Modern World's Martial Dao Human Immortal

Chapter 289 Attitude

"Slaying Demons! Is it really a demon-slaying series of exam tasks!?"

"Damn, I had made sure to find out that several descendants of big families would be taking the exam with me, so why haven't I seen a single one!? Now it's over, the stewards didn't receive enough money, and the 'drawing lots' ended up with the hardest of the thirty-four tasks... Ten thousand Pure Yang Great Pills down the drain! It took ten years for my whole family to accumulate this for my chance..."

"Is there any wealthy cultivator left? Hurry up and take the 'Genius Exam' to appease the steward Elders and lower the difficulty of the exam."

"Where would you find such wealthy cultivators? Those in the Golden Core Realm who can be called wealthy are all members of big families, and those born to big families are taken as Direct Disciples by the Hollow Void Elders backing them, a cut above even Inner Sect Disciples. What need have they to undergo Inner Sect examinations?"

"It's over. Our family has been targeted by a demon, they were all waiting for me to become an Inner Sect Disciple of the Heavenly Dao Sect, to use the Sect's name to deter the demon from rash actions. If I fail this examination, the demon will be unrestrained, and our entire family... will be finished."

A commotion arose among the more than four hundred exam participants.

Fear and despair filled the eyes of many.

Xiang Yunlong, who had just finished talking with an Elder, returned to the scene and caught the reactions of everyone, couldn't help but sneer inwardly, "Rely on ten thousand Pure Yang Great Pills to use the name of my Heavenly Dao Sect for their own ends? As if such a good deal exists."

On the face of it, however, he spoke in an upright and self-righteous tone, "The Demon Race's Nine Veins are our Immortal Path's ten great enemies. As cultivators, we must take it upon ourselves to uphold justice and slay demons. If you don't even have the courage to confront demons, what are you cultivating for, what Dao are you seeking? Therefore, your exam task this time is to face this Ninth Rank Great Demon within the Formation and endure for ten breaths."

Having said that, he paused slightly, "However, every Sect has special considerations for geniuses. Our Heavenly Dao Sect places extremely high value on the cultivation of geniuses and chosen ones. Therefore, I will give you one more opportunity. Those who believe they are geniuses or chosen ones may request the corresponding exam. You have three minutes to think it over. After three minutes, the exam will officially start, and by then you can only rely on your own strength to join the Sect."

Alkaid watched calmly as this Elder and that Steward from the Hollow Void put on their act.

Even though he had heard more than once before that what is called the Ten Great Immortal Paths is actually an interest coalition formed for the sake of mutual support.

Only, the Elders, Peak Masters, Vein Masters, and Sect Leaders belong to the ruling class of this interest coalition, while the rest are the ones being ruled.

Right now...

He was finally getting an eye-opener.

The outside rumours all glorified these top Sects.

"The top powerhouses actually have the strength to establish the order of the Northern Sea Star, but the special circumstances of the Northern Sea Star mean that the very top powerhouses are focused on Ascending to Immortality, and after becoming immortal, they head to the Immortal Realm, not caring all that much for the future of the Northern Sea Star. As for the Shattered Void level powerhouses who are second only to those achieving the Dao, they can benefit more and achieve the Great Dao faster in tumultuous situations, the Refining Void and Hollow Void are the same."

Alkaid slowly realized the true face of the Northern Sea Star, "I even suspect that the chaos on the Northern Sea Star is deliberately condoned by them, just to better sell the 'security' brought by top Sects, thereby forcing those who have made accomplishments in cultivation to find ways to join their Sects."

They vigorously promoted that the outside world was fraught with dangers, plunged into war and chaos, where people lived in constant uncertainty and could go hungry at any moment, and only by joining their Sect could one enjoy peace and security.

As a result, even if the Sect squeezed the middle and lower levels dry and treated them like beasts of burden, as long as they could still survive, these middle and lower layers wouldn't dare betray the Sect easily.

On the other hand, those strong cultivators who have reached the Hollow Void have broken free from the confinement of the lower levels, with far-reaching visions and significant strength, they have a much bigger range of choices. They don't have to confine themselves to a single Sect or Path. There are top Sects vying to recruit them.

"Only by achieving Hollow Void can one truly have a say on the Northern Sea Star and obtain the most fundamental 'freedom' rights," Alkaid thought to himself.

However...

Soon.

After becoming an Inner Sect Disciple, he would immediately compete for True Transmission. Once he became a True Disciple, he would head to Dashang to claim the bounties on Tong Yan and others. Then, he would hunt in the Stormy Sea for a while to gather the Pure Yang Great Pills needed for the Deep Blue Golden Core.

Once the Deep Blue Golden Core evolved to the second stage, the Middle Stage, he would advance directly, reaching for Hollow Void.

The three minutes quickly passed.

Frightened by the difficulty of the demon-slaying tasks, another three chose the genius route.

But...

That was just those three.

The genius path required as many as thirty thousand Pure Yang Great Pills.

And even a Sunburst Golden Core Level disciple of an Immortal Sect Level power, gathering money from all sources, only earns just over a hundred Pure Yang Great Pills a year.

Thirty thousand...

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Equivalent to saving for three hundred years!

And that's if you don't eat, drink or cultivate for those three hundred years.

Normally, a Sunburst Golden Core Level disciple who can save up thirty thousand Pure Yang Great Pills in a thousand years would already be considered financially savvy.

After waiting three minutes, Xiang Yunlong dallied another minute or two, seeing that there really wasn't anyone else who would continue into the genius or chosen paths, he had to accept his bad luck at encountering a bunch of paupers and gestured with his hand.

"The exam begins, numbers one to ten, enter the Formation!"

At his command, the Formation seemed to undergo a change, no longer affecting human cultivators.

At once, ten Sunburst Golden Core gritted their teeth and entered the Formation.

These Ninth Rank Great Demons, comparable to Deep Blue Golden Cores, were not without intelligence. They knew exactly what to do to make them suffer less in the future.

Since this batch did not please the Elder of the Heavenly Dao Sect, they could well strike hard, both venting their hatred for the Human Race and ingratiating themselves with the Hollow Void Human Elder, killing two birds with one stone. Why not?

Therefore, as soon as the ten Sunburst Golden Core Level disciples entered, these Ninth Rank Great Demons that were somewhat docile just a second ago, surged violently, roaring as they lunged toward the Sunburst Golden Core humans.

In a few breaths, three Sunburst Golden Core Level exam takers were brutally torn apart, blood spilling on the spot.

The remaining seven, except for one who was struggling to hold on, all fled from the Formation, eyes filled with terror: "I quit, I'm not taking the exam..."

"Hmph! As one of the Ten Great Immortal Paths, the Heavenly Dao Sect has always been exceptionally selective in recruiting disciples! If your talent falls short, you must demonstrate sufficient combat strength. Lacking both talent and strength, you still wish to join our Heavenly Dao Sect!? Do you truly believe our Sect is a refuge for trash?"

As Xiang Yunlong spoke, he waved his hand fiercely, and a violent force swept up the six Sunburst Golden Cores who had fled, hurling them toward the base of the mountain: "Get out of the Heavenly Dao Sect."

Perhaps they were revered as the top senior brothers, the hope of their clans, the stars of their Sects in their own cities, families, and Sects; but in Xiang Yunlong's eyes, these people, unable to offer money, proved they had no background.

Weak in strength, proving they had no talent.

Without any background or talent, and not yet members of the Heavenly Dao Sect, he bullied and humiliated the Sunburst Golden Cores without remorse.

The six who were cast out each suffered humiliation, filled with shock, fear, and anger, but…

After a glance at the Hollow Void Elder overseeing the assessment, they swallowed their fear, anger, and unwillingness.

Life on the Northern Sea Star had long taught them how to fear the strong.

Under such circumstances, after being thrown down from the upper layers of the mountain, the six picked themselves up in a sorry state and hurriedly left.

"Trash."

Xiang Yunlong snorted disdainfully in his heart.

He glanced at the formation where an assessor, who had been desperately holding on, ended up... truly dying at the hands of a Ninth Rank Great Demon, speaking derisively: "Can't you see the situation for what it is? Don't you know your own limits?"

His gaze shifted back to the crowd, adopting a condescending tone: "As you have seen, the assessment is difficult. Those who are not confident, better leave early to avoid losing your lives in vain. Alright, next batch."

Out of ten assessors, six failed, four died, and not a single one passed.

This terrifying casualty rate instantly frightened the remaining candidates.

However, ten thousand Pure Yang Great Pills, which for many Sunburst Golden Cores could be all the wealth they ever amassed in a lifetime, despite the extremely dangerous assessment, this opportunity bought with the pills was worth risking their lives for.

In the arena, out of more than four hundred participants, fewer than thirty left because of fear, with the rest still gritting their teeth, each undergoing the assessment.

And in this batch of ten, two died miserably, while eight reacted quickly and escaped the Formation, failing the assessment.

Watching the eight who had escaped, Xiang Yunlong couldn't help but curse inwardly, wondering why the Sect allowed these Formations to be entered and exited freely.

Those who failed the assessment might as well die inside.

Unable to afford even the fee for the genius channel, they would probably only come to the assessment once in their lifetime, never to be considered "repeat customers."

But on second thought, it was precisely because the Formation allowed free entry and exit that these Sunburst Golden Cores harbored any hope of luck when sensing that they were no match.

Furthermore...

If the death rate during the assessments was too high, it would instill fear in others.

Later on, if the number of assessors decreased, their income would drop as well.

The assessment, moving at a pace of one round every ten breaths, naturally progressed very quickly.

It was just that the pass rate was frighteningly low.

In the assessment of the first one hundred and thirty people, only eight passed, not even one-tenth, but as many as twenty-five people died, nearly two tenths.

Compared to others, Xiang Yunlong treated those who passed the assessment noticeably better.

After all, those who could pass the Slaying Demons assessment might have a future chance to contend for a True Disciple position.

"Next batch."

Following Xiang Yunlong's command, Alkaid stepped forward from the crowd and entered the Formation.

Upon entering the Formation, he keenly sensed something.

This Formation appeared to be only a hundred meters in diameter, but its interior space expanded tenfold, and stepping into it was like wading into a stream—energy dissipation and power release were both impacted.

"Roar!"

In the midst of his rumination, the Ninth Rank Great Demon that had devoured several Golden Core Level assessors was already charging with a roar, its ferocious expression and the lingering bloodstains at the corner of its mouth enough to deliver a mental shock to any Cultivator.

However, Alkaid's expression hardly changed.

Without using the You Long Sword, he directly unleashed a Rip the Sky with One Strike.

The next step after becoming an Inner Sect Disciple was to compete for the True Disciple title, and the Heavenly Dao Sect had even fewer True Disciple spots than the Taiyi Immortal Sect, only eighty-eight. Out of those eighty-eight, only six were Blazing White Golden Cores, with the remaining eighty-two being Deep Blue Golden Cores.

If he wanted to secure a position as a True Disciple, he had to demonstrate the strength of the Deep Blue Golden Core Level.

Therefore, facing this Ninth Rank Great Demon, his Rip the Sky with One Strike, even without the amplification of the You Long Sword, still managed to forcefully repel the Great Demon head-on.

And this was the first time since the assessment began that someone managed to face a Ninth Rank Great Demon head-on.

This scene made Xiang Yunlong's heart tighten.

The Hollow Void Elder, in charge of overseeing the assessment, also opened his eyes immediately, with a trace of surprise in them.