Heaven rewards diligence; he fought his way through chaos to become a saint.

Chapter 125 Entering the Sect (Thanks to all the brothers for their monthly votes)

The next day.

Ye Ci waited quietly in the Shen family mansion. It had been arranged beforehand that someone would lead him to join one of the three major sects today.

Around dawn, a composed middle-aged martial artist arrived at the door.

The visitor, who identified himself as Yan Zhan, stated that he had come specifically to lead Ye Ci to the Ba Yue Sect to become a disciple.

Yan Zhan spoke little, exchanged few pleasantries, and led the way directly ahead.

Seemingly wanting to test Ye Ci's background, he secretly quickened his pace and walked briskly.

The two followed one after the other, walking swiftly as they sped away.

Ye Ci felt that this inner city was somewhat unusual, with desolate woodlands one moment and bustling streets the next.

It looks like the territory of a feudal lord.

After passing through a noisy area, a number of buildings first appeared.

Yan Zhan deliberately walked through crisscrossing, secluded alleyways until he saw a magnificent, sprawling complex of buildings—the Ba Yue Sect, located deep within the inner city.

Unlike the hustle and bustle of other parts of the inner city, this place, though located on the edge of the city, exudes a sense of tranquility amidst the chaos.

"Your movement skills are truly impressive."

Yan Zhan looked at Ye Ci, who was not out of breath and had followed him all the way, and a hint of surprise appeared in his eyes.

"There have always been many disciples from the countryside who wanted to join the Ba Yue Sect. Among those with your skill level in the Transformation Realm, you will have a place in the outer sect of the Ba Yue Sect."

From his tone, one could tell that this person was quite powerful; otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to discern Ye Ci's true strength.

Ye Ci had no intention of showing off his divine abilities in front of everyone, so he smiled and cupped his hands, saying, "Master Yan, you flatter me."

His location happened to be slightly higher, and as he spoke, he looked into the distance and was secretly alarmed.

The Ba Yue Sect's continuous buildings stretched as far as the eye could see, and the territory of the sect was almost the size of a county in the past. No wonder it was built by martial artists during the founding of the nation.

Yan Zhan glanced at him, guessing what he was thinking, and said, "Martial City has grown stronger over time, and the outer city walls were built later. Generations of experts have lived here, which is why such a large sect has emerged."

"This is just an outer sect area."

He led Ye Ci forward.

Walking along the bluestone path, there are houses on both sides arranged in a staggered manner, which seem to be the residences of outer disciples. Clean, muscular clothes are drying in front of the houses.

Ye Ci saw several disciples dressed in short gray clothes hurrying past, their steps light and quick.

"Are these all outer disciples?"

"Yes."

Yan Zhan glanced at him and said, "Many disciples of the Ba Yue Sect's outer sect possess internal strength. Besides practicing martial arts, they also have to complete sect missions. Otherwise, they wouldn't be qualified to live here."

"Judging from your skill, you must have mastered the Transformation Realm, so naturally you are different from them. You will have your own place to live and will not need to stay in this noisy place."

"When you arrive at the destination, someone will examine your bones. Miss Yan has arranged for you to go to Baichuan Academy."

Miss Yan, presumably a friend of Shen Yixi, puzzled Ye Ci: "What do you mean? Isn't it the Ba Yue Sect?"

"All martial arts techniques in the world belong to the Five Elements. The Ba Yue Sect is divided into five academies, which in the early years corresponded to five different attribute techniques. Nowadays, it is not that a certain academy must practice a technique of a certain attribute."

"The other two major sects are the same. They are divided into several academies, but apart from the free cultivation technique given to you when you first join, you have to spend contribution points to exchange for the rest."

Ye Ci casually asked, "What if we exchange cultivation techniques with our fellow disciples?"

"The Martial Saint once said, 'A warrior establishes himself on integrity and practices righteousness; if he does so, how is he any different from a thief?'"

"Within Martial City, many basic martial arts techniques are taught free of charge. These introductory, rudimentary techniques are meant to guide all people toward martial arts and benefit future generations. However, superior martial arts, core techniques, and ultimate secret skills are all the result of generations of predecessors devoting their lives to understanding and refining them, through the passage of time..."

The foundation was built on blood, tears, and bloodshed.

"Sects support their martial artists by providing them with lodging, medicine, guidance, and protection. The survival of a sect depends entirely on the unity and concerted efforts of its disciples. It is not a given that disciples should receive high-level inheritances. Only through a balance of value can the rules endure."

"If martial arts have no threshold and are passed on indiscriminately, firstly, the hard work of our predecessors will be wasted; secondly, mediocre people will practice them recklessly and disrupt the foundation of martial arts; and thirdly, everyone will reap the benefits without anyone being willing to fulfill their responsibilities to the sect, and the sect will eventually fall apart."

Ye Ci nodded upon hearing this, thinking that if anyone in Wucheng could articulate such a principle, this place was indeed extraordinary.

Offering something for free is benevolence; limiting its transmission is a rule.

Treating newcomers with kindness and disciplining disciples with rules—this is the martial arts code that all major sects in the world uphold.

"As the Martial Saint said, every sip and every bite is preordained by Heaven. Don't think that if you take advantage of someone, you will eventually have to pay them back. Even a small favor, like a copper coin, will be remembered by the Great Dao."

Yan Zhan continued speaking.

Ye Ci felt that the Founding Martial Saint must have published a book of his sayings.

The commotion ahead gradually subsided, and at the end of the avenue stood a magnificent palace.

The hall is built of dark gray boulders, with flying eaves and brackets.

The outer wall of the hall is made of a single piece of dark blue stone. On the top of the wall, every few feet, there is a stone beast about half a person's height, with its head held high and its chest out, exuding a majestic aura.

At the very center of the mountain gate hangs a gilded plaque, three feet wide, with the three large characters "Baichuan Academy" written in vigorous and brilliant strokes.

Yan Zhan led him inside.

Suddenly, the view opened up before us. A bluestone avenue led to the main hall, with several small courtyards on the side, which served as reception areas.

"Deacon Li, the person has been brought."

Yan Zhan called out, and a short, stout man came out to greet him.

He saw Yan Zhan chuckle and said, "Elder Wang is inside. Why don't you go in and have some tea? I'll test my aptitude here first."

o

"it is good."

Yan Zhan said to Ye Ci, "I'll go in and say hello."

After he left, Ye Ci stepped forward and had Steward Li help her feel her bones.

"Name, age, place of origin?"

He touched it while asking questions.

"Ye Ci, nineteen, from Yizhou Prefecture."

Seeing that Steward Li was busy, a young man came out of the room. He took the initiative to record the information for Steward Li, and while writing, he casually said, "I heard that there has been an uprising in Yizhou Prefecture."

Before Ye Ci could respond, Deacon Li suddenly frowned: "Third-tier talent?"

"Third tier?" The young man beside him was surprised. "Low-grade innate talent?"

Ye Ci wasn't surprised. He had heard that some places divided innate talent into nine grades, and he knew that grade three was considered low-grade.

Deacon Li asked in confusion, "You've reached the Transformation Realm?"

"I've mastered it," Ye Ci replied.

"How long did it take?"

"More than a year."

Ye Ci felt there was no need to hide these things; it would be beneficial for him to show some talent. Moreover, according to Shen Yixi, it was precisely because he developed his internal energy quickly that he was qualified to join one of the three major sects.

"Hmm? More than a year?"

Deacon Li's expression changed, and after a moment's thought, he said, "Little Chen, wait here for a moment while I go in and announce your arrival."

Ye Ci was unaware that this was not a sect rule, and simply waited calmly.

But the young man next to him laughed and said, "You started practicing martial arts when you were five?"

Hearing the sarcasm in his words, Ye Ci gave him a deep look.

The young man was still laughing: "A third-tier root bone can cultivate to the level of Transformation Force in a little over a year. That's enough to fool ordinary people in counties and townships."