Chapter 64 – Reward Ceremony
While the upper echelons were scheming and plotting behind the scenes, commoners, small noble clans, and many families grieved for their losses.
Out of 1,500 participants, only 700 returned alive. The rest of them stayed in the monster realm forever.
This was the cruel nature of this exam. They sent their children or descendants there to risk their lives, so the other family members could live a better life. Unfortunately, they lost the gamble.
Several families glared at the murderers of their children. Some of the murderers also died to monster beasts or other killers, but the majority of them were in the group of survivors.
One of the wicked murderers, Wei Feng, also attracted a lot of heat from the spectators since he led his fellow disciples to kill many test-takers. Many families of the dead victims wanted to curse at this young master out loud, but they were afraid of Wei Huang's influence.
Because of the hatred, all Wei members also received the death glares from the victim families. Wei Yuan and Wei Huang's fame and reputation drastically dropped after the event.
Not only Wei Clan's name and reputation were ruined during the event, but Xu Miao also had done a fair share of the killing spree.
The Yu household also lost their representative and a few men to Xu Miao. Although Yu Lin was the one who provoked Xu Miao first, the Yu family didn't think that their young master deserved to die a cruel death.
Standing on a tall make-shift stand was a middle-aged big belly man with a round jiggling face. His decorated golden robe was embedded with jewelry and various high-grade magic artifacts, which stood out from the rest of the crowd. The fat man was fumed with rage as he was glaring at Xu Miao.
He was Yu Shun, the father of Yu Lin.
Yu Shun didn't have a cultivation background, but he was the wealthiest man from a neighbor province, the Sky Duck Province. Because of Yu Shun's social network and money, he was in command of a force that rivaled a small sect. Many 3rd stage and 4th stage cultivators served under the Yu family, and there were countless of 2nd stage bodyguards and soldiers.
Due to the lack of a 5th stage or 6th stage cultivator's present, the Yu Clan couldn't expand or compete against the local organizations in the Sky Duck Province. As such, the Yu family sent Yu Lin here, hoping to expand their businesses in this city and establish a connection with the mountain goose sect. Yu Shun even hired over a thousand young bodyguards to take the test along with Yu Lin, hoping to infiltrate the sect and increase his influence there.
Unfortunately, Xu Miao ruined their long-term plan. He killed Yu Lin in cold blood.
"Can somebody tell me who that bastard Xu Miao is!?" Yu Shun yelled at his subordinates.
A 4th stage cultivator, one of Yu Shun's mercenary leaders stepped forward and whispered to his master, "My lord, Xu Miao is Xu Xiuying's son. He's also one of the top outer disciples of silver phoenix sect."
"Silver Phoenix Sect? That whore-only sect!? Blasphemy! How dare they bully us!? Gather our forces! We will destroy the silver-whatever-sect and turn them into my sex slaves!"
"My lord, we can't offend this sect. Our intel said that they are housing nine 5th-stage elders and two 6th-stage masters. Their core disciples' strength is also at least at the 4th stage. Our organization is no match against them."
"You… You all are fucking useless!"
Yu Shun gritted his teeth and glared at Xu Miao. If a look could kill, he could have killed Xu Miao a million times already.
"We'll return to Sky Duck City! Tell all our men to forfeit their rights to join MG sect and return!"
The fat merchant gave up avenging for his son for now. However, he planned to gather more forces and come back to this city later.
'I'll visit the capital and report this to the royal family! Let's see if you can handle the royal army!'
…
The commotion died down after the fat merchant retreated from the city along with his men. Many families also stopped camping here since they were not in the right mood after losing their family members.
Most of the constructions here were demolished and cleaned. Smart cultivators brought foldable towers and stands, so they didn't have a problem cleaning their places before they left.
Many rude cultivators left their trashes here. Empty glass bottles, broken chairs, and stinky clothes remained on the ground. However, the trashes were swiftly cleaned by MG sect disciples, who had been summoned by Jian Meng to work here.
The remaining spectators were the parents and family members of the successful candidates. After getting through 3 tests, all candidates could be considered as official disciples now. The rest would depend on Xu Xiuying and Jia Shan, who would draft these successful candidates to their sects.
Aside from outer disciples, 400 successful candidates remained on the stage. The rest of them forfeited as they worked for Yu Shun.
"All female candidates who wish to join silver phoenix sect, gather at the east wing. Go to the two elders and report your name, your final score, and your cultivation strength!"
Xu Xiuying started drafting for potential disciples. Although the male and female candidate ratio was 10 to 1, obtaining 40 disciples were already profitable for her.
Meanwhile, Jian Meng helped his sect master organizing the male disciples.
"Gather on the west side! Report your test score, your cultivation strength, and your name to me and the elders over there. You've passed the tests, and you're now official members of our sect!"
The remaining male candidates cheered and gathered at the west side of the stage. Even though some of them wanted to join the silver phoenix sect, none of them would be accepted because it was a female-only organization. Some of them also glared at Xu Miao in envy, hoping that he exploded and died.
The registration process and the welcome ceremony was quiet and peaceful. All successful candidates received several raw spirit stones as welcome gifts and their ranking rewards.
After receiving spirit stones, the new disciples returned to their family members to celebrate as their lives would change forever. Some of them didn't even have a cultivation background, so they cried the tears of joy when their children became a potential immortal. Even if they couldn't be successful cultivators, the raw spirit stones could be sold for gold coins, and their families wouldn't be in poverty anymore.
The heartwarming scenes contrasted the earlier grieving and angry commotion. The strong and the talented ascended to heaven while the weak faced hell. This was the cruel fate of this cultivation world.
When all candidates got their prizes, it was time for top elites to obtain theirs.
Kang Yan, Wei Feng, Wei Yuan, and Xie Tian received refined spirit stones and spatial rings, which contained rare pills and other hidden prizes that Jia Shan and Xu Xiuying personally rewarded them in secret.
As for Xu Miao, the first place, his reward was different.
"Xu Miao, step forward!"
Instead of Xu Xiuying, Jia Shan was the one giving Xu Miao the prize as the latter contributed a lot for the mountain goose sect.
"Xu Miao. You've demonstrated your talent, intelligence, and combat prowess worthy to be called the top elite of silver phoenix sect. You didn't even hesitate when you contributed two precious weapons for us. Considering your contribution, it won't be fair for you if we only give you a low-grade weapon and refined stones as rewards."
Jia Shan smiled as he summoned a golden manual from his spatial ring. He also allocated a few things from his ring to a Xu Miao's deposited ring, which the latter had entrusted to the organizers before he went to the monster realm.
"This is a copy of mountain goose sect's core technique, Goose Tongue. By cultivating this technique, you can use the heavenly goose's language, and you can turn your words into power!"
Mountain Goose's inner disciples and Wei Xiang were shocked that Jia Shan gave Xu Miao a core technique.
Normally, core techniques were considered as a sect's secret. No one without authorization could learn these skills but their core disciples or trusted disciples.
Yet, Jia Shan gave one of his sect's secrets to an outsider. The preferential treatment indicated that Jia Shan might be trying to poach Xu Miao to his sect.
Even Xu Xiuying was surprised. Though obtaining a core technique from her rival sect might benefit the silver phoenix sect, the threat of losing Xu Miao to Jia Shan made Xu Xiuying paranoid.
Not wanting to let Xu Miao slip away to other organizations, Xu Xiuying also walked toward her adopted son. She hesitated for a moment before she brought out a red vial and shoved it in Xu Miao's hands.
"Xu Miao. You've done well attaining the first rank and uphold our sect's prestige. For your contribution, I give you a supreme medicine ingredient, Succubus Blood Essence!"
All elders and masters turned to Xu Xiuying in shock as they knew what this [Succubus Blood Essence] could be used for. Even Jia Shan couldn't believe his ears.
On the other hand, Wei Huang's face distorted in disgust as he knew where this blood was extracted from, and he knew the real name of this so-called "Blood Essence".
But for Xu Miao, who was clueless about Xu Xiuying's real identity, he was curious how useful a vial of succubus blood could do.
"Mother, how do I use this blood, and what effect does it give?"
Xu Xiuying coughed in embarrassment, "If you consume it raw, it will boost your immunity against soul attack and mind attack. If you consume a thousand drops, you will be immune to all such attacks. If a master alchemist refines it into a pill and you consume it, you can maintain your youthful handsome body forever."
In other words, succubus blood essence was an otherworldly ingredient that could give a cultivator a permanent youthful body and immunity against sophisticated soul attacks and mind attacks.
"T-T-Too OP! Mother, are you sure? Isn't this valuable!?"
Xu Miao was moved. He couldn't believe that Xu Xiuying would give this to him when she was planning to brainwash him. If he had mental immunity to the brainwashing effect, continue living in the whore house wouldn't be a bad idea anymore.
Xu Xiuying scoffed, "This is nothing! As a mother, I want the best for my son! I don't want my son to be seduced by an uncult swine!"
Those words were directed at Jia Shan, who offended her first.
Jia Shan and all elders from the mountain goose sect sighed in pity. It would be nice if they could poach Xu Miao from Xu Xiuying here, but the latter went all-in and tempted her son with rare blood of a demoness. They had no choice but to give up on him.
But the surprise and shock fest had not ended yet.
Xu Miao stirred the blood inside the vial and stared at the content. There were about 5ml of thick red blood in there.
Without hesitation, Xu Miao poured all blood in the vial into his mouth.