No one noticed the subtle change in Chen Xuan’s expression.

The other Peak Masters continued investigating the potential disciples below, utilizing the Stargazing Formation to its full extent.

"This woman possesses a rare Ice Spirit Body! She is destined to be with my Frozen Phoenix Peak! Everyone, don’t interfere!" a woman dressed in long blue robes said coldly.

"Although this boy is only a Mortal Body, his vitality suggests that he is practicing a Wood-based Technique. My Alchemy Peak wants him!" an old man ruffled his white beard with his aged hand and stated calmly.

One by one, the Peak Masters selected their disciples.

Although their voices were loud and they looked ready to fight at the first sign of disagreement, Chen Xuan soon noticed something amiss.

No two Peak Masters ever claimed the same disciple.

They neatly divided the most talented disciples among the Peaks, as if they had reached an agreement long ago.

If someone selected a Spirit Body, the other Peak Masters would choose from the rest of the Spirit Bodies.

In the end, there was no single Peak that gained a significant advantage.

"These people are old foxes! Although they look overbearing and arrogant, they have secretly reached a tacit understanding!"

Chen Xuan was deeply shocked at first when he witnessed their abnormal coordination.

However, he discovered that it was not surprising upon further thought.

The Disciple Ceremony occurred once a year.

If the Peak Masters were to fight every time it took place, the Jade Pure Sect would have been destroyed long ago and would not have stood as one of the major sects.

In addition, these people had lived for several centuries and could be considered "old monsters".

What kind of talent had they never seen before?

Perhaps only a Holy Body like the one that Huo Ling’er possessed could really drive them insane.

"Ahem, Junior Brother Chen, aren’t you going to take in some disciples?" 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

"Even if you are not ready to accept them as your own disciples, you should take in some people for the Yin Yang Peak’s sake, right?"

The Sect Leader had previously remained silent. Yet, when she saw the disciples become fewer as time passed, she couldn’t help but remind him.

Her words jolted Chen Xuan awake.

He turned to the Sect Leader and nodded with a grateful look, understanding her intentions.

"Senior Sister Lu is correct."

"I should indeed take in some disciples for the Yin Yang Peak. Perhaps I might even accept one or two disciples as my own."

Having said that, Chen Xuan regretfully shook his head.

"However, you should all understand the state of my Yin Yang Peak. Although my Master left me behind some resources, her departure was hasty, and she didn’t make many preparations."

"Because of that, my Yin Yang Peak cannot sustain the cultivation of too many disciples. Moreover, due to my young age, I don’t want to take in disciples and lead them astray."

"I won’t compete with you. For this Disciple Ceremony, I’m only planning to take in some disciples with ordinary talent."

Ignoring the Peak Masters’ astonished looks, Chen Xuan gently waved his hand, and a list emerged, which moved towards the Sect Leader.

As Lu Siyan lowered her head and went through the list, she was inevitably surprised.

But when she recalled Chen Xuan’s words, she felt that it made sense.

"Junior Brother Chen is wise!"

"Since this is your first Disciple Ceremony, I’m sure that no other Peak Master will compete against you over these disciples," she stated with a smile and began calling the names of the disciples on the list.

As they heard the first part of her words, some of the Peak Masters had the urge to interrupt her.

Yet, when the full list of the disciples was read out, these Peak Masters shut up.

"It seems that what Junior Brother Chen said before is true. All these disciples are among the lowest in talent and cultivation."

"Most of them wouldn’t even be worthy of entering our Sect. Junior Brother Chen is doing them a favor by taking them in," the Peak Master of the Alchemy Peak thought, and his opinion of Chen Xuan became higher.

This was someone who knew how to act for the greater good, sacrificing his ambitions for the Sect’s harmony!

The same was true for the other Peak Masters.

After the Sect Leader finished speaking, these Peak Masters cast grateful looks towards Chen Xuan before they resumed their previous "confrontation".

As if they were picking vegetables from the market, they all voiced their respective choices.

None of them noticed Chen Xuan’s excited mood. He knew that his plan had nearly succeeded!

--

The young people gathered in the arena did not know what was happening. No one had come to communicate with them.

Hours passed like this.

The young cultivators were patient at first, brimming with excitement but also inner anxiety.

Yet, as time passed and they were left standing here without receiving the slightest bit of instruction, some of them couldn’t help but grow impatient.

"What is happening? Where is the Jade Pure Sect’s representative? Have they forgotten about us?"

"That’s right! My father is the Lord of Greenwood City! I’ll make sure to complain to the higher-ups when I join the sect!"

Only a few people were complaining at first.

But in the blink of an eye, these people had turned into dozens.

Fortunately, just when it seemed that the chaos would spread even further, a dark streak flashed on the horizon, and in the next instant, the figure of a middle-aged man emerged above the arena.

The man exuded the transcendent aura of an immortal and had an otherworldly bearing, as if he had just walked out of a painting.

"Silence!" Yu Cang shouted as he noticed the ruckus below.

The moment his words fell, everyone was left frozen in place.

Shockingly, Yu Cang was a Core Formation expert! With just a shout, he forced everyone to shut up.

The pupils of the participants and their guards shrank.

They immediately hid their dissatisfaction and waited for the man’s next words.

Yu Cang did not keep them waiting.

"The Peak Masters have already made their choices," he stated solemnly and continued, "Those who hear their name, step to the side."

"Those who don’t, remain where you are."

He didn’t give them any time to take in those words. Without any pause, he resumed speaking.

"Situ Yang, Zhang Rong, Liu Yifei, Peng Tie... You will join the Sword Peak!"

"Xiao Huo, Bai Han, Mu Ling... You will join the Battle Peak!"

"Ning Beichen, Po Mang..."

"Wei Luo..."

Name after name was called, accompanied by one of the Jade Pure Sect’s several Peaks.

Some people did not understand Yu Cang’s meaning at first.

But soon, they heard the explanations of those around them and became indignant.

"No! What kind of Disciple Ceremony is this? Shouldn’t we choose which Peak we wish to join? There must have been a mistake!"

"I don’t want to join the Alchemy Peak! I wish to become a sword cultivator and cut mountains with my blade!"

"The Yin Yang Peak? I’d rather sweep the courtyards of the Battle Peak!"