207: Chapter 206: Gathering of Regions 207: Chapter 206: Gathering of Regions Hou Niao was speechless.
This senior uncle was indeed speaking without inhibition; but the truth was just so, the lower the position, the more they were cannon fodder, the easier it was to be abandoned—this was the cruelest reality in the cultivation world.
Yu Zhengxing stated solemnly, “You should formally integrate into the Quanzhen Sect now.
Having been a part of the sect for nearly three years, do you feel out of place with the atmosphere inside the sect?
Always as if there’s a barrier?
Without guidance from elder sect members, rarely having peers to spar with…
Is it just you tirelessly practicing on your own, then being assigned to various duties across the region, feeling no camaraderie or care from your fellow disciples or mentors?
Do you think this is the tradition of the Demon Sect?
Demons act without fearing the criticism of others, self-willed and wild; they are demons to outsiders, but within, they are fire, burning themselves but also illuminating their companions.”
Hou Niao listened quietly; he indeed felt this way, feeling loose within, lacking a sense of unity, without the urge to fully integrate.
Everyone seemed to be an individual under the nominal structure of the Quanzhen Sect.
“This is also one of the methods Quanzhen Sect uses to cultivate disciples.
Our disciples come from various backgrounds, not just from neighboring Anhe but also from faraway lands, and numerous countries on the Jinxiu Continent have disciples from the Quanzhen Sect, so we must discern their true nature somehow.
It’s not clear at the time of joining, just relying on self-reported backgrounds isn’t enough, and we don’t have enough manpower to investigate everyone across the continent, that would be too exhausting.
The method of the Quanzhen Sect is to keep entry requirements loose but exit strict; we take them in first and then observe these people over a period of three or six years, evaluating their performance, capabilities, potential, conduct, bad habits, and whether they are truly the disciples we need.
This task of selection is generally carried out by the local guardians, so your assessment is being managed by Xiang Zhiwen, and now I am involved too.
Congratulations, we both see you as a natural-born Quanzhen Sword Cultivator, whether it’s your innate talent for the sword or your understanding of the Quanzhen Sect’s ideology—and of course, Xiang Zhiwen and I differ on this point; I see you as an entranced disciple, while he thinks you are still salvageable?”
Yu Zhengxing laughed, “Xiang Zhiwen’s realm is inadequate, so is his judgment; he hasn’t seen what you truly are, whereas I believe you are born to do great things as long as you can survive.”
Hou Niao broke into sweat, “You don’t need to tell me all this.”
Yu Zhengxing was very serious, “I must say!
This is also the rule of the Quanzhen Sect.
We never keep on hiding from our own people; when we decide to formally accept you, you have the right to know all this.
Every disciple accepted will receive the same information, then passed on from generation to generation.
It’s better than you finding out afterwards and harboring resentment against the sect.”
Hou Niao pondered, “Are you saying that those punishments were because…?”
Yu Zhengxing nodded, “Those were the wishes of certain people within the Mu Shuai mansion who you have wronged!
They thought this would stop you from truly becoming a disciple of Quanzhen, trying to sway our judgment—wishful thinking!
Within the Quanzhen system, the guardians locally are fully responsible for the trial period for junior disciples; they don’t play by the rules of Mu Shuai mansion!
Because once personal preferences intervene, influenced by external forces, what awaits the guardians will be severe punishment from the Capital Commandant!
You should know, the Capital Commandant’s office wouldn’t bother with trivial penalties like fines or reassignments—they would debilitate you straight away, not caring whose backer you have!”
Hou Niao felt a chill.
He had always felt that the Capital Commandant’s office wasn’t very visible within the Quanzhen system, almost negligible, but now he understood.
They simply didn’t concern themselves with typical disciples; they target those with high statuses; no wonder those he interacted with dreaded mentioning the Capital Commandant’s office—there were reasons behind this.
“Do you mean those disciples who don’t get recognized will stay forever in the current state, oblivious to the truth?”
Yu Zhengxing unhesitatingly replied, “Yes!
They might lack talent, or Qi Fortune, or character, or harbor ill intentions…
Knowing less wouldn’t hurt them; otherwise, what would grow from not having the capabilities yet constantly blaming others?
They can continue to hold their positions locally, even if somewhat lazy or idle no one would manage them, or they could retire to live their own lives, establishing families; during this period the sect provides them with basic resources, the same secret techniques of the cultivation, the same opportunities—if they don’t advance, how can they blame the unfairness of the sect?
In this world, where is there fairness?
By being fair to them, it means being unfair to the real elites—if you were a high-ranking member of Quanzhen, which would you choose?”
Hou Niao had no rebuttal; perhaps the Quanzhen Sect was ruthless towards some people in certain aspects, but cultivation was indeed a heartless path, and those who were sentimental couldn’t continue.
Seeing him silent, Yu Zhengxing smiled, “But we never give up on those disciples who truly have ambition, like those in the Yinling Patrol lineage, I haven’t found a single unfit person!
But in Miao Gao Town, I would recommend less than half of the disciples there.”
Hou Niao finally breathed a sigh of relief; he couldn’t look after the entire world, but it was still reassuring to know his friends were doing well; this likely also included the four gentlemen from Jiangyou Town, who had probably already become true disciples of the Quanzhen Sect.
“Uncle Master, will they also participate in that thing you mentioned…”
Yu Zhengxing shook his head, “In the Yinling Patrol lineage, Xiang Zhiwen is preparing to advance to a higher realm, which is a major event.
He can’t participate; the combat ability of others is decent, but to say they stand out is quite a stretch.
Your two cronies, Wang Mian and Fang Yazi, are very promising, but since they haven’t reached Bridge Connection, participating would be disadvantageous; there’s no need to rush their development.
This time, we from Da Feng Plain are dispatching two disciples, which is the average number from each of the fifteen provinces of Shan Country, except for the Yujing Sect, which is sending five.”
Hou Niao wasn’t overly proud just because he made the list; it was the result of his own efforts, but he didn’t consider himself necessarily the main character.
After meeting Ameng from the Wu Sect, he still admired those true elites of the Daoist Sect.
“Who are our opponents?”
Yu Zhengxing stood up, went to the side of the study, and with a pull, a huge map unfurled.
It was a standard map of the Jinxiu Continent, clearly marking each country, every river, every mountain, even adding the alignments of each country within the Daoist hierarchy.
Differentiated by various colors, the layers were clear and straightforward at a glance.
And Shan Country was just a country in the southwest area of the Jinxiu Continent, a large nation, but just by area, there were quite a few countries even larger than Shan Country.