Gateway of Immortality-Chapter 877: Cloud Bridge

The pair swept down toward the bluestone strand.

The people on the stones were startled and looked over, some with a hint of hostility.

As they drew near, the azure-robed man who had been resting with eyes closed opened them, sized them up, and said, "You’ve come to attend our Yanmiao Pavilion's disciple recruitment ceremony?"

"Mm-hmm..." Fang Ting nodded again and again, innocent and bright.

The incarnation acted as if hypnotizing himself, silently repeating "I am Zhang Yue" in his mind, then said steadily, "Disciple Zhang Yue. I have admired the immortal path since childhood and revered Yanmiao Pavilion for a long time. Senior, I ask you to grant me this chance."

"The ceremony has not yet begun. Whether you will be chosen is not mine to decide."

Seeing the incarnation’s level, the azure-robed man did not sound harsh. Then a kindly smile appeared on his face as he added softly, "Pick a spot and rest well. In two days you will know your fate."

At the smile on the man’s face, the incarnation almost thought he had mistaken it. Since when have disciples of great sects been so approachable? Looking closely, he realized the smile had been directed at Fang Ting.

They each chose a bluestone and sat. The others glanced at them, then returned to meditation to conserve strength.

The incarnation immediately noticed that the spiritual qi here was richer than elsewhere on the shore, a fine place to cultivate. After sending a brief voice transmission to Fang Ting, he calmed his mind and waited for the ceremony to start.

At the same time, Qin Sang’s true body appeared not far from the lake. He found a hidden spot, concealed himself, and guarded them in secret.

Two days passed in a blink. More people arrived one after another until the bluestones were nearly all taken.

Among them were boys and girls with guileless faces, as well as rogue cultivators whose eyes could not hide their killing aura, veterans of the martial world, some clearly unruly.

With the Yanmiao Pavilion Foundation Building cultivator watching, no one dared make trouble, and the shore remained peaceful.

Just after the third day’s yin hour, when the mountains were still swathed in shadow, the azure-robed man suddenly opened his eyes and said in a deep voice, "The time has come. The disciple recruitment ceremony begins now. Those who wish to join Yanmiao Pavilion, follow me."

He rose as he spoke, summoned a white bamboo pole, stepped onto it, and sped along the lakeshore. A stir swept the crowd. They rose and followed.

Everyone used different means; some relied on artifacts, others on evasion techniques. Multi-colored evasion light bloomed over the bluestone strand, reflected in the lake and beautiful to behold.

The incarnation flicked his fingers and summoned the leaf-shaped artifact. Fang Ting called forth her sword light. The two set off in haste.

The azure-robed man slowed his pace, leading them around several peaks before arriving at a clearly man-made dock. It faced the island at the lake’s heart. Boats were moored there, and behind the dock lay a mist-shrouded valley that seemed quite large.

Everyone landed on the dock after him, curiosity evident. The incarnation scanned the scene, ending with the misty valley.

The mist blocked their sight but not the Sky-Eyed Butterfly’s. Deep within the valley stood a mortal town, a place like a paradise beyond the world.

Just then, three streaks of evasion light flew out from that mortal town, pierced the mist, and emerged. Laughter rang out. "Junior Brother Mu has brought them."

"Reporting to Senior Brothers, these fellow Daoists are all the attendees for this disciple recruitment ceremony." The azure-robed man cupped his hands.

Of the three, a calm middle-aged cultivator stepped forward. His gaze swept the group, and he nodded with satisfaction. "Good. There are more this year than in years past. We should be able to complete the task given by the pavilion master. Junior Brother Mu, safeguard them first. We three will now set up the Cloud Bridge..."

At that, the azure-robed man waved and cast out a streak of azure light that became a light screen blocking the crowd.

A murmur rose among the rogue cultivators.

"What’s the Cloud Bridge? I heard Yanmiao Pavilion used to test with three small trials. Never heard of a Cloud Bridge." A rogue cultivator wore a face of surprise.

Another echoed him, "Yeah! I joined the last ceremony. Back then it was three small trials. How did it change just like that?"

A sallow, thin cultivator’s eyes filled with despair. His expression went vacant, as if his vitality had been sucked away.

The dock grew noisy.

"Silence!" A sword cultivator beside the middle-aged man shouted, his tone cold. "When was it said that the trials must never change? The purpose of the trials is to see how you perform. If you try to cut corners, even if you pass you will never enter our Yanmiao Pavilion. You can leave now."

Chastened, the crowd fell quiet, no longer daring to babble.

The three Yanmiao Pavilion disciples produced three identical copper mirrors.

The mirrors soared high, joined together above the dock, trembled faintly, and fired a beam of white light straight toward the central island. Though the distance was great, the white light bridged it in an instant and linked the dock to the island.

The sea of mist over the island rolled, then flowed along the white light toward them.

Gradually, a bridge formed between the two places, suspended above the water. It was a Cloud Bridge, woven entirely of cloud and fog, only one zhang wide, ethereal and astonishingly light.

People could not help worrying that if they stepped on it, they might drop straight through.

When the Cloud Bridge appeared, the white light vanished. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

The mirrors fell back into the three men’s hands. They were about to speak when a figure shot out from the island. With several flashes of white, a youth in fluttering white robes, with straight eyebrows and big eyes, appeared before them.

At the sight of him, all four Yanmiao Pavilion cultivators grew solemn and stepped forward to salute. "Disciples greet Senior Uncle Chen!"

Those on the shore were stunned. Such a young man was actually a Core Formation expert. They hurried to salute, fearful and respectful.

The incarnation lowered his head slightly. The instant this Senior Uncle Chen appeared, he had the Sky-Eyed Butterfly withdraw its supernatural ability and fall asleep, lest anything be noticed.

With the butterfly completely hidden, the incarnation relaxed and gathered his thoughts. He suddenly sensed something odd from Fang Ting beside him. She stared fixedly at the Golden Core cultivator of Yanmiao Pavilion, her face a mixture of shock and joy. Seeing this, the incarnation’s heart stirred.

The Chen-surnamed cultivator raised his palm lightly and said indifferently, "Rise. Among you, any who possess the Heavenly Spiritual Root, dual spiritual roots, or bear a special constitution that aids cultivation, step forward. You may enter directly without crossing the Cloud Bridge."

In truth, those with triple spiritual roots were almost guaranteed entry. Even if they failed the trials, they rarely were rejected.

But such roots still paled beside Heavenly or dual roots in favor. Looking at this situation, it was not impossible that the Golden Core cultivator would accept a candidate directly as a true disciple.

Some special constitutions were rarer than the Heavenly Spiritual Root. Such constitutions varied, some beneficial, some harmful, and some neutral.

The incarnation keenly noticed that while the Chen-surnamed cultivator spoke, his gaze fell on Fang Ting at his side, with a hint of a smile in his eyes.