After writing on the stone tablet, a group of more than ten people followed Song Zhong to the Examination Hall.
The Examination Hall was not spacious, and it was empty.
Only a woman in purple sat in the center with her eyes closed.
Song Zhong bowed:
"Greetings, Elder He."
The woman slowly opened her long eyes and asked:
"Hmm, have all the people from the City of Seeking Immortality who are to participate in the first examination this month been brought?"
"Yes, Elder, they have all been brought."
"Sixteen people? Why so many? Wasn't it usually around ten?"
"Elder, this time five people are taking the examination early. The remaining eleven are here for the examination after the three-year term."
The woman in purple frowned slightly:
"Five people taking the examination early? Truly, when it rains, it pours. Song Zhong, you may leave."
"Yes, disciple takes his leave."
After Song Zhong left, the woman said:
"I am He Buru, the Examination Elder of the Immortal Sect. Next, I will conduct a cultivation examination on you. Previously, all cultivators who reached the Rebirth Stage, Third Layer could receive a Rebirth Pill."
He Buru stood up, her slender eyes flashing with a clear light as she scanned the sixteen people who came for the examination.
"But due to certain reasons, starting two months ago, the Immortal Sect of the City of Seeking Immortality can only issue a maximum of five Rebirth Pills per examination. Unfortunately, among your group, there are already five people who have reached the Perfected Stage of the Rebirth Stage, Third Layer and are taking the examination early. Besides these five, I see there are also five people who have reached the early stage of the Rebirth Stage, Third Layer."
What?
How could the Rebirth Pills be limited?
Zhu Xiaosuo was momentarily surprised.
Bad luck, why is everything going wrong!
Other cultivators at the Rebirth Stage, Third Layer also looked tense.
"Ten people, five Rebirth Pills, this is the first time I've encountered such a situation. In previous examinations, five Rebirth Pills were always enough. Your group has really given me a problem."
At this moment, a long-faced male cultivator said:
"Elder He, in the cultivation world, the strong are respected. I believe the five Rebirth Pills should be given to the five highest-ranking examinees."
Zhu Xiaosuo agreed deeply.
The cultivator who spoke up must be like him, a cultivator at the Perfected Stage of the Rebirth Stage, Third Layer, taking the examination early.
The strong are respected, a reasonable point.
Immediately, a female cultivator said:
"The strong are respected, which rule of the Immortal Sect is that? If it's not a sect rule, why should the highest-ranking examinees get the Rebirth Pills?"
The long-faced male cultivator who suggested distributing the Rebirth Pills based on cultivation said:
"If not following the unwritten rules of the cultivation world, then propose a reasonable plan?"
"Simple. Those of you taking the examination early are not in a rush; you can withdraw and participate in the next examination. Maybe there will be enough Rebirth Pills then. But we five are here after the three-year term and must take the examination. If we don't get the Rebirth Pills this time, we might never break through to the Fourth Layer in this lifetime. Please, fellow Daoists, show some kindness and give us a chance."
"Yes, yes, please, fellow Daoists taking the examination early, help us this once, and we will surely repay you in the future!"
"That's right, we really only have this one chance!"
Other early-stage Rebirth Stage cultivators chimed in.
The long-faced male cultivator snorted:
"If you can't break through, what does it have to do with me? Future repayment, don't bother saying such useless things. If you want to repay, do it now."
"What do you want us to do?"
"Twenty Spirit Stones, and I'll withdraw. Otherwise, no deal."
"Twenty? You might as well rob us!"
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"Either you give me twenty Spirit Stones, or I'll stay here and compete for the Rebirth Pills. Think carefully; this is your last chance."
The female cultivator thought for a moment and said:
"Twenty Spirit Stones is too much, almost enough for us to cultivate to the Perfected Stage of the Rebirth Stage, Third Layer. If we had that many Spirit Stones, why wouldn't we cultivate ourselves? Ten Spirit Stones per person is our limit."
The long-faced male cultivator thought for a moment and said:
"Fine, ten it is."
The female cultivator immediately turned to the other four cultivators who, like her, were here after the three-year term and said:
"If these five cultivators at the Perfected Stage of the Rebirth Stage, Third Layer take the examination, our chances of getting the Rebirth Pills are too low. Ten Spirit Stones is already a very reasonable price. Does anyone have any objections?"
A cultivator said reluctantly:
"I... I don't have that many Spirit Stones on me."
"Then make a Heart Oath to give the other party eleven Spirit Stones within a year."
"Why should I give eleven?"
The female cultivator said coldly:
"When you owe a debt, you repay it with interest."
Hearing this, the cultivator was also angry:
"What kind of nonsense rule is that! I'm being forced to owe this debt; who carries that many Spirit Stones around! What if I refuse?"
"If you refuse, then the four of us won't give Spirit Stones either. Then it will be ten people competing for five Rebirth Pills. There will definitely be another round of examination. The additional test will most likely be a comparison of cultivation or a duel. Can you win against those five?"
"......"
The cultivator fell silent after hearing this.
They were all at the Rebirth Stage, Third Layer, and the power of their spells was no different.
But the spiritual energy within someone who just entered the Rebirth Stage, Third Layer and someone at the Perfected Stage was nearly double.
Everyone only knew a few basic spells like Crumbling Stone Force, Wind-Chasing Steps, and Artifact Control Technique. If it really came to a duel, there wouldn't be much variation.
It would be a pure contest of internal spiritual energy, with the first to run out losing.
Whether comparing cultivation or dueling, he couldn't win.
Eleven Spirit Stones to exchange for a Rebirth Pill worth over a hundred Spirit Stones was worth it.
Who could he blame for his bad luck, not thinking to bring more Spirit Stones when he went out?
"Fine, I agree."
A wise man submits to circumstances.
The female cultivator nodded and said to the other three early-stage Rebirth Stage cultivators:
"Do the remaining three fellow Daoists have any objections to paying ten Spirit Stones to ask them to withdraw from the examination?"
"No."
"Well, I'll pay."
"I agree too."
"Good, in that case, those with Spirit Stones, pay up. Those without, make a Heart Oath. And please, fellow Daoists taking the examination early, also make a Heart Oath to withdraw from the examination immediately after receiving our Spirit Stones."
Zhu Xiaosuo saw that the other four cultivators taking the examination early seemed to accept this plan and felt a bit helpless.
He still had to step forward and speak.
He originally didn't want to stand out too much.
Because when He Buru mentioned "two months" ago, the limitation on Rebirth Pills for the City of Seeking Immortality's Immortal Sect examination, he guessed it was probably related to him.
Two months ago was exactly when the spirit collapse at Black Snow Ridge occurred.
The timing was too coincidental for Zhu Xiaosuo not to connect the two.
The spirit collapse happened, over a hundred and seventy cultivators perished, and the Immortal Sect limited the Rebirth Pills.
It was likely that due to the Black Snow Ridge spirit collapse incident, too many cultivators died, causing the provincial capital or higher authorities to become furious and, as a punishment for the City of Seeking Immortality's Immortal Sect's negligence, reduced the supply of various resources.
As a figure at the center of the Black Snow Ridge spirit collapse incident, Zhu Xiaosuo now only wanted to keep a low profile and bide his time.
He didn't want to attract too much attention.
But there was no choice; the other four fellow Daoists taking the examination early were clearly unfamiliar with the sect rules.
He had to speak up.