Chapter Forty-Nine: Everyone's Private Thoughts

As Chen Yi observed a few disciples of the Tai Xu Dao Sect, those disciples were also scrutinizing the hundred new recruits who had come to apprentice. However, like Gu Tiangang before them, they used the technique of Qi observation to examine the innate potential of each disciple. This was the first and most crucial test for entry into the Tai Xu Dao Sect.

The Daoist tradition has always valued talent and aptitude. This was not unique to the Tai Xu Dao Sect; almost all Daoist schools adhered to this principle. It was also why Ning Xue was not worried about Chen Yi and the others gaining admission. With Senior Brother Gu Tiangang’s assessment by Qi observation guaranteeing their potential, these children from the Xingwu Academy could naturally pass this first hurdle safely.

The subsequent stages mainly tested one’s character and temperament. Having undergone several awakenings through the Nightmare Realm technique, the illusory trials set for the new disciples would not trouble Chen Yi and his companions. The only uncertainty lay in the final cultivation assessment, about which Ning Xue was less confident.

According to her knowledge, the method of assessing new disciples’ cultivation levels changed yearly. For example, when she had apprenticed into the Tai Xu Dao Sect, the test involved mutual competitions among disciples, selecting only the top one hundred victors. The previous year, it had been ranked by cultivation level. Even earlier, the test involved battling demons, with those who slew them favored for admission.

The reasons for these changes in assessment methods were twofold: first, the preferences of the test supervisors varied each year; second, to prevent outsiders from obtaining advance knowledge and devising countermeasures.

With these thoughts, Ning Xue stepped forward to join the fellow sect members responsible for recruiting new disciples. “Junior Sister Xiao, thank you for taking charge of the examination on my behalf,” Ning Xue said softly, watching the disciples jotting notes in their ledgers as she communicated with Xiao Xuanzhen.

“Senior Sister Ning, you have important matters to attend to; I naturally cannot refuse,” Xiao Xuanzhen replied, glancing toward Chen Yi’s direction. Her gaze settled briefly on Lin Xueru and Flower Fairy before she asked, “Are they the exceptional talents Senior Brother Gu mentioned? He said there were more than twenty earlier, but now there are only ten.”

Ning Xue smiled wryly, recalling Gongye Shou and others who had joined different sects, and sighed. Had she arrived earlier at the Xingwu Academy, she might have retained some of the most gifted disciples. But now, it was too late.

She proceeded to explain the situation to Xiao Xuanzhen.

“Oh,” Xiao Xuanzhen’s youthful face showed a flicker of realization as she nodded lightly. “I had heard my father speak of the turmoil and complexity in the imperial court, but I did not believe it.”

“Now it seems even the apprenticeship is divided by faction and territory. It is not hard to imagine the true faces of the court officials.”

Though young, as a descendant of the Tai Xu Dao Sect’s sect leader, her knowledge and insight far surpassed her peers. Having grown up close to Xiao Huang, she was deeply familiar with the Wei Dynasty’s environment, the intrigues of the court and the martial world, and even the Buddhist and Daoist sects. Her understanding surpassed that of ordinary people.

Hearing this, Ning Xue recalled their earlier experiences in the capital and nodded in agreement. “Junior Sister, you are right; some officials in the court are indeed ruthless.”

“But today, the sect’s priority remains recruiting new disciples.”

“If you have time later, Xiao Junior Sister, I can share with you what I have seen during this period.”

Xiao Xuanzhen nodded, “The results of the first test are out. Senior Sister Ning, please help me verify them.”

“Of course.”

Afterward, Xiao Xuanzhen took the ledgers completed by the other disciples and began reviewing them with Ning Xue.

Meanwhile, as several disciples secretly used Qi observation techniques to assess the new recruits, many of the children grew anxious.

“When will it start?”

“I don’t know. They’re just scribbling in their books. Could they be testing us instead?”

“That’s very possible! I’ve heard that the Tai Xu Dao Sect’s first evaluation verifies each disciple’s aptitude, though I’m not sure how they do it.”

Some well-informed children exchanged whispers while watching the Tai Xu Dao disciples closely.

“It’s probably Qi observation or some technique to discern our potential.”

“The Daoist sects have many methods; such a technique would not be surprising.”

“True. Even Buddhist sects can determine whether to accept new disciples by recognizing their past life merits. Daoist methods must be even more rigorous.”

“Past lives? Are they real?”

“Otherwise, how would monks say things like ‘You are fated with our Buddha’ or ‘Your past life was one of great virtue’?”

“That’s nonsense. I don’t believe it.”

Even among Chen Yi’s group, some faces showed faint traces of nervousness.

“Brother Yi, do you think they’ll fail us right after we get here?” The little chubby Wang Yongnian’s forehead glistened with a fine sheen of sweat, clearly uneasy. If he wasn’t chosen by the Tai Xu Dao Sect but Chen Yi and the others were, he might really be beaten to death by his father when he returned.

“No,” Chen Yi said calmly, watching Ning Xue and Xiao Xuanzhen’s expressions. From their earlier demeanor, the content in those ledgers probably had nothing to do with them. Otherwise, even the straightforward Ning would have shown some subtle change—regret or disappointment.

“Brother Yi is right, Zhu San,” the young princess said, patting Wang Yongnian’s shoulder comfortingly. “Senior Ning said so earlier; I think none of us will have problems.”

In truth, she was somewhat nervous herself. Not because she feared being beaten by the Northern Governor, but because if she weren’t chosen by the Tai Xu Dao Sect and Du Yanqing was, how could that be? Her elder brother, the heir, was clumsy; without her help, he would surely be bullied by the bad senior brothers on the mountain. Such a situation must never arise.

For a moment, their conversation seemed to exert a strange influence, making others nervous too, though each person’s reasons for fearing failure were different.

Lin Xueru nervously clutched Chen Yi’s arm, thinking of the promise she had made to him. If she returned to the capital, she would no longer be able to protect him.

Du Yanqing glanced at the young princess and thought that if the Tai Xu Dao Sect did not accept his sister, he would descend the mountain too. If the sect would not keep the master, the master would find his own place.

As the heir to the Northern Governor, his martial cultivation would be no less than anyone’s in the governor’s mansion.

Meanwhile, Wei Letian and Wei Xiaoyun, the two imperial princes of the Wei dynasty, remained calm, eager to leave the sect and return to the capital. This sect was no fun at all.

Chen Yi looked around and smiled. “Worrying is useless. It’s better to think about how to cultivate faster in the Tai Xu Dao Sect.”

His primary goal was to defeat Xiao Xuanzhen! And, of course, to prevent her from easily approaching Lin Xueru.

“Brother Yi is right.”

Just then, Xiao Xuanzhen finished checking the roster, stepped forward, and said crisply, “Quiet.”

Once everyone fell silent, she continued, “Our Tai Xu Dao Sect has three rules for accepting disciples.”

“Those with poor innate talent will not be accepted.”

“Those with vile character will not be accepted.”

“Those whose cultivation progression is slow will not be accepted.”