Draft

The golden bell of the Azure Cloud Sect echoed across the mountains, its ancient sound rolling through the valleys like a wave.

Every participant who had survived the entrance trials stood in perfect rows before the Heavenly Jade Plaza. The tension in the air was so thick that no one dared speak above a whisper.

Elder Mo stepped onto the platform, his hands folded behind his back. His sharp gaze swept over the remaining candidates.

"From ten thousand applicants, only three hundred have passed."

Many cultivators lowered their heads in relief.

Others silently celebrated.

Then Elder Mo continued.

"But passing the examination does not make you a true disciple."

"The Azure Cloud Sect is a place where only the strong survive."

"If you become lazy..."

"You will be surpassed."

"If you become arrogant..."

"You will die."

The words struck everyone's hearts.

One by one, the names of the successful candidates were announced.

When Elder Mo called, "Lin Tian of the Lin Clan," countless eyes turned toward him.

Some were filled with admiration.

Others with jealousy.

Jiang Chen simply narrowed his eyes.

"So... we really will be fellow disciples."

Lin Tian remained calm and stepped forward.

An elder handed him a white disciple robe embroidered with blue clouds, a jade identity token, a storage pouch, ten low-grade spirit stones, and a beginner cultivation manual.

The moment Lin Tian touched the identity token, the Infinite Sovereign System activated.

New Location Unlocked

Azure Cloud Sect

Daily Missions Available

Hidden Missions Detected

Sect Reputation System Activated

A faint smile appeared on Lin Tian's face.

"So even joining the sect unlocks new functions."

The Outer Disciple Mountain

Outer disciples lived on the lowest mountain of the sect.

Thousands of simple wooden houses stretched across the hillside.

Compared to the magnificent palaces of the inner disciples, this place looked ordinary.

As Lin Tian entered his assigned residence, he carefully examined the room.

A wooden bed.

A meditation mat.

A bookshelf.

A training courtyard behind the house.

Simple...

But peaceful.

Just as he placed down his belongings, the System chimed.

Daily Mission

Meditate for four hours.

Practice swordsmanship for three hours.

Complete one sect task.

Reward:

50 Cultivation Points.

1 Low-Grade Spirit Pill.

Lin Tian nodded.

"Simple enough."

However...

Before he could begin cultivating, loud footsteps echoed outside.

Bang!

The wooden door burst open.

Three outer disciples walked inside without permission.

The leader was tall and muscular, with a scar stretching across his face.

He wore the badge of an Outer Disciple Captain.

"My name is Luo Feng."

"I manage this district."

His smile contained no warmth.

"The newcomers should know the rules."

He extended his hand.

"Pay twenty spirit stones."

Lin Tian looked at him quietly.

"We only received ten."

Luo Feng laughed.

"That's your problem."

"Borrow them."

"Steal them."

"I don't care."

"If you refuse..."

His fist smashed the nearby table into splinters.

"...life here becomes very difficult."

The two disciples behind him laughed cruelly.

Many newcomers had already surrendered their spirit stones.

Fear ruled the outer mountain.

Lin Tian slowly stood.

"I'm afraid I can't do that."

The room fell silent.

Luo Feng's expression darkened.

"You refuse?"

"I do."

Without warning, Luo Feng threw a heavy punch.

The fist carried enough force to shatter stone.

Lin Tian activated his Divine Spirit Eyes.

Time seemed to slow.

He saw every muscle movement.

Every weakness.

He stepped aside effortlessly.

Luo Feng stumbled forward.

Before he could recover—

Lin Tian gently pushed his shoulder.

It looked like an ordinary movement.

Yet Luo Feng completely lost his balance and crashed face-first into the wooden floor.

His followers froze.

"What..."

"How did Captain Luo fall?"

Luo Feng quickly stood, his face burning with humiliation.

"You cheated!"

Lin Tian shook his head.

"You simply attacked recklessly."

Rage exploded inside Luo Feng.

He released all of his cultivation.

Body Tempering Sixth Stage.

The pressure filled the room.

Many nearby disciples gathered outside.

"Someone challenged Captain Luo?"

"That newcomer is finished."

Luo Feng roared as he unleashed a martial technique.

"Iron Mountain Fist!"

His entire arm became as hard as steel.

This punch was far stronger than the first.

Lin Tian knew dodging alone would not end the fight.

He slowly drew his sword.

Golden spiritual energy flowed along its blade.

The Dragon Emperor Art circulated through his meridians.

The two attacks collided.

BOOM!

The shockwave blasted open every window in the house.

Dust filled the air.

When visibility returned...

Luo Feng was kneeling.

His right fist trembled violently.

Blood dripped onto the floor.

Lin Tian still stood exactly where he had been.

His sword hadn't moved an inch.

Silence spread across the crowd.

"Captain Luo..."

"Lost?"

No one could believe it.

Luo Feng's pride shattered.

Without another word, he fled with his followers.

But before leaving, he looked back with murderous hatred.

"This isn't over."

"You'll regret making an enemy of me."

Shadows Within the Sect

That evening, Luo Feng entered a luxurious courtyard reserved for elite outer disciples.

Inside sat Jiang Chen.

Without looking up from his tea, Jiang Chen asked,

"You failed."

Luo Feng immediately knelt.

"My apologies, Young Master."

"That boy is much stronger than expected."

Jiang Chen calmly placed down his teacup.

"I never asked you to defeat him."

"I only wanted to measure him."

"So..."

"Was he hiding his strength?"

Luo Feng swallowed.

"Yes."

"He defeated me without using his full power."

For the first time, Jiang Chen frowned.

His instincts told him something dangerous was growing.

"A genius from a declining clan..."

"There must be a secret."

He smiled coldly.

"Then let's take that secret."

The Hidden Library

Late that night, Lin Tian followed the System's guidance to a forgotten corner of the outer mountain.

An abandoned stone pavilion stood hidden beneath ancient trees.

Hardly anyone visited.

The System displayed another notification.

Hidden Mission

Find the Forgotten Library.

Reward:

Ancient Sword Technique.

500 Cultivation Points.

Lin Tian stepped inside.

The building appeared empty.

Dust covered every shelf.

Broken scrolls lay scattered everywhere.

At the center stood an old man sleeping beside a broom.

Lin Tian respectfully bowed.

"Greetings, Senior."

The old man didn't move.

"I've been asleep for thirty years."

"Go away."

Lin Tian smiled.

"If you were truly asleep..."

"You wouldn't have answered me."

The old man's eyes suddenly opened.

For a brief moment...

The entire library shook beneath an overwhelming spiritual pressure.

Then everything returned to normal.

The old man laughed loudly.

"Interesting."

"Very interesting."

"No one has noticed this old man in decades."

"You are either incredibly talented..."

"...or unbelievably lucky."

Lin Tian simply smiled.

"Perhaps both."

The old man looked deeply into his eyes.

For an instant, he sensed something impossible.

A trace...

Of an ancient dragon.

Not a bloodline.

Not a technique.

Something far older.

He quickly hid his surprise.

"What do you seek?"

"I seek strength."

The old man nodded slowly.

"A good answer."

"Power sought for revenge creates demons."

"Power sought to protect creates legends."

He stood up and walked toward the deepest shelf.

From beneath centuries of dust, he retrieved a black scroll.

"This technique has rejected every disciple for five hundred years."

"If it accepts you..."

"It is yours."

Lin Tian reached out.

The moment his fingers touched the scroll—

A deafening dragon roar echoed inside his mind.

Golden runes erupted from the ancient parchment, filling the entire library with brilliant light.

The old man's eyes widened in disbelief.

"It... acknowledged him?"

"No..."

"It submitted to him."

The scroll unfolded by itself.

Across the first page were four ancient words.

Heavenly Dragon Sword Canon.

Outside the forgotten library, hidden in the darkness, a masked assassin silently watched everything.

He touched a communication talisman.

"The target has found another inheritance."

A cold voice answered from the talisman.

"Do not attack."

"Continue observing."

"The time to eliminate Lin Tian is approaching."

The assassin disappeared into the night.

Unaware of the eyes watching him, Lin Tian smiled as he read the first lines of the Heavenly Dragon Sword Canon.

Deep within his heart, he could feel destiny accelerating.

Every step he took made him stronger.

Every victory created another enemy.

And somewhere in the darkness, powerful forces had already begun weaving a conspiracy that would soon shake the entire Azure Cloud Sect.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***