One day later, and a lot of cultivators more, the Three-Legged Raven Sect opened its doors to the people who are here for the trials and to join their ranks.
Just as the gates to the Three-Legged Raven sect was open, the same person who gave me my token came out and said, "All above the Core Cultivation realm are to proceed forward, you donât need to partake in these trials, youâll have your own set of challenges to do, monitored by elders of the sect. as for the rest of you, follow me." He said and our group slowly walked after that man.
Among the many people in the sect I saw a lot that was young kids, probably of the age of sixteen to twenty, these are the geniuses of their clans and countries. Theyâre young and already achieved great success in cultivation, while I for example only begun cultivating when I was in my eighties.
There were a few that weâre older, probably older than I am, but I can bet my fortune that none of them started as late as I did, they must have struggled halfway. Though Core cultivation isnât that hard to achieve, for many people it takes them hundreds of years to get there.
Age becomes irrelevant though, once one cultivates to higher levels, a personâs age is drastically separated from their cultivation talent, as there, fortuitous encounters are what play a role in the fate of a personâs achievements. A person can be stuck for a thousand-year in a certain cultivation realm, while another could find an elixir or a divine fruit and can surpass them in a day.
Itâs all about luck.
As I was thinking about this, the monitor stopped in front of a pyramid-like structure. It was in the outskirts of the sect, even if considering the massive size of this structure, it seemed that itâs only valued at being on the rims of the sect and not among the sectâs main buildings.
"This is the trial ground, this pyramid has ninety-nine levels. Anyone who reaches beyond the fiftieth level will advance to the next trial. You have four hours." The man said, and the people began racing as if the pyramid didnât have enough space or was going to disappear if they didnât get in time.
I calmly waited as I studied the horde of people racing to climb up.
Soon a personâs body literally exploded in front of everyone in viscera and blood.
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This put a damper on everyoneâs mood.
"Whatâs this? Why did he die?" a person asked who was only a few levels below the man who just died.
"Soul Strength, the higher you go, the higher the pressure, he advanced far faster than his soul can handle and he blew up in the procedure." The monitor said in a matter-of-factly, as if the death of that person wasnât worth more than the trouble of cleaning up after his remains.
With many cultivators finally understanding whatâs going on, a few began pulling pills and eating them, then slowly advanced.
I noticed that people would be forced to stop and meditate at every ten levels, and for those who didnât...
"Another exploded, this test is ruthless." A cultivator said as he wiped the blood off of his face.
"In a world of cultivation, one should expect death at every corner, if you think that this is difficult you have no need to continue the trial, it will only get worse." The monitor said.
He then turned to me and the few that didnât climb up yet, "Whatâs going on, are you afraid of climbing?" ha asked.
"One must judge a situation fully before diving in, nose first." I replied.
"But in the real world, youâll not have this chance to judge the situation," The monitor said.
"True, but this is exactly why I need to see and judge first, because unlike in the real world, I have the chance to do so, and I will use it, perhaps Iâll learn something that will come in handy in the real world, donât you think?" I said.
"Hmm, you do have some truth to your words. Then so be it, move whenever you find it to your liking, just know that I wonât give you more time if you dally here," the monitor said and closed his eyes to meditate.
After carefully inspecting the situation and making sure that I understood how everything was going on, as in every ten steps the strength of the pressure would exponentially increase, I deemed it was time for me to move.
So far, an hour had passed, and there were already a few that managed to go beyond the fiftieth level, and they still continued moving upward to challenge themselves and see where they can reach.
I walked towards the pyramid and this brought the attention of the monitor. He keenly watched as I climbed.
And frankly, this was really easy, the soul pressure here was none-existent almost, but I could see many cultivators still struggling with the first few levels. I walked past them and continued onwards until I reached the first milestone. Ten levels.
Just as I stepped in, I felt a slight increase in soul pressure, but it was negligible. I continued climbing and the same happened on the third, fourth, and even fifth, this challenge was ridicule.
However, I couldnât bring too much attention to myself, I looked up and saw that many had already reached and stopped at the sixtieth level, and they didnât dare move up. I climbed until I was next to them, then sat down meditating, the soul pressure here was far weaker than the Laughing Slaughtererâs pagoda and was compared to a joke against Zhang Tianâs grazing divine sense.
"Xiao Meng, you seem to still have some power in you," the monitor said, "Why not go further?" he asked in a divine sense message.
"I do have some power, but I still have other tests to do, it would be stupid to waste energy here when there is more to the trial."
"Hmm, this is the second time that your words had rebuked me. While many would take it as an insult, I can see that you have some wisdom in you, very well." The monitor said and closed his eyes again.
Soon, and after a few more hours.
"The trial had ended, anyone below the fiftieth stage, leave the sect."
A few cultivators complained, especially those who were only a level or two below the fiftieth stage, but a stern look from the Monitor and they scurried away with their tails tucked behind their legs.
Apparently only a couple of hundred cultivators had remained.
"Hmm, good numbers, come down and follow me." The Monitor said.
We followed the monitor to another place within the rims of the sect, and here there was a massive square arena with hundreds of stone pillars standing.
"You proved your Soul Strength, now youâll need to prove your martial prows. Destroy these pillars using any means. You have one hour!" the monitor said.
The cultivators moved to the pillars and began going ham on the pillars. And it didnât take much time for the first pillar to break, looking at it, it was a young man of noble appearance, he had clean white robes with a pale blue bra (The cultivatorâs scarf-like belt is called a bra) around his waist. He had used a sword to split his pillar in half.
Then a girl about the same age as that man had already done the same, only she actually broke the pillar using her fists, boring her hands into the pillar until it was riddled with holes then with a single kick she turned the pillar to broken stone.
Many others soon followed as they destroyed their pillars using brute force and their martial strength, and some had slowly withered theirs down using hundreds of attacks until their pillars were destroyed.
For me, I donât have powerful skills that have brute strength. But I can easily destroy this pillar. I took a brush and wrote an inscription on the pillar, which caught the attention of many cultivators. Then I pulled a mid-grade spirit stone and placed it inside the formation, I then moved away.
"Break," I said and the pillar immediately was riddled with cracks and turned to pebbles as the formation activated.
"You, thatâs cheating!" one of the many who couldnât break their own pillars called.
I looked at him and scuffed at his weak disposition, a man who canât achieve anything in life only finds joy in points the otherâs mistakes.
But I didnât even have to do anything before the monitor interfered, "You there, either you focus on your own trial, or Iâll kick you out. I have declared that any means can be used to destroy the pillars, he is within his right to use his own talents. Do your best or leave. We donât allow weaklings in our sect," The monitor said.
The cultivator swallowed the words and looked menacingly at me, if looks could kill Iâd be dead a hundred times now.
After an hour, many had their pillars still standing and they were all flunked.
"Good, now for the final exam," the monitor said, but another person once again interrupted him.
"Just one more chance please!" he begged.
The monitor didnât get angry though and said, "If you really think that youâre strong enough to continue on to the next stage, then youâre welcome to stay, who here thinks that he can still continue even after failing into breaking their pillar?" the monitor asked.
A lot of people that failed to break their pillars came forward, thinking they still have another chance.
"Very well then, youâre all eligible to the next trial, but youâll be the first to go. Outer Disciples come forth!" the monitor said, and a group of outer disciples was led forward.
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They all had wounds and were battered, and all of them were chained.
"Whatâs this?" asked one of the people who asked for another chance.
"Your next trial, these are the outer disciples who committed crimes against the sect, they were also given a second chance, and if they kill the newcomers their crimes will be forgiven. As for you, if you kill them, youâll take their place and become an outer disciple." The monitor said.
âAh, now I understand the purpose of the trials. Itâs to test the potential of the disciples, and if theyâre not strong enough to even clear these simple trials, theyâll never manage to take the outer discipleâs spot because these outer disciples must have done the same trials and succeeded, not to mention they had more time to train and become stronger. This Three-Legged Raven Sect is really cruel. Because using this method, theyâll never lose strength. Criminals are given a second chance, while the sect only chooses the best talents because only the best can survive.â
"Now, fight for your life, you asked for a second chance, here is your chance!" the monitor said and the chained disciples were released.