C17 Entering the Inner Sect

As the four incense sticks burned down to ashes, the disciples remaining within the Nexus of Boundless Weight had failed the test. Their faces were etched with disappointment and a sense of forlorn isolation. Most of them possessed strength around the third level of the Whispering Souls. Although there were a few who had passed at this level, they were either at the peak of the third level or on the cusp of the fourth level of the Whispering Souls, and they were few in number—merely two or three. Those who had passed generally exhibited strength at the fourth level of the Whispering Souls.

Even within the same realm, disparities in strength were evident, as could be seen by the time it took each disciple to traverse the Nexus of Boundless Weight.

Elder Longbrow and Elder Chitong used a compass to dismantle the Nexus of Boundless Weight. They estimated that approximately one hundred and twenty disciples had passed the test, a relatively high number in recent years. This meant that nearly eighty disciples were eliminated in this round, effectively culling about half of the contenders.

From over a thousand disciples at the outset, only the cream of the crop remained after rigorous selection, like the finest grains left after a great wave sifts through the sand. With exceptional talent, these few had survived the arduous and unforgiving Inner Sect trials.

"First and foremost, congratulations to each of you for passing the test. From this moment forward, you are all Inner Sect disciples!" Elder Longbrow's resonant voice reached every successful disciple.

Wow!

The crowd erupted into exuberant cheers, their jubilant voices thundering through the skies, reverberating long after over the square.

Elder Longbrow and the usually stoic Elder Chitong allowed themselves a slight smile, touched by the joyous atmosphere. It was a scene that could warm the heart.

Their gazes landed on Ye Xuan and Murong Meng, who stood with composed serenity amidst the celebration. A subtle look of admiration passed through their eyes; to maintain such equanimity in the face of overwhelming joy was indeed rare among their peers. Even elders with more years and experience might not possess the same level of composure that these two displayed at such a moment.

After a short while, the cheering gradually subsided, though many faces still bore lingering smiles.

"Cough, cough. Now, we will distribute the garments and tokens that signify your status as Inner Sect disciples. The top ten disciples, please step forward," Elder Longbrow announced after clearing his throat.

Ye Xuan and his peers did as Elder Longbrow directed, positioning themselves at the forefront of the line, while those behind cast envious glances their way.

From his storage bag, Elder Longbrow produced ten purple tokens and ten rectangular Purple Cards, deftly flicking them into the hands of each recipient. While the tokens were identical, the Spirit Values displayed on the Purple Cards varied: Ye Xuan's card indicated a Spirit Value of 300, Mu Hua and Murong Meng's cards showed 200, and the rest displayed 100. Such were the privileges accorded to the top three, eliciting a mix of envy and jealousy from the onlookers.

Next, Elder Longbrow retrieved three additional storage bags from his own and presented them to Ye Xuan and the other two. Upon inspecting his bag, Ye Xuan found fifty lustrous Spirit Beads and a second-level advanced cultivation method book resting inside. Although he had committed to the Prismatic Mantra and had no intention of switching methods, he realized he could trade this book with others, potentially for a handsome profit.

Most Inner Sect disciples practiced second-level cultivation methods, but advanced methods were scarce. To pursue higher-level methods, one would need to spend a significant amount of Spirit Value at the cultivation method exchange, a cost prohibitive for the majority of disciples.

Should an urgent need arise, Ye Xuan could trade his cultivation method book, as it was now his personal property and his to do with as he pleased.

"Alright, the Inner Sect examination has concluded. You all have half an hour to organize your personal items. After that time, reconvene here, and we will proceed to the Inner Sect together. Anyone who is even half a minute late need not bother coming," Elder Longbrow declared, hands tucked into his sleeves, addressing all the disciples gathered.

"Go ahead and get your belongings in order," Elder Longbrow instructed, gesturing dismissively to the disciples gathered before him.

At his command, the disciples sprang into action, quickly dispersing to their quarters to pack without wasting a moment. Elder Longbrow had been quite explicit in his instructions, and they were well aware that they had been afforded a generous hour to prepare. Anyone arriving late would clearly be taking the Inner Sect examination lightly, a notion unheard of since the inception of the Astral Conclave. Treating the examination with such levity was tantamount to mocking the entire examination system of the Conclave.

Only someone with a complete lack of sense would entertain, much less commit to, such folly.

Ye Xuan and Mu Hua also made their way back to their respective quarters to gather their possessions.

Ye Xuan's belongings were few: some spare clothes, a handful of personal items, and the rest provided by the sect. With the recent acquisition of a storage bag, packing became a breeze. He placed his scant belongings into the bag, and the room suddenly felt bare.

Gazing around the room he had inhabited for some time, Ye Xuan's eyes betrayed a hint of wistfulness, which quickly gave way to a renewed resolve to grow stronger. Despite its modest size, he left the room tidy and spotless.

Standing at the door, Ye Xuan took one last look at the orderly space he had maintained, then firmly closed and locked the door behind him. One cannot dwell on the past forever; it's natural to cherish memories, but one must always face forward, especially when the future looks bright.

Upon returning to the square, Ye Xuan noticed that many disciples had already gathered, nearly all accounted for. Mu Hua was among them, having arrived earlier, and was now playfully gesturing at Ye Xuan, who returned the look with a puzzled stare.

"Cough, cough. Now that our top performer—and the last to arrive—is here, let's proceed to the Inner Sect," Elder Longbrow announced, addressing the assembled disciples with a nod toward Ye Xuan.

Listening to Elder Longbrow's words, Ye Xuan was taken aback as he gazed at the disciples before him. Was he really the last one to arrive? He had thought he was quick in gathering his belongings, yet these individuals had outpaced him to such an extent that he felt embarrassed. It was indeed true that no matter how early you think you are, there's always someone earlier.

At that moment, he understood the meaning behind Mu Hua's winks and gestures: he was urging him to quickly join the gathering.

Subsequently, Ye Xuan and the other successful candidates followed Elder Longbrow and Elder Chitong towards the Inner Sect.

A towering wall separated the Inner Sect from the Outer Sect, with just a single gate serving as the entrance and exit.

Ye Xuan observed the gate before him, noting the words 'Inner Sect' inscribed with a bold and vigorous hand. The gate itself was constructed from a hard yet aesthetically pleasing purple stone, standing several meters tall and extending forty to fifty meters in length. The stone gate was adorned with intricate carvings of mythical creatures, and a guard stood watch, verifying identities to prevent any unauthorized entry.

As the Elder escorted the newly qualified students through, the gatekeeper bowed respectfully, a gesture of reverence towards the Elder.

Passing through the stone gate, Ye Xuan could sense the presence of powerful vital force fluctuations nearby. The Inner Sect truly lived up to its name; they had barely crossed the threshold and already the air was thick with potent energies. After being shown to the accommodations for new students, the Elders instructed Ye Xuan and his peers to find their respective dwellings using the addresses provided on their Inner Sect disciple tokens. The two Elders also needed to report back on the outcomes of the Inner Sect examination.

Walking along a path lush with greenery, a gentle breeze carried the distant murmur of the Elders' conversation.

"It's quite remarkable that this year has brought forth so many promising talents. It's indeed a cause for celebration."

"And to think, someone actually activated both the black and red grooves. It's almost inconceivable without having witnessed it."

"Particularly that disciple who activated the red grooves—his name is Ye Xuan, isn't it?"

"I'm sure that once we report this incident, it's going to astonish quite a few people."

The gentle breeze stirred the leaves on the trees lining the pathway, their rustling as if in agreement with the conversation between the two.