The Exorcism Began in America.

After leaving White Cloud City, Chu Feng set out on his own, his journey leading him toward Qingxuan Sect, the sacred land of Immortal Cultivation.

The way was anything but calm, with mortal merchant caravans, lone travelers like him, and the occasional appearance of bandits bespeckling the trip with incidents and encounters.

However, his luck was good, though it was unknown whether the system had anything to do with it.

Each time he faced peril, he somehow managed to turn danger into safety and escape.

Armed with the detailed route he had learned from Lin Xiao and aided by the occasional encounter with kind souls along the way, it took him one and a half years to finally stand at the foot of a majestic city.

Gazing at the gilded characters above the city gate, Chu Feng, leading a fine horse, let out a long, turbid breath.

"Qingxuan City... I've finally arrived!"

Qingxuan City was the closest city to Qingxuan Sect. It was reportedly established by the sect and therefore fell under its jurisdiction and protection.

Thus, members of Qingxuan Sect were often seen in the city.

The city also had a marketplace affiliated with Qingxuan Sect, managed by an elder of the outer sect, according to Lin Xiao.

And now, whether he could gain entry to Qingxuan Sect was up to his luck!

Leading his steed and dressed as a lone traveler, Chu Feng, after a brief moment of distraction, resolutely headed for the city gates of Qingxuan City.

He had just stepped through the gate. Before he could admire the splendor of the Immortal City, a man in a felt cap, with shifty, rat-like eyes and a gaunt figure, sidled up to him.

"Young brother, are you looking to join the Qingxuan sacred land?"

Chu Feng didn't reply. Instead, he glanced at several similarly dressed individuals nearby, who were sitting back down with looks of regret on their faces.

He immediately had a rough guess about the identity of the man before him.

"No, I'm here to visit relatives!"

"Uh..."

The small man looked at Chu Feng's attire and the fine horse beside him, his eyes immediately showing a "you've got to be kidding me?" expression.

What kind of relatives would one visit dressed like this?

"Young brother, don't be afraid, I'm not... PTUI! PTUI! I'm a good person..." As if afraid Chu Feng would slip away, the small man drew even closer. "People dressed like you, I've seen plenty! Among those who enter this city gate, at least one hundred and one out of a hundred are here to enter the Qingxuan sacred land."

The small man pointed toward the distant mountain range, his voice gradually lowering. "Do you see that mountain range over there? That's the Qingxuan Mountain Range. The Qingxuan sacred land is there, along with all those immortals who traverse the skies and roam the universe! How about it? Do you want the chance to enter the Qingxuan sacred land? For just one Spirit Stone, or..." The small man appraised Chu Feng's appearance again, frowning slightly, but his eyes brightened when he saw the fine horse beside him. "Or a hundred taels of Patterned Silver, and you can have this chance. Young brother, you could be the next immortal!"

In the face of the small man's tempting words, Chu Feng's expression remained unchanged.

Instead, his face darkened as he saw the man eyeing his fine horse.

The horse had played an indispensable role in his swift arrival at Qingxuan City, which was why he had never considered selling it.

The greed flickering in the small man's eyes did not escape Chu Feng's notice.

If they weren't in Qingxuan City, he would have definitely shown the man what he had gone through in the past year and a half.

No longer paying attention to the lying and cunning scoundrel, Chu Feng, leading his steed, walked directly past the small man and headed into the city.

"HEY! HEY! Young brother, don't leave! If you think it's too expensive, we can negotiate the price!"

"Young brother..."

The persistent man behind him made Chu Feng's eyes flash with impatience. He turned his head, his tone unusually cold.

"Scram!"

Hearing this frosty tone, the thin man who had followed him suddenly stiffened, his mouth twitching slightly.

Looking up at Chu Feng, who was gradually moving further away, he finally stopped, his expression darkening considerably. Only after Chu Feng was truly far away did he speak.

"Damn it, what kind of cur are you, not knowing to cherish the chance to enter the sacred land of Immortal Cultivation right before your eyes. I see you're destined to live a beggar's life!"

"PAH!"

After spitefully spitting on the ground, the thin man flicked his sleeves haughtily and turned back towards the city gate.

And those colleagues who had been watching his futile attempts finally burst into laughter in his face.

"HAHAHA!"

Only by truly entering this Immortal City could one glimpse a fraction of its bustling magnificence.

The wide and straight streets stretched farther than the eye could see.

Qingxuan City was indeed worthy of being an Immortal Gate's colossal city. In just a short while, Chu Feng had already seen more than one Monk clad in dark clothes.

This scene was even more unbelievable than what Lin Xiao had described.

Could it be true that Cultivators lived in the same city as mortals? Were these mortals not afraid?

Chu Feng shook his head, suppressing the surging thoughts in his heart.

What he needed to do now was to find out how to join Qingxuan Sect.

He guessed that, within this city, the marketplace belonging to Qingxuan Sect should be a good place to gather information about the Sect.

「About an hour later,」

After asking around several times, Chu Feng finally stood at the entrance of a vast marketplace.

But just as he took a step forward, a suddenly appearing transparent barrier stopped him from entering.

At the same time, a cold voice instantly echoed in his mind.

"Hold it, mortals are not allowed to enter here!"

"I am here seeking to join the Qingxuan sacred land and step onto the path of Immortal Cultivation. I hope Senior might enlighten me!" Chu Feng straightened his body and bowed slightly towards the inside of the marketplace.

The voice remained silent for a long while. Not until the horse beside Chu Feng neighed did another, somewhat lazy voice reach his mind.

"Kid, you wish to join my Qingxuan Sect, yet you don't even know about our disciple recruitment ceremony?"

Disciple recruitment ceremony? Chu Feng had a sudden realization. Of course! Every Immortal Gate must have disciple recruitment ceremonies!

"Senior, may I know when the Qingxuan sacred land's disciple recruitment ceremony begins?"

"Want to know? Then go see for yourself!"

As the languid voice faded, his vision blurred suddenly. The marketplace gates before him had, without him realizing, turned into a massive stone wall tens of meters tall.

Looking around, Chu Feng was shocked to find that he was no longer in front of the marketplace gate.

Is this... the countdown to the recruitment ceremony?

He observed the flowing golden characters on the stone wall and soon understood their meaning.

There's still one year's time...

Just as Chu Feng confirmed the time and was about to leave, the lazy voice appeared once more.

"Kid, now you know the time?"

"Chu Feng thanks Senior for the guidance!"

"Kid, gratitude should be shown through actions!" the languid voice said casually. "Remember, in a year, if you manage to pass the entry test, remember to become my disciple..."