Sage of Humanity

Having made his choice, Lu Ye felt a sense of relief wash over him.

He had always been open-minded and quickly accepted reality when he was captured by Evil Moon Valley and became a mining slave.

The worst that could happen now was missing the opportunity to join a sect for cultivation.

Since the results would be out soon, those who had submitted their applications didn't disperse but gathered quietly, waiting together.

On the contrary, the cultivators in the valley suddenly became busy, figures flitting back and forth in midair, constantly entering and exiting from nearby peaks.

Lu Ye didn't know what they were doing, but it seemed like some emergency had arisen. However, as a junior cultivator awaiting fate's judgment, it wasn't his place to worry about these matters.

Half a day later, when the man with the pencil mustache who had collected everyone's applications reappeared, Lu Ye knew the results were in!

Walking straight to the front of the crowd, the man with the pencil mustache held a list in his hand. After catching everyone's attention, he announced loudly, "Righteousness Sect, Cui Dayuan!"

In the crowd, a stout young man froze upon hearing his name, then jumped three feet high, whooping in delight; his excitement was unmistakable.

Those around him looked on with envy, and those who knew him offered their hearty congratulations.

The man with the pencil mustache didn't pause or bother with the commotion below, and continued on, "Qingyu Sect, Luh Tianyi, Dong Peng!"

"Qimu Mountain, Zhao Wenlin, Tang Ni, Gao Rui…"

"Burning Moon Mountain…"

The voice of the man with the pencil mustache wasn't loud, but no matter how noisy and boisterous the crowd was, his voice could still be heard clearly by everyone.

As each sect's name was called, as every name was announced, those whose names were called were overjoyed. It meant they were leaving behind their identity as mining slaves for good, gaining the means to change their destinies, never again to be oppressed without the power to resist like before.

In the back of the crowd, Lu Ye listened quietly, his expression calm, devoid of the nervousness of those around him, somewhat out of place with his environment.

Just as he had thought earlier, the two 1st grade sects that had come this time hadn't taken in many disciples. Righteousness Sect only accepted one person, and Qingyu Sect took two, seemingly just for formality's sake.

The real recruitment was done by the sects ranging from 4th to 7th grade, and the lower the grade of the sect, the more disciples they took in, with the highest taking in more than twenty people.

Yu Xiaodie's name was also called, and she, along with some others, was accepted into Hundred Flowers Valley.

The young girl's face flushed with excitement, a pity she had no one to share her joy with.

More and more sect names were read out, and those who hadn't heard their names became increasingly anxious.

Finally, the last name was called. The man with the pencil mustache put away the list and said, "Sect Disciples who have been accepted, stay where you are. Your senior brothers and sisters will come to fetch you soon. I hope you will cultivate earnestly in your respective sects so that one day you can fight by my side."

"Brother, is that all?" someone asked with a trembling voice, clearly among those whose names hadn't been called.

Like him, there were about ten people who hadn't been called, meaning they had missed the chance to join a sect for cultivation. At that moment, their expressions revealed their dejection, with one woman softly sobbing.

Lu Ye was among these ten, showing no sign of disappointment. He had already made his choice, opting solely for the lowest-grade Righteous Blood Sect. Being eliminated in this way meant that no matter what choice he had made, it wouldn't have made a difference.

He had heard that cultivators without a sect could become independent cultivators. Though without the protection of a sect, cultivation would be more challenging, the upside was being free and unbound—a pleasing thought indeed.

Moreover, he still had the Talent Tree, a unique advantage others didn't possess.

Lost in these thoughts, Lu Ye hadn't noticed that the man with the pencil mustache had already looked up, his gaze passing over the crowd and settling on some distant place.

In that direction, an elder had appeared at some point, his gaze fixed on Lu Ye, and it was Veteran Thang.

Since the moment the pencil mustache began to read the results, Veteran Thang had been present, observing Lu Ye from the shadows.

For some very special reasons, the Righteous Blood Sect had not taken in any disciples for a full thirty years, so suddenly accepting someone would definitely stir the sensitive nerves of certain people.

But if this disciple's talent were only that of Yiye, it seemed to matter little, as a poor talent would inevitably mean no significant achievements in the future, thus unlikely to attract the attention of those with ulterior motives.

Veteran Thang himself was not keen on taking on sect disciples, but given the constraints of the alliance's rules, he could not refuse, truly a dilemma.

So he wanted to come and see Lu Ye for himself.

Among the more than a hundred people, Lu Ye undeniably stood out. Those whose names were called jumped for joy, those who were eliminated grieved as if for parents, but he alone stood there quietly, from start to finish.

Recalling the moment he saw Lu Ye in the dark mine, Veteran Thang sighed lightly and under the watchful eye of the pencil mustache, he nodded slightly.

Bound by the alliance's rules, he really had no choice but to accept him, so he might as well take him under his wing for now, and later ask some old friends for a favor, to send him to another sect for cultivation.

Having received Veteran Thang's response, the pencil mustache smiled slightly.

Looking at the person who had just asked the question, he said, "Ah, there is one more sect!"

His expression serious, he declared, "Righteous Blood Sect, Lu Ye!"

Lu Ye, among the crowd, had let his thoughts wander to the skies; hearing his own name, he couldn't help but startle and looked up towards the pencil mustache.

Their eyes met, the pencil mustache smiled faintly, "Congratulations, Lu Yiye!"

This was never going to end, Lu Ye felt the corner of his eye twitch involuntarily.

The pencil mustache added, "Alright, that concludes it, those who didn't have their names called, follow me."

"Brother!" Lu Ye called out with a raised hand.

The pencil mustache looked back, "What is it?"

Lu Ye stared at him, "May I ask for brother's honorable name and cultivation level?"

The pencil mustache stroked the beard at the corner of his mouth, looking at him with interest, "What's the matter? You want to hit me?"

Lu Ye was expressionless, "I wouldn't dare, I only wish to remember brother's kindness today."

"Ambitious!" the pencil mustache laughed heartily, "Then listen well, I am Yue Shan of the Righteousness Sect, and as for cultivation, Level 7 of Cloud River, got it?"

Another one from the Righteousness Sect, Lu Ye nodded, "I've got it!"

"Then work hard in your cultivation, Lu! Yi! Ye!"

Yue Shan led away those whose names hadn't been called, their hearts filled with irritation at this moment. If they had known such would be the outcome, they would have chosen the Righteous Blood Sect; perhaps they could have been accepted, which would be better than being now without support or backing.

What they didn't know was that if they had indeed chosen the Righteous Blood Sect, even Lu Ye would have been eliminated with them.

Haven't taken on any disciples for a full thirty years, if it weren't for the alliance's rules, Veteran Thang wouldn't have agreed this time either.