Chapter 312: Chapter 132: The Final Placement, a Wager
The calligraphy on the page was strong and forceful. Qin Gang needed only a glance to understand its contents.
The tone of the letter was earnest, its purpose laid bare in just a few sentences: to recommend Yang Jing and Sun Ningxiang for entry into the Xuanzhen Sect, with a specific request for them to join Zhenyue Peak.
After reading the letter, Qin Gang slowly folded the page. His fingertips unconsciously traced the edge of the envelope as his brow furrowed, creating a shallow crease between his eyes.
He applied a little pressure with his fingertips, creasing the thick paper. A thoughtful look flashed in his eyes; he was clearly weighing the matter carefully.
The Xuanzhen Sect had strict rules for accepting disciples. Aside from the public recruitment examinations held every spring and autumn, each of the Seven Veins had the authority to recruit disciples independently. However, this authority was not without its limits.
While the sect had never officially set a quota for each vein’s independent recruitment, there was an unwritten understanding: each vein traditionally recruited no more than ten disciples on their own per year.
This unspoken rule acted as an invisible line, constraining the decisions of the Seven Vein Peak Masters.
After all, while the sect’s foundations were deep, its Cultivation Resources were ultimately finite.
Whether it was Spirit Medicine for Body Tempering, Elixirs to nourish Inner Qi, or access to the Training Rooms, all of it had been accumulated over generations. Every single portion was exceptionally precious.
If the sect wanted to maintain its standing in the Jianghu, let alone grow stronger, it couldn’t rely on sheer numbers of disciples. Instead, it had to concentrate its limited resources, pouring them into those disciples with exceptional talent and unyielding spirits.
Only by nurturing them carefully could they produce true experts of the Martial Dao capable of becoming the pillars of the sect. Spreading resources thinly among a host of mediocre talents would only result in a situation where none of them could achieve anything great.
More importantly, the sect conducted a comprehensive annual assessment of the Seven Veins. The evaluation criteria were meticulous and strict, leaving no room for complacency.
The assessment checked the caliber of each vein’s new disciples for the year; if the proportion of mediocre ones was too high, the vein would be held accountable by the sect.
It also tallied the promotion rate and number of Outer Sect disciples advancing to the Inner Sect, which was used to measure the effectiveness of each vein’s instruction.
Furthermore, it considered the performance and overall rankings of each vein’s disciples in the sect’s various competitions, large and small. From sparring matches against their peers to inter-vein tournaments, every victory and defeat affected the vein’s reputation and interests.
These assessment results were directly tied to the sect’s allocation of resources. Veins that performed well would receive larger allotments of Spirit Medicine, Elixirs, and cultivation manuals, their Cultivation Resources growing ever more abundant.
Conversely, underperforming veins would see their resources drastically reduced. Their disciples’ cultivation progress would be hindered, and the vein’s overall strength would gradually decline.
Qin Gang sat upright in the Grandmaster’s Chair, his fingertips tapping softly on the desk. The sound was exceptionally clear in the quiet hall.
He closed his eyes and thought for a moment, clearly reviewing the state of Zhenyue Peak’s recruitment for the year. He had already personally recommended seven disciples to join Zhenyue Peak. According to the unwritten rules for independent recruitment among the Xuanzhen Sect’s Seven Veins, that left him with only three spots—hardly an abundance.
Patriarch Zhang, head of the great Zhang Family in the Prefecture City, had already sent word that a scion of his family wished to join Zhenyue Peak of the Xuanzhen Sect.
The Zhang Family was a powerful force in the Prefecture City and had many dealings with the sect. He couldn’t simply refuse them. That would reduce his available spots by one, leaving only two.
The tapping of his fingers paused. A calculating look flashed in his eyes. ’If I give both remaining spots to the people Sun Yong recommended,’ he thought, ’I’ll have no room to maneuver should another favor or unforeseen situation arise.’
Steward Chen sat quietly, patiently awaiting Qin Gang’s final decision.
After a long moment, Qin Gang’s gaze fell upon Steward Chen. "You’ve met the two of them. What of their Root Bones?"
Hearing this, Steward Chen quickly replied, "Peak Master, I personally examined their Root Bones before coming to see you. The young woman, Sun Ningxiang, has a Fifth-Grade Root Bone. Her aptitude is average, but decent enough. With some nurturing, she might achieve something in the future."
At this, his voice faltered. He swallowed, a flicker of unconcealable hesitation in his eyes. His tone grew hesitant as he paused for a moment before continuing, "As for Yang Jing... the examination revealed an Eighth-Grade Root Bone."
As the words left his mouth, he instinctively lowered his gaze. ’An Eighth-Grade Root Bone is considered bottom-tier even among ordinary Martial Artists,’ he thought, ’let alone in a major sect like Xuanzhen.’
’His path in cultivation is destined to be arduous. With a Root Bone that poor, I really don’t know what else to say. After all, Yang Jing’s aptitude is simply too low, a far cry from the disciples Zhenyue Peak has recruited in the past.’
Upon hearing this, Qin Gang’s brow tightened, his expression hardening with displeasure.
’An Eighth-Grade Root Bone...’ Qin Gang fumed internally. ’Forget about Zhenyue Peak; even the minor sects in Jintai Prefecture wouldn’t give someone with such a bottom-tier aptitude a second glance. How dare Sun Yong recommend such trash to me?’
’Thirty years have passed. The camaraderie we shared as fellow disciples, cultivating side by side, has long since been worn thin by the vast chasm between our current statuses.’
’I am now a high-ranking Peak Master of the sect, while Sun Yong is nothing more than a lone practitioner in the Jianghu who left the mountain years ago, his progress on the Martial Dao having completely stagnated.’
’Does he really think I’m still that same easygoing junior brother from all those years ago? Or is he just that full of himself, believing a simple recommendation is enough for me to break precedent and accept someone with such an abysmal aptitude?’
Impatience began to stir within him. The force of his tapping on the desk grew heavier, the dull sound now laced with a hint of frustration.
Steward Chen saw the shift in Qin Gang’s expression and sighed inwardly. He still took a shallow breath and added, "Peak Master, although the boy’s Root Bone is poor, he may have hidden talents in other areas. He’s only eighteen or nineteen, yet he has already firmly stepped into the Huajin Realm. To possess such a level of Cultivation at his age is something an ordinary person with an Eighth-Grade Root Bone should not be able to achieve. Even many disciples with Fourth or Fifth-Grade Root Bones would find it difficult to reach the Huajin Realm at that age, before even joining the sect."
