Published: March 3, 2025
Chapter 505: The One with the Best Qualities (Please Subscribe for Monthly Tickets!!)
"Ah..."
Shen Shan sighed softly, a wave of disappointment spreading from his heart to his entire body, leaving him feeling icy cold.
Looking at the several watchful disciples in the distance, he felt a hint of mockery in his heart but did not show it outwardly.
A late stage of qi refinement yet unable to advance to the inner sect, how much better could their situation be compared to those cultivators who failed the assessment?
They had all lost their hopes of foundation establishment!
"Gong Xinyuan, cultivation at the second layer of qi refinement, assessment failed."
The voice of the foundation establishment steward rang out again. Gong Xinyuan walked towards the "prisoner" group, equally lost in spirit.
Her once bright eyes had noticeably dimmed.
Once demoted to menial work, not only would she have no time to cultivate, but she would also lose her freedom.
Gong Xinyuan's wish to travel the world had now fallen through.
Accompanied by a slight sob, a wave of despair gradually spread through the group of those eliminated.
Shen Shan and Gong Xinyuan stayed together, neither of them in the mood to speak.
At least they did not cry out like some of their peers.
"Are we... now slaves, completely losing our freedom?"
After a long while, Gong Xinyuan spoke softly, her gaze dull and somewhat vacant.
Seeing hope only to have it dashed was a heavy blow for these teenagers.
Three years ago, it was in this very place that they tested their spiritual roots, bringing them hope.
Three years later, in the same place, there was only despair!
"No!"
"When we recognize the beauty of this world, we can never be slaves!"
With his head bowed to the ground, Shen Shan's voice was low, borrowing a quote from "The Journey of the Underworld King."
"I've heard that among the menials, some have worked hard to achieve merit and eventually escaped their status as menials."
"Xinyuan, we can't just give up like this."
"As long as we perform well, there might still be a chance for us to advance from menial work to outer sect disciples."
Shen Shan did not look up, his voice still low, his words seeming pale and powerless.
Rather than comforting Gong Xinyuan, he was looking for an excuse.
An excuse to accept reality!
Though he said so, he had no confidence at all about advancing from menial work to outer sect.
With so many menials in the Yuan Yang Sect, those who could rise from menial to outer sect were few and far between.
From the perspective of the Yuan Yang Sect, menials were merely servants, tools to serve the sect.
They weren't even counted as disciples, let alone being nurtured.
"Yes, yes."
"We can't let ourselves be disheartened."
A flicker of spirit returned to Gong Xinyuan's eyes as she murmured to herself.
The once clever and lively girl seemed to have matured greatly in an instant.
"That's right, we can't give up!"
The boy and girl comforted each other, and in their words, it seemed they felt a bit better.
Just then, a hoarse, suppressed voice came through, and Shen Shan turned to look.
He caught sight of Xu Haoran, the "city lord's son," who had once been the envy of all, now brought low and in despair.
However, after just a glance at Shen Shan, he withdrew his gaze; they were all in the same predicament now, and he had no desire to mock anyone.
The envy from three years ago had long since vanished.
"Why?!"
Xu Haoran's eyes were bloodshot, filled with disbelief.
He was the city lord's son, born with a noble bloodline flowing in him, yet he could not even pass the outer sect assessment?!
And now he had to become a damned menial?
He could not accept this!
Even some country bumpkins managed to pass the assessment.
Why could he, the dignified son of the city lord, with noble blood flowing through him, not succeed?
As he thought this, Xu Haoran's expression gradually twisted, a look of madness flashing in his eyes.
Those who failed the assessment were the vast majority; the three of them were just a microcosm.