Chapter 5: The Turbulence of Assessment Rises Again
"Qing Tan, look, the person right in the middle of the stage is our Tower Master, and the three to her left are our three main stewards, managing the inner tower, the outer tower, and miscellaneous affairs respectively. The one to her right might be the big shot rumored to have come from Tianxiang Valley, and the five to his right should be guests invited from several major forces within the city. The remaining eight are our instructors. Wow, the Tower Master is truly as beautiful as a painting~"
"Yes, she is indeed very beautiful!"
Shen Wanning softly introduced the people on the stage to Yu Qingtan. Although she had seen the people from Tianxiang Pavilion before, she was not familiar with them.
Shen Wanning had deduced this based on snippets of information, seating habits, and their appearances and attire.
Yu Qingtan looked over and saw that the Tower Master of Tianxiang Pavilion was a beautiful woman who appeared to be in her twenties, dressed in a gorgeous red dress, smiling as she conversed with the handsome gentleman said to be from Tianxiang Valley by her side.
Next to this gentleman was also a stunning beauty who looked to be about thirty years old, wearing quite bold attire, occasionally chiming in the conversation. The others sat with solemn expressions, waiting for the talent assessment to begin.
"Our tower really has so many people~"
Yu Qingtan then looked towards the audience seats, where about half were filled with people, probably seven to eight hundred, and the men and women were almost equal in number, clearly divided in the audience seating.
"Formal disciples, Protecting Disciples, maidservants, and Servants all add up to so many, not to mention there are still quite a few Reserve Disciples and others who are not allowed to come."
"Wonder if anyone will be able to enter Tianxiang Valley this time."
"That would be tough!"
…
"Silence!"
With a loud and authoritative voice, instantly, there was silence across the square.
It was the voice of the Tower Master of Tianxiang Pavilion.
"The talent assessment begins!"
There was no host, no leader's speech, no explanation of the rules for the talent assessment.
The talent assessment began directly.
Yu Qingtan silently gave approval in her heart.
"Zhao Yi, Qian Fang, Sun Li, Li Wei, come up for your talent assessment," called the main steward of the inner tower, a middle-aged woman with a streak of white hair in her temples.
Then four young girls walked up to the large round stage in the center.
With that, soft music started playing, and the four began to dance gracefully.
The music was emitted by a Sound Recording Artifact placed around the edge of the round stage.
Yu Qingtan used it too when she had dance lessons.
After the four finished their dance, Servants brought up four tables, each equipped with brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones.
The girls then drew a painting each and displayed them for the judges to see.
Soon, the results from the judging panel came out.
"Zhao Yi, 74 points, joins the inner tower; Qian Fang, 66 points, joins the outer tower; Sun Li, 82 points, joins the inner tower; Li Wei, 49 points, to serve as a Servant," announced the main steward of the inner tower without any expression.
Zhao Yi and Sun Li showed joy, Qian Fang was composed, while Li Wei turned pale and followed the others off the stage.
The talent assessment included categories such as Cultivation Level, appearance, Dance Artistry, one specialty in arts (such as music, chess, calligraphy, painting), along with the usual performance points.
Cultivation breakthroughs usually required immediate reporting to the instructors, and since most are at the first level of Qi Cultivation, there was no need to check during the assessment; performance points were instantaneously graded by the instructors, while the judging panel mainly reviewed appearance, Dance Artistry, and the specialty art.
Scoring above 90 points in the assessment meant a direct opportunity to enter Tianxiang Valley, 70 to 90 points became inner tower disciples, 50 to 70 points became outer tower disciples, and those with under 50 points automatically became Servants.
However, those scoring above 90 needed to participate in another selection round at Tianxiang Valley. If they didn't pass, they would still join the inner tower.
Then, the main steward of the inner tower continued to call names, as Reserve Disciples took turns coming up to the stage to showcase their Dance Artistry and specialty arts for the assessment.
Sitting in the waiting area, Yu Qingtan felt uneasy at that moment.
Because she noticed that the important figure from Tianxiang Valley, the handsome gentleman, glanced her way from time to time.
Once, she even met his gaze and quickly looked away to the large round stage in the middle.
"Qing Tan, don't be nervous, with your well-practiced Exquisite Dance, you're certain to enter Tianxiang Pavilion."
Shen Wanning noticed her anxiety and whispered words of comfort.
"Mhm~"
"...Shen Wanning, it's your turn to be assessed on stage!" Just then, it was Shen Wanning's name that was called.
"Good luck!"
As Shen Wanning and three others went on stage, Yu Qingtan too suppressed the unease in her heart and watched attentively.
On stage, Shen Wanning's steps were light, her dance ethereal and incomparable, floating like clouds and mist.
Her flawless face and perfect figure outshone the other three, reduced to mere green leaves against her bloom, prompting the men in the audience to swallow hard and the judges to smile, nod, or clap in approval.
After the Rainbow Robes Dance, Shen Wanning also showcased the haunting melodies of her flute.
"Shen Wanning, 89 points, welcome to the inner pavilion!"
"Too bad her talent for Qi Cultivation is somewhat lacking," a young master from Tianxiang Valley casually remarked.
"It's already quite good. She's worthy of thorough cultivation by our Tianxiang Pavilion, and will surely become one of its mainstays," the Tower Master of the Tianxiang Pavilion added with a light laugh.
After stepping down, Shen Wanning went to register and then took her place in the audience among those who had already been assessed.
"What a pity~" Seeing that she fell just one point short of 90, Yu Qingtan felt somewhat sorry for Shen Wanning.
The assessment continued.
In the meantime, three performers who scored 90 points were all beauties with the second layer of Qi Cultivation and competent dance artistry.
"...Yu Qingtan, Li Fengniang, it's your turn to be assessed on stage."
Yu Qingtan walked slowly onto the stage, feeling very nervous under the gaze of several hundred people.
Her heart thumped uncontrollably.
In her previous life, she had only stuttered through recitations in class.
"They're all potatoes, they're all potatoes~" Yu Qingtan took a deep breath and kept reminding herself internally.
As the familiar music began, the dance moves she knew by muscle memory naturally flowed from her.
Gradually, Yu Qingtan calmed down and focused on her dance.
Her dress fluttered as if in a dream, almost as if two were dancing together, a delightful sight to behold.
By the end of the dance, Yu Qingtan felt entirely at peace.
As the servants brought out the zither, Yu Qingtan's fingers deftly strummed, immersively playing the most familiar tune.
Yu Qingtan felt she had given it her all.
"...Yu Qingtan, 82 points, welcome to the inner pavilion; Li Fengniang, 69 points, to the outer pavilion," announced the person in charge of the inner pavilion's affairs.
Yu Qingtan's heart steadied.
However, just as Yu Qingtan and the others were about to leave the stage, a voice rose from the presiding panel.
"Tower Master Gongsun, this young master has a bold request," said the handsome young man who was rumored to be an important figure from Tianxiang Valley.
"Please speak, Master Luo. As long as it is within my power, I shall accommodate," Tower Master Gongsun had already noticed his occasional glances towards Yu Qingtan on the stage and had some suspicions.
"Haha, I have fallen in love with Miss Qing Tan at first sight and wish to take her as a concubine. Would Tower Master Gongsun be willing to bless this union?" Luo Xiang spoke, smiling at Yu Qingtan.
"Just as I thought, this little lecher," Tower Master Gongsun thought to himself.
"It is her fortune that Master Luo has taken a liking to Qing Tan, and I shall not stand in the way. However, there are rules in the pavilion, and it must be with the individual's consent," Tower Master Gongsun replied, then turned to address Yu Qingtan.
"Qing Tan, this is Master Luo Xiang from Tianxiang Valley, a True Disciple of the valley. His mother is an Elder there, and despite his young age, he has already reached the Foundation Establishment level of cultivation. He now wishes to take you as a concubine. Are you willing?"