Chapter 41: The Cut-off Point Between the Old and the Present

After introducing the topic, Feng Chutang began, “To discuss the Sect Unified Examination, we must first understand its origins—namely how and why it came into being. We all know that there exists countless cultivation paths, but just as techniques may vary in level, there are superior and inferior cultivation paths as well. Some cultivation paths are major roads that will take you all the way to the top, while some will gain you a bit of brute strength at best. But no matter what kind of cultivation path one follows, so long as the method isn’t impossible to cultivate, someone could use it to found a sect or a faction back in the day. That was why there used to be countless sects in the world.

“Anything that exists in large will inevitably be a mix of the good and the bad. Sects are no exception. First, only a sect with a confirmed path to immortality can call themselves an immortal sect. All immortal sects are towering existences, so they never have to worry about having a shortage of disciples. In fact, it is the opposite that worries them. There will always be more people who wish to enter an immortal sect than there is room. Thus, the immortal sects had made up all kinds of requirements and obstacles to keep the headcount low since ancient times. And if there exists a candidate who managed to overcome all of their ludicrous tests, but they didn’t want them for whatever reason, then they may simply say, ‘You are not destined with our sect,’ to the candidate and dismiss them.”

Laughter immediately broke out in the Enlightenment Hall except for a handful of people including Wei Yuan. If he was born in that era, it was entirely possible that a humble commoner like him would fall under the “You are not destined with our sect” category.

...