Eternal Life from the Golden Needle Technique

Chapter 246: Chapter 243: Successfully Joined

What had happened high in the sky,

was unknown to the people below.

Neither Shen Changchuan, nor Wu Tianhao, nor any of the Cultivators participating in the assessment on the plaza,

had noticed that Master Wandering Dragon, the founding Sect Leader of the Dragon Cloud Sect, had come and gone.

At this moment,

with Shen Changchuan’s departure, the oppressive atmosphere that had hung in the air dissipated.

In an instant,

the plaza was abuzz with discussion.

”Who was that kid?”

Someone asked indignantly.

”What about it? Are you thinking of getting payback for today’s events in the future?”

”Of course! We all have two eyes, one nose, and one mouth. I refuse to believe the gap between people can be that wide!”

”He was able to trample all over me, Chen Mingdao, today not because he’s so powerful, but because I come from a humble background and have never had the opportunity to master a more formidable legacy.”

”Once I’m accepted into the Dragon Cloud Sect and learn its superior legacies, I will definitely be able to cut him down one day!”

The young man who called himself Chen Mingdao had a blazing look in his eyes; not only was he not the least bit dejected by what had just happened,

but his eyes were instead filled with fighting spirit and a thirst for battle.

As soon as he spoke,

many of the surrounding people shot him sideways glances.

But there was little mockery in their looks,

because many of them had the exact same thought.

Everyone here had made it this far.

Which one of them wasn’t a genius in the eyes of their peers?

And which one of them didn’t have the pride of a genius?

They refused to believe they were inferior to anyone.

Even though, at this moment, they were indeed no match for him.

But that was only because they lacked profound legacies and hadn’t received proper training.

The present was the present,

and the future was the future.

Once they entered the Dragon Cloud Sect and overcame their final weaknesses,

they would challenge him to a duel then!

For a moment,

the few people nearby were swept up in his fervor, their own spirits soaring.

Visions flashed through their minds of a future where they had mastered a profound legacy,

a future where they would defeat that arrogant fellow.

”That... might not be so easy, I’m afraid.”

Just then, however,

someone’s voice poured cold water on their enthusiasm.

”What do you mean?”

”If I’m not mistaken, that person is Shen Changchuan!”

”Hiss! Shen Changchuan? You mean *the* Shen Changchuan? The peerless prodigy from all the recent rumors, the one who killed a Soul Emergence Realm expert while only at the Qi Introduction Realm?!”

The moment the name Shen Changchuan was spoken,

the fighting spirit that had just surged suddenly faltered.

Some people even gasped in shock.

Killing a Soul Emergence Realm expert while only at the Qi Introduction Realm—

as Cultivators who were themselves at the Qi Introduction Late Stage Realm, they knew exactly how incredible that feat was.

”Hmph!”

”Stop building him up and putting yourself down!”

”I heard about that, too. But he only pulled it off because that Soul Emergence Realm True Cultivator was already severely wounded. Plus, Shen Changchuan was wielding an incredibly powerful Treasure Artifact and only succeeded by launching a sneak attack while his opponent was off guard!”

”He just relied on a powerful Magical Artifact and a bit of luck. If it had been me, I could’ve done it too!”

”Just you watch. Once I’m in the Sect, I’ll teach him a good lesson during the Sect tournament, where powerful Magical Artifacts are forbidden!”

Chen Mingdao declared with a cold snort.

...

Of course, Shen Changchuan was unaware of what was happening behind him.

And even if he had known, he wouldn’t have cared.

His mind was already focused on the contents of the Heart Inquiry Gate.

Regarding this particular trial,

Shen Changchuan was actually somewhat apprehensive.

His purpose for joining the Dragon Cloud Sect wasn’t entirely pure; it had started with the agreement he’d made with the Shen Family Ancestor.

Although the Shen Family Ancestor hadn’t specified what exactly he was supposed to do.

He hadn’t been told to enter the Dragon Cloud Sect and act as a spy,

but there was still a knot of unease in his heart. ’Who knows if the Heart Inquiry Gate will expose this?’

And so,

Shen Changchuan paid no attention whatsoever to the crowd’s reaction after he left, instead focusing all his energy on the Heart Inquiry Gate before him.

As it turned out,

he was completely overthinking things.

The actual content of the Heart Inquiry Gate was very simple.

After Shen Changchuan stepped inside, he was first illuminated by a ray of light.

It felt as though that beam of light was scrutinizing every inch of his flesh and blood.

Apparently, it found nothing amiss,

as a few questions then echoed in Shen Changchuan’s ears.

The questions were blunt, asking where he came from, what power his family belonged to, whether any of his relatives practiced the Demon Dao, and finally, whether he was sincere about joining the Dragon Cloud Sect and if he was a spy sent by another power!

They were very straightforward questions,

but Shen Changchuan didn’t believe for a second that the person who designed such a test was a fool.

There had to be some method to determine whether he was telling the truth.

So he answered everything truthfully.

This included the final questions as well.

As for whether he was sincere about joining the Dragon Cloud Sect...

Ever since seeing the Immortal Mountain and Giant Peak on the former site of the Wu Family Collection, Shen Changchuan had genuinely wanted to join.

’Who could witness such world-altering power and not covet it?’

And as for being a spy sent by another power...

First, the Tian Nan Shen Clan was a vassal of the Yuqing Immortal Sect, so technically, it wasn’t another power.

Second, the Shen Family Ancestor had only instructed him to join the Dragon Cloud Sect; there was no explicit order to act as an undercover spy.

’Perhaps the Shen Family Ancestor simply wanted a rising genius from the Shen Clan to join as a gesture of goodwill toward the Dragon Cloud Sect?’

So, Shen Changchuan answered ”no” with a clear conscience.

And so,

without any surprises,

he passed the Heart Inquiry Gate.

This made Shen Changchuan let out a huge sigh of relief.

After that,

all those who had passed the Heart Inquiry Gate entered the plaza of the Ancient Grotto Heaven Ruins, which was now the true Mountain Gate of the Dragon Cloud Sect.

They witnessed Master Wandering Dragon descend from the sky, welcome them to the Dragon Cloud Sect, deliver an inspiring speech, and announce the new Sect’s various rules.

Master Wandering Dragon’s other Direct Disciples, besides Wu Tianhao, also appeared. They stood on his left and right, where Master Wandering Dragon appointed them as Elders and assigned them various positions within the Sect.

It was clear that the newly established Dragon Cloud Sect was still a bit rough around the edges.

But between its well-developed system and Master Wandering Dragon’s Direct Disciples, all of whom were at the Soul Emergence Realm,

the basic framework was already established.

It would just take some more time for all the parts to integrate, and then a complete Sect would take shape.

Not long after,

the assembly concluded.

Everyone took turns going to the newly built Ancestral Hall to offer incense,

making a Dao Heart oath before the Ancestral Master’s Tablet.

From that moment on,

everyone, including Shen Changchuan, officially became an Outer Disciple of the Dragon Cloud Sect!

In a newly established Sect,

many matters were still rather cumbersome.

However, according to Wu Tianhao, the various frameworks of the Dragon Cloud Sect were based on those of the Yuqing Immortal Sect, so its operational systems were quite mature.

Thus, after a bumpy half-month of adjustments,

the entire Dragon Cloud Sect finally began to run smoothly.

And Shen Changchuan,

was finally able to settle in.

He began to adapt to his new life in the Sect.