Chris exclaimed in surprise, “I never expected so many people to show up for this selection process.”
Beside him, Oriana explained, “Skyward Sect is one of the four great sects of Aethelgard. Their strength is immense, and anyone who joins gains access to countless cultivation resources. However, joining Skyward Sect isn’t easy. They are extremely strict in selecting their disciples-every one of them is extraordinarily gifted.”
As time passed, more and more Aetherbinding cultivators arrived.
Suddenly, someone shouted, “The gates of Skyward Sect have opened! Hurry, let’s go!”
Hearing these words, countless Aetherbinding cultivators surged forward in a frenzy.
Upon entering the Skyward Sect, they were greeted by towering trees and rare, exotic flowers. Soon, the crowd arrived at a vast plaza.
All the participating Aetherbinding cultivators gathered there. The plaza was enormous, about the size of dozens of football fields, and it was packed with tens of thousands of cultivators.
“Everyone, quiet down!”
A middle-aged man stepped forward and spoke. His words silenced the crowd instantly.
He scanned the crowd with a smile and said, “Today marks the start of the Skyward Sect’s disciple selection. Only the most gifted Aetherbinding cultivators will be allowed to stay in our sect. I now announce the beginning of the first test!”
Soon, the cultivators began lining up.
The first test was simple: it evaluated everyone’s Aetherbinding talent.
Oriana glanced at Chris and said, “I’m going in!”
Suddenly, Tanner Field spoke up, “Chris, I want to take the test too.”
Chris nodded at Tanner’s words.
Oriana and Tanner Field both stepped forward to participate in the test. As for Chris and Lindsay Windson, they stayed back. Lindsay, being a member of the Jefferson family, naturally had no interest in joining the Skyward Sect. Chris, as the disciple of Archer Wintersong, would not pledge allegiance to another master.
The first test eliminated nearly hundreds of thousands of participants, leaving only ten thousand.
Chris was stunned by the sheer number of people disqualified in the first round. “It seems joining the Skyward Sect isn’t easy,” he remarked.
The middle-aged man reappeared and announced, “Congratulations to those who passed the first test. Up next is the second test.”
Both Tanner Field and Oriana successfully cleared the first test.
Lindsay Windson turned to Chris. “Mr. Shelby, do you think they’ll make it into the Skyward Sect?”
Chris smiled. “Tanner Field and Oriana are both quite talented. I believe they have a good chance.”
A day passed, and after the second test, only about ten thousand participants remained. By the end of the third test, the number dwindled even further.
To Chris’s surprise, Tanner Field failed the third test. However, Oriana passed and officially became a disciple of the Skyward Sect.
Oriana looked at Chris with reluctance. “Chris, I’ll be staying here to cultivate from now on. I wonder if we’ll ever meet again.”
Chris smiled warmly. “We will meet again. I’ll make sure to let Emily know you’re here. I hope you two sisters get the chance to reunite.”
The next day, Chris, Lindsay Windson, and Tanner Field left the Skyward Sect.
With Oriana now in the Skyward Sect, Chris decided it was time to return to Earth. But before that, he had unfinished business-dealing with Hartless Iron.
“Chris, let me go! If you don’t release me, my father won’t spare you!”
Hartless Iron yelled frantically as Chris dragged him forward.
Ignoring him, Chris tossed Hartless Iron onto a boat.
Meanwhile, at the Iron Fist headquarters…
“How dare they kidnap my nephew? I’ll never forgive them!”
In the grand hall, a middle-aged man roared in fury.
This man was Blood Iron, the Vice Hall Master of Iron Fist and Hartless Iron’s uncle. Upon learning of his nephew’s capture, Blood Iron became enraged.
As a peak Solstice cultivator, Blood Iron could not tolerate such humiliation. Moreover, he dreaded the consequences of explaining this to his elder brother once he emerged from seclusion.
Blood Iron bellowed, “Find Chris! Bring my nephew back at all costs!”
At his command, Iron Fist’s forces mobilized.
A few days later, Chris and his group were resting on an island when a group of Iron Fist members surrounded them.
“Release my nephew now! Let’s see where you’ll run this time!”
A chilling voice broke the silence as Blood Iron emerged, his eyes radiating killing intent.
Chris’s expression darkened. He could sense that Blood Iron was a peak Solstice cultivator. While Chris could barely handle someone at the late Solstice stage, facing a peak Solstice opponent was a different matter entirely.
Grabbing Hartless Iron, Chris sneered, “If you come any closer, I’ll kill him!”
Blood Iron’s face twisted in anger. “Release my nephew now, or I’ll make sure you die without a grave!”
Chris smirked coldly. “If you want me to release him, you’ll have to let us leave first.”
Blood Iron scoffed. “Boy, you dare negotiate with me? Killing you would be as easy as crushing an ant. If you don’t release my nephew, you’ll die here today!”
Without hesitation, Chris drew his Dragon Slayer blade and severed one of Hartless Iron’s arms.
“Ahhh!”
Hartless Iron screamed in agony.
“You…”
Blood Iron was stunned by Chris’s decisiveness.
Chris laughed coldly. “I told you, let us leave, or I’ll kill him!”
Blood Iron trembled with rage. “Do you have any idea what happens to those who cross Iron Fist?”
If his nephew weren’t being held hostage, Blood Iron would have killed Chris already.
“Ahhh!”
Another scream rang out as Chris cut off Hartless Iron’s other arm.
Chris’s voice was icy. “Your time is running out. Leave now, or I’ll finish him off!”
“You… you…”
Blood Iron’s body radiated a chilling aura, his fury reaching its peak. As the Vice Hall Master of Iron Fist, no one had ever dared to threaten him like this. Chris’s boldness sealed his fate in Blood Iron’s eyes.
Hartless Iron, his face pale and drenched in sweat, shouted desperately, “Uncle Blood, leave now! If you don’t, I’m going to die!”
With both arms severed, Hartless Iron could no longer endure the pain.