Chapter 117: Chapter 22: A Class and B Class

“All you new disciples, follow me to the Ancestral Hall to check in.”

Yu Hongye led the group of disciples to the Ancestral Hall and then departed.

In a side hall of the Ancestral Hall, Cultivators were already waiting with Jade Scrolls. They recorded the new disciples’ names onto the scrolls before issuing each of them a new Daoist Robe and a Jade Token.

“My name is Li Weixin, and I serve as a Steward in the Third Division of the Reception Hall. Your identities have been recorded on your Jade Tokens. If you need anything, you can contact me directly through them.”

“The entirety of Purple Cover Mountain is covered by a Grand Array; only by holding an Identity Jade Token can you move about freely. The permissions on an Outer Disciple’s Jade Token are the lowest. If you encounter a place you cannot enter, forcing your way through is strictly forbidden.”

“All new disciples are required to work in the Spirit Fields for six months. Provided you make no mistakes during this period, you will then be able to take up various posts within the Sect as an official Outer Disciple.”

“Every Outer Disciple may collect two books from the first floor of the Library Pavilion. Each month, you can use your Jade Token to receive Spirit Stones and Spirit Pills at the Miscellaneous Affairs Pavilion. On the first and seventh day of every ten-day period, a Foundation Establishment Junior Martial Uncle will be at the True Inheritance Pavilion to explain the key points of Cultivation Techniques, Magic, and the Hundred Skills of Cultivation. On other days, Senior Brothers at Qi Cultivation Perfection will also be available to answer questions in exchange for Merit Points.”

As he spoke, Li Weixin handed a Jade Scroll to each person.

“This contains a map of the Sect and the rules of our Five Elements True Spirit Sect. You must read it thoroughly. Getting into the Five Elements True Spirit Sect doesn’t mean all your troubles are over. If you break the rules, you’ll be expelled from the Sect or even sent to the mines for hard labor. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

“Those of you with a special skill or an Upper Grade Spirit Root in at least one element, stay behind. The rest will follow Wang Chengcha to the Outer Sect.”

A Chengcha was a type of aide within the Reception Hall. They were recruited directly by the Hall, and their names were not on the official staff list.

At Li Weixin’s command, Wang Chengcha eagerly led the majority of the disciples to the Outer Sect.

Only four people remained, including Yang Jing and Ren Xingzhou.

“Speak up. What special skills do you have? And do not lie.”

Li Weixin asked.

“I have an Upper Grade Water Element Spirit Root.”

Ren Xingzhou said.

“I can refine Tier One Lower Grade Cyan Ant Pills.”

“I can paint Cold Breath Talismans, Red Fire Talismans, and Golden Light Talismans.”

“My Sword Dao has reached the realm of Refining Sword into Gang.”

Li Weixin had been rather nonchalant as he listened to the first three disciples. ’Tier One Lower Grade Spirit Pills and Spirit Talismans might be considered a decent skill among Independent Cultivators, but within the Five Elements True Spirit Sect, it’s nothing to write home about.’

’Someone with those skills wouldn’t even be wanted for odd jobs in the Alchemy Hall or the True Talisman Hall.’

’As for having an Upper Grade Spirit Root in one element, that might be considered genius-level in a Foundation Establishment Clan, but in every Five Elements True Spirit Sect entrance ceremony, there are over sixty disciples with that qualification.’

’Heck, Li Weixin himself had an Upper Grade Earth Spirit Root.’

It wasn’t until Yang Jing announced he had reached the realm of Refining Sword into Gang that Li Weixin shot to his feet and stared at him.

“Are you telling the truth?”

This was the Ancestral Hall. Although it was only a side hall, Yang Jing was certainly not like the legendary Lin Chong, who blundered into the White Tiger Hall. He knew better.

“May I take out my Sword Artifact?”

Only after Li Weixin nodded did he draw the Demon-slaying Sword. He circulated his Magical Power, and a vibrant Sword Gang flickered along the blade, pulsing with exceptional agility.

Li Weixin’s eyes widened. He was a man of experience and knew that even within the realm of Refining Sword into Gang, there were different levels of mastery. The Sword Gang Yang Jing manifested was solid and focused, covering the entire Demon-slaying Sword. Even from over ten feet away, Li Weixin could feel its sharp, fierce intent.

This level of control placed him in the upper echelons of Sword Cultivators who had mastered Refining Sword into Gang.

Nearly eighty percent of the Sword Cultivators in the Western Province belonged to the Taixu Sword Sect. Among the Six Great Sects, disciples of the Taixu Sword Sect typically possessed the greatest combat strength for their given Realm. If not for their limited numbers, they wouldn’t be ranked second among the Six Sects, just behind the Supreme Profound Upper Yang Sect.

’I thought all the talented new Outer Disciples had already been identified,’ Li Weixin mused. ’I can’t believe there was a hidden gem left, and I was lucky enough to find him.’

To be safe, he took Yang Jing’s Demon-slaying Sword for a closer look, confirming it was just a crudely made Iron Sword with no hidden mechanisms or tricks.

He immediately handed the Demon-slaying Sword back to Yang Jing, then summoned a Flying Spiritual Artifact and took the four of them to the Outer Sect.

Although the Five Elements True Spirit Sect’s admission standards for Outer Disciples were strict, the Thirty-Six Kingdoms of the Western Province had a vast population. As a result, the Outer Sect numbered in the hundreds of thousands, with this year’s new intake alone totaling five thousand disciples.

With so many disciples, they obviously couldn’t be managed haphazardly. Instead, they were sorted into a four-tiered system: A, B, C, and D. A Level had only one class, and B Level had three. As for the number of C and D Level classes, it depended on that year’s recruitment numbers.

Li Weixin dropped off the two disciples skilled in Alchemy and Talisman Painting at the C Level area, then left Ren Xingzhou at the B Level area.

A flicker of disappointment crossed Ren Xingzhou’s eyes. As a clan disciple, he was keenly aware of the difference between A Level and B Level. However, he quickly suppressed his frustration.

“I’ll see you in the Inner Sect, Senior Brother Yang!”

Finally, Li Weixin brought Yang Jing to the A Class area.

Compared to the crowded C and D Level areas, A Class was situated in a quiet, secluded valley. A Spiritual Spring babbled gently, and simple yet elegant stone houses were scattered among neat rows of Spirit Fields.

At that moment, a Foundation Establishment Cultivator was sitting cross-legged on a high platform, explaining the essentials of the Five Talisman Scripture to the disciples below.

He looked over with a confused expression when he saw Li Weixin approaching with another disciple.

The benefits for A Class in the Five Elements True Spirit Sect’s Outer Sect far exceeded those for the B, C, and D classes. As such, each intake was strictly limited to a quota of thirty people, and this year’s class was already full.

“Junior Martial Uncle Feng, this disciple is named Yang Jing. He has reached the realm of Refining Sword into Gang.”

Li Weixin said, stepping forward and bowing respectfully.

The Foundation Establishment Cultivator, whose surname was Feng, was so shocked his eyes flew open. The Sword Dao was an arduous path, and most cultivators who pursued it chose the Taixu Sword Sect. The last person in the Five Elements True Spirit Sect to achieve Refining Sword into Gang had done so thirty years ago, and even then, he was already at the Foundation Establishment Realm.

He barely hesitated.

“Zhang Peishan, you’re going to B Class.”

Yang Jing was taken aback. ’I didn’t expect the Five Elements True Spirit Sect to value Refining Sword into Gang this highly,’ he thought.

An uproar broke out among the seated disciples. One of them, in particular, looked as if he’d been struck by a bolt from the blue, his face a mask of utter disbelief.

Barring any accidents, an A Class Outer Disciple was guaranteed to become an Inner Sect Disciple within three years. In B Class, however, it would take at least five or six difficult years, and even then, only seventy percent of disciples would successfully advance to the Inner Sect—to say nothing of the vast differences in benefits and resources between the two classes.

’I was put in A Class… I haven’t even had two full days to be happy about it, and now I’m being kicked down to B Class?’

Zhang Peishan refused to accept it. He gritted his teeth and stood up.

“I object! I wish to challenge Junior Brother Yang to Magical Combat.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep