CHAPTER 848: CHAPTER 848: ASCENSION CONFERENCE

For several days, Chen Nan stayed in the Alchemy Room without going out, and others assumed he was engaged in alchemy.

Little did they know, Chen Nan was cultivating several magic techniques obtained from Liu Tong. Although the techniques were not of high grade, at least they were complete.

Coupled with the acquisition of many elixir pills that boosted his cultivation, his cultivation advanced further, reaching mid-stage of Foundation Establishment Level Five.

And on this day, Qingshan Sect also welcomed an important occasion.

The Ascension Ceremony.

This is a grand event held once every three years for other sects, essentially a disciple recruitment affair for the sects.

However, only Qingshan Sect hosted the Ascension Ceremony this time around, as it hadn’t yet been three years since the last ceremony for other sects.

Ordinarily, doing this would break the rules.

Originally, several sects needed to compete fairly, and cultivators were free to choose which sect they wanted to join, with those of considerable aptitude being recruited into the sects.

But now, with Qingshan Sect initiating the Ascension Ceremony early, it was essentially seizing disciples who originally belonged to other sects.

However, because of Chen Nan’s presence, none of the other sects came around to express any dissatisfaction; they all pretended not to know about this matter.

Previously, during the Ascension Ceremony, no one chose Qingshan Sect, only those discarded by other sects with nowhere to go would come to Qingshan Sect.

But now, with Chen Nan, a seven-grade alchemist, and Sect Leader Jiang Zheng having already advanced to the Golden Core Stage, it has attracted many people to come.

There were even many loose cultivators who already possessed cultivation, including Golden Core cultivators.

Outside the mountain gate of Qingshan Sect, a stone stele called the Detection Stone was erected early on to test a cultivator’s aptitude.

Previously, anyone joining Qingshan Sect had to plead desperately, rendering the Detection Stone useless and gathering dust; now it has finally been found from the storeroom and sees the light of day.

This Detection Stone has suffered a lot following Qingshan Sect.

Normally, the Sect Leader need not appear during such times, unfortunately, Qingshan Sect was lacking in talents; until now, there isn’t even a Sect Elder, so Jiang Zheng had to personally take charge.

Looking at the disciples who came for testing, Jiang Zheng was inwardly delighted.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I am the Sect Leader of Qingshan Sect. This Ascension Ceremony selects the best, but once you enter my sect, you must adhere to sect regulations, violators will be expelled from the sect!"

For this Ascension Ceremony, Jiang Zheng even worked through the night to establish many sect regulations and meticulously divided the disciples into hierarchy levels: outer sect, inner sect, and elite disciples.

Simultaneously, reward and punishment systems were established, so that the disciples would have a heart to strive upwards.

Additionally, these regulations and reward-punishment systems were remnants from Qingshan Sect’s glorious past, with some unsuitable ones being modified by Jiang Zheng.

Previously, when Qingshan Sect was declining, there were no regulations; merely having someone willing to join the sect was already a blessing.

"Now, I declare the Ascension Ceremony officially begins!"

As his words fell, Qingshan Sect’s disciples quickly stepped out to maintain order, allowing people to go one by one to test their aptitude.

Even those with less than optimal aptitude weren’t turned away and were welcomed into the sect as servant disciples, after all, Qingshan Sect was desperately empty as it was.

Moreover, many tasks Qingshan Sect previously couldn’t undertake due to lack of disciples could now be assigned to servant disciples in the future.

For example, rearing spirit beasts, cultivating spiritual medicine, cleaning the sect, etc.

Among those coming to attend the Ascension Ceremony were ordinary people yearning for the Immortal Gate, and loose cultivators who had heard that Qingshan Sect had a seven-grade alchemist.

Loose cultivators inherently struggled to acquire resources, with a seven-grade alchemist in the sect, cultivation resources would no longer be a worry, making many eager to join Qingshan Sect.

Yet regardless of whether they were loose cultivators or ordinary people, good aptitude was rare. Watching each cultivator walk past the Detection Stone with little reaction, Jiang Zheng covertly sighed.

To recruit good seedlings was still too difficult.

Some with high aptitude had long been taken by other sects, and those with even better aptitude looked down on this third-rate sect.

Just as Jiang Zheng sighed, a Golden Core cultivator arrived at the sect entrance, seeking out a Qingshan Sect disciple.

Soon, the Qingshan Sect disciple hurriedly ran over to Jiang Zheng.

"Hastening about, how unbecoming," Jiang Zheng reprimanded sternly.

The disciple frantically waved his hands, "Sect Leader, a Golden Core stage maestro has arrived."

"Oh?"

Jiang Zheng was startled and immediately rose, heading to the back of the aptitude testing area, where he spotted the Golden Core cultivator.

"Sect Leader Jiang, I am Fei Xingzi, seeking to join your sect."

Upon seeing Jiang Zheng, the visitor smiled and cupped his hands.

"So it is Daoist Fei Xingzi, forgive the lack of courtesy, please come into the sect for a discussion."

Jiang Zheng wasn’t unfamiliar with Fei Xingzi, as Fei Xingzi had some reputation among loose cultivators.

Unexpectedly, even Fei Xingzi came this time, it seems the position of Sect Elder is secured.

Fei Xingzi was very pleased, as cultivating to the Golden Core Stage was exceedingly challenging for a loose cultivator, joining a sect with resources, and remaining a loose cultivator was almost the same.

Hence, he hadn’t considered joining a sect previously, believing reaching the Golden Core Stage was his limit.

Without resources and elixir pills, progressing further was incredibly difficult.

Now knowing Qingshan Sect has a seven-grade alchemist, Fei Xingzi couldn’t resist the temptation, for only elixir pills above grade seven could possibly advance his cultivation further.

Moreover, he knew Qingshan Sect lacked elders, his joining would be mutually beneficial.

If he didn’t join Qingshan Sect, merely requesting elixir pills, he didn’t know when he’d get his turn.

Just as the two were preparing to return to Qingshan Sect, another Golden Core cultivator arrived, controlling her sword and landing before Jiang Zheng.

"Fei Xingzi, you shameless fellow, you came to Qingshan Sect without a word. I was thinking of inviting you to come!"

The newcomer was a middle-aged woman who appeared like an ordinary farmer’s wife, dressed very plainly and spoke rather coarsely.

Yet her aura was unmistakably of the Golden Core Stage.

Fei Xingzi frowned upon seeing the woman, huffing coldly, "Pei Yumei, must I report all my actions to you?"

"Bah!" Pei Yumei snorted coldly, "I see you simply wanted proximity to the seven-grade alchemist at Qingshan Sect, no way I would let you have all the benefits!"

She turned and looked at Jiang Zheng, cupping her hands, "You must be Sect Leader Jiang? I am Pei Yumei, a level two Golden Core cultivator, wishing to join Qingshan Sect too."

Having two Golden Core cultivators readily wanting to join, naturally Jiang Zheng wouldn’t refuse, not caring if the guests spoke crudely or not.

Enhancing the sect’s strength was top priority; crudeness could be accepted.

"In that case, both Daoists please come to the mountain for a further exchange."

The three proceeded straight to the sect’s hall for discussions.