Chapter Fourteen : Comparing Only Breeds Resentment
As time passed, the crowd gathered before the mountain gate grew larger and larger.
Just as Fang Ting began to feel bored and considered chatting with Fang Mu Ge about his cultivation progress, a sudden commotion broke out from behind.
"Make way, make way!"
Four arrogant-looking attendants parted the crowd, escorting a luxuriously dressed young man forward.
Their behavior immediately drew the crowd's ire.
"Why should we move? This isn't your private property. You can walk around!"
One of the servants replied loftily:
"Because our young master is a spiritual body. Not only will he be accepted into Lingyue Sect, he'll also become a personal disciple of an elder—and eventually a true heir, renowned across the dynasty."
Gasp—!!
The moment the words spiritual body were uttered, the entire area erupted.
Those who had just been grumbling quickly quieted down and made way without a word. Some even rushed forward with eager smiles, trying to ingratiate themselves.
After all, it was a spiritual body—one in ten thousand.
Though nearly twenty thousand people came for the entrance test each year, on average, a spiritual body only appeared once every ten years.
Every time one did, an inner sect elder would personally take them in as a disciple.
Such a person was practically guaranteed to become a core disciple, and eventually, even an elder of Lingyue Sect.
Who would dare offend someone like that? Who wouldn't want to curry favor?
Unfortunately, the young man didn't spare any of them a glance.
Surrounded by his servants, the luxurious-looking youth strode to the front of the crowd. He kept his gaze fixed straight ahead, clearly relishing the jealous and admiring stares thrown his way. He had every reason to be proud—few could rival his qualifications.
The discussions around him continued unabated.
"So that's Lu Chenlong—his grandfather's the City Lord of Yuhe City. I heard that after he was found to possess a spiritual body, his family held a three-day banquet, and all the citizens could eat and drink for free."
"His background is already better than ours, and now his talent's sky-high too. It's infuriating!"
"He and us… we're just from different worlds."
Many people were thinking the same thing.
Why isn't my grandfather a city lord? Why wasn't I born with a spiritual body?
The Cui family, to which Cui Damin and Cui Shan belonged, was the most powerful clan in Yuhe City. Naturally, they also knew Lu Chenlong.
Surprised, Cui Shan asked, "Why is Lu Chenlong here at Lingyue Sect? Don't most children of court officials attend the Great Qi Academy?"
The Great Qi Dynasty had founded an academy to train cultivators, who would later be appointed to positions in the court or military once their strength reached a certain level.
The academy had been established in part to compete with the major sects and prevent them from monopolizing all the best talents.
"The Great Qi Academy is decent," Cui Damin replied, a flicker of envy in his eyes. "But compared to Lingyue Sect, which has inherited its legacy for tens of thousands of years, it just doesn't have the same depth."
"If a child's talent is average, sending them to the academy might lead to a better future. But for someone like him, Lingyue Sect is the better fit."
Cui Shan fell silent, lost in thought.
He was already imagining that once he entered Lingyue Sect, he could use the Cui family's connections to get close to Lu Chenlong. If he managed to become one of Lu Chenlong's followers, who among his peers would dare offend him?
The thought nearly made him laugh aloud.
Just then, Fang Ting leaned close to Fang Mu Ge and quietly said, "Once you're in Lingyue Sect, if an elder wants to take you as a disciple, it's best if you can become a student of Elder Su Xinyan."
That name had been mentioned by Fang Luo, the reincarnator. In his past life, he had cultivated at Lingyue Sect for eighty years, and Su Xinyan was the only person he remembered—she had to be special.
If Fang Mu Ge could become her disciple, it would be highly beneficial. The Fang family could also use her reputation to intimidate the Seven Star Gate.
Fang Mu Ge nodded. "Got it. I'll remember."
The area in front of Lingyue Sect's gate was a vast, open platform. Even with tens of thousands gathered, there was still ample space.
Normally, the place was only used by disciples coming and going, but today, it bustled like a marketplace.
At high noon, the people of Lingyue Sect finally appeared. They didn't say a word—just stood high in the air. The crowd immediately fell silent.
An invisible pressure blanketed everyone present. No one dared meet their gaze.
The entrance exam was an important affair for Lingyue Sect, so one inner sect elder and two outer sect elders were overseeing it. Behind them followed a group of grey-robed stewards responsible for various tasks.
One of the outer sect elders, robed in gray, projected his voice across the crowd.
"The entrance exam is about to begin. All unrelated people, step back ten thousands feet!"
As soon as his words fell—
Whoosh…
A large portion of the crowd began retreating in waves, including Fang Ting and Cui Damin.
They obeyed so quickly because, in the past, those who had been even slightly slow to comply were severely punished on the spot.
Soon, only the examinees remained—young hopefuls standing before the mountain gate. Their numbers were approximately twenty-three thousand.
The gray-robed elder waved his sleeve, and a thousand-feet-wide light screen manifested on the right side of the platform.
"All disciples participating in the exam, step into the light screen to begin the first trial."
Within the screen were three formations.
The first detected spiritual aptitude.
The second tested bone age.
The third evaluated willpower.
Those who lacked cultivation potential, were over eighteen years of age, or had weak willpower would be forced out shortly after entering.
Those who passed would walk out on the other side.
The youths began stepping into the light screen one after another.
Soon, some were expelled, while others emerged from the opposite end.
The crowd remained deathly silent. Those like Fang Ting who had come to accompany candidates stared at their hopefuls, silently praying for their success.
In the end, both Fang Mu Ge and Cui Shan passed.
Seeing his son emerge from the other side, Cui Damin let out a visible sigh of relief—but he couldn't resist taunting.
"Didn't expect your brat to scrape through the first round. He won't get that lucky next time."
He spoke as if Fang Mu Ge had passed purely by chance.
Fang Ting found it amusing. From Cui Damin's relieved expression, it was clear he hadn't been confident in the outcome either.
As for him, he'd never been worried about Fang Mu Ge. If his nephew failed the exam, it would only mean Lingyue Sect was blind.
After all, Fang Mu Ge had been recognized by the system as a top-tier talent. His physique had to be, at the very least, a Sacred Body. His perception and innate roots were also among the highest possible.
Of the over twenty thousand applicants, the first round eliminated two-thirds.
Many of the rejected stood stunned, unable to accept what had happened.
"What the hell? I didn't even do anything—my head just started throbbing, and then I was out!"
"This isn't fair! I want another try! I know I can pass this time!"
"How could this happen?! I traveled for three months, and it ended in the time it takes to drink a cup of tea?!"
The scene quickly descended into chaos.
The elder furrowed his brow and opened his mouth.
"Silence!!"
The single word hit the crowd like a bolt of thunder, making their heads buzz and their vision blur. Many nearly collapsed on the spot.
"Those who failed the exam—fall back at once!"
Though most found it hard to accept, they had no choice but to retreat and join those who had come to accompany them.
Some left immediately. Others, unwilling to give up, lingered to watch the rest unfold.
Soon, the second round of the exam began.