The image in the Bronze Mirror changed again. This time, it showed only Meng Ruizhu.
Half a quarter of an hour later, the image shattered, and words appeared on the Bronze Mirror.
'Temperament (Fair)'
The Tianque Peak steward jotted it down, then looked at Meng Ruizhu. "Which peak do you wish to join?"
Meng Ruizhu carefully glanced at the Dragon-Slaying Peak steward. She saw him staring at the desk, seemingly focused on something she couldn't see.
She looked at the Tianque Peak steward, who had his brush poised but hadn't moved for a long time.
Then she looked at the Wen Dao Peak steward, who was squinting as if he were about to fall asleep.
Helplessly, Meng Ruizhu hesitated between the stewards of Jinding Peak and Powang Peak before saying, "This disciple wishes to join Jinding Peak."
The Jinding Peak steward wrote down Meng Ruizhu's name. "Approved."
Soon, it was the second female disciple's turn.
Her assessment in front of the Bronze Mirror was far worse than Meng Ruizhu's. Most of her scores were Grade D, and she joined Powang Peak.
The third male disciple also failed to achieve anything remarkable and joined Jinding Peak.
The Inner Court disciples who had come to observe and look for patterns, hoping to gain some experience, all felt their hearts tighten. "Joining the Main Sect really is difficult!"
"Senior Sister Meng's aptitude is already outstanding in the Inner Court, but in the Main Sect, she could only just manage a C grade. She wasn't at the bottom, but she certainly wasn't outstanding!"
"The Main Sect is packed with geniuses. A C grade is already very good!"
"Exactly. When it's our turn, I'm afraid we'll be no different from the two senior brothers and sisters who came after her. We'll only get a D grade."
The Tianque Peak steward called out, "Feng Zhiyuan."
'He reached the first of the Four Great Passes in three years. He's a promising talent.' As the steward looked over the information about Feng Zhiyuan in his hand, a gleam appeared in his previously placid eyes.
Round-faced Feng Zhiyuan immediately stepped forward and stood before the mirror.
'Slayed seventy-four demons at the Five Viscera stage'
'True qi (B middle)'
'Swordsmanship (B low)'
"Oh!" The seven stewards' eyes all lit up slightly.
This was already enough to put him in the top tier beneath the Ten Heroes. He could be called a genius.
Soon, the image in the Bronze Mirror changed, and the second assessment appeared.
'Under the Sword-Worshiping Stone, comprehended four swords, whose might rivaled that of a superior Life Spring sword art'
'Comprehension (B high)'
The Wen Dao Peak steward leaned forward slightly. "B-high comprehension. This young man should join Wen Dao Peak to study cultivation methods and swordsmanship."
The Tianque Peak steward smiled. "He could join my Tianque Peak, too."
The stewards of Jinding Peak and Powang Peak said, "He could also join our sects and follow the Sword-in-Hand lineage."
The Bronze Mirror's assessment wasn't over yet, but the stewards of four peaks had already endorsed him.
In other words, including the Sect Master's lineage, Feng Zhiyuan could choose whichever peak he wanted.
The final assessment appeared on the Bronze Mirror.
'Temperament (Excellent)'
The Dragon-Slaying Peak steward spoke up as well. "He may join Dragon-Slaying Peak."
All five stewards representing the five peaks had given way, leaving Feng Zhiyuan free to choose. Compared to Meng Ruizhu and the two before her, his treatment was worlds apart.
Not only were the Inner Court disciples who had come to watch envious, but Meng Ruizhu, who had already joined Jinding Peak, also wore an envious expression. 'If only I'd received an assessment like that!'
Feng Zhiyuan smiled, then ultimately joined Wen Dao Peak.
Right after him came Zhang Yundu, a tall, slender genius who was in no way inferior to Feng Zhiyuan.
'Slayed eighty-five demons at the Five Viscera stage'
'True qi (B low)'
'Swordsmanship (B high)'
'Comprehension (B high)'
'Temperament (Excellent)'
"Two B-high scores!" The five stewards looked at Feng Zhiyuan in unison.
"His swordsmanship is even better than Feng Zhiyuan's. Judging by strength alone, he's stronger, too."
"Impressive. In the future, he might have a shot at the top thirty beneath the Ten Heroes."
Zhang Yundu glanced at the chubby-looking Feng Zhiyuan with some smugness, but when he looked at Zhu Wenjiu, who already had stubble on his chin, his eyes grew more serious.
He chose to join Tianque Peak, the Sect Master's lineage.
When Zhu Wenjiu stepped forward, Zhang Yundu and Feng Zhiyuan immediately watched him.
'Slayed ninety-four demons at the Five Viscera stage'
'True qi (B high)'
'Swordsmanship (B high)'
'Comprehension (B high)'
'Temperament (Excellent)'
"Three B-high scores and one Excellent. This young man..." The five stewards exchanged glances. "He might make the top twenty beneath the Ten Heroes, or even the top ten!"
In particular, comprehension, swordsmanship, and temperament weren't fixed. They could change along with a person's experiences, strength, and temperament.
After he went to the Main Sect and gained some experience, he might even compete for a place among the Ten Heroes of one of the peaks!
He was free to choose among the five main peaks, but unexpectedly, Zhu Wenjiu ultimately chose Powang Peak.
'That guy really is better than me!' Zhang Yundu clenched his fists in secret.
"Yu Xiu." The Tianque Peak steward glanced at the information in his hand, then took another look at Yu Xiu.
He, too, had reached the first of the Four Great Passes in three years, but there was a difference between him and Zhu Wenjiu's group.
Unfortunately, Yu Xiu had already cultivated the Dragon-Slaying Evil-Purging Sword and was a designated disciple of Dragon-Slaying Peak.
"I'll join Dragon-Slaying Peak." Yu Xiu didn't step before the Bronze Mirror. It had little to do with him.
"What's going on? Even Zhu Wenjiu, Zhang Yundu, and the others had to go before the mirror before choosing a peak. What kind of background does Senior Brother Yu have, that he can choose Dragon-Slaying Peak directly?"
The many Inner Court disciples who had come to watch were baffled.
"Could he be a descendant of one of Dragon-Slaying Peak's elders?"
In the crowd, Zhao Hong, Xu Rou, Shan Yu, and Liu Qingchuan exchanged glances. Each saw the bitterness in the others' eyes.
'As expected, the Senior Brother Yu that the Law Enforcement Hall senior mentioned is Yu Xiu!'
'He's joining the Main Sect!'
And he was already designated for Dragon-Slaying Peak!
Yu Xiu hadn't gone before the Bronze Mirror, yet none of the five stewards had so much as reprimanded him. Clearly, they'd accepted it.
'Two months. It's only been two months, and he's already reached the Four Great Passes!' Shock eclipsed the bitterness in Liu Qingchuan's eyes.
Because it was just too astonishing!
The Dragon-Slaying Peak steward smiled. "Junior Brother Yu, you can go before the Bronze Mirror, too.
"If your assessment reaches Grade B, the main peak will award you contribution points. It's a free benefit. Surely you don't intend to turn it down?"
Yu Xiu changed his tune. "Actually, I'm in no hurry. It wouldn't hurt to go through the assessment."
He strode up to the Bronze Mirror.
In an instant, countless eyes fell on Yu Xiu.
Even Zhu Wenjiu and the others were no exception.
'I'd like to see just what sort of assessment a designated disciple gets.' Zhang Yundu stared intently.
Before you continue