Chapter 5: The Gate of Azure Cloud Sect
Within the Azure Cloud Sect, the atmosphere was lively.
The annual disciple selection had ended successfully.
Many talented youths had been accepted.
Some possessed high-grade spiritual roots.
Some came from wealthy clans.
Some were even fought over by the elders themselves.
Inside the sect, the elders were still arguing over who would get the best disciples.
Meanwhile, outside the main gates of the Azure Cloud Sect, two disciples stood guard.
The giant gates towered above them.
Cloud patterns were carved into the stone.
The words "Azure Cloud Sect" were engraved above the entrance.
The two guards chatted casually.
Then one of them suddenly frowned.
A boy was slowly walking toward them.
His clothes were tattered.
His hair was messy.
His face was lowered.
At first glance, he looked no different from a beggar.
One of the guards laughed.
"Looks like another beggar came to ask for food."
He reached into the pouch hanging from his waist and pulled out a coin.
But then the boy finally stopped in front of them.
He slowly raised his head.
"My name is Xiao Chen," he said.
"I want to apply for the outer disciple selection."
The guard holding the coin froze.
The other guard blinked.
For a moment, both of them thought they had heard wrong.
A beggar wanted to join the Azure Cloud Sect?
The two guards looked Xiao Chen up and down.
His clothes were practically rags.
Even his shoes were torn.
No matter how they looked at him, he did not seem like someone from a rich family.
He did not even seem like someone who had eaten a full meal in days.
The two guards looked at each other.
Then both of them spoke at the same time.
"No."
"The disciple selection ended three days ago."
"You are too late."
Xiao Chen's expression changed slightly.
Three days ago.
That was the day Xiao Mei died.
How could he have come?
The guard holding the coin scoffed.
"Besides, people like you do not usually come here anyway."
"Even if the sect allows everyone to participate, most of the people who join come from wealthy clans or noble families."
"Not beggars."
Xiao Chen slowly lowered his head.
For a moment, he thought about turning around and leaving.
But then the familiar voice sounded in his head.
"Boy."
"Create as much trouble as you can."
"An elder is already watching this place with his spiritual sense."
"Cause a disturbance."
"Or are you scared?"
Xiao Chen scoffed inwardly.
"I am not even scared of the heavens."
"Why would I be scared of them?"
Xiao Chen slowly raised his head again.
His eyes became firm.
"No," he said.
"I am not leaving."
"I must join the sect today."
One of the guards frowned.
"Did you not hear us?"
"The disciple selection ended days ago."
"Why did you not come earlier?"
Xiao Chen remained silent.
He could not tell them that three days ago, he had been burying his little sister.
He looked at the two guards with calm eyes.
"I must enter."
"I will not leave until I am tested."
The two guards immediately became angry.
One of them pulled a whip from his waist.
Without warning, he slashed it toward Xiao Chen.
Pshhh!
The whip tore through the air and struck Xiao Chen across the back.
Blood immediately seeped through his torn clothes.
"Leave now!" the guard shouted.
"This is not a place for beggars to play around!"
Normally, if it had been some rich young master, the guard would never have dared to act like this.
But Xiao Chen looked poor.
Weak.
Powerless.
To the guard, he was just a street beggar.
The guard expected Xiao Chen to scream.
He expected him to cry.
He expected him to run away.
But Xiao Chen did not move.
He stood there silently.
Blood dripped slowly from his back.
Yet his expression did not change at all.
The guard froze.
Even the other guard looked shocked.
After all, Xiao Chen was only a boy.
Yet after taking a whip strike, he did not even flinch.
Xiao Chen slowly lifted his head.
His face was expressionless.
His eyes were cold.
For some reason, the guard suddenly felt afraid.
He swallowed hard.
Then, gritting his teeth, he prepared to strike Xiao Chen again.
But suddenly—
"Wait."
The voice was old and calm.
The two guards immediately froze.
A figure descended from the sky.
His robes fluttered in the wind.
His white hair danced behind him.
He landed between Xiao Chen and the guards.
Xiao Chen's eyes widened.
This was the first time he had ever seen someone fly.
His heart trembled.
When could he reach such a level?
The voice inside his head snorted.
"Boy, do not be such a frog in a well."
"He is not even that powerful."
"Compared to the old me, he is no more than an ant."
Xiao Chen ignored the voice.
The old man turned toward the guard holding the whip.
"Explain what happened here," he said.
The guard's face turned pale.
"E-Elder Liu..."
His voice trembled as he quickly explained everything.
After listening, Elder Liu turned toward Xiao Chen.
He frowned slightly.
"The disciple selection ended long ago," he said.
"Why are you so determined to join the Azure Cloud Sect?"
Xiao Chen met Elder Liu's gaze directly.
"Because I want power," he said.
"Power strong enough that no one can ever take away the people I care about again."
Elder Liu narrowed his eyes.
Xiao Chen took a step forward.
"Sir, let me make a bet with you."
The guard with the whip immediately shouted.
"Insolent!"
"How dare you speak to Elder Liu like that?"
But Elder Liu raised one hand.
The guard instantly shut his mouth.
Elder Liu looked back at Xiao Chen.
"What kind of bet?"
Xiao Chen's eyes remained firm.
"If I can prove that I am a genius..."
"Will you accept me into the sect?"
The two guards stared at Xiao Chen as if he had gone mad.
A beggar.
A genius?
Elder Liu remained silent for a few moments.
Then he suddenly smiled.
"Very well," he said.
"If you can truly prove that you are a genius..."
"Then not only will I allow you to join the Azure Cloud Sect..."
"I will personally accept you as my disciple."