Chapter 447: The Sun and Moon Illuminate Mountains and Rivers (Part Six)

Ling Jiuxiao also discovered that things weren't so simple.
"Elder...didn't you say I was more than qualified to join the Mountain and River Sect?"
Ling Jiuxiao was internally screaming with frustration.
"This shouldn't be...even with the potential for a mid-rise, it shouldn't be like this."
"Even some holy lands aren't nearly as strict in their disciple recruitment!"
The elder was bewildered.
According to his calculations, even if the Mountain and River Sect still existed ten thousand years from now, it should be at a low point in its fortune. It wasn't at a low point now, that was fine. It had the potential for a mid-rise, that was also fine; after all, he could only predict fortune, and these were all uncertain matters.
He had confidently assured that Ling Jiuxiao's current cultivation level would be more than enough to become an outer disciple of the Mountain and River Sect.
But now...something was wrong.
The lowest cultivation level among everyone present was the Spirit Soul Realm... and these were all young Spirit Soul Realm cultivators. In the major powers of the dynasty, they were absolute geniuses, with only a few young kings capable of surpassing them.
Speaking of young kings... Ling Jiuxiao stared blankly at the several young men vying for supremacy before him. The aura emanating from each of them, even the aftershocks, could easily crush him. These people actually came to a sect to participate in the outer disciple assessment?
What a joke!
Anyone who didn't know better would think this was a holy land holding an inner disciple trial...
No one paid attention to Ling Jiuxiao. In their eyes, Ling Jiuxiao was no different from an ant on the roadside.
All eyes were on the woman on the stage. Although she was stunningly beautiful, what everyone cared about now wasn't her appearance.
It was the upcoming outer disciple assessment of the Mountain and River Sect.
Many of them were behemoths outside the Great Yan Dynasty, and even the Great Yan Dynasty was no different from an ant in the eyes of the forces behind them.
The reason they came to a sect of the Great Yan Dynasty
It was all because of the turmoil in the Demon Realm.
“To become a disciple of my Mountain and River Sect, cultivation level alone is insufficient.”
“Talent, comprehension, aptitude, and Dao heart are all indispensable!”
“Cultivation level is only a negligible part of the outer disciple assessment in my Mountain and River Sect. As the saying goes, ‘Are kings and generals born with a special destiny?’ Anyone who excels in one of these four aspects can even be exceptionally admitted as an outer disciple of my Mountain and River Sect.”
Han Xiyue spoke expressionlessly.
Her heart was bleeding at this moment.
Each of these people before her was a genius, capable of revitalizing the Mountain and River Sect in times of crisis. She wished she could recruit them all.
Unfortunately… this was Su Chen's order.
She thought of the cruelty of the trial… perhaps less than one-tenth of these people would pass.
After all, she hadn't even passed the first test.
Han Xiyue took out a treasure mirror. With a glance in the mirror, everyone seemed to appear in another world.
...
Inside the back mountain of the Mountain and River Sect
Su Chen's fishing rod suddenly drooped.
"A fish has taken the bait!"
Su Chen raised his hand and lifted the fishing rod.
There wasn't a fish on the hook.
Su Chen's expression didn't change at all; a slight smile played on his lips: "I didn't expect the first fish to be such a big one. That's somewhat beyond my expectations."
A large fish can change many things; he can always use this 'fish' to catch something interesting.
......
At this moment,
Everyone emerged from the illusion of the magic mirror.
On the stone tablet behind Han Xiyue, names branded with golden patterns appeared one by one.
[First Place: Ling Jiuxiao
Second Place: Zhao Chong
Third Place: Sima Gongcheng
......]
"Who is Ling Jiuxiao?"
"Even the young master of the Zhao family's holy clan can only rank second!"
"I didn't even make the list!"
"......"
There were exactly fifty names on the stone tablet.
Hundreds of exceptionally talented individuals had come to participate in the outer disciple assessment.
"Why wasn't I on the list! What kind of assessment is this? Am I inferior to Sima Gongcheng?"
A young man's gaze turned cold. He was a true disciple of the Autumn Water Demon Sect, his talent ranking among the best of his generation across the Sun Moon Continent. For a mere sect to eliminate him even in the outer disciple assessment was an utter disgrace.
Han Xiyue remained calm under pressure. She said indifferently, "This is the sect leader's assessment. Failing is failing. If there are any objections, the sect leader said he will personally visit you when he has free time."
The young man from the Autumn Water Demon Sect suppressed his anger. He coldly said, "Just a mere outer disciple? I don't care!"
He turned and left, along with many other eliminated young talents, a sight that made Han Xiyue's heart bleed.
But this wasn't the end of it.
When everyone saw that the first place winner was actually an 'ant' with a cultivation level below the Spirit Pattern Realm, they were so enraged that they turned and left immediately. Han Xiyue almost fainted. Looking at this somewhat simple-minded young man, she even began to suspect that there was some inside story behind her sect leader's disciple recruitment assessment.
Han Xiyue's guess was correct.
"Why do I feel... this trial assessment is specifically targeting me?"
Ling Jiuxiao was puzzled.
Looking at the envious, jealous, and disdainful gazes of the crowd.
He himself couldn't understand why he was able to surpass so many geniuses and become number one.
He felt that this entire trial was so easy.
"Boy, you are someone I have chosen. Passing a small trial assessment is naturally a piece of cake."
The elder's words dispelled Ling Jiuxiao's confusion.
After all, he possessed the Divine Demon Battle Body, with a limitless future. Perhaps it really was because he was too talented.
"The Sect Master of the Mountain and River Sect truly has an eye for talent."
"He's on par with me!"
The elder couldn't help but sigh.
His discerning eye was evident; those who remained after the final selection were the true geniuses among them, with limitless potential.
And so,
Ling Jiuxiao entered the Mountain and River Sect with the top score in the outer sect assessment.
The outer sect assessment also offered benefits.
Ling Jiuxiao arrived at the Mountain and River Sect's outer sect library.
Being the top scorer allowed him to enter the library and choose a cultivation technique or supernatural ability.
Ling Jiuxiao entered the first floor.
"Even the lowest level here is Spirit Rank. No wonder the outer sect disciple assessment is so rigorous."
After all, for those with poor aptitude and comprehension, a cultivation technique in front of them is no different from a blank sheet of paper.
Ling Jiuxiao entered the second floor.
All of them were King-level cultivation techniques and supernatural abilities.
Ling Jiuxiao entered the third level.
He couldn't help but click his tongue in amazement.
"This place is actually full of Emperor-level cultivation techniques and supernatural abilities, and this is just an outer sect library?"
"What would the inner sect library be like?"
Just then, the elder's voice rang in Ling Jiuxiao's mind.
"Boy, pick up that tattered book in the lower left corner."