With a grand wave of his hand, Sun Yuan summoned four vast Arrays in the Outer Sect plaza, each containing a different scene.
One was a massive, churning, boiling Blood Pool.
A dark, narrow, and winding "Human Bone Corridor."
A simple, crude, circular stone colosseum.
And a terrifying, bottomless abyss that radiated a soul-sucking force.
Taking this opportunity, Zheng Qi announced the specific rules of the assessment to the assembled Demon Disciples.
Just listening to the rules made the Demon Disciples' skin crawl.
For example, for the [Blood Pool Leech Sea] trial to become a [Blood Disciple], as the name suggested, Demon Patterns designed to drain one's Vitality were carved into the bottom of the boiling, churning Blood Pool.
Furthermore, the scarlet water of the pool was mixed with potent poisons, corrosive substances, and countless Bloodthirsty Demon Leeches at the Qi Cultivation First Layer.
Candidates had to submerge themselves naked in the Blood Pool, with only their heads above the surface. The Qi Cultivation First Layer Bloodsuckers would then frantically latch onto their entire bodies, injecting a paralyzing toxin while greedily sucking their blood.
The pool's water would also corrode their flesh, inflicting a pain that bored deep into their bones.
To successfully pass the assessment, candidates had to circulate their Demonic Essence to construct a Spirit Blood Barrier. This barrier would prevent the toxins from penetrating their organs and help them resist having their Essence Blood drained too quickly by the Bloodsuckers and the Demon Patterns in the Blood Pool.
This required extremely precise Spirit Blood Manipulation.
In the end, whoever endured the longest would receive the highest score.
'Is this a trial that someone at the Qi Cultivation Third Layer can even pass?'
One Demon Disciple despaired, "I heard from an Instructor that this is the *easiest* trial, the one for [Blood Disciple]. Doesn't that mean the hardest one, for [Fierce Soldier], is a death sentence?"
The beautiful Female Cultivator smiled faintly.
"A total of eight thousand Demon Disciples are participating in this Saint Cultivator advancement ceremony. The quotas are as follows."
Blood Disciples to be selected: 1,000.
Bone Slaves: 500.
Soul Cultivators: 300.
Fierce Soldiers: 50."
"That is a total of 1,850 Saint Cultivator slots to be filled. For each path, those who rank in the top ten will not only receive Contribution Points as a reward but will also find a hidden Divine Power Technique!"
The purple gauze veil over the beautiful Female Cultivator's face fluttered gently. Her voice was as pleasant and crisp as silver bells, seeming to possess a bewitching power.
Carried on a fragrant breeze, her words slowly dispelled the fear in the Demon Disciples' hearts.
'Get into the top ten, earn Contribution Points, and even get a Divine Power Technique... Maybe this Saint Cultivator advancement ceremony isn't as difficult as I imagined…'
Zhao Youliang asked, "Brother Qin Xuan, which one are you going to choose?"
Qin Xuan replied, "I haven't decided yet. What about you?"
Zhao Youliang said, "I want to go for Blood Disciple."
Qin Xuan was surprised. "Aren't you worried there's a catch?"
Zhao Youliang gave a bitter smile. "But it also has the most slots!"
Qin Xuan suddenly understood.
'I'd forgotten about that,' he thought. 'The vast majority of Demon Disciples participating in the Saint Cultivator advancement are doing it primarily to pay off their Holy Loans.'
'From that perspective, more slots means a better chance!'
In comparison, the number of slots for the [Fierce Soldier] trial was tiny—a precipitous drop.
No one in their right mind would choose it.
"Look, a Demon Disciple is starting the trial!" someone suddenly exclaimed.
"I've seen him before. That's Zhang Shan from Jia Chen Courtyard 2, a Demon Cultivator at the Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer."
"Zhang Shan is really brave. Isn't he afraid something will go wrong?"
"Who cares? It's perfect. He can test the waters for us."
Amidst the murmurs of the Demon Disciples, the radiant Array began to ripple.
A stocky, dark-skinned Demon Cultivator was seen slowly stepping into the [Blood Pool Leech Sea].
Obviously, he had chosen the path to become a [Blood Disciple].
The moment the Array activated, a thick, suffocating stench of decay and blood assaulted the senses.
The water in the pool wasn't bright red, but a nauseating, dark purplish-brown. Large, viscous bubbles constantly roiled on its surface.
"POP!"
As Zhang Shan entered, the bubbles burst with soft pops, spattering a highly corrosive, toxic smoke.
Beyond that, what made one's skin crawl was the sight of tens of thousands of Bloodthirsty Demon Leeches writhing densely within the Blood Pool.
The Bloodthirsty Demon Leeches were jet-black and glossy, with fearsome mouthparts. In an instant, they covered Zhang Shan, making him look as though he wore a suit of writhing black armor. A faint, yet cringe-inducing, SSS... SSS... sucking sound filled the air.
"AHHH!"
Zhang Shan's eyes turned crimson as he let out a pained roar.
In just a few moments, Zhang Shan's body began to shrivel at a rate visible to the naked eye!
A chill ran up the spines of the watching Demon Disciples.
At this rate, Zhang Shan would soon be sucked dry by the Bloodsuckers!
However, just then, Zhang Shan produced a Transparent Jade Bottle from out of nowhere. It contained an eerie blue liquid that emitted a faint, strange glow.
Zhang Shan tilted his head back and drank it down.
GLUG, GLUG... His Adam's apple bobbed. The next moment, Zhang Shan's skin began to glow with a strange, eerie blue light, and his previously shriveled body swelled slightly.
BANG!
A dozen or so of the Bloodsuckers on his arm suddenly went rigid. With faint popping sounds, they were pulverized from the inside out by some invisible force!
The same happened to the ones on his thighs, then his torso... In the span of a few moments, the water around Zhang Shan was filled with the shredded remains of the creatures.
And his withered body was once again robust and full!
Zhang Shan let out a great roar, raising the Transparent Jade Bottle that was still half-full of the eerie blue potion. "[Furnace Altar] Blue Blood Potion—my best friend for the trials!"
BANG! BANG!
Dozens more Bloodthirsty Demon Leeches exploded. Zhang Shan's physique expanded, his wounds rapidly closing under dark red blood scabs, and his muscles bulged with streamlined power.
His frame was even more formidable than when he had first entered the [Blood Pool Leech Sea].
Before the crowd of Demon Cultivators could even process what was happening, Steward Huang's expression shifted into a wide smile. "This Saint Cultivator assessment is proudly sponsored by the Inner Sect's [Furnace Altar]! When choosing your trial potion, accept no substitutes—look for the Inner Sect's Furnace Cauldron Blue Blood Formula."
"The Furnace Cauldron Blue Blood Formula, just 98 Contribution Points a dose... Sold directly by the Inner Sect. You can trust the quality."
'Are they running an ad?'
Qin Xuan was dumbfounded.
He swallowed hard, completely and utterly thunderstruck. He felt like his entire worldview had just been shattered.
'Fucking hell,' he thought, 'isn't this shift in tone a little too... eccentric?'
Fortunately, the price of 98 Contribution Points was still too steep. Many of the Demon Disciples were strapped for cash and already burdened with Holy Loans; where would they get that many Contribution Points?
As a result, not many Demon Disciples chose to buy one.
Just then, a Demon Disciple trotted over to Huang Feng and whispered something in his ear.
At first, Huang Feng's eyes widened in rage. Then, as he listened, his expression changed again before he let out a long, heart-wrenching sigh.
"Sigh... Good news, everyone! To help every Demon Disciple achieve their dream of advancement, Furnace Altar Zhang Incense Master is now offering a limited-time discount! Not 98, not 68, but just 19.8! For just 19.8, you can take a Blue Blood Potion home!"
Qin Xuan was completely floored.
The scene felt strangely familiar.
'Fuck! When the hell did this crooked, depraved trend find its way into the Profound Demon Sect World?!'
However, while Qin Xuan was still in shock, a tremendous uproar erupted among the other Demon Disciples.
They were all trembling with excitement.
'Zhang Incense Master is a saint! A potion this effective for less than 20 Contribution Points!'
'Drink one of those, and getting selected is practically a sure thing!'
'Don't have enough Contribution Points?'
'That's no big deal! Just take out a loan! Steward Huang said it's a limited-time, low-interest offer. It's only about 20 Contribution Points anyway. Once I become a Blood Disciple, I'll be able to pay it back in two months, tops!'
Subtly and over time, the Demon Disciples had grown completely accustomed to the Holy Sect's loan system.
Anything under 100 Contribution Points was considered pocket change.
Tempted by the offer, the Demon Disciples eagerly surged toward Huang Feng to purchase the potion.