Vampire Progenitor of the Immortal World

Chapter 17: Chapter 17 : Paths Before the Gate

The valley felt different the next morning. The crowds were smaller now. Many of the tents that had filled the open ground two days ago were gone.

The people who had failed the examination had already begun returning home. Only those who had qualified remained.

Even so, the valley was far from empty.

Hundreds of young men and women still gathered around the examination grounds.

Some looked excited.

Others looked nervous.

Many wore expressions that fell somewhere between the two.

Ethan sat quietly near the edge of the gathering area and watched the activity unfold.

No one seemed eager to leave. After all, reaching this point had already been difficult. Everyone wanted to know what came next.

Shortly after sunrise, several sect disciples appeared. They moved through the valley directing people toward different sections.

The process was orderly.

Names were checked.

Groups were organized.

Candidates were separated according to records gathered during the examination.

Ethan followed the instructions without complaint. Before long, he found himself standing among dozens of others.

Some faces looked familiar.

He had seen them during the testing.

Others were strangers.

Nobody spoke much.

The atmosphere was different from before. The excitement from the spirit root examination had faded. Now reality was beginning to settle in.

A platform had been erected near the center of the valley. Several sect disciples stood upon it.

The elder remained seated behind them.

His eyes were closed.

Whether he was resting or simply uninterested, Ethan couldn’t tell.

A disciple stepped forward.

"The qualification examination has ended."

His voice carried clearly across the gathering.

"Those who remain have all demonstrated the ability to cultivate."

A ripple of excitement spread through the crowd. Several people smiled. Others straightened unconsciously.

Even after yesterday’s results, hearing it spoken aloud seemed to make it feel more real. The disciple waited for the noise to settle.

Then he continued.

"However."

The single word immediately quieted everyone.

Ethan noticed several candidates exchanging glances.

The disciple’s expression remained calm.

"The ability to cultivate does not mean the same thing for everyone."

The valley became silent.

Nobody interrupted.

Nobody dared.

The disciple began reading names. One after another. Whenever a name was called, the person stepped forward.

Some were directed toward the left side of the platform. Others toward the right.

Ethan watched carefully.

Patterns quickly emerged.

The young girl whose crystal had shone with brilliant green light yesterday was called early. The moment her name was announced, several disciples personally escorted her away.

Their attitude was noticeably different.

Respectful.

Attentive.

Almost welcoming.

The same happened to several others Ethan remembered from the examination. The talented candidates were gathered together. Even without explanation, the difference was obvious.

The process continued.

Names were called.

Groups grew.

The division between candidates became increasingly clear.

The more Ethan observed, the more he understood. Not everyone had entered through the same gate.

Some had entered through a wide gate. Others through a narrow crack. The destination might be similar.

The starting point was not.

Hours passed.

Eventually, Ethan’s name was called. He stepped forward. A disciple checked a list. Then pointed toward a group standing off to the side.

Ethan joined them.

The moment he arrived, he noticed something. The atmosphere here was noticeably quieter. No excited conversations.

No proud smiles.

Only waiting.

Observing.

Thinking.

Many of them likely understood where they stood.

Once the sorting was complete, the disciple addressed the gathering once more.

"The candidates assigned to the first group will be accepted as Outer Disciples."

The words immediately caused excitement. Several young people nearly jumped from joy. Others clenched their fists in excitement.

Families watching from afar broke into cheers.

The disciple allowed the moment to pass. Then he continued.

"The second group will enter as probationary disciples."

The reaction was more restrained.

Still positive.

Still hopeful.

But clearly not as prestigious as the first group.

Then came the third group.

Ethan’s group.

The disciple’s gaze swept across them.

"The third group may enter the sect as Servant Disciples."

Silence followed.

Not because nobody heard.

Because everyone did.

The disciple continued calmly.

"Servant Disciples will receive..."

"Housing."

"Food."

"Basic cultivation instruction."

Several people visibly relaxed.

Then the disciple continued.

"They will also perform duties assigned by the sect."

The valley remained silent.

"Fields."

"Storehouses."

"Transportation."

"Maintenance."

"Mines"

"Other sect tasks."

The disciple spoke without emotion. Simply stating facts. No attempt to make the offer sound better. No attempt to hide anything.

A young man nearby raised his hand.

"What opportunities exist for advancement?"

The disciple answered immediately.

"Servant Disciples who perform well may eventually qualify for promotion."

A faint spark of hope appeared across several faces. Then came the next sentence.

"No guarantee exists."

The spark weakened.

The disciple continued.

"Some Servant Disciples advance."

"Many do not."

Nobody laughed.

Nobody complained.

The truth was simple.

And everyone understood it.

Ethan remained silent.

Watching.

Listening.

Calculating.

The offer itself wasn’t unreasonable.

Food.

Housing.

Basic cultivation.

For many families, such an opportunity would be impossible to refuse. Especially for those from poor villages.

Yet something about it continued bothering him. Not the work. Work had never frightened him. Not the uncertainty. Life itself was uncertain.

It was something else.

Something harder to define.

The disciple continued explaining practical details.

Schedules.

Arrival dates.

Requirements.

Rules.

Most candidates listened carefully. Some appeared relieved simply to have a path forward. Others looked conflicted.

Ethan noticed both reactions.

As the announcements ended, conversations immediately erupted throughout the valley.

Excitement.

Relief.

Disappointment.

Hope.

Every emotion seemed present. Groups formed naturally. People discussed their futures. Compared possibilities.

Shared plans.

Ethan stepped away from the crowd. The noise gradually faded behind him. He walked toward a quiet rise overlooking part of the valley.

From there, he could see much of the examination grounds below. The sect representatives remained near the center. Candidates moved back and forth between gathering areas.

Families continued celebrating.

Life continued.

Ethan sat down on a flat stone. His eyes remained fixed on the valley. The offer itself was not bad. That was the problem.

If it had been terrible, the decision would have been easy. If it had been excellent, the decision would have been easy.

Instead, it sat somewhere in the middle.

A road.

Not a guarantee.

Not a dead end.

Simply a road.

One that might take years before reaching anywhere meaningful.

The wind moved through the grass.

Ethan remained where he was.

Thinking.

Observing.

Waiting.

The question that had brought him to the examination grounds had already been answered. What occupied his thoughts now was something entirely different.

What kind of cultivator he wanted to become.

Below him, the valley remained busy as candidates prepared for their futures. Some had already made their decisions. Others still struggled.

Ethan quietly watched the movement below. The answer had not come to him yet. But he had a feeling it would soon.

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