Star Martial Era: The Way of Star Light Cultivation

Chapter 197: Chapter 117: Refining God Golden Pill and Climbing to the Top (Second Release Seeking Subscription)

August 5, 9:00 AM, Jinshan Taoist Institute Martial Arts Hall.

All disciples participating in the autumn exam had arrived, accompanied by numerous instructors, coaches, and disciples keen on watching the competition.

As long as one was qualified to watch, the Taoist Institute not only permitted it but also strongly encouraged it.

Having so many talented disciples display their strengths also served as an encouragement for those observing.

”Is everyone ready? Is there anyone withdrawing?” Mountain Master Dong Zhao asked punctually upon his arrival. Seeing no response, he instantly activated the Locking Star Ring, protecting the entire Martial Arts Hall.

This was also to prevent any disturbances that might affect the autumn exam.

The next moment, Xu Jin appeared in the Autumn Examination Secret Realm, identical to yesterday’s.

However, the number of disciples in the trialist area had been reduced to nine.

Other Taoist Institutes faced the same situation.

Nearly ten thousand trialists participated, but ultimately, only eight hundred could qualify, an acceptance rate close to eight percent.

It seemed cruel, but it was much higher than the employment rates for civil service exams in a past life.

National Taoist Institute only admitted eight hundred people for a simple reason: limited resources.

Just like the disciples of the Inner Court of Jinshan Taoist Institute, the resources invested in each disciple from the Inner Court were over ten times greater than those for the disciples of the Outer Court.

The quantity of Inner Court disciples, therefore, had to be limited.

”Today’s autumn exam is also known as the battle for the true inheritance for the qualified disciples.

Eight hundred qualified disciples will contend for fifteen true inheritor spots and two hundred core disciple spots.

Other disciples can only obtain the status of Inner Court disciples in the National Taoist Institute.

Compared to that, the cultivation resources of the core disciples of the National Taoist Institute are ten times those of the Inner Court disciples, so the competition is extremely fierce.

However, the battle for the true inheritance isn’t like the battle for qualification in the autumn exam.

The battle for the autumn exam qualification changes every year, continually changing in format.

But the battle for the true inheritance generally has a fixed format.

It usually consists of two stages.

The first stage is called Star Picking.

The second stage is called Contending for the First Place.

There’s not much to elaborate on these two stages; you’ll understand soon enough. It all depends on strength. There’s no role for luck or unexpected performance,” Ning Yuchan explained to everyone.

After speaking, seeing several disciples feeling a bit nervous and worried, Ning Yuchan immediately understood.

Clearly, the fact that nine disciples from Jinshan Taoist Institute qualified this time was largely due to Xu Jin’s influence and sponsorship.

Hearing Ning Yuchan say this, they worried about not securing a core disciple spot.

In fact, most of the qualified disciples from Jinshan Taoist Institute were unable to become core disciples of the National Taoist Institute and could only become Inner Sect disciples.

At the moment, only Xu Jin and Wang Weisheng had secured core disciple positions.

”You don’t need to worry. Even as Inner Court disciples of the National Taoist Institute, you will receive training resources dozens of times greater than those provided to Inner Court disciples of Jinshan Taoist Institute.

Moreover, as long as you cultivate diligently, there will still be opportunities to advance to core disciple status in the future,” Ning Yuchan consoled.

While Xu Jin was listening, he was simultaneously observing the situation in the Martial Observation Platform.

Xu Jin remembered Qi’s instructions; to always keep an eye out for any high-ranking officials from Star Hall coming over.

Xu Jin didn’t know what Qi was up to, but such instructions surely pertained to an extremely important matter.

He absolutely couldn’t let his negligence put Qi in danger.

Unfortunately, until the battle for the true inheritance began, he saw nothing unusual on the Martial Observation Platform.

Those seated there were all high-ranking officials from the Da Chen National Daoist School and various other Taoist Institutes.

”Reporting to the State Preceptor, all participants have arrived and their identities have been verified. Please instruct us,” Chief Instructor Yu Da requested.

”Let’s begin.”

As the State Preceptor gestured, Chief Instructor Yu Da gently activated the Star-picking Order. The sky above the Autumn Examination Secret Realm immediately let down several torrents of starlight, and text emerged.

[Autumn Exam Fourth Stage: Star Picking]

[Rules: All participants, attempt to ascend the Star Tower’s Heavenly Ascending Stairs, positioning will be determined by the number of steps climbed, in case of ties, duration will be used to rank. Note: This stage relates to Divine Soul Power. If intense headaches are felt, immediately withdraw to prevent damage to the Divine Soul.

During the ascent, any form of conflict is prohibited. Violators will be directly eliminated.]

[Rewards: First Place, Refining God Golden Pill, ten attempts on the Heavenly Ascending Stairs. Second and third places, one Mental-locking Golden Pill each, eight attempts.

Fourth to sixth places, one Mental-locking Golden Pill each, six attempts.

Seventh to tenth places, four attempts, eleventh to hundredth places, three attempts,

One hundred and first to two hundredth places, two attempts, two hundred and first to eight hundredth places, one attempt.]

[Top ten in the Fourth Stage of the Autumn Exam will directly obtain core disciple status]

[If unbearable pressure is encountered, mentally activate the Star-picking Order and silently think of leaving to exit]

The rules were extremely simple, and the rewards were very straightforward.

Yet Xu Jin subconsciously looked at Ning Yuchan.

He understood the rules, but the rewards confused him.

With just one look, Ning Yuchan understood what Xu Jin’s gaze meant, as she had once shared the same confusion.

”Refining God Golden Pill is an extremely rare pill that can enhance Divine Soul Power, highly precious, never sold within the National Daoist Institute, appearing only in rewards. It’s said to significantly boost Divine Soul Power, perhaps two to three times the effect of the Mental-locking Golden Pill.

Some naturally gifted disciples with strong Divine Souls, after consumption, might even directly cast their Divine Souls into stars.

You all know the effects of the Mental-locking Golden Pill, so I needn’t elaborate.

As for the Heavenly Ascending Stairs, these are an enigmatic and majestic set of Sky-reaching Stone Steps outside the physical entity of the Star Tower, imposing strong Divine Soul pressure. The pressure exerted by the Divine Soul intensifies exponentially with each step ascended.”