Gao Han Arrives for the Inner-Sect Disciple Examination
Wu Yan led Gao Han and his two companions toward the great hall where the inner-sect disciple examinations were held.
He now addressed Gao Han as "Young Master", a title Gao Han had accepted only after careful deliberation.
Gao Han was still unfamiliar with the ways of the Misty Sect; with Wu Yan at his side, many matters would be far simpler.
Besides, Fan Xiaoniu and Yue'er would need someone to look after them. He could not remain within the sect forever, nor could he always bring the two along when he ventured out into the wider world.
And so Gao Han decided to grant Wu Yan a second chance. When he left the sect, Wu Yan would watch over the pair. For all his supposed weakness, Wu Yan was a Qi Condensation cultivator, far stronger than Fan Xiaoniu and Yue'er at their current level.
This very day was the scheduled examination; to miss it would mean waiting another full month.
Within the examination hall stood five on-duty disciples, each at the Fourth Layer of True Essence. They lined up before the hall's entrance, gazing toward Gao Han's group.
"This makes the fifteenth candidate today, doesn't it? Quite a few new faces this month."
"Nothing but a bunch of useless trash. We'll be lucky if two of them pass. Look at that one—his true essence is unsteady, clearly a recent breakthrough."
"Worthless fools dare to take the examination? They're wasting our time."
"Heh. What I care about is which peak the successful ones will join."
At those words, the five men eyed one another warily.
They were true disciples of the five great peaks. Each month, each peak sent five true disciples to recruit newly promoted inner-sect disciples.
Those who earned inner-sect status through their own strength were all prodigies, sought after by every peak.
Three hundred zhang from the hall, Wu Yan halted. As a mere handyman disciple, he had no right to enter.
If Wu Yan was barred entry, then Fan Xiaoniu and Yue'er certainly were as well.
Approaching the five men, Gao Han said plainly, "I have come for the inner-sect disciple examination."
The men sensed his aura of power and looked upon him with disdain.
"Third Layer of True Essence? And you haven't even become an inner-sect disciple yet? Just how incompetent are you?"
"How many times have you tried? And you still have the nerve to show up?"
"Enter and be examined. Let us hope you pass this time." The last of the five glanced at Gao Han lazily.
Gao Han paid their scorn no mind and stepped inside unconcerned.
The examination hall was vast and spacious. On either side stood six purple stone pillars, each so thick that four men linking arms could barely encircle them. Carved with lifelike auspicious clouds, the pillars made one feel as if treading upon the very heavens.
At the far end hung a great blue mural, upon which were mounted numerous wooden plaques inscribed with names. Above the mural rested a cloud-shaped ornament carved from blue stone.
The entire tableau stood three zhang tall and five zhang wide, radiating a gentle blue light, its surface seemingly unbreakable.
Gao Han surmised the names upon the mural belonged to current inner-sect disciples.
Before the mural stood an elder, his cultivation at the Fourth Layer of True Essence—weak in Gao Han's eyes.
He was past fifty, his black hair faded and lackluster.
In any sect, disciples who advanced in age without significant growth in cultivation were automatically granted elder status and assigned various duties.
The nature of such duties depended on one's cultivation. A First Layer True Essence warrior, for instance, could never be permitted to examine a group of True Essence disciples.
Across every sect, promotion to inner-sect disciple required a formal examination; reaching the True Essence realm alone was not enough.
One could alternatively wait until the year's end for a mass promotion, but such disciples were chosen arbitrarily by the five peaks, bound to serve whichever peak selected them.
Many were passed over entirely, rejected by all five peaks, and remained outer-sect disciples.
True disciples, however, enjoyed a far higher status. It was a privilege exclusive to the direct disciples of the five peaks. To become a true disciple, one needed not only the Fourth Layer of True Essence but also commensurate combat strength and respectable talent.
Without these, rising to true disciple was nothing more than a fool's dream.
Besides Gao Han, fourteen other candidates waited to be examined—men and women alike, each around twenty years old, gazing haughtily at one another.
And rightly so. To break into the True Essence realm at such a young age marked them as genuine talents.
Yet the moment Gao Han entered, every eye turned toward him.
All the other examinees were at the First Layer of True Essence, with only two at the Second Layer. Seldom did a Third Layer cultivator appear for the examination so late.
"You are here for the examination?" the elder asked.
Gao Han nodded faintly.
"Fill in your information, then wait to one side." The elder handed him a sheet of paper and a brush.
Gao Han wrote down his age and background, handed the form back, and stood silently aside.
"Sixteen? He is only sixteen years old!" The elder was stunned, his mouth agape.
He then looked at Gao Han with deep respect. Whatever his combat prowess, to reach the Third Layer of True Essence at sixteen marked him as a prodigy without equal.
His mind turned to his own humble fate, and he felt a sharp, bitter sorrow. Such was the gulf between genius and mediocrity.
The examination began near midday; the time before had been reserved for registration. Miss the window, and one waited another month.
By the time the test started, only one more candidate had arrived—a First Layer True Essence cultivator. As he entered, the five disciples outside saw him in with warm smiles.
He was handsome of face, his cultivation solid and unwavering, with no trace of instability.
Once the examination commenced, the elder led the group to a small hall several hundred square meters in size, its walls dyed a celestial blue, making one feel as if adrift in the sky.
Thirty wooden stakes crafted from a special wood stood at the far end. The elder explained they were made of maple wood.
Maple wood grew only within the Qiling Mountains; it was unnaturally hard, impervious to ordinary swords and blades. Having built its sect amid the Qiling Mountains, the Misty Sect used this sturdy material for one of its core examinations.
The first test revolved around these very stakes: from thirty meters away, one must pierce them with projected true essence to pass.
For those who had just entered the True Essence realm, this was an extraordinarily difficult task—nearly impossible.
No sooner had the elder finished speaking than a pockmarked man stepped forward to the thirty-meter mark and laughed loudly.
"Ha! Let this lord take the first turn!"
He took a deep breath, channeling all his true essence into his fist, which glowed with a faint white radiance.
"Shatter!" he roared. A transparent fist force shot forth, hurtling toward the stakes.