Chapter 159: Screening
Chapter 159: Chapter 159: Screening
The sight of Zhu Ge emerging from his seclusion had already been enough to frighten many.
That was Intent!
Moreover, it was a physical manifestation, not something that simply appeared within his Martial Arts Heart.
Condensing Intent within one’s Martial Arts Heart, even without being able to manifest it, meant the path to the Third Realm was wide open.
And to be able to manifest it?
That meant one’s combat power was peerless!
They didn’t know that Zhu Ge’s Martial Arts Heart had condensed Intent long ago.
Now, seeing Zhu Ge’s fist intent manifest as a phantom, they naturally guessed he already possessed the qualifications to step into the Third Realm.
There was a vast difference between a Second Realm practitioner with immense combat strength and a Second Realm practitioner who was guaranteed to reach the Third Realm.
The people present had already been quite respectful toward Zhu Ge, but now, they found themselves bowing even lower.
However, this reverence stemmed solely from Zhu Ge himself.
Though Zhu Ge was powerful, that didn’t necessarily reflect the strength of the Six Paths Palace as an organization.
A true power needed a deep foundation.
For instance, a disciple with a rare talent would need a corresponding Cultivation Technique to train.
The foundation of a major power would ensure such a disciple could be matched with a suitable Cultivation Technique, and even pills, weapons, and more.
A Sect where only the Sect Leader was formidable, lacking a deep foundation, would ultimately hold back such a uniquely talented disciple, causing them to fade into obscurity.
Still, many had come with the original intention of investing in Zhu Ge.
A powerful Sect Leader could build a foundation sooner or later, but a Sect with a foundation was not guaranteed to produce a powerful Sect Leader.
But that was before. After seeing the grand Array activated by Hua Liusha, who could possibly doubt that Zhu Ge had a powerful background and deep resources?
If all he had were Martial Arts Techniques, where could such a powerful Array have come from?
Thus, everyone present was continuously revising their assessment of Zhu Ge upward, placing him on an extremely high pedestal in their minds.
They craned their necks and stared with wide eyes, watching Zhu Ge control the great Array, trying to guess its purpose.
"WHOOSH!!!!"
At that moment, countless fungal filaments surged downward, coiling around the people who wished to join the Six Paths Palace.
"Do not move. Do not resist," Zhu Ge announced. "This is the final test to enter my Six Paths Palace. Those who pass may join. Those who fail will be asked to leave."
Some people had been anxious, but they relaxed after hearing Zhu Ge’s explanation.
In the next instant, the myriad filaments burrowed into the bodies of the hundred or so candidates. Then, Hua Liusha activated her hypnotic talent.
In a flash, the filaments turned a deep crimson, as if stained with blood.
Then, everyone’s eyes closed, and a wide variety of expressions flickered across their faces.
The filaments did not retract. Instead, like tree branches, they formed a connection between the people and the valley.
The people were like fruit, the valley a tree, and the filaments its branches.
The sight was utterly bizarre.
This state of affairs didn’t last long before all the filaments retracted back into the Six Paths Valley.
And the candidates opened their eyes.
"What happened? I... why did I dream of my late wife?"
"Vengeance! That wretch killed my mother! I must learn the Martial Dao and take revenge upon her family!"
"Alas, I am so enamored with money... It seems I won’t be able to join the Six Paths Palace."
"Was that an illusion? Mom, Dad... I just wanted to see you one more time."
Some of the candidates wore malevolent expressions, others shook their heads and sighed, and still others were covered in tears.
Then, a billowing red mist roared out of the valley and flowed into Zhu Ge’s body.
Zhu Ge now had a general understanding of each person’s character.
"Li Wen, Zhang Lifeng, Xu Yunfei..."
Zhu Ge began to call out names. After listing thirty-six in total, he said:
"You thirty-six may join my Six Paths Palace. The rest of you, please return."
He gave a cupped-fist salute to those who were not chosen.
The expressions of those whose names were called lit up with joy, while the others showed a range of emotions.
Some looked on with venomous resentment, others with disdain, but most were filled with regret and indignation.
However, with the memory of Zhu Ge’s manifested fist intent still fresh, no one dared to speak out.
Besides, even without that display, they wouldn’t have dared cause a scene. After all, Liu Jianjian had already shown them what she was capable of.
"You may enter the valley now. The Demon Palace Lord, Liu Jianjian, and the Ghost Palace Lord, Xigui, will arrange your living quarters."
Zhu Ge instructed, "You are now the first generation of disciples of the Six Paths Palace. Tomorrow, I will explain the future rules, regulations, rights, and duties in detail."
As he spoke, Hua Liusha materialized from his body, taking on her familiar form in a red dress with a matching veil covering her head.
Liu Jianjian also appeared at that moment, and together with Hua Liusha, she led the new disciples into the valley.
Zhu Ge, meanwhile, went to personally attend to the guests who had brought gifts.
Most of these guests had come bearing gifts, calling cards, and invitations.
Some invited him to visit their estates, others invited him to join them in hunting Demon Beasts in the forests, and some even tried to act as matchmakers, mentioning a beautiful daughter or niece.
Zhu Ge accepted everything, then saw the guests off before returning to the Six Paths Valley.
The Six Paths Valley was now a hub of bustling activity.
First and Second Realm Demon Beasts, some in human form and others in their true forms, were busy transporting materials and constructing various buildings.
The entire valley seethed with Demon Qi.
The structures were being built into the mountainsides, while at the very bottom of the valley, there was only a single small wooden cabin.
This spot was the center of the valley. Zhu Ge planned to let the mulberry tree there flourish, allowing Zhu Sisi to hide within it and serve as the Palace Guardian Spirit Beast.
Beneath the ground where the mulberry tree grew lay his Bone Monster Avatar.
Countless bones were buried there, and their numbers would only continue to grow.
For the Bone Monster Avatar, however, no amount of bones was ever enough, so there was no fear of the White Bone Cave ever being filled.
’Not bad at all.’ Zhu Ge surveyed the scene, very satisfied.
The Six Paths Valley was taking shape just as he had imagined. In the future, with the addition of the Fungus God Destruction Array, this place would become his true foundation.
"Jianjian, have the Sword and Axe Mantis come out. I want to spar with it," Zhu Ge called out to Liu Jianjian.
Liu Jianjian was currently directing the Demon Beasts in their construction work, while Hua Liusha had turned into mist, directly implanting the sect’s rules and important notices into each new disciple’s mind.
Hearing Zhu Ge’s request, Liu Jianjian waved her hand. The tip of a single strand of her hair began to glow, and the Sword and Axe Mantis appeared in the valley.
The appearance of the Sword and Axe Mantis caused many to hold their breath.
The oppressive aura of a Third Realm being was far more powerful than any of them had imagined.
Moreover, this was the very same Sword and Axe Mantis that had laid siege to Jianshui City and fought against the Jianshui City Lord.
And in the next moment, this mighty existence—a being they considered equal to the City Lord—lowered its bloodthirsty, triangular head toward Zhu Ge and said respectfully:
"Great Master, do you require me for a sparring session?"
It was only then that the new disciples who had just entered the Six Paths Valley truly understood how formidable Zhu Ge was.
This realization also made them incredibly grateful for their decision to join the Six Paths Palace.
Zhu Ge was unaware of the disciples’ inner turmoil. His own battle intent surged as he faced the Sword and Axe Mantis and declared:
"Let’s go! We’ll fight outside!"