65: They accepted them all, and each took on their own apprentices!

Before the mountain gate.

“Nonsense!”

Transmission Elder Shi Potian was puffing out his beard and glaring, clearly still holding a grudge about the Sect Master accepting the demonic cultivator.

“Such a person with unpredictable Heart-Nature is like a buried mine, sooner or later...”

“Elder Shi.”

Enforcement Elder let out a burp and leaned lazily against the stone pillar of the mountain gate.

“When the Sect Master acts, there is naturally a profound meaning behind it.”

“You and I, we just need to watch.”

Shi Potian coldly snorted, flicked his sleeve, and said no more.

He just felt that everything about the Sect Master was good, except that his eye for taking Disciples was far too casual.

Outer Sect Grand Elder Li Xiaoyao stretched, breaking the awkward atmosphere.

“Alright, alright, we're done watching one baleful star; now, haven't a flock of little lambs come up?”

He pointed toward the end of the Heavenly Staircase.

Everyone looked in the direction of his voice.

They saw the skinny, dark-skinned youth named Ergou, trembling all over and clenching his teeth, finally stepping onto the last step.

As soon as he stepped onto the plaza in front of the mountain gate, he could no longer support himself, his legs gave out, and he collapsed directly onto the ground, gasping for breath.

Immediately afterward, figures in twos and threes continuously emerged from the pillar of light.

Most of them were as battered as Ergou, their Divine Souls listless, clearly having exhausted their mental strength on the Heavenly Staircase.

Among them was even the little fatty who had been selling water pouches halfway up.

He was also pale at the moment; the water pouch in his arms was deflated, but he had quite a bit more silver.

In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, thirty to forty people were sparsely standing in front of the mountain gate.

They were the first batch of lucky individuals who successfully reached the summit in this assessment involving tens of thousands of people.

They looked around with both awe and curiosity.

Looking at the Elders whose aura was like an abyss, looking at the immortal palace shrouded in mist, and looking at the heart-questioning dao stele standing in the center of the plaza, radiating endless Dao charm.

Shock and restraint were etched on everyone's face.

“Come over here, line up!”

Outer Sect Grand Elder Li Xiaoyao cleared his throat, adopting the air of an outer sect grand elder.

“One by one, put your hand on it!”

He pointed at the heart-questioning dao stele.

The crowd dared not delay and quickly formed a line.

The first person to step forward was a rather capable-looking youth. He was originally the chief Disciple of a minor Sect and performed well on the Heavenly Staircase.

He took a deep breath and pressed his palm onto the stele.

Buzz!

A yellow light shot up into the sky, mixed with a few faint strands of green light.

“Yellow mixed with green: Root Bone is average, Comprehension Ability is acceptable, Heart-Nature is below average, Luck is mixed.”

Shi Potian glanced at it and gave his assessment, his tone carrying a subtle hint of disdain.

Hearing this, the youth's face turned pale, and he awkwardly retreated to the side.

The second, the third... the test results for the subsequent people were largely similar.

Most were orange and yellow lights. The few who managed to light up a pure green were enough to draw envious glances from Yun Tianqing and Lin Canghai, the two Branch Masters.

This level of Aptitude was already a Genius rarely seen in a century in their Sect.

Finally, it was the turn of the skinny, dark-skinned youth, Ergou.

He nervously walked up to the stele and, imitating the people before him, pressed his rough, dark hand onto it.

Buzz—

A faint, almost extinguished red light lit up.

The entire scene fell silent.

Outer Sect Grand Elder Li Xiaoyao's mouth twitched.

“Red... Root Bone is Low Grade of the Low Grade, Comprehension Ability... nonexistent. Heart-Nature is supremely excellent. Luck... like a candle flickering in the wind.”

Looking at this youth who had barely managed to climb the Heavenly Staircase, he was momentarily speechless.

Hearing this evaluation, Ergou's bright eyes instantly dimmed.

He clenched his fists, his nails digging deeply into his flesh.

“Next!”

Outer Sect Grand Elder Li Xiaoyao waved his hand.

It was the little fatty's turn.

Grinning, he stepped forward and pressed his chubby hand onto the stele.

Buzz!

A dazzling, pure green light shot up into the sky!

“Oh?”

This time, even Enforcement Elder gave him an extra look.

“Root Bone is excellent, Comprehension Ability is average. Heart-Nature... hmm, Heart-Nature is unique, Luck is flourishing.”

Shi Potian looked at the green light and finally nodded in satisfaction.

“This child may enter the outer Sect.”

Hearing this, the little fatty's eyes narrowed into slits as he smiled, repeatedly bowing to the Elders.

“Thank you, Immortal Elder! Thank you, Immortal Elder!”

The dozens of people in the first batch quickly finished their tests.

The results were unsatisfactory.

Apart from the little fatty and two or three others who lit up green, the rest were yellow and orange, and some even showed red, like Ergou.

Not even a single blue light appeared.

This formed a stark and miserable contrast with Ye Wushang's previous sky-high purple light.

“Alas...”

Shi Potian sighed, his disappointment undisguised.

“This old man originally thought that this mountain opening would yield a few pieces of fine jade for the Sect, but unexpectedly... they are all just rubble and stubborn stones.”

“Old man Shi, you're wrong to say that.” Artifact Hall Elder Tie Kuang retorted gruffly.

“Those few with green light have good Root Bones; they are good iron blanks. Give me three years, and I can make every one of them an Artifact Refining Revered Master!”

“However, the path of cultivation ultimately depends on Comprehension Ability and Heart-Nature.” Elder Shen Qingyan of the Alchemy Hall said softly, “Those children are restless and impulsive; I fear they will struggle to achieve greatness.”

“This old man believes that those who do not display green light are unworthy to enter my Myriad Dao Divine Sect.” Shi Potian stroked his long beard and delivered his conclusion.

“As for those of yellow and orange, their Aptitude is mediocre and they are incapable of being molded. It would be better to dismiss them down the mountain and grant them some mortal wealth, which can be considered fulfilling this immortal destiny.”

“Absolutely not!”

Yun Tianqing and Lin Canghai grew anxious upon hearing this.

“Elder Shi!” Lin Canghai quickly stepped forward and bowed, saying, “These people... being able to climb the Heavenly Staircase through sheer willpower already shows exceptional Heart-Nature! In my Eastern Desolation, they are talents chosen from a thousand! If they are dismissed like this, it would truly be... too great a pity!”

“That's right, Elder Shi.” Yun Tianqing also chimed in, “Even if it's just yellow light, as long as they are properly cultivated, achieving Golden Core or Nascent Soul in the future is not difficult. They are enough to become the mainstays of the Sect!”

“Mainstays?” Shi Potian sneered, “What my Myriad Dao Divine Sect wants are true Dragons capable of stirring up storms, not local dogs guarding a small plot of land!”

“You!”

Yun Tianqing and the other were choked speechless, their faces flushed red, yet they dared not refute.

“I, however, think all of them can be accepted.”

Outer Sect Grand Elder Li Xiaoyao, who had remained silent, suddenly spoke.

He pointed at the group of anxious seekers of the Dao.

“The Heavenly Staircase tests Heart-Nature, and the stele tests talent.”

“Those who made it up show sincere hearts. As for talent... does our Sect lack those few resources, Medicinal Pills, and Magic Treasures needed for cultivation?”

He spoke with great heroic spirit.

Wang Duojin, standing nearby, nodded repeatedly, his eyes filled with the appreciation one holds for a “confidant” when looking at Outer Sect Grand Elder Li Xiaoyao.

“Elder Li is absolutely right!”

“If talent isn't enough, resources can make up for it! As long as they are willing to contribute to the Sect, even if they are just a stone, my Myriad Dao Merchant Guild can smash them into a Golden Core!”

“You!” Shi Potian, infuriated by the duo's mutual support, puffed out his beard and glared, “This is pure nonsense! Treating the Sect like child's play!”

Seeing that a new round of arguments was about to begin.

That calm voice, yet containing supreme majesty, once again drifted slowly from within the Sect Master Hall.

“Those who could climb the Heavenly Staircase have proven their hearts.”

“All may enter my mountain gate.”

The voice was not loud, but it struck everyone's heart like a heavy hammer.

In front of the great hall, silence instantly fell.

All the Elders, regardless of their opinions, uniformly bowed toward the direction of the great hall.

“Yes, Sect Master.”

Chu Xuanjin's voice sounded again, carrying a hint of impatient laziness.

“Red and orange are for miscellaneous duties, yellow and green are for the outer Sect, blue and cyan are for the inner Sect, and purple is for the core, eligible to be a candidate for a direct Disciple.”

“As for how to settle them and how to teach them... that is a matter for you Elders to worry about.”

“If you can't even handle these trivial matters, what use are you to this Seat?”

The voice abruptly stopped.

Leaving behind a group of Elders exchanging bewildered glances.

Outer Sect Grand Elder Li Xiaoyao was the first to react. He cleared his throat and waved his hand at the crowd.

“Did you all hear? The Sect Master has given an order!”

“Guards! Take these newly promoted Disciples down in batches according to their Aptitude Rank! Register them and arrange their living quarters!”

He pointed at Yun Tianqing and Lin Canghai.

“You two are responsible for explaining the Sect rules to them!”

He then pointed at the newly appointed Tutors of the Eight Halls.

“You are responsible for formulating the teaching plan!”

“And the rest of you...”

He began issuing commands in an orderly manner.

The area in front of the entire mountain gate instantly became busy and orderly.

Shi Potian watched this scene, opened his mouth, and finally sighed, not saying anything further.

Since the Sect Master had spoken, what else could he do?

He simply walked up to the little fatty who had lit up green and sized him up.

“What is your name?”

“Reporting... Reporting to Immortal Elder, my name is Qian Duoduo.”

“Qian Duoduo?” Shi Potian frowned, “Vulgar!”

“Starting today, you shall cultivate under me. I observe your Heart-Nature is lively, which is quite suitable for this old man's mantle.”

Qian Duoduo was stunned, and then an indescribable look of ecstasy appeared on his face!

“Revered Master above! Please accept this Disciple's bow!”

At the same time, Artifact Hall Elder Tie Kuang also found a sturdy, simple-minded youth with exceptional Root Bone.

Elder Shen Qingyan of the Alchemy Hall selected a young girl who possessed a natural affinity for the Spiritual Qi of vegetation.

After the Sect Master's words, they all had the thought of taking Disciples.

Since the Sect was going to embrace all rivers, they would personally select a few pleasing fish fry from these rivers and cultivate them well.

Ye Chenfeng and the others still stood on the side, watching the lively scene.

“Senior Brother Great Master, do you think Revered Master had already planned this out?” Wang Duojin leaned close to Ye Chenfeng and whispered.

“Otherwise, why would he specifically create a heart-questioning dao stele?”

Ye Chenfeng took a gulp of wine and did not answer.

He just looked at the Heavenly Staircase below, where people were still constantly climbing, looking at the faces that were either painful, resolute, or confused.

He felt that Revered Master's thoughts were harder to see through than the sword in his hand.

Below the mountain gate, the tens of thousands of seekers of the Dao erupted in thunderous cheers when they saw the first batch of people being led into the immortal gate.

They saw hope.

They saw the real path named “Step into Heaven.”

More people, carrying their dreams, stepped onto the White Jade Heavenly Ladder leading to the unknown.

In the distance, countless streams of light were still converging toward this Divine Mountain that had descended from the heavens.