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

"This junior... is merely a rogue cultivator."

Lin Xuan's voice was calm, yet crystal clear in the otherwise silent testing hall, like a boulder thrown into a still lake.

A rogue cultivator!

These two words caused the eyes of the three Golden Core cultivators to blaze with even greater fervor. Being unaffiliated with any sect or faction meant that this was an unpolished gem, a peerless genius capable of driving any power to madness!

The smile on the Purple Star River Tower Master's face grew even warmer. He stepped forward, his tone carrying an undeniable sincerity: "Young friend Lin, since you are a rogue cultivator, you are even more destined to join my Star Tower! My Star Tower is the foundation of Chenxi Ancient City, holding the secrets of the stars, possessing the most complete star cultivation techniques and inheritance realms. Young friend, you are blessed by the stars, and it is only right that you join my Star Tower! I, Purple Star River, promise in the name of the Tower Master that as long as you nod, you can directly become a core disciple of my tower, with abundant resources, the choice of cultivation techniques, and I will personally guide your cultivation!"

The conditions are incredibly generous! The core teachings of the Star Tower, personally passed down by the Tower Master, are the starting point that countless cultivators dream of.

However, before Lin Xuan could respond, Lady Hanyue snorted softly, her voice as cold as the moon: "Purple Tower Master, you are mistaken. Young friend Lin's talent is extraordinary; how could it be limited to the Way of the Stars? My City Lord's Mansion governs the ancient city, and its resources and channels extend throughout the Tianfeng Star Region. Whether it's cultivation techniques, elixirs, magic weapons, or even star information and secret realm slots, none of us can compare to a single sect. If you join my City Lord's Mansion, you can be directly granted the position of Guest Elder, enjoying the elder's offerings and a high degree of freedom. Moreover, you can use the power of the City Lord's Mansion to explore a wider expanse of the starry sky."

Guest Elders! They hold a prestigious position, yet are not subject to many constraints, and can also leverage the vast network of the City Lord's Mansion. This is extremely tempting for cultivators who pursue the Great Dao.

"Haha! Lady Hanyue, your City Lord's Mansion has too many rules and regulations, all that beating around the bush, isn't that stifling for a fine man!" Master Kuangji interrupted with a loud laugh, his voice shaking the hall. He looked intently at Lin Xuan, his gaze filled with undisguised admiration. "Boy, I see you have a solid foundation and abundant inner energy; you're a good candidate for body refinement! Come to my War God Palace! We don't have all that empty talk here; we believe in strength above all else! Techniques and resources are all earned through fists! I'll personally guide you, guaranteeing you'll achieve Golden Core physical cultivation within a hundred years, roaming freely across the starry sea!"

The War God Temple's style is unrestrained and direct, which has a fatal attraction for cultivators who worship power.

The three Golden Core cultivators, representing the three most powerful forces in Chenxi Ancient City, were now subtly vying for Lin Xuan's attention in the testing hall. The atmosphere became somewhat delicate and tense, with invisible spiritual pressure clashing in the air.

Outside the main hall, a crowd had already gathered due to the previous strange phenomenon and the arrival of the three True Immortals. Although they couldn't hear the specific conversation, everyone understood from the way the three True Immortals were vying to speak that the peerless genius who had triggered the alignment of the nine stars was facing a happy dilemma, a choice that could change his destiny.

Countless gazes focused on Lin Xuan, filled with envy, jealousy, curiosity, and an eagerness for his final decision.

However, Lin Xuan, at the center of the storm, remained calm. Any one of the conditions offered by the three True Immortals would have driven an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator mad, but his deep, star-like black eyes showed no ripples.

His path lies in transcendence, in freedom, and in using his own heart to verify the Way of all realms. While sects can provide resources and protection, they also bring karma, constraints, and factional disputes. Bearing the secret of "Projection of All Heavens," he needs absolute freedom and autonomy to travel to different worlds and absorb the wisdom of different civilizations, rather than being bound to one place or one sect.

Moreover, his resolve is unbreakable; he firmly believes that he can reach the pinnacle on his own! Joining either side is not what he truly desires.

Just as the three masters were eagerly awaiting his reply, several more teleportation lights lit up at the entrance of the main hall.

"Hehe, how could such a grand event be complete without Wanbaolou?" A plump, middle-aged man in a brocade robe appeared with a smile, his cultivation level clearly at the early stage of the Golden Core realm! He held a jade ruyi in his hand, his body radiating a faint golden light. He was none other than Jin Wanqian, the manager of Wanbaolou in Chenxi Ancient City.

"Blessed by the stars, you are destined to join my Heavenly Sword Sect." Immediately afterward, a sharp sword intent descended, and a middle-aged cultivator in a green robe, carrying a sword and with a cold, stern face, appeared. His aura was sharp and piercing; he was none other than Jian Wuhen, the Heavenly Sword Sect's elder stationed in the ancient city. Also at the early Golden Core stage!

Clearly, the extraordinary phenomenon of the nine stars aligning was too great, alarming all the prominent forces in the city, who all sent people to try and recruit this once-in-a-millennium genius.

"Young friend Lin, while I can't guarantee anything else from Wanbaolou, resources and spirit stones are plentiful! As long as you're willing to register your name, the annual offerings will never be less than this amount!" Jin Wanqian smiled and gestured, a figure that would tempt any Golden Core cultivator. "Furthermore, Wanbaolou's business spans countless star fields. If you wish to travel far and wide in the future, my establishment can provide you with the utmost convenience!"

Jian Wuhen spoke succinctly, yet his tone carried the unwavering determination and sharpness characteristic of a swordsman: "Lin Xuan, I observed your confrontation with the gatekeeper earlier; your aura was refined, concealing the sharpness of the sword path. Entering my Heavenly Sword Sect will grant you access to the supreme sword manual and the ability to comprehend the ultimate sword intent. One day, when your sword is tested in the starry sea, you will uphold the might of our human race, and only then will your talent be worthy of it!"

In an instant, the small testing hall was filled with five Golden Core cultivators! They represented the five most powerful forces in Chenxi Ancient City: the Star Tower, the City Lord's Mansion, the War God Hall, the Myriad Treasures Pavilion, and the Heavenly Sword Sect!

The five True Immortals' auras intertwined, and although they hadn't actually made a move, the invisible pressure seemed to freeze the space within the hall. Later, Jin Wanqian and Jian Wuhen also quickly learned of the situation and joined in recruiting Lin Xuan, offering increasingly astonishing conditions.

Core disciples, guest elders, personal disciples, honorary directors, sword candidates... a dazzling array of titles and promised resources are enough to create more than a dozen Foundation Establishment peak cultivators.

The cultivators on the periphery were mesmerized, their breathing rapid, wishing they could take their place.

However, Lin Xuan stood among the five True Immortals, his green robe fluttering slightly, yet his posture remained as upright as a solitary peak. He listened to the conditions offered by all parties with a calm expression. Only when the five True Immortals finished speaking and their gazes were focused on him did he slowly raise his hand and solemnly bow to them.

This gesture expresses gratitude and respect.

Then, he straightened up, his gaze clear and firm, and slowly swept over the five masters, his voice clear and steady:

"Junior Lin Xuan, I am deeply grateful for the kindness of all the seniors. The conditions you have proposed are truly overwhelming."

He paused, and the five masters were all startled, thinking he was about to make a choice.

Lin Xuan continued, "However, as a rogue cultivator, I am untamed and single-mindedly devoted to the Great Dao. I do not wish to be bound by the rules of a sect, nor do I wish to be involved in the conflicts between factions. I appreciate the kindness of all the seniors, but please forgive me... I cannot accept any offer of recruitment from any party."

"This junior wishes to cultivate in this city as a free cultivator."

As soon as the voice fell, the entire hall, and even everyone watching outside the hall, instantly fell into a deathly silence!

You could hear a pin drop!

Everyone stared wide-eyed, looking incredulously at the figure in the green robe in the center of the arena.

Rejected...refused?

He actually rejected the offers from all the top powers? He rejected that opportunity that could have propelled him to the top in one step? He chose to be a free and helpless cultivator?

This is insane! Absolutely insane!

This is an opportunity that countless people dream of but never get, and he gave it up so easily?

The five Golden Core cultivators were visibly stunned. They had anticipated all sorts of possibilities and even prepared their bargaining chips for the competition, but they had never expected this outcome!

Zi Xinghe frowned slightly and said in a deep voice, "Young friend Lin, you should think this through. The cultivation world of the starry sky is extremely dangerous. Without the protection of a powerful force, the path of cultivation is a hundred times more difficult. Even with great talent, you still need resources and protectors."

Lady Hanyue also said calmly, "That's right. Freedom is good, but sometimes it can be a path to disaster. Young friend, your talent is extraordinary, which will inevitably attract the covetousness of others. If you have no one to rely on, you may become the target of everyone's attacks."

Mad Halberd Master said urgently, "Kid! Are you worried about not being free? Come to my War God Temple, and I guarantee no one can force you to do anything you don't want to do!"

Although Jin Wanqian and Jian Wuhen did not speak again, their eyes were filled with incomprehension and regret.

Despite the persuasion and implicit warning from the five True Immortals, Lin Xuan's expression remained unwavering. He bowed again, his tone still respectful, yet carrying an undeniable firmness:

"I understand the kindness of my seniors. However, I will go wherever the path leads, even if it means facing a million obstacles. The road ahead is fraught with difficulties, but I am willing to bear them all. If I were to betray my principles out of fear of hardship, my path would come to an end."

His words revealed an unwavering determination and absolute confidence in his own path.

The five True Immortals looked at him, at the deep and unwavering light in his eyes, as profound as the eternal starry sky, and for a moment, they were at a loss for words. They could sense that this young man's resolve was far stronger than they had imagined. Forcibly recruiting him would likely backfire.

After a moment of silence, the Master of the Purple Star River Tower sighed first, looking at Lin Xuan with a complicated expression: "Since you have made up your mind, young friend, I will not force you. Your Grade A privileges and qualification for cultivation in the secret realm will still be reserved for you. This is a promise of my Star Tower, and it has nothing to do with recruitment."

Seeing this, the other four cultivators also realized that the situation was hopeless and they all concealed their auras.

Lady Hanyue gave Lin Xuan a deep look: "I hope you won't regret your decision today."

Mad Halberd Master shook his head and muttered, "What a pity to waste such a good seedling..." His figure flickered and disappeared.

Jin Wanqian chuckled and said, "Young friend, if you change your mind in the future, or if you have any needs for resources, you are welcome to come to my Wanbaolou at any time." After saying that, he turned into a stream of light and left.

Jian Wuhen was the last to leave. He stared at Lin Xuan for a moment, leaving only the words: "The way of the sword also requires solitary courage. Take care of yourself." Then, with a flash of sword light, he disappeared without a trace.

In the blink of an eye, the five Golden Core cultivators departed, and the pressure inside and outside the main hall suddenly eased.

Everyone looked at Lin Xuan as if he were a monster. Some admired his courage, some mocked his foolishness, but most were filled with deep doubt and incomprehension.

Lin Xuan seemed oblivious to the gazes around him, and bowed again to the Tower Master of the Purple Star River and Madam Hanyue: "Thank you, Tower Master, thank you, Madam."

Zi Xinghe waved his hand and handed over a purple-gold token, surrounded by stars and engraved with the character "甲" (Jia): "This is your identity token. With this, you can choose a cave dwelling in the first-class area of ​​the city and enjoy the corresponding treatment. You can come to the Star Tower Secret Realm at any time."

"Thank you." Lin Xuan accepted the token, said no more, nodded slightly to everyone, then turned around and calmly left the Star Tower that had just caused such an earth-shattering phenomenon.

Watching his departing figure, Zi Xinghe and Lady Hanyue exchanged a glance, both seeing the same meaning in each other's eyes.

This young man is no ordinary person. Today's rejection may not be the end, but rather the beginning of another legend.

And the waters of Chenxi Ancient City, because of this choice to become an unparalleled genius of free cultivators, have become even more unfathomable.