Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace was at its peak thousands of years ago, with tens of thousands of core disciples. Unfortunately, after the great calamity, the territory and industries under their control shrank significantly, leading to a series of negative effects.

Now, the lineup of over three thousand core disciples was only on par with the top Dao Lineages. If it weren’t for their advantage in martial arts inheritance, the situation of the sect would undoubtedly be worse.

The surrounding supreme Dao Lineages had core disciple lineups that were at least ten times larger than Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace’s, indicating the immense external pressure the sect had faced over the past thousand years.

Fortunately, from now on, this extremely unfavorable situation would be completely reversed, and the situation of Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace would only get better, eventually returning to its peak.

Qing Muling pondered and asked, “How many people are scheduled to be selected for the sect’s assessment this time?”

Xuebing Xuan replied softly, “The sect leader and the elders have set the quota at eight hundred, but if suitable talents are found, a few more wouldn’t hurt. In addition, the sect leader has allocated an additional two hundred spots for you, Junior Brother. If any of the disqualified core disciples have exceptional potential, you can make the decision to admit them.”

Qing Muling nodded slightly. The sect leader, Mu Yinghua, had been very thoughtful in her considerations, so he didn’t need to worry too much. He just needed to follow the instructions.

This assessment was presided over by the senior sister, with the assistance of some senior elders and experienced core disciples. Several grand elders were also present to supervise. If any disqualified core disciples had objections to the results, they could appeal on the spot, ensuring that there would be no favoritism or cheating.

In previous years, the selection of core disciples for the sect was usually held every three to five years, with only two hundred candidates selected each time. All inner disciples who had reached the Condensing Elixir stage, accumulated enough merit contributions, and had not committed major mistakes were eligible to participate.

Currently, there were over thirty thousand inner disciples in Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace, all of whom were selected from the group of outer disciples, with only one in every hundred and fifty outer disciples becoming an inner disciple.

Qing Muling roughly estimated that nearly forty thousand inner disciples were present for the assessment today, while the remaining disciples did not meet the standards and needed to continue their training.

Regardless of whether they were laborers, outer disciples, inner disciples, or core disciples, the mortality rate was quite high for various reasons. When the casualties were significant, the sect’s high-level officials had to promptly select and replenish them.

As the saying goes, “A strong camp with flowing soldiers.” This was what was called a strong sect and flowing disciples.

For example, the loss of over two thousand core disciples from the armillary sphere Star Palace in the Misty Illusion Secret Realm led to their disqualification due to severe damage to their aptitude and fortune. They had to be replaced with enough inner disciples through a separate selection process.

In summary, for every cultivator who successfully advanced from the Qi Refining stage to the Fate stage without any mishaps, and ultimately broke free from the shackles of mortality to ascend to immortality, there might be over a hundred core disciples who had sacrificed their lives.

This was the cruel reality of the cultivation world. Compared to the billions of cultivators, the lucky few who successfully grew and enjoyed eternal freedom were always an extremely small minority.

Qi Yalan sighed softly, “I wonder how many more years it will take for the number of core disciples in the sect to return to its peak.”

“It will be soon, but not too soon!” Cheng Yulan said leisurely. “The sect urgently needs a large influx of new blood, but it must be inner disciples who meet all the requirements to become a core disciple. So, we can’t rush it.”

Qing Muling agreed with this. Although the sect was not lacking in resources now, it couldn’t just open its doors and accept all those with mediocre abilities. That would only lead to mixed results and a waste of training resources.

This year’s admission quota was five times larger than in previous years, and it could almost include all the eligible inner disciples. The sect’s high-level officials had also increased the allocation of training resources for inner and outer disciples, with a roughly fifty percent increase on average for each individual. However, the total expenditure was still a considerable amount.

As the time approached, all the inner disciples had arrived and stood in neat formations on the square, silent as a flock of birds.

At a glance, they were all stunning beauties, captivating to the eye.

“…If I were the me from my previous life, holding two hundred admission spots, I could have had some fun with the unspoken rules, couldn’t I?” Qing Muling murmured softly, feeling the power in his hands.

After all, the training ground reserved for him was still empty. As long as he wished, he could select a group of beautiful and talented female cultivators to bring back as maidservants, to massage his legs and warm his bed. And he could change their outfits every day, from cat-eared maid costumes to transparent qipaos, and swimsuits the day after… Well, he should stop there.If you really want to put this idea into action, the master may not say anything, but the senior sisters will definitely not turn a blind eye.

Daring to flirt outside? Are you looking for trouble? Or have the senior sisters lost their edge?

“Junior Brother, what are you muttering about again?”

Qi Yalan asked puzzledly, “What is the unspoken rule? Why can’t I understand it?”

Qing Muling naturally couldn’t tell the truth, so he could only evade the question, “This is a very complicated concept. I can’t explain it clearly for a while. You’ll understand in the future.”

Qi Yalan glared at him reproachfully and didn’t continue to ask.

The time has finally come.

On the high platform, Xuebing Xuan, who was in the main seat, stood up gracefully, gave a simple instruction, and then announced the start of the assessment.

Under the joint force of several elders, a formation that had been arranged in the square roared to life, and the spiritual pressure slowly rose. Before long, a ring-shaped light gate with a diameter of thirty zhang gradually appeared, solidified, and stabilized.

On the other side of the ring-shaped light gate was a separate paradise world, with a vast territory and a large number of low-level demon and monster communities. After a long period of evolution, some highly intelligent demon tribes had developed civilization inside, built cities, and even countries.

The task of the inner disciples was to spend ten days in this paradise world, hunting and exterminating these low-level demons and monsters. Their final ranking would be determined by the accumulated number of battle achievements. At the end of the trial period, as long as they were among the top eight hundred survivors, they could be promoted to core disciples.

Of course, the top fifty ranked participants would receive extremely generous rewards. For example, the first place on the trial ranking list would receive a Xuanqing Creation Spirit Pill, a set of custom-made medium-grade treasures, and the equivalent of three years’ worth of cultivation resources.

This kind of generous reward was never possible in the past. It was only because the sect was not lacking in resources that such extravagance was possible.

Inner disciples were not allowed to kill each other, bully their fellow disciples, or seize the spoils of others. The entire assessment process was monitored by a spiritual treasure, which could review any scene in detail if necessary. There was no possibility of cheating or distorting the truth.

The rules of the task were quite simple and clear. The number of elixirs, artifacts, and talismans that the disciples could bring in was strictly limited, which basically eliminated the opportunity for cheating. They could only rely on their own cultivation, intelligence, and luck.

Under the command of Senior Sister Xuebing Xuan, a group of elders and high-level Dao soldiers’ puppets entered the light gate first. It was only after a while that the inner disciples entered.

Due to the random teleportation effect of the light gate, each group of people who entered arrived at different locations, so there was no possibility of surprise attacks, and the difference between those who entered first and those who entered later was not significant.

So, tens of thousands of inner disciples silently stepped forward, either walking alone or in groups, and flew into the light gate.

If the disciples participating in the trial encountered threats that they couldn’t handle, they could send out a distress signal, and the elders and Dao soldiers’ puppets patrolling the area would come to their rescue. However, this also meant that they would lose their qualification for the assessment and could only withdraw midway, waiting for the next opportunity.

But an inner disciple could only participate in the sect’s selection process up to five times at most. If they failed all five times, they would never have the chance to become a core disciple. Usually, they could only become an inner sect elder, or be sent to manage secular affairs in the branch Daoist temples or the royal cities of the secular world, with little hope of advancement.

“…If it weren’t for the identity of the personally transmitted disciple of the Sect Master, I would have to go in and participate in the trial with them now, right?” Qing Muling said.

Luo Wanqing, who was beside him, lightly kicked him, “This kind of assumption is meaningless. Your current status is that of an examiner. You don’t need to consider things from the perspective of the disciples.”

Xuebing Xuan smiled and echoed, “Indeed, not to mention the trial for core disciples, in the future, there will be various arena battles within the sect, dangerous adventures in remote areas, or various travel tasks, none of which have anything to do with you, Junior Brother. You no longer need to rely on these rankings and achievements to prove yourself.”

Qing Muling asked, “Can’t I just go and have some fun and see?”

Xuebing Xuan looked at him with some incomprehension in her eyes, “Is it necessary to do that? Even if you add up all the rewards from this trial, what does it matter to you? Do you still lack these things now?”

“Alright, I didn’t think it through.”

Qing Muling shook his head and said no more. His current status was no less than that of any high-ranking elder, and he really couldn’t lower himself to compare with those disciples anymore.

Hundreds of miles away, a magnificent blue cloud platform floated by.

On the cloud platform, Tang Ruoxuan, a special envoy from the Dao Court, stood by the railing with a wine goblet in hand. By his side were groups of maids and servants, all of them splendid and dazzling, and the table not far away was already filled with various rare delicacies and spirit wines.

As a guest of the Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace, Tang Ruoxuan had enjoyed the highest standard of treatment in recent days. Even he, who was used to grand occasions, couldn’t find any fault with it.”I heard that Ji Yunfeng had earnestly sought your help with certain matters last time, only to be directly rejected by the Sect Master?”

Sipping his drink lightly, Tang Ruoxuan asked with an indifferent tone.

Beside him, Yun Miao Xianjun gently nodded: “That’s right, and our Sect Master has already sent a message to the Heavenly Witch Dynasty, requesting a change in the envoy.”

This matter was no secret. After Ji Yunfeng had been turned away by Mu Yinghua, he set his sights on Tang Ruoxuan, offering generous gifts in hopes that he would speak on his behalf.

However, it seemed that Ji Yunfeng had not received the response he desired.

A hint of amusement appeared in Tang Ruoxuan’s eyes: “What’s meant to be will come eventually, and what’s not should not be forced. This prince… how should I put it? Indeed, he has a good father willing to take on such a burden for him, but it’s a pity that he himself is never satisfied, always wanting more. I fear his end will be worrisome!”

Yun Miao Xianjun’s smile was radiant: “Regarding this matter, my views are completely aligned with yours.”

Tang Ruoxuan chuckled, then changed the subject: “I’ve heard that the Sect Master’s fifth personal disciple is quite extraordinary, so I would like to meet him. This is also the wish of my family’s ancestor. I wonder if your side could grant me this convenience?”

“……”