168: Chapter 168 The Intercepting Sect Accepts Disciples

"The entire Primordial World is full of them? Doesn't that mean anyone can impersonate a Jie Sect Disciple?"

"That's right, anyone can impersonate them, but there is an unspoken rule: you can only impersonate them during a life-or-death tribulation."

The Primordial World is all about Karma. If you run amok using the name of a Jie Sect Disciple, it is easy to end up dead with your Dao dissipated.

But! At a life-or-death moment, using the name of a Jie Sect Disciple to intimidate others!

If you can survive, it aligns with the Jie Sect's goal of intercepting a glimmer of life for all living beings.

If you don't survive, then you simply failed to intercept that glimmer of life.

Extra A listened to the Old Ancestor's explanation, understood it completely, scratched his still-aching forehead, and realized with a start:

"So that's how it is, I've learned something new!"

The elder Phoenix saw this scene and nodded with satisfaction: "It is good that you understand."

The moment a fledgling, which never leaves the Undying Volcano, grows up is what old folks like her love to see most.

...

Meanwhile, the Jie Sect, which they were discussing, was in the midst of a heated Disciple selection process.

Inside a cave heaven on Jinao Island, myriad spirits were constantly flowing in and out.

This cave heaven was specially opened up by the Master of Tongtian for recruiting Disciples, and he had personally set up an illusion Formation within it.

It was specifically to test the Dao Heart.

At the very top of the Formation eye, Daoist Duobao stood in the forefront, wearing a cyan Daoist robe.

Behind him, in order, followed Holy Mother Wudang, Holy Mother Jinling, Holy Mother Guiling, as well as the Three Xiao sisters, Zhao Gongming, and a crowd of other Jie Sect Disciples, looking down at the billions of living beings within the Formation.

Daoist Duobao looked at the myriad spirits in the Formation, whose chaotic behavior was on full display, frowned slightly, and sighed with a tone full of helplessness:

"Sigh, another batch... that is unqualified."

The illusion Formation manifested the things they wanted most based on the greed, anger, and ignorance of the living beings who entered.

Yet, even in this simplest of illusions, among tens of millions of living beings, not one was qualified. Even the plant spirits, universally acknowledged as having the firmest Dao Heart, could not resist the temptation.

It was a complete mess, entirely lacking the composure that a practitioner should have.

Holy Mother Wudang, standing beside him, heard this and smiled gently. Her voice was soft yet clear as she softly advised:

"Senior Brother, why be so harsh? They are Acquired living beings to begin with. Being able to gain intelligence and come to Jinao Island is already an opportunity."

"We are not the Chan Sect, which values origin and Luck. We should appropriately lower some standards according to the times."

Holy Mother Wudang looked at the thousands of living beings in the illusion who were either greedily fighting, fearfully fleeing, or lost in the illusions, her eyes holding not a trace of disdain, but only complete tolerance.

Inner Sect Disciples are the Disciples within the sect hierarchy who are closest to Tongtian in terms of their path to the Dao.

Daoist Duobao heard this, his brows relaxed slightly, but he still couldn't help but sigh:

"I am not being harsh, but with such a Dao Heart, even if they enter our sect, they will easily fall into Heart Demons on their future path of Cultivation and find it difficult to attain the Great Dao."

As soon as he finished speaking, the little loli Bi Xiao, who was tugging and swaying on Yun Xiao's sleeve nearby, curled her lips and muttered crisply, her voice somewhat untimely:

"This illusion test is just too boring."

"They can't even resist this little bit of temptation, it's just like mortal children fighting over candy. There's nothing interesting to watch; it's only slightly better than being in seclusion for Cultivation."

She was naturally lively and restless, unable to endure boredom, and seeing the scene below, which felt like little children playing house, her small face was filled with boredom.

Feeling the gazes cast from around them, Yun Xiao's expression darkened slightly.

She reached out and patted the back of Bi Xiao's hand lightly, her tone carrying the authority of an elder sister as she reprimanded in a low voice:

"Bi Xiao, stop messing around!"

"This Disciple recruitment ceremony concerns the future path of billions of living beings and the reputation of our Jie Sect. How can you treat it like child's play? Quickly restrain your childish nature and treat this seriously!"

"Big Sister~" Bi Xiao pouted aggrievedly, but dared not retort, and could only stand properly.

Then, where Yun Xiao could not see, she pouted her lips, her face full of dissatisfaction.

After pouting, she let go of Yun Xiao's sleeve and skipped over to the back, next to Holy Mother Huoling.

"Little Huoling, come and play with Sister."

...

Zhao Gongming crossed his arms, the Evil Qi around him restrained, and looking at the chaos in the illusion, he spoke in a deep voice:

"Senior Sister Wudang makes sense. Our Jie Sect does not pick by origin. A poor Dao Heart can be polished. Poor origin can be compensated for by the sect's Luck. Even if one bears Karma, it can be slowly resolved."

As the social butterfly of the Jie Sect, and in the original timeline, the direct reason for the Three Xiao sisters entering the tribulation.

Zhao Gongming valued origin the least; as long as he could chat with someone, he would become friends with them.

Daoist Duobao looked at the still-chaotic illusion Formation below and shook his head lightly at the words:

"Junior Brother Gongming, I naturally understand these principles."

As the Great Master and Senior Brother of the Jie Sect, in charge of thousands of affairs, he knew better than anyone the foundation of the sect—teaching without discrimination and regardless of background.

But the higher one's position, the further one sees, and the deeper the concerns in one's heart.

Duobao had to find third-generation Disciples who could serve as the face of the sect.

Holy Mother Huoling had exceptional talent, powerful cultivation, and a steady Heart-Nature, but relying on her alone was not enough.

The moment his words paused, another group of figures involuntarily appeared in Daoist Duobao's mind.

The Acquired Human Race.

Also being Acquired living beings, the Human Race was just too excellent.

Under the blessing of that immense Luck.

Any Acquired Human Race with the talent to Cultivate, Duobao could guarantee, would easily pass this illusion Formation.

This stark contrast made Daoist Duobao's brows knit even tighter, the helplessness in his heart surging endlessly.

How he wished the Jie Sect could accept a Human Race Disciple.

Once there were Human Race Disciples in the third generation, the third-generation Great Master and Senior Brother could basically be confirmed.

And he would be able to relax.

But there was no way; the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors had just ended.

The Six Sages were still bickering with the Heavenly Sovereign.

Just as Duobao was feeling sentimental, Holy Mother Jinling came up behind him and slapped his shoulder heavily.

"Great Master and Senior Brother, this batch is finished; aren't you going to swap in the next batch?"

Daoist Duobao's shoulder shook, and his chaotic thoughts were instantly pulled back to reality by this slap.

He slowly regained his focus, reined in his thoughts, and turned to look at Holy Mother Jinling beside him, who was dressed in golden armor with a cold and solemn temperament.

Feeling the lingering force on his shoulder, he whispered via sound transmission: "Next time you call me, don't be so forceful."

"I'll try."

Listening to Holy Mother Jinling's perfunctory transmission, Duobao shrugged helplessly.

Subsequently, he looked at the Junior Brothers and Junior Sisters behind him and instructed: "The test is over. If there are any living beings you are satisfied with, you may take them as Disciples. Register them with Holy Mother Jinling!"

The moment his voice fell, countless Jie Sect Disciples flew into the Formation and, like grabbing luggage, snatched up the Disciples they had chosen and flew away.

In Duobao's words, this batch was unqualified.

But he was a Quasi-Sage, so his standards were high.

Whereas other Jie Sect members with lower cultivation did not have such high standards.

One by one, they grabbed them before others could.