Choosing a Master

As the tune kept changing, the heat and chill in their hearts switched rapidly, making it almost impossible to adjust. As the rhythm gradually quickened, howls rang out from within the valley. Quite a few people began to lose control of their minds, raving and going mad.

These people were naturally doomed to be eliminated.

A quarter of an hour later, the old man stopped playing and stood up, wiping the sweat from his brow. He turned to the disciples below and asked, "How many are left?"

"Second Sect Master, there were a hundred half a quarter of an hour ago. There should be fewer than twenty now," one of the disciples replied.

"Good. I can't play any longer, anyway. These twenty may choose an elder as their master; the rest can be sent to the protectors!" After saying this, the old man rose, took his zither, and left.

The Cloud Saint Sect had five Sect Masters in all, each a supreme expert above the Spirit Sovereign realm. Below them were the elders, who were in the Spirit King realm and numbered a little over twenty. After them came the protectors, all of whom were Spirit Commanders.

The Sect Masters, elders, and protectors formed the core strength of the Cloud Saint Sect. Below the protectors were the core disciples and the entry-level disciples. The core disciples were all Spirit Generals, while most entry-level disciples were Spirit Scholars, though some were only at Spirit Entry.

The hundred disciples who passed the tests this time were all entry-level disciples. Their future depended on their individual potential. Once they reached the Spirit General realm, they would automatically be promoted to core disciples. With each increase in cultivation, their positions rose as well, and their status and treatment naturally followed suit.

Of course, even among the entry-level disciples at the very bottom, there were differences in status. Generally speaking, disciples under an elder ranked higher than those under a protector.

When the music faded, Sanbao slowly opened his eyes and looked around. Fewer than twenty candidates remained in the valley. To his slight surprise, one of them was a familiar face: the noble young master who had cursed people as dogs and cats during the preliminary test. It seemed he had some ability after all. Sanbao took note of him.

At the same time, the other dozen or so people began sizing one another up. After all, they were likely the most talented among this batch of entry-level disciples, and sooner or later they might compete or spar with one another.

On the enormous plaza before the Cloud Saint Hall, the main hall of the Cloud Saint Sect, more than a hundred newly admitted disciples stood in orderly rows before a raised platform. They were about to complete the final step before entering the sect: choosing a master.

Unlike ordinary sects, where masters chose their disciples, the Cloud Saint Sect stipulated that new disciples had the right to choose their own masters. At that moment, everyone held a small booklet in their hands—the Master Selection Manual.

The booklet gave a brief introduction to the Cloud Saint Sect's more than twenty elders and over a hundred protectors, helping the new disciples choose the master they wanted.

Huang Tianhu, elder, Spirit King, cultivates fire-type techniques, excels at offense, has a fiery temper, and is fond of wine and women. Has more than ten disciples.

Li Tianlai, protector, Spirit Commander, cultivates both earth- and wood-type techniques, excels at concealment and speed, is steady in temperament, and despises laziness. Has twenty disciples.

Zhao Fengqin... Shows no courtesy to men. Has eight disciples, all women. Male disciples should not choose her as their master, or they will meet certain death.

Jing Yifei, elder, Spirit King, fire expert, eccentric and arrogant. Currently has no disciples.

Zhao Youdao, elder, head of the Execution Hall...

As Sanbao flipped through the booklet, his expression grew more and more colorful. What was this, if not a record of people's private lives?

Still, it was useful. By the time he had read the whole booklet, he had practically "met" everyone in the Cloud Saint Sect's upper ranks except for the few Sect Masters. Just as everyone was engrossed in reading, Elder Zhao Youdao, head of the Execution Hall, called out from the raised platform:

"Everyone, listen up. The eighteen who remained at the end of the test may choose an elder as their master. Of course, you may also choose a protector. The rest may only choose a protector. Don't choose carelessly, or you'll be wasting your time."

"Why choose a protector when you can choose an elder? What kind of idiot would do that?" the noble young master shouted again.

"You're the idiot! The right choice is the one that suits you best. Do you understand?" retorted another of the eighteen finalists, who intended to choose a protector as his master.

"You're so hopeless. I don't know how you even lasted to the end," the noble young master sneered, unwilling to back down.

"Hmph, then we'll have to spar sometime." The two glared at each other. If not for the many experts of the Cloud Saint Sect present, they would probably have already come to blows.

"If only I could become a disciple of an elder. They're Spirit Kings! Just thinking about it gets me excited..."

"I wonder which backwater village bumpkin you crawled out of. What's so impressive about a Spirit King? A Spirit Sovereign is a true expert..."

The young people below the platform chattered among themselves, and the place grew lively. Those from the Cloud Saint Sect on the platform had seen it all before; choosing masters had always gone like this.

"All right. Before you make your final choices, let me remind you of one thing. Though you've entered the Cloud Saint Sect, that doesn't mean you'll be allowed to stay on Cloud Mountain forever. Any disciple who hasn't reached the Spirit General realm by the age of twenty-five will be demoted to an outer sect disciple and sent back to the secular world. Without some extraordinary merit, there will be no chance of returning to the sect.

So, from your very first day in the sect, you must cultivate diligently—for the Cloud Saint Sect, and for yourselves. Strive to become core disciples as soon as possible. Only then will you be able to remain on Cloud Mountain."

The crowd stirred. Clearly, many people didn't understand this harsh and aggressive rule of the Cloud Saint Sect. But they soon quieted down.

Survival of the fittest was the law of this world. There was nothing more to say about it. Besides, every one of these entry-level disciples was exceptionally talented. None of them doubted they could reach the Spirit General realm before turning twenty-five.

It was only a brief interruption. Very soon, choosing masters once again became the main event.

"I choose Protector Li Tianlai."

"I choose Elder Zhao Youdao."

"I choose..."

Before long, everyone had chosen their master, and the relevant Cloud Saint Sect disciples led them away to pay their respects.

After the time it took an incense stick to burn, most of the new disciples in the plaza had chosen their masters. By the time Sanbao was ready to decide, only a dozen or so comparatively mature-looking disciples remained around him. They still seemed to be weighing their options. After all, the people in the Master Selection Manual were only names on a page; without meeting them in person, it was hard to choose.

"Senior brother, I choose Elder Jing Yifei..."

After a moment's hesitation, Sanbao went to report his choice to a Cloud Saint Sect disciple in charge of registration.

"What? You chose Elder Jing? I think you should choose someone else. Elder Jing isn't an ordinary elder. He's aloof and eccentric, and I've heard he doesn't even respect some of the Sect Masters. Most people can't put up with him..." The Cloud Saint Sect disciple looked at Sanbao and, apparently thinking him too young, quietly offered a warning.

"Senior brother, do you know why?" Sanbao asked softly.

"I was part of the batch that entered five years ago. Back then, a few of my fellow disciples insisted on joining Elder Jing, but they all eventually transferred to other elders. Supposedly, aside from making people serve as Fire Boys, Elder Jing never takes care of his disciples' cultivation. And you can forget about getting any good Spirit Skills or treasures from him."

The kind senior brother leaned close to Sanbao's ear and told him a little more.

"Then I'll give it a try."

The senior brother's warning only made Sanbao more determined.

He didn't need any Spirit Skills or a master's guidance. The place with the fewest people was the best for him. The Master Selection Manual had made it clear: Jing Yifei had no disciples. That was exactly the peace and quiet Sanbao wanted. And Jing Yifei was so proud and aloof—there had to be something extraordinary about him.

"You... Fine. I hope you won't regret it." The kind senior brother's eyes widened. He seemed to be trying to figure out what was wrong with this little junior brother of his, for him to be so recklessly overconfident.

"Come on, I'll take you there." Before long, the dozen or so remaining entry-level disciples had all chosen their masters. The sect's organizers led them away, and it was the kind senior brother who took Sanbao to meet his master.

"Sorry for the trouble, senior brother. I actually have a few questions I'd like to ask you."

As they chatted along the way, Sanbao learned that the Cloud Mountain range was vast, encompassing hundreds of peaks, yet the Cloud Saint Sect had only a little over a thousand people in all, not counting the outer sect disciples. It was a vast land with few people.

As a result, some elders' and protectors' cultivation grounds were scattered far apart, and some were in rather remote locations. Jing Yifei's cultivation ground was just such a place.

The two followed a narrow stone path at an unhurried pace. It took them a full half hour to reach the foot of a great mountain.

"Junior Brother Sanbao, Elder Jing is up on this mountain. Take this Inscription Tablet with you and present yourself to him. I won't be going up. Take care, haha." The kind senior brother gave a wry smile, seeming to feel sorry for Sanbao.