Chapter 032

Chapter 32: Outer Sect disciple

All the little disciples who entered the three gates faced hardships on their paths. Some were trapped by snow, others tossed about by fierce winds. Some nearly dried up under a scorching sun, while yet others were chased by wild beasts. Everyone struggled to endure.

Wei Yun Xi had already gone through heavy rain, fierce snow, scorching sunlight, and raging wind. Now, she was being chased by spirit beasts. Although she sensed it wasn’t real, she dared not stop running, because the pain of injuries felt far too real.

As Wei Yun Xi ran, she muttered encouragingly to herself, “Yun Xi, hold on! You’re the best! You’re definitely going to be first! Keep going! Charge ahead!”

Seeing this through the water mirror, the sect leaders of Grand Righteous Sect could not hold back their smiles.

“This girl is rather amusing,” someone said.

“She seems to have quite the fighting spirit,” another commented.

“You shouldn’t underestimate this girl,” someone else added. “She ranked first in the previous two tests. You’ve only overlooked her because she has three spiritual roots.”

“Well, let’s see how she does this round,” Elder Lu Dan Yang of Alchemy Peak spoke up, eyes twinkling with interest. “If she gets first place again, I’ll accept her as my Named Disciple. Talent may be important, but a strong heart and perseverance matter greatly too. After all, once we reach the spiritual realm, talent matters less, while insight counts more.”

“Elder Dan Yang is right,” elderly, immortal-like elder responded. “But this girl still needs to reach Divine Transformation stage. Countless disciples with strong hearts and willpower are still limited by their talent. Accepting disciples requires balance.”

Elder Lu wasn’t upset, smiling as he replied, “Elder Yu Yang is right as well. Let’s watch and see.”

Wei Yun Xi had no idea her cheerful self-talk had already caught the attention of elders. She kept running forward without daring to slow down. However, after sprinting for so long, she started to feel her strength waning.

A ferocious growl sounded behind her, “Awooo!” Wei Yun Xi was so startled that she sped up immediately, feeling those sharp teeth brush past her clothing.

This time, she channeled spiritual energy into her legs to keep running. She had no wish to test the sharpness of that wild beast’s teeth with her flesh. Right now, she was officially known as a first-layer Qi Refining cultivator, so to hide her true strength, she clutched a spirit stone in her hand as she ran, making it appear as if she relied on external support to sustain herself, disguising her true reserves.

She ran for another full day, and just when Wei Yun Xi felt she could go no further, she finally spotted a glowing light at the end of the blue stone path.

“The end is near, Wei Yun Xi, keep going!” Encouraging herself again, she pushed forward even harder. It was the final stretch—she must make this last effort count.

But as she continued to run, Wei Yun Xi noticed that despite chasing the glow ahead, the distance between her and the light never seemed to shrink.

Wei Yun Xi felt despair creeping in. [This feels like dangling a carrot in front of a donkey, endlessly running toward a goal I’ll never reach!]

Inwardly, she cursed the founding ancestor of the Grand Righteous Sect. Finally, she closed her eyes, deciding to run blindly, since seeing nothing might make it easier. If she couldn’t run anymore, she’d just lie down. The elders surely wouldn’t watch her get eaten. They were here to accept disciples, not destroy potential talent.

Once Wei Yun Xi relaxed, the distance to the glowing point suddenly shortened rapidly. But since she kept her eyes closed and her divine sense hidden, she didn’t know she’d exited the path after fifteen minutes, until she bumped right into a sturdy body and opened her eyes.

Rubbing her forehead, she looked up and saw she’d collided with someone familiar.

Song Ke smiled gently at the confused girl, “Wei Yun Xi, congratulations! You’ve passed the trial. You’re officially an Outer Sect disciple of the Grand Righteous Sect.”

Wei Yun Xi slowly lowered her hand from her forehead, asking in disbelief, “Senior, I really passed? Truly?”

Song Ke answered warmly, “Of course. You may call me Senior Uncle Song now. From now on, we’re fellow disciples.”

Wei Yun Xi immediately replied, “Disciple Wei Yun Xi greets Senior Uncle Song. Thank you for your guidance, Senior Uncle Song.”

“Very well. You should rest over there. When the test ends, someone will take you to complete your formal entry procedures.”

“Yes, Senior Uncle!”

Wei Yun Xi felt joy bubbling up inside her heart. Finally, she had passed. But now, exhaustion overwhelmed her. She found a corner, sat down heavily, and began meditating to recover.

This trial tested determination and perseverance. As long as the children endured to the end, most passed successfully.

Wei Yun Qing, driven by her obsessive determination, also passed smoothly. Seeing Wei Yun Xi had again passed ahead of her left a bitter taste in her heart.

All eight of the Wei Family performed admirably this time. Because they had already achieved qi induction, the difficulty of their tests increased accordingly. While mortal children experienced light drizzles, they faced fierce storms.

After gathering all the passing children, Song Ke introduced himself with a smile, “I am Song Ke, an Inner Sect disciple of Grand Righteous Sect. I’m responsible for testing and welcoming new disciples. Those whose names I call, please gather here.”

Song Ke began reading off names: “Mu Chen, Liu Yu Xing, Feng He Yong…”

After finishing a list of thirty-some names, Song Ke said, “You will join the Menial Disciple Peak. Once you reach late-stage Qi Refining, you can advance to Outer Sect disciple. If anyone does not wish to be a Menial Disciple, you may still withdraw.”

The children glanced at each other; no one wanted to quit. Their talent was lacking, but they could still cultivate. Joining the Outer Sect later was possible.

“Very well, since no one is leaving, Elder Su from Menial Disciple Peak will soon arrive to receive you.”

Song Ke turned to the remaining disciples and said, “As Outer Sect disciples, I’ll first take you to the Outer Sect disciple Hall to register.”

He threw out his flying sword, which expanded in size amidst cries of astonishment from the little disciples. After all twenty-two of them stepped onto it, Song Ke flew them toward Outer Sect disciple Hall.

The steward of Outer Sect disciple Hall was a middle-aged cultivator with a neatly trimmed goatee. Seeing Song Ke arrive, he greeted warmly, “Junior Brother Song, you’ve arrived!”

“Steward Zheng, I brought the newly passed disciples for registration. Please handle their new identity jade tablets and settle them in.”

“You’ve worked hard, Junior Brother Song. Leave the rest to me!”

After exchanging pleasantries, Song Ke greeted the young disciples once more and flew off.

Steward Zheng became serious, announcing, “Everyone line up here to receive your sect identity jade tablets.”

All Wei family members made it into the Outer Sect. Wei Yun Ting was first, calmly giving her name, age, and cultivation stage.

Hearing they were from the Wei Family, Steward Zheng smiled warmly again, saying, “Your Wei Family disciples performed exceptionally well this time. After getting your identity tablets, please wait outside. I’ll escort you to your Outer Sect residences shortly.”

“Thank you, Steward Zheng. Sorry to trouble you,” Wei Yun Ting thanked immediately.

“No need for politeness. This is part of my duty.”