Master Gu Ryu bade all of the applicants to move to the open ground for the next round of testing and everyone followed his orders.
"All right. Now for testing how much of the 36 walls of Soul you all have comprehended." He then expanded his Qi and his Martial will with the intent to kill, gushed out from him. This was to put pressure on the soul or to test out the mental defense of those around them.
Hua Geming comprehended the soul defense technique until the peak of the 4th wall of Soul and he immediately put his soul defense up. While it was still hard for him and he was feeling a little suffocated under the pressure he withstood it.
Cai MingZhu had comprehended till the 3rd layer and had broken through to the 9th layer of Gathering Qi. The Zhing Gui and Zhong Bai Twins also comprehended till the 3rd layer but their cultivation had not progressed enough for a breakthrough. These three were finding it very suffocating under the pressure but were able to withstand it somehow.
Hao Qi stood without any change in her expression and was even yawning a little bit. Luo had not had a lot of time to comprehend the technique as he was memorizing it, so he had just comprehended it till the peak of the 2nd wall of Soul.
He had, however, been exposed to Master Fu Lin's Zither's pressure along with Xun earlier so he was able to withstand it as his soul strength had risen back then.
He looked at Hao Qi who was unaffected and asked her how much she had comprehended the technique. She looked at him and said "10th wall of Soul" and then shifted her gaze back again to look at nothing in particular.
Xun had comprehended it till the 2nd wall of Soul as well and same as Luo was able to withstand the pressure. Xiao Wu had comprehended the technique till the 4th wall of Soul as well and was able to withstand the pressure "I already have experience with this sort of thing with my Grandfather. These people don't hold a candle to me. Heh!"
Gu Ryu looked at Luo, Hao Qi , Hua Geming and others who withstood his pressure pretty well."He didn't get enough time to comprehend everything as he was busy memorizing it. Still he's able to withstand it. Admirable.
And that scrawny girl is even yawning as if my pressure doesn't affect her. HA! Hua Geming and the others are good seedlings as well."
Gu Ryu increased his pressure suddenly and then stopped his outward pressure attack altogether. The sudden spike left everyone reeling and a lot of applicants fainted while others fell to their knees. The only one left standing in the whole area albeit with a shocked expression was Hao Qi.
Gu Ryu was pleased at the result and withdrew after signaling the end of the tests and asked all the applicants to rest and recover while their results would be discussed shortly.
Master Fu Lin was surprised at Hao Qi's comprehension ability, but was a little disappointed at Luo's performance in the final test. "She has exceeded my expectations greatly and my disciples, even Xun have performed admirably but I really thought Luo would do better in the last round, at least on par with Hao Qi. Oh well...he still did great."
The discussions among the various sect masters began and they started evaluating everyone's performance based on their test results.
Around 80 people had passed the 3rd test and the sects could already begin selecting from the applicants based on the jade slips of acknowledgement they already carried. If applicants carried multiple jade slips, it was their choice which sect they would choose to go to.
The masters of different sects were negotiating between who would get the talented few their eyes had noticed earlier i.e. Xiao Wu, Cai MingZhu, Luo LianHao and Hua Geming and Hao Qi. Especially the cases of Luo, Hua Geming and Hao Qi even though they did not necessarily carry multiple jade slips of acknowledgement.
The Heavenly dragon sect made a bid to get these 3 and went to great lengths. Master Han Ryu also made sure to slip in the name of Xiao Wu while discussing it with others. Master Fu Lin did not engage in any of the deal makings as she wanted to let the dice fall where they will.
After a while the masters of different sects reached out to Luo LianHao and they told him that he could join their sects and listed out the benefits that they would give him.
Han Ryu also made him an offer but did not list any benefits and said "Be grateful that I am willing to overlook the fact that you are not a noble and still giving you the chance to join the Heavenly Dragon sect"
Luo looked at Master Fu Lin who was silent and just smiled at him. He reached into a pocket in his robes, took out his jade slip of acknowledgement from the Ancient Zither Abode and said to the masters, "While your deals are too good to be true, this disciple must decline them. I will be going to the only master here who was willing to trust me without judging me because I had no background. Ancient Zither Abode will be my sect."
Han Ryu looked enraged and the other masters looked a little disappointed. Master Fu Lin positively beamed and took out her fan and waved it smugly.
When Hua Geming was also given the same deals as Luo, he too reached into the pockets of his white robe and took out 6 jade slips of acknowledgement from the Flying Tiger sect, Turtle God sect, Heavenly Dragon sect, Heavenly High pavilion, Sect of the Monkey king, Crimson Phoenix Valley.
He had not asked the Ancient Zither abode for a jade slip as he had only wanted to get into one of the other combat sects.
He too looked at the masters of various sects and said with iron determination "I, Hua Geming aim to become the best sword the heavens have ever seen. And I have found a rival today. I apologize for my rudeness, but I want to attend the Ancient Zither Abode as well and I beg Master Fu Lin to take me in even though I don't have a jade slip from her sect."
He then looked at Master Fu Lin expectantly and she said "I can grant your request but there will be no additional benefits. You will be treated as a sect member, nothing more, nothing less. If you can live with that then welcome to the Ancient Zither Abode."
The other masters looked at her dumbfounded as they thought her offer was too poor to not give any benefits. Now Hua Geming was bound to rethink his decision.
But Hua Geming immediately bowed to Master Fu Lin and said "This Disciple accepts gratefully."
He then looked at Luo with a beaming face with a thumbs up pose. "Hi there Luo. I, Hua Geming, name myself as your rival. HAHAHAHA."
Luo looked a little surprised but smiled at Hua Geming's eccentric behavior.