Newcomer Trial

Chapter 30: New Disciple Trial

When Xu Zimo and Lin Ruhu arrived at the sect, the trial for recruiting new disciples had already begun.

The 188 steps were already densely packed with disciples.

At the very top of the steps, two Outer Sect Elders and one Inner Sect Elder were overseeing the assessment.

The Inner Sect Elder was a member of the First Elder's faction. Upon seeing Xu Zimo arrive, he merely let out a soft scoff and ignored him.

However, one of the Outer Sect Elders belonged to Xu Qingshan's faction and was extremely enthusiastic.

"Nephew Zimo has arrived," the elder said with a smile.

"Greetings, Elder Jin," Xu Zimo replied with a smile. "How is this year's new disciple trial? Are there any promising talents?"

Since the Inner Sect Elder was ignoring him, Xu Zimo didn't bother with him and started chatting with Elder Jin.

"There are a few good ones," Elder Jin replied. "Look at the disciples on the front eight steps; they are considered quite outstanding."

The 188 steps in front of the True Martial Sacred Sect had double gravity on the back 100 steps, five times gravity on the middle 80 steps, and ten times gravity on the front eight steps.

Xu Zimo glanced over and noticed Baili Xiao was among them. He asked, "Didn't the Sixth Elder bring that girl back? Why is she participating in the trial?"

"She requested it herself, and we couldn't refuse," Elder Jin said with a smile.

Xu Zimo smiled and said nothing. This girl was more mature than he had imagined.

Her identity had undergone a complete transformation from an ordinary village girl to the niece of the Sixth Elder of the True Martial Sacred Sect.

Yet, she hadn't lost herself in the change and was still able to maintain her true self.

A smile tugged at the corner of Xu Zimo's lips as he muttered to himself, "As expected of the successor chosen by the Empress!"

"Nephew Zimo, if you wish to build influence, you might consider trying to recruit these few."

Afterward, Elder Jin began introducing the talented disciples in the trial to Xu Zimo.

Standing at the forefront of the eight steps was a young man with a long sword on his back, his white robes fluttering.

The young man exuded a sharp, imposing aura. Despite the astonishing gravity on the steps, which made even taking a single step difficult, he remained calm, showing no intention of backing down.

"He is a disciple of the Huang Family from Northwest City," Elder Jin said. "His name is Xue Buhui, and he is considered the most talented of this batch."

"Why would a disciple of the Huang Family come to our True Martial Sacred Sect?" Lin Ruhu asked curiously.

While the Huang Family couldn't compare to the True Martial Sacred Sect, they were still a prominent family in Northwest City.

The founder of the Huang Family was the Sword God, a powerful figure from the same era as Great Emperor Yin Tian.

Legend had it that he had even contended for Destiny with Great Emperor Yin Tian, though he ultimately failed.

However, anyone who could contend for Destiny with a Great Emperor was no ordinary person.

Disciples of the Huang Family coming to the True Martial Sacred Sect would have no special privileges; they would be treated like ordinary disciples.

If they wanted good cultivation resources, they would have to earn them themselves. In that case, why wouldn't they just stay with their Huang Family?

"He is a concubine's son of the Huang Family, and his mother was merely a lowly maid. His birth was an accident," Elder Jin explained. "He doesn't receive good resources in the Huang Family and is targeted everywhere.

His name is Yan Buhui; he took his mother's surname."

"He's quite good," Xu Zimo said, recalling memories from his past life. "One day, he will carry on the glory of his ancestors and inherit the honor the Sword God once held."

"Nephew Zimo thinks highly of him?" the Inner Sect Elder beside them sneered.

Xu Zimo glanced at the Inner Sect Elder and said indifferently, "It has nothing to do with you."

The Inner Sect Elder's face turned grim. He snorted and ignored them further.

"I won't say much about that girl, Baili Xiao. I heard the Sixth Elder dotes on her, so her talent probably isn't bad either," Elder Jin continued.

"Further down the steps, those two girls are twins. One is named Xue Qianxue, and the other is Xue Mengmeng.

They are locals from Little Yang Town, under our Sacred Sect. The previous head of their Xue family was also an Inner Sect Elder of our Sacred Sect.

Before they came this time, the Xue family head specifically asked me to look after them.

They are twins and are said to cultivate a combined attack technique. When used together, the power of the technique can be enhanced twofold.

Originally, with their strength, it would have been difficult for them to reach the front eight steps, but with the boost from their combined attack technique, their talent is barely passable."

Xu Zimo smiled. He had some impression of these twins.

If he remembered correctly, these two later became Baili Xiao's maids, enjoying a life of immense prestige.

"Further down, that big fellow is Gao Xiong," Elder Jin continued. "He comes from an ordinary mountain village in the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains.

His cultivation level is the lowest among these people, only at the ninth level of the Mortal Realm; he hasn't even entered the Spirit Vein Realm.

However, his physique is the most promising I've seen in years. He stepped onto these front eight steps purely through physical strength."

After hearing Elder Jin's introduction, Xu Zimo said to Lin Ruhu, "Ruhu, let's also participate in the trial. That way, no one can gossip about us."

"Sure," Lin Ruhu nodded indifferently.

The two walked to the foot of the mountain and began to ascend the steps, one by one, starting from the first.

There weren't many strict requirements for climbing these steps. Defensive spirit artifacts were forbidden, and one had to ascend one step at a time.

Even if you could climb several steps at once, it was not allowed.

As Xu Zimo stepped onto the stairs, he felt gravity pressing in from all directions. His realm, which had been somewhat unstable after advancing to the ninth level of Condensing Meridian, was gradually solidifying, and the spirit energy within his body became increasingly condensed.

"Ruhu, don't resist this gravity. Try to merge with it," Xu Zimo advised. "This will not only lessen the weight of the gravity but also temper your body better."

Lin Ruhu nodded. His talent was no less than Xu Zimo's, especially after cultivating the Strength Art. The muscles on his body became more pronounced.

There were already signs of bulging, and it was estimated that he would become a muscular hunk in the future.

Xu Zimo ascended the steps leisurely, step by step, tempering himself while allowing himself to merge with the gravity.

He walked for over ten minutes, unhurriedly covering the last hundred steps under double gravity.

Next came eighty steps under five times gravity. Xu Zimo stood there, slightly adjusting to the gravity, and then calmly walked up.

Lin Ruhu was not to be outdone. Although he was always struggling a bit, he could still keep pace with Xu Zimo.

Finally, the two completed the eighty steps and arrived at the last eight steps.

According to the rules of the True Martial Sacred Sect, simply reaching the steps with tenfold gravity was considered passing.