/*unedited*/

One young man running away from almost hundreds of giant desert snakes is a comical scene to those who are currently watching the scene.

"Patriarch, what do you think of this fellow?" an elder near a man wearing a blue robe with golden patterns in it asked politely.

"Umm…" the man replied as he just nods his head.

s.h.i.+n Jiao is currently fleeing away from the scene where he is being chased by hundreds of desert snakes. He didn't want to expose his strength at this time and just wanted to gain the qualification to enter the clan.

After a.s.sessing his performance he is already sure that he has pa.s.sed this trial in with an average score. Hence he didn't want to be entangled with the snakes anymore and just ran away as fast as he could without using shadow steps.

With his physique, s.h.i.+n Jiao was able to just run around the desert and prevent himself from being caught by the chasing monsters.

"This lad can run. His stamina is no joke. If a regular core-forming realm youth would face the same trial then I'm sure they would have already fallen from those things."

"This is fascinating, but he is a bit cowardly don't you think so?"

"What do you know? If worse comes to worst, in a battle against impossible odds one can only flee with your life. If you can't then what's the purpose of cultivating if you are dead?"

The discussions of the elders around made the man whom they call patriarch frown. This man is Jin Nian, the master and current patriarch of the Nian clan besides being a grand elder of the Heavenly Crow sect. His power and influence in the clan and in the town is something not any ordinary person can fathom. Unknown to his clan and the sect, Jin Nian has a secret. A secret that gave him power that those with the same cultivation as his or even one step higher is not his match.

As an infant soul realm cultivator, Jin Nian's strength is almost comparable to a primary stage nascent realm cultivator. Although his physique is not that strong yet this is already enough to make his enemies despair in a fight.

"Who else do we have that has the potential?" He asked in an indifferent tone.

"This young man here." An elder said as he pointed his finger on the mirror and the scene changed into a young man fighting against more than 20 desert snakes.

Although his figure is already b.l.o.o.d.y, yet the desire to kill can be seen clearly in his eyes. When the elders saw this their eyes suddenly lights up.

"What a tenacious fella. I like him, haha… We should definitely recruit that fellow too."

"His sword skills are subpar but his tenacity is amazing."

"Let's go with this guy. I think he is the best candidate thus far."

After some time of talking and discussion, the elders dismissed and went out of the room. Jin Nian is the only one left inside the darkroom.

"Appear before me," he said in thin air.

Then suddenly a figure materialized from behind him and bowed.

"What is your command, my lord."

"What is the status of the person the clan is chasing?" Jin Nian asked as he goes through the scenery displayed in the large mirror floating in the middle above the round table.

"That guy escaped my lord. But we are still trying to trace his whereabouts. But from the wounds of those who encountered him, I'm sure he is the guy we are looking for."

After hearing his subordinate's report, the man showed a smile on his face.

"Continue investigating. We must capture that guy for our plans to succeed. From what I have learned in this place, that human named s.h.i.+n Jiao carries a great secret within him. If we can get that secret our weapons would become fiercer and we can overrun this kingdom with ease."

When the man in the shadow heard this he bowed and suddenly disappears.

"Keke… s.h.i.+n Jiao heh, interesting fellow."

…

Meanwhile, s.h.i.+n Jiao is now standing in a line amongst the 50 people who pa.s.sed the a.s.sessment test of the clan. Now the clan is handing out uniforms for the new recruits.

After everyone receives their official Nian clan robes, a man suddenly walks forward in front of the group.

"You are now official, outer members of the Nian clan. If you perform well as an outer member then we can accept you as an official member of the family and employ to the Nian clan elite force." The man said with a smile.

When s.h.i.+n Jiao heard this he felt a little taken aback. He didn't expect that joining this Nian clan would make him spend more time just to be able to enter the main clan. Because he didn't want to spend more time, he decided to ask.

"Umm… senior can I ask a question?" he said timidly while raising his hand.

When the people saw this, they can't help but throw s.h.i.+n Jiao some disdainful look.

"What a country b.u.mpkin."

"He is just someone who doesn't know anything don't mind him…"

The people in the group whispered but are still audible enough to be heard.

"Yes, you may… what is it?" the man in charge said with impatience clearly written all over his face.

"Senior, what is the fastest way to enter the clan and become a member of the elite?" s.h.i.+n Jiao asked in a straight forward manner.

When the people heard this, their expression change into disbelief, yet some turned their gaze to the man-in-charge because this too is their question.

When the man saw this scene he could not help but shake his head.

"A fish trying to fly to the sky. He didn't know the immensity of heaven and the depth of the sea." The man thought.

But when he saw several eyes looking at him, he now felt a little dejected.

Although he didn't want to answer such a question yet he was tasked by the elders to be the guide and to answer some questions which are not too confidential. This way, these people would think that the clan is putting importance on them.

So with a helpless sigh, he replied.

 "It is hard to enter the clan without merits. But if you really wanted to enter the Nian clan, then you can try completing a single high-level mission… but…" the man intentionally delayed his words as he wanted to catch the reaction of the young people around him.

"…but, these missions are life and death missions. If you can survive it then you would immediately be welcomed to the clan. However, if you fail… then that's it for you. Because no one ever came back from a failed mission of this caliber, not even your gold core seniors."

The man said as he turned his gaze around him.

"The reason why the clan wanted you all to take it slowly is that the clan really cares for your wellbeing. But there are those who neglected this gesture and lost their lives… So right now, I suggest that your pups should take it steps by steps." He said while turning his eyes towards s.h.i.+n Jiao who nods in respect.

Everyone began a discussion about this with a little helplessness clearly written all over their faces. And s.h.i.+n Jiao has one such reaction.

But still, if he wanted to, he can just secretly get this high difficulty mission and be done with it.

With his decision already confirmed, s.h.i.+n Jiao followed the group as they went to the outer members' courtyard of the clan.

The courtyard is a little big with many young cultivators around either practicing or leisurely talking with each other.

The lively atmosphere was interrupted when they saw the group of s.h.i.+n Jiao entered the place.

"These are our new recruits… you take them to their rooms." The man who guided the group shouted as he calls for an outer member of the clan.

When that young man heard this, he quickly ran towards the man and cupped his hands while bowing in respect.

"This junior heard senior, don't worry I'll take care of them," he said.

But s.h.i.+n Jiao saw a ruthless glint in the young man's eyes.

When the man who guided them turn around and left, the people around the courtyard began gathering around s.h.i.+n Jiao and the new recruits.

"From the spiritual undulation of these people, it seems that most of them are about to break through the gold core realm." s.h.i.+n Jiao thought as he scrutinized the people around them.

Then suddenly one of the young men walks forward. Looking like a typical bully, the young man crossed his arms around his chest and showed a domineering scoff on his face.

"Fresh meat… Yummy!"

"Keke… we didn't have new people for a while. I'm glad that the clan has recruited new ones this time."

"Well, that's because the clan wanted to promote our cultivation. Remember the clan lost many gold core elites last time."

"Those people are weak. They're just lucky to have broken through first"

The people around began discussing.

Then suddenly the bully looking guy walks forward and showed a sneer.

"Fresh meats… before entering your room, you must pa.s.s under this daddy's legs. Or else we will punish you accordingly."

When the young people heard his words, their complexion turned unsightly.

As proud cultivators, they would not bow down and craw to the ground except in battle. So they showed an angry expression at the bully.

Suddenly, someone from s.h.i.+n Jiao's group walks forward.

A young woman with an ordinary face but a curvy body walks in front of the bully.

Suddenly, with a swift move, the woman vanished and appears behind the man.

"Tsk… just so-so." She said as she walks nonchalantly towards the outer member quarters.