Chapter 284.1: Lu Changsheng Arrives at Supreme Sky Sect and Shocks Everyone with a Single Palm Strike! (I)

The Supreme Sky Sect was one of the most powerful immortal sects in the Primal World. Six mortal kingdoms lay under its rule, with a combined population of nearly ten billion, providing the sect with a steady stream of talented disciples. As a result, the Supreme Sky Sect had amassed hundreds of thousands of disciples and was enjoying a period of unprecedented prosperity.

The sect's prestige had risen even further after its battle with Divine Sword Manor several years earlier. Divine Sword Manor had suffered a crushing defeat and had not dared challenge the Supreme Sky Sect again since.

Now, the Supreme Sky Sect was preparing for its annual disciple recruitment process. People from across the surrounding kingdoms were already coming in droves, gathering at the foot of the mountain as they waited for the day the selection would officially begin.

"Look! That's His Highness Prince Rui of the Great Xuan Dynasty. I heard his spirit root was tested when he was three, he began qi refinement at six, and he reached Perfection in it at thirteen. He's come to the Supreme Sky Sect this time to become a disciple and obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill so he can break through to Foundation Establishment."

"Foundation Establishment... I'm so jealous! Once you establish your foundation, you can be considered a true expert of immortal cultivation!"

"And he's still so young. If he reaches Foundation Establishment now, he might even have a chance to break into the Golden Core Realm in the future."

"There are so many people here this year. Do you think someone with a Heavenly Spirit Root might appear?"

"A Heavenly Spirit Root? Even the Supreme Sky Sect hasn't seen one in decades. The longest wait was more than two hundred years before a disciple with a Heavenly Spirit Root finally appeared."

"I doubt we'll see one this time either. Someone with a Heavenly Spirit Root could easily reach the Golden Core Realm, and even the Nascent Soul Realm is well within reach. A Nascent Soul cultivator is already a grand expert of immortal cultivation..."

The recruitment ceremony had yet to commence, but the crowds at the foot of the mountain continued to swell as the day drew closer. The Supreme Sky Sect was long accustomed to scenes like this. Every year, countless people came hoping to begin immortal cultivation and rise above the mortal world as revered immortal masters, yet very few could truly walk far on the immortal path.

The Supreme Sky Sect's standards were exceptionally high, and simply possessing a spirit root was nowhere near enough. Those with ordinary spirit roots would not even merit serious consideration. Of the people gathered here, eighty or ninety percent would likely be eliminated.

Those who were rejected could only seek another path. A fortunate few might obtain a qi refinement method elsewhere and become unaffiliated cultivators. Most, however, would return to ordinary mortal lives and, after a few short decades, eventually die of old age.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Suddenly, a deep rumble rolled across the mountains, and the ground shook. A dazzling light flared in the air, and within it, the outline of an enormous gateway slowly emerged.

"It's opening! The large formation protecting the sect is opening."

"They're finally going to start recruiting disciples."

"It's the Supreme Sky Sect's annual recruitment ceremony. I wonder who will preside over it this year?"

"It's always overseen by a Golden Core True One. The question is which True One they've chosen this time."

Everyone raised their heads toward the gateway suspended in the air. Beyond it, they could vaguely glimpse the world inside the Supreme Sky Sect. Ethereal immortal music drifted from within, lending the magnificent gate an almost otherworldly air. To the countless people gathered below, this was a sacred land of immortal cultivation, the place they had dreamed of entering for years.

Whoosh!

A gust of wind swept by as dozens of figures stepped through the gateway. Several of those at the front radiated tremendous pressure, revealing themselves to be True Ones.

"It's True One Yue Kong!"

"I heard True One Yue Kong has already reached the peak of the Golden Core Realm. He might even attempt to break through to the Nascent Soul Realm within the next ten years."

"I didn't expect him to preside over this year's disciple recruitment ceremony."

The middle-aged man standing at the head of the group was indeed True One Yue Kong, one of the Supreme Sky Sect's most gifted disciples. He had already reached the peak of the Golden Core Realm and had a genuine chance of advancing to the Nascent Soul Realm. If he succeeded, he would become a core figure of the sect and stand among the most powerful cultivators in the world.

True One Yue Kong surveyed the crowd below and was about to speak when his expression abruptly hardened. He turned, gazing at the distant sky.

Buzz...

A faint vibration spread through the surroundings.

The other True Ones noticed it too, followed closely by the Foundation Establishment disciples. Something was approaching from afar.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

A violent rumble rolled across the sky, growing louder with every passing moment. Several True Ones swept their divine consciousness toward the source and immediately realized what was happening.

"Divine Sword Manor..." said True One Yue Kong coldly.

A few figures could be seen in the distance, quickly approaching the Supreme Sky Sect. None of them rode artifacts or used spells, and not the slightest trace of mana could be sensed from them. Instead, they simply walked through the empty air, advancing toward the gateway one step at a time.

The people gathered below for the Supreme Sky Sect's disciple recruitment stared at the approaching group in astonishment.

"Those people... I can't sense any mana fluctuations from them."

"Neither can I. They're not using enchanted artifacts, talismans, or formations either. How are they moving like that through the air?"

"I don't know, but there's a terrifying aura coming off them... Just who are they?"

"You don't recognize them? If I'm not mistaken, they're from Divine Sword Manor."

"Divine Sword Manor? You mean the one that destroyed an immortal sect several years ago, then fought a major battle against the Supreme Sky Sect? I heard one of Divine Sword Manor's strongest experts was even killed in that battle."

"That's the one. I heard everyone in Divine Sword Manor practices martial arts. But can martial artists really become strong enough to contend with Golden Core cultivators, Nascent Soul experts, or even Deity Transformation grand elders?"

"Not sure, but I find that hard to believe..."

"Either way, the fact that they're making an appearance now can't be a good sign..."

Divine Sword Manor was no longer some unknown faction. Its name had become widely known after its clash with the Supreme Sky Sect. Although it had lost that battle, the Supreme Sky Sect had still failed to destroy it, which was enough to prove how strong it was.

In that battle, what made Divine Sword Manor even more extraordinary was that they were only martial artists, yet some among them had reached a level where they could contend with even Deity Transformation grand elders.

In the years since, Divine Sword Manor had seized control of a vast territory and established itself as one of the Primal World's most powerful factions, so the sudden arrival of their people naturally drew the attention of the entire Supreme Sky Sect.

True One Yue Kong stepped forward. "People of Divine Sword Manor, stop! The Supreme Sky Sect does not welcome you here. Depart at once!"

He made no attempt to ask why they had come. The battle several years ago had left both sides with heavy losses. Divine Sword Manor had suffered greatly, but the Supreme Sky Sect's victory had not come without bitter costs either. Golden Core and Nascent Soul cultivators had fallen, along with countless Foundation Establishment disciples. After paying such a terrible price, no one in the Supreme Sky Sect harbored the slightest goodwill toward Divine Sword Manor, nor did they wish to fight another battle.

"He's just a mere Golden Core cultivator, yet he dares to stand in our way?" barked one of the Martial Saints. "Scram!"

The Martial Saint's voice struck True One Yue Kong like a punch, causing his body to tremble and his face to turn pale.

"Nascent Soul!" True One Yue Kong gasped as he realized the level of power Divine Sword Manor had brought this time.

He could not gauge the group's exact strength, but even a seemingly random individual among them radiated an aura that rivaled a Nascent Soul cultivator—and the one who had just spoken appeared to be the weakest of the entire group.

Something's gone terribly wrong!

True One Yue Kong's heart was filled with horror.