Apocalypse: Everyone Levels Up, I Return to the Time Before the Server Opened-Chapter 82

Chapter 82: Outer Humans Are Still Human!

In the fifth floor of the Tower…

This was the Sword Sect’s territory.

Here, recruitment events were held almost daily, inviting sword practitioners to join their ranks.

However, even after a full year, only a few managed to pass and become formal members of the Sword Sect.

In the center of the hall was a broad arena, and in the middle stood a circular platform.

Upon it lay a massive stone, etched with sword marks of varying depth.

This was a “Sword Testing Stone.”

It was incredibly hard. Swordsmen with low levels and mediocre strength couldn’t leave even a scratch on it.

At the moment, seven Sword Sect elders sat cross-legged around the platform.

There were both men and women.

The most eye-catching among them sat at the very center — an elder with a simple, ancient sword resting in his arms, eyes closed in meditation.

Strangely enough, a third eye sat on his forehead, also shut.

This man was none other than Han Wenqing, the Grand Elder of the Sword Sect and an Honorary Elder among many professional organizations.

“A few promising ones among this batch,” said a middle-aged woman in a light cyan robe calmly.

She was Zhu Yanhong, the sixth elder of the Sword Sect.

While speaking, her eyes briefly swept toward Elder Han Wenqing, carrying a hint of awe.

Even among elders, there were differences in status.

Beside her, an older male elder with a kind face chuckled, “That young man with the crescent mark on his forehead looks good. I plan to recruit him.”

But even as he said this, he too glanced at Han Wenqing.

When Han Wenqing wasn’t present, they could make their own decisions.

But if he was, the final say rested with him.

They had to gauge his attitude and could not make decisions independently.

“I actually find this batch quite average,” another elder chimed in.

“No outstanding talent or performance that really impressed me.”

“Exactly, some have talent, others have skill, but none have both.”

“By the way,” said another, “Shangyin just came to me, saying she wanted to help an Outer Human register for the assessment. You all agreed?”

“Haha, it’s rare to see one. Let’s treat it as entertainment.”

“Yeah, good for warming up the crowd.”

“Another reincarnation cycle, let’s see how far this one gets.”

“They’re just a bunch of short-lived oddballs who won’t even live a hundred years. It’s not worth worrying about.”

“Elder Ma, find some excuse to get rid of this one later. This is nonsense!”

As the elders continued their chat, someone walked in from the corridor.

It was Ye Qiu.

Immediately, the previously chatting elders turned their gazes toward him, each with different expressions.

Although Trial City had seen countless Outer Humans appear over time, one wave after another, their arrivals had no fixed cycle.

Sometimes once every thousand years, sometimes once every hundred, sometimes just years apart.

Two groups from completely different cultures, star domains, and faiths might even encounter each other.

As a result, not everyone had seen an Outer Human before.

Of the seven Sword Sect elders present, no more than three had seen one firsthand.

Naturally, curiosity bloomed.

“Greetings, elders!” Ye Qiu said nervously.

It was his first time here, facing so many elders at once.

He didn’t even know how to start.

In his past life, though he had spent years in Zhouxing City and treated it like a second home,

he’d only entered the Tower three times: once for his class change, twice to buy skill books.

And he had only ever seen three or four Sword Sect elders.

“You’re the Outer Human who wants to join our Sword Sect?” the oldest-looking elder among them finally spoke.

Ye Qiu quickly introduced himself, “Yes. My name is Ye Qiu, nickname ‘One Leaf Knows Autumn.’ I’m a swordsman, though I haven’t changed class yet…”

As he spoke, he secretly activated Heavenly Eye on the seven elders.

Soon, their personal data appeared:

[Name: Huang Tai]

[Class: Second Transition Sword Demon]

[Subclass: Swordsmith]

[Level: 98]

[Name: Zhu Yanhong]

[Class: Second Transition Sword Spirit]

[Subclass: Sword Protector]

[Level: 97]

…

All the elders were above level 95 and had undergone two class transitions.

Until…

[Name: Han Wenqing]

[Class: Third Transition Sword Immortal]

[Subclass: Preacher]

[Level: 120]

Hissss…

Ye Qiu stared fixedly at the central figure, the elder sitting cross-legged with three shut eyes.

In his past life, this elder had been viewed as a god among players.

Ye Qiu had once seen his majestic figure from afar and assumed he was just a high-level NPC.

But now, under the lens of the Heavenly Eye, he realized this legendary NPC was actually a level 120 Triple Transition Sword Immortal.

And his subclass was a Preacher!

In this game, there were countless subclasses, but a few were practically useless for personal gain.

One of them was Preacher.

Its sole purpose?

To find good talent and guide them in cultivation, strength development, and professional knowledge, helping them avoid detours.

While Ye Qiu was scanning the elders, the Sword Sect elders had already withdrawn their gazes.

Their curiosity toward Outer Humans had lasted but a moment.

After taking a look, they lost interest and resumed their discussion.

Soon, they settled on a candidate the one with the crescent mark on his forehead, called Moonlit Sword Immortal.

He would be accepted into the Sword Sect.

As for the others, they could go back where they came from.

Zhu Yanhong, Huang Tai, and the others exchanged glances, then all looked to the central elder, Han Wenqing, waiting for his final decision.

Han Wenqing slowly opened his eyes and said, “Go with your choice. Though they’re still mediocre, it’s rare to find such sword talent in the past year.”

While the elders discussed other things, no one paid any attention to Ye Qiu anymore.

Once the matter was settled, Zhu Yanhong waved at Ye Qiu and said, “Young man, no need to introduce yourself further. You may leave now.”

Ye Qiu stayed calm and asked, “Why are you driving me away?”

Now was the time to show some thick skin!

Zhu Yanhong was taken aback.

The other elders were also surprised.

This question, none of them had even considered it!

She subconsciously replied, “You’re an Outer Human. We don’t recruit your kind…”

But before she could finish, Ye Qiu countered firmly, “Elders, you never said that Outer Humans aren’t allowed. And if you don’t recruit us, why let me come here in the first place? Was it just to mock me? To watch me make a fool of myself?”

Then he added a final punchline, “Outer Humans are still human. You can’t treat us differently!”

All the elders froze.

For a moment, none knew what to say.

At that moment…

[Ding! Special Quest Triggered: Join the Sword Sect and become an official member. Accept?]

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