It seems that on the path of cultivation, having top-tier talent alone is not enough; one must also have countless elixirs, rare treasures, and exotic items as support to make faster progress! Although my own talent is not as great as Jason Bolton's, I have the advantage of the little snake that is immune to all poisons. Maybe I can possess it and enter the Deadly Immortal Poison Valley. If I can obtain one or two treasures, I will surely shine in the Taichu Sect!

Although it is extremely dangerous, Henry Sullivan's desire to search for treasures in the Deadly Immortal Poison Valley grew even stronger!

There are countless people in the Taichu Sect with better talent than me, and many are second-generation immortals born with a silver spoon in their mouths. With average talent and no special background, if I can't seize this opportunity and give it my all, there is simply no hope of standing out among the tens of thousands of disciples in the Taichu Sect.

The journey was uneventful. After three days and nights of sleepless, nonstop riding, they finally arrived at the foot of Dayu Mountain.

Dayu Mountain, the location of the number one sect in Xianglong Kingdom, is majestic and stretches endlessly.

Amidst the towering peaks, the main peak, Huangdi Peak, pierces straight into the clouds. A winding, rugged, yet awe-inspiring Heavenly Ladder leads from the summit directly to the foot of the mountain. The starting point of the Heavenly Ladder is a massive bluestone mountain gate, intricately carved and hollowed out—simple and grand, beautiful but not gaudy.

On the mountain gate are two blood-red characters in clerical script—“Taichu.”

At the end of the Heavenly Ladder is the Taichu Grand Hall, the sacred land that everyone in Xianglong Kingdom yearns for. If you are not a disciple of the Taichu Sect, even if you are the emperor among men, you can only enter once in your life, and that is during the investiture ceremony.

Dayu Mountain, filled with immortal spiritual energy, is completely different from the barren and desolate Xiaoyu Mountain. Walking along the path filled with birdsong and fragrant flowers to the foot of Huangdi Peak—especially Huangdi Peak itself, shrouded in mist and echoing with celestial music—it truly feels like a fairyland.

Even the usually calm Henry Sullivan couldn't help but be stunned. He had thought that Dayu Mountain, so close to the Deadly Immortal Poison Valley, would be desolate and bleak, and that the Taichu Sect must be deep within the mountain, even more dangerous than the depths of Xiaoyu Mountain. He had already prepared to risk his life and brave countless dangers to climb the mountain and learn the arts, but unexpectedly, this place was simply a paradise on earth!

“Dayu Mountain is the place with the best feng shui and spiritual energy in Xianglong Kingdom, and with our sect’s thousands of years of accumulated immortal energy, it’s only natural that the mountains are beautiful, the waters are clear, and the people are outstanding.” Thomas Bennett did not mock them, because thirty years ago, when he first joined the sect, he had been just as shocked.

“After rushing for three days and nights, we finally made it before tomorrow’s final test!” Jack Carter let out a sigh of relief, dismounted, and said to the still-enchanted Henry Sullivan and the other two, “Riding horses up Huangdi Peak is forbidden. You should walk up the Heavenly Ladder to the Mid-Mountain Pavilion, where someone will be waiting for you. Rest well tonight—the final test tomorrow is extremely important, remember that!”

After guiding Henry Sullivan and the other two to register at the gate, he and Thomas Bennett ascended the mountain at incredible speed, soon disappearing from sight.

In front of the mountain gate, besides Henry Sullivan and his companions, Taichu Sect disciples continuously brought in new recruits who had passed the assessment. They were also told that someone would receive them at the Mid-Mountain Pavilion before the disciples hurried off, likely to meditate and make up for the days spent outside.

Even at his fastest pace, Henry Sullivan still took a full three hours to reach the Mid-Mountain Pavilion. By then, dusk was falling, and the setting sun bathed Dayu Mountain in a beautiful twilight.

Standing halfway up the mountain, he saw a cluster of exquisite buildings with red bricks and green tiles, tall and upright trees, and flowerbeds of all colors emitting a faint fragrance. The arrangement of buildings, flowers, and trees was just right.

The Mid-Mountain Pavilion was actually a long corridor, and also served as the Taichu Sect’s public bulletin board. The half-person-high low walls of the corridor were carved with various patterns—rare beasts, famous mountains and rivers, many strangely shaped immortals, and parts of the Taichu Sect’s history.

The corridor was packed with people, about one or two hundred, all new disciples selected this year.

With thousands of years of heritage, the Taichu Sect amazed these young newcomers. Each one was absorbed in studying the murals and inscriptions, all feeling a surge of pride at becoming a disciple of the Taichu Sect.

By the time the last of the newcomers had trickled in, the sun had set. Only then did a Taichu Sect disciple in his forties arrive unhurriedly, looking arrogant, and said, “Follow me!”

He led the more than two hundred newcomers to the dining hall for a meal, then through the exquisite buildings toward their lodgings. A noble youth, dressed in luxurious clothes with a jade pendant at his waist, couldn’t help but exclaim, “Wow, this is even more beautiful than the imperial palace gardens!”

Thinking of living in a fairyland more beautiful than the imperial gardens, most of the poor disciples from humble backgrounds couldn’t help but feel excited and full of anticipation.

However, the senior brother leading the way took several twists and turns and brought them to a cluster of low, shabby houses.

“Tomorrow morning, gather here. Someone will take you to the final test. Above the mountainside is the core area of the sect—you are not qualified to enter yet. Do not wander around, or you will be expelled from the sect and never accepted again!” He pointed at the low, shabby houses and said, “That is your lodging for tonight.”

A group of youths, their hopes dashed, all cursed the Taichu Sect for being stingy in their hearts, but no one dared to show their dissatisfaction. They could only watch as the senior brother turned and left.

“Wait! Is this a doghouse? Is this fit for people to live in?” A handsome, imposing youth frowned and questioned without any hesitation.