22 Who do you think you are?

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"Attention to all the participants in the 2nd Yearly Sect Recruitment. The schedule for the said tournament would be moved today. Anyone who wanted to join must come towards the City Lord's Mansion to get more details about the test."

"Attention to all the participants…"

Sieg woke up from his stupor, he was recovering his Ki when a loud announcement was made. The person who's announcing must be using an Array to spread his words in every corner of the city.

Sieg frowned, something unexpected must've happened if they moved the schedule of the recruitment date. Nonetheless, Sieg didn't need to rush, since the place is going to be littered with people anyway, there's no difference if he come early or late. He resumed his recovery and ignored all of the commotion outside.

Sieg's cultivation base for Ki Refining and Spiritual Cultivation is nearly reaching Mid-9th step, technically he should've reached Peak 9th step realm by now but since he was abiding his master's orders, his cultivation became on par with others. Nonetheless, the period in which he had cultivate until this stage is only measure in months, compared to to others that cultivated for years now, Sieg is definitely a monster. Of course, he didn't know this.

***

City Lord's Mansion, 11:30am

There's only few times in a year where this place would be crowded. It's either when it's the City Lord's birthday, the yearly sect recruitment, or other events that had the permission of the City Lord. And since the beast horde is upon them and the heads of the four sect branches needed additional manpower to defend the city, there's no doubt that this place is going to be lively for quite some time.

Waves upon waves of people came in different sizes and appearances. Some of them looked like some pampered young master, while some looked like a mindless brute. Some moved in groups while others preferred to be alone. Some people here are from large clans and was hailed as ultimate genius in there, while other came from a lowly background filled with hopes for this year's recruitment.

All of them had one goal in mind. And that is to be accepted as a disciple of the four sects in this city. Having a status like this is like being conferred as a noble. They will be respected anywhere, gather all the riches, enjoy an honorable status, experience progress in their cultivations, and be stronger than most of the people, who doesn't want that?

There's no need to even mention that these sects are subsidiary sects of the two Holy Land level sects namely, Grand Majestic Holy Land and Nameless Peak Holy Land. If they can somehow manage to rise beyond others inside these sect branches, they would have a chance to be a part of a Holy Land Sect. This is a Holy Land Sect that we're talking about. It had to be known that only 4-star and above sects are the only one's who will be conferred by this title. Holy Land Sect's are said to be strong enough to claim a whole country for their own use.

And it was never been enough to raise the star rating to a sect. Not only do they need to do meritorious service, they also need to have strong people who would act as their guardian. Such a requirement would not only take time but also resources which is very limited for the people in this world.

As time goes on more and more people came into the City Lord's Mansion, some people decided to tour the place while others sat down and rested. They only need to wait for further announcements for the yearly recruitment and the competition would definitely flare up.

"Attention Everyone!" Suddenly a huge and dark skinned old man shouted, by his side are a lot of city guards lined up and standing straight like a spear. "The City Lord has given orders, people who are willing to participate in this year's sect recruitment will enter the booth's prepared just behind this door. Please make sure that your cultivation is at least 8th step of Awakening. Don't try to do anything funny, we'll be watching you slowly."

"What! 8th step?"

"Are you serious?"

"The previous recruitment's only needed 7th step! Why did it changed abruptly?"

"That's right! We need explanations!"

"Right right!"

"SHUT THE FUCK UP!!!!" The tall and dark skinned old man shouted, his cultivation base of Earth Grade Foundation Realm erupted, him and the city guards are now emitting an intense killing aura that covered the entire place. The people who was voicing their protest earlier felt like they swallowed a fly.

"Who the fuck do you think you are? Questioning the City Lord's orders? If you're unsatisfied then that only mean two things! One you do not qualify, two you are an idiot! Did it ever occur into your fucking brains that the City Lord and Sect Directors do not fucking need you opinions!? We even gave you the chance to participate and you dare to question our standards? Again! WHO THE FUCK DO YOU THINK YOU GUYS ARE? Not satisfied? Then go die! WE DON'T FUCKING CARE!!!"

There was a total silence in the hall, the one's who are protesting before had faces that are flushed in red now. They felt humiliated but they can't speak up. Reason? Simple…

'They aren't strong enough.'

Of all the things a martial artist would forget, this phrase is the one that should never be forgotten. The world is ruled by the Strong. It's always been like this since ancient times, do you want status? Be strong. Do you want people to look up to you? Be strong! Do you want riches? Gain strength. Do you want even more power? Then be stronger.

They even forgot that is it also the reason why they are joining a sect right now. To be strong. Very simple right?

"Hmph!" The man coldly snorted and gestured the guards inside the room where the test would begin. Some people smiled wryly and chose to follow, the other's had sunken expressions. It looks like they needed to wait for the next recruitment for their chances. Some people even cried due to despair. They prepared so long for this and then they were rejected before even the 'real' test began.

Other heaved a sigh of relief, thankfully they managed to fully prepare for the worst. They entered the room and saw multiple apparatuses which, they guessed, the guards will use to prove their power. Some of them can't help but be nervous as they saw this, they even to suspect if they are really im the 8th step of Awakening. Others are as calm as a lake, they fell in line and waited for their turn to be tested.

Sieg was among those people. He wasn't entirely shocked of what have just happened. Even if they're only recruiting people in Foundation Establishment Realm he wouldn't worry that much, after all he could've just show them the token Old Pete gave him and any of these four sect branches would welcome him with open arms. This another function that he was told. However since reached 9th step of Awakening few weeks ago, he was more than qualified to join normally.

The line moved in a snail's pace, a lot of people are starting to lose patience already and was muttering dissatisfaction, they were just afraid to get yelled at again so they made sure to keep it to themselves. The reason why the line moved too slow is because of few idiot people that wasn't convinced that they are only accepting people from 8th step, and tried to sneak in for hopes of admission. However, no matter what tricks they did, it wasn't enough. They were caught and thrown outside the hall with tears and snot covering their faces.

There are even some people who tried to bribe the guards with few gifts, well the guards did accept those items but in the end they were still thrown outside. They didn't even got the chance to recover the items they gave. But what can they do though? Even if they call backups from their clans or organizations, none of them had the courage to offend people from Holy Land level sects, they won't get through the city guard that's in charge of the test anyway.

"I'd say boy, if you don't want to be like those guys then better move right now, or else it would be too late."

Sieg was gazing at the people who were thrown when he suddenly heard a voice in front of him. It was a middle-aged man who was wearing a luxurious clothing, from his looks he might be included in those people who had a 'young master' statuses back in their homes and always look down to people.

"Don't worry I'm fine." Sieg no longer paid attention to the man in front of him and looked the other way.

"Tch. This is why I don't like commoners, they just don't get that this world isn't for them…" the 'young master' in front of him said with disdain. This didn't escaped Sieg's ears but he didn't mind, he already knew that his results would slap this person back to nihility so he didn't said anything…yet.

The line moved ever so slowly and soon, Sieg's turn was near. He can almost hear if there will be a commotion in front of him right away. He also now had a closer look on the apparatuses that the city guards are using for the test. His gaze brightened up, he noticed that there's inscriptions etched in those things and he was actually quite familiar to them. These inscriptions are from 1000 Basic Inscriptions that he learned.

Even though he can be considered as an 'Inscriber' right now, he still didn't have any experiences in etching inscriptions on things, he still had a lot to learn like the process of mutation and contradiction, attraction and disruption of the inscriptions and many more. Old Pete reminded him not to do so since there was a tendency that he will experience an accident on doing so. He gave Sieg some assignments for practice instead and told him that he will tell him or Gin would, if he can start with his experiments.

Sieg of course wasn't dejected upon learning this, he understood that he needed to form a solid foundation in anything so he followed Old Pete's suggestion. But since he was learning, he was allowed to look, memorize and even try to form theories in his head.

The apparatus looked like a lid-less coffin. It is white in color that changes into green or red depending on the result for the test. The sides of the apparatus is filled with countless of inscriptions and those will lot up when the test begin.

I didn't took long before the 'young master' in front of him to be tested. He walked forward with a smile in his face and greeted the guards with a bright smile in his face. He even went ahead and shook their hands while showering them with flowery words. Sieg rolled his eyes upon seeing this, however he kept watching, he was anticipating what would happen.

The 'young master' then went towards the the tall and dark-skinned man from before. He said a few words which are inaudible even for Sieg, nonetheless the man only frowned and let him be tested. Upon receiving the go signal, the 'young master' smiled and stepped onto the apparatus. The thing made some sound and after a few seconds, the 'young master's' face froze.

The apparatus lit up Red. Which also means failure.

The tall and dark skinned man didn't even casted a glance to him and said: "Just because you have a recommendation doesn't mean you will pass through me so stop with those flowery words of threat. The organization behind you might give City Lord a headache but that's only a headache. Nothing more." The tall and dark-skinned man looked at Sieg and dully said: "Next!"

Sieg nodded his head and stepped forward. The 'young master' was stupefied yet he still looked at Sieg with disdain. "Don't expect to pass when me on the other hand failed, you worthless commoner."

Sieg merely looked at him with pitying gaze, he stepped forward to the apparatus and then the world of the 'young master' seemingly froze.

"How is this possible?"

The result was a green, which means that Sieg was in the 8th step of Awakening. It had to be known that he was already 22 this year but he's just in 7th step of Awakening, and this was already with the help of pills.

"Oh? 9th step?" The tall and dark-skinned man was surprised and smiled. He was really getting old. Back when he was at this boy's age he was only at 8th step, but the boy in front of him is already the 9th step. Sieg merely nodded and waited for the next instruction.

"Good! Go to join the east group then. Next!" After giving an instruction to Sieg he proceeded with the next person.

Sieg walked passed the 'young master's' side and faintly said: "Tch. This is why I don't like people like you,you guys just don't get that this world isn't for someone weaklings like you…" and just like that, the 'young master's' face fell and flushed red.