"Elders of each peak have the right to select disciples."
Elder Hong Tian said, "As long as they pass the test, you can directly take their identity jade slips, and disciples will lead them to your Xuantián Peak later."
He led Ji Yuan to the mountain gate and sat down on a high platform in mid-air.
Besides them, more than a dozen elders were gathered here, all of whom had cultivation levels of three realms or above.
Standing on the high platform, one could see everything below.
Ji Yuan listened and looked down, and then he saw what the other party called the test.
Behind the mountain gate was a very long staircase, entirely made of jade. It usually did not show any peculiar characteristics, but at this moment, it emitted colorful rays of light.
From this staircase, Ji Yuan could feel a powerful force, clearly a treasure of extremely high quality.
If he guessed correctly, this was the true Cai Xiá Liú Yún Stair, one of the treasures of the Jiǔ Xuán Sect.
The so-called test was for those who recorded their identity information to step onto the Cai Xiá Liú Yún Stair. The further they walked, the higher the probability of being chosen.
However, once one stepped onto this treasure, they would constantly undergo a test of the heart. If it conflicted with the principles of the Jiǔ Xuán Sect, the power of the treasure would send them back to the starting point.
If they could pass this level, they would be taken to the endpoint to be tested for their spiritual roots, physique, and so on by specialized inner disciples and elders.
At the same time, special methods would be used to check if they had been manipulated by demonic or heretical paths, or if they were spies sent by other forces.
Only after everything was confirmed to be in order would they be accepted into the sect. If their fortune was sufficient, they might even be accepted by a lineage peak.
"The only thing to be careful about is competing with these old guys."
Elder Hong Tian did not deliberately hide anything and said it directly in front of more than ten elders.
As soon as he said this, he drew dissatisfied glances, and some even cursed directly.
Ji Yuan could not help but smile wryly beside him. However, he could see that although they were cursing each other, their friendship was quite good, and they were just teasing each other.
At the same time, the dozen elders showed considerable curiosity towards him, a young cultivator in the three realms, and they all stepped forward to greet him enthusiastically.
It was clear that these elders were already quite familiar with Ji Yuan's identity and background.
Even he did not know how he was spoken of among the many elders of the sect. He was mentioned several times every once in a while.
After all, if there were no accidents, he was very likely to become the peak master of the Tenth Peak of the Jiǔ Xuán Sect, and in the future, he might even become a great cultivator in the Golden Core realm.
"Rest assured, we will not compete for disciples this time."
An elder said solemnly.
However, because Ji Yuan's current identity had not been fully settled, many people deliberately avoided using any titles when they spoke.
"You seniors can just call me by my Taoist name, Líng Yù."
He could naturally see this and said with a smile.
The group chatted happily, and Elder Hong Tian took this opportunity to leave for a long time. He went to the sect leader of Yún Xiá Peak and brought back a new identity jade token for Ji Yuan.
From then on, his identity was temporarily designated as an inner elder of Xuantián Peak, second only to the peak master and lineage elders.
"Líng Yù, have you seen any disciples you like?"
An elder asked with a smile.
Hearing this, Ji Yuan shook his head. Since he arrived, more than twenty people had passed the test and their qualifications and clean identities had been confirmed by the inner disciples and elders.
However, he had not chosen any of them.
This was partly because their qualifications were still a little short of his standards, and partly because none of them had shown any talent for alchemy.
The heart-testing of the Cai Xiá Liú Yún Stair, besides distinguishing whether the tested person shared the same ideals as the Jiǔ Xuán Sect.
It also guided out each person's strengths through a bit of illusion.
Although it was not absolutely accurate, there were rarely any major mistakes. As for whether someone had greater talent in other areas, it would only be discovered through future cultivation.
"If you want to choose disciples with alchemy talent, you can go to the Wàn Xīng Courtyard."
Elder Hong Tian knew his intention and said.
Upon hearing this, Ji Yuan's interest was immediately piqued. The other party did not deliberately keep him in suspense and directly explained it in detail.
In the Wàn Xīng Courtyard, there were also many outer disciples with alchemy talent. If they wanted to be promoted to inner disciples, besides passing the outer sect competition, they had to become accomplished alchemists.
And because of the uniqueness of the Wàn Xīng Courtyard, these disciples did not belong to the courtyard, nor did they belong to the outer sect of Tiān Dǐng Peak.
If any other lineage peak was willing, they could select disciples from among them.
"However, the disciples inside are all arrogant. Even if Xuantián Peak can directly recruit them, if you don't have enough skill, it might be difficult to win them over."
Elder Hong Tian said meaningfully.
Ji Yuan was not surprised by this. Having talent in alchemy was indeed enough to make them arrogant.
Even if they could only become alchemists in the future, their status would not be lower than that of ordinary cultivators in the second or third realms.
They were the kind of people who would always be sought after by various forces wherever they went.
At the same time, thinking of the large number of outer disciples with alchemy talent in the Wàn Xīng Courtyard.
Ji Yuan was already eager to go and choose carefully. As for whether he could keep these disciples, with his attainments as a master of alchemy, he naturally had no worries at all.
However, he suppressed his urge and sat patiently on the jade platform, chatting with the elders around him to foster some goodwill, while also carefully observing the testers below.
Several hours passed in the blink of an eye. Indeed, a few promising candidates appeared. Although they were not special spiritual bodies or geniuses, they were quite good.
If they were placed in ordinary sects, they would be directly cultivated as core disciples.
Once they showed any unusual talent in their cultivation, it would not be surprising if they were taken as successors.
However, when a few good prospects appeared, the elders who had confidently declared they wouldn't compete immediately became anxious, losing all their credibility and composure as elders.
Once or twice, Ji Yuan could ignore it, but by the later times, he directly rolled up his sleeves, drew his long sword from his back, and assumed a posture of wanting to fight first to snatch someone.
"Alas, Líng Yù!"
An elder with a venerable appearance stroked his beard and said, "We are all fellow disciples. Don't draw your sword at every turn. It's not good, not good!"
Beside him, several elders nodded repeatedly, fearing that the young man in front of them would actually make a move if they disagreed.
Only when these elders guaranteed that they would no longer compete for disciples did Ji Yuan nod with satisfaction, sheathed his sword, and retracted his powerful and sharp sword intent.
The aura, which was as powerful as that of a cultivator in the mid-three realms, gradually subsided, and the sword qi that had appeared around him returned to his body.
Seeing this scene, several elders subtly wiped away their cold sweat and then exchanged glances.
Although they had felt that Ji Yuan's cultivation realm had completely entered the three realms before,
they had really not expected that Ji Yuan, who had probably broken through not long ago, would display such powerful strength!