Chapter 17: Filling in College Applications

Pang Dahai said that someone would soon come to distribute some items to Lu Ye and the others, allowing them to make choices. As a cultivator of the Righteous Qi Sect, he undoubtedly knew the subsequent procedures.

Sure enough, not long after he left, all those who had passed the test and possessed jade tokens were summoned to one location.

While over a thousand enslaved individuals had been rescued earlier, only a little over a hundred now stood there, a proportion as low as ten percent.

Everyone stood quietly as a cultivator approached and distributed a piece of paper to each person. Lu Ye took his and looked down, seeing ten sect names listed from top to bottom.

The Righteous Qi Sect was listed first, followed by the Azure Jade Sect in second place. There were also other sects Lu Ye hadn't heard of, though he recognized Blazing Moon Mountain and Hundred Flowers Valley, which Pang Dahai had mentioned.

These were likely the sects that had participated in the attack on Evil Moon Valley.

Each sect's grade was noted beside its name.

The Righteous Qi Sect and Azure Jade Sect were both undoubtedly first-grade. The grades of the other sects varied significantly, mostly ranging from fourth to seventh grade.

Beside the grade, an additional line of text indicated the factions encompassed by each sect, all information Pang Dahai had previously shared.

Lu Ye felt a pang of gratitude towards Pang Dahai at that moment; otherwise, he likely wouldn't have understood the information on the paper.

As Lu Ye carefully examined the paper, a cultivator at the front of the crowd spoke, "Those of you who wish to join a sect, step forward, take a pen, and circle the name of your desired sect. You may choose up to three sects, but your final admission will depend on your luck and the decisions of each sect's supervisor. If you're fortunate, you might even be able to join one of the two first-grade sects."

After he finished speaking, the area fell silent for a moment. Soon, someone asked, "Senior, do you mean that while we choose sects, the sects are also choosing us?"

"That's correct!" the cultivator replied calmly. "So don't assume you can achieve instant success. If your aptitude and talent are insufficient, choosing even a first-grade sect will be futile."

Another person then asked, "What if none of the three sects I choose select me?"

"Then you will have no opportunity for cultivation and will be settled with those who lack cultivation aptitude!"

At these words, many who had held secret hopes were instantly sobered.

Many had just considered choosing both first-grade sects. However, acting on that impulse would surely not lead to a good outcome, as neither the Righteous Qi Sect nor the Azure Jade Sect would have low admission requirements. Once rejected by those two major sects, only one last chance would remain. If that final opportunity was also missed, they would forfeit this entire chance.

For Lu Ye and his companions, joining a sect for cultivation was undoubtedly the best path forward, and none of them wished to miss this opportunity.

At this point, everyone's expressions turned serious.

Lu Ye, however, held the paper in his hand, listening to the cultivator's words, his expression becoming extremely peculiar.

Why did this feel so much like filling out college applications?

When his talent was tested, the third senior brother from the Azure Jade Sect had read him the recruitment brochure. The jade token he received after the test could be considered his exam score. Each sect was like a university, and the factions were like specialized majors. Now, everyone was here to submit their applications.

And there were first, second, and third choices, just like in an application.

Looking at the sects listed on the paper again, the top two were undoubtedly like prestigious academies. Were the fourth and fifth-grade ones akin to standard universities? And the sixth and seventh-grade ones like second or third-tier institutions?

Lu Ye's gaze moved to the bottom of the list, and he was startled.

How was there even a sham academy listed?

The Bloodwood Sect, listed last, was surprisingly a ninth-grade sect; he hadn't noticed it earlier.

The situation was now clear: the more than one hundred individuals who had passed the test needed to choose three sects from the list. Although the task seemed straightforward, there was a hidden competition at play.

If too many people chose the same sect, a portion of them would surely be eliminated.

Lu Ye held his jade token, sighing inwardly. With his one-leaf talent, he had absolutely no competitive edge in this situation.

But he had to try nonetheless.

Considering his primary fire and secondary metal attributes, Lu Ye gradually formulated a plan.

In front of the cultivator who was speaking, there was a table with several pens and an inkstone.

One by one, people stepped forward, took a pen, marked their papers, and then handed them over to the cultivator along with their jade tokens.

Soon, only about half of the hundred-plus individuals remained.

Yu Xiaodie walked over to him. "Brother Lu, have you made your decision?"

"Hmm... yes, I have."

Yu Xiaodie asked, "Shall we go together then?"

"You go ahead first, I need a bit more time to think," Lu Ye replied. He had already made a decision, but his one-leaf talent still left him feeling uncertain.

With ten sects and over a hundred people, each sect could ideally take in more than ten disciples. However, this was merely the most optimistic distribution. Lu Ye was certain that the Righteous Qi Sect and Azure Jade Sect would only accept two or three individuals at most, just for appearances, and certainly no more.

This meant the other sects would have to accept a greater number of disciples.

Lu Ye didn't expect to join either of the two first-grade sects. However, if the competition proved too intense, he would still be eliminated even if he chose a sixth or seventh-grade sect.

He had been in Kyushu for over a year, serving as a mining slave in Evil Moon Valley for a full year. Although he had successfully opened his Spirit Aperture, he still couldn't even locate his second one, making actual cultivation seem like a distant dream.

If he could join a sect, however, things would be different; he could then seek guidance from the sect's masters. Therefore, he was unwilling to miss this opportunity, no matter what, even if it meant starting at a lower point.

With these thoughts, he stepped forward to the table, took a pen, and first circled the Bloodwood Sect. The Bloodwood Sect was the lowest-grade sect, and Lu Ye estimated that no one else would choose it besides himself. This was his safeguard, ensuring he could join a sect.

After selecting the Bloodwood Sect, he raised his pen to mark Blazing Moon Mountain.

As his pen tip touched the paper, he suddenly recalled Pang Dahai's final words.

He had been told to keep his expectations low and not be indecisive, which would allow him to achieve his desires.

At the time, Lu Ye hadn't fully understood, assuming it was just general advice. Now, however, it clearly held a deeper meaning.

Furthermore, Pang Dahai hadn't been optimistic about him. When Lu Ye asked him which sect to choose, Pang Dahai had frankly said that none would work out.

Pang Dahai was a cultivator of the Righteous Qi Sect, and although a bit greedy, he had no reason to mislead Lu Ye for no cause. This implied that even if Lu Ye chose other sects, it was highly probable that it wouldn't work out.

Lu Ye closed his eyes. Every choice at a crossroads in life was immensely important, especially the one he faced now.

He suddenly looked up at the cultivator in front of him and asked, "Dare I ask, Senior Brother, what would happen if I only chose this one sect?"

The cultivator was observing him with interest, as no one had chosen the Bloodwood Sect before Lu Ye, and it was foreseeable that no one would afterward, given its extremely low grade.

What surprised the cultivator, however, was that Lu Ye had not only chosen the Bloodwood Sect but had also asked him such a question.

The cultivator stroked his mustache, grinned, and said, "You'll know once you choose it."