I, the Invincible Genius, Only Want to Live a Low-Key Life - Chapter 7

Seven days later.

At the main peak of the Divine Sky Sword Sect.

Thousands of people had gathered, men and women, young and old alike, all carrying three-foot swords on their backs. Some wore azure robes, while others wore blue robes.

Those in azure robes were quite young; those in blue robes were relatively older.

Lin Feng and Ye Qingxuan were among them, both dressed in azure robes.

In the Divine Sky Sword Sect, attire was a matter of strict regulation-one could not dress as one pleased.

All disciples wore azure robes.

Whether you were an Outer Disciple, Inner Disciple, or a True Disciple, it was the same.

However, to distinguish between the three, in addition to the characters for ‘Outer’, ‘Inner’, or ‘True’ embroidered on the chest, the color of the belt also differed.

Outer Disciples wore azure robes with azure belts; Inner Disciples wore azure robes with yellow belts; True Disciples wore azure robes with white belts.

Blue robes were worn by Stewards.

If an Outer Disciple failed to advance to Inner Disciple before the age of forty, they would automatically become a Third-Rank Steward.

If an Inner Disciple failed to advance to True Disciple before the age of fifty, they would automatically become a Second-Rank Steward.

Stewards were divided into three ranks: Third-Rank Steward, Second-Rank Steward, and First-Rank Steward, corresponding to the strength levels of Sea Condensation Realm, Illusion Shattering Realm, and Nether Penetrating Realm, respectively.

Third-Rank Stewards were the most numerous and the weakest in strength. Though the title sounded respectable, in reality, they handled the menial tasks within the Divine Sky Sword Sect, their status only slightly higher than that of Outer Disciples.

Second-Rank Stewards fared much better, only needing to manage the Third-Rank Stewards.

As for First-Rank Stewards, their status was already higher than many Inner Disciples.

If a First-Rank Steward broke through from the Nether Penetrating Realm to the Sky Soaring Realm, they would immediately be promoted to Elder. Even the most ordinary Elder was far above any Steward.

The thousands gathered at the main peak were all disciples and Stewards sent by the Divine Sky Sword Sect to enter the Nine Nether Secret Realm.

Among them, there were four True Disciples, all with bone ages around their twenties. Apart from Lin Feng, each was a genius among geniuses, the focus of the sect’s cultivation efforts.

There were 128 Inner Disciples, all under fifty years of age, with great potential for cultivation. Some Inner Disciples’ talents were no less than those of True Disciples; they simply hadn’t been discovered at first.

Every year during the Sect Grand Competition, some Inner Disciples would catch the attention of Peak Masters or the Elder Council and be accepted as True Disciples. Thus, they would go all out during the competition, hoping to become True Disciples and receive the sect’s focused nurturing.

There were 812 Outer Disciples, most of whom had just met the requirements for entry into the Divine Sky Sword Sect. The fate of the vast majority was to endure until they became Third-Rank Stewards; only a few could advance to Inner Disciple and eventually become Second-Rank Stewards.

As for Outer Disciples advancing to True Disciples? It wasn’t unheard of, but it was exceedingly rare-there had only been a handful in the entire history of the Divine Sky Sword Sect.

The remaining Stewards numbered over a thousand, almost all appearing to be middle-aged. Their talent was average, barely qualifying for acceptance into the Divine Sky Sword Sect, and it was difficult for them to achieve much unless they encountered some extraordinary opportunity.

Stewards were the most eager to enter the Nine Nether Secret Realm and take a chance. Without this opportunity, they might spend their lives in mediocrity.

Even a small step forward, to become an ordinary Elder, would be a great improvement.

In terms of both status and resources, Elders were far superior to Stewards.

If one wished to be respected and obtain more cultivation resources, one could only strive to climb higher.

To become a Peak Master or a member of the Elder Council was to join the core leadership of the Divine Sky Sword Sect.

Every time the Nine Nether Secret Realm opened, all the powers of Li Province would send large numbers of disciples to vie for opportunities within.

While seeking fortune, they would also gain valuable experience.

Flowers grown in a greenhouse could never truly flourish.

To become stronger, one must go out and temper themselves-even face life and death.

At this moment, the Sect Leader of the Divine Sky Sword Sect, Luo Yuntian, was encouraging those about to set out.

To call it encouragement was to put it mildly-it was more like a rousing speech.

He recounted how, since the Nine Nether Secret Realm had first opened, many had soared to greatness within and ultimately become the strongest in Li Province.

The message was simple.

But the effect was clear.

Born in an era where the strong preyed on the weak, who didn’t wish to become stronger? Who didn’t want to be someone who held the power of life and death over others?

Except for Lin Feng, everyone else was striving with all their might to become stronger.

Seeing the excitement on everyone’s faces, Luo Yuntian felt the time was right. With a grand gesture, he declared:

“On this journey to the Nine Nether Secret Realm, our Divine Sky Sword Sect will surely stand above all others. Twelfth Elder, I leave these people in your care. I expect you to bring back as many as you take with you today, three months from now.”

“We obey the Sect Leader’s command!” Gu Mingzhou, one of the twelve Elders of the Divine Sky Sword Sect, stepped forward and cupped his fists in reply.

He was a member of the Elder Council, and his strength was formidable.

“Set out!”

In an instant, Gu Mingzhou soared into the air, and the rest followed, riding their swords.

To ensure the safety of their disciples, the Divine Sky Sword Sect dispatched no fewer than twenty-four Elders, all at least at the Sky Soaring Realm, to accompany them.

The group set off in grand procession toward the location where the Nine Nether Secret Realm would open.

A force of two thousand flying on swords through the sky was truly a spectacular sight.

Lin Feng blended into the crowd, trying his best to remain inconspicuous so that, once inside the Nine Nether Secret Realm, he could quietly slip away on his own. He didn’t stay too close to Ye Qingxuan.

Ye Qingxuan was different from him.

Not only did she possess an unparalleled beauty, but she was also the pride of the Divine Sky Sword Sect. Within the sect, she was known to all.
Just look at the men gathered around her to see how welcome she is.

Lin Feng had no desire to draw attention to himself.

The unfamiliar faces all around made him realize something.

He had lived in the Divine Sky Sword Sect for twenty years, yet he knew so few people?

Although the Divine Sky Sword Sect was one of the top forces in Li Province, with a large number of disciples, and recruited a new batch every year, as the Eldest Senior Brother who had been in the sect for more than twenty years, he had truly been too much of a recluse all these years. He rarely went out, and among the more than two thousand disciples, Lin Feng could count the ones he knew on his fingers.

As the Eldest Senior Brother of the Divine Sky Sword Sect, he was indeed unqualified.

At the same time, teams from all the major powers of Li Province were leaving one after another.

Every time the Nine Nether Secret Realm opened, it was a grand event in Li Province.

While it was not enough to determine the future situation of Li Province, it still had a certain impact.

Everyone hoped their disciples could find opportunities in the Nine Nether Secret Realm and soar to the skies.

After two days of flying on swords, the group from the Divine Sky Sword Sect arrived at the edge of the Ten Thousand Mountains and stopped.

The Ten Thousand Mountains was one of the three great forbidden zones of Li Province, filled with countless dangers deep within. Even the strong had to be extremely cautious when entering.

Fortunately, the entrance to the Nine Nether Secret Realm was not deep within the Ten Thousand Mountains, but rather at the edge. Otherwise, the team sent by the Divine Sky Sword Sect might have been wiped out before even reaching their destination.

The three great forbidden zones were not to be trifled with.

Even at the edge, extra caution was required.

Blending into the crowd, Lin Feng looked ahead at the Ten Thousand Mountains, one of the three great forbidden zones of Li Province. Aside from the endless, unbroken forest, it didn’t seem all that special.

At this moment, the leading Twelfth Elder, Gu Mingzhou, shouted loudly, “We are about to enter the Ten Thousand Mountains, one of the three great forbidden zones of Li Province. Everyone, stay close and don’t fall behind. I don’t have time to wait for you. The Sect Leader only told me to bring you all back-whether as corpses or alive, he didn’t specify! Understood?”

“Understood!!!” everyone replied in unison.

Naturally, everyone understood that the Sect Leader’s words were just a formality.

Let alone the perilous Nine Nether Secret Realm-even in ordinary actions, it was impossible for all who set out to return.

“Good! Follow me!”

Gu Mingzhou was the first to step into the Ten Thousand Mountains.

More than two thousand people continued flying forward on their swords.

An hour quickly passed.

Nothing unexpected happened.

Lin Feng occasionally looked down at the dense forest below, curious about what dangers the legendary Ten Thousand Mountains, one of the three great forbidden zones, truly held.

Unfortunately, nothing happened.

But at that moment-

A massive, fast-moving black cloud appeared ahead.

In the blink of an eye, it was close by, accompanied by countless cries.

“Caw, caw, caw…”

Hearing this sound, Lin Feng felt nothing, but those around him seemed drunk, even struggling to maintain their sword flight.

“Wake up!!!”

A loud shout rang out.

Everyone snapped back to their senses at that moment.

“Attention, everyone! These are Black Water Crows. Although their attack power isn’t strong, their cries have a powerful hallucinogenic effect. You must hold firm to your Dao heart and not relax for a moment. If you fall into an illusion and drop down, you know what will happen!” Gu Mingzhou shouted.

“Yes, Twelfth Elder!”

“Keep moving! As sword cultivators, we must have the determination to press forward, no matter what stands in our way-I will cut it down with a single sword.”

Gu Mingzhou led by example, sword in hand. With a swing, a sword light several meters long slashed toward the dense flock of Black Water Crows.

The other Elders followed suit.

Dozens of sword lights shot into the flock.

Countless Black Water Crows were cut down, falling from the sky.

The deaths only enraged the Black Water Crows further, making their cries even more frenzied.

“Caw, caw, caw…”

Several weaker disciples of the Divine Sky Sword Sect couldn’t withstand it, fell into illusions, lost control of their sword flight, and plummeted down.

As soon as they fell into the dense forest of the Ten Thousand Mountains, agonized screams rang out.

“Ahhh…”

Then came silence.

This all happened in an instant.

All the disciples’ eyes filled with fear, and they became more alert.

Lin Feng’s eyes flashed.

It seemed there was great terror lurking in the forest below.

The Elders of the Divine Sky Sword Sect could have saved the fallen disciples, but they did nothing.

First, the Elders needed to focus their energy on the larger group. Second, this was also a test.

If one couldn’t even withstand the low-level spiritual attack of the Black Water Crows, it showed limited talent-there was no need to waste further effort or resources.

Such was the reality and cruelty of the cultivator’s world.

Since they had chosen the path of cultivation, they had to be prepared to die at any moment.

Not just them.

Even Su Mubai, once a genius of the Divine Sky Sword Sect, was abandoned by the sect after his foundation was damaged.

If Luo Yuntian had not become Sect Leader, remembered old ties, and considered that Su Mubai was injured for the sect, Lone Remnant Peak and the Haoran Sword would have long since changed hands, and Lin Feng would never have become the Eldest Senior Brother of this generation in the Divine Sky Sword Sect.