The Urban Dao Child

Yang Dao and the rest got down from the back of the Luan. The boy patted the beak of the big bird and said, "Shing, good boy." 

The rest of the people in the square almost yelled at him, 'Young Master that good boy is a nascent soul realm beast. Can you not be so awesome?' 

Shing cooed gently and changed its size into a small bird as big as a palm. It flew around Yang Dao in two circles before going back in the spatial pouch held by Athena. Yang Dao and the rest bowed to the elders and stood among the rest of the new disciples of the sect. 

This was their first assessment as the disciples of the sect and thus they were allowed to take a tour of the domain master planet. The reason for this was to inspire these people. The events of today were broadcasted on all the other planets. 

Elder Jing Shui stepped forward and said, "Welcome, young ones, today you are called together at the Square of beginnings to take the first assessment as an official sect disciple." 

She paused and continued speaking in her soft and elegant tone, "There are two hundred new disciples. The assessments in the past were very simple, they required you to compete with each other. However, that gave an advantage to the prime disciples over the true disciples, while the same was true for the true disciples leading over the general disciples. 

The sect this time decided to make a few changes in the assessment structure. The disciples will be segregated into groups. The general disciples, the true disciples, and the prime disciples. the three groups will have internal competition. Those who stand at the peak of their groups will be given a chance to challenge those in the group above them. 

For example, if the top general disciple feels they are confident enough, they can challenge a true disciple, the winner gets the position of the true disciple. The loser will be given a definite time period to apply for a rematch and take back what they have lost, however, if this competition is changed into a death grudge, both of the participants will be slain with no questions asked." 

Suddenly a disciple raised his hand and asked, "Elder, can I ask something?" 

Jing Shui nodded, and the disciple asked, "Elder, the resources given to senior brothers of the true disciple levels are better than us general disciples, and their talent is higher than us. So, do we really have a chance to fight with them?" 

Elder Jing Shui nodded with a smile and said, "Good question, and the answer is, Yes. You all do have a chance. The toppers of the General group will be given one month of time and resources equal to the true disciples, they will be guided personally by the elders, also, the same applies to the true disciples if they want to challenge prime disciples.  The master and student relation will not be affected but they will gain the status and perks of a prime disciple. Is that fair? 

If you are worried about the accumulation of all the resources, this is something they earned. I cannot help you with that, but if you did not even try, will it not be a waste? The battles will be held with a phantom body, so do not be afraid of injuries." 

Another disciple asked, "Elder, what is a phantom body?" 

Elder Chime, the grandmaster of the formations, from the side spoke, "A body which is manifested after the concentration of spirit energy. Both participants will be able to duke it out inside the formation I created." 

The disciples in the general category were pleased and they all became excited. The true disciples were the same. Yang Dao on the side observed all this and nodded in satisfaction. It may have loopholes but the plan was set in motion and soon the people will be improvising it as well. 

Elder Jing Shui said, "The assessments will have three segments. The first one is called Heavenly Staircase. Those who can climb the nine hundred and ninety-nine steps will win. However, every step will test your will and your heart. So be careful and only when you have undaunting resolve, should you climb. 

The second test will be the Demon Battle Array. Slightly similar to the array where you faced wooden puppets but this time you will face demons. The longer you can last the better. This is a test of your martial prowess. 

The final test in the tunnels of luck. This one is simple, you are to go inside a tunnel and make it out faster. The faster you are the better the luck. Are you all ready?" 

The disciples nodded and excitedly said, "Yes, elder." 

Jing Shui nodded and said, "The general disciples will compete first, followed by the true disciples and then the prime disciples. Now, let the assessment begin." 

With that said, the rules were described and the assessment began. The general disciples drew lotteries, akin to assigning them enrollment numbers. There were hundred and thirty general disciples among them all. Then sixty-five true disciples and five prime disciples. 

The supreme elders did not accept just anyone as their disciples. The deacons on the side led the disciples to the place where a big staircase stood. Anyone could tell that these plain-looking steps were not going to be easy. 

Elder Jing said, "Shakti, Alisha, Jing'er, Amil. You four come and stand here, you are not allowed to participate or interact with the new disciples till the assessment ends." 

Yang Dao waved his hand to all four of them and stood with Trent, Daniel, Daina, and Athena. They were the five prime disciples of the same generation. Daina asked, "What is your opinion on these stairs?" 

Daniel shook his head and said, "Wait till the general disciples begin to climb, we will know." 

The rest nodded. Yang Dao said, "Say, do you have a cushion?" 

Athena asked, "Why do you need a cushion?" 

The boy said, "I thought I should sleep a bit?" 

The rest rolled their eyes at him. The surroundings were bright, and the weather was clear. The staircase stood at a place with abundant greenery around it. Yang Dao found a tree at random and sat down under the shade with his body leaning against the trunk while his sword lay atop his chest. 

Athena looked at him and was dazed. The other three ignored her but Yue Jing sighed and mumbled, "Athena has fallen." 

Elder Jing heard her words and took her attention away from the assessment. She looked at the scene and said, "Jing'er what is going on here?" 

Yue Jing squinted her eyes and did not reply. Elder Jing asked in a sweet voice, "Jing'err..." 

The girl trembled and said, "Master, Athena seemed to have taken a liking of my cousin." 

Elder Jing clicked her tongue and said, "Your cousin, this little rascal, poached my third disciple so quickly. I have to be on guard for your senior sister." 

Yue Jing stuck out her tongue and began to look at the staircase again. 

...

Daina said, "Why does it seem that the more you climb the harder it gets? Also, why do they stop on every step?" she has been gazing at the assessment in front of her. 

Trent said, "It could be because they need to adjust their bodies to get used to the pressure." 

Daniel nodded. He asked, "Athena, what do you think?" 

Athena snapped out of her daze and after some thought, she asked, "Why do they close their eyes?" 

The people were surprised. They could not figure out what was exactly going on. Yang Dao's voice sounded from the side, "How will they test the heart of the people?" 

He did not open his eyes but dropped a silent hint to them. He was not worried about this because he was the one who came up with the basic idea. The steps were inlaid with arrays, an array that dragged your conscious directly inside an illusion and put them into situations that tested their resolve and loyalty. 

The general disciples took three hours to finish this obstacle. Elder Jing said, "Those who climbed over thirty steps or more are passed, the rest are not. You can go and practice harder to cultivate." 

Elder Jing did not bother to explain, it was all self-explanatory. She said, "True Disciples need to climb sixty steps to pass." 

Her soft and elegant voice had become a whip on the backs of the disciples. They did not expect their difficulties to be double that of the general disciples. However, since the lady has already spoken, they will have to grit their teeth and get done with it. 

Yang Dao on the side did not bother with it all and yawned as he stretched his limbs. Daina asked, "How can you sleep, Dao? Are you not worried that we will have to climb ninety steps?" 

The boy said, "Bothering about it will get us nothing. We just need to do our best." 

That said, he went back to sleep.