Chen Yan was well aware that Jin'an Country, to which Yunyang City belonged, was located in the southern region of the Chenping Continent and fell within the Star Heaven Sect's sphere of influence.
But he had never imagined he would actually encounter a cultivator from the Star Heaven Sect here.
Especially judging by the way that Star Heaven Sect cultivator departed just now, the young man's cultivation realm was likely not too low either.
What concerned Chen Yan the most was that he had just made eye contact with the young man wearing the Star Heaven Sect token at his waist.
He wouldn't be recognized.
Chen Yan's current appearance was that of his fifteen-year-old self, three years younger than during the Heavenly Summit Mountain Cataclysm.
Compared to his own eighteen-year-old self, Chen Yan's facial features were much more youthful, and he was also half a head shorter than he had been at eighteen.
More importantly, in the eyes of the world, he was already dead.
And very few people in the Star Heaven Sect knew what he looked like.
Only survivors of the Heavenly Summit Mountain Cataclysm, like Qin Qingyu, knew what he looked like.
The news that Kongyuan Mountain's Chief Disciple Chen Yan had perished in the Kongshan Sect's Outer Court Cataclysm should have spread to every corner of the Chenping Continent three years ago.
Who could imagine he was still alive?
Furthermore, he had never seen that young man wearing the Star Heaven Sect token before.
As for the authenticity of the token, there was basically no question.
Leaving aside whether the materials and craftsmanship of a Star Heaven Sect token were something that could be easily counterfeited.
How utterly audacious would someone have to be to dare forge a Star Heaven Sect token?
Although Chen Yan hadn't expected to see a Star Heaven Sect disciple, the appearance of this disciple wasn't unusual.
If he himself had nothing better to do and heard that some third-rate sect nearby was holding a disciple acceptance ceremony, he might also go over to join the fun.
As for the true purpose behind this Star Heaven Sect disciple's appearance, and whether it could be related to Chen Yan...
Impossible.
Because there was no reason for it.
Even though he hadn't yet recovered his cultivation, the Hidden Immortal Art was still functioning.
In the eyes of others right now, he was just an ordinary mortal.
Unless...
"Then, this Biqiu Sect disciple acceptance ceremony officially begins now!"
On the high platform, the White-Bearded Elder wearing the bluish-grey Biqiu Sect daoist robe shouted.
Chen Yan snapped back to attention.
He hadn't heard a single word of what the White-Bearded Elder had just said.
But it didn't matter.
Chen Yan had never participated in any so-called disciple acceptance ceremony, let alone this kind of selection process.
Because Chen Yan just happened to be brought back to the sect back then by a senior from the Kongshan Sect who was traveling the mortal world.
That senior brought Chen Yan to the outer court, said a few words to the outer court manager, and then left.
After that, Chen Yan never saw that senior again.
In fact, precisely because of this, a question had always lingered in Chen Yan's mind.
That was, who exactly was that senior who brought him back to the Kongshan Sect?
Chen Yan had never thought about this before. He always believed that bringing him back to the Kongshan Sect was merely a whim of that senior, nothing more.
But after coming into contact with Li Haoran and learning about the concept of so-called "karma," Chen Yan began to have new speculations about this matter.
Who was that senior who brought him back to the Kongshan Sect?
Was it truly just a whim, or was it...
Chen Yan didn't know.
Although Chen Yan had never participated in this kind of disciple acceptance ceremony or selection.
Even if he hadn't eaten pork, he had at least seen a pig run.
The most important part of a disciple acceptance ceremony was testing the immortal cultivation aptitude of those seeking the path.
As for how to judge a person's immortal cultivation aptitude and whether it is outstanding or not, it was actually quite simple.
If a person's bones and tendons could accept the cleansing of heaven and earth's spiritual energy, it meant that person possessed the most basic immortal cultivation aptitude.
As for whether the cultivation aptitude was outstanding or not, it was judged based on the efficiency of refining spiritual energy into true qi.
To draw qi into the body, one must refine the spiritual energy between heaven and earth into true qi and then use it to open the meridians.
After condensing the Martial Spring, one could continuously generate true qi from within their own body.
"Next!"
On the high platform, Xing Ziang beside the White-Bearded Elder shouted.
A youth from below stepped onto the high platform, his nervousness visible to the naked eye.
Immediately after, he extended his right hand and placed it on the transparent orb powered by spirit stones placed on the platform.
The moment the youth's palm touched the orb, a wisp of spiritual energy, thin as a thread, shot from within the orb towards the youth's palm!
"Ah!"
The youth suddenly recoiled backward, first looking at his palm in astonishment, then a look of disappointment appeared on his face.
"Next!"
Without the slightest hesitation, Xing Ziang continued shouting.
This transparent orb was a mass-produced spiritual artifact specifically used to test immortal cultivation aptitude. It could directly break the barrier between a person and spiritual energy.
In this situation, if the palm was directly repelled by the spiritual energy, it meant the bones and tendons could not accept the cleansing of heaven and earth's spiritual energy.
Meaning, no immortal cultivation aptitude.
This was the one hundred and seventh aspirant to be tested. So far, not a single person had passed.
In truth, in this world, being able to cultivate immortality was already a remarkable thing.
Take Chen Yan, for example. Although in his first life, he could only cultivate to the mid-stage of the Qi Circulation Realm by the time he died.
Even so, this was already talent many people dreamed of having.
Another half an hour passed. Among nearly a thousand aspirants, only two people had successfully passed this round of selection and received the Biqiu Sect's token.
Receiving the token meant that after the disciple acceptance ceremony concluded, one could follow these Immortal Masters to the Biqiu Sect.
To become an inner sect disciple of the Biqiu Sect, there was a second round of selection.
However, as long as one could pass the first round of selection, it meant the aspirant could choose to remain in the Biqiu Sect's outer sect or simply give up this opportunity.
Staying in the Biqiu Sect's outer sect, at the very least, meant obtaining the qualification to set foot on the Path to Immortality.
"Next!"
Xing Ziang shouted.
Next, it was the turn of the scions from the immortal cultivation families within Yunyang City to undergo the selection.
These scions from the great families all passed the Biqiu Sect's first round of testing with ease.
This was actually quite normal. Scions from great families who lacked immortal cultivation aptitude simply wouldn't come to participate in the Biqiu Sect's selection.
Of course, the goal of these scions was certainly not just to become an outer court disciple of the Biqiu Sect. The upcoming second round of selection was the most important for them.
If they failed the second round of selection, these scions would very decisively give up the opportunity to join the Biqiu Sect.
Because the cultivation resources outer court disciples of the Biqiu Sect could obtain might not necessarily be better than what they could get at home.
"Next!"
Xing Ziang continued shouting.
Xing Zimo, standing in front of Chen Yan, let out a breath and stepped onto the high platform.
The moment he stood firm, Xing Zimo glanced in Xing Ziang's direction.
Xing Ziang's face was expressionless.
Then, Xing Zimo placed his palm on the orb.
A wisp of spiritual energy flashed from within the orb and shot towards Xing Zimo's palm.
And the moment the spiritual energy touched Xing Zimo's palm, his hand was suddenly repelled backward.
Xing Zimo's expression stiffened, a flash of determination appearing in his eyes. He pressed his hand towards the transparent orb again.
Then, he looked up, his gaze full of expectation, at Xing Ziang, his own cousin.
"..."
Xing Ziang fell silent for a moment, then his gaze shifted away from Xing Zimo's direction as if fleeing:
"Fail. Next!"