I long to return home!

Compared to a year ago, Xue Wu's face no longer had the naivety of before, but instead showed more maturity. After all, if his mind was still the same as before in order to survive in a place where he knew nothing, he would probably have starved to death on the streets long ago.

His whole body was also more robust than before. Although he was still on the thin side, he looked more fleshy, which was a stark contrast to his previous bony frame. He was also a little taller than a year ago, a young man of 1.8 meters. He had a head of long, shiny black hair that was draped over his shoulders. He had wanted to cut his hair for a long time, since it was very troublesome when it got hot. However, if he cut his hair, he would look out of place with everyone else. He didn't know how to style his hair, so he just let it grow freely.

...

Luoyun Sect.

On the stone steps outside the sect, Xu Tao stood with an older sect cultivator. Below them were many people who wanted to become disciples of the Luoyun Sect, numbering over a hundred.

The Luoyun Sect is one of the two most powerful sects in the northwestern Yunzhou region of the Wuji Empire, the other being the Wandu Sect.

The Luoyun Sect is one of the most powerful sects in all the states, large and small, within the Wuji Empire. Other forces would not easily provoke it, mainly because the Luoyun Sect has six Nascent Soul stage experts guarding the sect. Even in the entire Wuji Empire, there are only a few hundred Nascent Soul stage experts.

The entire Luoyun Sect is surrounded by five peaks: Cloud Peak, Rain Peak, Glow Peak, Sunny Peak, and Yin Peak. Each peak is governed by a Nascent Soul stage elder, and each peak teaches different techniques: Cloud Peak focuses on swordsmanship, Rain Peak on magic, Glow Peak on alchemy, Sunny Peak on weapon crafting, and Yin Peak on talismans.

Xu Tao's master was Elder Lin Mubai of Yunfeng Peak, whose cultivation was second only to the sect leader, and the highest among the five peaks. After five hundred years of cultivation, he had already reached the mid-Nascent Soul stage...

“Junior Brother Xu, I can handle the sect’s recruitment of new disciples by myself. Why did you have to come in person?” The older cultivator beside Xu Tao scratched his head, unable to fathom Xu Tao’s thoughts. This time, Xu Tao even gave up his seclusion to come for the recruitment of new disciples.

"I'm waiting for someone." Xu Tao blinked a few times, searching for that familiar figure in the crowd below. A sense of unease rose in his heart as he recalled the scene of Xue Wu starving to death on the street. After all, the silver coins he was given back then, even if he saved every penny, would only be enough for a normal person to live on for a little over five months.

"What kind of talent do you need to personally recruit, Junior Brother Xu? You are a prodigy of the sect, a disciple of Elder Lin. I'm a little curious about the people you've chosen."

"Brother Xu! I'm here!" Xue Wu jumped up excitedly in the crowd and waved and shouted.

Upon hearing that familiar voice again, Xu Tao's unease vanished instantly. Looking at Xue Wu, who had jumped up from the crowd, he felt both excited and surprised. Compared to his skeletal frame when they first met, Xue Wu was now much more rounded, and a smile had appeared on his face.

"It's this kid. He's way too skinny. I'm afraid he'll fall apart if I punch him." Noticing Xu Tao's unprecedented smile, the older cultivator followed his gaze to the lively Xue Wu.

Xu Tao was as aloof as his master Lin Mubai within the sect, rarely speaking and usually displaying a cold demeanor. Even when pretty female disciples tried to strike up a conversation, he would ignore them. The fact that he smiled at a stranger today was a rare occurrence, a true miracle within the sect.

"This kid probably got in through connections."

"Didn't you see the immortals smiling at this kid? He must have gotten in through connections."

"Brother Xu, that sounds so warm and familiar..."

People looked Xue Wu up and down in the crowd, whispering amongst themselves. Hearing this, Xue Wu lowered his head awkwardly and retreated behind the crowd, feeling guilty.

"quiet!"

The elder cultivator's deep voice rang out, and the noisy crowd quieted down, all turning to look ahead. After a moment of silence, the elder cultivator called out again:

"The Luoyun Sect's disciple recruitment trial is divided into two parts."

"Firstly, I can't guarantee whether there will be any danger to my life if I survive in the Monster Forest for a day and it ends at noon on the second day."

"If you're afraid of death, you can go back down the mountain now. There's no need to feel ashamed; after all, many people have died in the Monster Forest in previous years..."

"How can people still die? We are just mortals. Making me face magical beasts, this trial is too harsh!" A young man's voice reached everyone's ears from the crowd.

"Yes, they treat human life like dirt. What kind of reputable sect are they..."

"..."

Seeing the crowd's conflicting opinions and their slander of his sect, Xu Tao, usually good-tempered, frowned, his face turning fierce, and he roared, "Those who are afraid of death and don't want to participate in the trial!"

"roll!"

An angry shout followed, followed by a powerful burst of true energy that knocked several gossipy fence-sitters in the crowd to the ground.

"Someone's being hit! The immortals are hitting people..."

"Junior brother, isn't what you're doing a bit inappropriate? They are, after all, mortals." The older cultivator turned to look at the angry Xu Tao and said in a low voice.

Xu Tao glared at the older cultivator, making him panic. He quickly shut his mouth, afraid that Xu Tao might beat him up if he got angry.

"I'll say it again, if you're not going to participate, get out!"

Faced with Xu Tao's intimidating presence, those who were afraid of death left one after another. The original hundred people had dwindled to just over twenty, the fewest number they had ever seen in previous years.

Xue Wu's heart skipped a beat when he saw Xu Tao's anger.

There is no such thing as a magical beast forest. It is just a place where the sect elders raise spirit beasts. As long as you don't do anything reckless and anger these spirit beasts, they will not only not harm people, but will also ask people to pet them.

Saying they're going to the Monster Forest is just to scare those timid people who aren't suited for cultivation. The path to immortality is long, and if you're afraid of even this, you won't amount to anything in the future. You might as well get lost, go home, find your mother, and live out your mortal life honestly.

Looking at the few remaining people, the older cultivator shook his head and sighed, "If no one leaves, the trial will begin." As he spoke, he took out a token from his storage bag at his waist, on which a single character was clearly engraved.

"beast"

Suddenly, the token emitted a blinding light, so bright that everyone shielded their eyes with their hands. When the light disappeared, a teleportation array appeared on the ground.

"Enter the teleportation array, and you will be able to enter the Monster Forest. Junior Brother Xu and I will pick you up at noon tomorrow. Take care of yourselves." After saying this, everyone was stunned for a moment, and then entered the teleportation portal one by one. Xue Wu and Xu Tao exchanged a glance before Xue Wu followed the others into the teleportation array.

Only when there was no one left in front of him did the older cultivator speak calmly: "Junior Brother Xu, after your commotion, what will the people who return think of my Luoyun Sect?"

Xu Tao ignored him, turned around, and his tall figure slowly disappeared on the long steps of Luoyun Sect.