attention and challenges.

"Go." Mo Yuan said no more, waved his hand, and his figure faded away quietly, disappearing from the mountaintop as if he had never existed, just like blending into the surrounding clouds and mist.

Lin Xuan stood alone in front of his bamboo house, clutching the storage bag that represented a new beginning. He took a deep breath, feeling the unfamiliar yet opportunity-filled environment brimming with spiritual energy, and inhaled the pure air mixed with the fragrance of clouds and herbs.

Qingyun Sect, Xianyun Peak.

This place will be his training ground for a long time to come, and it will also be an important starting point for him to truly embark on the vast path of cultivation.

Being a designated disciple may seem like an instant rise to the top, a life of unparalleled glory, but fortune can be fraught with misfortune. Whether the road ahead is treacherous or smooth remains to be seen, and he must proceed with caution, using his sword to cut through all the fog and obstacles.

Without further hesitation, he turned around, pushed open the simple wooden door of his own bamboo hut, and stepped inside. Behind him, the sea of ​​clouds churned, and cranes cried out.