Seven Profound Sect, Longxi Peak, the Daoist School at the foot of the mountain.
A group of fourteen- and fifteen-year-old youths were looking all around, their hearts filled with curiosity and anticipation.
"So this is an Immortal Sect. It's beautiful."
"The Seven Profound Sect is one of Jade Lake City's three Major Sects. Once we become disciples of a Major Sect, we'll be so impressive..."
"I heard our Longxi Peak is world-renowned for its swordsmanship..."
Having had their Spiritual Roots detected and been accepted into the Seven Profound Sect, these Daoist Children were at the peak of their motivation. Filled with bright hopes for the future, they chattered excitedly amongst themselves.
Just as they were looking around and talking amongst themselves, SWOOSH! A figure suddenly appeared before them.
She was a woman of peerless beauty, though her bearing was touched with arrogance.
SHIIING!
The moment the figure appeared, a clear sword-song rang out from thin air.
At the same time, a fierce aura radiated from the woman.
HUMMM...
Overwhelmed by this dangerous and fierce aura, the boys and girls who had been looking around found their breath catching in their throats, their bodies instantly freezing stiff.
The biting killing intent and chilling aura silenced them all.
The woman at the fore nodded in satisfaction at the sight.
"I am Mo Shuying, the current First Disciple of Longxi Peak, which makes me your First Senior Sister."
At her words, everyone bowed as one.
"Greetings, First Senior Sister."
Unfortunately, their ingratiating greeting did not warm Mo Shuying's expression.
"Don't get so friendly yet." Her gaze swept over them, her voice laced with arrogance and a hint of pity. "The Seven Profound Sect doesn't recruit trash, and Longxi Peak is even more selective. As of now, you are not considered disciples of Longxi Peak."
"Before your official Initiation, you will undergo a hundred-day assessment period. You will only be considered official disciples of Longxi Peak once you break through to the initial stage of Qi Cultivation within those hundred days."
"Furthermore, mark my words: the time you take to reach the initial stage of Qi Cultivation will determine your treatment. Break through within seven days, and you will be A Class talents, receiving the most meticulous training Longxi Peak has to offer. Break through within eighteen days, and you will be rated B Class, still considered an outstanding disciple of Longxi Peak."
"Breaking through within thirty-three days makes you C Class—average. Any longer than thirty-three days, and you are D Class—a failure."
At this, the pity on Mo Shuying's face deepened. "Ordinarily, only the failing D Class would become menial disciples on Longxi Peak."
"And those with a C Class rating could have cultivated on Longxi Peak in peace."
"But I'm sure you've heard the news about the appearance of the Dark Moon, and the frequent emergence of Demonic Fiends."
Everyone did, in fact, know about this.
The better-informed among them had even heard this was the very reason the Seven Profound Sect had expanded its recruitment. Otherwise, many of those present wouldn't have been qualified to join at all.
As they recalled this, some sighed with emotion, but the expressions of the cleverer ones suddenly changed.
'Something's not right. The Seven Profound Sect isn't a charity. They wouldn't suddenly have a benevolent change of heart and recruit so many disciples...'
These few had already sensed that something was terribly wrong.
And Mo Shuying's next words shattered their fragile hopes.
"To combat the scourge of Demonic Fiends, every sect within the Frost Moon Immortal Dynasty has signed a pact with the Immortal Dynasty. Disciples with a C or D Class rating will cultivate for one year, then must join the Demon Suppression Bureau to fight Demonic Fiends and guard the lands of humanity."
"Let me be perfectly clear: the casualty rate in the Demon Suppression Bureau is extremely high. If you don't want to die, you'd better cultivate with everything you've got."
Mo Shuying spoke the word "die" with heavy emphasis.
Her words sent a chill through their very souls.
None of them had expected that joining the Seven Profound Sect meant facing a life-or-death crisis.
At that moment, someone couldn't help but protest, "That's not fair! Why don't those with A and B Ratings get sent? Aren't they more talented and more powerful?"
"Exactly! They consume so many resources, they should be the ones stepping up!"
The crowd's clamorous objections didn't anger Mo Shuying. She simply replied, "Fair? Heh. When has there ever been true fairness in this world?"
"Besides, those with A and B Ratings will go to the battlefield as well. It's just that with their superior Talent and greater strength, they can play a much larger role in the fight against Demonic Fiends."
"That is why the Major Sects and the Immortal Dynasty allow them more time to cultivate."
At this, Mo Shuying added with a cold smile:
"Furthermore, if you receive an A or B Rating, not only will you be granted more time to cultivate, but you will also be able to choose followers from among those with C and D Ratings."
"And those followers won't have to go to the battlefield immediately, either."
"…"
Mo Shuying's final sentence plunged the crowd into a heavy silence.
Learning that disciples with A or B Ratings could recruit followers—followers who wouldn't have to be sent immediately to the battlefield—made those with mediocre talent hesitant to speak ill of the more gifted.
At the same time, this incident made all the Daoist Children in the Daoist School truly feel how much the Seven Profound Sect valued talent, and how little it cared for ordinary disciples.
This, in turn, lit a fire in the hearts of some Daoist Children—they resolved to cultivate with all their might to achieve an A or B Class rating.
But while some resolved to train desperately, others were filled with utter despair.
At that moment, a pale, plump boy who looked like the son of a wealthy merchant turned to a scholarly youth beside him, his face a mask of panic. "I'm finished! I have a fourth-class Spiritual Root. There's no way I can break through to the initial stage of Qi Cultivation in eighteen days. Zhong Ming, I can only count on you! You have a third-class Spiritual Root. If you get an A or B Rating, you have to help me!"