In front of Yang Yan, an old Daoist with white hair and a long beard appeared out of thin air.

He was wearing an ancient and wide Daoist robe, with a long sword sheath on his back.

Upon his appearance, the three streaks of white light heading towards the platform suddenly stopped.

This included Steward Yu, as well as all the disciples, whether in the sky or on the ground, who all bowed respectfully and said:

"Greetings, Ancestral Master!"

Yang Yan did not know the background of this old Daoist, but he knew that he was no one to be underestimated, a formidable figure.

So, he also slightly bowed and shouted:

"Greetings..."

Unexpectedly, before he finished his words, the old Daoist reached out, supporting him, and with a smiling face, stroked his own beard:

"No need, no need. Now is not the time for you to pay your respects, and even when the time comes, it won’t be this way. Haha! Hahaha!"

The old Daoist laughed very happily.

Almost as soon as the old Daoist appeared, the hundred-thousand-strong training grounds fell into silence.

Ultimately, the three white streaks landed on the platform.

Leading them was a middle-aged Daoist with a formidable aura.

Though his appearance commanded respect, he was very reverent in front of the old Daoist.

He bowed and respectfully said:

"Congratulations to Martial Uncle Ancestral Sword Immortal for gaining a brilliant top disciple!"

The old Daoist with a white beard laughed heartily: 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

"Xiaozzi, seems like your role as the Sect Leader is not for nothing, you can even guess my thoughts?"

Upon hearing this, the middle-aged man’s face immediately looked bitter.

My dear Martial Uncle Ancestral, there are so many people here!

Can you leave some face for your disciple?

And calling me Xiaozzi...

Their dialogue gave Yang Yan a rough idea of their identities.

One is the current Ancestral Master of the Ancient Abyss Sect, and the other should be the current Sect Leader.

As for the two elders behind the Sect Leader with white hair and beard, although Yang Yan didn’t know their identities, he imagined they wouldn’t be of a lower rank.

Besides, why do these two look at me so strangely?

So fervently...

I don’t swing that way!

"Ancestral Master, Sect Leader, it’s been identified, Celestial Flood Dragon Saint Body, ranked 1,812th among the Three Thousand Holy Bodies, placing it in the upper mid-tier among the Sacred Bodies!"

The steward on the far right, who had not spoken before, reported excitedly while pointing at the ancient book in his hand.

"Hmm! I know, the impact of this matter is still too big, and although our Ancient Abyss Sect has the protection of the Dao Sect, we must remain vigilant."

The old Daoist stroked his beard, pondered for a moment, and said to the Sect Leader:

"Xiaozzi, you handle this matter. The people who came for the test today and the sect’s disciples, deal with them as you see fit. Delay it as long as possible."

The Sect Leader nodded in agreement:

"Understood, the disciple will handle it well."

The old Daoist gestured to Yang Yan:

"Young man, you come with me. The sect’s disciple induction ceremony continues, and the rest of the matters can be handled by yourselves."

After giving instructions, without waiting for Yang Yan’s response, he lifted his shoulder with his right hand and flew up directly.

After a whirlwind experience, Yang Yan found himself in a grand hall.

The old Daoist sat cross-legged on a puduan, stroking his beard, becoming more and more pleased as he looked at Yang Yan.

Yang Yan stood there, shaking his head vigorously.

This kind of direct space traversal was his first time experiencing it.

He looked around, and his gaze fell on the massive statue enshrined in the center.

The statue, seven or eight meters tall, was majestic and lifelike.

The grand hall was filled with swirling cyan smoke, and Yang Yan was surprised to find that that the burning cyan smoke not only calmed the mind but also had the effect of enhancing cultivation.

One must know, he was already at the peak of the Emperor-level, just a step away from entering the Half-Step Divine Realm!

Initially, an unmoving step had shown a slight loosening because of inhaling a breath of cyan smoke.

This caused Yang Yan to be overjoyed, eagerly taking a few more breaths.

"Haha! Young man, isn’t the Cyan Smoke quite nice?"

The old Daoist sat on the ground, with a look of kind brows and benevolent eyes.

"Cough, cough! It’s alright!"

Though he was quite pleased in his heart, Yang Yan on the surface responded casually.

"Haha! What’s your name, young man? Where are you from? Who’s in your family?"

The old Daoist asked again with a laugh.

Yang Yan’s expression changed slightly but still responded truthfully:

"Disciple was brought back by Elder Dugu, and Elder Dugu should know the details."

"Oh..."

Upon hearing that, the old Daoist replied meaningfully, nodding:

"So it was brought back by that little Dugu. But from the way you tested today, he probably doesn’t know of your aptitude?"

Yang Yan shook his head to indicate he did not know.

"Has he taken you as his disciple?"

The old Daoist asked another question.

Yang Yan shook his head again.

The old Daoist was immediately overjoyed and couldn’t help but ask eagerly:

"If that’s the case, would you be willing to accept me as your master?"

Yang Yan shook again...

Sensed something was not right and abruptly stopped.

Although his face was still indifferent, his heart was rapidly weighing the pros and cons.

The person before him was the Ancestral Master of the Ancient Abyss Sect, known as the Sword Immortal.

The Ancient Abyss Sect appeared to be a giant entity in this realm.

If he apprenticed under the Ancestral Master, even the Sect Leader would address him as an equal.

"It’s a good deal!"

Yang Yan, caught up in the moment, blurted out his internal answer.

The old Daoist was waiting for Yang Yan’s response.

Upon hearing this, he was slightly stunned.

Realizing his mistake, Yang Yan immediately added:

"I mean it’s a good deal for me to be your disciple!"

The old Daoist’s face broke into a delighted smile, stroking his beard with great satisfaction:

"Haha! Good, good, good! In my entire life as a Daoist, I’ve never accepted an inner chamber disciple. It’s either because of a lack of talent or an incompatible personality. If you enter my sect, you shall be the head disciple!"

Before Yang Yan could rejoice, the old Daoist suddenly changed his tone:

"However, accepting a disciple is a serious matter for this old Daoist. Even the Dao Sect must register it. So, you still have to take a few more steps."

Yang Yan didn’t care what steps he needed to take, and immediately bowed and shouted:

"Disciple pays respects to Master!"

This old Daoist being several hundred years old with formidable strength was certainly qualified to be his master.

"Good, you’re clever."

The old Daoist smiled, his eyes full of admiration:

"My Daoist name is Zongming, you should remember it."

Yang Yan nodded, indicating he remembered.

"The current Sect Leader of the Ancient Abyss Sect is named Lin An, with the Daoist name Yu Xu. You may interact with him as an equal."

"In terms of seniority, as my head disciple, you’re slightly higher than him."

Yang Yan blinked and looked at Zongming:

"Junior Brother?"

Zongming nodded with a smile and said:

"Indeed!"

Alright, just joined the sect, and I’ve become the Sect Leader’s senior brother. Those Outer Sect disciples and Inner Sect disciples are simply outclassed!

"What is your cultivation stage?"

Elder Zongming suddenly asked while examining Yang Yan up and down.

"Disciple does not know either."

Yang Yan shook his head with a bitter smile.

He truly did not know what level his Emperor-level strength was considered here.