Chapter Seven: Holding the Grand Apprentice Selection Competition

"Sect Master!"

Just as he stepped out of his cave dwelling, Chen Xuan was approached by Li Yangzi, the Great Elder of the Xuandan Sect, a man over five hundred years old. Several other elders followed closely behind him.

Name: Li Yangzi
Cultivation: Peak Golden Core
Luck Value: Blue
Spiritual Root: Good Quality
Constitution: None
Comprehension: Above Average
Cultivation Techniques: Blazing Palm (Earth Tier, Low Grade), Palm Fire (Mystic Tier, High Grade)
Loyalty Value: 70
Summary: Has already reached the peak achievement of an ordinary person.
...
Name: Shen Xuzi
Cultivation: Late Golden Core
Luck Value: Blue
Spiritual Root: Good Quality Fire Root
Constitution: None
Comprehension: Above Average
Cultivation Techniques: One Yang Finger (Earth Tier, Low Grade), Palm Fire (Mystic Tier, High Grade)
Loyalty Value: 0
Summary: Limited potential.
...
Name: Miao Shezi
Cultivation: Mid Golden Core
Luck Value: Blue
Spiritual Root: Good Quality Fire Root
Constitution: None
Comprehension: Average
Cultivation Techniques: Flame Blade Technique (Earth Tier, Low Grade), Palm Fire (Mystic Tier, High Grade)
Loyalty Value: 0
Summary: Limited potential.
...

Reviewing their status panels, Chen Xuan noted that Li Yangzi’s loyalty remained at 70, just as it had been before—the most steadfast soul in the Xuandan Sect. However, the loyalty values of Shen Xuzi and Miao Shezi had plummeted from 50 to 0.

Something was clearly amiss.

"Is there something you need?" Chen Xuan asked.

Li Yangzi cupped his hands and replied, "Sect Master, the Ye family has been completely expelled from the sect, but there is one more matter that requires your decision."

"Oh? Tell me."

"It is like this," Li Yangzi explained. "Our medicinal garden has been under constant assault by demonic beasts. In the past, with disciples stationed there, no major incidents occurred. But over the last few years, the mass departure of disciples has left us with insufficient manpower. The garden is now overrun with beasts, and no disciple dares to enter to harvest herbs."

Li Yangzi proposed, "I believe we should first clear the medicinal garden, then recruit new disciples to manage it once more."

The Xuandan Sect’s foundation was alchemy. The medicinal garden was the very lifeblood of the sect. Its loss was precisely why the sect had fallen into rapid decline, lacking the herbs necessary for refinement. Although he was a Nascent Soul ancestor, clearing the beasts was no simple task—they were endless, and clearing one wave only meant another would follow. Coupled with the troubles involving the Ye family, previous attempts had been abandoned.

"It is indeed time to address this," Chen Xuan nodded. Although the Ye family was gone, the sect remained in a state of disrepair.

After a moment of thought, Chen Xuan said, "However, we shall recruit new disciples first, then clear the garden."

"Recruit first?" Li Yangzi looked troubled. "Sect Master, while the Ye family is gone, our resources remain scarce. Without sufficient incentives, no one will join."

"Indeed, Sect Master," Shen Xuzi and Miao Shezi chimed in. "Should we not clear the garden first and use the herbs gathered there to entice disciples to enroll? The sect treasury holds less than 500,000 spirit stones and fewer than a hundred pills—not even enough to cover the basic needs of our current disciples. Why would anyone join us now?"

"No," Chen Xuan waved his hand. "Spread the word: in five days, the Xuandan Sect will hold a grand recruitment tournament. Any initiate who succeeds will receive at least one Earth-tier cultivation technique, and the top three will be awarded a Saint-tier technique."

"What!" Li Yangzi’s jaw dropped. "An Earth-tier technique just for joining, and a Saint-tier one for the top three?!"

Shen Xuzi and Miao Shezi looked at each other, certain they had misheard.

"Sect Master, you must be joking. Where would our sect find so many Earth-tier techniques?"

"Exactly. Our highest-grade technique is the Mystic-tier, Low Grade 'Xuandan Sutra' and the 'Fire Bathing Art.' Saint-tier techniques are the exclusive treasures of the Holy Lands! How could we possibly possess them?"

"Sect Master, you cannot speak so recklessly. If we make this announcement and fail to produce the rewards, we will be condemned by everyone. The Xuandan Sect has already offended the major sects; if this happens..."

Li Yangzi sighed, trying to persuade him. "Sect Master, while manpower is vital, we cannot use lies to deceive people. That would be the ruin of our own house."

"You do not believe me?" Chen Xuan looked at them.

"It is not that we don't believe you," Li Yangzi said with difficulty, "but Saint-tier techniques are simply too shocking to be true. If we truly possessed them, we would have been a Holy Land long ago."

"Sect Master, please listen to us. Clear the garden first and use a few spirit herbs as incentives."

"Yes, Sect Master. Unless you can produce a Saint-tier technique for us to see right now, we cannot agree to this."

"How about a wager?" Chen Xuan asked, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"A wager? On what?" the elders asked, puzzled.

"I wager on whether I can produce a Saint-tier technique," Chen Xuan said. "If I succeed, you will be at my disposal. If I fail, I shall be at yours."

"Agreed!"

Shen Xuzi and Miao Shezi’s eyes lit up. "We swear to the heavens: if the Sect Master produces a Saint-tier technique, we shall submit to his judgment. Should we break this oath, may our souls be utterly extinguished."

"I also swear," Chen Xuan said, holding up three fingers. "If I cannot produce the techniques, I shall answer to you."

"In that case, we shall proceed according to your will."

Shen Xuzi and Miao Shezi exchanged a smirk and immediately left the sect.

"Hah! Who would have thought it would go so smoothly?" Shen Xuzi laughed heartily once they were out of earshot. "That old fool Chen Xuan is spouting madness, promising Saint-tier techniques. When he fails to produce them, we can legitimately force him to end his own life, then hand the Xuandan Sect over to the three great sects. We shall be heroes."

"Indeed," Miao Shezi chuckled. "He just broke through to the Soul Formation stage; if we had to fight him head-on, it wouldn't be easy. That is why the three great sects recruited us as inside men."

Miao Shezi paused, his smile flickering. "But what if that old dog actually has one? He seemed quite confident."

"Are you as foolish as he is?" Shen Xuzi sneered. "Think about how long we haven't received a single spirit stone in salary. If he truly had a Saint-tier technique, he would have brought it out long ago."

"True," Miao Shezi nodded. They hadn't seen a dime in over two years, which was exactly why they had defected. "If he can't pay our salaries, he can't blame us for betraying him."

"Enough talk," Shen Xuzi grinned. "Let’s spread the news. The more people who know, the better. When he can't deliver... heh heh."