My decision wasn't too difficult. Only three disciples had administered a treatment that was not only administered without mistakes, but was the most efficient solution possible for the affliction their patient suffered from.

Those disciples were Feng Mei, Xiao Cui, and a disciple who I'd recognised the moment I saw him. It was the disciple who'd almost died in Du Tian's attack a year ago.

I guess the motivation of his near death experience had caused him to work hard and become one of the most talented healers in the sect. His name was Zhang Wujin.

As for the fourth slot, it went to a disciple called Chen Jing. Her treatment had contained a few errors, but it cured her patient without any complications or further injuries. Not only that, but she had managed to diagnose and treat the patient in just eighty minutes—making her one of the fastest disciples to do so.

The problem came when deciding which disciple should receive the fifth and final slot in the finals of the healing competition. There were many options, all of whom deserved it equally.

Two disciples had delivered a mistake-free, perfectly efficient treatment, yet it had taken them almost four hours to accomplish it. On the other hand, there were three disciples who'd only been a little slower than Chen Jing, but made a few more errors than her. Then finally I had one disciple who had only made a single error, yet their time to deliver the treatment sat around two and a half hours.

Any one of those disciples would be able to compete in the finals. Which meant I had to make my decision using more than just their results from the preliminary round.

What it came down to was their personality, the way they treated the patients, and also some background about how they'd spent the previous year—generously supplied by Yu Chun. The first inner disciple of the sect had to be someone who inspired those around them and led by example. I wouldn't have a lazy genius or a cruel person being that example for my sect.

Of the six who I was deciding from, two had spent less than ten days total treating patients in the treatment pavilions. Instead, they had learned the two techniques in seclusion and only practiced them on themselves, while hoarding resources. Both were immediately discounted once I learned that.

Then I learned that one of those disciples had apparently charged their fellow disciples egregious sums of spirit stones to teach them his 'insights' into my two techniques when they struggled to learn them. I didn't discourage my disciples finding ways to earn more resources, but to charge their peers to teach them my techniques? Especially when Yu Chun had set up dozens of types of missions to earn contribution points to exchange for cultivation resources? It wasn't the type of person I wanted as an inner disciple.

From the last three, I ended up choosing a disciple who hadn't made a single mistake and ended up with the most efficient solution. The reason for this was that I valued a healer who sought the best way to treat an affliction. Also, there was a skill in determining when you could afford to spend time doing so.

Thus, the fifth disciple to make it to the finals of the healing competition was a youth called Wang Tan. With the five selected, all that remained was to announce the results in front of the crowd and then begin the finals of the healing competition.

Today, the first inner disciple of the Grasping Life Sect would be chosen and announced in front of almost the entire local territory. I wondered just which of the five it would be.

****

All of the disciples who participated in the preliminary round were standing in orderly rows on the central stage of the arena. Even those who had made life-threatening mistakes in their treatment. I hadn't technically failed them.

They of course would suspect that making it to the final round was impossible, but it was equally important to observe the proper procedures. Especially for such a public event.

Once the din of the crowd reached its peak, their eagerness to know the results and watch the next bout of entertainment bubbling over, I walked into the air just in front of our box and raised my hands for silence.

I was beginning to understand why so many cultivators became crazed in their search for power and resources to advance further along their path. This sensation of being able to silence thousands with a simple raise of my arms was a potent one. I vowed not to let it get to my head.

"Now I will announce the five disciples who have made it into the final round of the healing competition. These five will have a chance to battle it out amongst themselves to earn the first position as an inner disciple of the Grasping Life Sect!" I declared.

Rather than the cheers I expected, a tense silence clung to the air, like a particularly stubborn stain. All the disciples looked up at me, most grim-faced. There were only a few exceptions.

Feng Mei looked indifferent. Confident; she knew what her result would be.

Xiao Cui seemed serene. Her expression was, at a glance, disinterested, but behind her eyes was a glimmering confidence in her performance and abilities.

There were a couple other disciples who weren't quite as boldly unbothered by the tension as the two girls, but still weren't as nervous or fearful of my next words as the majority.

The crowd were silent out of respect, rather than any personal feelings about the results. However, I was sure they all had their favourite disciples. Such competitions always created idols and villains.

I decided to put them out of their misery. Slowly. "There were only three disciples who performed to perfection in the preliminary round. Each of these disciples proved themselves to possess a level head, rapid decision-making skills, and a knowledge of healing that surpasses their peers," I began, pausing for effect before announcing their names.

"The three disciples who made it to the final round without any doubts about their worthiness are Disciple Feng, Disciple Xiao, and Disciple Zhang," I said, making sure to look at each youth and nod—there were more than one Disciple Feng and Disciple Zhang among our number, after all.

Xiao Cui seemed to have a unique family name. For the time being, anyway. They stepped forward, leaving their less talented peers at the back of the stage as they proudly took their place at the forefront.

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The crowd let out a few weak whoops of excitement and congratulation, but they knew I was far from done. Two more spots in the final still needed to be filled.

"The disciple who earned the fourth slot in the finals did not perform with absolute precision in the preliminary round, but their diagnosis and treatment was undoubtedly superior to everyone but the first three. The fourth slot in the finals goes to Disciple Chen!" At my proclamation, the girl's eyes widened in surprise and there was a moment of stunned hesitation before she yelped and marched forward to join the other three finalists.

The roars of the crowd grew louder now. With just one slot left to fill, all those who'd grown attached to one disciple or another began to fear their favourite competitor might not make it.

"The fifth and final slot in the finals was difficult to decide on. All the disciples who competed proved themselves to have a stellar knowledge of the healing arts and the right attitude towards their patients. However, there were six disciples who proved themselves above and beyond their peers during the preliminary round," I said, the tension now so thick you could cut it with a knife.

"Choosing just one from those six disciples was one of the toughest decisions I've ever had to make. The disciple that we chose in the end was one who perhaps did not perform their diagnosis and treatment in the fastest time or to the utmost level of precision, but they made absolutely sure their patient was comfortable and receiving the right care. They prioritised the feelings and health of their patient above even their own results. Even during the year the disciples spent preparing, they focused on not just their own cultivation, but helping those around them. This is the kind of person I wish to become the first inner disciple of the Grasping Life Sect. Thus, the fifth slot in the final round goes to Disciple Wang!"

There was a moment of confusion as Wang Tan failed to comprehend that he'd made it through to the finals. Wang was a common family name, which didn't help matters. However, my heavy gaze upon him was enough to finally startle the youth into action.

He gave a shallow bow towards me, forcing me to stifle a chuckle, before advancing forwards to join the other four finalists. Then, the crowd went wild.

"For those disciples who have not made it into the final round, do not be disheartened. During the preliminary, all of you performed admirably. Even those of you who made mistakes showed the right attitude in resolving to learn from them. I am sure you will continue to grow and become future pillars of the sect. I am proud of you. Now, please leave the arena as we prepare for the final round," I said with a warm smile on my face.

The remainder of the disciples started to congratulate the five finalists. There were a few sore losers, but having a competitive spirit wasn't necessarily a bad trait. Soon, all of the hundred and eighty or so disciples had streamed out of the arena, leaving just the five who would be competing in the final round.

"You five disciples are the best of the best. However, do not let that go to your head. This is a competition, but the path of healing is one of bringing life, hope, and happiness to those who have lost it. Well, not life perhaps. We are't necromancers or gods," I added as a little joke. I only received nervous chuckles in reply.

I'd forgotten how seriously the people of this world take such things. I remembered vividly the hatred in those disciples' eyes when they'd called me a demon in the mountains and forests.

Oh well. That had been a great necromancy joke. If they couldn't see the humour in it, they were missing out.

"Now that you have been selected, I will announce what the final round consists of. Knowing how to heal others from a variety of afflictions in a variety of conditions is essential for any healer worth their salt. However, more important than that is for said healer to be in good health themselves. A sick or wounded healer cannot help others, after all. You will not always be in the comfort of the sect. The places where healers are needed the most are often the most dangerous, cruel, and horrifying in this world," I explained. All were silent, knowing the truth of my words.

However, I saw much confusion in their faces too. This world didn't quite understand what I was saying. Not yet.

The traditions and knowledge here had prevented it. Or, if what the Spring and Autumn Sage had told me was correct, it had been actively suppressed. This very world was wounded to the core.

I would heal it.

First, I needed to raise others with me so that they could support me in my grand quest. That was why the selection of the first inner disciple was so important. I needed to know they were someone I could rely on when I couldn't be here.

"Thus, the final test of the healing competition is to heal yourself. Each of you will take your place on one of the five stages. Then, I will be forcefully infecting you with a cocktail of pathogens and severely wounding you. The winner will be the disciple who brings themself back to perfect health first. If none of you are able to do so, then the disciple who comes closest to doing so will be the victor. Do not fear death, for I am here to save you if your skills aren't up to the task. You will need courage, talent, knowledge, and above all, the iron will of a healer. Take your place, and prepare yourself, disciples."

Their faces paled visibly at my declaration. I wasn't surprised, nor did I judge them for their reactions. The crowd took it far worse.

I heard gasps and even a few cries of outrage; that I was a tyrant for subjecting my disciples to this. Those made me sneer internally.

This world was cruel and violent. Cultivators slaughtered and tortured one another every day. Mortals were trampled underfoot like ants by the lofty immortals above them. This was no different, save for one reason.

The purpose of this trial was to better my disciples. To give them a crucible in which to forge themselves into unparalleled healers and people.

Of the five, it was, rather surprisingly, Xiao Cui who pulled herself together first. She stood tall and walked to the middle of the central stage. The others followed suit one by one, though all of them still had traces of fear in their expressions.

I descended to the sands of the arena. In one of my storage rings, I had five identical vials of a sinister purplish-black liquid. I also had five more identical vials of a bright green concoction. Then there were five sealed jade boxes, each of which contained a particularly nasty strain of fungus.

As I landed, I paused to take in the five disciples. One of them would be elevated above the rest of the sect at the end of this. The four who didn't make it would still have proven themselves far beyond the disciples who had lazed about or wasted the previous year.

I went round the five disciples, handing them one vial of each liquid as well as a jade box. Then, I stepped up into the sky above them.

"On my mark, you will unstop and immediately drink the contents of the black vial. Then, you will open the jade box and swallow the item within. Following that, you are to drain the contents of the green vial. You will not delay in these steps. If you hesitate too long, I will be forced to act to contain the fallout and you will be immediately disqualified. Do you understand?" I explained.

The disciples all nodded, throwing nervous glances at the three objects now in their possession. There was one final step I hadn't told them about.

It was important for a healer to maintain their composure under changing circumstances. I still remember parts of my past life. One poignant memory was during a surgery to save a child's life.

As I was approaching a crucial moment, an airstrike hit the village, destroying a few buildings nearby and causing chaos. I had to maintain my calm and composure in that situation and complete the surgery.

In the end, I managed it. However, the boy then died because we were attacked by a strike force. I was spared only because of my status as a doctor. The heinous cruelty of war.

This world was equally, if not more, violent and brutal than my last. I had done my best to shield my disciples from that, and instill the proper virtues and values in them, but they would not be able to remain under the shade of Million Flowers Celestial Peak forever.

Thus, the final step of this round would be for me to lethally wound them once they were infected with all my nefarious cocktails of infection, poison, and the insidious fungus. Only under such pressure could diamonds form.

I raised a hand into the sky. All five disciples prepared themselves as their gazes remained glued to that hand.

I swung it down forcefully towards my waist. "Begin!" I roared.

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