Everyone Wakes, He Alone Is Drunk

One sentence caused three senior brothers to lose their composure.

The three Talisman Masters' expressions changed drastically, and they turned around, cursing as they flew away.

The world became quiet.

"Didn't we agree to be kind to others? Why am I so sharp-tongued?"

Li Xiuchang realized belatedly and reflected on himself, thinking that perhaps the overly harmonious environment within the Immortal Dust Sect had made him a bit lax.

When Li Xiuchang arrived at the foot of Wangping Mountain, trudging through the snow, he could see that over twenty people had gathered at the summit.

The Immortal Dust Sect didn't have many mountains to begin with. To call Wangping Mountain a mountain was a bit of an exaggeration; it was more like a slightly plump little mound.

Wangping Mountain, as its name suggested, was basically flat when viewed from afar.

Therefore, Li Xiuchang could see the people on the summit from the foot of the mountain.

It was only because the Immortal Dust Sect had few mountains and rivers that it seemed rare, and Wangping Mountain was deemed worthy of a name. The Immortal Dust Sect had even decorated it, planting many pine and cypress trees on it.

Li Xiuchang stepped onto the summit through the snow and looked around. There were only his footprints in the snow surrounding Wangping Mountain.

Thinking about it, it was normal. Those who could participate in the disciple recruitment test were all recommended by Elder Zhao and had received spots; they all had some background. These people would certainly not have walked here.

Li Xiuchang secretly observed the people around him and determined that about seven or eight of them were there to participate in the test like him. The others were either accompanying them or there to watch the excitement.

After a while, Elder Zhao Yuansi, whom Li Xiuchang had met once before, finally flew over and landed on the summit.

His gaze swept over several candidate disciples, including Li Xiuchang. His eyes paused slightly when they landed on Li Xiuchang's snow-covered pant legs, and then he looked at the string of footprints behind him in the snow.

Elder Zhao nodded imperceptibly, his eyes showing a hint of approval.

He walked through the snow to get here, his heart is steadfast in seeking the Dao. Elder Zhao thought to himself.

Li Xiuchang didn't know that his poverty had actually left a good impression on Elder Zhao.

Elder Zhao mistook it for "standing in the snow at Chengmen," but Li Xiuchang just wanted to save half a Spirit Stone.

"Elder Zhao!"

Everyone quickly bowed to Elder Zhao.

Elder Zhao coughed lightly and got straight to the point, "I won't waste time with pleasantries. I don't know any of you, so there's no need for introductions. We can do that after you become my disciples.

"When I take disciples, I only look at fate. Other qualifications and talents are not important. Even a piece of rotten wood can be carved into something beautiful by me!"

Although Elder Zhao's words were arrogant, no one questioned them. An Alchemy master was qualified to say such things.

Elder Zhao continued, "It's very simple to become my disciple. I will set a test, and I will choose one person from those who pass to be my disciple."

"Please state the test, Elder Zhao," everyone replied.

Elder Zhao pondered for a moment, looked around, and his eyes fell upon the pure white snowy landscape. He immediately had an idea.

"Such a rare and beautiful snow scene. Today, the theme will be 'snow.' Compose a poem about it, but you cannot use the character 'snow.' You will have fifteen minutes."

This snow scene isn't rare at all. Doesn't it snow several times every year in the Immortal Dust Sect? everyone grumbled inwardly, but no one dared to speak.

For a moment, some lowered their heads in thought, while others looked around for inspiration.

Senior Brother Song Yu actually guessed the topic correctly, Li Xiuchang thought.

Even so, Li Xiuchang was almost completely unprepared.

Writing a poem about snow without using the character "snow," the first line that came to his mind was, "Suddenly, as if a spring breeze arrived overnight, a thousand trees and ten thousand trees bloomed with pear blossoms."

However, such a timeless masterpiece could absolutely not be used.

It had to meet the requirements, yet not be too well-written. This truly stumped Li Xiuchang.

After much thought, he still hadn't come up with a suitable poem. While racking his brain to recall ancient poems he had read in his past life, he also prepared a backup plan.

If all else failed, he would just make up a couple of lines himself, and whether it succeeded or not would be up to fate.

The fifteen minutes passed quickly, and it was time for Li Xiuchang and the others to "hand in their papers."

Elder Zhao, following the order in which the candidates were standing, from left to right, first called upon the first candidate disciple on the left.

The person was a long-faced man in his twenties. He was likely not a new disciple like Li Xiuchang and seemed a bit resigned to be the first to answer.

"Then this disciple will offer my humble attempt."

The long-faced man paused for a few breaths and began to recite:

"Falling and scattering from the heavens, Each piece like cotton lands on the dust.

Dressed as pear blossoms dancing in the sky, Leaving the mortal world with purity."

You're really offering your humble attempt!

For a moment, Li Xiuchang couldn't tell if this long-faced senior brother genuinely had limited talent or if he was deliberately doing this.

The quality of his poem was at a very delicate balance.

However, Li Xiuchang kept his eyes on Elder Zhao's expression and clearly saw a flicker of jealousy cross Elder Zhao's face as the long-faced senior brother recited the poem.

Li Xiuchang had already set Elder Zhao's poetry level at a relatively low standard in his mind, but now it seemed he had been too conservative; he might have overestimated Elder Zhao's poetic skill.

Elder Zhao didn't comment on the long-faced man's poem and looked at the second person.

This second candidate disciple was a Red-Skirts Senior Sister. She took a deep breath, her face flushing slightly, and recited:

"Feathers everywhere, children laugh with glee."

"Only see the children run, not their feet."

After reciting the poem, the Red-Skirts Senior Sister's face turned even redder, feeling utterly embarrassed.

She wished she could burrow into the snow beneath her feet.

But the others reacted differently.

First, Elder Zhao, this time he didn't show any jealousy, but nodded in approval.

The third candidate disciple beside the Red-Skirts Senior Sister let out a snicker. She managed to hold back her laughter and looked at the first two candidate disciples with mockery in her eyes.

The other candidate disciples, including Li Xiuchang, all had solemn expressions, viewing the Red-Skirts Senior Sister as a formidable rival.

A twenty-character poem, with the word "children" appearing three times, was truly hard to surpass.

The first trial disciple, in particular, turned pale, knowing he no longer had a chance.

Li Xiuchang could tell that the Red-Skirts Senior Sister had done it on purpose. Clearly, he wasn't the only one who knew that the core of this disciple recruitment test was a "competition to be the worst."

Next, it was the third candidate disciple's turn. This person had a delicate appearance and was dressed like a scholar, fanning himself with a folding fan, exuding an air of a learned gentleman.

He had obviously put thought into his appearance, knowing Elder Zhao's preferences, and had deliberately dressed in this "learned" manner.

This "Scholar Senior Brother" raised his head slightly, his face full of confidence, and recited with a rhythmic cadence:

"Circling the sky like mist swirling, accumulating on the steps like flowers piling."

"No spring willows are seen, only white branches of osmanthus."

After reciting the poem, the "Scholar Senior Brother" looked around. The smugness on his face was almost impossible to conceal.

Li Xiuchang had to admit that while the "Scholar Senior Brother's" poem was nowhere near the timeless verses in his mind, compared to the first two, it was indeed a qualitative leap.

However, was this guy mistaken about something?

Everyone knew they were supposed to compete to be the worst, but he didn't?

For a moment, everyone looked at the "Scholar Senior Brother" with a hint of pity, knowing that he had been eliminated before he even began.