In the Name of the Supreme Elderly Lord!
There were only four to five hundred children who qualified to cultivate. The packed entrance was merely the guardians.
Mu Yu stood alone in a courtyard, trees accompanying him. A middle-aged immortal master maintained order alone. Under the playful surface, the children were nervous to some extent and well-behaved, especially since they were in immortal masters’ territory. They pondered if they’d be sent home in the case no sect chose them. Mu Yu could imagine Village Chief Bu’s disappointment if that embarrassing fate befell him.
Though he brushed it off earlier, Mu Yu fixed his appearance up since Village Chief Bu proclaimed they vetted disciples based off appearances. It was a daunting task for Mu Yu to do his hair because he didn’t have parents to do it for him before departing; he didn’t even wash his hair in the morning. After fleeing from the grey bear, saying he was covered in filth was an understatement. He loathed himself for not washing his clothes at the creek when Village Chief Bu did.
After the immortal master left, a chubby boy opined, “I heard we’ll have to wrestle wild beasts later, and the best performer will supposedly be chosen.”
“H-huh? Y-You’re joking. How are we supposed to defeat wild beasts?” stuttered a boy who appeared malnourished.
“My brother said the test would be damaging. He said you’ll be left brain dead if you’re not careful,” a girl with two braids pointing up claimed, fingers clasped tightly.
“He’s just jealous he can’t cultivate!” retorted the chubby boy.
“They will test whether or not we can use magic, you ignorant bumpkins,” mocked the son of a noble family.
The chubby boy sarcastically asked, “How are we supposed to know magic? What? You can wield magic?”
“Hmph, that’s a given. My family tutor is a skilled immortal master. Watch me, bumpkins.”
The excited children hurriedly made way, eager to see the demonstration. Smug, the wealthy boy warmed up his wrists. He pressed his hands together, extended an index finger, recited something and shook his head at the same time.
“What are you mumbling?” questioned the chubby boy.
“Immortal masters need to recite incantations to cast sills, bumpkin. Stop interrupting me.” The wealthy boy squatted down parallel to the floor and hiked his hips up. He purposely raised his voice for everyone to hear. “In the name of the supreme elderly lord, wind, fire and lightning, I command you…”
Some of the children were dazzled. Meanwhile, the chubby boy muttered under his breath, “Isn’t that what the granny next door recites when she banishes spirits? Is your tutor a spirit banisher, too?”
The last time someone claimed ghosts were running rampant the village, they invited a priest to expel the evil spirit. The priest drank wine and spat fire, scaring the villagers. As such, Mu Yu recognised the incantation and had to resist a laugh.
Embarrassment seared through the wealthy boy’s cheeks, but he ignored the chubby boy. He pressed his index fingers together and pointed at the ground. He thrust forward, generating a buzzing sound as something qi moved shot from his finger into the ground, parting the dirt and leaving a faint mark on the ground.
The hole was only as deep as a fingernail – not to mention the ground was just sand – but the kids were amazed. Mu Yu couldn’t explain how the boy managed to shoot a ray of qi from his finger out of nowhere. If the test really was a test of their magic skills, the wealthy boy would be the only one to pass. The children started to panic, believing the wealthy boy’s claim. Some tried to imitate the skill.
“Hmph, I told it was an advanced spell. It’ll take you ages to learn! My tutor is a sage!”
The chubby boy curled his lips. “You farted using your finger, big deal.” Despite his scathing jab, the chubby boy sneaked off to try and imitate the skill.
“In the name of the supreme, supreme, supreme, wait. Metal, wood, water, fire, earth, wait. Wind, fire, lightning, earth, what was it again?”
The children tried to recite the same incantation, if not conjure up an entirely new one. Mu Yu even heard something about open sesame. He wondered why not red bean or green been. He obviously wasn’t a fan of sesame. Jokes aside, the tense attitudes relieved his tension. After all, it was a relief to know he wasn’t the only one who couldn’t cast magic. If everyone was bound to fail, surely they had another test in mind.
“What are you all doing? Get in line!” reprimanded the middle-aged immortal master, upon coming back and seeing the children amidst their “spell casting” endeavour. After everyone hastily lined up, he explained, “We will now move on to the test. Come with me, but maintain order.”
The immortal master turned and made his way to another courtyard with an illusory arched door. He pushed it open and led the children into the spacious location. Dozens of immortal masters sat in chairs atop the circular staircases around them, carefully observing the children in the vacant spot dead centre. The children’s hearts skipped a beat. The people sitting in the seats varied in age and appearance. Even their clothing ranged from normal to extravagant.
They had never seen so many immortal masters in one place before. A part of the children was excited about their prospects of joining the immortal masters. The immortal masters talked amongst themselves and pointed to the children. Mu Yu silently prayed they’d spare him more attention.
“Now, the test shall soon commence. When you are summoned, file up to the platforms in the groups I assigned you to before, and you will be told what to do,” instructed the middle-aged immortal master, stoically.
Everyone shifted their gaze over to where the immortal master pointed, which was dead centre in the vacant space, where a boulder sat in what resembled a ring. A white-haired sat at the table of tokens next to it. None of the children had any wild guesses for what the tokens were.
Mu Yu: Are they going to ask us to pick up the boulder?
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