A Millionfold Return: My Children Cultivate Immortality, I Become a God - Chapter 138

Chapter 138: Nine Rings!

“Cai Xukun, five rings, you are qualified to enter our Ancient Desolation Holy Land as an inner gate disciple. Do you agree?” The assessment Elder spoke calmly to a cultivator in suspenders standing before him. Upon hearing this, Cai Xukun’s eyes lit up, and he quickly nodded in agreement.

The candidates that followed Cai Xukun had only managed three rings or even two rings, which made the expression of the assessment Elder somewhat unsightly. He had not expected that the disciples recruited by the Ancient Desolation Holy Land in recent years were so lacking in quality. Aside from the disciple named Cai Xukun, most were merely outer gate disciples, and a considerable number of candidates were turned away because their aptitude wasn’t sufficient to join the Ancient Desolation Holy Land.

“The situation is as follows: many cultivators outside the Ancient Desolation Holy Land intend to join us but have been rejected. After all, their aptitude simply does not qualify them. Keeping them would only lower the overall combat power of the Ancient Desolation Holy Land and waste resources,” Duan De quietly explained to Wu Yifan.

Wu Yifan listened and nodded slightly. Soon, it was Duan De’s turn since he was standing in front of Wu Yifan. Duan De took a deep breath and placed his hand on the Aptitude Bell. The next second, the bell began to sway gently.

With a “ding,” it did not stop there. Quickly, the second, third, and fourth rings followed, prompting an expression of satisfaction from the assessment Elder; another candidate with decent aptitude had arrived. Soon after, the fifth ring sounded, but it did not stop there either.

With the sixth ring echoing, the assessment Elder’s expression brightened, and he immediately spoke up. “Little friend, what is your name? Do you wish to become my direct disciple? Please introduce yourself. My name is Gao Chao, and my cultivation level is that of an Immortal King!”

With that, Elder Gao Chao looked at Duan De with eyes full of anticipation and eagerness. After all, a potential direct disciple was a rare find, and if he did not act quickly to accept him, those old fellows would surely cause trouble.

Before Duan De could speak, several oppressive pressures suddenly descended from above, shocking the candidates present. Elder Gao Chao’s expression turned grim; he had not expected those old geezers to arrive so quickly.

“Who was it? Who caused the Aptitude Bell to ring six times? Little friend, was it you?”

“Little friend, I am an inner gate Elder of the Ancient Desolation Holy Land. You can call me Elder Fu Kuang. I am at the Initial Stage of Immortal Sovereign. Do you wish to become my disciple?”

“Get out of the way, you old thief Fu Kuang! Little friend, my cultivation level is at the Late Stage of Immortal Sovereign. You can simply call me Elder Tifa. Do you wish to become my disciple?”

Seeing the Elders of the Ancient Desolation Holy Land appearing in the sky, Duan De was dazzled and didn’t know whom to choose. He had originally thought he would only manage to make the Aptitude Bell ring five times, but unexpectedly, it rang six times.

Ringing six times could make him a Direct Disciple of the Ancient Desolation Holy Land, but what does being a Direct Disciple mean, and what do outer and inner gate disciples represent? In the Ancient Desolation Holy Land, outer gate disciples have a chance each year to hear the teachings of an Elder who is an Immortal King, and according to their realm, they receive a corresponding monthly salary. Of course, outer gate disciples must complete three sect tasks every month.

Inner gate disciples can listen to an Immortal King Elder’s teachings once a month, and their required sect tasks reduce to one task per month. If they don’t complete it in a month, they can carry it over to the next month, but they cannot accumulate it for more than ten years; after ten years, they will be expelled from the Ancient Desolation Holy Land.

As for Direct Disciples, they can choose any Elder of the Ancient Desolation Holy Land as their Master. Of course, the Elder has the right to refuse, and they only need to complete one task a year.

Looking at the Elders before him, Duan De admitted that he was very tempted to agree, but then he thought of something and glanced at Wu Yifan behind him. Gritting his teeth, he clasped his fists and said, “Thank you, Elders, for your kind offers, but I would like to see how my brother’s aptitude is. I wish to have the same Master as my brother.”

Hearing Duan De’s words, a majority of the Elders in the sky furrowed their brows involuntarily. They had already shown a lot of respect by coming out to take Duan De as a disciple, so how could he now want to involve his brother?

Most importantly, many Elders viewed Duan De’s action as disrespectful to them. Since they had come out, Duan De should have immediately agreed, instead of bringing up his brother. As a result, once Duan De finished speaking, most of the Elders who had come for him left without hesitation.

Only a small number of Elders remained, looking at Wu Yifan, whom Duan De mentioned, with curiosity in their eyes. After all, someone who could be Duan De’s brother likely had good aptitude as well.

Upon hearing Duan De’s words, Wu Yifan was also surprised, clearly not expecting that Duan De would insist on following him in front of the Immortal Sovereign strongholds. However, on further thought, it wasn’t too strange. After all, he would likely become a Direct Disciple or potentially the Holy Son, making it clear that sticking to him was the best choice.

“This little friend, if that’s the case, please come forward and test your aptitude,” Elder Gao Chao said to Wu Yifan with a hint of a smile.

Upon hearing this, Wu Yifan stepped up to the Aptitude Bell and placed his hand on it. The next moment, a “ding” sounded from the Aptitude Bell. Then came the second, third, fourth, and fifth rings.

As the sixth ring sounded, the Elders who had not yet left displayed smiles on their faces; it seemed they were about to acquire another promising disciple. However, their joy was short-lived as the seventh ring followed soon after.

“What? Seven rings!”

The Elders present gasped in shock. It had been over fifty million years since a Heaven’s Chosen with seven rings of aptitude had appeared.

Not far away, Cai Xukun was completely captivated by the scene. Earlier, he had felt angry at Duan De for overshadowing him, but now it appeared that the one stealing his limelight was none other than the even more extraordinary Wu Yifan.

Before the Elders could say anything, the eighth ring sounded.

At this point, the Elders could no longer sit still and shouted, “Block off the entire area; no one is allowed to leave!”

After all, the eighth ring could indicate that Wu Yifan was set to become the Holy Son of the Ancient Desolation Holy Land. In all these years, no one had ever been deemed worthy of the title. It was not that the Ancient Desolation Holy Land didn’t wish to appoint a Holy Son, but according to their founding precept, only someone with eight rings from the Aptitude Bell could become the Holy Son.

Thus, in recent years, there had never been a Holy Son in the Ancient Desolation Holy Land, making Wu Yifan’s appearance all the more thrilling for them. Yet, they were getting excited too soon, as the ninth ring sounded the following moment.