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nChapter 65: Phoenix Crown and Royal Cape

nTranslator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation

n“Sir, have you visited Immortal Cloud City before?”

nThe old man’s question filled the carriage with silence. Known to rule over the sects within a thousand miles radius, the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect was revered for its incomparable might.

nDriven by the influential Immortal Cloud Sword Sect, the Immortal Cloud City had slowly prospered into an influential power. The youngsters in the carriage brought up on talcs of the legendary sect naturally held a profound yearning for it.

n“In my youth, I did reside in Immortal Cloud City for several years,” the old man responded, a bitter laugh escaping his lips. “However, it was a hard life, leading me to wander for a while. Lately, chaos has taken over, which made me consider retiring back to Immortal Cloud City.”

n“Sir, could you provide some insights into the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect? Are they highly selective when it comes to accepting disciples?” a voice implored impatiently.

n“Well, for prodigious martial artists, the standards aren’t too stringent. However, for the common folk, it might seem rather daunting.”

nThe old man shook his head, continuing, “To be a part of the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect, there are certain prerequisites related to ago, fundamental skills, and comprehension. You cither meet all the criteria or possess an extraordinary talent that stands out among others. Without this, the gates of the Immortal Sword Sect remain closed.”

n…..

n“Could you elaborate, sir?”

nUpon this request, Chen Fei retrieved a bottle of wine from his bag and handed it to the old man. The elder took a sniff of the wine, and his eyes lit up.

n“Young man, your generosity is commendable,” he chuckled, taking a gulp of wine. He then turned to the group, saying, “You can easily discover these requirements once you reach Immortal Cloud City. Nonetheless, since you express interest now, I shall oblige.”

nThe carriage fell silent, all eyes turned toward the old man.

nBasking in the attention, the elder started, “First, one has to be under fifteen years of ago. Even if one is older, they cannot be more than twenty, and they must have reached the Marrow Tempering realm.”

n“Under twenty and at the Marrow Tempering realm?”

nThis information sent shockwaves through the carriage. Even in a city like Apricot Fen, a Marrow Tempering martial artist was considered an elite. They were honored guests wherever they went.

nIn Apricot Fen City, most Marrow Tempering realm practitioners were over forty. Anyone in their thirties was deemed an exceptional talent with the potential to reach the Visceral Tempering realm in the future.

nYet, at the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect, one had to reach the Marrow Tempering realm by their twenties. The mere thought was disconcerting.

nChen Fei’s face clouded over. He was already twenty-three this year and had already surpassed the cutoff. Having first started as a peasant, he had eventually migrated to Pingyin County to make out a living due to hardship.

n“Yes, indeed. The Marrow Tempering realm,” the old man confirmed, seemingly unfazed by their astonishment. To outsiders, the standards indeed seemed lofty, enough to dissuade most.

n“Sir, you mentioned the age restriction can be overlooked if one’s Innate Ability and Comprehension are extraordinarily high?” queried a voice laced with unwilling hope.

n“Indeed, if you possess exceptional Innate Ability and Comprehension, age isn’t a hindrance,” the elder confirmed. But he added, “However, someone with such high levels of Innate Ability and Comprehension would likely reach the Marrow Tempering realm before their twenties, wouldn’t they?”

nThe carriage was silent again.

n“Of course,” the old man continued, “There are those who commence their martial arts training later in life, and hence, their cultivation maybe slightly weaker. Thus, the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect docs provide an opportunity for them. If they pass a specific test, they can be accepted into the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect.”

n“And how would that work?”

n“I can’t offer the specifics. Much of what I know is hearsay. When the time comes, you’ll understand when you visit the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect personally,” the elder replied, taking another satisfying swig of wine.

n”Does the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect have a set schedule for accepting disciples?” Chen Fei queried.

n“Absolutely. They hold tests every month. Given the number of aspirants, regular tests are necessary to recruit new members,” the old man replied.

nChen Fei ceased his line of questioning, opting to close his eyes and rest.

nHe was aware of his limitations – he had exceeded the age limit and possessed average Innate Ability. Yet, he hoped his comprehension ability, honed through the interface’s simplified function, might tilt the scales in his favor. His talent in comprehension was exceptional, but he was uncertain if it would compensate for the other deficiencies.

n“In reality, you need not fixate solely on the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect,” the old man added, seeing the young man’s troubled face. “Numerous sects around the Immortal Cloud City also recruit disciples. While they may not match the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect’s reputation, their cultivation techniques arc far from weak.”

nWhat the elder said was true. The Immortal Cloud Sword Sect had attracted many fledgling sects to Immortal Cloud City. These sects were well-known elsewhere but paled in comparison to the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect.

nThe carriage fell quiet as it moved further away from Apricot Fen City, the path becoming increasingly rugged, jostling the carriage.

nChen Fei spent most of his time engrossed in medical books, relishing the understanding of various medicinal herbs’ properties. His goal had initially been to derive the Flying Ascent Pill, but now, he found pleasure in acquiring knowledge for its own sake.

n“Look, someone’s living there’”

nOn the seventh evening, an excited voice broke the silence. To their surprise, they spotted a solitary straw hut on a remote mountain.

n“Don’t stare. Get inside quickly!” the old man yelled, his face grim.

n“Sir, what’s wrong?” someone inquired.

nBefore the old man could reply, another voice exclaimed, “The door’s open, and there’s a bride!”

nEveryone turned to see a woman in ceremonial attire emerge from the hut.

n“So beautiful!”

nAn onlooker murmured before reaching up to gouge his own eyes out..

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