The Inner Gate Examination tests four main areas.
First, cultivation base. Second, comprehension aptitude. Third, immortal arts. Fourth, the Dragon Gate.
Fei Kui was not tall, only about one and a half meters, and with his rotund body, fat head, and big ears, he looked rather comical like a piglet. Especially with that perpetually beaming smile, he was truly...
Quite sleazy.
"Originally, only disciples who have reached the fifth level of the Innate Realm are qualified to take the Inner Gate Examination. Although Young Master is a mutated body that failed Foundation Establishment, the sect hasn't stipulated that mutated bodies cannot take the exam. The one in charge of presiding is Elder Ren De. He is a very upright and fair senior. This humble one is confident I can persuade him."
"I remember Elder Mu De was always in charge of the examinations before. When did it change to Elder Ren De?"
Gu Qingfeng thought for a moment but had no impression of the name. However, since it was 'Ren De' (Benevolent Virtue), he figured this elder was likely of the same generation as Huode and Mu De.
"Hehe...
Speaking of that, it goes back quite a few years, and it's rather amusing..." Fei Kui seemed to recall something funny and chuckled incessantly. "Young Master must have heard that Lord Chixiao once worked as a laborer in our Yunxia Sect, right?
Back then, His Lordship passed the examination, but Elder Mu De rejected him at the gate, citing his poor spiritual root. Later, when His Lordship made a name for himself in a single battle, shocking the world, Elder Mu De became a laughingstock, branded a blind fool. So...
Ever since then, Elder Mu De lost face and no longer presided over the examination matters."
"Is that so? I never knew about that."
Gu Qingfeng shook his head and smiled, finding it somewhat interesting. But no matter how hard he thought, he couldn't recall who this 'Ren De' character was. He asked, "And what of Elder Ren De?"
"Elder Ren De is Old Master Huode's senior brother, a council elder of Yunxia Sect, and a highly respected senior known throughout the Qingyang region. He is an upright man, fair and impartial in his dealings, selfless, and holds great prestige within Yunxia Sect. His words carry weight, and it is largely because of his presence that Jin De and Shui De haven't dared to act too outrageously these past years."
Gu Qingfeng recalled Huode saying that Yunxia Sect was now roughly divided into three factions: one led by Jin De, one by Shui De, and a neutral faction. He figured the neutral faction Huode mentioned must refer to Ren De's group.
"In the past, any disciple arranged by Jin De or Shui De could smoothly enter the Inner Gate. But ever since Elder Ren De took over the examinations, such things have never happened again. He is wholeheartedly devoted to Yunxia Sect's welfare and is extremely strict about many matters, especially regarding Inner Gate disciples. He personally vets them every time. Even if a council elder personally selects a disciple, they cannot enter without his approval."
Hearing this, Gu Qingfeng began to understand. No wonder that old man Huode insisted he follow the proper procedures. So there was an iron-fisted, impartial figure like Ren De guarding the gate.
"The examination tests immortal arts. This humble one knows Young Master's mastery of musical theory is extraordinary, but music is, after all, too niche. Just in case, Old Master instructed me to bring you a few cultivation manuals."
As he spoke, Fei Kui took out several manuals from his storage bag and handed them over. "One martial art, one spell technique, one formation method...
These are all our Yunxia Sect's techniques, which are mandatory for the examination. Old Master said you should practice them in your spare time?"
As Old Master Huode's trusted confidant, Fei Kui naturally knew of the old man's plan and understood why he wanted this Young Master to take the examination.
He knew.
He knew everything.
But the one thing he didn't know was this Young Master's identity.
He also couldn't comprehend, couldn't fathom, why the old man would find such a person to contend for the position of Sect Head Heir.
Yes.
He couldn't understand it, especially since this Young Master was a Foundation Establishment failure, a crippled body.
What puzzled him even more was that these few techniques were mandatory immortal arts for the Inner Gate Examination. Since the old man had him deliver these manuals to the Young Master, it meant the Young Master had never practiced them before. In other words, he was to start learning them from today?
Wasn't that too late?
After all, there were only a few days left until the next Inner Gate Examination.
What could be accomplished in a few days?
Did the old man expect this Young Master to master these techniques in just a few days?
Was that even possible?
Even if he learned them, it wouldn't be enough!
During the examination, one needed to have cultivated at least one of the techniques to the Minor Achievement stage.
To reach Minor Achievement, wouldn't that take years of effort?
Even with the highest comprehension aptitude, it would still require several months. Looking through Yunxia Sect's thousand-year history, the fastest time anyone had cultivated these techniques to Minor Achievement was six months.
And now, there were only a few days left until the next Inner Gate Examination...
This...
Why did the old man have him give these manuals to this Young Master?
He didn't know.
Fei Kui pondered for a long time but couldn't figure it out. However, one thing was certain: since the old man was doing this, he must have his reasons.
He had once inquired about this Young Master's identity. The old man had only told him two words: Ancestor.
As for why he was an ancestor...
Fei Kui didn't know that either.
Gu Qingfeng took the manuals, glanced at them casually, then tossed them into his storage bag. "When is the examination again?"
"There's an examination every month. The next one is in five days."
"Alright, got it. You may go. I'll be there on time in five days to take it."
Since he had decided to help Huode, Gu Qingfeng would naturally go all out. He would use these five days to practice properly.
...
Cultivation knows no time. Five days passed in the blink of an eye.
The beginning of each month was always the liveliest day in Yunxia Sect.
Because everyone knew that the first of the month was the day of the Inner Gate Examination.
If one passed the examination, it would be like a carp leaping over the Dragon Gate—they would become an Inner Gate disciple of Yunxia Sect from then on. This was an honor. Although many Outer Gate disciples were unwilling to admit it, they had to accept the fact that only Inner Gate disciples were the sect's true disciples. As for Outer Gate disciples, at best they were merely nominal members.
Once one became an Inner Gate disciple, not only would they no longer have to pay tuition fees each month, but they could also enjoy the treatment of an Inner Gate disciple, receiving corresponding cultivation resources like pills and spirit stones every month. Most importantly, only by becoming an Inner Gate disciple could one formally take a master.
Having a master was immensely important for the cultivation path. Everyone wanted a master's guidance.
Although the Outer Gate also had instructors who taught cultivation, those were 'public' instructors. One had to remember the Outer Gate had over ten thousand disciples. Even if one encountered a problem in cultivation, not only would they have to queue up, but they'd also have to offer benefits, stuff red envelopes... And even then, it depended on the instructor's mood.
Outer Gate disciples had it tough.
Everyone wanted to become an Inner Gate disciple.
Alas, the requirements to become one were far too high.
Many disciples applied each month, but only a handful passed. Sometimes, out of over a hundred disciples, not a single one would succeed. Over a year, with twelve examinations, it was considered good if ten disciples were promoted.