A month passed in the blink of an eye.

On the outskirts of the Celestial Profound Mountain Domain, vast, majestic mountains soared high, piercing the heavens. Range after range of mountains stretched into the distance, with immense white clouds swirling between them. The vista was an endless expanse, stretching as far as the eye could see.

Countless majestic mountains crisscrossed the landscape. However, seven ranges in particular stood out, dominating the Celestial Profound Mountain Domain. These seven were not on the outskirts; they formed the very core of the Domain.

These seven peaks were the cultivation grounds for the Celestial Profound Sect’s Core Disciples. The outer regions, the domain of the Registered Disciples, centered around a single Celestial Profound Mountain and spread out from there.

In the outer region, there was a place called the Celestial Profound Villa, located at the foot of Celestial Profound Mountain. Separating the Villa from the mountain was a stretch known as the Ten-Li Cloud Sea.

The countless surrounding deep mountains and ancient forests were sparsely populated. The Celestial Profound Mountain Domain was so immense, it felt vast enough to give every person their own mountain peak.

The closer one got to the core of the Celestial Profound Mountain Domain, the denser the Primordial Qi became.

Jade towers and grand, glazed halls rested atop the peaks, exuding an ethereal and otherworldly aura.

The mountains were covered in dense forests, dotted with cascading waterfalls and strange rock formations. Rare birds and Exotic Beasts were everywhere. The Primordial Qi was exceptionally dense, gathering without dissipating. The scenery was secluded, perilous, and magnificent, bathed in a brilliant golden radiance by the sun.

At this moment, atop a majestic mountain, lay a vast Celestial Platform. Beside it stood nine low tables holding several Bamboo Scrolls. Batch after batch of geniuses from various countries had already arrived, gathering in their own groups and chatting amongst themselves.

Wen Qingye, Yann Chuxue, and the others stood in a corner. Even so, the eyes of many from the other countries frequently glanced their way.

Nie Shuang looked around at the crowd and exclaimed in a low voice, "The auras on these people are terrifying. I heard there are forty-nine peaks recruiting new disciples, and this is just one of them!"

From the Sixteen Countries, most could only select around thirty people every eight years. But the other nations sent far more, especially the Ancient Countries. Their numbers were terrifyingly large.

Wen Qingye scanned his surroundings and noticed that many people indeed possessed formidable cultivation. Some had even reached the Third Heaven of the Yin-Yang Realm. ’This small glimpse is enough to see the whole picture,’ he thought. ’The Celestial Profound Sect is truly powerful.’

Yann Chuxue nodded, her voice tinged with surprise. "You’re right, they’re all so powerful. And these aren’t even the geniuses from the Ancient Countries. I heard the Sect recruits them specially, and the most talented ones can become Core Disciples directly."

"Core Disciples?" A special glint appeared in the eyes of both Cheng Yu and Nie Shuang.

They had learned a little about the Celestial Profound Sect on their journey. There were Fifth Generation Registered Disciples and Fourth Generation Core Disciples. Core Disciples were a rank above Registered Disciples, and the difference in their treatment was worlds apart.

WHOOSH!

Suddenly, the sky filled with a myriad of iridescent rays, a breathtaking, seven-colored display. A purple-gold chariot slowly emerged from the clouds, drawn by four steeds.

The steeds were strong, noble, and handsome. Their coats were a bewitching blood-red, and they radiated fluctuations of Primordial Qi no weaker than the Powerful Qi of an expert at the Peak of Refining Spirit. A single glance was enough to tell they were no ordinary creatures.

Beside the chariot were several figures—nine in total. All of them were dressed in black. Some stood on crimson silk sashes, while others rode Flying Swords, all speeding toward the Celestial Platform. They appeared to be disciples of the Celestial Profound Sect.

The geniuses from the various nations on the Celestial Platform watched the scene with expressions of pure awe and envy.

In a few moments, the chariot drifted slowly forward, eventually landing in the center of the Celestial Platform.

The Celestial Profound Sect disciples landed, put away their Magical Treasures, and respectfully addressed the person inside the chariot, "We welcome you, Martial Aunt Lan Feng!"

Just then, a woman slowly stepped out of the chariot.

The woman appeared to be twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old. Her expression was gentle as she glanced at the geniuses from the various nations, nodding with a smile.

Wen Qingye was tempted to probe Lan Feng’s cultivation, but he quickly dismissed the thought. ’If she discovered me, it wouldn’t end well.’ He simply watched from the side in silence.

Lan Feng slowly walked over to the low tables. The other Celestial Profound Sect disciples followed, each taking a position beside one of the nine tables.

Lan Feng spoke to the black-clad Celestial Profound Sect disciples beside her. "Alright, let’s begin. Start assigning these little ones. Report to me if you find anyone with outstanding aptitude."

The Celestial Profound Sect disciples all nodded, their attitudes extremely respectful. They then readied themselves at their respective tables.

Lan Feng was a Third Generation Disciple, but her innate potential was exhausted, and her future prospects were dim. The Core Disciples of the Celestial Profound Sect would have had little reason to treat her with such reverence if not for one crucial factor: her junior, Chu Bufan.

This person was exceptionally talented, ranking among the very best of the Seven Peaks.

Lan Feng turned her gaze back to the geniuses from the various nations. Channeling her Primordial Qi, her voice boomed like thunder in everyone’s ears. "You will now approach the tables. One by one, state your Bone Age and cultivation level. The Celestial Profound Sect will then assign you accordingly."

Hearing Lan Feng’s words, the crowd subconsciously formed lines.

Nie Shuang stared at the black-clad Celestial Profound Sect disciples ahead, his lips parted in awe. "Are these people in black the Core Disciples?"

Wen Qingye’s brow furrowed. Unlike Lan Feng, these black-clad disciples didn’t conceal their Primordial Qi. He wasn’t afraid of them detecting his probing, so he took a quick glance. He was surprised to find that several of them had reached the Destruction Realm. ’I have to admit,’ he thought, ’the cultivation of these Core Disciples is truly impressive.’

A young man from one of the nations stepped forward and said in a low voice to a Celestial Profound Sect disciple, "Tang Chuan. Bone Age: twenty-two. Cultivation: Refining Spirit Eighth Layer Heaven."

The black-clad disciple from the Celestial Profound Sect said flatly, "Too old. Servant disciple. Go wait over there."

After speaking, the Celestial Profound Sect disciple made a mark on a bamboo slip.

"Gods! Twenty-two years old and at the Refining Spirit Eighth Layer Heaven, and he’s only a servant disciple?"

"Are you serious? Our fates are decided just like that by these Core Disciples?"

"At this rate, does that mean I’ll be a servant disciple too?"

The crowd erupted in an uproar, unable to believe what they were hearing.

Everyone here had been a chosen prodigy in their homeland. Who among them could bear the thought of coming all this way just to become a servant?

"Servant disciple?" The group from the Celestial Martial Country was stunned, looking at one another in dismay. Ling Xiao had never told them that the requirements for becoming a mere Registered Disciple were so demanding.

The expressions on Nie Shuang, Cheng Yu, and Yann Xiangyang changed instantly. Their aptitude wasn’t even on par with that Tang Chuan, which meant they were surely destined to become servant disciples.

The name "servant disciple" alone was enough to guess what the position entailed.

"Gao Xinbai. Bone Age: twenty-one. Cultivation: Peak of Refining Spirit Ninth Layer."

"Mm. Registered Disciple. Go wait to the side."