Chapter 16: Chapter 16: The Selection of The Azure Dragon Sect [2]

The tests proceeded calmly after Elder Alder’s demonstration. No one dared question anything further.

Those who had passed gathered behind the elder, while those who had failed left with their heads down.

Some sniffled with tears in their eyes, others let long sighs escape, but all remained silent.

Soon, more than two hundred faced the test, but only forty passed.

"Next!" Elder Alder’s voice rang out as a pale beauty stepped forward with a graceful step.

Damon had to admit, she was even more attractive now that she was his woman.

Stopping in front of the pillar, she gracefully raised her hand and touched the stone structures, which immediately shook. In the next moment, eight lights lit up on the pillar.

Elder Alder parted his lips to deliver his verdict, yet something gave him pause. His weathered eyes narrowed as he moved a step forward to look at the age pillar.

"S-seventeen years old. Elementary Spirit Realm, Eighth Level, Passed," the elder spoke, is stuttering but quickly regains his composure before calling for the next one.

In over a hundred years of recruiting for the Sect, he had only seen someone at the Eighth Level of the Elementary Spirit Realm, while only at 17, a handful of times.

The elder exhaled, visibly moved. ’A true genius, after all these years.’

Whispers rippled through the crowd around him.

"Eighth Level at seventeen? What a genius — who is she?"

"Isn’t that the Young Lady of the Aquaria Family? I had no idea she was this gifted."

"Quiet, Elder Alder is looking over here."

Ariel returned to his side shortly after.

"As expected of my woman," he murmured, the corners of his mouth curving upward.

She met his smile with one far lovelier.

A few more were called until Jack stepped forward. He seemed to have calmed his mind, but as soon as he noticed Damon in the corner of his eyes filled with anger.

Stopping in front of the pillar, he took a slow breath and pressed his hand on the stone structures.

He could feel Jack’s aura when they met, and his aura was very unstable.

’Tch... as expected, he must be a rich, arrogant young master, using their wealth just to make them have high cultivation!’

His family had no doubt poured a fortune into inflating his cultivation, all to make their noble lineage appear more gifted than those born without money.

Fortunately, he had no time to dwell on the irony of someone like him complaining about another man’s fortune.

The pillar was trembling as the lights slowly came on.

Elder Alder’s eyebrows rose slightly, but soon a smile took over his face.

"As expected of Young Master Jack, you are already close to being an inner disciple. Twenty years of age. Elementary Spirit Realm, Ninth Level, Passed."

As he joined the rest of the passers, Jack cast a teasing glance in Damon’s direction.

’You dare to obstruct this young master. Let’s see if you common people can beat that!’ Jack thought, trying to force some confidence into his face.

Then he saw the girl that standing closely next to Damon, and he noticed that it was a young lady of the Aquaria Family.

Then he saw her when she took her test just now, it made him happy that they will be in the same sect.

Jack met her at a noble clan meeting a few years ago. He had had a crush on since long ago, and even tried to ask his family to arrange a marriage between them.

But now, looking at her standing closely with another man, a commoner at that, which made his heart burn even more.

’Who the hell are you? Ariel is mine! Why the hell is she standing next to you?! A commoner.’

Jack gritted his teeth, trying to control his murderous intent, but a little still leaked out, all focused on Damon.

’With that inflated ego of yours... You are only looking for your own death. What a pathetic little man...’

Damon shook his head. He didn’t know why he was so angry at him, but that level of murderous intent was barely affecting him, but Elder Alder can sensed it perfectly.

The old man’s eyes focused on Jack for a few moments before he sighed. His expression looked disappointed as he called for the next person to be tested.

Soon, it was Damon’s turn.

He stood in front of the pillar and touched it lightly. A light took over the structure, and exactly eight lights came on.

Jack’s eyes shone more darkly than before, his body trembling as rage overflowed to his face.

Elder Alder parted his lips to deliver his verdict, yet his weathered eyes twitched once more.

’Another one?!’ The elder exhaled, barely concealing his excitement.

The girl from before had already been remarkable, and now another genius revealed himself within the same selection.

From the aura radiating off Damon’s body alone, he could already sense that the boy’s spiritual roots would be extraordinary, perhaps even rivalling the girls. The two of them would likely become pillars of the Sect one day.

"Eighteen years old. Elementary Spirit Realm, Eighth Level, approved," Elder Alder finally announced the result.

Jack’s face crumpled as he clenched his fists tightly.

Damon returned to his spot, where Ariel’s bright voice greeted him immediately.

"As expected of you, Damon. You truly are incredible!" Ariel beamed, her smile radiant with admiration.

The scene only made Jack even angrier with jealousy.

’Why is Ariel acting so close to that bastard? What is their relationship?’

"Don’t get too cocky, you commoner; there’s still the spiritual roots test and combat test. Even if you have high cultivation, a commoner like you won’t be able to defeat an inner disciple. You will fail!" Jack growled between his teeth.

The rest of the tests were less exciting. Lots of failures and a few high-level Spiritual Roots but nothing more.

"Good," Elder Alder smiled as he looked at the crowd.

The numbers had dropped considerably - the five hundred who had passed the will test had been reduced to just one hundred and twenty.

The quality was lacking, but the numbers were acceptable.

"Follow me, we’re going to the next test to start the Spiritual Roots test," Elder Alder’s voice echoed as he started walking.

Everyone had anxious, curious expressions as they moved to the other place.

Even if they were rejected, just seeing the inside of the Sect would be enough for some of them.