Before the Tryouts

We variously nodded and made agreeing noises. "All right. Each of you write your names here." He proffered a sheet with a few dozen names already on it. Once we'd signed our names, he reached under the desk and brought out four jade slips with numbers carved into them. They were almost identical to the ones used to hold a place in line to enter the Tower of Enlightenment, except for the not insubstantial fact the numbers carved on them each had five digits. 

"When your slip starts glowing, you'll have two hours to return here. Feel free to enjoy the city until then, but whatever you do, don't lose them. In practical terms, they're also your entry ticket to the test. Elder Ding might have told you, we've had problems with groups of hooligans who've already failed, resorting to stealing other's slips and many other things to stop others participating. There shouldn't be any Heaven Rank cultivators among them, but be careful."