Chapter 36: The Sect Examination Begins

“Dong, dong, dong—”
In the early morning, a melodious and ancient bell infused with spiritual energy resonated throughout the Azure Cloud Sect.

The annual sect assessment was about to begin.

Some faces betrayed unwillingness, for they knew their three-year period was at an end; having failed to break through to the fourth level of Qi Refining, they were about to bid farewell to Azure Cloud and return to the mortal world.

Without a steady source of cultivation resources, it was likely they would never reach the fourth level of Qi Refining in this lifetime. Their choices were to become wandering cultivators or descend to the rank of menial laborers, toiling for the sect in exchange for gold and silver, establishing mortal families in hopes of one day producing a gifted child to rekindle the path to immortality.

Others wore calm expressions tinged with curiosity. These were either newly admitted prospective outer disciples, for whom the assessment was merely a gauge of their cultivation progress, or long-standing disciples who had lingered at the fourth or fifth level of Qi Refining and had grown numb to the annual ordeal.

A small handful bore proud expressions—these were prepared to shine in the assessment, hoping to leap from prospective to full outer disciple, or from outer to inner disciple, transforming their fates in a single stroke.

Beneath the Azure Cloud Bell, all manner of human emotions played out, yet all hurried toward the Azure Cloud Plaza by various means.

Cao Xuan straightened his robes, employed a movement technique, and set off toward the plaza.

“Seventh level of Qi Refining—seems I’ll need to prepare a flying artifact soon!”

If one were to define a watershed in the Qi Refining stage, it would indeed be the seventh level. By this point, a late-stage cultivator’s spiritual energy and true essence were sufficient to support the use of many techniques, even enabling brief flights on magical artifacts.

And flight—was this not the greatest distinction between mortals and immortals?

Cao Xuan’s heart burned with excitement. To soar through the sky! In his previous life, he had only taken a few airplane rides, but how could that compare to flying under one’s own power?

For now, though, he needed to complete the sect’s assessment.

…

On Azure Cloud Plaza, countless cultivators gathered from all directions.

Several elders were already suspended in the sky, standing upon various magical artifacts, hands clasped behind their backs, azure robes billowing. Among them were scholarly middle-aged men, graceful mature women, and white-bearded elders.

They looked upon the approaching disciples. One middle-aged scholar remarked with a smile, “Our Azure Cloud Sect truly prospers more with each passing year!”

The elder beside him stroked his beard. “I wonder if this year’s assessment will yield any promising talents for us to recruit.”

The Azure Cloud Sect in Yun Prefecture boasted a deep legacy, recruiting disciples annually and holding eliminations every three years. Over time, the number of Foundation Establishment elders and protectors had become innumerable.

Yet, just as with those who failed to reach the fourth level of Qi Refining, the Foundation Establishment elders were likewise constrained by talent and resources, unable to advance further.

“Heh, if there are good talents, will it really be our turn? It’s all luck. If there’s a true prodigy, they’ll be sent to the Azure Cloud Sect’s Central Prefecture branch. Even so, our prospects would improve!”

Each year, the elders and protectors attending the Azure Cloud assessment changed.

With so many disciples and as many elders, the annual sect assessment was not only a test for the disciples but also an opportunity—one never knew what fate might bring!

Some elders came merely to seek outstanding disciples to send to Central Prefecture in exchange for contributions and resources. Others, nearing the end of their lifespans, sought worthy successors to whom they could impart all they had learned.

Cultivation transcends the passage of years—not all cultivators have descendants. Sometimes, a closed-door disciple is the only continuation of a lineage.

Thus, many of those proud-faced disciples readied themselves to display their talents, hoping to catch the eye of an elder or protector in the sky and soar to new heights.

Yet the gaze of the graceful, mature woman was not on the crowd in the plaza, but rather fixed toward the mountain gate.

The annual assessment was also the day Azure Cloud Sect opened its gates to new disciples. Compared to the “mediocrities” who grew within the sect, the newly admitted often held surprises.

Some diligent outer disciples had already taken on the task of testing the spiritual roots of those reporting for the assessment, sitting by the gate to evaluate the new arrivals from all over Yun Prefecture.

Lin Miaoxuan was one such disciple. Unlike Chen Qianru, who aspired to become an alchemy disciple, Lin Miaoxuan had no intention of learning the six arts of cultivation.

More precisely, she had realized that rather than dabbling in various skills, it was better to focus solely on cultivation.

Both she and Chen Qianru possessed sixth-tier spiritual roots, and with the aid of pills provided by Senior Brother Cao Xuan, she might very well keep pace with him in cultivation.

After that last encounter, even Chen Qianru understood she could not remain secluded in her cave dwelling but also needed to take on sect tasks.

Earning spirit stones was secondary—Cao Xuan’s pills made her feel as if she were “working” to experience life.

At this moment, Lin Miaoxuan sat idly at the mountain gate. Having already had their cultivation assessed by the Hall of Transmission, the sect assessment was over for the outer disciples assigned to this task.

“Place both hands on the spiritual-testing orb in front of you and carefully sense the aura entering your body,” Lin Miaoxuan repeated lazily.

Before her, a nervous fifteen-year-old boy fidgeted, inwardly marveling at how beautiful this “immortal sister” was, wondering if he might one day cultivate and accompany her.

His heart brimming with hopeful fantasies, he suddenly heard her say, “Second-tier spiritual root—does not meet the minimum standard for entry. Next.”

Lin Miaoxuan waved her hand helplessly. She had thought this “welcoming duty” might let her meet some fresh faces, but it was nothing but mortals with spiritual roots below the fourth tier. “I wonder what tier Senior Brother Cao Xuan’s roots are, given how outstanding he is.”

“If I’d known, I wouldn’t have taken this task—maybe I’d have caught a glimpse of Senior Brother Cao.”

Though they had shared intimacy not long ago, absence makes the heart grow fonder; especially in the days leading up to the assessment, Cao Xuan had been in seclusion refining cleansing pills, leaving her without a chance to see him.

“Parents at the back—if you have a spiritual-testing orb at home and know your child’s roots are below the fourth tier, please don’t waste your time.”

She yawned. Mainly, she was bored. Though her family was not one of those half-cultivator, half-mortal households under Azure Cloud’s jurisdiction, like the Cao family, they were still prominent in the current dynasty and naturally could obtain an orb to test their children in advance.

Had her roots not been sixth tier, she would never have journeyed all this way to Azure Cloud Sect.

Sadly, her words fell on deaf ears. Those who had made it this far, regardless of prior testing, were unwilling to give up and all wanted to try their luck.

At last, a young girl’s test caused the orb to emit a faint glow, visible to the naked eye.

A hint of interest finally showed on Lin Miaoxuan’s face. “Fourth-tier spiritual root—passed. Little sister, wait inside.”

The girl’s parents, overjoyed, burst into tears. “Our daughter finally has a chance to become immortal!”

“Pfft—”
Hearing this, Lin Miaoxuan could not help but laugh aloud.