Chapter 82: Aptitude of the Full Moon’s Gaze

On the morning of the ninth day, at Hidden Mist Market.

The long-anticipated Moon-Choosing Ceremony that countless cultivators had yearned for finally began.

Chen Beiwu stood at the center of the market, gazing at the heroic female cultivator standing upon the cloud-ship, clad in a black Daoist robe and surrounded by the Gu Clan’s Foundation Establishment cultivators as though the stars encircled the moon.

Above her head floated a dark-blue aura of fate, interwoven faintly with threads of crimson.

‘So she is Shu You, the inner disciple of Mirror Moon Sect?’ Chen Beiwu was slightly stunned.

If not for the fact that her aura of fate was deeper in color and the crimson within was much lighter, he would have thought Shu You was one of the Foundation Establishment cultivators who had ambushed him in Graywind Gorge.

“Boom!”

“Boom!”

“Boom!”

As the black-robed female cultivator flicked her sleeve, three streaks of pitch-black radiance descended from the sky, landing upon the high platform of the market and revealing three bronze disks.

The edges of these bronze disks were inlaid with seven transparent crystals, each crystal inscribed within with the twenty-eight constellations and the Five Elements trigrams.

“I am Shu You, inner disciple of Mirror Moon Sect, and I am responsible for this Moon-Choosing Ceremony.”

Shu You swept her gaze across the surroundings, her voice cold: “The spiritual root is the foundation of the immortal path. If one’s aptitude is lacking, then even with countless elixirs and wondrous medicines, one will find it difficult to ascend the gates of immortality.”

“All who wish to enter Mirror Moon Sect must first step upon the Seven-Wheel Spirit-Testing Disk to test their roots. Only by passing the first trial of the Moon-Choosing Ceremony can you proceed further.”

“To avoid wasting time, those below the level of Mixed Roots should leave on their own. Only those who possess entry-level craft skills may be considered exceptions.”

Hearing this, not a single cultivator in the market was willing to leave.

The opportunity to join one of the Five Great Sects was right before them. Since they had come this far, how could they possibly give up so easily?

“Disciples of the Gu Clan, the Chi Clan, the Yu Clan, the Yuan Clan, and the Shui Clan may step forward and line up.” Shu You did not spare a single glance toward the rogue cultivators below the stage.

Although Mirror Moon Sect upheld the principle of being as broad and encompassing as water, allowing all living beings to cultivate within its gates, it did not mean there was no distinction in teaching.

The sect placed great importance upon spiritual roots.

Compared to the heirs of cultivation clans, rogue cultivators generally possessed inferior roots and aptitude. Among ten thousand, perhaps not even one rogue cultivator could pass the Moon-Choosing trial to enter the sect.

Even though Shu You herself had been born as a rogue cultivator, she still regarded the five-classes of rogues in the market as nothing more than a pile of hopeless mud.

At her words, the children of cultivation clans present exchanged glances, then simultaneously stepped forward, forming three lines before the Seven-Wheel Spirit-Testing Disks.

‘So, rogue cultivators of the Southern Wastes truly have no rights!’

Witnessing this scene, Chen Beiwu was not surprised in the slightest.

Mirror Moon Sect was already considered the most benevolent among the Five Great Sects. Had it been the domineering Blazing Flame Sect, cultivators like him would not even have qualified to participate in the entrance test.

“Buzz!”

As three cultivators stepped upon the Seven-Wheel Spirit-Testing Disk and circulated their cultivation methods, the crystals on the bronze disks began to glow and spin.

“Water-attributed Mixed Root, age twenty, Fourth Level of Qi Refining, aptitude: No Moon. Not allowed.”

“Water-Wood Mixed Root, age nineteen, Fifth Level of Qi Refining, aptitude: Waning Moon, Middle Grade. Allowed.”

“Water-attributed True Root, age nineteen, Sixth Level of Qi Refining, aptitude: Waning Moon, Upper Grade. Allowed.”

Some cultivators revealed expressions of joy at the results, walking past the Spirit-Testing Disk.

Others collapsed to their knees, their faces filled with unwillingness. The disparity in aptitude between cultivators was laid bare at this moment.

Chen Beiwu looked toward the Spirit-Testing Disk in the distance, muttering inwardly: ‘I wonder what my aptitude will be.’

From his inquiries in recent days, he knew that Mirror Moon Sect divided aptitude into five ranks: Full Moon, Gibbous Moon, Crescent Moon, Waning Moon, and No Moon.

The lowest, No Moon, signified extremely poor aptitude, disqualified from the Moon-Choosing standard—unless one possessed entry-level craft skills to defy fate and earn entry into Mirror Moon Sect’s subsidiary branches.

A step higher, Waning Moon, denoted inferior aptitude. Though it met the Moon-Choosing standard, such disciples could only enter the sect as outer disciples.

Crescent Moon signified average aptitude, cultivators with potential. Upon breaking through to Foundation Establishment, they had the chance to become inner disciples of Mirror Moon Sect.

As for the higher levels of Gibbous Moon and Full Moon, Chen Beiwu had only heard their names whispered in the market, without understanding their true meaning.

‘All of them are worthless wood. Not a single talent among them.’ Shu You’s brows knit slightly.

The Moon-Choosing Ceremony was a sect-issued task.

Whether or not she could complete it successfully and earn the praise of the inner elders depended entirely upon the aptitude of this batch of disciples.

But the cultivators appearing before her now were nothing but worthless trash—not a single one even had Crescent Moon aptitude.

Sensing Shu You’s displeasure, the Foundation Establishment cultivator of the Gu Clan quickly signaled to a follower.

Not long after, an additional female cultivator in a plain gauze dress appeared within the Gu Clan’s queue.

Just then, the morning light broke through the mist, illuminating her raven hair that draped beside her ears, revealing delicate features like those painted in a scroll, lips as pink as mountain cherries. She looked like a classical immortal maiden stepped out of an ancient painting, leaving many cultivators momentarily breathless.

“What a beauty!”

“Are you seeking death? Watch your tongue—that is the Gu Clan’s Second Miss, Gu Chun!”

“Miss Gu Chun is of peerless beauty. No wonder she could earn Lady Shu You’s favor.”

Hearing the whispers around him, Chen Beiwu could only shake his head in silence.

Whether in the Southern Wastes or in the Immortal Alliance, this world was ruled by appearances. The treatment of beautiful cultivators compared to the ugly was worlds apart.

The moment Gu Chun appeared, even Shu You, who had remained cold-faced until now, could not help but show a smile.

‘Even the finest beauty is but a skin-deep facade.’ Chen Beiwu shook his head and turned his gaze toward the Spirit-Testing Disk where Gu Chun stood.

“Water-attributed Earth-Grade Root, age twenty, Seventh Level of Qi Refining, aptitude: Crescent Moon, Upper Grade. Allowed.”

Seeing the results displayed, Gu Chun could not help but draw in a deep breath.

‘As expected, I still fall short.’

Although Crescent Moon, Upper Grade aptitude was quite good, it still meant she would have to enter the sect as an outer disciple alongside those of Waning Moon aptitude.

Only after breaking through Qi Refining and achieving Foundation Establishment would she earn the right to enter the inner sect.

The upcoming skill assessments would thus be a crucial chance to gain extra merit.

If she could impress the Moon-Choosing Envoy with her Second-Tier Pill Dao attainments, she might leap across ranks and directly enter the inner sect.

“Not bad.” Shu You smiled faintly.

Having a cultivator with Crescent Moon, Upper Grade aptitude appear meant that the results of this task would at least be deemed passable.

Soon, the children of cultivation clans around the market had all finished their tests within the span of a single incense stick. Among them, only six had achieved Crescent Moon aptitude.

‘One Upper Grade, three Middle Grade, and two Lower Grade Crescent Moons.’ Shu You nodded inwardly, her demeanor softening.

Chen Beiwu followed the crowd and waited a full quarter-hour before it was finally his turn to ascend the platform.

“Buzz!”

The moment Chen Beiwu stepped upon the disk and circulated his spiritual power, the Seven-Wheel Spirit-Testing Disk let out several piercing shrieks.

This was a phenomenon that had not occurred during any previous test.

‘Could it be?!’

Hearing the strange sound, Shu You’s expression shifted, her eyes instinctively fixing upon Chen Beiwu’s disk.

“Water-attributed Pseudo-Heavenly Root, Wood-attributed Earth-Grade Root, age sixteen, Eighth Level of Qi Refining, aptitude: Gibbous Moon, Upper Grade. Eligible to be an inner disciple, in the reserve sequence.”

At the words displayed upon the Spirit-Testing Disk, all the cultivators present were stunned, their eyes wide with shock, the scene erupting in uproar.

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