30 Shi Wang

Place:- Outer disciples' main hall

Time:- A week after the Inner-disciple-entrance test.

The candidates who faced the exam were looking at the elder Zhang Huan with both curiosity and fear. Fear overtook enthusiasm as a rain cloud covered the sun. The presence of so many sect elders made this unsettling feeling worse.

It wasn't the first day they stood in front of the elder Zhang Huan but, everything was different today. Even the female disciples joined this meeting today. This happened for the first time after they entered as the outer disciples.

All eight trainers were standing right next to their groups. Yes. There were eight; four females and four males. The fear of the outer disciples seemed to affect them as well. Even Cao Xuezing wiped the sweat off his temple.

He stopped his bullying treatment a week before the exam and revised everything for his group with utter dedication. It was too late when he understood how important his trainees' results were for his reputation. In his defense, he did his best. No other trainer put on night classes to revise everything they taught to their students.

Elder Zhang Huan cleared his throat and started to speak.

"First, I'm happy to say that every one of you passed the exam following previous year students' good example. I am very proud of you for completing this training period successfully. Within a short period, every one of you managed to complete the first two realms with utter dedication.

Now on, everything will be different. Your speed of advancing realms won't depend on exams anymore. The real qi cultivation is about to begin. We will divide you under these very talented elders today. They will guide you in your cultivation journey through your sect-disciple period. So, I will read the list of students under each of these honorable elders.

Under the guidance of elder Liu Feng,..."

The list started from the bottom marks. Each sect master got a maximum of eight disciples under them. This time there wasn't a gender-based separation. Both females and males were categorized according to their results.

After reading their disciples' names, their shizun took them away into the sect. So, the crowd got less and less with each minute passed.

However, Cao Xueqing's disciples didn't get called out for a long time. When the first one of them was called, he was selected under one of the second-best shizuns in their sect. A minute happy expression passed through Cao Xuequing's stoic face.

After the second-best groups went away, twelve high-marks students were left in the main hall. They were divided into two groups. Wei Jingsheng was selected under one shizun, and both Xie Ra and Lan Jiayi were selected under the other.

Xie Ra felt happiness and sadness both at the same time. Happiness because both Wei Jingsheng and Lan Jiayi passed the exam. Sadness because his roommate was divided into a different group. They were always in the same team before. And nearly three years of friendship wasn't something shallow to ignore.

Maybe he didn't learn his lesson yet, Xie Ra thought. Why did he make bonds between friends even after what happened in his past life?

However, he knew that some risks are worth it. Ning Bo's and Lan Xi's faces crossed through his mind.

"Ahem, can everyone give me their attention, please? Some people are busy daydreaming. I'm not against daydreaming but, daydreaming when I'm trying to talk to you doesn't feel nice."

A gentle voice brought Xie Ra back from his daze. When he gave his attention to the speaker, every single student was looking in Xie Ra's direction.

He felt his face burn with shame.

"Ayi, Don't blush, kid. Or the girl here will think that you have a crush on her. Don't mislead them. My poor students." He directed his hand towards Lan Jiayi, the only girl in their group.

Hell no. He'd rather have a crush on a tree. That wasn't a girl. She was a devil in disguise as a girl. Please no.

To his relief, her disgusted face showed that the feeling was mutual.

The speaker's eyes shone with a mischievous glint. It was clear that he just made a mental note to himself.

Alright. Time to describe who this playful speaker was. He was Shi Wang. Xie Ra's group's Shizun. He was a lean but, strong-looking man who had a long wavy ponytail. His hair was partially white but, his face didn't show a hint about his real age. His composed face easily breaks into playful smirks and glints as soon as he sees an opportunity.

This elegant-looking man was a perfect combination of intelligence, kindness, mischievousness, sternness, and dedication. That was why he was always able to create perfect cultivators for more than 50 years.

Shi Wang was a gem among the shizuns in the whole northern kingdom, which made the Jade sword sect and his disciples proud.

After bidding farewell to their previous trainers, these five boys and one girl followed Shi Wang into the sect. They were bound to follow this man for their entire time learning in the Jade sword pavilion as disciples.

However, it didn't scare them as they knew they were already in good hands. No. One of the best hands.

They reached the sect's inner entrance. To Xie Ra, it was a dream coming true. He longed to see inside this gate for almost three years. That waiting didn't disappoint him.

The Jade sword pavilion looked like a castle that stood amidst the huge grassland. Architecture on the sect buildings must be older than a millennium. It completed the picture of half view he had on his head for many years.

Shi Wang led them to a small peak. On top of the peak, there was a relatively large open ground, which was located a few miles away from the sect entrance gate. Bamboo trees surrounded here while a small water stream flew beside the open ground.

"This is your training ground. In other words our territory. As my disciples, you can train here at any time. But, never invade another senior's training ground. These grounds are divided among the student groups for a reason.

Your seniors use this ground for their training too. I mean my other disciples. However, as you can see, there is plenty of room here for all of you. So, don't get into arguments among yourselves or with your seniors.

They won't be mean to you. I never raised a single mean disciple throughout my entire life. So, if you face any issue related to the training ground, tell me immediately.

Now, all of you go to the main meeting hut over there. You can get your sect-inner disciple uniforms there.

Alright, Then, let's meet here tomorrow at the second bell sound. Now, go."

Everyone walked in the direction their shizun showed them. Finally, they became the sect's true disciples.

Xie Ra felt the happiness bubble inside him. When he turned his head, he saw Xiao Lan was smiling at him.

(Deity transformation realm- The realm after Nascent realm. Only a few in the cultivation world reached this stage. They have thousand years of lifespan, so you would never know how old they are, behind their young-looking selves.)