After some time, the assistant finally completed the teleportation formation setup. Turning toward the senior disciple, he asked, "Senior Brother, it’s ready. Which group should we send first?"
"Let’s start with Azure Sky Peak. There are a lot of them," the senior disciple replied calmly.
Soon, the disciples assigned to Azure Sky Peak were called forward and guided to stand within the formation.
The ground beneath them was etched with intricate arrays — formations that looked surprisingly similar to magic circles, pulsing faintly with spiritual energy.
"Relax your bodies," the senior disciple instructed. "You’ll arrive near a teleportation platform within your peak. If you need directions, ask the disciples stationed there."
Most of the group nodded, though a few looked understandably nervous.
Then, holding a small, disc-like device in his hand — the formation controller — the senior disciple declared, "Activate."
The formation lit up instantly. Spiritual energy from the surrounding air was drawn in, and with a sudden flash of light, the group standing within the array disappeared.
"Transfer complete," the assistant confirmed after checking a smaller artifact panel.
The senior disciple nodded. He had left all communication with the receiving formations to the assistant, ensuring that any issues on the other end could be handled swiftly.
"Next — Martial Heaven Peak," the senior disciple announced.
Those heading to the Martial Heaven Peak stepped forward — Yu Xueqing, Lin Fan, Mo Lin, and Yu Hao among them. As a final farewell, they waved to the others still waiting.
Yu Xuan gave a faint nod in return, a knowing smile on his lips.
Moments later, they too vanished in a burst of light.
Once the formation cooled and reset, the next group was called.
Yu Bo stepped forward, offering a respectful bow and a casual wave to the remaining members of the group.
The array activated once more, and Yu Bo disappeared.
"Heavenly Beast Peak," the senior disciple called next.
This time, the group that approached the formation was rather... unique. Several were in beast form — towering wolves, coiling serpents, even a few avian figures — while others took humanoid shapes. Their presence drew curious stares from the remaining disciples, but the senior disciple didn’t even blink. This was clearly routine for him.
Once they were gone, the next name was called.
Yu Zhen walked up with quiet confidence. Before stepping onto the platform, he looked back and gave a respectful nod.
Yu Xuan returned the gesture, then watched as his friend vanished in a swirl of spiritual light.
Now, only three remained from their original group: Ming Tianmei, Yu Lingluo, and Yu Xuan.
And then, the next announcement came.
"Elemental Heaven Peak."
Yu Xuan stepped forward.
He paused for a moment, glancing over at the two girls still waiting. With a small, reassuring smile, he raised his hand in farewell.
He wanted to stay back — to be the last to leave — but this time, the order wasn’t his to control.
’We’ll meet again soon,’ he thought. ’Sooner than expected.’
Whatever his intentions or reasoning, only he knew.
The formation activated once more, and Yu Xuan’s figure was engulfed by light — disappearing from sight.
The journey to the peaks had begun.
And each of them was stepping into a future that would test more than just their strength.
It would test their very paths.
Yu Xuan felt a sudden pull on his body and just as quickly as it came, it vanished.
’That was... surprisingly smooth,’ he thought.
Although teleportation formations existed within the Yu Clan, not everyone had access to them. Even though he could have used one before, he had never done so.
This was his first time experiencing long-range teleportation and it wasn’t bad at all.
He had expected some side effects: a pounding headache, nausea, or at least mild disorientation. But there was none of that. Just a clean transfer from one place to another.
When he opened his eyes, he found himself in a town quite similar to the teleportation hub he had departed from. However, there were two noticeable differences.
First — the temperature. The air here was notably warmer, a few degrees higher than usual. It wasn’t unbearable, but it made him feel like he’d stepped into the early stages of summer.
Second — the robes. While disciples here wore robes of varying colors, the dominant hue was red. Different shades of crimson, scarlet, and ember danced in the fabric of those walking past, giving off a subtle but fierce energy.
As he was observing the area, a tall young woman approached. She was graceful, with striking red hair tied back into a loose braid, and a red robe embroidered with three linings — clearly a senior disciple.
With a polite smile, she addressed the group of newly arrived disciples.
"Welcome to the Elemental Heaven Peak," she said. "If you wish to take the entry assessment immediately, head to your right. Follow the path for about an hour, and you’ll arrive at the main peak. There, your selection and further instructions will be given."
Without another word, she turned and walked away.
Yu Xuan stood frozen for a moment.
’Was... was that it?’ he was baffled.
’Is everyone in this sect so irresponsible?’ he wondered, now having second thoughts.
Still, he didn’t want to waste time. Opening the map interface in his medallion, he confirmed his current position. Sure enough, there was a glowing marker indicating the direction of the main peak — precisely where the senior sister had pointed.
"Well then," he muttered, stretching briefly.
He decided to turn it into a challenge.
’Let’s see if I can reach it in less than an hour,’ he thought — and then dashed forward, moving like a crimson blur through the winding paths of the sect’s domain.
Several passing disciples glanced his way, but no one commented. There was always a weird one in every batch.
As he sprinted along the route, Yu Xuan noticed something interesting: the farther he got from the teleportation zone, the more the temperature normalized. The intense heat he’d felt earlier seemed localized.
’Was that area a fire-blessed land?’ he speculated.
If so, it would be ideal for fire-element cultivators. A naturally enhanced land that aligned with one’s elemental affinity could accelerate cultivation speed exponentially. That would explain the concentrated fire aura and the red robes.
Along the road, he passed a few other disciples — some walking leisurely, others stretching or chatting. None stood out, and no one seemed to be in a hurry.
Soon, the towering silhouette of the main peak came into view.
With a confident smirk, Yu Xuan picked up his pace again.
The real journey was just about to begin.