Chapter 97: Chapter 96: Ascension Ceremony (Middle)

After the questioning concluded, Lu Zhao and the other three were led to the other side of the courtyard to stand with those who had already passed. Time ticked by, and it wasn’t until late at night that everyone had finally been assessed.

The group, which had originally numbered nearly a thousand, had been whittled down to just over four hundred—an elimination rate of more than half! Those who remained were all Cultivators at the Qi Cultivation Eighth or 9th Layer, and they were all relatively young.

Afterward, these four hundred-odd people were taken to another, even larger courtyard.

In the courtyard stood a single Quiet Chamber, its entrance guarded by a Steward who instructed everyone to enter one by one.

This time, the process was extremely fast. It took less than the time to drink half a cup of tea for one person to emerge, followed immediately by the next one going in.

When it was Lu Zhao’s turn, he stepped into the Quiet Chamber. In the center of the room sat a cyan jade stone half a man’s height, emitting a faint Spiritual Pressure.

A black-robed Outer Sect Steward stood beside the jade.

"Look at the Heart-Questioning Stone and answer my question." The black-robed Outer Sect Steward’s voice was flat. "Why do you wish to join our Bixia Sect?"

Lu Zhao looked directly at the cyan jade, his gaze unflinching. Following the instructions from the Jade Scroll, he declared in a clear voice, "I come from a Wanderer background, and the path of cultivation is arduous. I have long heard that the Bixia Sect is a Major Sect in Chen Country, with a profound heritage, a complete range of Cultivation Techniques, and even bestows Foundation Establishment Pills upon its disciples."

"I have come for two reasons: first, to seek the Sect’s protection and advance my Cultivation; and second, for the Foundation Establishment Pill, to strive for a chance at Foundation Establishment and longevity! I am willing to serve the Sect to repay this great favor!"

As his words fell, the surface of the cyan jade shimmered with light, glowing faintly before returning to its calm state. No warning signs or strange phenomena appeared.

The black-robed Outer Sect Steward nodded, his expression impassive. "That will be all. You may leave."

Lu Zhao did as he was told and exited. Outside, quite a few people were already waiting, their expressions a mix of anxiety, anticipation, and relief. A little over three hours later, everyone had completed this second trial, the "Heart-Questioning" test.

A massive shadow fell over the courtyard. A sleek Flying Ship floated silently in the air, hundreds of feet high. The vessel was enormous and silent, exuding the profound pressure of a powerful sect as it looked down upon the masses below.

Inside the ship, in an elegantly appointed cabin, the subtle, dark fragrance of high-quality Spiritual Sandalwood mingled with the faintest crisp scent of Spirit Tea. The three Inner Sect Stewards—Zhao Quzhou, Tian Bufan, and Yun Lanyi—sat around a low table as glossy as black jade.

Zhao Quzhou frowned slightly as he looked at the densely packed names and brief profiles on the Jade Scroll in his hand. "There are still four hundred and twenty-three candidates who meet the basic requirements. However, the Sect only has two hundred openings for Outer Sect Stewards this time. How should we choose? Do you two junior brothers have any brilliant ideas?"

Tian Bufan stroked his short beard, a sharp glint in his eyes as he spoke first. "In my opinion, those over the age of fifty have a diminished hope of reaching Foundation Establishment. We might as well eliminate them first."

Zhao Quzhou pondered for a moment before nodding. "Junior Brother Tian has a point. Those over fifty have limited potential. They can be removed." A faint Spirit Light flickered at his fingertip. He swept it across the Jade Scroll, and in an instant, over a hundred names dimmed.

"That leaves us with over three hundred and twenty," Tian Bufan said, looking at the remaining list. He continued, "During the Heart-Questioning trial, although most, as per the confidential briefing, frankly admitted they came for the Foundation Establishment Pill, a few were evasive, deliberately postured as morally superior, or harbored hidden resentment. Their hearts are not sincere. Such individuals, despite their Cultivation, may cause trouble. We might as well eliminate them too."

Zhao Quzhou nodded again. "Character is also fundamental. Although the Heart-Questioning Stone gave no warning, the emotions revealed in their answers were also recorded in the Jade Scroll. They should be removed." Another batch of names dimmed.

"Mm, now we’re down to two hundred and twenty-eight," Tian Bufan said, a familiar, shrewd smile on his face as he looked at the remaining glowing names on the list. "We only have two hundred spots, which means we have an excess of over twenty people. In my view, we should give priority to those who have mastered some of the Cultivation Hundred Arts!"

"Talisman Making, Alchemy, Artifact Refining, Arrays, Puppets, Beast Taming... no matter which one, as long as they have a specialized skill, they will be of great use to the Sect’s daily operations and general affairs. Their long-term value far exceeds that of common fighters who only know how to be reckless and kill. After filtering for such talents, if there are still spots left, we can then make a second selection based on their Cultivation level and age. What do you think of this method, Brother Zhao?"

Zhao Quzhou had no objection. "Excellent. Possessing one of the Hundred Arts does indeed make them more valuable. We shall filter them as Junior Brother Tian suggests."

The two quickly conferred and soon finalized the list of two hundred names. Tian Bufan passed the Jade Scroll with the list to the ever-silent Yun Lanyi. "Junior Brother Yun, this is the list Brother Zhao and I have compiled after careful deliberation. Please take a look. If you have any objections, feel free to voice them."

Yun Lanyi took the Jade Scroll, scanned it with his Divine Sense, and handed it back a moment later. His voice remained as cold as ever. "No objections. Proceed as planned."

Lu Zhao did as instructed and exited, pushing open the heavy wooden doors once more. Blinding daylight instantly flooded his vision, making him squint instinctively. In the spacious courtyard outside, a restless crowd had formed. By now, many were waiting for the next round or for the results. They stood alone or gathered in small groups, the air thick with silent tension.

Lu Zhao stood in the crowd. Though his face was as calm as still water, he couldn’t help but feel a flicker of anxiety. ’Whether I’m selected or not all comes down to this.’

Finally, a black-robed Steward holding a Jade Scroll strode to the front of the crowd. His gaze swept over everyone as he announced loudly, "Silence! Those whose names I call are the chosen candidates for the position of Outer Sect Steward from this Ascension Ceremony. When your name is called, step forward into the empty space at the front!"

"Zhang Yuanshan!"

"Li Qinghe!"

"Wang Hai!"

...

Name after name was called out. Without exception, those who were chosen revealed joyous expressions and quickly stepped out of the ranks. Lu Zhao focused his attention, listening intently.

"The thirteenth, Lu Zhao!"

Hearing his own name, the stone that had been weighing on Lu Zhao’s heart finally fell. He took a deep breath, stepped out from the crowd, and stood in the open space at the front.

...

Half an hour later, he scanned the area. The open space was now packed with a dense crowd of selected candidates. A quick estimate confirmed that there were indeed close to two hundred people!

This was several dozen more than he had expected. It seemed the Bixia Sect’s recruitment drive for Outer Sect Stewards was truly unprecedented.

When the last name was read, there were exactly two hundred people standing in the open space.

The faces of the over two hundred people whose names were not called instantly drained of color. Disappointment, unwillingness, and resentment swirled within them, but under the cold gazes of the surrounding black-robed Stewards, no one dared to cause a disturbance. They could only turn and depart in dejected silence.

The black-robed Steward looked at the two hundred who remained, his tone softening slightly. "Congratulations, junior brothers and sisters, on passing the selection and becoming Outer Sect Stewards of our Bixia Sect. The Sect grants you one day to settle your worldly affairs and arrange for your families."

"Tomorrow at this time, gather here again. You will travel by Flying Ship to the Sect’s residence to formally complete the entry procedures." He paused, his gaze sweeping over the crowd with the knowing air of a veteran. "Once you join the Sect, things will be complicated. You will be bogged down with Cultivation and missions. There won’t be much free time. All of you, cherish this one day."

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