Arden took out his phone and checked the time.
There was only half an hour left until the admission deadline, and reaching the location of the mountain gate was at least several kilometers away. It seemed this also served as a screening before the formal assessment.
After all, applicants who lacked even basic physical fitness or a sense of time would likely be filtered out during the assessment anyway, so it was better to eliminate them from the start.
Of course, whether you climbed yourself, hired someone to carry you, or arrived early to climb slowly—as long as you reached the destination within the time limit, it counted as a pass.
.....
"Admission time is up!"
It was time to enter the examination venue... which was the mountain gate of Yunkui Summit.
For Arden and Ju Fufu, climbing the mountain was nothing. When they reached the mountain gate at the peak, neither of them had even broken a sweat.
Arden looked around. About two hundred applicants had arrived on time. Although far fewer than the crowd at the foot of the mountain, it was still a considerable number.
It seemed the appeal of Yunkui Summit and the various sects and organizations was quite high, especially in a post-apocalyptic place like New Eridu.
"Wow! Such majestic stone lions!" Ju Fufu didn't pay attention to the other applicants. Instead, she was studying a pair of stone lions guarding the mountain gate. She tugged at Arden's sleeve. "But, aren't they a bit too fierce?"
"Hehe, they are a bit fierce indeed. Not as cute as my Fufu!"
Ju Fufu and Arden's interaction instantly made the surrounding applicants feel like they were being shown up.
.....
Following the guide into the interior of Yunkui Summit.
Overall, Yunkui Summit looked like a very large-scale Taoist temple complex. However, compared to something fantastical, it more closely resembled a sect from a martial arts novel—no earth-shattering, spectacular sights, just slightly ordinary.
After all, the so-called cultivators of Yunkui Summit, while practicing methods, Taoism, and talismans, were not truly pursuing immortality.
They cultivated not for longevity, but merely to protect themselves in the post-apocalyptic context and to act chivalrously, helping others.
The assessment was mainly divided into two parts: the morning interview and the afternoon practical skills test.
The interview primarily assessed the applicant's ideological and moral character, mental outlook, and such. The afternoon practical skills test included major disciplines and miscellaneous skills.
According to Yunkui Summit's requirements, an applicant must pass at least one item in both the major discipline and miscellaneous categories to qualify as an outer sect disciple.
That's right, only as an outer sect disciple.
Joining Yunkui Summit was just the first step. For Arden to become Yixuan's personal disciple, he still had a long way to go.
Since it was a joint recruitment, regardless of which sect an applicant 'applied' to, the assessments were held together—just like the college entrance exams. If an applicant didn't pass for their chosen sect, they could be 'transferred' to another sect.
It had to be said, it was quite humanized.
After all, most applicants' preference was for Yunkui Summit, which was the most powerful, famous, and had a beautiful sect leader. The other sects and organizations didn't want to come for nothing, and Yunkui Summit couldn't possibly admit so many people at once.
"Brother Arden!"
Ju Fufu clung to Arden's arm, feeling somewhat nervous.
The two had arrived outside a small courtyard. Around them, over a hundred other applicants were also waiting. They had all applied to Yunkui Summit.
The interviews were conducted one by one, like queuing at a bank. First, you got a number... when your number was called, you could enter the courtyard for the interview.
Since they registered relatively early, the two got very early numbers: Ju Fufu was number 13, and Arden was number 14.
"Me and Brother Arden, 1314... 'one life, one lifetime'. It's very auspicious."
Although their relationship had progressed a step further, Ju Fufu didn't call Arden 'husband' or 'dear' or anything like that; she still used the original form of address.
"Uh..."
Hearing this, Arden was momentarily stunned.
Is this girl getting lovesick?
However, that didn't seem like a bad thing.
"That's right."
Arden smiled and stroked Ju Fufu's round, fluffy tiger ears.
"Mmm..."
Ju Fufu shook her ears and then rubbed against Arden's chest.
"....."
Having been all lovey-dovey and stuck together since the mountain gate, Arden and Ju Fufu immediately attracted a lot of gazes—some envious, some jealous, some resentful, but the most common were strange looks, as if saying: 'If you want to start a round, go to a love hotel. This is Yunkui Summit, the site of the disciple assessment!'
"Ahem!"
With so many people watching, even someone as thick-skinned as Arden felt a bit embarrassed under the stares. "Fufu, it's almost your turn. Get ready."
"Mm!"
She also sensed the odd looks from around them and moved slightly away from Arden.
.....
"Applicant number 13, Ju Fufu, please enter!"
Hearing her name called, Ju Fufu, under Arden's reassuring gaze, walked into the small courtyard.
The room wasn't big. Four interviewers sat behind a long table.
Yixuan, wearing an apricot-yellow Taoist robe, sat in the middle. To her right was a man wearing a similar Taoist robe, and on the other side were two interviewers from other sects.
"!!"
The moment Ju Fufu entered, her gaze was drawn to the huge, snowy-white pair resting on the table in front of Yixuan.
Wa! So big!
While sighing inwardly, Ju Fufu subconsciously thought of herself.
I've lost! Completely lost!
There was no comparison. The gap between them was like a small dirt mound next to a house versus Mount Everest.
But, Brother Arden said... small ones are cute too!
Remembering Arden's fondness, Ju Fufu immediately felt much more at ease, though her cheeks also flushed a little red.
....
"Ju Fufu, female, age 17..."
The man, likely Yixuan's sect brother, held Ju Fufu's application materials and read them out. "Aptitude and specialties... Reason for joining Yunkui Summit..."
Ten years ago, when the Old Capital fell, Arden saved the kindergarten-aged Ju Fufu. However, without the sacrifice of the Yunkui Summit masters back then, they would have hardly survived. So, Ju Fufu's reason for joining Yunkui Summit was to become stronger, to help those in need, just like Yunkui Summit did back in the day.
"Ju Fufu, is it? You..."
Yixuan asked a few more questions and finally gave her summary.
"...has a connection with our Yunkui Summit!"
It was more than just a connection. If Arden hadn't intercepted her, Ju Fufu would already be the head disciple of Yunkui Summit.
Of course, 'has a connection' was a very high evaluation, basically indicating Ju Fufu had passed the interview.
.....
Since there were many applicants to Yunkui Summit, each person's interview time was very short.
Five minutes later, Ju Fufu came out.
"How was it?"
Arden asked the emerging Ju Fufu.
"Yeah!"
Ju Fufu excitedly made a victory sign with her fingers.
"Applicant number 14, Arden Xu, please enter!"
Before Arden could congratulate Ju Fufu, his name was called.
"Brother Arden, good luck!"
"Mm!"
.....
Just like Ju Fufu, the moment Arden entered, his gaze was drawn to the large and white pair resting on the table.
Gulp~!
Arden couldn't help but swallow.
It had to be said, the impact of seeing something through a screen versus observing it up close in person was on completely different levels.
At this moment, what Arden was thinking was completely different from what Ju Fufu had thought.
He automatically imagined a certain famous scenario... Yixuan and Ju Fufu riding the subway together, then the broadcast announcement: 'The train is about to enter the station. Please stand behind the yellow line. Passengers with two large watermelons on their chests...'
Once I complete the [Charge the Master] mission, I must take Ju Fufu and Master Yixuan to a subway station...
At this moment, Arden's resolve grew even stronger.