Inside the building where the tests are been held.
Across the four tests, the elders stationed there took turns examining the group of people who were aspiring to become disciples of their sect.
Observations and comments on the test takers were not missing among the tests' overseers. Any remarkable performance or miserably failed attempt done by them was being applauded for or criticized.
At the strength test.
A test taker just punched the boulder with all the strength he could muster, all the while fantasizing about his future life as a disciple of the great Azure Brilliance Sect.
*Poof* a muffled sound was heard.
The test taker removed his fist from the boulder in confusion. When he inspected the place of impact, he saw nothing, not even a tiny dent. Only a few particles of dust fell to the floor. Disappointed by his failed attempt, he could only follow the guide to the next test.
"Ah, another one who failed here." said the black-haired elder.
"It is to be expected. These days, because of the safety we managed to achieve in the surrounding lands, there are fewer and fewer people who focus on their physical strength improvement." answered the other next to him.
At the gravity test.
A test taker just fainted after only a couple of seconds under the change of gravity.
"Another one fainted just when we have just started." said an elder as he shook his head in disappointment.
"Someone! Come and carry her out, she is disqualified!" said another one.
At the crystal absorption test.
Another test taker's face was red all over as he was gritting his teeth and clenching his fist around the magic crystal, trying his hardest to absorb it. But when even after a long time not even an ounce was absorbed, the black-haired elder in charge of the test was forced to stop him by disqualifying him. Not being able to absorb even a little after so long meant he had no talent for magic.
"Consider becoming a farmer or a builder. You will have more chances with those professions." said the elder to the test taker as he was leaving.
At the aptitude test.
Most of the group taking this test didn't even manage to light the stele to the first level, with only some reaching it and even fewer passing it.
"Sigh. Pure disappointment. That's the only sentiment I have left" lamented elder Wong.
"I concur with what you mean. I can't even remember the time when the minimum passing aptitude level was level three. Now, we can only suck it up and take in those who achieved level one." said emotionally elder Jiang.
He was so disappointed with the latest decades' recruitment tests, he had basically no emotions to spare for the subject anymore and was just going with the flow of things.
Many such conversations were taking place and disqualifications were being announced, as the long queue of test takers entered to take the tests. This continued until only a few were left...
Back at the strength test.
"Ah, so many failures!"
"It looks like we won't be recruiting a talent this time too."
"Indeed. For the past four disciple recruitments, the quality of the candidates we accept keeps getting lower and lower."
"We can only hope there will be an exceptional, or even an adequate one in the few others that are left this time, no matter the miniscule chance that could be possible."
"Yes, I agree. Let's continue with the next one then. The current test taker has just been disqualified at the crystal absorption test."
The message had been given outside and after a moment of waiting, another one was brought in front of them, following a disciple responsible for keeping the tests' records.
Going through the motions, without paying too much attention to the test taker himself, one of the elders - the black-haired one - went on to introduce the test and explain a few things about it. He was one of the few who focused on refining magicka to strengthen their own bodies, so he put a few demonstrations of punches in his explanatory.
When he finished, he stood back and waited together with the other elder and the disciple, for the test taker to make his attempt.
Just like the rest before him, they saw him go in front of the boulder, and after clenching his fist and pulling it back, he thrusted it forward.
Even though they didn't hold many hopes anymore for any good results, they were expecting to at least hear a sound from the impact. Instead, they heard nothing. Of course, that was impossible to happen - as even a weak impact would have produced some kind of sound - and that made them more confused than ever.
Not dwelling much on their confusion but still curious about the results after the weird impact, they watched as the test taker took his fist back, away from the boulder, and then observed the place of impact but didn't find a single dent.
'Sigh, another failure' the two elders thought, with no surprise of the outcome.
*Crick* Halfway to finishing their thoughts though, a muffled cracking sound was heard. They had just perked their ears to identify its origin when they heard it again. It was coming straight from the boulder itself! They didn't know what was happening!
*Crack* *Crack* More cracking sounds were heard, now more distinct than the ones before.
Even the boulder didn't know what happened, failing to respond in time. In a delayed reaction, web-like cracks began to appear on its surface, covering the whole boulder.
Stunned, the disciple and the two elders watched with their mouths hung open as the massive boulder quickly filled with cracks and immediately after turned to many tiny pieces, scattering across the floor. They were shocked!
"Whaaat!" "Hooww!" Many exclamations with single wording were heard from around them. Just like them, anyone else who was watching from the beginning of the attempt was shocked by its outcome.
Everyone else who had his attention drawn by the noise was confused, not sure what caused the commotion. They began asking the person next to them for what had happened.
Meanwhile, the disciple and the two elders at the strength test were still in shock, incapable of awakening from it by themselves.
Even the two elders with more years under their belt couldn't make heads or tails of what happened. How could the disciple be expected to?
Inner disciple Tang was just there to record the results of the test takers assigned to him, and so far they were mediocre at best. How could he process what he had just witnessed and not be shocked.
While being paralyzed by shock, a hand waved in front of him, jolting him awake. Turning to see, he was greeted by the test taker who had just done the impossible.
A strange thing happened to him right then. Instead of flinching back from the sight and freezing again from shock, he was overwhelmed by it internally. That resulted in him to instinctively acting as if nothing out of the ordinary had just happened and continuing with his next actions as normal.
Having witnessed the test being taken, he moved and started recording it on his papers.
Disciple Candidate #197
Strength Test: Passed
Size of damage caused: Testing Boulder pulverized
Time taken: Instant (with two seconds of delay)
After finishing writing everything down, he proceeded to guide the test taker to the next test like he did for the others so many times before.