Chapter 540: Dao Three Trials, Heart Wuguan, Fa Three Trials

The Xian Sect special recruitment occurs every three years.

Although this event existed before, it was not called by this name, nor did it have a fixed schedule.

Each sect conducted its own trials, designed the test content, and evaluated and recruited outstanding disciples.

Only later, after the Tai Xuan Blood Disaster, did Xu Xing try many things.

One of them was uniting the Gedaxian Sect to establish the "Xian Sect Special Recruitment."

Ironically, many of the things Xu Xing did back then, though earnestly pursued, failed to meet expectations and eventually faded away.

Yet the "Xian Sect Special Recruitment"—something he didn't devote much thought to—endured.

Before the Great Transformation Era, it was one of the rarest opportunities in the world.

Chi Jiuyu twisted, adjusting into a more comfortable sitting position.

"Special recruitment, special recruitment…"

Muttering under her breath, she stared at the announcement content on her phone screen.

First came the selection plan, examination zone arrangements, and so on…

Generally, the Xian Sect Special Recruitment had no fixed quota; anyone who passed the trials could join any Gedaxian Sect as a "Special Recruitment Disciple" and enjoy numerous benefits.

Moreover, even if one failed the exam, all expenses incurred due to the "Xian Sect Examination" would be reviewed and uniformly reimbursed by the Xian Sect the candidate applied to.

After all, cultivators who met the application criteria, if not top-tier, were at least "upper-middle" level.

As for the examination zone arrangements…

On the Central Continent, naturally, each sect's local branch arranged its own tests, conducting three rounds.

In the Four Star Realms, the first round was held by planet; those who passed advanced to the second round at the planetary system level, then to the third round at the star system level.

Difficulty increased progressively; whether on the Central Continent or in the Four Star Realms, only candidates who passed all three rounds could participate in the final Xian Sect examination.

"They're all the sects' futures…" Chi Jiuyu sighed with exaggerated solemnity.

Because she had become a disciple so early, she had never experienced the Xian Sect Special Recruitment; she began as an ordinary disciple.

To be honest, she had once envied the benefits enjoyed by Special Recruitment Disciples…

But later, as she gradually became "mature," she no longer cared about such trivial matters.

Yes!

She no longer cared!

After reflecting on the past for a moment, Chi Jiuyu's gaze continued downward, toward the "Application Requirements" section:

Under eighteen years old, cultivation level must reach Qi Refinement Ninth Layer.

Under thirty years old, cultivation level must reach Jin Dan.

Under sixty years old, cultivation level must reach Nascent Soul.

Three straightforward conditions; only by meeting these most basic requirements could one qualify to apply for the "Xian Sect Special Recruitment."

Even today, with cultivation education widely普及, this application standard remained high.

Don't be fooled by past trials and grand competitions where participants were often Foundation Establishment at thirteen or fourteen, Jin Dan or Nascent Soul in their early twenties, and some even achieved Soul Transformation by their twenties or thirties.

Yet those who reached such levels were all prodigies among prodigies, the absolute elite even within the Xian Sects!

Of course.

Aside from these three most basic application conditions.

If a candidate possessed cultivation arts such as pill refining, artifact forging, array formation, or talisman crafting, they would gain advantages when applying to specific Xian Sects.

Hmm…

Speaking of which, she had already tested her aptitude for the cultivation arts, so once she recovered, she planned to go to her uncle to ask for the golden finger…

Cough!

Wrong! She meant to go to her uncle to learn talisman crafting!

She scrolled further down—the announcement reached the most critical section: "Examination Content":

1. Dao Three Trials

2. Heart Wuguan

3. Fa Three Trials

Huh?

Chi Jiuyu froze, refreshed the webpage, then scrolled back to the Examination Content section.

The result remained unchanged.

"Heart Wuguan?"

She scratched her head, puzzled.

Didn't it always used to be three trials each for Dao, Heart, and Fa? Why did this year add two more to the Heart section?

No wonder Xiao Zhao specifically mentioned it.

She paused, then suddenly realized something, quickly reading the rest of the announcement.

She exited the announcement page, logged into her backup small account, and browsed her most frequented forum.

After all, her main account and two small accounts had been exposed; many people around her knew they were hers.

To avoid saying something online that might be discovered by Xiao Ye, Xiao Zhao, or Xiao Yunlu, she had created several backup small accounts…

Soon, her phone screen switched to the forum interface.

Of course!

As expected, the forum was filled with wailing, everyone complaining that this year's Xian Sect Special Recruitment had suddenly become harder.

The Heart trial has always eliminated the most candidates in every Xian Sect Special Recruitment.

【Done, no chance this year again】

A guy with the username 'Phoenix Feather Roasted Potato' made a post.

According to his own account.

Twenty-seven years old this year, Mid-Golden Core cultivation, has already failed the Xian Sect special recruitment exam twice.

He had thought that after this period of settling down, the third time he would surely pass the third round of assessment, participate in the final trial, and thereby advance his position at 【Seeking Truth】 further...

That's right, many people participate in the Xian Sect special recruitment for the purpose of demonstrating their own worth during the process, thereby improving their current circumstances.

After all, if one truly wants to join, the difficulty is lower during the college entrance exam.

The result, however, was discovering that the 'Three Heart Passes' had suddenly become the 'Five Heart Passes'.

And in the previous session's third round of assessment, he was eliminated at the 'Heart' pass.

There weren't many replies under the post, only two or three.

Qijiang: "My session is probably hopeless too /crying"

Tianren Miaodao: "I feel it's still alright, it's just that the 'Heart' assessment added two passes, it's not like 'Dao' and 'Fa'"

Qi Refining Bu Qi Refining: "You're so awesome, you must have made it to the final assessment in the previous session"

Zan Jiushi Shuo Ma: "The one upstairs looks like they don't browse the forum much normally"

Zan Jiushi Shuo Ma: "Is it possible that the person is only seventeen this year, already at Foundation Establishment, and even self-cultivated Tianren?"

Seventeen, Foundation Establishment, self-cultivated Tianren?!

Holy crap!

What kind of monstrous freak is this!

Qi Refining Bu Qi Refining: "..."

Qi Refining Bu Qi Refining: "I'm just a frog at the bottom of the well"

Being so fierce as to self-cultivate Tianren, it's normal not to care that the 'Heart' assessment added two more passes.

Chi Jiuyu quickly scanned all the replies under the post.

"Tianren Miaodao..."

She had an impression of this person, often seeing his/her replies.

Seems like they were abandoned at birth, grew up in a Fuli Academy of the Taishang Dao Sect, talent was decent.

Thinking about it, that's true.

After all, before cultivation reaches a certain level, the higher the realm, the harder it is to have offspring.

For an ordinary family, there probably wouldn't be anyone supporting their own children to self-cultivate Tianren...

Chi Jiuyu browsed the post with great interest, replying to a couple of lines every now and then.

But not long after, she discovered a familiar avatar at the bottom of one post.

An avatar of 'hands cradling a pill furnace'.

Exactly the same as the meme Ye Zhiwei had sent before, except there was an additional small sword beside the pill furnace.

The username was 'Zhi Lun Jing Wei'.

Mm!

A familiar style too!

So, could this person actually be...

Chi Jiuyu stared at the avatar and narrowed her eyes slightly, after a brief hesitation, she switched to her main account!

…………

Xiang Jianzong outer gate.

The crowd bustled, surging like a colony of ants, jostling each other as they moved forward.

After the special recruitment announcement was issued, the number of people traveling to the Gedaxian Sect increased considerably.

Some were more confident, coming to familiarize themselves with the environment in preparation for the final trial, but most were simply there to join in the excitement.

Others, because they hadn't been able to come for the previous Zhiqianxian Sect grand competition, specifically came this time to make up for it.

One could even see quite a few Xiang Jianzong disciples promoting their training classes...

High ground.

Near a towering, blurred-faced statue of the Xiang Jianzong.

Many people were standing at the foot of the statue taking photos with it, some had their eyes closed praying sincerely, and there were even some tossing down a few spirit coins to make wishes...

However, the spirit coins they tossed were all bounced back by the formations around the nearby statue, falling back into their hands.

Praying for future prospects, for cultivation, for wealth, for romance...

Whatever one might pray for, there was someone praying for it.

Outer side.

Xu Xing leaned against the railing, watching the scene before him.

"What do you think, Junior Brother?" Bie Xuening beside him asked.

I look with my eyes.

Obviously, he couldn't say that.

"The craftsmanship of this statue is passable."

A long time ago, when such things had just started, he did indeed find it very strange, but later he gradually got used to it...

He understood that the vast majority of people weren't actually worshipping a specific person; the reason they did so was merely to seek peace of mind.

From the past to the present, the 'Xiang Jianzong' had long ceased to be the original simple title universally revered by all beings.

At least, that was the case for the current human race.

Or rather, each of the Thirteen True Immortals of the Grand Mystery, and Dongzhen, who had been renowned since the primordial era, now all resembled more a totem, a symbol, or rather an emblem.

In short, for the vast majority, the ancestral founders of each sect are exceedingly distant figures.

Take Yuan, for instance—the "most brilliant person in a thousand years"—who attained the Cave-Truth realm in just over a millennium, and founded the Alliance of the Righteous Path; none could deny his prowess.

But aside from a few ancient Cave-Truth and Penetrating-Mystery masters, people rarely compare him to the ancestral founders of the sects.

Mainly because they simply lack the concept.

Thinking this, Xu Xing drew his gaze away from the statue and turned to Bie Xuening.

"The Three Dao Trials, the Five Heart Trials, the Three Law Trials… Sister, what do you think of these changes?"

Although it was decided that future disciples would be selected with greater emphasis on character…

The specifics of the adjustments were still left to the sect lords to decide.

"It's fine."

In this age of cultivation, the overall level of cultivators is clearly no longer comparable to the past; a moderate increase in difficulty is only natural.

The Three Dao Trials refer to age, realm, and foundation.

The Three Law Trials refer to comprehension, technique, and combat.

Although not stated in the announcement, besides adding two new character trials, the difficulty of these two trials has also been slightly raised.

"It's a first attempt—if it doesn't work, we can adjust later."

"True."

Xu Xing turned around and gazed into the distance.

Seeing the Xiang Jianzong disciples promoting their training classes, he suddenly seemed to recall something.

"By the way, with Jiuyu's personality, has she ever thought of starting a training class like them?"

That Jiuyu—if you say she loves money, she's always generous with her spending and constantly buys useless things.

But if you say she doesn't love money, she's clearly saved up a decent stash and still spends every day thinking of how to earn more.

Bie Xuening paused:

"She tried. But it didn't work."

That unruly disciple once, driven by envy, actually opened a training class.

But before even two lessons were given, she became so furious she nearly died, then immediately refunded everyone and disbanded the class.

According to her own words:

"It's a sword art you understand in one go—I've taught it over ten times and you still can't get it!"

She was truly enraged then, furious to the point her rebellious nature nearly burst from her scalp.

After several backtalks, she was hung from a tree and whipped until she finally behaved.

"Let's not talk about that."

Bie Xuening shook her head slightly, then looked at Xu Xing.

"Brother, what are your plans now? Will you stay in the Xiang Jianzong to cultivate in seclusion?"

Given the current situation—now that we understand the Central Continent is bound by the Web of Karma and Calamity—the Xuan from beyond the starry sky won't act for now.

Moreover, based on your discoveries during your previous journey beyond the starry sky, Gu Jinxian is now devoting most of his energy to the starry sky beyond and the past realm.

Thus, the Central Continent will be far more stable than before.

On the other side, the Ascension Plan is progressing steadily, and your "Dao Wang" influence is slowly fading.

This is a critical moment; neither side will act rashly—so this interim period…

Staying within the sect to cultivate is certainly good, but knowing you as I do, you're not the type to sit still.

"Well…" Xu Xing paused, "Why not let me take over your duties, and you go out and travel?"

"No need," Bie Xuening refused outright. "If I wished to leave the sect, I no longer require your assistance."

During this time, my cultivation progress has still been steady.

Moreover, since Xuan took away part of the 'Hun Tian Yi' sealed by the Xiang Jianzong, I no longer need to remain within the sect to contain the remaining 'Hun Tian Yi.'

I simply have no desire to leave.

I never wanted to leave before; now that the Spirit Net exists, I want it even less.

"Then I'll stay in the sect to cultivate as well."

Bie Xuening's eyes flickered slightly:

"Hm?"

This answer caught her off guard.

"My main focus remains beyond the realm," Xu Xing explained. "Whether I leave the sect or not makes little difference. If possible, I plan to take over the portion belonging to Hong Zun as well."

"... Why?"

A flicker of caution rose in her heart.

Now that she thought about it, Brother had frequently associated with Hong Zun in ancient times.

There were things even she didn't know—yet Hong Zun knew them, even when Xiang Yuanjun and Ling Zu did not!

Perhaps Brother was corrupted by him!

"Hong Zun still has some consort cultivators in seclusion beyond," Xu Xing said. "After all these years, he must want to visit them—but he's still bound to the sect and cannot leave."

Although Hong Zun can be quite annoying…

Cough!

But given his talent, his progress over these years has been so minimal—he truly paid far too much back then.

Though part of that cost, he probably enjoyed himself…

In any case, I have nothing pressing now; I might as well help him out.

"Besides, if I take over that portion, it can be done faster."

"..." Bie Xuening was silent for a moment. "It's up to you to decide, junior brother."

Having made up her mind, she would go ask Xiang Yuanjun later! (End of chapter)