Chapter 71: Chapter 71: Chosen

Translator: 549690339

“Capable of going up, capable of descending.”

This phrase emerged involuntary in Han Yi’s mind.

Then.

He remembered a conversation he had a few years ago with the sect leader Yuan Shun when they stumbled upon a spy from the Blood God Sect. At the end of the conversation, Yuan Shun mentioned that bigger challenges were coming, which probably included the new policies that are being implemented now.

Han Yi redirected his thoughts to ponder about the new policies.

He also came to a summarization of the two new policies targeted at Inner Peak disciples.

The first one, described in three words: Move Outward.

The second one, again in three words: Roll Up.

The first stop of moving upward is the Evil Mountain Range.

The Evil Mountain Range is not within the territory of Daqian Immortal Country, spanning long and winding from the Northwest extreme, extending southeastwards to the shore of the Eastern Sea. Daqian Immortal Country borders the southwest side of the mountain range while on the other side is the top power in the Immortality Realm, the Daqin Immortal Country.

The reason it is called the Evil Mountain Range is due to the alliance between Xuandan Sect and Yuan Beast Sect growing closer over the years.

Yuan Beast Sect is located in Luofeng Country and Huaibei County. From their sect, heading northeastwards leads to the Evil Mountain Range.

Disciples of the Xuandan Sect can enter the Evil Mountain Range passing through the realm of Yuan Beast Sect.

Furthermore, in the new policy announced by the sect, there is a requirement. Within half a year, they must go to the Evil Mountain Range and kill an evil beast of equal stage to oneself.

In this so-called half-year period, they’ve split it further through a name-list system.

The sect has categorised the Inner Peak disciples into three groups, every two months a new group is formed. The list for each group will be published soon, and starting from the announcement date, if one is unable to complete the task within half a year, it will be considered a failed assignment.

This time, there would be no comeback matches.

This also prevents certain disciples from wasting time, delaying until the last half year to proceed.

In short, if you were sent, you had to go. Not going wasn’t an option.

That was: Move Outward.

And this time, Xuandan Sect disciples had to take actions beyond the sect for the real first time. Unlike in the past, such as Cave Heaven trials or joint contests schedules, there will be no protection from the sect.

This time, was different.

And this indirectly proved that Xuandan Sect was making ample preparations, preparing for the disciples to leave their comfort zone after these years of training. Whether you turn you’re a wolf or a sheep, would be decided this time.

There will definitely be casualties, and quite a few. But it’s an inevitable choice the sect must make. Only those who have survived the blaze of fire would form the future backbone of the sect.

The second policy, with an obvious intent, is: Roll Up.

Internal rumpling forced the relatively complacent Inner Peak disciples to stand out. Those who stood out were given more resources so they could become stronger, while those who’ve been simply getting by might even turn back to Outer Peak.

Before this, Han Yi had to admire the strategy of the upper sect when he heard these two policies.

From paying a huge price to purchase quotas from Yujing Mountain to carry out Cave Heaven trials.

To internal and external peak contests in the sect, giving out generous rewards.

To the joint big competition with the Yuan Beast Sect.

And finally, the new policy was put in place – Move Outward, Roll Up.

That, was what he meant by “revolution”.

This series of actions, one linking to another, not aimless, with every link having a strong purpose.

From these frequent actions, the resolve of Xuandan Sect can also be seen, which underscores the harsh external environment.

As for the external environment of the Xuandan Sect, the Blood God Sect stood out.

Twenty years on, and already four have passed. To a high-ranking cultivator, twenty years would flash by in a blink of an eye.

Xuandan Sect didn’t have much time left.

Han Yi couldn’t help but bring to mind a lasering phrase, but for him within the Xuandan Sect, it carried a heavy pressure.

A Wind Full Pavilion before the mountain rain.

This phrase was applicable to every disciple of the Xuandan Sect.

“Junior Brother Han, if we end up in the same group, we should go together. It would be good to have someone to rely on.”

Yan Ru said softly. After entering the Inner Peak, she received the same cultivation resources as other Inner Peak disciples. Two years ago, she advanced to the seventh level of Qi Training and had settled into the Inner Peak.

Her face was still cold, emotionless. To those who were unfamiliar with her, they’d think she was indifferent. But those who knew her, like Han Yi, knew that this was just her nature and not deliberate aloofness.

Han Yi nodded: “Alright.”

One of the implied demands in this new policy was to let disciples go on this journey in groups, to help each other. Han Yi had thought about going alone but if he was with familiar companions, it would be better than facing any accident alone.

“1 also hope to be in the same group as junior Brother Han.” Luo Yunzhou also said with a smile.

Qi Hong was slightly surprised and asked with a smile, “Both Senior Brother Luo and Senior Sister Yan want to team up with Junior Brother Han for the task. It seems Junior Brother Han is quite capable.”

Han Yi laughed, modestly said, “Senior Sister Qi is joking. It’s just convenient to have companions you know and trust. It can save us from some trouble.”

Among the trio here, Luo Yunzhou was the best acquainted of Han Yi’s combat abilities. When Han Yi was at the Qi cultivation sixth layer, he could withstand even cultivators of the eighth layer holding superior magical artifacts. Now that he had stepped into the seventh layer and been cultivating for three years, wouldn’t killing an eighth-layer cultivator be like slaughtering chickens or dogs? Even if he was up against a regular Qi cultivator of the ninth layer, claiming to have a slight chance of winning would be modest.

As for Yan Ru, she actually wasn’t aware of Han Yi’s combat prowess. She was just being herself – she didn’t have many familiar sect brothers and sisters; she happened to have known Han Yi since the time she was in the outer peaks, and during their time in the Small Guanhai Peak, she had traded pills with Han Yi and knew that Han Yi wasn’t greedy, he was a fellow sect member she trusted, hence she made such a statement.

Qi Hong just chuckled and didn’t bring up the subject again.

In her mind, Han Yi was just a cultivator at the Qi cultivation seventh layer, a commoner in terms of aptitude. Although his Alchemy Skill was exceptional, his fighting power was definitely mediocre. He would even be considered a lower rank among the Xuandan Sect.

After all, Han Yi didn’t have a Foundation Establishment Elder as his master, and he had never participated in the major competitions between the inner and outer peaks. He was more of a cultivator dedicated to closed-door cultivation.

She herself had been in the seventh layer for five years, and was apprenticed to a Foundation Building Middle Level cultivator. Although she hadn’t taken part in the Cave Heaven trials, she had participated in the major competition of the Inner Peak. Among seventh layer cultivators, she ranked in the middle and was confident that her fighting power would be much stronger than Han Yi’s.

Moreover, forming a group should involve partnering with a higher-ranking senior brother or sister. If you could partner with a disciple among the top hundred in the Inner Peak competition, your safety would be assured, and completing tasks would be a piece of cake.

Coming up.

The four of them chatted for a while, discussing matters of the sect, various rumors, and miscellaneous information. Half an hour later, they left the Immortal Pavilion and returned to their courtyards.

After returning to his courtyard.

Thinking of the new policy, Han Yi had a somewhat uneasy feeling.

His intuition came out of nowhere, but he trusted it immensely.

“Three batches of manifests, 1 hope I’m in the third batch, so the disciples in the first two batches can rack up more experiences for me to learn from.”

That’s what Han Yi thought, but he felt reality might not go as he wished.

“Oh well, let’s cultivate first.”

“Even if I’m in the first batch, I won’t be scared.”

With three years of intense cultivation, Han Yi’s strength had dramatically improved.

Sitting quietly in his room, his eyes flickered, and a faint red panel popped up.

[Name: Han Yi]

[Lifespan: 33/135]

[Realm: Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer (29/100)]

[Cultivation method: Fiery Gang Mystical Skill (Proficiency 48/100)]

[Skill:

Alchemy Skill (Fire is Purely Green 47/100)

Spirit Void Finger (Fire is Purely Green 68/100)

Sword Control Skill (Fire is Purely Green 59/100)

Light Body Technique (Fire is Purely Green 93/100)

Fire Shield Skill (Fire is Purely Green 19/100)

Turtle Breath Skill (Fire is Purely Green 18/100)

Departing Fire Sword Formula (Enter the Hall 48/100)

Talisman Making Skill (Beginner 29/100)

]

In three years, the proficiency panel had not changed drastically, but gradual progress was evident.

Life Span, Realm, Cultivation methods, all had been updated.

In the skill section, a new skill Departing Fire Sword Formula was added. Apart from the temporarily shelved Talisman Making Skill, the progress in other skills was also prominent.

Cultivation was not an overnight success. One needed to be persistent through solitude. Otherwise, why would the immortal path be described as long and arduous?

“The Light Body Technique has been enhancing the fastest. Strive for time and push it to the new level.”

“Sword Control Skill and Spirit Void Finger, the latter stages are harder. Must not rush.”

“Furthermore, the progress in Departing Fire Sword Formula is noticeable, but over these years, the Talisman Making Skill has made very little progress. It couldn’t be helped due to the lack of time. Certain sacrifices must be made.”

“In a blink, already twelve years have passed since the journey started. Being sent to the mountain, feels like it happened just yesterday.”

The sentimental Han Yi shut the panel down, stepped into the backyard into the Soul Locking Array, and began practicing the Light Body Technique.

Three days later.

Han Yi received notice that he was on the first list of “going out”.

Hearing this news, Han Yi was calm.

But after communicating with his familiar companions, he became uneasy.

Luo Yunzhou, Yan Ru, even Qi Hong weren’t on the first list. He was the only one chosen.

Han Yi felt like cursing..