Chapter 7

In front of the Qingxuan Pillar.

The Jianding Peak elder’s expression was cold as he commanded, "Begin the test."

Qin Xuan nodded indifferently. With a thought, he began to channel his spiritual power.

"BOOM!"

The moment his power entered the pillar, it erupted with a brilliant, dazzling light. The intensity of the glow caused the expressions of everyone nearby to shift, including the stone-faced elder from Jianding Peak.

"Hm?" The elder let out a note of surprise before speaking, "Not bad, not bad. Two or three stars should be within reach."

He was already satisfied to have recruited one seven-star genius during this selection process. However, seven-star geniuses were rare and difficult to come by; he naturally didn't expect to see two appear in a single day.

"SWISH!"

Just then, the first star on the Qingxuan Pillar lit up.

"Only one?" The Jianding Peak elder paused, a flicker of disappointment crossing his eyes. As expected, geniuses were not so common.

"SWISH, SWISH!" "SWISH, SWISH, SWISH!"

But suddenly, the stars began to light up in rapid succession. In the blink of an eye, six stars were glowing in a row.

"Six stars!" "Incredible! I’m so jealous. Even if six stars don't guarantee being a personal disciple of an elder, he is guaranteed a spot as an inner sect disciple. His future is limitless." "How is it fair that this guy got six stars?"

The crowd erupted into murmurs, most casting envious glares at Qin Xuan.

"Damn it! Six stars? Nothing special. I’m a seven-star genius, a personal disciple of an elder. Compared to me, you're still just a piece of trash!" The young man beside the Jianding Peak elder frowned, cursing inwardly.

"SWISH!"

However, as the young man cursed, another star lit up on the Qingxuan Pillar.

"This piece of… is he actually the same as me? A seven-star genius?"

The youth’s pupils dilated, and he clenched his fists. Seven stars meant that someone who should have been nothing more than his servant now stood on the same level as him. He swallowed the word "trash" that had been on the tip of his tongue. If a seven-star genius was trash, what did that make him?

Accompanied by a sky filled with starlight, streaks of light shot up from within the Qingshan Sect. Several figures emanating powerful auras descended rapidly.

"Heaven truly favors Qingshan! To think we’ve seen two seven-star geniuses in one day." "The first one was already snatched up by that bastard from Jianding Peak. This one belongs to me!" "Heh, you’re ugly and your dreams are even worse. I can see this child has a fated connection with me; he should clearly be my disciple."

Even before they arrived, their voices echoed through the sky. Qin Xuan paid them no mind, his palm still resting on the Qingxuan Pillar.

"SWISH!" "BOOM!"

Suddenly, the Qingxuan Pillar shuddered, erupting into a blinding azure light that pierced the clouds. The entire sect square was engulfed in a cyan radiance.

"Good heavens!" "Could it be..."

The sudden change left everyone stunned. Even the elders hovering in mid-air were struck with awe, their gazes fixed on the young man before the pillar, their throats bobbing in shock.

"Eight stars!" "How many years has it been? It has been a long time since a genius of this caliber appeared in the Qingshan Sect." "It’s eight stars!"

"SWISH, SWISH, SWISH!"

At that moment, profound lights lit up from deep within the Qingshan Sect, piercing the sky and connecting to the main gate. Seven immense auras, impossible to describe, approached rapidly alongside the beams of light. The sheer pressure of their presence caused the surrounding mountains to tremble, as if the earth were about to split asunder.

"So powerful!" "What level of experts are these?" the people gasped, their hearts shaking.

"Those are Xuanji Realm experts! Only they possess such terrifying pressure." "What? Xuanji Realm? Those are legendary figures!"

The appearance of the lights fueled the chaotic whispers of the crowd.

"Sigh... it's over. I knew they were watching this selection. They've all come... there's nothing left for the rest of us." The elders in the air sighed, their faces bitter. They knew that an eight-star genius was beyond their reach. To the Qingshan Sect, an eight-star genius was the future of the sect. Not only them, but even the masters of the Nine Peaks would fight over him. A brawl was not entirely off the table.

"Are these the masters of the Qingshan Peaks? Each one is terrifyingly strong!" someone gulped.

"The leader is Yuan Tianba, master of Kaitian Peak. Legend says he can split a great river with a single slash, causing the water to flow backward." "Behind Yuan Tianba is Li Wushuang, master of Potian Peak, unmatched in the way of the sword." "That blue light belongs to Wentian, master of Wentian Peak, the greatest in Daoist arts within the Qingshan Sect." "I didn't expect the masters of the three Great Peaks to all show up," another remarked in surprise. The Qingshan Sect had nine peaks, with the three Great Peaks being the strongest—excluding, of course, the Qingshan Peak itself, the Sect Master’s peak.

"The three Great Peaks are strong, but the others are not to be underestimated either." "True. Xiao Li of Jianding Peak, Wang Jinglei of Zilei Peak, Danyangzi of Xuandan Peak, Gu Jin of Lianti Peak... they are all peerless masters."

There were nine peaks in Qingshan, and now, seven of their Xuanji Realm masters were present.

"Is this the prestige of an eight-star genius?" "That is eight stars! It hasn't happened in so many years; he deserves it!" "Eight stars will earn him personal transmission from a peak master. What an enviable guy."

The commotion caused by the seven peak masters gradually subsided. The crowd’s attention returned to the black-robed youth standing before the Qingxuan Pillar, everyone whispering to one another.

The seven peak masters hovered in the air like seven scorching suns, impossible to look at directly.

"This boy's talent is extraordinary; he is clearly a genius of Daoist arts. He should come to my Wentian Peak to study. It is decided," the master of Wentian Peak declared, his tone firm and overbearing.

Li Wushuang of Potian Peak stood tall and sneered, "Heh, look at this young man. His posture is like a sword; he has a natural sword-body. He is the future Dao Child of my Potian Peak."

"What nonsense are you spouting? This boy’s aura is sharp and aggressive. It would be a waste of his potential if he doesn't learn the blade!" Yuan Tianba glared at Li Wushuang, his voice chilling.

Blade and sword clashed. Within the Qingshan Sect, he and Li Wushuang were the most at odds.

"Why are you all shouting? How many Dao Children have you three Great Peaks already taken? It's time for my Lianti Peak to have a turn." "Exactly, exactly! If everything is going to the three Great Peaks, you can refine your own pills from now on!" Danyangzi’s hair and beard were white, but his eyes glowed with brilliant light. "This seven-star genius must belong to our Jianding Peak!"

The seven peak masters refused to yield, each beginning to fight over Qin Xuan.

"RUMBLE!" "SWISH!"

Just as the onlookers wondered which master Qin Xuan would choose, the Qingxuan Pillar suddenly let out a thunderous crack. The azure light surged to the heavens, scattering the clouds.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, the ninth star lit up!