Chapter 597: Chapter 597: Testing the Talent?
Before leaving, Tang Yu managed to get some fabric and make a mask.
Then, he used strips of cloth to wrap his hands as gloves.
Right now, he was carrying all kinds of viruses and bacteria.
To avoid harming others and getting into trouble,
he had to minimize the risk of transmission through breathing or contact as much as possible.
Once the preparations were finished,
Tang Yu hurried to Cloud City.
In the worlds of cultivation and fantasy novels,
one of the most notable features was the size of the map.
The reason for this design
was that the highest-level experts often unleashed attacks that covered thousands of kilometers in a single strike.
If the map were too small, wouldn't there be only them left after every fight?
The Huang family village was over a hundred li away from Cloud City.
For cultivators, who could create air horses with their energy or fly on swords, that distance was nothing.
But Tang Yu didn't even have a carriage, so he had no choice but to run as fast as he could.
After much effort, he finally arrived at Cloud City.
Upon seeing the imposing and majestic city,
Tang Yu rested for a moment and then entered without further ado.
Since he didn't possess that innate ability of protagonists to attract hatred,
his journey was calm and uneventful.
He didn't have to deal with guards looking for trouble at the entrance, nor did he have to fight anyone just for wanting to stay at an inn.
After finding an inn and paying for the room, Tang Yu called the waiter to his room.
"What can I get for you, distinguished guest?"
The waiter smiled politely from the door.
He didn't have that attitude of looking down on customers that often triggers conflicts.
"I'm hungry. Bring me something good to eat; I can't wait any longer."
Tang Yu took out a silver coin and threw it; after all the hustle of the day, he was starving.
"Right away, sir."
The waiter smiled faintly, closed the door, and hurried down the stairs.
After a while, he returned with a table full of dishes and even brought some silver coins as change.
"There's no need for change; consider it payment for the bowls, and keep the rest."
Tang Yu pointed to the bowls and utensils on the table.
After eating, he would have to destroy them to avoid accidentally contaminating someone.
"Thank you, sir."
The waiter didn't give it much thought.
After all, bowls and utensils weren't worth much, but the silver he had just received was real.
"By the way, where are the Seven Great Sects recruiting disciples here in Cloud City? I need to go there later."
Tang Yu took the opportunity to ask the waiter for the exact location.
"It's at the City Lord's Mansion…"
The waiter explained everything to Tang Yu in detail.
Once he had the information, Tang Yu ate, rested for a while, and then headed to the City Lord's Mansion.
The disciples' recruitment by the Seven Great Sects happened once every ten years and lasted three days.
During those three days, no one could cause a commotion in Cloud City.
That's why, on his way, Tang Yu crossed paths with several people who, at a glance, seemed to be cultivators.
Some walked, others flew here and there, but no one bothered the mortals.
As he made his way to the City Lord's Mansion, Tang Yu passed by several pleasure houses.
At that moment, he finally felt he had found something that reminded him of home.
"Oh, the young ladies from my homeland no longer know about music, chess, calligraphy, or painting. The loss of traditional culture is truly heartbreaking. Why doesn't Xiaoxiba copy this too?"
Tang Yu couldn't help but sigh.
Oblivion means betrayal.
Comparing the two, his heart filled with pain.
"Young master, come and have some fun."
While Tang Yu looked at the brothel nostalgically,
the young ladies and the madam at the entrance waved their handkerchiefs to attract him.
"Next time, for sure."
Tang Yu also waved his hand.
He thought that, after joining a sect, the first thing he would have to do would be to resolve his poison problem.
Although it had protected him,
it also prevented him from studying traditional culture.
When Tang Yu arrived at the City Lord's Mansion,
a floating island, shrouded in an immortal atmosphere, hovered over the mansion.
At the main entrance, several rows of people were lining up, forming a queue several li long to register.
To one side, there was another line with only a few people.
Tang Yu headed to that line and stood at the end.
This line was also for registration,
but there were fewer people because it cost a low-grade spiritual stone; basically, paying to avoid the wait.
After a few registered, it was soon Tang Yu's turn.
"Spiritual stone, name."
The man in charge of the registration didn't even lift his gaze to look at Tang Yu, just extended his hand to ask for the money.
Tang Yu took out a spiritual stone and threw it to him, saying, "Tang Yu."
The man quickly wrote down his name, then took out a bamboo plaque the size of a palm and tossed it to Tang Yu.
"Enter through there."
Seeing the man point to the interior of the mansion, Tang Yu took the bamboo plaque and entered.
Inside, there were already nearly a hundred people waiting.
Some had excited faces, others looked nervous, and some were whispering with their friends.
"Does this feel like a civil service exam?"
Tang Yu murmured to himself, but then thought it made sense.
After all, starting the path of cultivation was the first step to ascending the social ladder.
Soon, more people entered gradually.
When the hundred was complete, a cultivator carrying a heavy sword came out of the mansion and shouted:
"Get ready to ascend the Immortal Ascension Stage and undergo the aptitude test!"
With his powerful voice, the entire City Lord's Mansion was illuminated by a brilliant white light.
In the next instant, everyone found themselves on the floating island.
In front of them, a huge white jade staircase stood.
The staircase had ten steps and was used to measure the talent of each person,
a very typical element in cultivation novels.
"This is the Immortal Ascension Stage. Climb on your own. If you can't pass the third step, leave voluntarily."
An elderly, deep voice slowly echoed in everyone's ears.
Hearing these words, everyone looked at each other nervously before starting to climb the stairs.
Most were expelled on the first step.
On the second, many more fell.
And by the time they reached the third, only a few remained from the hundred.
Tang Yu was one of them.
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