They said they needed to prepare, but there wasn't much they could actually prepare.
Fan Wubing's room, needless to say, was as bare as could be seen at a glance. Looking around, the things displayed and hung were all mundane items, there were even several strips of cured meat hanging.
In any case, it didn't look like the residence of a cultivator.
The most valuable items on him were perhaps the Foundation Establishment Pill and the items he exchanged for 120 contribution points at Treasure Peak.
After putting all the potentially useful items into the Qiankun Bag, he returned to the Immortal Performance Square.
Gradually, everyone arrived.
New and old disciples no longer stood separately but stood together with their assigned partners according to the results of the draw.
Luo Qingyao was already waiting early on. As soon as she saw Fan Wubing arrive, she immediately approached. Now she seemed much more reserved and gentle, no longer as boisterous as at the beginning, and was not that aloof girl from a cold mountain as new disciples saw her.
When the time arrived, the elder on the high platform waved his long sleeve, and a section of a tree branch slowly floated into the air. The branch was dry and incomplete, faintly exuding an aura of age, making anyone who saw it think it must be something passed down for generations.
The elder began introducing,
"Although it looks like just a dry branch, there's actually a mystery within, it's a small world of a Great Power at the Integration Realm…"
The disciples exclaimed in surprise, thinking could it be that our Eternal Immortal Sect actually has a legendary Integration Realm Great Power!
"...a small fragment of it."
The disciples sighed in disappointment.
The elder coughed,
"You young calves don't understand the preciousness of this thing. Back in the day, our Eternal Immortal Sect's founding ancestor fought fiercely with many Fetal Movement Realm cultivators, going through immense hardship to obtain this fragment. Show some respect, you little brats! Well, you'll eventually know, even just a tiny fragment is still a supreme treasure!
"After millennia of modification, this small fragment of a world has become a Small Profound Realm. With just an infusion of Immortal Spirit Qi, it can be molded at will, it is this event's trial ground for new disciples.
"This time's Small Profound Realm for the new disciple trial consists of three layers.
"The first layer is the Points Pass, primarily testing your cultivation. You need to gain points by killing the Profound Demons within. The duration is three days, and those who fail to meet the points requirement for the second pass will be eliminated;
"The second layer is the Puzzle Pass, mainly testing your adaptability and intelligence. The shorter the clearance time, the higher the points. The limit is twelve hours, and those exceeding it will be eliminated;
"The third layer, also the final layer, is the Heart and Nature Pass, testing your state of mind. You'll see once it starts."
In previous years, the trial for new disciples only involved the first pass, which was killing Profound Demons to accumulate points.
This time two more passes were added, sparking much discussion among new and old disciples.
"Everyone, are you ready?"
"Ready!" At the Immortal Performance Square, the enthusiasm of new and old disciples was overwhelming.
"Very well." The elder laughed heartily, "Today, I bring the dry branch, and someday, countless peach blossoms will bloom across the mountains. Everyone, catch this leaf!"
As soon as his words fell, leaves fluttered down like a rain of leaves poured by the heavens over the Immortal Performance Square.
The moment the leaves landed on the disciples, they transformed into blossoming peach flowers, dispersing them into thin air.
When they reappeared, they found themselves in another world.
Wei Changkong walked into the hall beside the Immortal Performance Square, where the elders with remaining disciple quotas from each peak had gathered. In the center of the hall hung a Water-shaped Immortal Mirror visible from all directions, through which one could take in the sights within the Peach Branch Small Profound Realm.
At the very front of the hall sat the current Sect Leader of Eternal Immortal Sect, Mei Jinqiu.
After entering, Wei Changkong bowed in salutation,
"Greetings to the Sect Leader and all elders."
Then he stood by his master's side. His master was Qi Ming, the Peak Master of Fate Peak, one of the three main peaks in charge of reward and punishment.
Disciples who had a place in such an elder-gathering venue were typically the representatives of each peak.
As the senior disciple of the fifth generation of Fate Peak, Wei Changkong was also responsible for selecting new disciples for Fate Peak.
The trial had just begun, and there wasn't much to see yet, so most elders were resting with their eyes closed.
Zhang Jingwei, the elder in charge of managing the monthly supplies from Fulu Peak, chuckled and said,
"Elder Yushan from Enlightenment Peak is still in seclusion, and that senior sister Fu Ming is always out, seldom returning. I wonder if her heart still belongs to our Eternal Immortal Sect."
Another elder opened his eyes and said slowly,
"Fu Ming is like a dragon and naturally cannot share a common path with us. I only hope she does not harbor malicious intentions. But it's downright embarrassing about that other disciple of Enlightenment Peak, Fan Wubing."
Zhang Jingwei nodded,
"Elder Yushan once owed a debt of gratitude to the Fan Family, so he accepted this disciple. But even with Fu Ming's personal guidance, and despite Enlightenment Peak being situated on the trends of underground spiritual veins, Fan Wubing hasn't made any progress. If it were another disciple, I'm afraid they would have already achieved something. Truly a waste."
Other elders also gradually joined in the discussion.
Initially, they just talked about Fu Ming and Fan Wubing, but gradually, the topic shifted to whether there was even a need for a separate peak for Enlightenment Peak.
Listening from the side, Wei Changkong felt uncomfortable, and dared to say,
"Elders, this is after all an internal affair of Enlightenment Peak, it's better to wait for Yushan Daoist and Fu Ming to return before discussing it."
Zhang Jingwei looked at Wei Changkong,
"Changkong, you have feelings for Fu Ming, which is only natural. But don't forget, she is like a dragon, naturally not meant to be with you. Don't stray off course."
Qi Ming, the Peak Master of Fate Peak, with closed eyes, said in a calm voice,
"Changkong, don't speak carelessly."
Wei Changkong sighed inwardly, retreating back.
At the very front, Sect Leader Mei Jinqiu opened his eyes, speaking calmly and slowly,
"The current situation of Enlightenment Peak does not affect our Eternal Immortal Sect, discuss it later. Please concentrate on scouting the promising new disciples."
"Really no impact, Sect Leader Senior Brother?" Zhang Jingwei's tone sank slightly.
Mei Jinqiu furrowed his brows,
"Now is the time for the new disciple trial, no need to say more about other matters."
Once the Sect Leader spoke, further discussion was naturally redundant.
At this moment, another disciple entered the hall.
Upon seeing her, Mei Jinqiu showed a smile,
"Manman, what brings you to join the excitement today."
The young girl said softly,
"I've formed a Golden Core and wanted to take a break."
As soon as this was said, the elders in the hall opened their eyes to look at her. With a slight inspection, they could feel the Golden Core flowing slowly within her, it was,
"A Nine-Turn Golden Core!"
The Golden Core within a cultivator is often seen as a nascent form of the Dao's rhythm. The Golden Core will show different qualities based on the cultivator's imprinting of the Dao's rhythm. One imprint is a one-turn, two imprints are two-turns...thus, a Nine-Turn Golden Core signifies nine imprints!
The founder of the Eternal Immortal Sect, back then, had formed only a Seven-Turn Golden Core. And that founder was just one step away from breaking through to the Fetal Movement Realm and reaching the Divine Split Realm.
Mei Jinqiu was overjoyed, his laughter resounding throughout the hall,
"Very good, very good. Manman, you've certainly given Eternal Immortal Sect a great surprise!"
"Thanks to the meticulous guidance of Sect Leader Master."
The girl stood beside Mei Jinqiu, who almost wanted to offer her his seat. She glanced at the Water-shaped Immortal Mirror in the hall, suddenly spotting a familiar figure, hesitated for a moment, then took a deep breath and slowly let it out, slightly bowing her head, lost in thought.