Chapter 72: Entering the Jixian Sect

Upon hearing this, Zhu Gang was overjoyed. He hadn't expected Xiao Fan to actually agree to let him travel along.

"Big Brother, you really are a good person!"

Zhu Gang gave Xiao Fan a thumbs up with a look of delight. With Xiao Fan chattering away beside him, he at least didn't have to fear anyone below the seventh layer of the Huaqi Realm anymore.

"Big Brother, what is your name?"

"Xiao Fan."

"What a great name! Big Brother, you're so talented and handsome, you must have charmed many women…"

Xiao Fan: "…"

Drawing his panlong spear, he mounted the Golden-Haired Lion and galloped toward the east. Zhu Gang followed behind, his words flowing like a river as he flattered Xiao Fan incessantly…

Finally, after Xiao Fan fiercely threatened to shut him up, Zhu Gang finally quieted down a bit…

…

…

The Jixian Sect's sphere of influence was vast. With the Sect as the center, the surrounding hundreds of miles were all under its control.

Xiao Fan and Zhu Gang had been traveling for three days and reached a city called Xiliang City.

"Big Brother, Xiliang City is the Jixian Sect's territory. Once we enter here, we are within the Jixian Sect's jurisdiction."

Looking at the tall city before him, Xiao Fan nodded without speaking.

Zhu Gang smiled and said, "Big Brother, come on, I'll treat you to a meal. I really appreciate your care on this journey."

Xiao Fan and Zhu Gang entered Xiliang City. After spending time together on the road, their relationship had become much more familiar.

He also learned much more about Zhu Gang; the other's background was very similar to his own, though his life was slightly better than Xiao Fan's days with the Xiao Family.

Upon entering Xiliang City, the surrounding sights immediately caused Xiao Fan to gasp…

While most cities usually had Cultivators riding Yao Beasts around, compared to Xiliang City, those were simply insignificant.

The price of Yao Beast mounts was extremely expensive, especially for those with good appearances or fast speeds.

Moreover, along the way in, not only did he see people riding Yao Beasts everywhere, but he also saw many Cultivators flying in mid-air.

This proved that they had at least a Tongtian Realm cultivation…

"This Jixian Sect is truly extraordinary…"

Xiao Fan muttered to himself. This was only the first outer city within the Jixian Sect's influence, and it was already of this scale; what would the actual Jixian Sect be like?

Zhu Gang overheard Xiao Fan's mutterings and chimed in with a smile, "Of course. The Jixian Sect is one of the top-ranked Sect powers in Wuhuang Province and holds a certain level of authority. Besides, I heard…"

At this point, Zhu Gang leaned closer to Xiao Fan's ear and whispered, "I heard that Wuhuang Province is actually controlled by these major Sect powers, and the Wuhuang Dynasty is actually just a Puppet…"

Hearing Zhu Gang's words, Xiao Fan's expression changed instantly… He looked sideways at him: "How do you know?"

"I only heard this by chance when my father was chatting with other friends. I don't know if it's true or false."

Xiao Fan nodded. If this news was true, then Wuhuang Province was far more complicated than he had imagined.

Many foreign Cultivators had entered Xiliang City recently, all of them here to participate in the Jixian Sect's entrance selection. Thus, the guards of Xiliang City mostly just confirmed identities before letting everyone through.

Xiao Fan and Zhu Gang found a restaurant where the prices of the dishes were many times more expensive than in other cities…

Even Zhu Gang winced at the sight of the prices…

However, the food did taste excellent, and there was even plenty of rare Spirit Beast meat, which was beneficial to one's cultivation.

After the two had a full meal, they left. The Jixian Sect was still a hundred miles away, and they planned to reach it today.

After another stretch of traveling, Xiao Fan and Zhu Gang reached the Jixian Sect's Outer Sect before evening.

The Outer Sect of the Jixian Sect was magnificent. One couldn't see the interior from the outside, as if blocked by a Formation. The hundred-zhang-tall gates towered into the clouds, their Aura surging like a rainbow, revealing an ultimate dominance. High above, the three large characters 'Jixian Sect' were written, exuding a sense of being transcendental and refined.

However, other things were different from what Xiao Fan had imagined. It wasn't as heavily guarded as he expected; at the outer gate, there were only about ten Disciples dressed in the blue robes of the Jixian Sect standing guard.

Seeing Xiao Fan and Zhu Gang arrive, two of them walked over. Judging by their Auras, their cultivation was roughly at the seventh layer of the Huaqi Realm.

"Are you here to participate in this year's Outer Sect Disciple selection?" one of the gate-guarding Disciples asked.

Zhu Gang nodded repeatedly, cupped his hands with a fawning smile, and said, "Yes, greetings, Senior Brothers. We both are. My name is Zhu Gang, and he is Xiao Fan."

"Mm, follow me." The Disciple nodded, glanced at Zhu Gang, then spared a glance at Xiao Fan before turning around to lead the way.

Xiao Fan and Zhu Gang performed a simple registration at the gate, gave their names, and followed the blue-robed Disciple who had just spoken into the gates of the Jixian Sect.

As he passed through the hundred-zhang gate, Xiao Fan felt as if he had passed through a curtain of light; it seemed like the inside and outside were two different worlds.

Furthermore, the moment he entered the gate, several strands of Divine Sense swept over him, checking him thoroughly from head to toe in just a few breaths…

When they passed the light curtain and entered the interior of the Jixian Sect, Xiao Fan and Zhu Gang both gasped in unison…

The scenery inside was completely different from the outside. From the outside, the interior looked like a blurred forest.

But inside the gate, many blue-robed Disciples were walking about, busy with their own tasks… Everything was grand and magnificent, the ground beneath their feet was paved with marble, and the surrounding buildings were several times taller than those in the outside world, looking resplendent and golden.

"Surprised? Everyone is like this the first time they see it; I was the same back then." The blue-robed Disciple leading them smiled. "My name is Shen An. You can call me Senior Brother Shen."

Xiao Fan nodded without speaking.

The chubby Zhu Gang, however, said with a fawning smile, "So it's Senior Brother Shen. You truly are a man of talent…" After saying that, the chubby guy took out a Storage Pouch from his robe and secretly handed it to Shen An.

"Senior Brother Shen, we two brothers are newcomers. We'll need you to look after us more in the Jixian Sect in the future…"

Senior Brother Shen looked at Zhu Gang with a beaming smile, then lightly weighed the Storage Pouch in his hand. After detecting a hundred Spirit Stones inside, he was immediately overjoyed. "Easy, easy. We're all on the same side. Follow me, Junior Brothers."

"Then we shall trouble Senior Brother Shen," Zhu Gang said with a chuckle.

Xiao Fan watched from behind, speechless…

This works too?

However, he didn't say anything and left with Zhu Gang, following Shen An. After walking for about half an hour, they reached an area specifically for receiving Disciples participating in the entrance selection.

There were over ten small independent courtyards standing side by side, as well as a pavilion that could accommodate thousands of people.

"Don't say your Senior Brother doesn't take care of you. You two go and rest in No. 9 Courtyard for now. But whether you can stay there permanently depends on yourselves."

Shen An smiled and said, "There are still ten days before the Outer Sect Disciple selection. During this time, someone will deliver food every day at noon. Don't wander around aimlessly…"

After saying that, Shen An left. He whispered a few words to the Deacon in charge of this area and conveniently handed him a Storage Pouch. The Deacon nodded with satisfaction and glanced at Xiao Fan and Zhu Gang with a beaming smile.

Zhu Gang had a fawning smile as he said to Xiao Fan, "Let's go, Big Brother. Let's go to No. 9 Courtyard."

Xiao Fan nodded and asked with some curiosity, "Is there any difference between these small courtyards and that pavilion?"

"Everyone participating in the Jixian Sect's Outer Sect Disciple selection has to wait in this area. However, there are only these ten or so small courtyards where people can rest individually. The other Disciples have to rest in the pavilion, where the environment is dirty and chaotic… With thousands of people squeezed into one place, the spiritual energy isn't enough to go around. It's simply not comparable to these courtyards…"

Hearing this, Xiao Fan also understood the benefits of the courtyards.

Naturally, the denser the spiritual energy for cultivation, the better. But if a group of people uses a dense treasure land, it's like a group of people sharing a cake. This was common knowledge, and Xiao Fan naturally understood.

And according to what Zhu Gang said, there were only about ten courtyards in total, while the rest had to squeeze into the pavilion…

"But what did he mean by whether we can keep it?" Xiao Fan was curious.

"Because these ten or so courtyards are for the elites among those participating in the Outer Sect Disciple selection. Whether you can keep it depends on whether your own strength and background are strong enough…"

At this moment, Xiao Fan couldn't help but admire this chubby guy a little…

He was really well-prepared and knew everything.