The city gate was just up ahead, but there are guards either side stopping a small line of travelers from entering. That line of travelers included us as we had just entered the line from the back.
"What are we doing once we enter the city?" Liang Jia asks staring towards the city
"To be honest, I want to join that sect in the city and become a cultivator. Our world needs countermeasures against these people and this could definitely be used against them as well." I turned around to tell them.
"I'll join you, I still have a job to protect my country and it's people right?" Liang Jia said with a smirk
"I suppose so." I responded as I began watching the city gate. Our line of people slowly, but surely shorten as they enter the city.
As the group ahead of us enters the city the guard who stopped them now directed his attention to us.
"Halt! Who goes there, are you here to join the sect?"
Raising my hands a little I confront the guard, "We come from Earthen edges and are here to enter the city. We want no trouble sir."
"Alright your group may enter, but don't you dare cause trouble. All the guards in the city are at least first-stage cultivators and we even have a few fourth stages."
After that gate guard merely greeted us with a warning we entered quickly.
'Huh that wasn't bad, I thought something more would've happened, but it's good it didn't. They also talked joining a sect of some kind. That sounds perfect, hopefully it hasn't started yet. What a great coincidence that we arrived the day a sect is accepting new disciples though.'
Entering the city's streets, they were scattered with groups of excited people, they must be here to join the sect. Buildings on either side of the street cram people onto the road which stretched all the way down towards a massive structure quite a ways down.
After asking one of the crowd members where we could sign up to join he points ahead towards the massive structure at the end of the road, "You better hurry the registration ends in half an hour."
Handing him five copper I thank him for the information as our group rushes to the front, weaving through the crowd with only around 7 minutes before the end. The closer we got towards the building he pointed at the more packed the street became.
As we entered the reception room a group of people turn towards the left door leaving two people who turn and go through the right door. Soon after they left and we replaced them soon after taking their spot with the female receptionist behind the counter.
"Hello, we'd would like to register for the sect tryouts."
"Alright, testing will begin in 6 minutes. How many of you are trying out?"
"There's 6 of us."
"Okay, here are your number identifications. Do you know what the test entails?" She asked handing over 6 little carved wooden plates.
"No, is there anything in specific we need to know about it."
"You will go inside the testing grounds and follow the elder's instructions on how to use the potential tester. As long as you score high enough you may join the sect the elders shall tell you what to do next if you can make it past the minimal number of 50. Please enter the door to my right."
"Thank you for the information." After placing another five copper on the counter the group follows me through the right door into the waiting area.
Entering the room, hundreds or even a thousand people fill the area excited to join the world of cultivation and go on epic adventures. The room itself was a simple place to hold the contestants and a few furnishings.
Finding an empty spot I signal to the others to come along. Heading over I could almost feel the stares of some people at our group. Reaching an untouched spot in a corner of the room the others ask me about the sect as we sit down.
There was a plant in the corner I sat next to with Yao Ya next to me and Rao Nuan on the other side of Yao Ya. Liang Jia also sat next to the plant with Qiu Tu sitting next to him and Hu Daquan on her left side.
"So what does joining a sect have to do with becoming a cultivator?" Qiu Tu asked as she traced the ground with a finger.
"Well, they usually have resources they'll give out to help you cultivate, have manuals, techniques, and other valuable items they might give if you help them. If you do it on your own without a sect then you would have to find them out in the world or spend money on them in shops or auctions." Trying to explain the usefulness of a sect.
"Do they give this out for free?" Yao Ya asked tugging on my sleeve
"No, not the advance stuff anyway. You would sometimes have a contribution system where you get points for helping the sect and you could spend it in the sect shop, but I don't know if this one would have it."
"What about--" Liang Jia tried to ask but was interrupted
A man who eludes "young master" vibes appear along with his two goons. Both the henchmen had smiles of some kind, one having a sneer and the other a mocking grin. For me it was obvious in what they thought would happen.
They would come over, be dickheads, and get what they want just because the man that led them had some sort of high status for the area.
'Shit, why do we have to deal with one of these people? Now I have to sit here as he berates us for merely having beautiful women near us when someone stands up to him. Then of course he'll talk about his status and shit and about how he'll get revenge on us.'
Extending his hand out, "Why hello there, would you ladies care to join me an--"
"Not interested, please go away." Yao Ya calmly rejects him.
"Huh, You dare--"
She says with an annoyed voice "Shoo!"
His face filling with anger "DO YOU KNOW WH---"
Tinge of anger appears on her as well as she yells, "NO, and I don't care GO AWAY!"
Taking a breath to calm himself he then turned towards the other two women. "Would either of you li--"
"No" They simultaneously replied
"I'll BE BACK!!" His face instantaneously contorts back with anger as he quickly yells, becoming the first complete phrase he could complete without be interrupted.
'W-what just happened? He didn't even get a chance to finish his sentences! That's a first! Man, Yao Ya way to go and show that "young master" character!'
In the distant "What is wrong with them! Do they have no manners at all? they didn't even let me finish my sentences or even say my name!"
"Its okay boss, they'll know of it soon enough when you get a high martial potential on the test."
"Yeah! By then I'm sure they'll be crawling over to you and begging them to taken them as even your concubine!!"
As the man got back to his spot an elderly man came through a door opposite of where we entered.
"Alright time is up, there won't be anymore applicants so we may procced with the test. Please follow me." Gesturing for us to follow him through the door
As we follow along we reach a stadium filled with spectators cheering as we came out. They must be family members or something. In the middle was a pedestal with a red cloth draped over it and a light blue translucent crystal atop it. Everyone who came out sat down and our group just so happened to also be minorly close to the "Young Master."
"As long as you get a 50 or above you may enter the sect as a disciple. #1 please step up and touch the crystal."
"Yes, elder"
As the young man goes up and touches the crystal, it vibrates and a blue number is projected above 1... 2.. 3. 4 and speeds up rapidly until stopping at 63
"Hmm You pass welcome to the Fortunate Sky Sect. You may now sit down." The elder says stroking his beard
"#2 please step up and touch the crystal."
"Yes, elder"
46.47..48...49
49
"I'm sorry, but you failed. Please leave."
"No, It must of been a fluke let me try again."
"Get out! Before we have to escort you out." The elder says raising his tone a bit.
The young man slowly turns and walks away staring at the floor the whole time.
"#3 please step up and touch the crystal."
70
"You pass"
18
23
42
67
…
As increasing amounts of contestants are tested it's soon seen that more then half of those tested failed to acquire an adequate score.
"#859 please step up and touch the crystal."
"You've got this boss, Good Luck. You're going to get the top score."
"I'm sure you'll amaze everyone with your talent!"
"I don't need luck."
Stepping up the "Young Master" places his hand on the crystal as it shakes the number slowly rises passing the 70 mark, 80 mark, and even 90 mark stopping at a 91
"That's impressive young man, I'm sure one of our elders will pick you to be their disciple. Welcome to the Fortunate Sky Sect. You may now sit down."
"We knew you could do it boss!"
As he comes back to sit he stares directly at us and said, "Humph, I bet none of you can beat that score. You ladies better not come over to me when you all get terrible potential."
…
"#1109 please step up and touch the crystal."
"𝘘𝘪𝘶 𝘛𝘶 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶." I whisper to her
Hearing my call she stands and heads to the pedestal. Touching the crystal she gets a 86
"You pass, welcome to the sect."
"#1110 please step up and touch the crystal."
Hu Daquan goes up touching the crystal getting a 67
"You pass"
"#1111 please step up and touch the crystal."
As Yao Ya steps up the crystal vibrates a little before she even gets there.
Touching the crystal her number breaks through the same barriers as 'Young Master', but her number goes even higher 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99 finally stopping at 100.
The elder stands there mouth agape staring at the number before announcing, "You pass! You pass! The elders might have to fight over choosing you as a disciple. It's my honor to welcome you to the Fortunate Sky Sect. Please sit down for now."
"#1112 please step up and touch the crystal."
Liang Jia stands up to going to touching the crystal obtaining a 87
"You pass, welcome to the sect"
"#1113 please step up and touch the crystal."
Standing up I walk over to the crystal hoping for a good high number.
Touching the crystal it slowly goes up until reaching the forties 47.48..49...50
"pass..." The elder announced without much enthusiasm.
There was such a huge difference in treatment! He barely even acknowledged me!
Sitting down I think about life 'What did I do to deserve this *Sigh* well at least I passed. No! What am I being so down for! I passed! That's all that matters! Maybe I'll find those talent and potential enhancing treasures later.'
"#1114 please step up and touch the crystal."
Rao Nuan walks over and after touching the crystal she obtains a 90
"You pass, I'm sure you'll be selected by an elder, welcome to the Fortunate Sky Sect"
'But I sure feel a little bitter when I hear the numbers of those around me. Just a little.'