67 Recruitment
The day of recruitment has arrived. With no further assassinations of my disciples, many have applied for my sect.
With people and foreigners swarming in from Tiansu and nearby countries, the Heavenly Divine Dragon sect has become a hot topic among the Murim.
"My...It's been a long time since our sect was so lively." Says Li Ye.
We had too many applications such that we had to split the recruitment into 5 days and ask the core disciples for facilitation help.
Before the testing started, I would have to give a speech to the candidates.
"That's the patriarch."
"So young..."
"He is about our age, slightly older than us?"
Gossips among the candidates as I jump up onto the statue of a dragon constructed directly after the main hall.
"Welcome everyone, I am Wang Ji, the patriarch of the Heavenly Divine Dragon sect. I know many of you have high expectations of the sect. However, let me warn you: I value hard work and effort very much." I say.
I specifically state that I do not want lazy freeloaders, even if the person is talented and that the training here will be similar to hell. Everyone has to embrace the pain.
With that short speech, the test begins.
System, infect every candidate present with the first virus.
!!!
I was able to infect all but one. A young lady with black hair and green eyes wearing a ragged cloth like a beggar. The virus disintegrates when it gets near, similar to the reaction from the jade emperor.
Interesting...someone strong is concealing their strength to join my sect. For now, let's observe her. I don't know if I'm being too sensitive but I feel an attachment to her aura...?
Gaoming purchased and set up 5 punching tablets that can take up to 500 thousand catties. Although it took quite a toll on our funds, it will be a good investment if we plan to expand into a large sect.
The first test is a simple test of brute force, the candidates will have to use pure strength and punch the tablets with all their might.
The application is so flooded that I have to facilitate a tablet myself alongside the elders.
!
Among the group I oversee, I spot a particular presence. It's the old man with the white Phoenix from before that fetched us to the competition and tomb. Beside him is a beautiful young lady with long brown hair and eyes that blushes at the sight of me.
?
Ah. That must be the daughter that the old man mentioned, he hasn't even told me his name.
One by one, when given the signal, the candidates walk up to the tablet and punch with all of their strength.
A bald man walks to the tablet and cracks his knuckles, very confident...
He clenches his fist and pulls back his leg. With a spin of his body, he punches the tablet.
*BOOM!*
The tablet displays a "4000 Catties" at the top.
"What the...4000?" A candidate mumbles.
I sigh. "Rejected."
?!
"W-What? Why?!" The bald man exclaims.
"You are an ex-disciple of Mountain fist sect. That is the first form of Mount Fist, although you didn't use Qi, your posture is the same. How dare you disguise yourself as a new practitioner of the martial world, get out. My patience has a limit." I say.
Candidates who were sect members of other clans are automatically rejected regardless of strength, they betrayed their sect without a single thought and went to join mine. Such unloyalty is toxic.
The old man's daughter walks up to the tablet, I believe her name is Tan Yi Mu.
She takes a deep breath and lifts her hands, punching the tablet.
"1500 catties..." I mumble. Among all the masters, 1000 catties were considered a genius feat for a new practitioner.
"Have you been practising martial arts on your own?" I ask.
"Y-Yes, I've been taught the basics and built up a strong foundation by my grandfather."
I look at the old man, he is proudly smiling at me.
...
I smile. "Alright, you may return."
Yi Mu returns the smile and bows.
Many candidates under me attempted to impress me and tried to their fullest. The hidden martial expert lady scored an "impressive" 800 catties, really outstanding of her to hold back so much strength. She plans to stay low and be average. Only a few managed to catch my attention.
The next test is an innate one, something that cannot be overcome by effort and is decided since birth, the test of spiritual roots. The testing device will shine and its intensity or colour depicts the test result. Each person quickly goes onto the platform and places their hand on the rock, Li Ye will then announce the result.
"White. Ordinary talent." Li Ye says.
It is now Yi Mu's turn.
She grasps the rock firmly and a bright yellow glow explodes.
"Divine talent!!"
"A gifted lady!" Li Ye exclaims.
Ah...so this is the source of the old man's pride.
She smiles and bows, waiting for an acknowledgement. I return her smile.
Another noteworthy one is a young ragged boy with a scrawny physique and black hair colour. Although unrefined, the rock reacts very violently to his body.
"R-Red! Crazed sword spiritual roots!!" Says Li Ye.
"Woah..."
Crazed sword spiritual roots is a talent that engulfs the wielder in an obsession with swords. At the same time, their comprehension of the sword is greatly enhanced by talent. With both talent and forced effort, anyone with these spiritual roots will be known to be a vicious practitioner.
He is Hao Tengchao, a poor boy living with a poor family in the stables. The farmer kept them there and charge them five bronze coins for the rent, the price of a simple meal. In return, they will have to bear with the noise of the horse and help out a little on the farm.
The infection extracted information about his origin, a sword expert. However, the ill omen in his body is unusually high and he is fated to die horribly. A curse?
The hidden master has common spiritual roots.
System, search for a technique that can change or hide your spiritual roots.
---------------
No result was found.
---------------
I am getting more and more intrigued by her. Who is she?
...
The test afterwards includes pressure endurance and a race, climbing across the mountains and back behind Nielong.
"Huff...huff..."
Every candidate is panting and trembling. Almost the majority have given up on the second final trial.
"Well done for everyone who has made it this far. The final test will be a simple one, everyone will have a spar with the Patriarch." Says Li Ye.
!!!!!!
"What?!"
"Do you want us to die?"
"Absurd demands! What do you take us for?"
Complains fill the atmosphere.
I step in and say "Don't worry, I will restrict my cultivation to the first stage of Qi Condensation and will only use one wooden sword in my right hand."
I use Qi and carve a small circle around and a bigger circle. "In addition, if I step out of the circle, all of you win. On the other hand, once you step out of the larger circle, you are eliminated."
!!
"It's a team spar?"
Once they confirmed their suspicions, their confidence increased. There are numerous of them and restrictions placed that they might have a chance to win.
Everyone draws one wooden sword provided by the elders and encircled my position. Indeed, the odds seem less daunting.
With the signal of Li Ye, everyone lunges in with their sword high up.
I shift the sword to my left and twirl my body, ejecting a shockwave that pushes everyone back.
?!
A portion of the candidates is propelled out of the circle.
"This is the first stage of Qi Condensation?" Li Xing exclaims.
Li Ye nods. "That is the aftermath of brute strength."
Despite restricting my cultivation base, my body cultivation and imprints remain. My senses are at their peak.
Yi Mu recuperate her momentum and lead the next attack, she jumps to my left thinking it can give her an advantage.
I deflect her sword and push her back.
Not bad. She lacks battle experience but can attack from a different perspective.
Five men and three women haphazardly follow up after Yi Mu. I step aside to dodge three of their thrust as they collide with one another and deflect two slashes. The remaining three miss their footing position and trip or sloppily move around.
"H-How... How are we supposed to win?!" A man says.
Yi Mu steps up and whispers something.
The candidates gulp and grit their teeth.
Oh?
"Come on! We have the numbers and he won't kill us. Just overwhelm him!" Yi Mu screams.
Groups after groups charge on, clashing with their allies as they rush in for the hit.
I smirk.
"Ack!!"
Nothing much can be seen as a spectator except countless people being expelled away when the crowd struggles to even touch me.
At the end of the day, every candidate was eliminated.
"Huff...huff..." Their body boils in fear and adrenaline.
"Monster..." Is the only lasting thought.
An obnoxious barrage of random attacks yet none even grazed me. My reaction speed and keen sense erected an impenetrable formation.
I smile. "None have passed the final test. But, your performance will be evaluated and taken into account during selection. All of you may return and you will receive a message soon regarding the results."
