True Demon Sect.
Located above the sea of clouds, its sect was vast and its heritage ancient.
Cultivating both immortal and martial arts, its disciples numbered over one hundred thousand.
Every mountain, every hall, every flower and tree was an ancient relic.
Though the grand sect gate was situated above the sea of clouds, the entire area, inside and out, was filled with an aura of gloom and terror.
A potent demonic aura assailed the senses.
Beyond the True Demon Sect lay a boundless forest, enshrouded by formations and seas of clouds, preventing ordinary people from reaching it.
Today, the Golden Core stage elder on duty was sternly admonishing a newly admitted disciple before him:
"You are all promising seedlings. Having entered our Sacred Demon Sect, you must cultivate diligently."
"Our Sacred Dao lineage does not prohibit conflict and grudges between disciples, provided you have sufficient treasures as collateral."
"Outer disciples are valued at five hundred spirit stones."
"Inner disciples are valued at three thousand spirit stones."
"Outer deacons are valued at eight thousand spirit stones!"
"Killing is permissible, but if you cannot produce enough treasures, the True Demon Sect will hunt you to the ends of the earth and flay your skin and bones."
"If your strength is insufficient, you must abide by the rules!"
"Do you understand?"
"Yes!"
Thousands of newly admitted outer disciples on the vast training grounds responded in unison.
Though the demonic path was cruel, it was not stingy with its disciples, bestowing top-tier cultivation techniques upon their entry.
Suddenly.
Two streams of light, one orange and one gold, shot towards the sect gate.
The Golden Core outer elder on duty frowned, soaring into the air, his expression sinister as he shouted, "Flying is forbidden within the sect! Stop at once and accept sect punishment!"
The two streams of light immediately halted. Upon seeing the face of one of them, the on-duty elder's expression drastically changed. Cold sweat broke out, and he quickly bowed with cupped fists, respectfully saying, "Greetings, Saintess Han and True Disciple Chen!"
Those not intimately familiar knew her as Saintess Han, not by her true name, Qiu Yihan.
Chen Jiuyang, who had been appointed a True Disciple upon entering the sect just the day before, was already renowned. Who didn't know of him?
The two stood in the air, like a divine couple, inspiring awe and longing in the eyes of the thousands of disciples below in the training grounds.
Although Qiu Yihan's cultivation was at the peak of the Earth Realm, comparable to the on-duty elder, their statuses were worlds apart.
Qiu Yihan disdained to argue with him. Her face was veiled, revealing only a pair of exceptionally beautiful eyes, adorned with a sacred mark between her brows. She wore the True Demon Sect's Saintess dark gold phoenix attire and said to the Golden Core outer elder on duty, "Today, my dao companion, True Disciple Junior Brother Chen, enters the sect. Ensure the logistics are arranged and everything is prepared."
"Yes, Saintess." The Golden Core on-duty elder quickly cast a spell into the jade slip in his hand, and a stream of light shot towards the depths of the sect.
The True Demon Sect was structured in a pyramid shape, with the outer sect at the base, followed by the inner sect, then the true disciples, and finally the elders. The nine lineage ancestral lands of the True Demon Sect were arranged like an umbrella, distributed outside the True Demon Sect's forest.
Then, Qiu Yihan and Chen Jiuyang landed before the sect gate and walked step by step towards the depths of the sect.
As they walked, Qiu Yihan explained the sect's rules to Chen Jiuyang:
"Ordinary outer and inner disciples, as well as elders, must undertake missions, once every six months, to maintain the sect's basic expenses."
"True disciples like my husband are the core elites of the sect. They occasionally undertake important missions, primarily to improve their cultivation in preparation for future Great Sacred Wars."
"Or other exchange challenges."
"Currently, our Sacred Demon lineage has over three hundred true disciples, more than eight thousand inner disciples, and a hundred thousand outer disciples?"
She then added more rules sequentially, allowing Chen Jiuyang to grasp the general situation.
They arrived before a grand hall in the inner sect, where hundreds of people dressed in the attire of inner disciples, a few true disciples, and elders were waiting.
Upon seeing Chen Jiuyang and Qiu Yihan, these individuals bowed in unison with cupped fists: "Greetings, Saintess and Son-in-law."
Qiu Yihan said, "These are the forces of my Han clan within the Sacred Demon Cult. Husband can command them as he wishes. In ten days, during the Saint Son selection competition, even if Husband is peerless in talent and unparalleled in strength, he will undoubtedly need assistance and support."
"Husband is now a True Disciple. After the resources are allocated, other True Disciples will likely seek trouble with Husband."
Chen Jiuyang nodded slowly, his gaze indifferent. "That is precisely what I wish for."
"My cultivation has already fallen too far behind yours; I must cultivate diligently to catch up to you soon."
Qiu Yihan transformed into a stream of light and flew towards the deeper parts of the sect.
Then, an elder of the Han clan, who appeared older, approached Chen Jiuyang: "I am Han Qingbo, an elder of the Sacred Demon Sect's inner sect. Please follow me, Son-in-law."
Chen Jiuyang nodded slowly, finding it somewhat strange. The True Demon Sect had various appellations: some called it the True Sacred, some the True Demon, and some the Sacred Demon.
Just like Qiu Yihan's peculiar way of addressing him, sometimes as dao companion, sometimes as junior brother, and sometimes as husband.
Chen Jiuyang followed Han Qingbo, arriving at a cluster of buildings that were intricately constructed and exuded an ancient charm, with numerous maids and servants.
Han Qingbo said, "Son-in-law, there are many True Disciples like you. They are prodigies of exceptional talent who were sealed over a long period and have only recently awakened and returned to the sect."
True disciples were cultivators of the Heavenly Realm, which, when converted to immortal cultivation, corresponded to the Nascent Soul stage.
The True Demon Sect alone had over three hundred True Disciples. This indicated the truly terrifying foundation of various sects and aristocratic families.
However, it was precisely because of this that after the Dragon Country's revival, its immortal and martial powers were strong enough to restore the Dragon Country to its former glory.
Han Qingbo continued, "Because of the Sword Bearer system, most True Disciples do not leave the sect. Furthermore, the Saint Son selection competition is in ten days, so you must be careful."
The Dragon Country was currently still peaceful. Mortals could live their lives normally due to the restraint of the various sects and aristocratic families, and the Sword Bearer system hanging over their heads.
In recent days, the Dragon Country had been extensively ennobling kings.
Even if you were a Nascent Soul prodigy or a Heavenly Realm prodigy, you would have to lament before the royal sword if you were enfeoffed with a kingly title and granted a sword.
Although Longjing and the Jixia Academy had failed him, they had not failed the entire nation's populace.
"This is your residence, Son-in-law."
"Your dao title as a True Disciple is 'Qian Yang'."
Han Qingbo led Chen Jiuyang to the entrance of a courtyard, where ten maids and servants, carefully selected by the Han clan, were waiting.
This was the benefit of having status and strength when entering a sect. If ordinary people followed the established path step by step, they would have to start as outer disciples.
Chen Jiuyang nodded slowly. The moment he stepped into the residence, Han Qingbo left. Immediately after, other True Disciples with ill intentions arrived:
"This True Disciple junior brother looks somewhat unfamiliar."
They had arrived rather quickly.
Chen Jiuyang slowly turned, his gaze indifferent, his expression calm as he looked at the True Disciple before him, dressed in similar True Disciple finery, with an unremarkable appearance. He said, "I am Qian Yang. May I know which True Disciple senior brother addresses me?"
The unremarkable True Disciple's eyes narrowed, a hint of coldness appearing:
"Your dao title is Qian Yang. That is quite a distinguished dao title, but I, 'Qing Bao,' have never heard of it."
Qian, meaning extreme.
How many people in the entire Immortal Martial world dared to use this character?
"I wonder if junior brother's strength is worthy of such a dao title."