Desolate Devouring Art

Chapter 307 - Heavily Nurture

Aside from a few individuals, most people had to draw lots to ensure fairness. After all, the other peaks would be empty if everyone chose to join the Heavenly Trigram Peak.

It wasn’t until midday before six middle-aged men appeared, riding their flying swords at low altitudes and arriving in the field. The six represented the six peaks, giving off an imposing aura upon their arrival, forcing everyone to lower their heads.

“Heavenly Phase Realm experts!” Exclamations could be heard from the crowd. Many disciples could only become deacons when they had no hope of advancing after reaching middle age. If one couldn’t reach the Astral River Realm by forty, they would have no more hope in their lifetime.

The six wore robes of different colors that represented the various peaks.

The Heavenly Trigram Peak was white, the Earth Force Peak was brown, the Profound Inscription Peak was green, the Terrain Summit Peak was dark yellow, the Mortal Plume Peak was purple, and only the Treasure Pill Peak was unique with a dark green robe.

The six deacons stood like towering mountains; no one dared to look at them directly.

Through Ghost Eye, Liu Wuxie could see their actual appearances, while others could only see six silhouettes with their appearances concealed.

Experts in the Heavenly Phase Realm could conjure illusions, forming a layer of faint true essence to block others' view. These illusions were only effective against cultivators of lower realms and had no effect if they encountered someone with higher cultivation.

The Earth Force Peak’s deacon retrieved a box from his interspatial ring. Inside were six colored papers, each corresponding to a different peak.

“I won’t waste time explaining the rules, as you should be familiar with them by now. The students I call out next won’t have to draw lots; the sect will greatly nurture you all as priority disciples.” The deacon swept his gaze around calmly.

“What’s going on? Some people don’t have to draw lots and will be chosen as priority disciples?!” Exclamations could be heard in the crowd. In the past, everyone had to draw lots regardless of their cultivation, and only those who were lucky could join the Heavenly Trigram Peak. Those unfortunate to pick the Mortal Plume Peak could only resign to their fate.

The six peaks had always competed, but the difference wasn’t noticeable. The Heavenly Trigram Peak was stricter than the Mortal Plume Peak. However, cultivation relied more on talent, and most people didn’t take it too seriously.

But they were surprised some didn’t have to draw lots this year, which was strange.

The management of the ten major sects was similar, promoting internal competition to stimulate the disciples' improvement.

“There wasn’t this rule in the past years. What’s wrong?” Many people discussed among themselves, trying to figure out what was happening.

"Isn't it obvious? The Heavenly Treasure Pavilion's development has been uneven and shows signs of decline in recent years. They're planning to nurture a new batch of talents," someone murmured. Liu Wuxie overheard the discussion.

“Can I ask what it means to be priority disciples?” A man walked out from the crowd and cupped his fists together at the six deacons. Everyone looked at the six deacons curiously, wanting to know what it meant.

“That means those chosen will receive double the resources monthly and double the points for completing missions. They’ll be allowed access to the Book Collection Hall once a week, along with the opportunity for guidance by an elder...” The deacon in brown listed dozens of benefits, which excited everyone.

Even Liu Wuxie was surprised. The Heavenly Treasure Pavilion’s points were similar to the Imperial Academy’s credits. The disciples could use points to exchange for many resources, and the fact he could receive double the resources would undoubtedly benefit him.

Liu Wuxie wasn’t particularly interested in an elder's guidance. However, it wouldn’t hurt to listen, as his cultivation had changed drastically, and he required continuous new knowledge.

Most importantly, access to the library was crucial because it would enable him to understand the world better. But he didn’t know if he could receive this opportunity.

“I’m afraid this opportunity is reserved for the geniuses, and we can give up on it.” Those with a lower cultivation smiled bitterly, not daring to hope for it.

Standing in the first row were seven youths in the sixth level of the True Core Realm. They all raised their heads high like peacocks because they would be chosen if there were no surprises.

Resources were essential in cultivation. If they cultivated vigorously when they had high talents, they would be able to rise quickly, and it was no wonder they would show such excitement.

The twelve from the mundane world stood by the side, looking conspicuous as they had the lowest cultivation among everyone.

Those recruited from the cultivation world were strong. Even the one with the lowest cultivation was in the fourth level of the True Core Realm, with eighty percent in the fifth level.

They completely outclassed the cultivation of the twelve from the mundane world.

A ferocious aura came crashing down, silencing everyone. The deacon in brown took out a parchment with several names written on it.

“Xing Yun, the Earth Force Peak!” When the name was called, everyone was baffled as it wasn’t the Heavenly Trigram Peak.

A young man stepped out from the first row with a cultivation in the sixth level of the True Core Realm. This person was handsome with a clean face, and joining the Earth Force Peak was a good choice.

Most importantly, he received the opportunity to be nurtured by the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion, which was crucial.

There had been precedents in the past years with disciples rising quickly, but the reward this year was far more generous compared to the past.

“Yin Yu, the Profound Inscription Peak!”

A woman with a cultivation in the sixth level of the True Core Realm stepped forward. She gave the deacon a bow to express her gratitude and said, “Thank you, deacon!”

“Cai Shiyun, the Terrain Summit Peak!”

Another youth in the sixth-level True Core Realm was called out. But he didn’t seem happy with his placement because his objective was to join the Heavenly Trigram Peak.

“Chu Wenkang, the Mortal Plume Peak!”

Four out of seven in the sixth level of the True Core Realm were selected, leaving the remaining three anxious. Someone would be skipped if there was no surprise because there were six peaks and seven of them.

“Dong Yizhuo, the Treasure Pill Peak!” Another youth from the remaining three stepped forward. He didn’t have a robust figure but emanated a powerful wood attribute energy. It turns out that he was an alchemist.

The remaining two became nervous as the Heavenly Trigram Peak was the only one left. The deacon in brown swept his gaze around and frowned. He purposely skipped the first person, curious about who this individual from the mundane world could be, chosen by the Heavenly Trigram Peak for special nurturing by the sect.

“Liu Wuxie, the Heavenly Trigram Peak!” the deacon announced.

Weng Li jumped upon hearing that and grabbed Liu Wuxie’s arm. He was genuinely happy for the latter and said, “Brother Liu, congratulations! I am excited for you!”

Everyone in the field was left dumbfounded after hearing what the deacon said.

“Liu Wuxie? Who’s this person?” Everyone began to search for this person, and their gazes ultimately stopped on Liu Wuxie, whose cultivation was only in the third level of the True Core Realm.

The six deacons were also looking around to search for Liu Wuxie. They were also curious when they received the list that someone in the third level of the True Core Realm was chosen to be a priority disciple by the sect. When they first received the list, they thought that it was a mistake made by the higher-ups.

However, since the higher-ups had made this decision, they didn’t dare to oppose it. After searching for some time, everyone’s gazes fell on Liu Wuxie.

If it had been someone else, they would have panicked under the scrutiny of so many people. But Liu Wuxie's expression remained calm. This was because he had already known about it from the book given to him by Fan Lin back during the Battle of the Hundred Nations.

Fan Lin was also curious about this decision back then until he witnessed Liu Wuxie’s performance in the Battle of the Hundred Nations.

Yang Songyue and others stood by the side, their faces filled with disbelief and a hint of malice in their eyes.

“Is there a mistake?” The two other experts in the sixth level of the True Core Realm stepped forward. After all, they believed one of them should have been picked, not someone who was only at the third level.

“I also think there’s a mistake!” The deacon in brown didn’t seem to like Liu Wuxie, holding a skeptical attitude towards this arrangement.

"I might not care about this opportunity, but I can't understand why the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion would give such a valuable spot to someone like him!" The two who weren't chosen were Lin Mingxu and Gongsun Zhen. Lin Mingxu, his face filled with anger, was the one who spoke.

Gongsun Zhen didn’t say anything, but his expression made it clear to everyone that he wasn’t happy with this arrangement. Even if he couldn’t receive the spot, it shouldn’t have been given to someone who was only in the third-level True Core Realm.

The five individuals who were chosen looked at Liu Wuxie curiously. They weren’t surprised that they were selected because they had the best performance on the assessment.

“This is an arrangement from the sect. We will now draw lots to determine which peak you’re going to!” The deacon in brown couldn’t be bothered to waste more time and took out the box for everyone to draw lots.

“Brat, you have three breaths to give up the spot!” Lin Mingxu was furious and stepped forward, releasing his aura in the sixth level of the True Core Realm, wanting to force Liu Wuxie to give up the spot.

Gongsun Zhen stood by the side with a sneer. They wouldn’t interfere since it was a decision made by the sect, but it would be another story if Liu Wuxie gave it up himself. This was an excellent opportunity that no one was willing to give up on.

Liu Wuxie sneered and swept his cold gaze at the two. He asked, “Are you two planning to act against me here if I refuse?”

This opportunity might have been necessary for the two of them, but it was even more critical for Liu Wuxie.

These two wouldn’t dare act in front of the deacons, but it would be a different story after they joined the sect.

“Liu Wuxie, are you sure you want to refuse?” Gongsun Zhen said without a hint of emotion, as though he was looking at a dead person.

It was unexpected for Liu Wuxie to provoke so many troubles when he had just joined the sect.

Weng Li didn’t try to persuade Liu Wuxie this time because he also wouldn’t give up on this opportunity if he were in the latter’s position. After all, this was a decision by the sect, and Liu Wuxie had no reason to give it up.

“Who do you think you two are?” Liu Wuxie was enraged. He had already made himself clear, and these two wanted to use their cultivation to bully him.

Why didn’t they go after the other five instead of him? Did these two think he was a pushover?