Having made his choice, Leaf Gray felt a sense of relief.

He had always been open-minded by nature. Back when he was captured by The Lunar Blight and became a mining slave, he had quickly accepted reality.

The current situation couldn't be much worse, at most, it meant missing this chance to join a sect and cultivate.

Since the results would be announced soon, those who had submitted their choices didn't disperse, instead gathering together and waiting quietly.

In contrast, the cultivators within the valley suddenly became very busy. Figures flew back and forth mid-air, constantly entering and exiting the nearby mountain peaks.

Leaf Gray didn't know what they were doing, but it seemed like some sudden situation had arisen. However, he was just a minor cultivator awaiting the judgment of his fate; it wasn't his place to worry about such things.

A few hours later, when the man with the mustache, who had collected everyone's choices, reappeared, Leaf Gray knew the results were out!

The mustached man went straight to the front of the crowd, holding a list. After everyone's attention was focused on him, he read aloud: "The Righteous Path Gate, Kaelen Rhodes!"

Among the crowd, a sturdy-built youth heard his name, froze for a moment, then jumped three feet in the air, cheering and leaping with unconcealed excitement.

Those around him looked on with envy, and his acquaintances offered continuous congratulations.

The mustached man didn't pause, nor did he pay attention to the commotion below, continuing: "The Azure Heaven Sect, Caelus Vance, Orson Hawk!"

"The Mystic Crag Sect, Alistair Finch, Sonata Vane, Lysander Croft…"

"The Blazefire Canyon…"

The mustached man's voice wasn't loud, but no matter how noisy and chaotic the crowd became, his words clearly reached everyone's ears.

Sect after sect was announced, name after name was called. Those whose names were called were all overjoyed; this meant they had completely shed their status as mining slaves and gained the capital to change their destinies. They would no longer be bullied and oppressed without the power to resist like before.

At the back of the crowd, Leaf Gray listened quietly, his expression calm, without the anxiety of those beside him, seeming somewhat out of place in his surroundings.

Just as he had thought earlier, the two top-tier first-grade sects present hadn't taken many disciples. The Righteous Path Gate only accepted one person, The Azure Heaven Sect accepted two; it was probably just a token gesture. The sects that truly recruited members were those from the fourth to seventh grades, and the lower the grade, the more disciples they accepted. One sect took in over twenty people, the most.

Dawn Fielding's name was also called; she and several others were accepted into The Thousand Crypticress Vale.

The young girl was so excited her face flushed red, but unfortunately, she had no one to share her joy with.

More and more sects were announced, and those whose names hadn't been called yet grew increasingly anxious.

Finally, the last name was read out. The mustached man put away the paper and said, "All accepted disciples, wait here. Your Shixiongs and Shijies will come to collect you shortly. I hope you cultivate well within your sects and one day can fight alongside me."

"Shixiong, is that all?" someone asked tremulously. The person asking was undoubtedly one whose name hadn't been called.

There were about ten people like him whose names hadn't been called, meaning they had missed this chance to join a sect and cultivate. Their expressions were dejected; one woman was even sobbing quietly.

Leaf Gray was among these ten people, but he didn't feel particularly discouraged. He had made his choice and had only chosen the lowest-grade sect, The Vermilion Guild. If even that led to elimination, it meant no choice he made would have yielded a result.

He had heard that cultivators without sects could become rogue cultivators. While they lacked the protection of a sect and cultivation would be more difficult, the benefit was freedom and lack of constraints.

Thinking of it that way, it didn't seem so bad.

Besides, he still had the Talent Tree, an advantage others didn't have.

As his thoughts wandered, the mustached man looked up, his gaze passing over the crowd towards a distant spot.

In that direction, an old man had appeared at some point, his eyes fixed on Leaf Gray. It was Elder Lockridge.

Elder Lockridge had appeared just as the mustached man began announcing the results. He had been secretly observing Leaf Gray.

Due to some very specific reasons, The Vermilion Guild hadn't accepted any new disciples for a full thirty years. Accepting someone now would certainly attract the attention of certain sensitive individuals.

But if this disciple only had one-leaf talent, it probably wouldn't matter much. With such poor talent, he was destined not to achieve much in the future, so he likely wouldn't be targeted by those with ulterior motives.

Elder Lockridge personally didn't want to accept any disciples, but the Alliance rules were clear, and he couldn't refuse. It was a true dilemma.

So he wanted to see Leaf Gray for himself.

Among the hundred-plus people, Leaf Gray was undoubtedly somewhat unconventional. Those whose names were called cheered with joy, those eliminated were grief-stricken, but only he stood there quietly from start to finish.

Recalling the time he saw Leaf Gray in the dark mine tunnel, Elder Lockridge sighed softly. Under the mustached man's gaze, he nodded slightly.

With the Alliance rules as they were, he truly had no way to refuse. Since that was the case, he could only accept him for now. Later, he could ask his old friends for a favor and send him to another sect to cultivate.

Having received Elder Lockridge's reply, the mustached man smiled slightly.

He looked at the person who had spoken earlier and said, "Ah, right, there's one more sect!"

His expression turned serious as he called out loudly: "The Vermilion Guild, Leaf Gray!"

Leaf Gray's thoughts had already wandered to the heavens. Hearing his name, he was taken aback and looked up towards the mustached man.

Their eyes met. The mustached man smiled slightly: "Congratulations, Oneleaf Gray!"

Not this again. Leaf Gray couldn't help but twitch the corner of his eye.

The mustached man added, "Alright, that's all now. Those whose names weren't called, come with me."

"Shixiong!" Leaf Gray raised his hand and called out loudly.

The mustached man turned back: "What is it?"

Leaf Gray stared at him: "May I ask your esteemed name and cultivation level, Shixiong?"

The mustached man stroked the hair by his mouth and looked at him with interest: "What? Want to beat me up?"

Leaf Gray said expressionlessly: "I wouldn't dare. I just want to remember Shixiong's... kindness today."

"Ambitious!" The mustached man laughed. "Then listen well. I am Alaric Torvald of The Righteous Path Gate. As for my cultivation level, I'm at the seventh level of the Cloud River. Remember that?"

Another one from The Righteous Path Gate. Leaf Gray nodded: "I've remembered!"

"Then train hard, One! Leaf! Gray!"

Alaric Torvald led those whose names hadn't been called away into the distance. These individuals were now filled with regret. If they had known this would be the outcome, they would have chosen The Vermilion Guild; perhaps they could have been accepted, which would be better than having no support now.

They didn't know that if they had actually chosen The Vermilion Guild, even Leaf Gray would have been eliminated along with them.

For a full thirty years, it hadn't accepted any disciples. This time, if not for the Alliance rules, Elder Lockridge wouldn't have relented.