Inner Sect Assessment Begins

After Wu Xueying outlined the requirements for this inner sect assessment, she ceded the remaining time to the outer sect disciples. After all, it was highly probable that their friends would ascend to inner sect status after this assessment, making future meetings a rarity.

The Luoshen Sect strictly forbade inner and outer sect disciples from mingling. They belonged to different worlds, and such mixing often led to unforeseen complications.

In previous generations, the Luoshen Sect’s outer disciples had largely followed peaceful guidelines. However, these tranquil rules did little to accelerate their cultivation. This current assessment, therefore, was an experiment, designed to spur disciples through the competitive norms of typical cultivation sects.

Such rules carried both benefits and drawbacks. The primary disadvantage was the potential for dissent and disunity among disciples. Yet, the advantage lay in fostering a competitive environment where more exceptional talents could emerge. One could not, after all, have their cake and eat it too.

“Senior Sister Bai, Senior Sister Xue, once you two join the inner sect, you absolutely must look after us younger sisters in the future.”

“Indeed, Senior Sisters! You are the strongest among this generation of outer disciples. In just three years, you’ve both reached Qi Refining Layer Nine. Such talent is truly unparalleled!”

One after another, the crowd offered their congratulations.

Bai Lan merely offered a slight nod, remaining largely silent. Her reserved nature was well-known, so any reaction was considered sufficient. Xue Linglong, in contrast, was far more amiable, their temperaments almost perfectly opposite.

“Junior Sisters, don’t be too disheartened,” Xue Linglong comforted them. “There will be plenty of opportunities in the future.”

Of course, everyone understood that Xue Linglong was simply trying to console them. Only disciples at Qi Refining Layer Five or above were eligible to participate in the assessment.

Those who hadn’t reached Qi Refining Layer Five could only dream, their aspirations remaining just that.

As they gained a deeper understanding of cultivation, they recognized that a cultivator’s innate talent was predetermined, or required a great stroke of fortune. Without either, many would never achieve Foundation Establishment in their lifetime, rendering excessive rumination pointless.

They had come to congratulate Bai Lan and Xue Linglong, hoping that once the two joined the inner sect, they would offer them some protection, providing them with a backing within the Luoshen Sect.

More crucially, with the three-year cultivation period concluded, their future training would no longer be confined to Eternal Blossom Island. They would likely need to frequently depart the island to undertake missions in other kingdoms.

These assignments varied in scope. Minor tasks might involve searching for rare spiritual herbs and treasures required by the sect, while more perilous ones demanded slaying demons and assisting common folk with their troubles.

Once they left Eternal Blossom Island, the level of danger would be beyond their control. There was a significant risk of dying at the hands of other cultivators or demonic beasts, a common occurrence in their world.

This reality wasn’t unique to the Luoshen Sect; all other sects operated similarly. Even sects required means of survival. Did they truly believe they could remain isolated, needing nothing from the outside world? That was unrealistic. Cultivation sects relied on the secular world for sustenance, but in turn, the secular world wouldn’t support them for free. It was a relationship of mutual benefit.

After exchanging pleasantries for a while, everyone began to prepare. They could now proceed to the entrance of the core region for screening. Those who passed would gain entry to the core region and select their preferred faction for further assessment. All five factions were open to them.

Indeed, every cultivator possessed unique talents. Someone might be poor at swordsmanship, indicating they weren’t suited to be a sword cultivator, but that didn’t mean they were inept in all other aspects.

However, they were limited to five attempts across all factions. If all five factions rejected them, it implied their talent was truly lacking, and they would be relegated back to the outer sect. Nevertheless, as long as one achieved Foundation Establishment within a century, they could still become an inner sect disciple, even with mediocre aptitude.

After Bai Lan and Xue Linglong sent the other female disciples away, they walked directly towards the entrance of the inner sect area. Both of them were eligible to proceed directly to the assessment.

As they stepped onto the main thoroughfare of Eternal Blossom Island, they encountered a group of outsiders. Ahead of them, a noblewoman clad in golden-red palace attire, accompanied by another young woman, approached them.

The noblewoman was clearly no ordinary person. As for the younger girl, she appeared to be around the same age as Bai Lan and Xue Linglong.

Yet, an incongruous aura emanated from her entire being. What made it incongruous? It was a cold, proud, and distinctly heroic air, a temperament typically associated with men, rarely found in women.

The two women were dressed quite similarly. More precisely, Bai Lan and Xue Linglong found their attire somewhat familiar.

This attire seems similar to Chen Xuan’s back then, Bai Lan mused. Are they from the Chen Kingdom’s royal family? An early Nascent Soul cultivator? And Qi Refining Layer Eight? She and Xue Linglong stood aside, sizing up the newcomers.

The group passed by Bai Lan and Xue Linglong. As the heroic-looking girl walked past, her gaze lingered on Bai Lan, intentionally or not, for about three to five seconds.

That woman’s eyes were sharp, even aggressive. Her gaze sent shivers down Bai Lan’s spine, raising goosebumps and causing her to involuntarily tremble.

“Huh? What was with that woman’s gaze?” Bai Lan asked, her lips twitching after the woman finally averted her eyes.

A strange sense of unease welled up within her. That gaze felt like a man’s, brazenly scrutinizing another woman, imbued with a powerful, almost oppressive intensity.

“Another strange sister,” Xue Linglong suddenly remarked.

Bai Lan paused at her words.

“Strange? Are you saying the girl who just walked past is strange?” Bai Lan immediately inquired.

“Yes, she’s a bit like you, Sister, yet also different,” Xue Linglong explained, her expression peculiar. “I can’t quite pinpoint how, but she gives me a strange feeling. And she’s definitely not a disciple of our Luoshen Sect.”

Bai Lan pondered this. If even Xue Linglong couldn’t articulate it, then she certainly couldn’t figure it out.

“Never mind,” Bai Lan said. “Let’s go. It’s time for the inner sect assessment.”

Xue Linglong nodded, and together they followed the main thoroughfare to the entrance of the core region. A considerable number of disciples were already there for the assessment, including some familiar faces.

The cultivator overseeing this initial screening was Inner Sect Deacon Jiang Wei, a cultivator at the early Nascent Soul realm.

This round of inspection primarily focused on detecting cultivation realms, the strength of one’s soul power, and the presence of any special physiques. The assessment of innate talent, however, would take place within the individual factions.

It was noted that over a hundred outer sect disciples met the assessment requirements this time, a significant increase from previous years, which usually saw only a few dozen participants in the first round. This indicated that the Luoshen Sect’s new competitive system was indeed yielding results.

“Greetings, Elder. Disciple Chu Zhaolan, Qi Refining Layer Seven, is here to participate in the inner sect assessment,” a gentle and elegant female disciple announced, being the first to register with Jiang Wei for the screening.

Jiang Wei merely glanced at her, then, without even conducting a soul power test, waved her through. This action baffled those observing. However, those aware of the girl’s identity were not surprised, as Chu Zhaolan was a princess of the Chu Kingdom, and cultivation sects traditionally lowered their requirements for royal descendants from various nations.