The boys panicked immediately when one of them declared that the boy on the ground isn't breathing anymore.
Gu Xiao "oh my Elder, here are these boys who did the murder" she suddenly point at a direction then at the panicked boys.
Their body stiffen it's was unknown who shouted run... but everyone bolted away from there in fear and anxiety.
"...."
"....pfft" the boy immediately stood up, taking deep breath, his face red from holding breath for sometime.
Gu tin "that was dangerous"
Gu Niu "that was risky"
Gu yin "that's stupid"
Gu ya "...I'm sorry" she lowered her head in embarrassment and guilty for acting without thinking which can also possibly put them in danger eventually.
Gu Xiao "we need to leave this place, before those boys realise no one following them" everyone immediately move.
But this time they were full of caution and fully aware of there surrounding, they didn't dare to relax at all.
They stood slightly away from the river but according to the boy this place likely to have more people waiting in ambush.
So, they turn around and continue walking forward as they continue walking, they heard someone shouting.
"Give us all of your flags, you lowly beggars" they all immediately try to run from there without being seen by others.
They can see another bunch of group with both boys and girls surrounding a boy dress in tattered clothes and covered in mud.
The boy didn't try to fight but rather give his three flags directly saving himself from the beating knowing he can't win from them.
They didn't pause or help the boy knowing the result will be not in favour, it's better to protect themselves first.
Soon, by the late afternoon they reach open area, where the tower was standing they were just few steps away from the tower.
At the foot of the tower they can see some kids who manage to arrive here safely either alone or in groups.
There the immortal master seat on the chair with his eyes closed without any care, they all walk toward him.
But no one dare to wake him up, as they were confused and not sure what to do, the master move and open his one eye.
"The flags" they all fumble nervously around there clothes and take out the flags well hidden inside there clothes.
The master point at the discarded pile of flags where they also leave there flag with mixed emotion in there heart.
"Your token" they handover there token to him and in return he handover another token to them which have some mysterious and weird lines curved on the surface.
They accept the token and went to seat down with others in separate group, with there heart still beating fast in their chest.
Jiangxi the boy whom they had accept in their group look at everyone nervously and asked "so did we passed the test"
Gu Xiao "it seem like we passed but the last is still pending" she run her hand trying to calm down her nerve.
Gu yin "well the last test is not starting till the day after tomorrow. So, I guess we can only wait till then"
Gu Niu "this dread of unknown is going to make me crazy" she flop down on the ground, while covering her face with her both hand.
Gu ya "well, we did pass every test given to us I think we will handle the next one too" she tried to be positive.
But that doesn't help much "let's forget about the test whos hungry let's eat" she take out the dried food they had with them.
Gu Xiao "do you think our food ration will last us till the end of test" everyone were not very sure about it.
Just the registration process took them three and half day with the remaining half day used for the test.
On the fifth day, they enter the second test spend one and half day reaching the tower and completing the test.
And the time limit of this test three whole day which mean only half time had gone and the remaining kids are left with half time.
But, during the test kids are not allowed to take lot of stuff with them, only water and food enough to last one week is allowed.
Once, this test ended they would have already run out of there good ration which made them save the food as much as they can.
In the middle of night a very loud bell rank which indicates the end of this test, some kids stir wake from there sleep but once again fall asleep.
On the eight day early in the morning another loud bell rank everyone gather around the master.
"Now the last test to see which position you serve in the sect" he open the tower door and ask everyone to came inside the tower.
Inside the tower they can see stairs infront of them "everyone will climb these stairs, these stairs will decide your position in the sect. Higher then eighty-six is inner sect, higher then sixty-six will in outer sect and lower then sixty-six will be servants in the sect"
Everyone, face turn pale they look at the stairs with fear and nervousness inside there heart, they know their treatment, resources and status depended on this test.
"Start"
With this signal everyone move their limps stepping on the stairs, but nothing happen on the first step.
Second step...
Third step....
Tenth step....
From the tenth step everyone start feeling a small amount of pressure which is not very hard to tolerate.
But as they continue to step forward the pressure increase making it difficult to climb some were still able to climb higher.
But some couldn't move anymore sealing there faith right then and there, it took few hours before everyone stop climbing.
There are only four people who manage to climb higher then eighty-six stairs, these people will be personally trained by the elders of the sect.
The resources, respect and stuff they received will be two time better then others, which made lot of kids on lower stairs envious.
Among gu sister's only Gu ya and Gu yin manage to reach the level of outer sect, others three end up as servants in the sect.