Chapter 6: Heavenly Ghost Sect

Look at the scenery in front of you again. Among the towering mountains, a heavenly staircase stretching for more than ten miles appeared in front of you, reaching up to the sky and disappearing in the clouds in the distance.

Looking at the heavenly staircase in front of you, Xu Yang's heart was filled with mixed feelings. The immortal path will start from your feet. He strode up and climbed the stairs. I don't know how long he walked, but he finally came to the end of the ladder. In front of him is a huge archway carved from white marble. The archway is supported by two huge round stone pillars on the left and right, and there are huge soaring dragon patterns carved on the stone pillars, which are majestic.

Looking up, there are dozens of sky ghosts of different sizes carved on the crown of the archway, dancing and embracing the plaque in the middle. The plaque is engraved with three large characters "Heavenly Ghost Sect".

Behind the archway is a layer of colorful light curtain, which cannot be penetrated by spiritual consciousness and vision. Xu Yang took out a round jade token given by Tu Sanli before he left, and followed the secret method taught by Tu Sanli. A beam of white light shot out from the jade token and disappeared into the light curtain.

The next moment, the light curtain flickered and a gap opened. Xu Yang took back the jade token and walked directly into the light curtain. The gap in the light curtain closed automatically and was as good as before.

After entering the Tiangui Sect, Xu Yang looked at the scenery in front of him with amazement. In the distance, a five-story hall was built against the mountain. The buildings around the hall were lined up in rows, forming a large area that could not be seen. Its momentum was far more magnificent than the county town in Xu Yang's hometown.

Under his feet was a huge square, the ground was paved with large pieces of bluestone bricks, and it was spotless. Several neatly dressed Tiangui Sect disciples patrolled the square in a line. Seeing Xu Yang coming over, one of them stepped forward and asked, "Which disciple of the branch hall is this?"

"I am a new disciple, my name is Xu Yang." Xu Yang took out a black token given by Tu Sanli and handed it over with both hands.

The front of the token was engraved with the word "wind", and the back of the token was a black eagle. The guard took the token and said, "So you are a new disciple recommended by Fenggui Hall. Go to the disciple recruitment office over there to register." After that, he pointed to a two-story exquisite building in the distance.

According to Tu Sanli's plan, Xu Yang had to participate in the baptism ceremony of the new disciples of the Heavenly Ghost Sect first. In the past few days, the side effects of Xu Yang's practice of the Nether Fire Art have begun to appear, and blood marks have begun to appear on the blood vessels of his wrists, accompanied by redness and swelling.

In the recruitment office, new disciples came to register one after another. After Xu Yang registered, he was told to participate in the ceremony of the new disciples of the Heavenly Ghost Sect in five days.

Five days later, at 3:30 pm, on the square of the Heavenly Ghost Hall

There were more than a hundred disciples of the Heavenly Ghost Sect who came to participate in the formal initiation ceremony, and Xu Yang was among them. As the largest sect of ghosts on the Zhongyuan Continent, the Heavenly Ghost Sect must be recommended by the various branches of the Heavenly Ghost Sect to become a disciple of the Heavenly Ghost Sect. Therefore, most of the disciples are from cultivation families that have close contacts with the Heavenly Ghost Sect, and there are very few mortal disciples like Xu Yang.

The recommendation order for new disciples is also extremely precious. Tu Sanli's recommendation order was also a reward for performing sect tasks and making meritorious contributions in Fenggui Hall.

In front of the Heavenly Ghost Hall.

On both sides of the square under the hall, there are a variety of evil ghosts carved from black stone at a distance of two feet. Each of these stone-carved evil ghosts is more than two feet high, squatting, standing, or jumping, and each has a hideous face, adding a bit of mystery and majesty.

The Heavenly Ghost Hall is built on a platform more than two meters high, with white marble railings on both sides. Looking up, the main hall gate is more than three feet high, and the three golden characters "Heavenly Ghost Hall" are engraved on the door plaque.

A pair of huge couplets were hung on the left and right of the gate. The golden characters were engraved on two long plaques as black as ink. On the left was written: The Heavenly Ghost Wanders in Guanghan, and on the right was written: The Earthly Immortal Walks in the Netherworld. Strangely, these big characters faintly flickered with circles of golden halos, which were soul-stirring and made people dare not look at them for long.

There were four flag stands on each side of the main hall door. On each flag stand stood a black rectangular flag embroidered with gold edges. Each flag had a ghost character written on it, fluttering in the wind. Sixteen disciples of the Heavenly Ghost Sect stood neatly under the big flag, dressed neatly and looking solemn.

As the Mao hour approached, a line of more than twenty people came out of the moon gate on one side of the square. The old man in the lead was tall, wearing a Tongtian crown on his head, with eyes like lightning under his thick eyebrows, and a wisp of black beard floating on his chest. He was wearing a dark purple jacquard brocade robe and walked with a breeze. It was Yu Cheng, the leader of the Heavenly Ghost Sect who presided over the ceremony.

A straight-figured and dignified deacon disciple stepped forward and announced loudly: "Please welcome our sect master, Lord Yu Cheng!" Then he retreated respectfully.

Yu Cheng looked at the many disciples lined up neatly below the stage, ready to participate in the initiation ceremony, his eyes flickered and his heart surged, as if he saw his young self. He stroked his long beard with his hand, nodded with satisfaction, and then announced loudly: "The auspicious time has arrived, and the initiation and baptism ceremony for the disciples of the Heavenly Ghost Sect has begun."

"The Heavenly Ghost Sect worships the Heavenly Ghost and uses the spiritual power of the netherworld as an opportunity to break through the immortal path. The fact that our sect can stand on the Zhongyuan Continent and prosper is all due to the blessing of the ancestors of the sect and the continuous joining of new disciples. Now we will hold this year's initiation ceremony, please bring the sacred artifact of our sect."

As Yu Cheng's voice fell, eight burly disciples marched in neat steps and carried out a large sedan chair without a roof. In the middle of the sedan chair was a one-foot square red sandalwood box, on which golden runes kept flowing, emitting bursts of light. The sedan chair was carried to the center of the platform, and the people carrying the sedan chair retreated in an orderly manner.

Yu Cheng bowed respectfully to the wooden box, then gently turned his right wrist and cast a spell on the wooden box. The lid of the wooden box slowly rose and landed on a tray prepared in advance. As the lid of the box opened, a white jade Ruyi appeared.

In an instant, the spiritual energy around the platform rolled and surged with Ruyi as the center, and the situation changed.

A black five-clawed dragon was seen walking up and down in the jade Ruyi, which was particularly eye-catching and ready to come out.

"Perform the ceremony of worshipping the sect's magic weapon." Yu Cheng gave an order, and everyone knelt down and saluted.

After the ceremony, Yu Cheng said to the four elders beside him: "Please ask the four guardian elders to assist me in the ritual of opening the magic weapon."

Yu Cheng and the four guardian elders behind him stood in front of the jade ruyi and cast a spell together. Five huge and pure magic powers poured into the ruyi like a river or a sea.

Under the infusion of magic power, the little black dragon on the jade ruyi gradually became clear. Then, the body of the little black dragon actually broke away from the jade ruyi.

The magic power of Yu Cheng and the other five formed a colorful halo that always wrapped the little dragon, and slowly fell into a large copper basin filled with clear water that was prepared in advance.

The originally clear water in the basin gradually turned into ink color, and black mist overflowed. After a while, the five people cast a spell to remove the little black dragon from the water and put it back into the ruyi.

"This 'Guanghan True Dragon Ruyi' is a sacred artifact left by the founder of the sect, and is the treasure of this sect. This clear water is washed by the Guanghan True Dragon, and it is filled with the spirit of the netherworld. Each disciple below will put a little finger into the copper basin, and when the spirit of the netherworld fills the little finger, take the finger out immediately. Don't be greedy to prevent the backlash of the power of the netherworld. After the baptism of the sacred artifact, you can practice the skills of our Tiangui Sect." A deacon loudly told the following disciples.

After hearing the order, many new disciples followed the deacon elders and went up from one side of the steps, each put their little fingers into the copper basin, and then returned to the square from the other side of the platform.

Xu Yang walked to the copper basin and put the little finger of his right hand into the copper basin. As soon as the finger entered the basin, he felt a chilly air climbing up along the little finger, and the little finger turned black in an instant. The whole little finger was slightly painful, and a trace of cool spirit entered the veins in the body from the center of the little finger. After the entire little finger turned black, Xu Yang retracted his finger and returned to the team.

After all the disciples returned to the square, the clear water in the copper basin became clear as usual.

"The initiation ceremony is over. From today on, you will officially become disciples of the Heavenly Ghost Sect. You must remember the teachings of your ancestors, practice hard, and carry forward the Heavenly Ghost Sect." With Yu Cheng's clear voice, the initiation ceremony came to an end.

After the ceremony, each new disciple was given an identity badge and a pill called "Huanming Pill". After returning to his room, Xu Yang took the Huaming Pill. As the effect of the medicine took effect, the originally black little finger gradually became lighter.

After a night's rest, the black on Xu Yang's little finger had disappeared. Xu Yang stretched and felt that he seemed to have grown an inch taller overnight, his muscles were much stronger, and the red marks on his arms that appeared when practicing the Nether Fire Art disappeared. He felt full of strength.

When he practiced the Nether Fire Art, the smooth speed was several times faster than before. It seems that the power of the netherworld is very effective in transforming the body, making it suitable for practicing ghost arts.

The next morning, a group of new disciples were gathered together and led by the seniors of the sect to the "teaching hall" to study. The teaching hall is where new disciples learn, and they will receive the most basic training for three days.

Every morning, there will be an elder in the sect who teaches special courses to explain the basic practice knowledge for an hour. In the afternoon, the disciples practice on their own. After three days, after the disciples' spiritual veins are tested, they are assigned to different branches for formal practice according to the characteristics of each disciple's spiritual vein.

Xu Yang has a fire attribute spiritual vein. His qualifications are too ordinary, but his control of spiritual power is very delicate. He was assigned to the branch of the Tiangui Sect, the Wood Spirit Court, to practice.

The Wood Spirit Court is a branch of the Tiangui Sect that grows heaven and earth spiritual materials. There are countless kinds of exotic flowers and plants in the courtyard, mainly to provide materials for alchemists in the sect to make medicines.

The Wood Spirit Court is located in a valley dozens of miles away from the main hall of the Tiangui Sect. A huge wooden building complex is built on the mountain. The wood attribute spiritual power within a radius of ten miles is extremely rich. Walking into the Wood Spirit Academy, the fragrance of flowers, plants and trees makes people feel refreshed.

In the main hall of the Wood Spirit Academy.

A dozen new disciples, including Xu Yang, stood respectfully in the hall.

A plump and beautiful woman in a light purple gown sat in the center of the hall. She glanced at the hall and said, "I, Xiao Yue'e, as the head of the Wood Spirit Academy, on behalf of the Wood Spirit Academy and all the disciples, welcome you to join the Wood Spirit Academy for practice. From today on, you are the outer disciples of the Wood Spirit Academy. I hope you will work hard in the future and become inner disciples as soon as possible..."

"Okay, you go down first. I will send someone to arrange accommodation for you. You can rest for a day first, and I will assign you specific practice tasks tomorrow." Headmaster Xiao said.

After Xu Yang received the exclusive token of the Wood Spirit Academy, he was arranged to live in a wing room.

Early the next morning, Xu Yang received the task assigned by the Wood Spirit Academy to look after the medicine garden. As a newcomer, he was still in the learning stage. Xu Yang only had simple tasks such as care, weeding, and pest control. The selection, fertilization, and picking of spiritual herbs in the medicine garden were all completed by skilled old disciples.

The task of looking after the medicine garden allowed Xu Yang to receive a small amount of corresponding spiritual stones from the sect as a reward. If the task is completed well, the spiritual stone reward will be slightly more.

According to the rules of the Tiangui Sect, there is no special master for outer disciples. Only the best inner disciples will be accepted as apprentices by the elders of the sect and personally instructed in their practice. After completing the care of the medicine garden, Xu Yang spent most of the remaining time practicing the exercises recorded in the Nether Fire Sutra on his own, working hard to improve his cultivation level.