"Next, you will undergo a re-selection, and this re-selection will determine how many of you will remain. Furthermore, it will decide what kind of disciple status you will attain after joining the Young Sect."
"Let me explain to everyone: the Young Sect disciples are divided into Core Disciples, Elite Disciples, Ordinary Disciples, and Outer Disciples. Different statuses naturally come with different treatment. Of course, the re-selection requires nothing from you; just relax your minds." As the Young Sect disciple finished speaking, he bowed and retreated.
Elder Ming Yue, seated in the center of the elevated platform, then waved his hand. Lin Chu and the other selected individuals were instantly enveloped by a force and all landed on the platform.
Lin Chu found that he and nearly five thousand others were divided into five teams again.
"Everyone, do not be alarmed. Just relax your minds," Elder Ming Yue said as he noticed the commotion among the crowd. He then glanced to his left and right, nodded slightly, and said, "Elders, let us begin."
As Elder Ming Yue finished speaking, everyone seated on their chairs nodded. Five spiritual energies instantly shot out, each enveloping a team of contestants who had already been divided. Following this, Elder Ming Yue and the others closed their eyes, forming hand seals.
With the appearance of these five spiritual energies, Lin Chu felt as if he had been stripped bare. The spiritual energy that enveloped him wandered within his body for a moment before converging at his dantian and stopping.
Although Lin Chu was somewhat nervous, seeing Bai Yu Wei sitting quietly in her chair gradually dispelled his tension.
Fortunately, this probing sensation soon disappeared. Lin Chu looked around and noticed that everyone was emitting a different kind of radiance.
Some contestants' radiance was extremely strong, while others' was more faint, and some even had only a dim, dull glow. Seeing this, Lin Chu became curious about his own radiance.
When Bai Yu Wei looked at the radiance emanating from Lin Chu, she felt a sense of confusion. Lin Chu's talent and aptitude should be quite strong, but it did not seem to be the case at the moment.
Although Lin Chu's radiance was also present, it paled in comparison to many others present.
However, after a moment's thought, Bai Yu Wei felt reassured. Although Lin Chu's current displayed talent and aptitude were somewhat weak, it was not impossible for him to cultivate.
As long as he could cultivate, it would be enough.
After a while, Elder Ming Yue and the others exchanged glances, nodded, and waved their hands again. The five spiritual energies lit up once more, and Lin Chu felt a force envelop him, lifting him into the air.
When he landed again, Lin Chu found that the contestants on the platform had been divided into three groups. This time, the number of people in each group was clearly different. The smallest group had only a little over twenty people, while the team Lin Chu was in had the most members.
"Alright, for this batch of disciples, we will provisionally set the quotas according to the current distribution. As for the results after one month, that will be up to the Sect Master to decide."
As everyone stood in their positions again, Elder Ming Yue looked to his left and right and spoke slowly.
"As Elder Ming Yue suggested," everyone nodded in agreement.
"In that case, I will trouble all of you to escort them up. The Envoy and the Sect Master have likely been waiting for quite some time," Elder Ming Yue said.
"Elder Ming Yue, Lin Chu has already passed the test and has the aptitude of an Ordinary Disciple. There is no need to bring him up for the Sect Master and the others to select," Bai Yu Wei said, standing up and looking at Elder Ming Yue.
Elder Ming Yue stopped and asked, "What does the Saintess mean?"
Bai Yu Wei replied, "I have already informed the Sect Master that Lin Chu will be following me from now on. Although his aptitude is somewhat lacking, he can still cultivate. Since he has now met the conditions to join our Young Sect, I will handle the rest myself."
Elder Ming Yue cupped his hands and nodded, "Since the Sect Master has been informed, it shall be as the Saintess wishes."
Bai Yu Wei nodded, then turned to Lin Chu in the group and said, "Lin Chu, come to my side."
Lin Chu, among the crowd, walked towards Bai Yu Wei.
"Sister," Lin Chu called out softly as he reached Bai Yu Wei's side.
As soon as he spoke, Elder Ming Yue and the others looked at Lin Chu and Bai Yu Wei with strange expressions.
Seemingly sensing the unusual atmosphere, Bai Yu Wei nodded slightly and then said to Elder Ming Yue and the others, "Thank you all for your trouble."
With that, Bai Yu Wei pulled Lin Chu and flew towards the mountaintop.
On the mountaintop, outside the main hall of the Young Sect, numerous Young Sect disciples stood. In the plaza outside the main hall, several figures sat, seemingly waiting for something. Many Young Sect disciples bowed respectfully as they watched Bai Yu Wei fly up with Lin Chu.
"Chu'er, remember to speak less later. Just stay quietly behind your sister," Bai Yu Wei whispered as she looked at the figures on the elevated platform.
Lin Chu nodded, his heart filled with nervousness as he gazed at the figures seated on the plaza's elevated platform.
"Young Sect Saintess Bai Yu Wei, greets the Envoy, the Sect Master, and all esteemed lords." Bai Yu Wei landed slowly and bowed slightly towards the purple-gold black-robed man in the center and Liu Fei Chen and the others. Lin Chu immediately lowered his head.
"Saintess, this is the child who saved you on Mount Hu Xia, is it not?" Liu Fei Chen nodded slightly and then shifted his gaze to Lin Chu.
Bai Yu Wei nodded slightly.
"Oh? A child actually saved your sect's Saintess?" As Bai Yu Wei nodded, the purple-gold black-robed man put down his teacup and looked at Lin Chu with some curiosity.
Liu Fei Chen smiled and replied, "Replying to the Envoy, about a month ago, some scoundrel, for reasons unknown, sent men to ambush our sect's Saintess. Fortunately, heaven has blessed our sect, and thanks to this young hero's care, the Saintess remained unharmed. However, the attacking force was annihilated, making it impossible to ascertain the mastermind. "
The purple-gold black-robed man glanced at the four people seated on the elevated platform and said, "I didn't expect anyone would dare to disregard the rules of the Anwu Hall. If it were just a minor skirmish, our Anwu Hall would not intervene. But if it escalated to a major conflict, the consequences might be quite severe. Esteemed sirs, let us prioritize the greater good."
As the purple-gold black-robed man finished speaking, he picked up his teacup and took another sip.
At this moment, the four people seated beside Liu Fei Chen all showed a flicker of unnaturalness on their faces, and they each raised their teacups to drink.
"Sect Master, Lin Chu has passed the trial this time. Although he can only become an Ordinary Disciple, I wish to keep him by my side to guide his cultivation, as a way to repay his life-saving grace. I request the Sect Master's approval." As everyone fell silent, Bai Yu Wei spoke again.
Liu Fei Chen smiled slightly and said, "Our Young Sect is naturally a sect that repays kindness. It is rare for the Saintess to be so considerate. As the Saintess wishes."
"Many thanks, Sect Master. I am feeling a bit unwell, so I will take my leave," Bai Yu Wei said with a slight bow. After seeing Liu Fei Chen nod, she pulled Lin Chu and ascended once more, flying towards a palace.
"Sister, are you feeling unwell?" Lin Chu asked as soon as they landed.
Bai Yu Wei removed her veil and smiled, "Silly child, if I hadn't said that, we would still be waiting there for the disciple selection to end. Come, are you hungry? After you eat, I'll take you to collect the essential supplies for new disciples."
Lin Chu's stomach let out a rumble, and Bai Yu Wei chuckled.
...
"Saintess, the Sect Master has sent a message requesting your presence," after lunch, as Lin Chu was about to accompany Bai Yu Wei to collect the new disciple essentials, a Young Sect disciple arrived.
"I understand," Bai Yu Wei nodded, then turned to Lin Chu with a helpless expression. "Chu'er, I need to go there first. How about you go collect them yourself? Just show your token."
Lin Chu nodded, "Okay."
As Bai Yu Wei left, Lin Chu took out his token and headed straight for the disciple hall.
According to Bai Yu Wei's explanation, the Young Sect had ten halls, one main hall, and one pavilion. The ten halls were: the Young Sect Main Hall, the Assembly Hall, the Salary Hall, the Punishment Hall, the Dragon Combat Hall, the Tiger Roar Hall, the Merit Hall, the Mission Hall, the Inner Palace Hall, and the Disciple Hall.
Each sub-hall had a different responsibility, and each was managed by an elder.
The single main hall was the Law Enforcement Hall, responsible for maintaining order in the Young Sect.
The last pavilion was the Young Sect's Scripture Pavilion, which contained the cultivation techniques and secret manuals for Young Sect disciples.
Bai Yu Wei explained that each new disciple had one opportunity to choose a cultivation technique. However, what level of technique they could obtain ultimately depended on their own comprehension.
"I wonder when it will be my turn to choose a cultivation technique," Lin Chu thought to himself as he bypassed the Young Sect Main Hall and walked towards the Disciple Hall.
"The Disciple Hall... I didn't expect the Grand Disciple Hall to be so grand." Lin Chu was quite surprised by the sight of the Disciple Hall.
The ground of the entire Disciple Hall was paved with white jade, which emitted a soft glow. On the walls, phoenixes carved from sandalwood seemed poised to take flight.
In front of the Disciple Hall, there was also a plaza that was only slightly smaller than the main hall's plaza.
In the center of the plaza, on an altar, a straight pillar was carved with lifelike dragon patterns, facing the phoenixes on the Disciple Hall.
Moreover, surrounding the Disciple Hall were lush trees exuding vibrant life force. Lin Chu took a deep breath, feeling considerably more relaxed.
"I should get my things first," after a moment, Lin Chu came back to his senses and walked directly towards the main entrance.
"Two elder brothers, I am a new disciple, here to collect my items," Lin Chu said, bowing to the two gatekeepers at the entrance.
Lin Yong'an's eyes showed a hint of confusion. "New? Hasn't it ended yet? How come someone is here to collect new disciple items already? Let me see your token."
Lin Chu then handed over his token.
"Lin Chu? You really are a new disciple. Alright, follow me. Oh, and remember, when you join the Young Sect, you must follow the sect's rules. In the sect, you must call us 'Senior Brother.' Do you understand?" Lin Yong'an said after taking a look at the token.
Lin Chu nodded, "Understood, Senior Brother."
"Good. Come with me." Lin Yong'an nodded slightly and turned to go inside. Lin Chu quickly followed.
As soon as he entered the hall, Lin Chu was once again shocked. He saw that each pillar in the hall was carved with a coiling, lifelike golden dragon, appearing almost alive at first glance. Inside the vast palace, besides an old man seated at the top, there was no one else. The empty hall felt somewhat desolate.
"Elder Yuwen, this junior brother is here to collect new disciple items," as Lin Chu was still observing, Lin Yong'an bowed to the elder at the top of the hall.
"Hmm." Elder Yuwen opened his eyes, glanced at Lin Chu, nodded slightly, and then closed his eyes again.
Seeing this, Lin Yong'an turned to Lin Chu and said, "Follow me."
"These are the clothes and living quarters for new disciples. Since today is the disciple recruitment ceremony, we prepared these items early. Let's take them out," Lin Yong'an took out a bundle and handed it to Lin Chu.
"Thank you, Senior Brother," Lin Chu took the bundle, bowed to Elder Yuwen, and then followed Lin Yong'an out.
"Alright, everything you need is in the bundle in your hand. You can change into them when you get back," Lin Yong'an said after they exited the hall.
"Okay, Senior Brother," Lin Chu nodded, bowed to Lin Yong'an and the other man again, and turned to leave, carrying the bundle.
*Bang.*
Just then, a figure shot out rapidly. Lin Chu, who had just turned, was knocked down by this figure.
Before Lin Chu could speak, the figure who collided with him cursed, "Are you blind? How can you walk without looking?"
Lin Yong'an frowned slightly as he looked at the newcomer, and hesitated to speak as he looked at Lin Chu, who was still on the ground.
*Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!*
At the same time, several whistling sounds echoed from the sky again. Six figures, all wearing white robes, descended in front of the Disciple Hall and walked towards the man next to Lin Chu.
"Senior Brother Shao Ming, what's going on?" the six people asked the man who had knocked Lin Chu down as soon as they appeared.
"This kid was walking without looking and fell himself," the latter replied, glancing at Lin Chu as he brushed off his sleeves.
Lin Chu rubbed his sore arm and slowly stood up, continuing on his way towards the courtyard where his room was located.
"Stop!"
Seeing Lin Chu stand up and leave without a word, Qiu Shao Ming suddenly shouted.
Hearing Qiu Shao Ming speak again, Lin Yong'an inwardly cursed his bad luck. He looked at Lin Chu with a hint of pity.
At this moment, Lin Chu continued to walk forward as if he hadn't heard Qiu Shao Ming's words.
"What? This kid is completely ignoring me!" Qiu Shao Ming felt his face lose all color. A glint of malice flashed in his eyes, and he moved, striking Lin Chu's shoulder with his palm.
"Kid, are you deaf? I'm talking to you!"