The golden sun rose steadily over Azure Sky City, casting warm light across the towering structures of the central plaza. A grand stage had been erected where once the opening ceremony was held, and today it was filled with banners bearing the symbols of great sects from across the region.
Crowds of family members, cultivators, and noble representatives lined the open square as excitement pulsed through the air. The remaining participants — those who had emerged from the secret realm and ranked within the top fifty — stood in a neat formation beneath the stage.
Above them stood the envoys and elders of the eight major sects, their gazes sharp and discerning as they appraised the young talents.
City Lord Jiang Tianhe, stood in front of the stage and raised his voice.
"The secret realm has ended, and its champions have been revealed. Now, the time has come for you to choose your path."
Cheers erupted from the crowd as tension rippled through the participants.
One by one, names were called, and youths stepped forward to choose the sect they would entrust their future to.
Just as the crowd was beginning to settle into a rhythm, a name echoed across the plaza with weight behind it:
"Li Qingyun."
Silence fell.
Heads turned. Cultivators leaned forward in their seats. Envoys' expressions turned sharp.
Li Qingyun stepped forward slowly. His expression was calm, his gait steady, sword on his back. He stopped in the center of the plaza and gave a respectful cupped-fist salute.
Then — the expected happened.
A clear voice cut through the air.
"Li Qingyun, our Sky-Reaching Sword Sect has rarely seen one like you. You have unparalleled sword intent. Join us — and the Sword Tower and Sword Tomb will be open to you immediately."
Another voice rang out almost instantly.
"Nonsense!" The envoy from Divine Flame Pavilion stepped forward, fire flickering behind his eyes. "His fire affinity is strong enough to ignite a Heavenly Flame! With our Flame Baptism and Molten Heart Furnace, he could become a Fire Monarch in less than a decade!"
The Emerald Spirit Valley's envoy, a gentle and wise-looking women smiled faintly. "His affinity with nature and soul is also exceptional. We will grant him a spiritual beast of rare lineage and open the Beast Soul Pool just for him."
"Ridiculous," said the Thousand Pillar Sect's envoy, slamming his palm onto the handrail of the chair. "His physique surpasses most fourth-stage body cultivators.! He was born for our sect. He shall enter our Pillar Forge directly!"
Even the usually reclusive Darkmoon Sect envoy spoke up, his voice like a whisper in a storm.
"His soul has incredible stillness and his affinity with dark affinity is also very high(previously shadow affinity but i think dark affinity suits a cultivation novel more). He would become a ghost before your disciples even notice his presence. Let him step into the Phantom Hall — we'll give him the Shadow Path Codex immediately."
Mystic Thunder Hall, Thousands Illusion Pavilion, and Yunlan Spirit Valley were no different. Their representatives offered treasure-grade resources, personal mentorships, and immediate promotion to core disciple status. Some even offered to waive years of trial periods and grant him their sect's inner secrets.
The crowd buzzed with shock.
This had never happened before. Not even the most gifted scions from noble families had ever been courted by every single top-tier sect at once.
It was no longer a matter of which sect would accept Li Qingyun — but which one he would choose.
The City Lord, Jiang Tianhe , smiled from his seat at the edge of the stage. "It seems young Li has many roads ahead of him. Now, I wonder which one he will walk?"
Li Qingyun looked around, face unreadable. Every sect offered something powerful. He could feel the sincerity of each offer, but he already knew the path he wished to walk.
Since he has exceptional physique and had tempered his body to the stage of jade bone transformation, he should have entered the Thousand Pillar Sect but he knows that with his system he don't need any more body tempering techniques because even a low rank technique can break it's limit and reach a new stage with the help of system.
He took a breath, and then stepped forward toward the banner of the Sky-Reaching Sword Sect.
He bowed towards the envoys showing respect and said. "I am grateful for every senior's recognition. But among all paths, the sword feels most natural to me. I, Li Qingyun, wish to enter the Sky-Reaching Sword Sect."
Silence — then thunderous applause.
The Sword Sect envoy Elder Jian Wu, stepped forward, pride swelling in his chest. "You have made the right choice. Come — your journey in the way of the sword begins now." He gave Li Qingyun sect token of Sky-Reaching Sword Sect.
The other envoys could only sigh. Though disappointed, they knew the boy would still walk a path of greatness.
As the rest of the participants stepped forward, they carefully weighed the sects based on their affinities.
Xia Shuying, with her piercing sword aura, followed Li Qingyun to the Sky-Reaching Sword Sect.
Qin Wushuang, silent and composed, entered Mystic Thunder Hall.
Mu Yihan, elegant and composed, chose Yunlan Spirit Valley.
Lu Qingzhi, her flames dancing around her, stepped proudly into Divine Flame Pavilion.
Others followed into Emerald Spirit Valley, Thousand Pillar Sect, Darkmoon Sect, and more — each sect gaining talents suited to their domains.
Each chosen participant received a sect token, an introductory manual, and a starter benefit package, tailored to their chosen path. Some were granted spiritual beasts, others powerful cultivation manuals or rare-grade pills. The sects then gave instructions for when and how they would report to their new sect homes.
But then—a surprising announcement came from City Lord Jiang Tianhe himself.
He rose and spoke gently, his voice warm but resolute:
"While our young talents have been accepted by their sects, the journey ahead will be long. They are still children — only six years old. Their hearts still cling to family, to love, to home."
" So, the sects have all agreed: each disciple will be given a period of several months before departure. This time is meant for bonding with their parents, their elders, and for preparing themselves mentally for the long path ahead."
The envoys nodded in agreement.
"The path of cultivation is not only lonely — it is distant," said the envoy from the Emerald Spirit Valley. "Let them walk with their families a little longer, while their hearts are still soft."
Smiles lit up among the crowd. Mothers wept. Fathers clasped their children's shoulders with pride. Siblings cheered. This brief reprieve was a balm for many hearts.
As the gathering dispersed, Li Qingyun returned to his parents' side. His father, Li Tianyang, placed a firm hand on his shoulder, eyes slightly moist.
"We are proud of you, son. But no matter what sect you join, you'll always be our child."
His mother, Lin Meiyu, hugged him tightly, brushing his hair back with trembling fingers. "We'll treasure every day before you go."
And so, the children went home. Not as ordinary youths, but as future disciples of the greatest sects under heaven. Yet, in their homes, they could still laugh, cry, and be hugged without restraint — for a little while longer.