322: Chapter 322 Newly Promoted Outer Sect Member

By the time the fourth trial ended, dusk was approaching.

Of the thirty-six candidates who entered the final trial, only nineteen passed the assessment in the end.

Some were judged qualified because they truly displayed sufficient courage and skill in their battle against the Iron-backed Wolf;

some, though at a disadvantage, never retreated and gritted their teeth to hold out until the time ran out, and their attitude was also recognized;

and a few others were accepted as special exceptions because they displayed some unique potential during the battle—for instance, the white-clad woman's exceptionally agile sword technique, the brawny youth's astonishing strength, and the slender boy's precise archery—even though they did not hold the upper hand in actual combat.

Ling Ye stood in the crowd, quietly listening to the middle-aged man read out the list of those who had passed.

When his name was called, he did not show excitement or relief, but simply accepted the result calmly.

After finishing the list, the middle-aged man closed the booklet, swept his gaze over everyone, and spoke in a still-flat tone: "Congratulations, everyone.

From this day forth, you are all Outer Sect Disciples of the Qingyun Sect.

But I must remind you—entering the Sect is only the first step; the road ahead is still long.

Among the Outer Sect Disciples, there are also assessments and eliminations.

If anyone slacks off in their Cultivate or fails to strive for progress, they will still be expelled from the Sect."

He paused for a moment, his tone softening slightly: "Of course, as long as you are diligent and self-disciplined, the Sect will not treat you unfairly.

Outer Sect Disciples can receive a fixed quota of Spirit Stone and Medicinal Pill each month, borrow texts from the first floor of the Scripture Pavilion, and ask the stewards for guidance on difficulties in their Cultivate.

If you can stand out in the outer Sect assessments, you will have even more opportunities to be promoted to the Inner Sect and receive the true teachings of the masters."

Some people's eyes lit up, while others secretly clenched their fists.

Ling Ye stood in the crowd with a calm expression, but his mind was rapidly digesting this information.

Spirit Stone. Medicinal Pill. Scripture Pavilion. Steward. Inner Sect.

The outline of this world's Cultivate system was becoming clear, bit by bit.

After the middle-aged man finished speaking, he had a Green-robed Disciple take them to complete the admission procedures.

The group followed that Disciple through several courtyards until they arrived in front of a building named the "General Affairs Hall."

The hall was spacious and bright, with several stewards sitting behind long tables, in front of whom were piles of rosters, tokens, and various sundries.

The admission procedures were a bit more cumbersome than Ling Ye had imagined.

First was the registration of name, age, and place of origin—Ling Ye reported the two characters "Ling Ye," stated his age as twenty, and vaguely described his origin as "a refugee from the north, with no home left to return to."

The steward looked up at him, asked no further questions, and made a few notes in the booklet.

Next was the collection of supplies.

A set of cyan uniforms for Outer Sect Disciples, two sets of undergarments for changing, a pair of cloth shoes, a set of bedding, a wooden basin for washing, and an iron token engraved with the words "Qingyun Sect · Outer Sect."

Ling Ye took the token; it felt slightly heavy in his hand, its surface was polished quite smoothly, and the edges were engraved with a circle of fine cloud patterns.

Finally, there was the assignment of living quarters.

The living quarters for Outer Sect Disciples were on the west side of the mountainside, a row of bungalows built against the mountain, arranged neatly, with each room capable of housing about four people.

Ling Ye was assigned to Room No. 7, Bing.

He took the key, carried the pile of supplies, and followed the directions to find his living quarters.

Pushing open the wooden door, the room was slightly larger than the guest room from last night, with four beds, three of which already had bedding laid out, clearly indicating that people were already living there.

The bed by the window was still empty, covered in a thin layer of dust.

Ling Ye walked over, put down his bedding, and began to tidy up his bed.

Just as he finished spreading the bed sheet, footsteps came from outside the door.

A round-faced boy poked his head in, froze for a moment upon seeing him, and then grinned: "Yo, new guy? My name is Wang Dazhuang, and I live in the bed next to yours."

He pointed to the bed near the door.

"Ling Ye." Ling Ye nodded, which served as a greeting.

Wang Dazhuang walked in enthusiastically and sat on the edge of the bed next to him: "You passed the trial and came in today? Impressive! I heard that this year's fourth trial was fighting an Iron-backed Wolf; not many people passed. What weapon do you use?"

"A spear."

"A spear is good; one inch longer, one inch stronger."

Wang Dazhuang clicked his tongue in praise, then lowered his voice and said, "But we Outer Sect Disciples don't usually get to touch our weapons much. We wake up at the hour of Mao every day for morning lessons, listen to lectures in the morning, practice basic skills in the afternoon, and have to self-study our Cultivation Technique at night. It's very busy!"

Ling Ye listened quietly, capturing several keywords from these few sentences—morning lessons, lectures, basic skills, and Cultivation Technique.

He was just about to open his mouth to ask for more details when another person walked in from outside the door.

That person was tall and thin with a cold expression, wearing an old uniform washed until it had faded to white. After entering, his gaze swept over Ling Ye without greeting him, and he walked straight to his own bed to sit down, picking up a yellowed book to read.

Wang Dazhuang whispered to Ling Ye: "That is Li Musheng; he came a year earlier than us and doesn't like to talk, so don't mind him."

Ling Ye nodded and didn't say anything more.

He sat on the edge of his bed, his gaze sweeping over the simple room and the mountain scenery outside the window, which had been dyed gold by the setting sun.

He had officially become an Outer Sect Disciple of the Qingyun Sect.

This was his first step in this world.

From now on, the only thing he had to do was—Cultivate.