"Old Fish, you've brought back another batch of new disciples. That Earth-grade Genius you found before—who knows where your luck came from, for you to stumble across even that."
An old man appeared before the crowd at some unknown moment, utterly soundless.
His tone was familiar and casual.
Elder Mo nodded rather smugly. "Naturally. My luck is anything but ordinary. This time, there are three with Superior Aptitude. Even in that remote backwater, that's a rare sight."
That Elder also sighed. "Which is exactly why I say your luck..."
He was filled with envy and jealousy. While everyone else went out to recruit disciples, Elder Mo had been assigned to that barren corner of the Profound Heaven Dao Academy's territory year after year. Finding even one person with Mid-grade Aptitude would have been enough to complete his task.
Who would have thought that three Superior Aptitudes would appear? No, it should have been four—except one had fallen. There had even been an Earth-grade Genius.
"Enough of that nonsense. Old Lin, test them. Those who pass can be issued their disciple Jade Tokens directly."
"Hahaha, since you struck it lucky this time, the Academy Master and the other Elders will come take a look as well."
Elder Lin continued with no more idle chatter. With a sweep of his sleeve, everyone's consciousness sank into an illusory realm.
At the same time, a mirror hanging high within the hall slowly emitted a gentle glow that enveloped the disciples.
"Backgrounds are clean. No problems."
"Three Superior Aptitudes. Not bad, not bad."
Amid invisible ripples in the air, strands of Divine Consciousness entered the disciple hall.
Those who had closed their eyes and lost awareness of the outside world clearly had no idea that quite a few Elders were already watching them.
Such a thing had rarely happened before.
It was also a rare opportunity. If any Elder took a liking to them and accepted them as disciples, they would no longer be without support within the Dao Academy.
But this was a passive opportunity.
Lu Qing steadied his mind as the illusory realm appeared before him.
He saw a wolf appear before him, and his heart gave a startled jolt.
"What is this?"
Yet soon enough, nothing appeared in his mind.
A trace of realization arose in his heart.
That was it—this had to be the second assessment.
His Calamity Avoidance Talent had not activated. Clearly, this wolf could not kill him.
He broke free at astonishing speed.
"This boy isn't bad."
"His disposition is quite good. He feels no fear."
"Deepen it a little more."
In the blink of an eye, after the wolf vanished, Lu Qing fell into an even deeper illusory realm.
This time, though he did not understand what was happening, he saw a scene of countless people surging forward to congratulate him on becoming the Dao Academy's peerless Heavenly Prodigy, with a supreme mighty figure personally taking him as a disciple.
His face remained expressionless, though he almost wanted to laugh. Stop joking. I know better than anyone what my aptitude is like. With Earth-Grade and Heaven-Grade monsters around, how could I possibly believe such a scene?
The illusory realm shattered in the next instant.
"Oh? Interesting." A faint voice sounded.
"Interesting enough to take him as a disciple?"
"Ah, I calculated that my fated person would not appear this year." The first voice hesitated, then chose to refuse.
More Divine Consciousness turned toward other places.
"This boy's aptitude is much poorer, but it is rare and precious that he can single-mindedly pursue the path of cultivation."
"Superior Aptitude, but his disposition is much weaker."
"None of you fancy anyone? The Academy Master asked us to come accept disciples."
"Quit your yammering. It's not as though I've never accepted a disciple before!"
"We already accepted Earth-Grade Aptitudes this year. We could take them after another intake, but this year, fate does not permit it." At the end, a solemn voice sounded.
Those voices were extraordinarily faint, yet goosebumps rose all over Lu Qing's body.
Until a hot-tempered voice appeared later on.
He immediately recalled everything, yet he did not open his eyes at once. What if this was another illusory realm?
"Alright. Congratulations on passing the assessment."
Elder Mo's voice rang out.
When Lu Qing opened his eyes after this assessment, he saw only two Elders standing before them.
He lowered his gaze. He had clearly heard a whole group speaking just now, yet he could not see them now. Without question, those speakers had all been major figures.
He had no intention of revealing anything unusual about himself.
Lu Qing did not know whether only he had heard them or whether the others had as well, and he would not gamble on that possibility.
As for becoming a disciple or taking a master, he would leave it to fate.
Whether he had one or not made no difference. Lu Qing had always believed only in himself.
No one at the scene was accepted as a disciple.
Perhaps those major figures who had spoken had merely come to watch the excitement.
So what if one had Superior Aptitude? So what if one was a genius? Even the death of one person with Superior Aptitude had failed to stir a ripple. Lu Qing knew clearly that what he needed to do was cultivate—keep a low profile, keep a low profile. He had already gained another kind of Longevity, and he possessed the Calamity Avoidance Skill. Contending for supremacy was neither what he liked, what he excelled at, nor what he needed.
After giving a brief instruction, Elder Mo handed this batch of new disciples over to the dozen or so young people who had arrived afterward.
Lu Qing received his Jade Token from one of the senior brothers who had arrived later.
After he dripped blood onto it and gathered Spirit Light, his aura was imprinted upon it. Though he had not yet begun cultivating, he vaguely sensed a thread of connection with the Jade Token in his hand.
"Senior Brother, this junior has a question I would like to ask. How should one choose a Dao Peak?"
After receiving their Jade Tokens, many more disciples appeared and led the others away separately.
The senior brother before him had a forthright disposition. Hearing this, he laughed heartily. "Junior Brother, no need to worry. Dao Peaks are everywhere here. Since you have not yet entered the path of cultivation, you will first choose a Dao Peak in the Outer Academy. Once you cultivate in the future or your cultivation reaches great depths, you may transfer elsewhere."
"That will depend on the cultivation method you choose in the future before a decision can be made."
Lu Qing understood. In other words, before entering the path of cultivation, choosing a Dao Peak was not particularly important.
"Thank you for telling me, Senior Brother."
"It's nothing. We accepted a task and came out for this. I'll take you to that Dao Peak first. The Dao Academy Jade Token is extremely important, Junior Brother, so do not lose it. If you do, remember to come to the disciple hall here to have it replaced."
"If there is anything you do not understand, you can seek me out, contact other fellow disciples through the Jade Token, or ask the teachers and Elders."
"These are your entry items, Junior Brother. They are all necessities for new disciples. Keep them safe. Inside are Jade Slips introducing the various places. Press them to your forehead to inspect them."
After arriving at their destination, Lu Qing chose a Dao Peak shrouded in clouds and mist.
That senior brother, who had accepted the task, was quick and direct, thoroughly practiced in the matter. In just a few words, he explained several things and handed over a bundle.
It was precisely the entry stipend the Dao Academy provided to new disciples.
The Dao Peak Lu Qing had chosen was nameless. A group of ordinary people was sweeping the courtyard on the mountain.
The courtyard was three stories high. Once he pushed open its gates, it seemed vast and boundless. A pool built of jade lay in the middle, and the sound of murmuring water greeted him as soon as he entered. The main courtyard building had three floors: the entrance hall, while the second floor held several cultivation rooms.
There was also a Spirit Field in the rear courtyard.
Lu Qing saw more than a dozen ordinary people sweeping the courtyard.
"Greetings, Immortal Master. The courtyard has been cleaned. Please move in, Immortal Master."
Upon seeing Lu Qing, they bowed in unison.
"Mm. You may leave."
"Yes."
Cultivators needed to devote themselves to cultivation. When that senior brother had brought Lu Qing here, he had already seen many people working atop other Dao Peaks as well.
After that group departed.
The courtyard became tranquil once more.
Entering the front hall, Lu Qing first opened the bundle, then took out a Jade Slip.
Following his senior brother's instructions, he pressed it against his forehead to inspect it and saw an introduction to the Profound Heaven Dao Academy within.
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