Senior Sisters, I Don’t Want To Work Hard Anymore

Chapter 117: The So-Called Unspoken Rules

Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace, which was thriving thousands of years ago, had a core disciple population of tens of thousands. Unfortunately, after the great calamity, the territory and industries under their control drastically shrank, leading to a series of negative effects.

Nowadays, the lineup of over 3,000 core disciples is only on par with those of ordinary top sects. If it weren't for their significant advantage in the inheritance of cultivation techniques, the situation for the sect would undoubtedly be worse.

The surrounding Supreme sects in the Immortal Realm have core disciple populations that are at least ten times larger than that of Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace. One can imagine the external pressure the sect's higher-ups have faced over the past thousand years.

Fortunately, from now on, this extremely unfavorable situation will completely change. The situation of Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace will gradually improve until it reaches its peak again.

Qin Muling pondered and asked, "How many people are expected to be on the list for the sect's selection assessment this time?"

Xue Bingxuan replied softly, "The sect leader and the elders have agreed on a quota of 800 people. However, if suitable talents are found, a few more can be added. Moreover, the sect leader has personally given you an additional quota of 200. If there are outstanding inner disciples among those who fail to make the cut, you can make the decision to admit them regardless."

Qin Muling nodded slightly. The sect leader, Mu Yinghua, had considered everything meticulously. He didn't need to think too much and could just follow the instructions.

This assessment will be presided over by the senior sister, with the assistance of some high-ranking elders and experienced core disciples. Several grand elders will also be present to supervise. If any inner disciples who fail to make the cut have objections to the results, they can appeal on the spot for a reevaluation to ensure that there is no favoritism or cheating.

In previous years, the selection of core disciples in the sect usually took place every three to five years, with only 200 people being selected each time. All inner disciples who have reached the Core Condensation Realm, accumulated enough merits and contributions, and have not committed major mistakes are eligible to participate.

Currently, there are over 300,000 inner disciples in Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace. They are the elites selected from the group of outer disciples. Usually, only one inner disciple is born out of every 150 outer disciples.

Qin Muling roughly estimated that nearly 40,000 inner disciples were present for the assessment today, while the remaining disciples did not meet the requirements and needed to continue their cultivation and training.

Regardless of whether they are servants, outer disciples, inner disciples, or core disciples, their mortality rates are quite high due to various reasons. When the number of casualties becomes significant, the sect's higher-ups need to promptly select and replenish their ranks.

As the saying goes, "The camp is made of iron, and the soldiers are like water." This is what is called an ironclad sect with flowing disciples.

For example, Jade Pearl Star Palace lost over 2,000 core disciples in the Illusory Mist Secret Realm. Although their lives were spared, their aptitude and foundation were severely damaged, and their luck declined. As a result, the sect's higher-ups revoked their status as core disciples and selected enough inner disciples to replace them.

Taking everything into account, every cultivator who can safely progress from the Qi Refining Realm to the Destiny Realm, ultimately breaking free from the shackles of mortals and achieving Immortal Transformation and Immortal Ascension, may have had over a hundred core disciples sacrificed behind them.

This is the cruel reality of the cultivation world. Compared to the billions and trillions of cultivators, the lucky few who can successfully grow and enjoy eternal freedom are always an extremely small minority.

Qi Yalan sighed softly, "I wonder how many more years we have to wait for the number of core disciples in the sect to recover to its previous peak scale."

"Soon, but not too soon!" Cheng Yulan said leisurely, "The sect urgently needs a large number of new blood, but they must be inner disciples who meet all the requirements in order to become a member of the core disciples. So we can't rush it."

Qin Muling agreed with this sentiment. Although the sect is not lacking in resources now, they cannot simply open the door and accept those with mediocre skills. That would only lead to mixed results and a waste of training resources.

This year's enrollment quota is five times larger than previous years, and it can almost include all the eligible inner disciples.

In addition, the sect's higher-ups have increased the allocation of training resources for both inner and outer disciples. It's not a significant increase on an individual basis, averaging about a 50% increase, but the total expenditure is quite astonishing.

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

At a glance, there were beautiful and attractive women in various colors, each one captivating. They were truly a feast for the eyes.

"...If it were me in my past life, with two hundred enrollment spots, I could have had some fun with the unwritten rules, right?" Qin Muling murmured softly, power in hand, not to be wasted.

After all, the dojo reserved for herself was still empty. As long as she wanted, she could select a group of beautiful and talented female cultivators to bring back as maidservants. They would be good for massaging her legs and warming her bed. And she could change their outfits every day, with cat maid costumes today, transparent cheongsams tomorrow, and swimsuits the day after... Ahem, let's stop there.

If she were to put this idea into action, her master might not say anything, but her senior sisters would definitely not turn a blind eye.

Dare to fool around outside? Did you lose your mind? Or did the senior sisters become unable to wield their swords?

"Young junior brother, what are you muttering about again?" Qi Yalan asked curiously, "What is the unwritten rule? Why don't I understand?"

Naturally, Qin Muling couldn't tell the truth and could only speak vaguely, "It's a complicated concept. I can't explain it clearly for now, but you'll understand in the future."

Qi Yalan pouted and gave him a reproachful look, but she didn't continue to ask.

The moment has finally arrived.

On the high platform, Xue Bingxuan, who was seated in the main position, stood up gracefully and gave a brief instruction before announcing the start of the assessment.

With the combined efforts of several elders, a formation that had already been set up in the square was activated amidst a loud rumbling sound. The spiritual pressure slowly rose, and soon, a thirty-zhang diameter circular light gate gradually appeared, solidifying and stabilizing.

On the other side of the circular light gate was a separate Grotto-Heaven world. The area inside was vast, housing numerous low-level demonic beasts and monsters. After countless years of evolution and change, some of the more intelligent demon tribes had developed civilizations, built cities, and even formed nations.

The task of the inner disciples was to spend ten days in this Grotto-Heaven world, hunting and exterminating these low-level 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 would be able to successfully advance to become core disciples.

Of course, the top fifty ranked participants would also receive extremely generous rewards. For example, the first place on the trial leaderboard would receive a Xuanqing Zao Hua True Spirit Pill, a set of custom-made Middle Grade Treasure Weapons, and cultivation resources equivalent to three years' worth of quotas.

Such rewards were unimaginable in the past. It was only because the sect was no longer lacking in resources that they could afford such extravagance.

Inner disciples were not allowed to kill each other, bully their fellow disciples, or snatch each other's spoils of war. The entire assessment process was monitored by the Acquired Spiritual Treasure Great Reincarnation Mirror, which could review any scene in detail at any time. There was simply no possibility of cheating or distorting the truth.

The mission rules were quite simple and clear. The number of pills, Law Weapons, and talismans that disciples could bring in were strictly limited, effectively eliminating the opportunity for cheating. They could only rely on their own cultivation, intelligence, and luck.

Under the command of Senior Sister Xue Bingxuan, a group of elders and high-ranking Dao soldiers and puppets entered the light gate first. After a moment, it was the turn of the inner disciples to enter.

Due to the random teleportation effect of the light gate, each group of people who entered would arrive at different locations, eliminating the possibility of ambushes. The difference between those who entered earlier and those who entered later was not significant.

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

If a participating disciple encountered a threat that they couldn't handle, they could send out a distress signal, and the elders and Dao soldiers 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. If they failed to pass all five times, they would never have the chance to become a core disciple in their lifetime. Usually, they could only become an inner sect elder or be sent to manage secular affairs in the branch academies or dynastic cities, with little hope of advancement.

"...If it weren't for my identity as a personal disciple of the Sect Master, I would have to participate in the trial with them now, right?" Qin Muling said.

Luo Wanqing, who was beside him, lightly kicked him and said, "This kind of assumption is meaningless. Your current identity is that of an examiner. You don't need to consider things from the perspective of the disciples anymore."

Xue Bingxuan smiled and agreed, "Indeed, not to mention the core disciple trials, even in the various internal competitions, dangerous territories, or travel missions within the sect, you have nothing to do with them. You and them are different. You no longer need to rely on rankings and merits to prove yourself."

Qin Muling asked, "Is it not allowed for me to go and have some fun, broaden my horizons?"

Xue Bingxuan looked at him with some confusion, "Is it necessary to go to such lengths? What does it matter to you if all the rewards from this trial are added together? Do you still lack these things?"

"Alright, it was my oversight."

Qin Muling shook his head and didn't say anything more. His current status was no less than any high-ranking elder, and he couldn't compare himself to those disciples anymore.

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

On the cloud platform, Tang Ruoxuan, a special envoy from the Daoist Court, stood by the railing with a wine bottle in hand. By his side were groups of maidservants, each one splendidly dressed and radiant. On a nearby table, various rare delicacies and spirit wines were already laid out.

As a guest of the Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace, Tang Ruoxuan had been enjoying the highest level of treatment these days. Even he, who was accustomed to grand occasions, couldn't find any faults.

"I heard that Ji Yunfeng previously pleaded with you for something, but was directly rejected by the Sect Master?"

Taking a sip of wine, Tang Ruoxuan asked casually.

The Immortal Lord Yun Miao by his side nodded lightly, "That's right, and our Sect Master has already sent a letter to the Heavenly Witch Divine Dynasty, requesting a change in the choice of envoy."

This matter was not a secret. Ji Yunfeng had been rebuffed by Mu Yinghua, so he turned to Tang Ruoxuan, offering generous gifts, hoping that he could speak up for him.

But from the looks of it now, Ji Yunfeng did not receive the answer he wanted.

A hint of a smile appeared in Tang Ruoxuan's eyes, "What is destined will come to pass, what is not destined will not be forced. This prince... how should I put it? He indeed has a good father who is willing to take on such a great responsibility for him, but unfortunately, he himself is still unsatisfied and discontented. I'm afraid the outcome will be worrying!"

The Immortal Lord Yun Miao smiled brightly, "Regarding this matter, I completely agree with your view."

Tang Ruoxuan smiled and changed the subject, "I heard that the fifth direct disciple accepted by the Sect Master is quite extraordinary, so I would like to meet him. This is also the intention of my ancestor. I wonder if you can facilitate this?"

"..."

Continued in the next chapter, please vote for this chapter and recommend it.

(End of this chapter)