It was clear the Jue Mountain Sect was determined to ally with the Xiao Family.
The reason was simple: Xiao Chen was an Outer Disciple of the East Sword Pavilion.
The Jue Mountain Sect understood that as long as Xiao Chen was alive, the Xiao Family would only grow stronger.
Thus, siding with the Xiao Family at this moment was the best possible choice for them.
Not only did the Jue Mountain Sect grant the Xiao Family ten disciple positions annually, but they also expelled Chen Muxue from the sect outright, all as a gesture to Xiao Chen.
Chen Muxue had dared to move against the Xiao Family only because she had joined the Jue Mountain Sect.
Now that she had been expelled, the Chen Family could no longer remain in Lingshan County City.
Xiao Chen cared little for the plight of the Chen and Ma Families.
In his eyes, these two major families no longer posed a threat to the Xiao Family, as they had both already decided to leave Lingshan County City.
This wasn’t solely due to the Jue Mountain Sect; Prince Lingshan, Zhang Qiang, had also played his part.
With the departure of the Chen and Ma Families, the Xiao Family had become the undisputed major family in Lingshan County City.
Even the Prince’s Mansion showed them great respect.
Of course, all of this was because of Xiao Chen.
They left Lingshan County City in disgrace.
As the entire Chen Family was evacuating the city, Chen Muxue encountered a beautiful, middle-aged woman.
The woman was stunningly beautiful, especially her eyes, which seemed capable of ensnaring one’s very soul.
The woman could tell at a glance that Chen Muxue possessed an innate seductive physique.
It was merely latent and had not yet awakened.
Because of this, the beautiful woman considered taking her as a disciple.
The beautiful woman was from the Ten Thousand Immortals Tower, a colossal power easily capable of rivaling the East Sword Pavilion.
Without a shred of hesitation, Chen Muxue immediately took the woman as her master.
Once utterly desperate, she was now being taken away by the beautiful woman.
An extreme hatred flared to life once more in Chen Muxue’s heart.
‘Xiao Chen.’ He was an obstacle she could never overcome in her heart.
Until she made him regret everything, the obsession gripping her would never fade.
Unaware of what had transpired with Chen Muxue, Xiao Chen spent a full seven days with the Xiao Family.
On this day, he prepared to depart.
‘Time is limited, after all.
I still need to report back to the East Sword Pavilion’s Outer Sect.
It’ll be a problem if I’m late.’
As Xiao Chen prepared to leave, Xiao Qing and Bai Ruyue were naturally heartbroken to see him go.
However, they knew he couldn’t stay with the Xiao Family forever.
A great eagle must eventually spread its wings; a slumbering dragon is bound to rise from the depths.
After leaving a great deal of cultivation resources and medicinal pills for his parents, Xiao Chen was seen off by the members of the Xiao Family.
He, along with Mo Jie and his other fellow disciples, mounted their Red Flame Horses and rode out of Lingshan County City, heading for the East Sword Pavilion.
Watching Xiao Chen’s figure slowly disappear from view, Bai Ruyue could no longer hold back her tears.
Who knew how long it would be until they were reunited?
Sensing his wife’s sorrow, Xiao Qing comforted her gently.
“A slumbering dragon is bound to rise, and a great eagle will have its time to soar.
The East Sword Pavilion is where Chen’Er belongs.
With a son like him, we should be proud…”
Hearing Xiao Qing’s words, Bai Ruyue gave a slight nod.
After bidding farewell to his parents, Xiao Chen’s party rode for the East Sword Pavilion without stopping.
The Outer Sect Ceremony was in half a month, and they had to make it back before then, or they would forfeit their chance to enter the Outer Sect.
The distance from Lingshan County City to the East Sword Pavilion was considerable.
It took them a full thirteen days of hard riding before the travel-worn group finally arrived at the East Sword Pavilion.
The sect was situated within the Cyan Cloud Mountain Range, a region outside the borders of Lingfeng Country.
As far as the eye could see, endless mountain ranges crisscrossed the landscape.
The East Sword Pavilion itself was located in the heart of the Yunlu Mountain Range.
They made their way back to the Probationary Disciple area of the East Sword Pavilion.
With only two days until the Outer Sect Ceremony, they had made it just in time.
Back in his old quarters from his time as a Probationary Disciple, he shared a room with Mo Jie.
Mo Jie flopped onto his bed and let out a deep breath.
“We’re finally back.
In just two more days, we’ll be able to enter the Outer Sect and become real Outer Disciples…”
The hierarchy of the East Sword Pavilion was incredibly strict.
To put it bluntly, Probationary Disciples weren’t even considered official disciples of the sect.
Only by becoming an Outer Disciple could one gain true recognition from the East Sword Pavilion.
Hearing this, Xiao Chen smiled.
“Senior Brother, don’t celebrate just yet.
During the Outer Sect Ceremony, we still have to be selected by a Sword Institute.
If no institute accepts us, we still won’t become Outer Disciples…”
The East Sword Pavilion’s Outer Sect had a total of nine Sword Institutes.
Every new Outer Disciple had to choose one to join.
Of course, it wasn’t a one-way street.
While you chose an institute, its Head had to see you as worthy.
If they didn’t, you couldn’t become an Outer Disciple.
The nine Sword Institutes varied in strength.
The weaker ones had lower entry requirements, but their cultivation environments were naturally poorer.
The stronger institutes had very high standards, but they also offered the best environment for cultivation.
Therefore, when choosing an institute, new Outer Disciples had to make a careful decision.
It was foolish to insist on joining the strongest institute if you clearly lacked the talent, only to be rejected.
The loss would outweigh any potential gain.
One had to be realistic and not overreach.
This was, in fact, one of the intentions of the East Sword Pavilion’s leadership.
At Xiao Chen’s words, Mo Jie laughed.
“So which Sword Institute are you planning to choose, Junior Brother?
With your talent, I bet you’ve already made up your mind.
It has to be the First Courtyard, right…?”
The nine Sword Institutes were ranked by strength.
The First Courtyard was the strongest, with the best cultivation environment, so nearly every Outer Disciple dreamed of joining it.
However, the First Courtyard had a reputation for only accepting the absolute elite.
In a place like the East Sword Pavilion, overflowing with geniuses, the disciples of the First Courtyard were the best of the best.
The difficulty of gaining entry was far greater than that of any other institute.
“If you don’t have top-tier talent, don’t even bother trying for the First Courtyard.” This was a common saying among the Probationary Disciples.
It was considered a pointless choice because the First Courtyard recruited the fewest disciples during each Outer Sect Ceremony—sometimes not a single one.
Quality over quantity: that was their principle.
Mo Jie had already guessed Xiao Chen’s choice.
Having reached the initial stage of the Yellow Extreme Realm at just eighteen, Xiao Chen’s talent was widely acknowledged as the greatest among this batch of Probationary Disciples.
Xiao Chen simply smiled at Mo Jie’s words, giving no answer.
But in his heart, the decision had long been made.
‘The First Courtyard is my goal.’
He didn’t care how high the First Courtyard’s standards were, nor how fierce the competition would be.
‘If I have the chance,’ Xiao Chen thought, ‘I’m going to choose the very best.’ That was his conviction.
His decision made, Xiao Chen and the others patiently waited for the Outer Sect Ceremony to begin.
Two days passed in the blink of an eye.
At the crack of dawn on the third day, the Probationary Disciple area was already buzzing with activity as all who met the requirements made their way toward the mountain peak where the Outer Sect was located.