20 Not Like This

Soon all the participants of the Sect entrance event were gathered in an open field.

At exactly noon an old man in red robes flew up in the air and declared, the entire field stopped it's clamoring and became pin-drop quiet.

"There has been a change in the events because we have something serious to attend to there will be no more Martial Competition."

Soon whisperings started around the field

"Quiet", red roared elder bellowed. The silence was again established over the crowd.

"You will all enter into a tent where you will be judged by all the elders of different sects if one of the elders take an interest in you..."

"You will then be able to join their sect, note that only a few of you will be selected so don't be disheartened you can try again next time."

"As we were not able to properly carry out this event we have discussed with the city lord and decided that we will hold another event next year so if you don't get selected then you will have a chance next year."

"Let's begin, follow the orders of the city lord who will arrange you into groups that will enter our tent"

Saying so the red-robed elder flew into the only tent on the entire field.

Town Guards started guiding people to form groups of 10 who would enter the tent.

Some people tried bribing the guards, which was rejected by the guards who were afraid of losing their life to Immortals.

All the elders who had come here were Core Formation Stage Elders of their respective sects.

Rudra realized that the identity of the City Lord of Pine Leaf was not so simple he was the 7th prince of Golden Sun Empire. Pine Leaf Town and the Dim Pearl Lake were at the western borders of the Empire.

The Emperor was a wise ruler who had given a test for each of his children they were given territory at the border of the empire and the emperor would evaluate different achievements gained by his children to crown the heir to that throne.

He had employed this tactic to make sure the best ruler was selected to rule the Empire after him.

The 7th prince had been granted an area near the border of the tranquil forest he had then set up then taken over the Pine Leaf Town, this sect event could be organized due to 7th prince using his authority and connections.

Rudra had gained a lot of respect for this prince to be able to develop a tiny town and employ such methods to bring about the development of manpower in this remote backwater area.

While Rudra was gaining the general gist of the situation from listening in different conversations it was his turn to go in the tent for his 'examination'.

He could only blame his bad luck for being in the last group. He had wanted to listen in more of the info which has caused him to be placed in the last group.

Apparently Shin was following him around ended up in the same group as him.

He entered the tent with 10 other youngsters, "Hmm skip the introductions, start by standing in that weighing scale."

One by one they stood on the scale which helped to determine the age of their bones.

Then the participants above the age of 19 were eliminated.

'Damn I thought I would get eliminated there, the pain of getting my bones crushed to dust wasn't that bad now that I think about it.'

Rudra passed through a number of tests on different instruments that helped Elders to determine various prospects of a candidate.

After the fifth test, only 3 people were lest in the group Rudra, Shin, and some rando.

the grey-robed elder handed them a scroll each, "If you can understand the contents of this scroll then you can move to the next round."

The contents of the scroll were not too tough Rudra easily understood that it was a Mystic incantation to produce froth in water. Shin also solved his scroll apparently the other guy failed to complete the test was disqualified in this test. Now only Rudra and Shin were left in the group.

"Now place your hand on this Elemental crystal" grey-robed elder willed them to pass their Qi through a crystal rod.

Shin went first he passed his QI and it started dazzling in a Brown Grey color,

"Earth-Metal affinity, kid you are coming to my Valley of Swords.",grey-robed elder laughed merrily while few other elders spat out in discontent.

It was finally his turn Rudra was very excited, he moved to the side of Elemental Crystal rod and passed his Qi through it but instead of the brown color with a tinge of green representing his Verdant Mountain Qi, the rod glowed Blue with a tinge of green.

'What is this nonsense', Rudra bellowed in his head.

[The rod was broken by the kid before you], Yali quickly replied.

"How?"

"Good kid follow me", he heard a soft voice and then he felt himself rising in the air.

"I'm going off first", the soft voice addressed the elders and flew off.

The other elders could only look on as Rudra was being carried off while being propped at his collar.