Piaomiao Sect was one of the foremost sects on the Yinzhou Continent.
Even the inhabitants of Xinshan Village, a small mountain village, had naturally heard of the immense power and renown of Piaomiao Sect.
Thus, when the two heard that Chunyang Sanren hailed from Piaomiao Sect, they immediately exclaimed in surprise.
After listening to Chunyang Sanren's words,
Zhang Ergou and Liu Cuilan quickly packed their belongings.
In truth, there were no important items; they each only brought a change of clothes.
Then, without a word, with Chunyang Sanren's help, they quietly left Xinshan Village.
"Master, are we just walking all the way to Piaomiao Sect?"
Zhang Ergou looked up at Chunyang Sanren, who appeared leisurely beside him.
"It is still early, and the sect entry ceremony is more than half a month away. Our master and disciples can walk for now."
"The path of cultivation is not just about meditation and practicing skills."
"Walking is also a form of cultivation!"
"Here, take this and carry it." Chunyang Sanren took out a large saber and threw it to Zhang Ergou.
Zhang Ergou reached out to catch it and almost stumbled to the ground.
"Master, what kind of saber is this? Why is it so heavy?"
Zhang Ergou used all his strength to barely catch the saber tossed by Chunyang Sanren.
To carry it and walk would be as difficult as scaling the heavens for the current Zhang Ergou.
"This saber is called Qingtian, and it has a matching sword named Zhuyue."
Chunyang Sanren then produced a sword, about four feet long, with mysterious inscriptions carved on its blade.
"This saber and sword were forged from extraterrestrial meteorite iron and underwent eighty-one forging processes.
They were cast using the vital blood of a Golden Core stage cultivator as a catalyst."
Chunyang Sanren gently handed the Zhuyue sword to Liu Cuilan.
Liu Cuilan's face instantly turned crimson, showing the immense effort she exerted.
After all, Liu Cuilan, who had not yet formally cultivated, was still a delicate woman.
Her strength was not much different from that of an ordinary woman.
Chunyang Sanren did not help them.
"Although you two grew up doing farm work, you have no foundation whatsoever in cultivation."
"In half a month, it will be the entry ceremony for new disciples of our Piaomiao Sect."
"Even though you two are my disciples, you cannot be too special."
"You still need to participate in this entry ceremony."
Zhang Ergou laboriously lifted the Qingtian saber and had only walked a dozen steps before the urge to stop and rest struck him.
"Master, what is the entry ceremony?"
Zhang Ergou stopped, gasping for breath, and asked.
Liu Cuilan was also sweating profusely, gritting her teeth stubbornly as she walked forward.
Upon hearing Zhang Ergou's question, she also looked at Chunyang Sanren ahead with curiosity.
Chunyang Sanren turned his head to look at the two and nodded in approval.
Although both were exhausted, neither complained.
"The entry ceremony is a mandatory process for Piaomiao Sect to recruit new disciples every year."
"First, it is to test the potential of the new disciples, and second, based on the cultivation of each disciple, to select corresponding teaching mentors."
"Although you two have already taken me as your master, you will still undergo a test after entering the sect."
Chunyang Sanren said, continuing to walk forward at a leisurely pace.
Zhang Ergou and Liu Cuilan, each carrying the Qingtian saber and Zhuyue sword respectively, struggled to follow behind.
"This test will not only assess your spiritual roots but also gauge your potential for cultivation."
"After the test, newly admitted disciples will be divided into four ranks: Tian, Xuan, Di, and Huang."
"Each rank will have corresponding mentors to guide your cultivation."
Liu Cuilan wiped the sweat from her face.
"Then what about you, Master? Will you not teach us anymore?"
"Haha, your master will naturally teach you, but these fundamental cultivation methods will be handled by the mentors."
Chunyang Sanren looked up at the sky and continued to walk forward, wanting to see the limits of these two newly accepted disciples.
"When you truly reach the Foundation Establishment stage, I will come to find you."
"Master, you mean you will leave us after we enter the sect?" Zhang Ergou quickly asked, panting.
A hint of anxiety appeared on his dark face.
After all, having never traveled far from home, apart from Liu Cuilan who came out with him,
Chunyang Sanren was the person he was most familiar with.
"Ergou, do you know that the path of cultivation is inherently going against the heavens?"
"It requires all sorts of experiences, not only to temper the body but also to hone one's temperament. Do you understand what I mean by this?"
Zhang Ergou thought for a moment, seeming to understand yet also feeling confused.
He glanced at Liu Cuilan, who was equally bewildered, and Zhang Ergou did not ask further.
Master's arrangement must have its reasons.
Seeing Zhang Ergou quiet down, Chunyang Sanren nodded. He had high expectations for Zhang Ergou's comprehension.
He just didn't know about their resilience.
"You two walk slowly. I will wait for you ahead. Remember not to remove the saber and sword you are carrying."
After speaking, without waiting for their reply, Chunyang Sanren stepped into the air and was gone.
Zhang Ergou watched Chunyang Sanren's receding figure with envy.
"Cuilan jie, how are you? Can you still hold on?"
Zhang Ergou asked with concern.
"Ergou, I'm fine. Let's keep walking. Master said he would wait for us, so he probably won't be too far."
Liu Cuilan replied crisply.
"That old man can't have gone too far! Heh heh!"
Zhang Ergou chuckled.
"Ergou, how can you be so disrespectful to Master?"
Liu Cuilan, worried that Chunyang Sanren might overhear, nervously looked around.
"Cuilan jie, it's alright. I'm just unhappy that the old man isn't flying us, and he's made us carry such heavy weapons, we can't even walk properly."
Zhang Ergou glanced slyly ahead.
"I'm just complaining. Cuilan jie, you absolutely must not tell the old man."
Liu Cuilan's face turned red: "You still dare to say it!"
Zhang Ergou stared intently at Liu Cuilan: "Cuilan jie, you look so beautiful!"
"Pfft!" Liu Cuilan spat at him, "You still have the mood to look at me? It seems you're not tired after all."
"Hurry up and get moving. Haven't you noticed the sky is getting dark?"
As the two spoke, the sky grew darker and darker.
It seemed a storm was about to arrive!
"Ergou, look at the clouds gathering. Will it rain?"
Liu Cuilan looked at Zhang Ergou nervously. They were already covered in dust.
If they were caught in the rain, wouldn't they turn into mud figures?
Liu Cuilan, being a woman, did not want to be dirty.
"Cuilan jie, it's alright. It's just a little rain. Master said that cultivation is inherently going against the heavens."
"If we can't even endure a thunderstorm, what else can we do?"
Zhang Ergou said with a heroic air.
"Rumble..." Zhang Ergou had no time to revel in his bravado before a clap of thunder made him shudder.
"Ergou, hahaha..." Liu Cuilan took off the heavy sword and leaned on its hilt to avoid bending over.
"You're not afraid of thunder, are you? Hahaha..."
Zhang Ergou's face turned red, wishing he could find a hole to crawl into.