Chapter 1821 — Chapter 1821 Entering the Immortal Monastery(3)

"A Beast Tamer, huh? Indeed, I can sense several presences within you," the Ancient Immortal responded shortly after. "You were with the Immortal Monastery's Sect Leader. What is your connection with the Immortal Monastery and the Sect Leader?"

Instead of giving a response, the Ancient Immortal questioned Yuan.

Hearing this, Yuan decided to answer truthfully with some minor lies mixed within, "I helped the Sect Leader escape the Shadow Realm—a place where souls are damned to wander for eternity. In exchange for helping him, Sect Leader Ji agreed to make me his disciple and the successor of the Immortal Monastery."

"The Shadow Realm!" The spectators present gasped in shock after hearing about this ominous place.

"He actually released someone from the Shadow Realm? Does he not fear offending the heavens—the Celestial Emperor?"

"Why would it offend the Celestial Emperor? It's not as if our current Celestial Emperor was responsible for what happened during the Heavenly War of Immortals or Gods."

"No, but if the Celestial Emperor wanted to, he could easily free those in the Shadow Realm at any point. The fact he hasn't means he doesn't want them to leave for whatever reason."

There were two main reasons why nobody dared to assist those within the Shadow Realm.

First, the place was incredibly dangerous. The majority of the souls dwelling there had long lost their rationality, their souls corrupted over time. They were no different from malevolent spirits, driven by pure instinct and malice, making it perilous for anyone to venture near them.

The second reason was that nobody wanted to offend the Celestial Emperor. Just like a certain individual had mentioned, the Celestial Emperor had the power and authority to release the souls within the Shadow Realm, but he hasn't for whatever reason.

"So you saved the Sect Leader. Very well, I shall make this a special occasion and allow you to enter with those residing within you despite having only a single token. However, they will not be able to participate in the trial, nor will you be able to contact them until you are finished with the trial," the Ancient Immortal finally said.

Yuan bowed to the Ancient Immortal, "Thank you, Senior."

"Since you are now part of the Immortal Monastery, you should address me as Founder."

"Yes, Founder."

"Now get going. You have less than ten seconds to enter."

"Yes, Founder."

"Now get going. You have less than ten seconds to enter."

Yuan nodded and entered the portal with just two seconds left.

As Yuan stepped through the Immortal Gates, his vision momentarily blanked, and an unsettling sensation washed over him.

It didn't take long for him to notice a profound change within his body—and it was not a good one. His strength faded away, his talents sealed, and, most disturbingly, his cultivation had completely vanished. At this moment, Yuan realized he was no different from a mortal, stripped of all the power and talents he had.

When Yuan's vision returned, he found himself standing in a serene courtyard nestled in the heart of a bamboo forest. The gentle rustling of the bamboo leaves in the wind contrasted starkly with the unsettling changes he had just experienced.

Around him were the other participants, all with tokens numbered 7,001 to 8,000. They stood scattered throughout the courtyard, their expressions varying between confusion, wariness, and curiosity as they took in their surroundings.

"Where the hell are we? This doesn't look like the Immortal Monastery!" someone exclaimed.

"Fuck! My entire cultivation is gone!"

"I also cannot sense my physique or talents! What's happening?! Did we get tricked?!"

The participants began to panic as they realized their powers had completely vanished, leaving them as vulnerable as mortals. Murmurs of confusion and fear spread through the group, their voices rising as they struggled to understand the puzzling situation.

While the others were consumed by their panic, Yuan stood quietly, his expression calm. His gaze wandered over the courtyard and bamboo forest with a nostalgic glint.

'This place is the Bamboo Garden…' Yuan thought to himself. 'The very first trial where one must prove their worth before being allowed to even step foot into the Immortal Monastery as a disciple…'

Tian Yang's memories inside this place began to resurface again, but he didn't have the time to reminisce.

Yuan began inspecting his body. Sure enough, he was no different than a mortal. As for his connection with Feng Yuxiang and the others, he couldn't even sense them, almost as if his connection to them was completely cut off.

A few minutes later, a middle-aged man wearing the Immortal Monastery's uniform appeared before the group and spoke in a commanding and authoritative tone, "Shut up and listen up, you greenhorns. My surname is Zhou, and you will all address me as Senior Zhou for as long as you are here."

"You are currently in the Bamboo Garden, where you take your first steps to become a proud disciple of the Immortal Monastery. In order to be acknowledged as a disciple of the Immortal Monastery, you must first prove that you have the talents to become a cultivator."

"You will be given a cultivation technique after this introduction, and only when you comprehend the cultivation technique and become a cultivator are you allowed to become a disciple of the Immortal Monastery."

"The time limit is four years. If you fail to become a cultivator by then, you will be executed, so you'd best study like your life depends on it. I will now give you some time to digest everything before we continue. Ah, I am also not accepting any questions at this moment."

"..."

The courtyard was eerily silent for the first several moments with everyone trying to comprehend their situation.

"So this is what the Ancient Immortal meant by 'experiencing the Immortal Monastery in its earliest days," someone eventually spoke out loud.

"I was told the theme of the Hidden Domain would be 'roleplay'. I guess this is what they meant."

"The trial seems a bit too easy," someone suddenly remarked. "Although they have taken away our cultivation, we are still experts. It won't take more than a few days to pass this trial."

Hearing this, many people nodded, agreeing with this individual. After all, even if they lost all of their cultivation, their memories and experience as cultivators remained. With this in mind, having four years to become a cultivator again seemed overly generous—not that anyone minded.