Chapter 342 (1/2)

'Just as I thought…'

”Trial disciple… what are you doing?”

”Sorry senior, I just needed to pass the spiritual water…”

Zhang Dong stepped out from behind a tree while fixing his robe to seem as if he was peeing behind it. In reality, this was an area where the defensive formation reached up.

This was only the third day of the disciple training and he was smoking the competition. He was the only one keeping up with the instructor. With some time left before the others arrived, he moved over to see if he could pass through the protective barrier without anyone noticing him.

As he feared this was a dome-shaped translucent barrier. When he poked it with his finger it would look like rippling water and he could see its outline in the empty space before him.

This type of protective formation needed some sort of key to open up. Probably the elders and trusted sect members possessed some kind of item that let them pass through it. There was also one main gate where it could be opened by the guards stationed there.

The easiest way to get out would be to get this key from one of the elders. The two that brought him over here didn't seem to possess one of those keys as the Martial Saint that showed up was the one to guide them all in.

Taking the key from that core formation like elder would be a difficult task with his current cultivation. Even if he managed to swipe it, he didn't think he would be able to flee fast enough.

”I know that you surpass the other prospects but you can't make your seniors look bad!”

”I understand, senior.”

Zhang Dong performed a little bow while feeling a bit silly. The man before him was an early stage Martial Master, even with his lowered cultivation he could take him out with a slap. He needed to act as a proper junior for the time being.

”Senior… how does one become an inner sect disciple?”

”Inner sect disciple? You should stop thinking about such things and first get past the trial period and become an outer sect disciple! You should stay grounded before looking at the heavens. ”

”You really think I'm being unreasonable, senior?”

Zhang Dong asked while moving a step forward and glancing down. There he saw a steep cliff that was at exactly a ninety-degree angle. The rocks were flat and there were not many places that you could place your hands or feet in.

When he focused on his eyes he could see some young cultivators slowly climbing up while trying not to fall. They needed to push through the ice-cold winds, shards of ice and debris falling onto their faces while they ascended this treacherous cliff.

Zhang Dong and the rest of the trial disciples were mountain climbing today. This was a good way for the young men to show off their physical capabilities. Just like the previous days, he was the first one to finish and the next best person would probably need another half an hour to get there.

The Martial Master instructor covered his mouth while coughing. He knew what Zhang Dong was getting at as he was smoking the competition. From Zhang Dong's standpoint, it was strange if he would not be picked up by some elder after showing what he could do.

”I…”

Zhang Dong with Dai Rong's appearance looked with narrowed eyes at the Martial Master before him. The man might have been saying the right words but he was saying them to the wrong person.

”The junior does make some sense… you show more promise than the rest. Fine, this senior will tell you the ways of attaining high status in the Hall!”

The man was above the age of thirty, getting close to forty. He was still only a Martial Master and being an outer sect disciple was the most he could attain with his current disposition. This didn't mean that he didn't know the ins and outs of this sect.

”The easiest way to achieve the inner sect disciple status would be to do well at the disciple contest!”

”Trial disciple contest?”

”Yes, for this you junior would need to first be taken as a disciple of one of the elders. Each year this contest is held and the top three get elevated to inner sect disciple status!”

The explanation continued, it seemed that this was a multi-purpose contest. From the way it sounded, he wondered if it would have been another tournament. It was similar but not quite, there were various ways of attaining the favor of an inner sect elder.

First was the usual way of just being a strong fighter. There was no tournament but more of a challenger type of process. Every disciple that attended could force a higher status disciple to fight them. If they won, they would take their spot.