"Now we will conduct the third test, which is also the final test. We will send everyone into an abandoned spirit stone mining cave. This mine is underground on the edge of the mountain behind the former site of Yunhai Gate. It was mined by the sect a hundred years ago." The middle-aged Taoist began to tell the story.
"A mere hundred years is not enough for this place to generate new spirit stones. The formation of every mineral vein in the world of cultivation takes tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, or even millions of years."
"So, theoretically, it's impossible for this abandoned mine to generate new spirit stones, and it's also unlikely that any decent low-grade spirit stones would slip through the net."
"But nothing is absolute. Perhaps the previous mining was not thorough enough, and it is possible that some low-grade spirit stones remain." The middle-aged Taoist said loudly.
"Your main task is to find as many low-grade spirit stones as possible in the mine. There are no restrictions on methods or means. You can search alone or in a team. Competition and conflict are allowed. We don't care about the process, only the results."
"There are fifty-eight of you in total. The top three who find the most low-grade spirit stones will be tentatively admitted as inner disciples."
"If no one finds a low-grade spirit stone, the three inner disciples' spots will be forfeited. If fewer than three people find a low-grade spirit stone, the number of inner disciples admitted will be based on the actual number of spirit stones found."
"If the top three happen to include Wang Yin, Murong Xue, Xu Ying, and Yuan Xiao, who have just been admitted as inner disciples, their qualification as inner disciples will be deferred to the next person in line, without being counted again. However, if these four people make it into the top three, they will receive an additional three low-grade spirit stones as a reward!"
"There is only one bottom line rule: no harming anyone's life! Violators will be expelled from the sect!" The middle-aged Taoist began to emphasize this point.
After hearing this, the candidates were shocked.
This rule is quite cruel. To put it bluntly, fighting, robbing, cheating, and scheming are allowed, as long as they don't harm others' lives! It depends on chance, but also on strength. Experience the cruelty of the world of immortal cultivation in advance!
A bit dangerous!
Yuanxiao couldn't help but look at Wang Yin. He must be on guard against this guy! Wang Yin is ruthless and might be capable of anything!
But he found that Wang Yin was also looking at him, with a sinister smile on his face, and made a gesture of wiping his neck!
Yuanxiao believed that Wang Yin would not dare to cross the line and would not harm anyone's life. After all, he also wanted to join the sect and would not lose his qualifications.
But with this guy's viciousness, he will definitely cause trouble for himself! Then Yuanxiao will inevitably be in danger!
Yuanxiao made up his mind to act separately from the fat girl Xu Ying so as not to put them both in danger.
And even after leaving the mine and completing the selection, you must keep a distance from the two of them, and try to see them as little as possible in the future. After all, everyone has to walk their own path, and on the road of cultivation, no one can replace anyone else!
You have to bear your own risks and solve your own problems. Yuanxiao doesn't want any of his friends to be in danger because of him.
The middle-aged Taoist priest took out two piles of spirit stone samples, placed them on the table, and then threw out a pile of cloth bags, which were just the right size to be hung around the waist.
There are two piles of spirit stones, one of which is white and emits a faint luster.
There is also a pile that is close to gray and looks dull and lifeless. The contrast between the two types of spirit stones is very obvious.
"This pile of white spirit stones is low-grade spirit stones, which is what you need to find on this trip to the mine. The cultivation resources you will receive monthly when you officially practice will also be this kind of spirit stones."
"This pile of gray spiritual stones is mixed spiritual stones, also known as poisonous spiritual stones. The spiritual energy they contain is impure, and there are many impurities and toxins inside. They are harmful rather than beneficial to cultivation."
"You can find these kinds of miscellaneous spirit stones in most places in the mine. They are discarded spirit stones from previous mining operations. Don't pick them up. We don't need these kinds of miscellaneous spirit stones for our assessment. We only need low-grade spirit stones."
"I emphasize again, this kind of mixed spirit stone is harmful to the body and has no benefit. It cannot be used for cultivation. Otherwise, it will lead to the degeneration of the body's meridians and damage to the spirit body. It will become increasingly difficult to break through the bottleneck of cultivation. In the future, it will be extremely difficult to increase your cultivation. I have said this. If you don't listen, you will bear the consequences! Don't regret it later!"
"We've specially cut these two samples into many small pieces. Each of you will take one, one piece of each sample, so that you can compare and confirm it after entering the mine."
"You can compare them based on appearance, color, and the aura you sense. If you find a low-grade spirit stone, put it in this cloth bag and bring it out."
As he spoke, the middle-aged Taoist waved his sleeves and threw out a bunch of night pearls, which flashed with white light and were very dazzling.
"The mine has fallen into disrepair. The large night-shining pearls that were placed there years ago are now broken and the light inside is dim. These are the night-shining pearls used for lighting. Each of you takes one."
"Set off for the mine now. Gather at the mine entrance twelve hours from now, which is tomorrow at noon, to check the harvest. The test will then conclude."
The middle-aged Taoist paused for a moment before continuing, "Is anyone wondering what you'll eat and drink all day, and where you'll sleep at night? Now, let me tell you, there's nothing. There's no food, no rest, and you can only complete the mission!"
"When you truly embark on the path of cultivation, you will find that today's trifling incident is nothing compared to the dangers and difficulties you will encounter. It's nothing at all! If anyone can't even endure this little difficulty, you can quit now! I'll send you back home!"
Although the fifty-eight candidates present felt that it was a bit cruel, they had fought so hard to obtain the qualification, so how could they give up so easily?
Besides, you won’t die if you don’t eat or drink for just one day and one night. You will get over it after a while. Let’s give it a try!
"Now, Steward Mo will escort you to the mine. Steward Mo is the chief steward of the Yunhai Gate site, and he's been responsible for daily maintenance and management here all year round. Once you're there, follow Steward Mo's instructions! Let's go!"
At this time, a young man who looked to be about 27 or 28 years old came over. He was a little fat, but still looked a bit dignified.
Although there are not many people at the old site of the mountain gate, with only a few dozen people stationed here, as the manager of the entire site, one still needs to have certain abilities.
After all, the entire old site is vast. If the dozens of disciples stationed there are dispersed, there will only be one or two people on each hill, and it is common to walk around for half a day without seeing a single person.
How to do a good job of inspection, supervision, security, repair, maintenance, and managing the dozens of resident disciples is still a test of one's comprehensive ability. And if Manager Mo wants to win over the people, he might also have a good cultivation level.
"We are all brothers from now on, just call me Brother Mo!" Manager Mo casually threw a flying boat to the open space next to him. It swelled up when the wind blew, and it was almost the same size as the floating boat that Yuanxiao and the others had taken when they came here before.
Everyone boarded the flying boat and followed Manager Mo to the mine in the back mountain.
"Great Elder, do you think today's rules are a bit too harsh? What if someone gets hurt?" The Ninth Elder Jiu Tian asked a tall, dark-faced old man.
This tall, dark-faced old man is none other than Wu Sheng, the chief law enforcement elder of Yunhai Sect. He is responsible for the sect's rules and regulations as well as the sect's rewards and punishments. He holds a high position of power and influence. Many disciples in the sect who have been punished by him are usually afraid of seeing this chief elder.
At this time, the Great Elder waved his hand, obviously he had an important secret to tell!