The end of the test

The sect master didn't bother announcing the rules this time. One of the outer court elders stepped up and announced, "The fourth round is now beginning. Your token will start to glow. When it does, place it on your forehead. This will transport you to a special space. There, you will answer various questions. You should know that this is soul questioning, so lying is impossible. If you're not comfortable with that, leave. If there are no concerns you may begin."

Like always the sect leader explained to Su Ming, "This is a simple test, to make sure our disciples have a good conscious. We obviously won't nurture villainous, immoral, or backstabbing disciples."

Nodding his head, Su Ming asked, "What will the final test be?"

"Oh?" the sect master made a noise of surprise before answering, "The final test will be a test of will. No one ever got far as a cultivator, with a weak mind. The arena is a special device filled with malicious mind demons. They will be released to torment the challengers until their mind breaks. Of course the magic device will intervene to assure their safety. If it fails I will intervene. Either way, we will see how far our future disciples can go."

Su Ming thought about it, and thinking it made sense turned back to the test. The sect master let out a small snort.

"You think you can just ask whatever you want and, cut the conversation short?" he said, with a hint of playfulness in his voice.

Su Ming smiled for a moment, before seriously saying, "It's not my fault uncle sect master's conversation skills are lacking. No wonder you complain about being lonely!"

"-You!" the sect master muttered in shock. What a ruthless child. "Humph! Who taught thus little brat manners? Must've been the second elder… No matter! I shall teach this brat myself!" the sect master righteously announced.

"Uncle sect master, I'm sorry!" Su Ming said as he quickly tried to escape but it was to late.

The sect master quickly grabbed one of Su Ming's arms and pulled him towards his lap. Before he could resist the sect master began.

"Sect master! Haha- sect master stop! I'm- pffh hahahah- I'm sorry! Hahahahahahaha!" Su Ming's punishment was tickling. He could hardly breathe. A cruel punishment indeed.

The fun wouldn't last however, as two blows quickly made it's way towards their heads. "Owwww!" they yelled.

Standing behind them was the second elder. "Can you two be a little more mature? We're in public, where all the elders and disciples can hear you!" she said in annoyance.

Rubbing their heads in both pain, and embracement they awkwardly discussed the competition. "So, did anyone find any good disciples?" the sect leader asked.

"I found 2. Their archery is amazing!" the fourth elder said, ignoring the previous scene.

"I thought you might like those brats from the Chen family," the third elder said with a smile.

"I think I found someone interesting," Su Ming said, also Ignoring the previous blunder.

"Oh? And who might that be?" Xin Jiang questioned with interest.

Su Ming showed them the file and said, "Her name is Zhang Xiu."

The first elder nodded with a casual evaluation, "For a first disciple, she's not a bad choice."

The sect master smilingly said, "Let's see if she can make it through this trial first."

Within Zhang Xiu's special soul space she stood, on what seemed to be a sky of stars. She looked around cautiously, till she heard "it".

"What would you sacrifice to save those closest to you?" an ethereal voice asked with disinterest.

"Everything," she responded instinctively.

"Who is closest to you?" it continued.

"My sister," she still didn't hesitate either.

"What do you think a master disciple relationship is?" the voice asked a more meaningful question.

"Someone that would take a risk, to give their disciple all of their experience." Zhang Xiu was wondering how to answer. Then she was then amazed to find that she already answered something that summed up her thoughts.

Before she could think further the voice continued, "If you had a master, would they be as important ad your family?"

"Maybe not, but maybe more so." Zhang Xiu started to get nervous now. This space really is terrifying.

"What would you do if you saw a powerful cultivator torturing mortals?"

"I'd fight them if I feel I could win, otherwise, I would remember them and get revenge in the future."

"For the mortals?" the voice needed clarity.

"Yes."

"Are you so sure that you will be able to catch up?" the voice remained indifferent.

"Of course. I'm confident that I could catch up to anyone if given enough time," Zhang Xiu responded with confidence she didn't even know she had.

The test ended after another dozen questions. Zhang Xiu became increasingly terrified by the soul questioning of the sect. Once a question was asked, even if she didn't understand it, she would answer truthly.

Everyone opened their eyes, to find token either still glowing, or being seemingly inactive.

One of the outer court elders quickly said, "Those of you with glowing tokens, congratulations! You passed. Those of you that had your token stop glowing you failed. Get out of here."

Only 143 people passed this test. Everyone else was chassed away. Those that remained had just 5 minutes till the next test.

Soon those minutes passed, and the final test began. Both the tower and arena floor started glowing.

The same outer court elder almost mockingly said, "The final test is going to begin now. There is only one goal, which is to stay conscious as long as possible. Good luck"

The entire arena was then covered by a dark mist, with spirits floating throughout. The challengers freaked out, and attacked them. Unfortunately any attacks just went through the spirts instead of harming them. The spirts quickly went towards the challengers, and invaded their minds. The only ones that were safe were the sect disciples and elders, as they had no token, so they weren't recognized as challengers.

The challengers were quickly effected by the spirts. They all quickly held their heads due to the immense pain. Some challengers even directly fell to their knees.

Under the head splitting pain a mere seconds 7 was all took for over 10 challengers to fail. The runes around them glowed a different light, and the spirts were ripped from their bodies. They were each left unconscious, but alive.

Within a short 30 seconds, every challenger fell to their knees. In a minute everyone was either unconscious, or twitching violently. After 2 minutes they were all passed out.

The sect leader looked pleased. "Disciples, take those that failed to the city. Elders, let us take our new sect disciples back to the sect."

The elders were a bit disappointed that less than 100 people passed. Regardless, a total of 74 passed, and will officially join the Moon Palace tonight.

On the way back, the disciples each core elder would be taking in were confirmed. Su Ming decided to take Zhang Xiu in. He still can't tell what's special about her, but she's just his first disciple. Even if he's wrong, and she's ordinary, it's fine.

The outer court elders brought the disciples to a small building, where new outer court disciples stayed. The core elders brought their respective disciples up their mountains.

When Su Ming came up the mountain he gave Zhang Xiu to Lian Mei. "This my first disciple. She's named Zhang Xiu. I chose her myself!" he said smugly. "She's very special, so it won't be long until she shows off her talent!" Su Ming continued as though he's saying an absolute fact.

Lian Mei smiled widely at his cute, chubby little face. "Of course she will!" Lian Mei responded with equal confidence. "Naturally mater has great sight. How could your disciples be ordinary?"

With the same grin on his face, Su Ming said, "I'm going to my study. Take Zhang Xiu to her new room. Bring her essentials for disciples and a note explaining her situation. Once dinner is ready, get both of us. We'll continue this conversation over dinner."

Lian Mei bowed slightly and said, "As you wish." With that simple exchange she went to do as ordered, Su Ming went to go study.