Chapter 1023: Initiate Disciple

The Southcloud Sacred Sect ranks among the top ten sects of the entire Heart Realm Continent. Becoming an inner disciple is an incredibly difficult feat!

However, the Southcloud Sacred Sect shows greater favor toward citizens of the Southcloud Nation. After all, across the vast continent, covert struggles and even outright wars between nations are commonplace. Naturally, their own people are deemed more trustworthy.

“Yingshan Xueying, a scion of the Yingshan Clan, was born into one of the noble families of our Southcloud Kingdom.” Fifteen Chaos Realm experts gathered in a grand hall, their attention fixed on a projection hovering in midair—a scene of a handsome youth in white robes entering the Myriad Gods Palace to undertake its trials.

“Born with monstrous talent, his soul aura shows no signs of temporal acceleration. He has cultivated for merely five million years.”

“Haha, he has already cleared the fifth level of the Myriad Gods Palace.”

“Esteemed colleagues… any objections to admitting him into our sect?”

“None.”

“Approved.”

“That little one from the Yingshan Matriarch’s family? Passed, passed.”

The fifteen Chaos Realm experts present spoke with relaxed smiles. Long before this, the Yingshan Matriarch had already smoothed all obstacles—naturally, none present would oppose.

The evaluation process is far more lenient for their own citizens. For cultivators from other nations seeking to become inner disciples, the scrutiny is much harsher. Even if their talent rivals Dongbo Xueying’s, the strength requirements would be stricter, and they might even be assigned ‘entry trials’ to test their loyalty.

Outer disciples are of no concern—they are free to join other sects.

But once admitted as inner disciples, without the personal approval of the Southcloud King, they are absolutely forbidden from joining any other sect. To do so would be the gravest crime of sect betrayal, punishable by relentless pursuit!

Of course…

Despite the stringent demands, becoming an inner disciple comes with immense benefits.

—

Dongbo Xueying stepped out from the entrance of the Myriad Gods Palace.

“In the Chaos Void, the opponents within the Star Tower were all Destruction Demons. But the trials inside the Myriad Gods Palace feature a variety of adversaries.” Dongbo Xueying mused silently. Though the Myriad Gods Palace offered more diverse challenges, the power levels matched those of the Star Tower—though it did include an additional tenth level.

“Yingshan Xueying, congratulations.” Marquis Chengming stood waiting outside the Myriad Gods Palace, smiling. “I’ve received word—your evaluation has been fully approved. You are now officially an inner disciple of the Southcloud Sacred Sect. Ah, in a moment, we’ll retrieve your disciple token, robes, and other belongings. You may also select your residence and cave abode.”

“My thanks, Marquis Chengming.” Dongbo Xueying replied.

“A trivial matter. Come, let’s fetch your token.”

Marquis Chengming was exceedingly warm.

—

**Southcloud Sacred Sect, Elder Hall.**

“Yingshan Xueying, from this day forth, you are the 3,392nd disciple of the Southcloud Sacred Sect.” A silver-haired elder with an overwhelming aura solemnly presented a set of robes to Dongbo Xueying, atop which lay a token. “Henceforth, you are no longer merely a scion of the Yingshan Clan—you are now a disciple of the Southcloud Sacred Sect, one of the top ten sects of the Heart Realm Continent. Devote yourself to cultivation and strive to reach the Chaos Realm swiftly. For a disciple of our sect, failing to attain the Chaos Realm is a disgrace.”

“This disciple understands.” Dongbo Xueying accepted the items respectfully.

He was well aware.

The criteria for joining the Southcloud Sacred Sect were inherently stringent. For citizens of the Southcloud Nation, one generally needed the strength of a seventh-level Unity Realm to become an inner disciple! Thus, the statement “failing to attain the Chaos Realm is a disgrace” was no exaggeration.

The 3,000-plus disciples represented the total number since the sect’s founding.

Over the eons, many had perished—likely only a few hundred remained alive today! Yet, it was these few hundred inner disciples who maintained the Southcloud Sacred Sect’s formidable reputation. Among them, only a minority were Southcloud citizens; the majority hailed from other nations. Though the requirements for outsiders were far stricter, sheer numbers ensured that many geniuses still joined. Clearly, the prestige of a top-ten sect held immense allure.

Dongbo Xueying’s admission might seem effortless.

In truth, his innate talent ranked among the top ten in Southcloud’s history.

In terms of comprehension, reaching the fifth-level Unity Realm in just five million years was extraordinary.

With such supreme talent and comprehension, coupled with his status as a native, his entry was naturally smooth.

—

Though countless cultivators frequented the Southcloud Sacred Sect,

The vast majority were outer disciples, many of whom came to the main sect seeking superior guidance.

**”Inner disciple.”**

Dongbo Xueying stood atop a mountain peak, behind which lay his cave abode. His demon servant Zibai, Tian Yizhi, maidservant Yan Yu, the two Darkflow Cloud Howlers, and his personal guards had all been settled.

“From now on, I am bound to the Southcloud Sacred Sect.” Dongbo Xueying thought to himself.

*Whoosh.*

He soared through the skies, heading toward a distant location.

The Southcloud Sacred Sect’s rules were stringent. Outer disciples were confined to the peripheral regions, while even the servants of inner disciples had limited access to the core areas.

Thus, the inner core was noticeably quieter.

**”Library Realm.”**

Dongbo Xueying flew through the air, arriving at a mountain peak suspended amidst clouds. At its base was a cavern dozens of zhang high, inscribed with the characters “Library”—the very place he valued most for its collection of supreme techniques and scriptures.

Stepping inside, the surrounding space began to shift.

“Hmm?” Dongbo Xueying glanced around, finding himself in a vast, boundless realm.

Countless tomes floated within this space.

Some were miscellaneous texts, but most were supreme techniques and cultivation methods, along with insights left by predecessors—such as those on mastering the *Twelve Forms of the Southcloud Sacred Art*. Among the countless texts was the complete *Twelve Forms of the Southcloud Sacred Art*.

Scanning the area, he spotted over a dozen figures quietly perusing tomes or immersed in cultivation. Only inner disciples could enter this space.

“Time to explore those legendary scriptures.”

Dongbo Xueying’s heart itched with anticipation. He swiftly flew to the center of the vast realm, where a towering pillar stood, inscribed with rows of text.

– *”Three Lives Method” — Requires 500,000 merit points to exchange.*

– *”Doppelgänger Art” — Requires 300,000 merit points to exchange.*

– *”Great Worldbreaker Teleportation” — Requires 300,000 merit points to exchange.*

– *”Five Phases Sealing Art” — Requires 200,000 merit points to exchange.*

– *”Star God Body” — Requires 200,000 merit points to exchange.*

– *”External Avatar Art” — Requires 100,000 merit points to exchange.*

– *”Intangible Immortality Art” — Requires 100,000 merit points to exchange.*

Row after row of text made Dongbo Xueying’s eyes gleam.

Among them was the *Great Worldbreaker Teleportation*, as well as the standard *Worldbreaker Teleportation*—likely the same as his ultra-long-range teleportation technique, which required only 50,000 merit points to exchange.

“Legendary scriptures and supreme techniques.” Dongbo Xueying sighed in admiration. He had long known of these from miscellaneous texts.

As one of the top ten sects, the Southcloud Sacred Sect had amassed numerous scriptures, some dating back to before the First Ancient War, others unique to the Heart Realm Continent. Even the Six Great Ancient Kingdoms sought to borrow them—though at great cost. Of course, the Six Great Ancient Kingdoms’ heritage far surpassed the Southcloud Sacred Sect’s, and they possessed their own unique supreme techniques.

But for an outsider like him, joining one of the super sects within the Six Great Ancient Kingdoms? Nearly impossible. Outsiders often faced discrimination.

The Southcloud Sacred Sect, at least, was his homeland’s sect—and a top-ten power on the Heart Realm Continent. That was enough.

“A pity. All scriptures listed on the pillar require merit points to exchange. Still, this price is for inner disciples. Outsiders wouldn’t even have the chance to learn them.” Dongbo Xueying lamented, then swept his gaze across the countless free-to-read scriptures floating in the vast space.