After obtaining the Saint Flame Body and Mechanical Armed Wings, Jun Changxiao’s strength had definitely increased greatly. But as to how much, without actual combat he couldn’t analyze it.
No good.
He had to test it.
The restless impulse to court death welled up, making Sect Master Jun urgently want to find someone to have a painful fight with.
“Who else have I not settled accounts with?”
Yes.
Like the Hundred Sects Alliance.
However, with Sect Master Jun’s current strength, he could crush them with one finger. Going to fight them wouldn’t demonstrate how awesome he was.
“How about going to Demon Fiend Sect and God-Slaying Hall?”
As soon as this thought arose, he couldn’t help but say: “Just thinking about it is exciting!”
“More than exciting.”
The system said: “It’s also extremely death-seeking.”
A mere fourth-rate Extreme Cold Palace had half-step Martial Saints. Third-rate evil sects definitely had them too. Jun Changxiao was just thinking about it—naturally he didn’t dare rashly kill his way there.
Having the strongest fire element physique and Mechanical Armed Wings, not going out to show off felt really stifling.
“Forget it.”
Jun Changxiao said: “Better to continue developing the sect, then take disciples to challenge Lily Saint Sect.”
“Sect Master.”
Li Qingyang entered the great hall: “Many more people have come wanting to join the sect.”
“How many?”
“Three or four thousand.”
Jun Changxiao wasn’t surprised. After all, defeating a half-saint, anyone who wasn’t blind could see the sect’s tremendous potential.
“Notify the two Elder Nings to have them handle recruitment review.”
“Yes.”
Just as Li Qingyang left, Elder Wei walked in, saying: “Sect Master, the sect’s reputation has been established and we have quite a few disciples. Why not establish some examination items to screen out excellent talents?”
A mature sect wasn’t about how many disciples wanted to join, but having the most professional entry process.
Most commonly, large sects periodically opened their mountain gates to recruit outstanding talents from across the land, having them undergo numerous examinations to screen based on talent and perseverance.
“Makes sense.” Jun Changxiao agreed.
The sect now had scale. They couldn’t just keep sitting outside on benches recruiting whenever people came to register. They needed systematic planning for healthy development.
“Elder Wei.”
Jun Changxiao said: “What good suggestions do you have?”
Elder Wei said: “I believe we can open the mountain gate at fixed times to recruit disciples externally, establishing a series of examinations where only those who pass successfully can enter the sect.”
“Adopted.”
Jun Changxiao said.
However, how exactly should they examine?
Elder Wei said: “We can reference some more mature sect examination systems, such as setting up formations on the path to the mountain gate where only those who ascend within the allotted time can pass.”
“This matter can be left to Elder Zhen.” Jun Changxiao said.
Elder Wei continued: “The way of martial arts ultimately comes down to physical body, talent, comprehension, and perseverance. So later examinations can also focus on physical body, talent, and comprehension aspects.”
“Physical body can be tested, and talent and comprehension can be determined by cultivating certain special martial techniques.”
Jun Changxiao murmured.
Elder Wei said: “I’m only making suggestions. The examination aspects still need to be decided by the Sect Master.”
“That’s settled then.”
Jun Changxiao said: “To enter my Eternal Ages Sect, one must undergo trials and achieve excellence in virtue, wisdom, physical ability, and beauty.”
Of course.
For applicants with talents in formations, medicine, forging, pill refining and such, there would be special examination channels.
These matters naturally fell to Elder Wei and Elder Zhen.
Jun Changxiao was someone who acted decisively. He immediately commanded Li Qingyang to drive away all the applicants gathered at the mountain entrance.
“Buzz!”
“Buzz!”
On the stairs leading to the mountain gate, formation light flickered.
Before long, Zhen Dejun withdrew his hand: “Sect Master, the Soul Gravity Formation has been successfully set up. Inside there’s double gravity.”
The Soul Gravity Formation he set up came from the Thirty-Two Strange Gate Formations.
Not only was there gravity, it would also shock the soul. One could say it tested both physical body and soul—using it as the first examination stage was undoubtedly very appropriate.
“Double is too little.”
Jun Changxiao said: “Raise it to five times.”
Elder Zhen’s mouth twitched: “Isn’t that a bit too harsh!”
Jun Changxiao said: “There are only so many stairs total. Without being a bit harsh, how can we screen out excellent talents with virtue, wisdom, physical ability, and beauty?”
“Fine.”
Elder Zhen raised the Soul Gravity Formation’s level to five times.
Next, after some thought, Jun Changxiao selected several techniques from those Shangguan Xinyao had created to use as examinations for talent and comprehension.
He modified these techniques so that comprehending them within a certain time would prove oneself.
Of course.
Sect Master Jun wasn’t worried about others cultivating them successfully—after all, they were low-level. Even comprehending them to the extreme wouldn’t lead to great achievements.
“Qingyang, let them come up the mountain.”
“Yes!”
…
Mountain foot.
The three or four thousand martial cultivators who came to register were all dejected.
Most of these people came from other commanderies, having heard of the Eternal Ages Sect’s deeds and yearned for it.
But as soon as they climbed up to register, they were driven away.
“Sigh.”
Someone said: “Back when Sect Master Jun personally went to eight cities to actively recruit, how come I didn’t encounter him? Now wanting to join the Eternal Ages Sect will probably be very difficult.”
“This is a top-three sect with unlimited potential. How could they just recruit disciples randomly? We all missed the best opportunity.” Another martial artist said bitterly.
Indeed they missed the best opportunity.
Previously, to develop the sect, Sect Master Jun used every trick, coaxing and deceiving.
Now with absolute prestige, he didn’t worry at all about disciples joining. Naturally it wasn’t something just anyone could casually enter.
“Swoosh!”
Li Qingyang flew over, announcing loudly: “If you all wish to enter the sect, you must undergo the mountain climbing examination. Those who succeed can stay for continued examination. Those who fail are eliminated.”
With a wave of his sleeve: “Go up.”
“Go! Go!”
Everyone immediately surged forward.
But the moment they stepped on the first stair, a force like a tsunami pressed down on them, making their faces change drastically.
“So heavy!”
“What is this force!”
“I feel like I’m carrying a mountain on my back!”
Many ordinary martial artists, after enduring just a moment, had twisted expressions.
Of course.
There were also strong individuals.
Enduring the five-times gravity, they struggled upward.
“Can’t do it, can’t do it…” A young man sat down after walking barely ten stairs, completely exhausted.
This kind of pressure on body and soul was truly a very cruel torment for ordinary people.
“Step!”
“Step!”
Walking at the forefront was a muscularly solid young man, sweating profusely as he moved step by step. Though his expression was twisted, he never gave up.
“Sect Master.”
Elder Wei standing at the mountain gate said: “This youth is quite good.”
“Mm.”
Jun Changxiao said: “Has cultivation value.”
Of the three or four thousand applicants, although most had collapsed, many young people with good perseverance were still struggling on. After half an hour, those who climbed up numbered as many as five or six hundred.
Among them were those who hadn’t touched martial arts, and those just beginning cultivation.
So even people of humble birth weren’t necessarily unable to climb the mountain, weren’t necessarily unable to rise from humble beginnings.
“Senior Brother.”
Li Fei said: “We’re very fortunate!”
Su Xiaomo said seriously: “Mm.”
Among the eliminated applicants, quite a few had better talent and cultivation than they did back then.
If the Sect Master had already established such strict examination mechanisms at that time, they might not have become Eternal Ages Sect disciples.
Just as they were feeling sentimental, Jun Changxiao appeared behind them, taking out the Records of History and knocking each of their heads: “What are you standing around for? Quickly carry down those exhausted applicants.”
“Yes!”
Su Xiaomo and Li Fei rubbed their heads and flew down.
The inferiority that was about to rise was knocked away.
Being able to join the Eternal Ages Sect early was fortunate, also a karmic opportunity. What they could do was—work hard, strive!
—