[After you and Julia finished eating, she offered to take you on a walk around the city. The Elder had given her a brief rundown of the area, but she had yet to walk through the city herself.]
[You agree, and soon the two of you find yourselves wandering around the large city square.]
[Besides telling you some of the things that she had heard about the city, Julia also begins to tell you about the Disciple Examination.]
[She mentions that the ELder had said that he had high hopes for the both of them. Stating that: "Even if the boy's qualifications seem low, there is just as much potential in him as there is in you, Julia. When he awakes, tell him that simply attempting to pass the Disciple Examination will have enormous benefits for him."]
[Julia allows for you to think of this for a little while. As you walk to a tea shop that seems to be quite popular, she begins to tell you about the stages that will take place during the Examination.]
[First, there will be a private examination with an Elder. The Elder will test the qualifications of the prospective disciple and, should they pass, send them on to the next stage of the examination.]
[The second stage consists of a hunt. During the hunt, disciples will be tasked with finding certain objects throughout a designated area, as well as battle will demon beasts that the Sect cultivates specifically for the Exam.]
[The results of the second stage will vary immensely from cultivator to cultivator. The cultivators with the lowest scores will be sent out. If a cultivator is deemed to have barely passed, the Sect will give them a spot as a Probationary Disciple. If the cultivator reaches a certain mark, they will be allowed into the final stage. Those in the final stage, if they manage to impress an Elder, can directly become disciples. If they don't secure a master, then the highest initial rank that they can join the sect as are Outer Disciples.]
[The third stage is a test of comprehension. Given a selection of techniques that suit their attributes, the examinee will have a full day to decipher as much of the technique as they can. Once the day is over, scores are given out and the disciples are sent to their positions.]
[After Julia finished telling you everything, you took a few minutes to wrap your mind around everything that was happening to you. It seemed as if things were happening a little fast and a little differently than from what you had imagined.]
[Still, it doesn't take you too long to figure things out and return to your conversation with Julia.]
"I don't really know much about this sister of mine. Granted, she probably doesn't know much about me, either.
After what happened in the first simulation, however, I don't feel like maintaining much of a familial bond between the two of us.
Death isn't something that is easily forgotten."
In truth, Aron didn't appreciate the way that Julia was acting in the simulation. In fact, he felt that it was oddly similar to the behavior of his father. In the first simulation, he had been tested to have a miserable talent, and though his half-sister hadn't participated in the active mockery against him, she didn't do anything that showed any kind of blood relation.
With her talent being among the top within the Perch family younger generation, she had every ability and right to keep his harassment from happening. Even if only to keep the relationship within the family peaceful.
'Worse than all of that,' Aron thought, 'was that she didn't recognize me. I had grown, sure, and I had been scarred, but there is no excuse that she could have. Cultivators have higher developed minds than mortals, after all.'
To not only let him die, but to kill him herself, was something that Aron could not forgive.
And now, now that he had some kind of potential in the eyes of her and this Variant Earth Sect Elder, she was showing him the kindness of family?
It isn't right, and Aron wouldn't allow for her gestures to make up for the past, even if the 'past' was in a different simulation. To him it had happened. Though they may be invisible and ethereal now, Aron had the scars to prove it, too.
[Julia and yourself continuing touring the city for the remainder of the day. By the time that you return to the lodge that you had woken up in earlier, it was already dusk.]
[Julia handed you the resources that the Elder had given her, telling you that she no longer needed them at her current cultivation. All she could do now was practice her techniques. If she advanced to the Meridian Establishment realm before entering the Sect, she would lose all ability to enter altogether. To keep from disappointing the family, that was not something she could let happen.]
[Giving a thank you, that seemed quite gruff with your permanent brooding face, you walked off into the inn, heading towards your room. After having been told that the room had been paid for up until the examination, you know that you will seldom leave.]
[For the next year, you put your heart into cultivating the Dao Essence Breathing method. In that year, you reentered into the realm of Essence Refinement. After spending the whole year cultivating, you were only able to make it to the peal of the 1st level. This showed to you just how slow it would be cultivating from scratch once more, even slower now that you are refining all the Essence through your Dao Seed.]
[The slow speed was one thing you noticed; you also discovered that the slow speed was completely made up for in the purity of the Essence that entered your Core as you cultivated. Your Essence reserves were the same as when you had entered into the 1st level of Essence Refinement the first time, but the Essence in your Core now was at least 3 times more dense and 5 times more pure.]
[Thinking about it, you estimate that your strength has reached at least the 8th level of Essence refinement, though even that is a conservative guess.]
Reading this, Aron just about had a heart attack. Having the Essence reserves similar to others at his own level was no big surprise to him. After all, the Dao Essence Breathing method did not upgrade the Core or size of the Core.
The density and purity, however, were different matters.
By having purer Essence, Aron's Essence would innately be stronger than others. While other Essences are bogged down with other natural energies and impurities, his own had been refined through his Dao Seed and had nullified those toxic entities. Because of this, his Essence would flow faster and hit harder. A small amount of his pure Essence would match a large amount of another's Essence.
At the same time, his Essence had become more dense. The already pure Essence was condensed within his Core. Multiplying the already more powerful Essence to become even more powerful.
It was a giant advantage compared to others. It was also no wonder that no other ancestors of his had been able to comprehend it. It was just too strong. He was fortunate to have been able to develop a Dao Seed. If he hadn't he would have had to find a way to utilize the Demonic methods and techniques to increase his Core level.
His Dao Essence Breathing method, didn't rely on the cultivators Core.
Releasing a deep breath, Aron's eyes regained some clarity and refocused on the simulation.
[As a year passes, you get ready for the Disciple Examination.]
[Over the past year, you hadn't completely isolated yourself in your room. You had gradually gotten to know Julia over countless meals, bonding over your passion for cultivation and shared circumstances.]
Aron's eyes furrowed reading this. He hadn't even gone that long into the simulation, and already he was making friends with his killer? This was unacceptable! In the first place, how was this possible? Aron felt that even if he were to have a million lunches with this half sister of his, he wouldn't be able to let go of what she had done.
Trying to get past it, Aron brought his attention back to the simulation.
[Meeting Julia in the dining area, you walk together to the Southern entrance to the city. This was where the unofficial beginning to the examination would commence.]
[From here, it was a 200 mile walk to the mountain that held the examination. Those taking the test would have to reach the exam site before 3 hours had gone by. If they couldn't they would not be permitted to take the actual examination. This was the benchmark that needed to be passed to even try to enter the Sect. To have those that could not do even this much attempt to enter the Variant Earth Sect, would be an egregious affront to the prestige of the Sect.]
[At the starting line, there were no Elders, only a disciple wearing the robes aligned with the Outer Sect. Announcing that the 3 hours had begun, the disciple allowed the first wave of cultivators to begin racing to the mountain, then the next wave, and then the next. Though the test was only to make it to the mountain in a 3 hour window, the test was also an opportunity for the cultivators to let themselves shine and display their abilities to the Elders that would be watching.]
[Joining the Sect with a master would give them a far higher status than simply joining the Sect.]
[As you cross the threshold of the city, you engage in your movement technique Field Snake Evasive and quickly shoot forward. This was a technique that you had brought up to the level of Great Achievement, and within your Essence being so powerful with your new cultivation method, you can display speed far faster than those within your realm.]
Aron nodded his head reading this. Field Snake Evasive was a Black technique. Even if it was a low Black technique, when he used it in conjunction with his dense, pure Essence, there is no doubt that the speed it would bring would match that of a peak Black technique. Even a low Purple technique may not be out of the question.
Aron could know that for sure, however, as he had never seen a Purple technique in action.
[In the coming minutes, you shot quickly to the head of the pack. Despite being among the middle wave of cultivators that left the city, you had been able to make it to the front very quickly.]
[Looking to your right, instead of seeing nobody, you see your half-sister, Julia. You are neither surprised, no do you show any surprise. After getting to know her, you understood that she was a genius among geniuses. Her ability to cultivate and comprehend far exceeds the normal capabilities of someone with her qualifications. Considering that she had some of the best qualifications, it is even more odd.]
[Still, you pay this no mind and run to the mountain together. After a short half an hour, you arrive.]
[Though you had arrived, it seemed that the Elders planned to let the full 3 hours pass. Only then would the official start of the examination begin.]
[Sitting down to regain what little Essence you had expended, the 3 hours pass by quickly.]
[As the 3 hours finish and you reopen your eyes, you notice that the number of cultivators that have made it to the mountain seemed to have slimmed slightly. It was not a large amount, but certainly noticeable.]
[As you stand, you notice that some Elders of the Sect have arrived at the base of the mountain.]
[They announce that the first stage of the examination is now beginning, telling the crowd that anyone with less than a Middle Core should leave.]
[Though you understand that you fall into that group, you remain still and show no emotion. The Elder that had brought you here clearly understood that only those with certain Core qualifications could enter and let you take the examination anyway. You understand that there must be a reason for that, likely having to do with your Dao Seed.]
[With the Elder's words, a new crowd of people begin to leave. Some have tears, some have faces of anger. None of them matter.]
[One by one, the examinees are called forward and divided into different caves. Within each cave lies an Elder with a significant cultivation to test them.]
[Several examinees gasp, surprised by the fact that their qualifications will be tested without a Testing Pillar.]
[Hours pass by as you wait in your line. Eventually, you walk into the cave and see a gray haired Elder.]
[As you approach, the Elder does not recognize that you have a Dao Seed. Considering that both your father and the previous Elder had, you understand that this one must not be in the Soul-Body realm.]
[Trusting that your potential will still be discovered, you walk forward and allow the Elder to grab your wrist. Rather, you offer your wrist. With the Elder's strength, they would have gotten ahold of your wrist whether you were willing or not.]
[A second passes as a cool sensation rushes through your body. You recognize it to be the Elder's Essence examining your body.]
[The Elder seems to pause for a moment before frowning deeply. They begin to berate you loudly for having the guts to enter the examination with such a poor Core. Especially an unattributed one.]
[As the Elder grows in their anger and raises their hand to strike you, you speak up loudly and beg the Elder to finish their examination.]
[You tell the Elder that you know your qualifications are poor, but another Elder brought you here because of your potential. You pretend not to know about your Dao Seed.]
[The Elder grows quiet and debates whether it would be worth it. Upon realizing that it would have been a Soul-Body cultivator that brought you here, they decide to go through with the examination. If that senior cultivator were to find out that they had skimmed on the examination, who know what kind of trouble they may get in.]
[Grabbing your arm a little more aggressively, the Elder continues their examination. As they continue to find nothing, their frown reappears and their face grows dark.]
[Finally, after several minutes of searching, they discover an anomaly in your heart. Though they only have a guess as to what it is, they allow for you to pass the exam.]
[Without being able to tell for sure, the Elder isn't able to give you any special benefits. They may also get in trouble if they abandoned their post to find a high level cultivator. Thus, they can only send you forward and let fate determine whether your talent will be detected.]
[Walking through the cave, you enter into the grounds for the second stage of the exam. Noticing your half-sister, you approach and wait alongside her for the examination to continue.]