In the evening, Fan Wubing returned from selling the harvested ingredients in Weiri City at the foot of the mountain.
As he reached the gate of Enlightenment Peak, the sect token at his waist vibrated slightly.
He took it out to look, and a ray of light swept across the surface of the token, forming a sentence above—
"All disciples of the Eternal Immortal Sect, please gather at the Immortal Performance Plaza on Immortal Performance Peak by 5:15 AM tomorrow morning."
Sometimes, Fan Wubing felt that this sect token was almost like a mobile phone, except it couldn't access the internet. It could store personal information, record the income and expenses of contribution points, verify the content of missions, transmit messages...
Once upon a time, he even fantasized about an "Immortal Network"...
However, people must ultimately live in the present.
Why gather all the sect disciples at this time?
Fan Wubing thought carefully, what special day is tomorrow. Suddenly, he clapped his hands,
"Oh right! Last month new students were recruited, so this month is the customary New Student Trial!"
Recruiting new students is just the process of bringing those who meet the requirements in, but how they train and which peak they join all depend on the New Student Trial.
The better one's performance in the New Student Trial, the more likely they are to be chosen by elder disciples with more seniority and higher cultivation as their inner circle disciple. Some especially outstanding ones may even have the chance to enter the Peak Master's tutelage and become a direct disciple.
If one is that rare kind of prodigy, they can even choose their own master freely.
Those who are not chosen by the elders and Peak Masters can only become outer disciples, following some senior brothers and sisters or learning on their own.
"No wonder Luo Qingyao has time to follow me around all day, turns out he hasn't joined a peak yet."
However, Fan Wubing also found it strange, the New Student Trial just needs to gather the new students, so why gather all the disciples?
...
Immortal Performance Peak, one of the three main peaks of the Eternal Immortal Sect, governs all matters related to "cultivation" within the sect: disciple courses, advancement, trials, etc.
The other two main peaks are Eternal Immortal Peak, where the Sect Leader resides, which is the core of the sect's power.
The other is Fate Peak, responsible for regulating sect discipline, awarding and punishing members.
Enlightenment Peak used to be a place for sect disciples to understand the Tao, examine their hearts, remove distractions, and stabilize their foundations. In the path of cultivation, talent comes first, disposition second, and diligence last. Cultivating disciples' dispositions is what made Enlightenment Peak one of the three main peaks.
After it declined, Fate Peak took over.
Entering Enlightenment Peak now, it's a dilapidated place. Having not experienced its former glory or decline, Fan Wubing feels little about it.
To him, Enlightenment Peak is a place carrying childhood difficulties and a place where he can feel the warmth of his master and senior sister.
Upon reaching the Immortal Performance Plaza, there were already quite a few people there.
The new students were gathered together. The older students were lined up according to their respective Immortal Peaks.
This was the part Fan Wubing hated the most.
Because he was always alone. Occasionally, a senior sister would accompany him.
When the senior sister was there, no one dared to say anything, but when he was alone, gossip would come from all directions.
Hatred was one thing, habit was another.
Fan Wubing stood alone at the position belonging to Enlightenment Peak. It looked as if he were isolated.
But to him, it wasn't that he was isolated by others, but that he isolated others.
"Enlightenment Peak indeed trains one's disposition; Junior Brother Fan, you stand here alone, yet it feels like thousands stand behind you."
Wei Changkong walked over from the side, smiling and greeting Fan Wubing.
If it were the past life, Fan Wubing would surely think Wei Changkong was being sarcastic, but actually, Wei Changkong was just a very earnest, somewhat naïve guy.
He sometimes thought, if only Wei Changkong used a bit of cunning, he might have already struck up a conversation with the senior sister.
"Senior Brother Wei, good morning." Fan Wubing slightly bowed and cupped his hands.
"There's no need for formalities between us." Wei Changkong surveyed Fan Wubing up and down, "Junior Brother Fan, your aura seems much steadier, and... you've grown taller, and your physique looks more robust."
Fan Wubing laughed,
"I've had a good appetite lately, eating a lot."
Wei Changkong believed that eating more would make one grow, but how could it also change one's aura?
However, Wei Changkong didn't ask more.
Fan Wubing asked,
"By the way, Senior Brother, usually the New Student Trial only gathers the newcomers. Why are even the older students summoned this time?"
"You don't know? The news spread throughout the sect a few days ago."
Fan Wubing had been busy hunting in the forest the past few days,
"You know, I keep to myself, and no one interacts with me."
Wei Changkong's eyes flashed with some sympathy, then he laughed and said,
"Actually, it's nothing much. The elders of the Immortal Performance Peak discussed and decided to optimize the evaluation process for the freshman trials. Previously, the freshmen would enter the Trial Profound Realm alone and kill monsters to get points for their ranking. But this method of evaluation was unfair to children from ordinary families.
"Children from wealthy families naturally have superior resources, start cultivating at a young age, and possess countless advanced magical treasures, easily gaining an advantage in the trials. But those from ordinary backgrounds, who start late and have fewer resources, struggle.
"However, a disciple should be judged from multiple perspectives. Talent, character, diligence, luck, and so on... So, a 'mentorship' process is introduced, where senior students accompany freshmen in the trials to closely observe other aspects of the freshmen's qualities, thus comprehensively assessing their potential."
Fan Wubing thought for a moment and asked,
"But what if a freshman from a wealthy background bribes the seniors?"
"There is certainly a possibility of this. But change doesn't happen overnight. At the very least, the elders at the Immortal Performance Peak genuinely want the Eternal Immortal Sect to improve."
"That much is true. So how are freshmen paired with seniors?"
"To prevent the bribery situation you mentioned, all pairings are random."
Fan Wubing suddenly realized a problem,
"Does this mean I also have to participate?"
Wei Changkong thought for a moment and said,
"Your situation is special and would probably be handled specially. After all, a freshman probably wouldn't want to be led by a senior who isn't as advanced in cultivation." He was straightforward and soon realized he was too straightforward, "No, Junior Brother Fan, I'm not saying you're useless, just that leading freshmen is indeed unnecessary... Oh!"
As he explained, it became less clear, and he finally patted his mouth and said no more.
"It's fine, Senior Brother doesn't need to worry too much. Will you participate, Senior Brother?"
Wei Changkong laughed and said,
"Those of us a few terms senior won't participate, or it would be too easy. The ones leading the new are mostly seniors from your second or third term."
Disciples of the Eternal Immortal Sect have a five-year term, divided into five terms.
Freshmen are in their first term.
Although Fan Wubing hadn't participated in the freshman trials, he counted as a third-term student according to his joining time. Wei Changkong was a fifth-term student, of the same term as Senior Sister Fu Ming.
After the fifth term, disciples need to seek other paths, whether staying within the sect, returning to family, or venturing into broader horizons...
Soon, a robust voice emerged from the high platform at the front of the Immortal Performance Plaza. The voice was filled with a celestial charm, audible even at the farthest corners.
An elder responsible for the freshman trials announced the rules for this trial.
The rules were basically as Wei Changkong had described.
After the rules were announced, the pairing began immediately.
The elder on the high platform waved a large sleeve, and countless talismans flew out. The talismans interlaced and swirled in the air for a while, then dispersed, landing accurately in the hands of every freshman and senior in the plaza.
What Fan Wubing least wanted to see happened.
A talisman landed in his hand too, which meant he must participate in guiding a freshman for the trials.
On the talisman were two names, one his and the other belonging to a freshman named "Sun Xiuming."
Within the freshman group not far away.
A young man dressed in brocade and jade, upon seeing the other name on his talisman, instantly wore a mournful expression,
"It's over, I drew Fan Wubing!"
His companions around him immediately erupted, rushing to comfort him.
For no other reason than Sun Xiuming being the fourth place winner in the last month's freshman recruitment, and his father being the new City Lord of Weiri City.
Born to wealth, with exceptional talent, within just a month of joining the Eternal Immortal Sect, companions flocked around him.
Sun Xiuming sighed,
"Alas, I must abide by the rules and accept my fate."
A shorter, thinner boy beside him, He Chen, said,
"Brother Sun, how can you accept it just like that? I heard that because seniors are leading this time, the difficulty for the freshman trials has been increased. That Fan Wubing not only lacks cultivation but is also physically weak. He will surely hold you back in the Trial Profound Realm. Moreover, how can someone without cultivation judge your performance?"
"But, rules are rules, how can I not comply?"
"Oh, Brother Sun, rules are dead, but people are alive. Discuss it with the elders; they will surely understand you. After all, you are the son of Weiri City's City Lord, with excellent demeanor, not the type to cause unnecessary trouble."
Sun Xiuming pondered Fan Wubing's name on the talisman for a moment.
He Chen murmured,
"Brother Sun, don't stake your future on Fan Wubing."
With those words, Sun Xiuming promptly made up his mind. He decisively stepped out of the freshman group and said to the high platform,
"Elder, I request to be reassigned a senior guide!"