Evan Parker sighed, and at the same time, the examiners who had previously conducted the assessment on the high platform all entered the side courtyard together.

Among the group, the oldest cultivator—also the only one with Innate Ninth Realm cultivation—stepped forward. After his gaze swept over Evan Parker and the others, he spoke slowly: “First, congratulations to all of you for passing the outer disciple assessment. I’m sure you’ve already heard some news: this is the ‘Grand Selection’ of the Supreme Xuanyang Sect, a once-in-a-century event. Not only will a thousand outer disciples be recruited at once, but twelve lucky ones will directly become inner disciples…”

At this point, he paused, his eyes glancing over the dozen or so excited young faces present, as if he had realized something: “The path of cultivation is fraught with dangers. Without great wisdom, great fortune, and great opportunity, one cannot succeed. Now, you have at least stepped through the threshold. As for whether you can soar in a single leap and become inner disciples, I, Bennett, have no authority to say. Now, let us invite a true master of our sect to grace us with their presence and see what fate has in store for you all.”

As he spoke, the Bennett-surnamed man raised his hand and crushed a jade talisman. A giant crane shot into the sky like an arrow of light, tracing a white streak across the blue sky, and in an instant, it disappeared from everyone’s sight.

In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the direction in which the crane had flown suddenly burst with golden light and strange phenomena. Five streaks of light, moving at unimaginable speed, thundered down with overwhelming force, their momentum so great it seemed to shake the heavens. It truly opened the eyes of all the ordinary miners present, including Evan Parker.

The five streaks of light, though seemingly slow, were in fact extremely fast. Just a breath ago, they were at the distant horizon, but in the blink of an eye, they broke through the sky and landed in the courtyard. Five cultivators, each with a unique appearance, surrounded by surging spiritual energy and seemingly standing on clouds, appeared before the crowd.

“Disciples pay respects to the grandmasters.”

The leading Bennett-surnamed man led everyone in bowing and calling out loudly.

“No need, time is precious. Let’s begin the selection.”

The long-faced cultivator in the first position on the left among the five waved his hand, signaling Bennett-surnamed man and the others to step aside. The gazes of the five Golden Core masters who had arrived in streaks of light instantly focused on the eighteen selected miners, including Evan Parker.

With great success in the Innate Realm, one can build a foundation; from Foundation Establishment, one advances to Opening Light, Fusion, Spiritual Silence, and finally, if one can form a Golden Core, one’s lifespan increases by six hundred years. “Ten years to Innate, a hundred years to Golden Core, a thousand years to Nascent Soul, and Deification is up to fate”—this is not just an empty saying. In fact, there’s an important premise to add: all this is only possible with great wisdom, great fortune, and great opportunity.

Even for a super sect like the Supreme Xuanyang Sect, one of the nine great sects, it’s already remarkable if a mid- or small-sized sect can produce even one or two Golden Core masters throughout its ranks.

Of the million cultivators on Xuanyuan Star, those who can reach the Golden Core stage in their lifetime are less than ten percent. Of that ten percent, seven or eight out of ten form inferior, fake cores. Those who truly achieve great success in the Golden Core stage and have hope of advancing to Nascent Soul are extremely rare—perhaps not even one in ten thousand.

Cultivators are already one in a thousand or ten thousand, but Golden Core cultivators are one in a million, or even one in ten million—true prodigies.

It was thanks to Evan Parker’s previous conversation and exchange with George White that his horizons had broadened considerably. Otherwise, he would surely be like those around him now, gazing up in awe at the five Golden Core masters as if gods had descended, barely restraining himself from kneeling in worship.

The might of a Golden Core master is overwhelming. With just a glance, no one dared meet their eyes. That absolute aura of superiority made it hard to breathe. Even though Evan Parker’s divine energy was circulating strongly within him, he could only withstand it for two or three breaths before having to avert his gaze.

Yet it was precisely those two or three breaths, daring to meet the gaze of the Golden Core masters, that left a slight impression of Evan Parker in their minds.

“You, you… and you… stay. The rest may leave.”

The long-faced cultivator selected three people from the eighteen, including not only Evan Parker, but also Iron Bull.

The third, however, was not one of the two miners with Innate Realm strength, but a thin, pale, handsome youth who looked as if a gust of wind could blow him over.

After Bennett-surnamed man led the others out, only the five Golden Core masters and Evan Parker and the other two remained in the vast courtyard.

Among the five Golden Core masters, the one in the center was a middle-aged man with red beard and hair. With a joyful expression, he looked at the frail youth and said cheerfully, “Who would have thought! Truly unexpected! I, Dylan Price, have spent the past month traveling all over the Great Tang Kingdom and found nothing, yet here in this small mining area, I’ve found a promising seed with the Sevenfold Fire Vein. Boy, come here and follow me.”

The frail youth was stunned at first, but proved to be quick-witted, taking two steps in three to reach Dylan Price’s side. The latter said no more, simply cupped his hands to the other four Golden Core masters, and then, taking the youth with him, soared away in a streak of light, disappearing into the sky in an instant.

Strangely, after Dylan Price took the frail youth away, the other four Golden Core masters all showed a hint of joy. For people of their cultivation, who are always calm and reserved, their emotions hidden from others, it was unusual for them to display such happiness so openly. No one knew what could have caused it.