It didn't take Abel long to reach the village, but, unlike what he expected, there were few people around, unlike the fever of celebration and fights that he expected.
"If there are few people around here, that means that the tests will not be carried out in this place, or at least not in this area of the village, you'd better ask, at least the guards are still around."
Without further delay, Abel approached one of the guards guarding the main entrance, furthermore, from what he saw at first glance, they seemed quite disheartened.
"*Sigh*, everyone there having fun watching the evidence and us here, guarding the entrance of a village that until now has not had any unfortunate events."
"Hey, don't say that mate, although we are unlucky that our schedule just coincided with the day of the selection, in the end, we have no other option."
"I heard that each sect sent a representative to select the disciples, *Sigh*, how lucky those children are."
"Hahahaha, are you lucky? If they were like the previous competitions, maybe I would give you that reason, just leaving the fact that the sects must have some reason to advance the selection, I also heard that this time the tests will be more difficult, so maybe most kids can't even get over them."
Abel listened to their conversation for a moment, reflecting on it, he was also satisfied with their progress, Abel at this moment was only a few meters from them, but neither noticed him, his effort to reach the 2nd level in his technique of Concealment was not in vain.
Thus, feeling that it was time to ask, Abel stopped using his concealment technique and asked decisively.
"Excuse me seniors, could you tell me where the disciple selection is taking place?"
Hearing the sudden voice that seemingly came out of nowhere, the 2 guards were startled before getting into battle stance, only to later realize that it was a child who had surprised them.
"*Sigh*, hey brat, don't appear like that all of a sudden, if by chance we attack, you won't come out of it well."
"Hell, were we so distracted not to notice? You should focus more partner."
The two were obviously still alarmed, but they quickly calmed down and answered her question.
"Hey, you're Abel, right? So you also want to see the national teams eh, well I don't blame you, if I didn't have to take care of this place, I would have run there too."
"So you're that new kid in the village, well, the selections are taking place to the north of the village, the chief set up a small space just for the selections, but you should hurry, as far as I know, they are about to begin."
Hearing this, Abel thanked both guards and bowed saying goodbye to them, setting off quickly in the direction they indicated.
The guards only watched him leave before you noticed how Abel was dressed, and he couldn't help but comment to his partner.
"Hey, don't you get the feeling that the kid isn't here to watch the competition, but to participate in the selections?"
Hearing this, his partner watched him for a moment as he frowned, before replying to his partner.
"Idiot, Abel is only 5 years old, and as far as a friend told me, he was only a mortal when he came to the village, so his cultivation must not be very high, and still do you think he is going to participate? , he is still very young."
And without waiting for his partner's response, he turned and took his position in front of the door, ignoring his thoughtful partner, who still didn't seem very convinced.
Abel, on the other hand, arrived at the place indicated, and it was then that he understood why the village was empty.
"Practically the whole village is here, they even created a small arena and seats in this place, they take it very seriously."
There was a large crowd in front of a circular arena, the village chief had taken the trouble to pave that area so, with the forest in the background, it created a great competitive atmosphere.
Abel observed the place for a moment before locating the area where the children who were going to participate were, so he wasted no more time and approached.
He did not take long to position himself behind a boy of about 11 years old, who although he looked calm at first glance, Abel noticed the sweat on his palms, and the movement of his eyes from one place to another, demonstrating the nervousness of he.
The boy only looked at Abel for a moment before frowning and proceeding to ignore him, Abel didn't care about this and looked at the other participants.
In all, there were about 25 children, between 7 and 12 years old, and from what Abel inspected, they were all at or above the middle stage of body refinement, he even noticed a couple of children with withdrawn auras. , but that Abel was sure they were already in the martial disciple stage.
"Surprising, in this small village, all of their juniors are already in that cultivation stage at that age, and from what I can see of that pair of children in the martial disciple stage, one of them is barely 8 years old, though I don't see the boy who hit me that day."
Abel searched among all those present, but did not find the boy, leaving something sad and thoughtful to Abel, since he wanted to take the opportunity to return the blow he gave him.
What Abel did not know was that, that boy was already in the Azure Cloud sect, because he convinced his father to snatch the flower of pure water from the pharmacist, the boy had earned an extra entrance for himself, without having to go through the selection this time.
Suddenly, the whole place calmed down, the lively villagers fell silent as they saw the village chief slowly walking towards the sand.
Noticing this, Abel focused his gaze on the village chief, only to notice the other 3 people closely following him, who at a single glance Abel recognized them.
"They must be the envoys of the 3 sects."
Upon reaching that conclusion, not only Abel, but also the other children and villagers focused their gazes on these 3 people.
Just from the aura they emitted, it was undoubtedly powerful cultivators, but the one that attracted the most attention Abel was the lady covered by a veil, not just because of her clothing, which was very different from what one would expect from a cultivator. Instead, his aura was very peculiar, at times it seemed that his power was slightly higher than the other two, but at others, it felt as if a great ancient beast was sleeping, causing great curiosity in him.
"Strange, if I have to give an explanation to her situation, I would say that they forcibly sealed her cultivation, reducing her power level to that state."
Abel, unlike most cultivators, did not perceive the power of others using spiritual qi, since after the incident in Kunlun, he could no longer perceive it; so he used his abundant soul force to feel the aura emanating from the other person, grasping more things than a normal cultivator could, so he could feel the strangeness of the veiled lady's aura.
Averting his gaze from her, Abel inspected the other two, one wearing a purple hakama and carrying a sword on his back, and from his appearance, he estimated that he should be between 25 and 30 years old.
Unlike the previous one, this cultivator wore a light blue hakama, had his hands behind his back giving him an imposing appearance.
Suddenly, a sound echoed through the place, diverting the attention of the villagers towards the source of it, who was neither more nor less than the head of the village.
"Cof cough, dear fellow cultivators, without further delay, and with the presence of the 3 envoys of the sects, we will begin this year's selection."
Saying these words, the village chief began the selection, which was met by an outburst of applause and shouts.
The village chief waited for a moment before, with a wave of his hand, everyone fell silent, continuing his speech.
"This year, the quota of disciples has been reduced, only 10 children will be able to be selected by the sects, of which, depending on the child's talent, they will receive offers from them, in the end, the child will be the one who decides which one. sect wants to join."
Hearing this, a commotion arose all over the place, the villagers were shocked and began to gossip among themselves, while many children began to shake and their complexions paled, some even began to tear, obviously, this news put a lot of pressure on them.
The village chief, seeing this, only sighed internally, he also did not expect this result, he had thought what, by advancing the selections, it meant that the sects needed a new batch of disciples, so when he found out that this was not the case, I already expected this reaction from the villagers.
At the end, with another wave of his hand, he silenced everyone present, and continued his speech:
"The tests will not be different from the previous ones, they will be divided into 3 categories, these being affinity and talent, speed of understanding and martial prowess."
Hearing the words of the village chief, Abel became concerned, after all, the first test was none other than the combination of what he feared the most, his elemental affinities and his martial talent.
"*Sigh*, in the end I couldn't escape this huh."
Taunting himself, Abel felt that his future was quite bleak.