System's Super Sect Chapter 3: Weird Rules

These events unfolded only seven days ago.

Wen Ping had initially believed that by utilizing the gravity field, he could easily attract numerous disciples from the town of Cangwu City located at the mountain's base. Even those with mediocre talent would suffice; after all, with a 9x boost to cultivation speed, even a hog could aspire to reach the heavens.

However, the system mandated a recruitment standard that defied logic.

In the vast Secret Cloud Continent, sects were known to welcome disciples without cost, offering them cultivation resources, techniques, arterial skills, and even intricate vortex diagrams.

In his case, not only did he refuse to supply such benefits, but the system also enforced a rule requiring candidates to pay a fee to enter the Immortal Sect.

Financial requirements would be one thing, as many individuals had gold coins to spare. Daughters of wealthy merchants often lacked the innate talent for 1-star or 2-stars Sects and would gladly pay for the opportunity to cultivate. Wen Ping had planned to cater to this demographic, yet the system introduced yet another hurdle.

Anyone seeking entry to the Immortal Sect at age 15 was required to attain the fifth level of the Body Refinement Realm!

One must realize that it was only due to the support of a 2-stars Sect and an endless supply of resources that Wen Ping himself had reached the fifth level by fifteen. For the common folk, achieving such a rank required either exceptional natural talent or the backing of a powerful 2-stars or 3-stars Sect.

Tragically, any genius born in Cangwu City would have long ago been scouted and snapped up by those larger institutions.

...

Consequently, Wen Ping’s strategy centered on the wealthy merchant class crumbled instantly.

"System, look at this. They leave the very second they arrive. Can’t you loosen the recruitment criteria?"

The system replied with eerie calm, "Host, watch your tone. As the master of the Super Sect System, your Immortal Sect is not meant for just any passerby."

"But the issue remains: it has been three days, and I haven't taken in a single disciple."

"I would prefer to lack disciples entirely than accept anything suboptimal, even if it takes a year to find one. Naturally, you are free to ignore my standard, but the price will be the immediate removal of the 3x gravity field."

Wen Ping offered a bitter smile and conceded.

Before surrendering, however, he couldn't resist a biting remark. "System, should you ever manifest as a human, stay away from the streets."

"Why?"

Wen Ping replied coldly, "People like you are easily beaten to death by others!"

With that, he sat back in his chair, draped the stack of registration forms over his face, and reclined to rest, ignoring the hushed murmurs carried on the breeze.

Just then, a pair of young siblings approached the location together.

They were dressed in opulent attire adorned with gold thread, and the swords at their hips, inlaid with jade and gold, signaled their status as children of an aristocratic clan—luxuries far beyond the reach of the average person.

Upon reaching the base of the Cloudmist Mountain, their eyes fell upon the wooden sign announcing the recruitment event for the Immortal Sect. Then, they looked at the youth sprawled out in a nap before them.

No wonder the Immortal Sect had collapsed like a crumbling mountain, plummeting from a 2-stars powerhouse to a nameless organization.

With a slacker acting as the examiner, how could such a group ever hope to rise to glory?

Just as the girl prepared to shout, her brother nudged her. "Elder sister, look at that."

"What is it?"

She pivoted, her eyes fixing where he pointed.

At the bottom corner of the wooden sign, an additional line had been scrawled: "Disciples must pay 1,000 gold coins to join. If you lack the coin, get lost!"

"He actually wants to demand money?"

She rubbed her eyes, a look of profound disbelief etched on her face.

(How did the Immortal Sect fall so far?)

Glancing around, the reason for the lack of applicants became painfully obvious.

"Hey, did your Sect leader paint these characters wrong?"

As she spoke, she slammed her hand against the table.

Boom!

Boom!

The disturbance failed to vex Wen Ping. He simply lifted the registration papers from his face and stretched his limbs lazily.

"Are the two of you here to join the Immortal Sect?"

"Do we really have to pay?" The girl pointed sharply at the text in the corner.

Wen Ping didn't answer immediately. He examined the data projected before him regarding the two.

...

Huang Can

Gender: Female

Age: 15

Cultivation Base: Third level of Body Refinement

...

The brother’s stats matched those of his sibling.

...

Huang Shan

Gender: Male

Age: 15

Cultivation Base: Third level of Body Refinement

...

Wen Ping lost interest immediately. He had wanted to induct them, but the system’s rigid rules forbade it.

When Wen Ping nodded confirmation, the youths hurried away. Wen Ping was used to this by now; it was a scene played out many times over the last few days.

As they stepped into the street, someone intercepted the pair.

"Might I ask in which direction I can find the Immortal Sect?"

The speaker was a man in his early twenties. He possessed a fair, jade-like complexion and a polished manner. His sharp, sword-like eyebrows gave him a striking look, particularly his eyes. When he looked at Huang Can, she briefly forgot her age gap, and even harbored a strange, fleeting urge to find companionship in this stranger.

She only snapped out of her daze when Huang Shan bumped her. "Elder sister, what are you doing?"

"Ah!"

"Just walk straight down this lane, and the Immortal Sect will be at the end."

"My thanks, Miss." The young man prepared to depart.

Huang Can called out urgently, "Sir, if you intend to join, I regret to inform you that the Immortal Sect is effectively finished."

"Finished?" The man turned, his expression puzzled. "The Immortal Sect is the only 2-stars Sect within a 500-mile radius. How could it be finished?"

A 2-stars Sect was typically led by masters of the Mystic Realm who had unsealed their first Earth Destruction Arterial Gate.

"Sir, are you not from Cangwu City?"

"No, I hail from Xingyue City."

"That explains it. Over a year ago, the sect suffered a catastrophe and their leader perished. When the tree falls, the monkeys disperse. Everyone has left this past year; if you go now, you will find nothing but an empty shell."

"I thank you for this news." Yun Liao furrowed his brow.

(Do I need to find another Sect?)

Determined, he decided to visit anyway. He wasn't about to go home without confirming the truth for himself.

"Sir, you still intend to go?"

"I have traveled a long distance to join this sect." With that, Yun Liao continued on his way.

Huang Shan called out as an afterthought, "Friend, if you want in, prepare 1,000 gold coins. If you don't have it, he'll just tell you to scramble."

"There is such a rule?"

Hearing this, Yun Liao felt even more motivated to verify the situation. Rumors were one thing, but he trusted his own eyes. A join-fee of 1,000 gold was unprecedented and certainly worth a look.

After taking his leave, Yun Liao walked quickly.

Soon, he reached the end of the street, arriving at the base of the Cloudmist Mountain.

Spring blossomed in the mountain air, and the woods teemed with birds and beasts. The thousand steps of the mountain path confirmed this was indeed the location his elder had mentioned, though the prosperity was clearly absent. Despite it being a recruitment day, he saw only a few souls.

His eyes settled on the table at the base of the mountain and the wooden sign announcing the recruitment.

He then focused on the requirement of 1,000 gold coins.

The rumor was true. The Immortal Sect had decayed into a mere scheme for the leader to fleece people of their wealth.

(Sigh, it appears this journey was in vain.)

He had endured hundreds of miles of travel and faced grave dangers only to arrive at an Immortal Sect trying to solicit money in such a debased manner. It was a far cry from the righteous institution that once held such prestige.