Zhang Yuhe quickly passed through Zhongzhou City and headed south.
He was unaware that a major crisis was trailing behind him. However, because he ran at full speed, the threat disappeared.
Life's twists and turns often lead to unpredictable consequences. Had he slowed down even slightly, he would have undoubtedly been caught.
Such is the wonder of the world.
...
Dao Sheng Sect was located 60,000 miles south of Zhongzhou City, and there was no direct teleportation array leading to it.
More precisely, there was no external teleportation array. If monks wished to reach Dao Sheng Sect, they had to travel there on their own.
Given Zhang Yuhe's current strength, even if he flew at full speed, it would probably take several days.
After leaving Zhongzhou City, Zhang Yuhe summoned his flying sword and swiftly took to the air.
Every so often, a streak of light would pass by him — perhaps a Dao Sheng Sect disciple returning from an outing.
However, he didn't attempt to initiate any conversations, keeping his focus solely on flying.
Seven days later, a colossal fairy mountain appeared before him.
The mountain range stretched endlessly, with towering peaks that seemed to reach the sky. Some of the towers and pavilions perched on the peaks were obscured by mist and clouds, giving the impression of a sacred land belonging to immortal families.
"Is this Dao Sheng Sect?"
Seeing the mountain range ahead, Zhang Yuhe couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief.
To be honest, flying for seven consecutive days was exhausting, especially considering his current strength in the Qi training stage.
Following the directions on the map, Zhang Yuhe soon arrived at the reception area.
A pretty girl in purple robes emerged from the reception area and approached him politely.
"I'm Zhao Qingqing, an outer disciple of Dao Sheng Sect. May I ask what brings Brother Dao here?"
The girl in purple robes didn't show any sign of arrogance or disdain despite Zhang Yuhe's apparent lack of cultivation.
The reception area often welcomed outsiders, most of whom were visiting friends or relatives who were practicing at Dao Sheng Sect. Since Zhao Qingqing didn't know Zhang Yuhe's background, she couldn't afford to treat him dismissively.
She had been working at the reception for years and had developed a naturally friendly attitude. No one could be offended, regardless of their status.
Zhang Yuhe wasted no time and, taking out the token, asked politely, "I wish to join Dao Sheng Sect. Is this possible?"
He handed the token to Zhao Qingqing, waiting for her response.
Upon seeing the token, Zhao Qingqing was taken aback.
Dao Sheng Sect rarely recruited outsiders, and although she had heard stories about people like Zhang Yuhe trying to join, this was the first time she had encountered someone doing so.
However, when she examined the token more closely, she didn't recognize it. Curiosity took over, and she asked, "What is this?"
"It's a token. With this, you can join Dao Sheng Sect," Zhang Yuhe replied uneasily.
Zhao Qingqing's expression shifted slightly. Could it be that the information on the token was false? Zhang Yuhe had believed that presenting the token would grant him immediate entry into the sect. Now, it seemed things were not that simple. Zhao Qingqing was clearly familiar with the tokens.
Zhao Qingqing furrowed her brow. She had never heard of such a token, though it was possible that certain secrets of the sect eluded her, as she had not been there long.
She carefully examined the token, channeling spiritual energy into it. Her expression shifted to one of surprise.
It appeared the token was genuine, containing valid information that would allow its bearer to join Dao Sheng Sect.
A bit hesitant, she decided to send a message to the sect for further confirmation. She handed the token back to Zhang Yuhe.
"Brother Daoist, please wait a moment. I've contacted the sect, and someone will handle this shortly."
With that, Zhang Yuhe was welcomed into the reception hall and offered tea. They sat opposite one another as Zhang Yuhe held his teacup, feeling a bit nervous.
"I hope nothing unexpected happens," he thought.
Suddenly, Zhao Qingqing, who had been sitting across from him, stood up and respectfully addressed someone behind him.
"Disciple Zhao Qingqing greets Elder Lu."
Zhang Yuhe quickly turned around and saw an old man with sword-shaped eyebrows and kind eyes. He was dressed in white robes and had appeared behind him unnoticed.
Zhang Yuhe immediately stood and greeted the man respectfully.
"I've met the senior."
The old man in white robes waved his hand and examined the token closely.
After some time, he looked up and asked, "Is this token yours?"
"Yes," Zhang Yuhe replied quickly.
"Do you know its origin?"
Zhang Yuhe shook his head.
"Who knows? I found it after defeating a monster. The origin of this token is a mystery to me. Can it really allow me to join Dao Sheng Sect?"
Zhang Yuhe hoped that the token's information was legitimate. Judging by the old man's expression, however, the token seemed authentic.
After a moment, the old man spoke slowly.
"About 100,000 years ago, demons invaded Yu Fantian, bringing about a great calamity. Many heroes perished in the war to fend off the demons."
"In order to honor the descendants of these heroes and to serve as a warning about the dangers of demons, Dao Sheng Sect created this token."
"The ancestors of the sect left behind a legacy: anyone bearing this token can join Dao Sheng Sect as an inner disciple and may choose any technique to study from the Sutra Building."
"A total of 100 tokens were made. Over the past 100,000 years, the others have been returned, and this is the last one."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Yuhe let out a sigh of relief.
It seemed that he could truly join Dao Sheng Sect. As for the token's origin, that was of little concern to him.
Demons and such threats had no bearing on him. He was a Blue Star, not a native of Yufantian.
Even if there were another demon invasion, he would be fine. As a player, he could respawn the next day after dying and simply log off.
For Zhang Yuhe, cultivation in Yufantian was the only thing that truly mattered.
The purple-clad girl next to him couldn't hide her envy.
Dao Sheng Sect boasted 100,000 disciples, yet most of them were outer disciples.
Entering the inner sect was incredibly difficult, with strict requirements and a high threshold.
She knew that any inner sect disciple was an important figure, and only 3,000 disciples held this prestigious status.
Zhang Yuhe, a mere Qi training disciple, would be allowed to enter the inner sect and choose any technique from the Sutra Building.
The Sutra Building housed techniques and magical powers above the Heaven Level, accessible only to inner sect disciples.
Even for these disciples, entering the Sutra Building was no easy feat. Some inner sect disciples spent hundreds of years accumulating merits without being able to exchange for a technique.
Zhao Qingqing couldn't help but feel a little jealous of the treatment Zhang Yuhe was receiving.
The old man in white robes noticed the expressions of the two and remained indifferent.
In his view, this token was a rare opportunity for Zhang Yuhe.
With this token, he could walk the path toward immortality.
How far he would go depended on his luck, as well as his talent and effort in cultivation.