Gou Zai Fei Men made up myths

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After listening to the report, Shen Mo remained calm, tapping his fingertips lightly on the armrest, as if he already knew everything.

He smiled slightly and said to Han Lin, "Elder Han, why worry? My original intention in establishing the Dao Academy was to cultivate a foundation for the alliance, not to benefit others. They treat it like trash, but I cherish it like a priceless treasure."

"Disciples from small sects and independent cultivators may not have a high starting point, but they deeply understand how hard-won opportunities are, and their character is more resilient and malleable. As long as the academy can give them hope and a tangible future, why worry about not producing talented individuals?"

He stood up, walked outside the hall, and looked at the endless stream of people coming and going from the direction of Qixia Valley. His tone was calm but full of power: "Pass down the order that this selection will strictly adhere to the four words 'voluntary and merit-based.' Regardless of background, only one's true intentions and potential will be considered."

"The assessment process must be fair and transparent, so that all participants are convinced of its fairness."

"Tell the disciples and elders in charge of the assessment to open their eyes wide and pick out those promising talents who are resolute, fearless in the face of difficulties, and have a strong sense of belonging to the alliance!"

He paused, a meaningful smile curving his lips: "As for those 'spies' sent by the Blazing Sun Sect and the Heavenly Sword Sect... since they've come, so be it. Let them see for themselves what kind of grandeur the Azure Cloud Academy truly possesses."

"Maybe, after looking at it for a while, I'll want to stay?"

Upon hearing this, Han Lin was taken aback at first, then stroked his beard and laughed heartily: "Sect Leader, your foresight is truly admirable! Indeed, sincerity begets sincerity; forced relationships are never sweet. As long as my academy offers genuine benefits, why worry about attracting good steeds?"

A knowing glint flashed in Su Xiao's eyes. The sect leader was aiming to win hearts and minds, using tangible cultivation and promising futures to dismantle the internal barriers of the major sect.

Shi Tie scratched his head, not quite understanding the intricacies of the situation, but seeing the sect leader and Elder Han so confident, he grinned and said, "Alright! Anyway, I, Old Shi, only teach with fists! As long as the kids who come are willing to work hard, I'll train them into fine steel!"

The selection is scheduled for half a month from now, and the location is a huge temporary square outside the Qixia Valley Taoist Temple, which is currently being finalized.

However, ten days before the selection began, the foot of Qingyun Mountain was already packed with people.

The inns in Sihai Market were already fully booked, and prices had increased several times over, yet rooms were still hard to find. Many newcomers had no choice but to set up makeshift tents in open areas outside the town, or simply sleep outdoors in the open.

The market town's restaurants and teahouses were bustling day and night, crowded with cultivators and their accompanying masters from all directions. The air was filled with the fragrance of spiritual tea, the pungent smell of cheap wine, the stench of sweat, and an atmosphere of both anxiety and excitement.

"Have you heard? This time, the Daoist academy's selection process doesn't consider family background; it only looks at bone age, aptitude, and character!"

"Bone age under fifteen, cultivation level not limited... My kid just turned fourteen, Qi Refining Level 3, I wonder if he has a chance?"

"Hey, Brother Wang, your kid's only at the third level? My daughter's fifteen and already at the fifth level of Qi Refining! We're definitely going to give it our all this time!"

"What's so special about the fifth level of Qi Refining? I heard the young leader of the 'Quicksand Gang' is fourteen this year and is almost at the peak of the sixth level of Qi Refining! And he came with a whole guard!"

"Tsk tsk, disciples from major sects probably wouldn't bother coming, would they?"

"Who knows... Anyway, it's a rare opportunity, I'll give it a shot!"

People gathered in small groups, whispering and exchanging information, comparing the merits and demerits of each family's children, the air thick with the anxiety of "involution."

Some sect leaders and elders even personally led their carefully selected talents to visit familiar elders and stewards of the Qingyun Sect, hoping to receive some "favor" or at least become acquainted with them.

The once quiet Qingyun Mountain gate is now bustling with activity, and the disciples welcoming guests are so busy that their throats are hoarse.

Inside the Flowing Cloud Palace, Han Lin rubbed his temples and reported the "spectacular scene" at the foot of the mountain to Shen Mo: "Sect Leader, there are... there are just too many people! According to preliminary statistics, the number of eligible teenagers who have arrived at the foot of the mountain has exceeded five thousand! And the number is still increasing!"

"The registration point outside Qixia Valley is overflowing with registration jade slips! What are we going to do about this selection process?"

Shen Mo stood by the window, gazing at the crowds gathering like ants below the mountain. His expression was calm, but a hint of expected depth flickered in his eyes: "A large number of people is a good thing. It shows that our alliance's actions have won the hearts of the people. Elder Han, pass down the order to send more people to maintain order and ensure a smooth registration process."

"Tell the disciples in charge of registration to treat everyone equally, record details carefully, and not neglect any applicant."

"But with so many people, the selection process will be extremely difficult, and there's a risk of chaos," Han Lin said worriedly.

"It's alright." Shen Mo turned around. "Precisely because there are many people, we must emphasize the word 'fairness' even more. You should discuss with the Qingxu Academy Supervisor (the soon-to-be head of the academy) and draft an open, transparent, and efficient selection process."

"The initial selection assesses bone age and spiritual potential, while the second round examines character, comprehension, and perseverance. The process may be difficult, but the results must be convincing."

"Yes, I'll take care of it right away." Han Lin accepted the order and hurriedly left.

Su Xiao appeared silently and whispered, "Sect Leader, the Shadow Guards report that there are indeed eligible disciples from the Blazing Sun Sect and the Heavenly Sword Sect secretly setting off within their territories, but most of them have been intercepted by their respective sects."

"Only a very small number of collateral relatives with complicated backgrounds or who were not valued managed to arrive by blending into the crowd with the tacit approval of those with ulterior motives."

"In addition, several suspicious individuals were discovered, suspected to be spies of the Xuan Yin Sect, mixed among the applicants, with unclear intentions."

Shen Mo's lips curled slightly: "As expected. It's good that they've infiltrated. The academy's gates are wide open; they're free to come and go. We'll see what they're made of once they're out there. Just keep an eye on them and make sure they don't cause trouble during the selection process."

"Yes."

Half a month has passed in the anticipation and torment of countless people. On the day of the selection, the weather was perfect, with not a cloud in the sky.

Outside Qixia Valley, the huge plaza was divided into several areas, separated by array light curtains.

Around the square, dozens of huge "water mirror" light screens stand, which can project important scenes inside the selection arena in real time for tens of thousands of onlookers to watch.

The Qingyun Sect's law enforcement disciples stood guard every five steps and sentries every ten steps, maintaining order and creating a solemn and dignified atmosphere.

At dawn, as the sun rose in the east, tens of thousands of school-aged children, led by their teachers or alone, gathered at the entrance of the square, forming a dense, bustling crowd.

The clamor, encouragement, and prayers mingled together, creating a tremendous wave of sound.

"Silence!" A clear shout imbued with spiritual power resounded throughout the entire area, silencing all the noise. The academy's supervisor, Qingxu Sanren, dressed in a blue Taoist robe, appeared solemnly on the high platform in front of the square.

Behind him stood Han Lin, Shi Tie, Jin Hao, Mu Qingqing, and other core figures of the Qingyun Sect, as well as several neutral sect elders who had been invited to witness the ceremony.

Countless gazes instantly focused on the high platform, filled with longing, tension, and envy.

Qingxu Sanren's gaze swept over the densely packed young faces below, and he announced loudly, "The selection of the first batch of students for Qingyun Dao Academy officially begins!"

"This selection process adheres to the principles of 'fairness, impartiality, and transparency,' selecting the best candidates regardless of their background! All procedures will be publicly displayed on Shuijing website, and we welcome public oversight!"