Sunlight shone on the Star Phoenix city, making it seem grand and imposing from afar.

The city is guarded by a circular wall that reaches as high as the heavens.

It is said that even someone at the late Immortal realm cannot fly over it, as their spiritual energy will run out before they are able to reach high enough.

The city was quite renowned in the Immortal Realm. It is not famous due to its high numbers of cultivators, but because of its prestigious backing. It is under the control of the Phoenix Immortal Sect, another member of the Six Great Sects.

The city is humming with midday liveliness. Lots of rogue cultivators can be seen pouring in and out of the city gates. Hundreds of them lined up in front of the humongous gates.

"Woah, this city sure is bustling with people!" An ordinary-looking man standing in the line whispers.

A rogue cultivator standing in front of him looks at him as if the latter is a country bumpkin. "What rabbit hole did you crawl out of from? Don't you know that the Immortal Phoenix Sect's recruitment session is going on?"

Indeed. Around this time of the year, the sect will usually start recruiting people from different backgrounds.

As long as one can pass through some certain tests, they will be immediately promoted to an Outer Court disciple.

It is a dream of every cultivator to be able to cultivate in one of the six great sects.

If they somehow are successful in becoming the Sect's disciple, then they will be able to proudly lit incense at their ancestors tomb. In fact, on such an occasion, their ancestors might start laughing even in their death.

"Ah? What is a sect?" However, the young man's next question causes those around him to gasp in shock. Many of their's jaws drop to the ground.

"W-what did you say?" The rogue cultivator stammers, unable to believe his ears.

Without skipping a beat, the young man asks again with complete confidence, "Can you tell me what is a sect?"

"Y-you…you are not kidding me, right?!" The rogue cultivator looks at the young man as if the latter is a ghost.

The young man shook his head in puzzlement.

Seeing this, the rogue cultivator staggers before barely regaining his balance.

Taking a deep breath to compose himself, he slowly speaks, "A sect is sort of an establishment usually founded by a strong cultivator. For example, the Immortal Phoenix Sect was founded by Immortal Fenghuang 20,000 years ago. Under his leadership, the sect expanded to become one of the Six Great Sects in a short amount of time. All the sects recruit disciples and provide them with resources, cultivation techniques, knowledge and experience, in hopes that they later become the cornerstones of the sect." The rogue cultivator was excited to the point where drool dripped down his mouth.

"Oh that sounds interesting. I didn't hear of anything like this before. Humph, must be because that geezer didn't let me go out often," the young man mutters to himself. This ordinary looking individual is precisely Taiyang Tianshang who had ran away from the Cold Sword Sect.

Being the Heavenly Crown Prince, Taiyang did not get much of a chance to come into contact with the outside world, much less getting to experience the sect's life. Of course, he does not know that no Sect was great enough for him, the eldest son of the Heavenly Emperor to join.

"Hmm, so to enroll into this Phoenix Sect thingy, what am I supposed to do?" Taiyang asked, rubbing his palms in excitement. He really wanted to experience what being in a sect felt like.

"It's the Immortal Phoenix Sect! And you have to pass three certain tests if you want to become the Sect's disciple. Though let me advise you, a mortal like you should discard the notion of participating in the examination," the rogue cultivator advised Taiyang with a look of pity in his eyes.

Clearly, the young man in front of him didn't even emit a thread of spiritual energy, which either meant he was mortal or a supreme master. Yet, the chances of the latter being true were almost non-existent.

There are many mortals who try to push their luck, believing they will soar to the sky overnight and be able to have everything they desire.

However, there are also some who, forced by some desperate circumstances, take part in such examinations.

Taiyang eyes lit up after hearing this, growing even more eager. His musing, however, are suddenly interrupted by a carriage running past him.

"Look at that seal! Its someone from the House Wang!" A cultivator standing in the line points at the dragon seal carved on the carriage.

The seal belonged to a powerful lineage in the west, the House Wang, which is famous for producing amazing talents every year. Its members are spread throughout the Six Great Sects.

Even the Immortal Phoenix Sect's elders will have to give some face to the House Wang's progenitor.

"It must be Lady Huiguang! It's rumored she has already mastered the ninth level of her family's Secret Art, the Glowing Slasher!" Another cultivator says in admiration.

The carriage stops before the city gates and a beautiful girl steps out. She surprisingly has short hair that reached till her neck, but it only seem to enunciate her enchanting appearance. She possess beautiful purple eyes that seem to memerise anyone looking at her and a lithe body. The gate guards immediately come forward to respectfully greet her.

"How beautiful! Completely deserving of her reputation as one of the five great beauties!" The rogue cultivator beside Taiyiang murmurs in awe.

"Who is she?" Taiyang asks, bewildered.

"…what did you say?" The rogue asked to make sure his ears weren't tricking him. Surely, this young man ought to be pulling his leg, right?

"I asked who is she, and why is she not standing in the line?" Taiyiang repeats.

—Yet, he clearly underestimated the extent of Taiyiang's ignorance.

Hearing Taiyiang's clueless reply, his whole body started trembling before he shouts with red veins popping out, "WHICH SHITHOLE DID YOU COME OUT FROM?? HOW COME YOU HAVEN'T HEARD OF LADY HUIGUANG?"

If someone from the Heavenly Realm was here to witness this scene, they'll have already pissed their pants in fear. Because there is no one under the heavens who is courageous enough to berate the Heavenly Crown Prince like this.

Yet, Taiyiang himself didn't mind the man's sudden burst of anger. To be scolded by someone far weaker than him did not inspire any sort of reaction from him, be it displeasure or annoyance.

Taking note of Taiyiang's calm countenance, the rogue cultivator gave up, "Aah, it doesn't really matter. Lady Huiguang is famous for being a heaven-gifted genius in terms of both, looks and cultivation. As for why she doesn't need to stand in line, it's because she hails from the House Wang, one of the strongest lineages in the Immortal Realm." Thinking of her impressive background, the man couldn't help but turn green with envy.

Why must she be treated so differently just because of her background, Taiyiang pondered.

His Heavenly Father used to tell him that everyone should follow the rules and regulations that have been laid down, because that is the morally correct thing to do, so even he, as the eldest son of the Heavenly Emperor, didn't take advantage of his background even when interacting with mortals.

'Discrimination is evil, brat. Everyone deserves to be treated equally.' Thinking of these words caused a grin to creep up on his face.

"Eh? Where are you going?!" The rogue cultivator shouts after watching Taiyiang walk toward the city gates at a brisk pace.

"Who is this boy? And why is he breaking the line?"

"Look, he is heading towards that carriage!"

Expression of shock covers everyone's faces as they watch Taiyiang leisurely stop before Huiguang. Having been interrupted by his presence, Huiguang pauses her conversation with the gate guards and looks at the stranger with curiosity written all over her face.

However, what Taiyiang said next caused everyone's eyes to pop out, "Why are you not standing in the line?"