Chapter 3

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After the three tests of age, cultivation base, and background story, only a small number of unqualified cultivators attempting to slip through were eliminated. The rest were all upstanding people under twenty, with cultivation bases above the first rank of Qi Refining and without incidents recorded by the Cultivation Alliance.

The final evaluation was for holistic development. Although these registered cultivators had already embarked on the road to immortality, as a 5th Grade sect, they couldn’t just accept everybody. They would be admitted based on their abilities, which had to be at least above a minimum standard.

According to the provided schedule, the holistic ability assessment was divided into a theoretical knowledge test and a practical application test. The former would test the cultivators’ knowledge levels, while the latter would test their fighting ability.

As for ten years ago, there was no such theoretical tests at all in the various cultivation sects’ Ascension Assembly; people were more inclined to determine talent through martial competitions. After the establishment of the Cultivation Alliance, the amount of violent conflicts between the cultivation sects had been greatly reduced. Coupled with the impetus of several big shots, the concept of “Knowledge and technology were the foundation of a sect” had been popularized throughout all small and medium-sized sects. With it came this new, intellectual way of selecting talents.

Ye Xing had no interest in which of knowledge, technology, or martial prowess was the foundation of a sect. Rather, he deeply detested the person who had proposed this idea.

Looking at the thick stack of test papers full of questions, this Mahayana Immortal couldn’t help but sweat on his forehead.

“Fill-in-the-Blank Question 1: Between the 3rd Rank to the 4th Rank of Qi Refining is the first bottleneck in the realm of Qi Refining. At this time, the body will contain surplus spiritual energy, so when the bottleneck is broken, the phenomenon of ____ will occur.”

What phenomenon happened? Qi Refining was a matter of many years ago. From Qi Refining to Foundation Building, no bottleneck was found. Don’t bottlenecks only happen at higher realms?

“Fill-in-the-Blank Question 2: The Minor Five-Elemental Spells have been called the ‘Compulsory spells for Qi Refining cultivators’, containing ____ kinds of spells when the five elements are complete.”

What are the Minor Five-Elemental Spells? It sounds as if there should also be the Major Five-Elemental Spells and Ultra Five-Elemental Spells, which seem to be very powerful. I don’t know how they would compare with my Money-Burning Profound Art?

“Multiple Choice Question 1: Which of the following flames is often used for forging? A: Samadhi True Fire. B: Three Celestials Iceflame. C: Three Transitions Thunderfire. D: Triassic Earthfire.”

The first three options are all three words, only D is two words, the answer is D!

“Short Answer Question 1: Please write down the main procedure for handling the following incident. One day, when you were traveling around, you found that evil cultivators were slaughtering mortals. Casualties were currently less than a hundred, and the matter had not yet spread to major cities. What should you do at this time?”

Ye Xing didn’t even think, and directly wrote: “Hack him to death!”

…

There were still hundreds of similar questions. There were also all kinds of inexplicable problems, encompassing not only the various situations that cultivators would encounter, but also general knowledge of the mortal world. The people that saw them were violently agitated yet faint with dizziness.

However, seeing every cultivator in the same examination room as him with powerless expressions and also crumbling under the pressure, Ye Xing was mentally at peace.

It seems that regardless of the level of cultivation, everybody naturally fears exams! But in order to meet that beautiful senior sister, this trivial hard work’s worth it!

After the written test, it was the martial test.

The venue for the combat test was a martial arts field, divided into several areas, which would be assessed by different examiners.

Compared with the theoretical test, this time it wasn’t that complicated. The people in charge of testing were a few middle-aged cultivators at the 8th or 9th Rank of Qi Refining. They would suppress their own cultivation base to that of the tested. If one could last more than the time to burn half a stick of incense, then it would be considered a pass.

Even at the same realm, the combat prowess of disciples from big sects and self-taught cultivators could not simply be judged by their cultivation base. From the very beginning, the sects would hand-pick the most suitable techniques for each disciple to practice. Should they encounter a dilemma, they could be carefully advised by their elders and predecessors. They would usually master numerous spells and have rich combat experience.

On the other hand, self-taught cultivators would have inferior techniques and receive no instruction. Combined with the limitations of natural talent, their combat abilities would not be high.

Yet, none of these were an issue, because he saw the Senior Sister again!

“How about the written test?”

The senior sister came here specifically to see this sole person to sign up for the Immortal Herb Hall. Under the eyes of everyone, she arrived in front of Ye Xing waiting in line.

“It was okay. If I’m lucky, I guess I’ll get 30%.”

If he correctly guessed all the multiple-choice questions that accounted for a third of the total score, he could indeed get 30%.

“I got full marks in the exam back then,” the Eldest Sister said.

Could someone get a perfect score in that kind of examination paper like a hieroglyphic treatise? Sister, how are you so godly?

“You should be able to get back some marks in the combat test. As long as you can last half an incense’s time, you should get at least 60 points,” the master sister said in a low voice, her eyebrows knitted.

“But when you were at the foot of the mountain, you shouldn’t have shouted out that you wanted to join the Immortal Herb Hall. I’m afraid your sentence has already reached the ears of those nasty guys in the Forging Hall.”

Ye Xing quietly asked, “What? Is the Forging Hall not getting along with us?”

Also, Sister, don’t lean so close, well, my gaze is being attracted by some unspeakable objects, and my true energy gushes to my head…

“You sure know how to talk. You haven’t even entered the sect, yet you’ve already put us in the same boat.” The senior sister’s two chuckles were like a zephyr as she teased him.

“That group of misogynistic guys with heads full of iron have always had a bad relationship with our Immortal Herb Hall. We’re helpless that they have strength in numbers, they account for most of the examiners in this martial trial. But with me here, if they dare break the rules, I will definitely expose it to the elders!”

With that, the crisp laughter of the senior sister turned into a bleak sneer. Her fingers rubbed against each other as if she couldn’t wait to go and fight them herself.

No, Senior Sister definitely can’t go up! Those brutes will take advantage of her! Although I really want to see the Senior Sister shaking up and down onstage, she would definitely attract all the other male cultivators too…

“Don’t worry, dealing with underhanded tactics is my speciality!”

Who’s the best at being dishonourable? Definitely not the Forging Hall!

After a few incense sticks’ time passed, it was Ye Xing’s turn to fight. His examiner was a muscly hulk around twenty to thirty years old. He didn’t look like a cultivator, but more like a mortal warrior.

As soon as he came onstage, he frankly said to Ye Xing: “I’ve heard that you want to choose the Immortal Herb Hall? Give it up, what’s good about staying with a bunch of farmers. It’s better to choose the Forging Hall, where everyone’s a brother. It’s far better to sweat together than to plant some fields!”

“Who wants to sweat with you!”