「The next day.」
Sanqing Immortal Sect, Seeking Dao Peak.
Five thousand youths who had passed the assessment stepped onto the peak, greeted by the sight of thirty-six fluttering banners.
Alchemy Sect registration booth
Artifact Sect registration booth
Formation Sect registration booth
Sword Sect registration booth
Chamber Sect registration booth (Note: Major in the Daoist School's authentic secret bedroom techniques. Lie-flat cultivation, endless joy.)
Talisman Sect registration booth
Thunder Sect registration booth
Sonic Sect registration booth (Note: Major in the Sonic Dao. The first ten admitted will receive an extra sonic scripture.)
Blade Sect registration booth
Sword Sect registration booth
Devil Sect registration booth (Note: Only recruiting docile, good-natured yao. Those with exceptionally beautiful transformed appearances are given priority.)
Manipulation Sect registration booth
…
A buzz of excitement filled the air.
"Dad, Mom, your son finally passed!"
"Three years, and then another three, and another three... It's been nine years! Heavens know how hard I've worked!"
"Chamber Sect, Chamber Sect, here I come!"
"The Chamber Sect is tempting, but the other sects have their own charms. As long as it's not the Divination Sect."
"Exactly! Any sect is fine as long as it's not the Divination Sect."
…
In the northwest corner of Seeking Dao Peak, Wang Xiu sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion, his eyes closed in rest. Beside him stood an old, weathered banner, upon which the faded, dusty characters for 'Divination Sect' were barely visible.
"What a handsome Senior Brother. I'm smitten."
"The Divination Sect... if I join, can I become his Junior Sister and share a bed with him? Sister, let's join the Divination Sect!"
"Are you insane? Do you have any idea what a trap the Divination Sect is? Get away from here, fast."
…
Listening to the noisy chatter around him, Wang Xiu didn't even open his eyes. He had been hearing these kinds of discussions for fifteen years and was completely unfazed. It was only natural. After all, for most people, choosing a specialization was a decision that would last a lifetime.
Join the Divination Sect? That would be tantamount to severing one's own cultivation path. No one in their right mind would make such a choice.
Fortunately, he hadn't come to this recruitment fair to actually find new disciples anyway.
With that thought, Wang Xiu opened his eyes, took out a handful of sunflower seeds from his pocket, and started cracking them as he gazed at the other recruitment booths. Over there, the great 'Bragging Competition' had already begun!
…
"Senior Brother, what advantages does your Alchemy Sect have?"
"Let me tell you, Junior Sister, and I'm not just blowing smoke! Our Alchemy Sect is absolutely the strongest branch in the Sanqing Immortal Sect, bar none! First of all, where is our Alchemy Sect's headquarters? Yujing Peak! It's the foremost among all the peaks of Sanqing. Besides the Sect Leader's Sanqing Grand Hall, our Yujing Peak has the richest Spiritual Energy and the most complete cultivation facilities. Moreover, our Alchemy Sect disciples never have to go down the mountain to slay demons. It's completely safe! We just stay comfortably on the mountain concocting elixirs, with none of the dirty or tiring work! For a young lady like you, joining our Alchemy Sect is the perfect choice. You'll breeze your way to the pinnacle of life! Stay on the mountain for a few years, and you'll become a wealthy young lady in the Cultivation World!"
[Ding!]
[Bragging detected. Congratulations, Host, for receiving Mana +6.]
Pfft.
Listening to the disciple from the neighboring Yujing Peak, Wang Xiu couldn't help but smile.
The Alchemy Sect does have the richest Spiritual Energy among the branches, and it's true they don't have to do dirty work. But completely safe? Anyone who spends a few days on Yujing Peak listening to the constant explosions from the various pill furnaces knows that being an alchemist is anything but a safe profession. After all... dynamite is a kind of elixir too! What's more, the current Sect Leader of the Sanqing Immortal Sect is a master haggler. He's constantly visiting the Chief of Yujing Peak to plead poverty. The internal supply price for those elixirs has been driven down so low they're almost as cheap as cabbage. The Chief of Yujing Peak gets so angry he stomps his feet every day, threatening that if the Sect Leader pushes him too far, he'll just go out and sell himself! Selling his ass would be better than selling elixirs within the Sect.
…
"Senior Brother, what are the advantages of the Artifact Sect?"
"Let me tell you, Junior Sister, and I'm not just bragging! Our Artifact Sect is definitely the strongest branch in the Sanqing Immortal Sect, bar none! First of all, where is our Artifact Sect located? Yu Xu Peak! Among all the branches of Sanqing, it has the richest Spiritual Energy and the most complete cultivation facilities, second only to the Sect Leader's Sanqing Grand Hall. Plus, disciples of the Artifact Sect don't need to go down the mountain to slay demons. It's completely safe! All we do is comfortably refine artifacts on the mountain, no dirty or tiring work for us! Furthermore, elixirs are consumables, while Magic Artifacts can be used for a very long time. This means our workload as Artifact Refiners is much lighter than that of alchemists, yet our income is just as high. You could say it's great pay for easy work! For a young lady like you, Junior Sister, joining our Artifact Sect is the right choice. You'll effortlessly reach the pinnacle of life! Stay on the mountain for a few years, and you'll be a wealthy young lady in the Cultivation World!"
[Ding!]
[Bragging detected. Congratulations, Host, for receiving Mana +6.]
Pfft.
Hearing the spiel from the disciple from the neighboring Yu Xu Peak, Wang Xiu couldn't help but smirk.
Indeed, elixirs are consumed continuously, while Magic Artifacts can be used for a long time. The problem is, Magic Artifacts have durability, damn it! Whenever a disciple's Magic Artifact gets damaged, they have to go to Yu Xu Peak to find an Artifact Sect disciple for repairs. That job is anything but easy. The most ridiculous part is that the Sect Leader of Mount Sanqing consulted with the head of Yu Xu Peak and forced an agreement on him. Any Magic Artifact purchased within the Sect comes with a fifty percent discount on all future repair costs. After factoring in the cost of materials and the Spiritual Energy consumed, it's basically a free lifetime warranty, powered by love!
…
"Senior Brother, what are the advantages of the Formation Sect?"
"Let me tell you, Junior Sister, and I'm not just bragging! Our Formation Sect is definitely the strongest branch in the Sanqing Immortal Sect, bar none! First of all, where is the Formation Sect located? Yuhua Peak! Among all the branches of Sanqing, it has the richest Spiritual Energy and the most complete cultivation facilities, second only to the Sect Leader's Sanqing Grand Hall. Plus, the Array Masters from our branch can multiply a team's combat effectiveness, making us the core of any team. On any expedition, you're guaranteed to be the team's darling. The moment you face an Evil Demon, everyone in the team will go all out to protect you. It's completely safe!"
[Ding!]
[Rampant bragging detected, triggering a critical hit and reaching the System's climax! Congratulations, Host, for receiving Mana +18 and Mana Quality +18.]
[Congratulations, Host, for obtaining: Four Symbols Guardian Exorcism Great Formation Complete Experience Card!]
Pfft.
Hearing the spiel from the disciple from the neighboring Yuhua Peak, Wang Xiu couldn't help but crack a smile.
Core of the team, sure. Team's darling, also correct. But why would all your teammates protect you? Because the enemy will always focus-fire you first! Seriously. Dancing on the edge of a knife, partying on a grave... talk about a thrill!
…
And the Chamber Sect? Heh. You really think you'll get to practice as soon as you join? Do you even have a Dao companion? Do you have any idea how skewed the male-to-female disciple ratio is there? Do you know how the term 'chamber-slave' came into being? Do you know the meaning of waiting for good news that never comes? Of pining away in vain?
…
Listening to the disciples from the various branches shamelessly pimping out their sects with flashy boasts, Wang Xiu felt the explosive growth of Mana inside him. He appeared calm on the surface, but inwardly he was ecstatic.
As expected. When cultivators start bragging, the rewards are always generous and satisfying. These senior and junior brothers from the thirty-six peaks of the Sanqing Immortal Sect... every last one of them is a real piece of work!