BEAST EMPEROR

Chapter 12: Disciple Selection

According to the information Lu Zhen has gathered, this world is called Origin world and is a small world. It has seven continents and each continent has a powerful Sect and ancient families protecting it. Each Sect and ancient family is responsible for nurturing young talents and stimulating their potential. 

The Grand Inferno Sect was one such Sect. The foundation, knowledge and resources of this Sect could be described as unfathomable.

Out of all the Sects, the Grand Inferno Sect is the oldest. 

"When is the next Disciple Selection from the Grand Inferno Sect?" Lu Zhen looked at his uncle. "The next Disciple Selection is in a month's time."

"I see." Lu Zhen then asked a number of questions before returning to his chambers. "Xiaojian!" Lu Zhen called for Xiaojian and after waiting for a few minutes, "What does Young Master need from me?" respectfully said Xiaojian as he knelt on the floor. "I am going to give you a cultivation technique. And by the time I return, I want satisfactory results. Do you understand? You are going to be my sword"

"Xiaojian understands and shall not disappoint Young Master." Xiaojian was very excited to become useful to Lu Zhen, Lu Zhen then pointed his index finger that shot out a golden light and struck Xiaojian's glabella. He then tossed his token to him and told him to use whatever resources he needed. 

…

A month quickly passed and It was the day of the Grand Inferno Sect's Disciple Selection day. It had taken Lu Zhen three days to reach the Sect. There was a large and majestic wall built around the Sect and you couldn't see beyond it. A large gate that was written 'Grand Inferno.' There were two guards standing in front of the gate who were at the peak of Qi Purification Realm, each holding a transparent  orb. "Tell us about yourself and state your business." 

"Surname is Lu and I'm named Zhen. I'm eighteen years old and I'm here to become a disciple." the transparent orb turned green. 

"Clean! You may enter." This orb is used to see if one is telling the truth or not. If you are lying, you will be captured and interrogated. 

Once Lu Zhen entered, he was met with a large crowd that numbered in hundreds of thousands of youths. Just as he was looking around, an old man came into view, he was wearing white robes and had a face full of wrinkles. "This year, there's so many of you so I'll bend the rules a bit."

Boom! 

Terrifying pressure descended and filled the place, some youngsters fainted on the spot and immediately after fainting, they were moved to the side by an invincible power. "Remain standing for one minute against my pressure and you pass the first round," said the old man. Those that were kneeling were deemed to have failed and stood to the side while crying.  The pressure became more unbearable as breathing became harder. 

Almost half of the participants were eliminated. Some stood with their knees wobbling while others gnashed their teeth. As for Lu Zhen, he seemed unaffected by the pressure, in fact, there were others like him, they stood there, unmoved.

The old man then scanned the crowd and he couldn't help but smile. There were a lot of talented youths this time around. More cries and screams sounded out as more people were eliminated. Their hopes and dreams shattered. 

The old man continued until one minute was up. "Congratulations, you have passed the first test," said the old man. Out of hundreds of thousands, only about ten thousand were left. This showed just how high the Sect's standards were.

"Follow me." said the old man as everyone's view blurred and when they came back to their senses, they saw stairs. "These stairs are what we will be using to test your willpower, every step you take, they'd be illusions of what you cherish, fear, love or hate the most. They'll try by all means to hinder your path and you must overcome such obstacles to make it big in life. Without further ado, you may begin." The old man disappeared after announcing the beginning of the second test. Many participants started walking up the stairs that seemed to be another world. 

Lu Zhen took a glance at the stairs before challenging them. His pace was very fast, reaching a hundred steps in mere minutes. It seemed as if nothing could entice Lu Zhen.

Step! Step! Step! 

Lu Zhen walked step by step, his face hadn't changed since he started climbing up the stairs. There were also a few geniuses that didn't get outshined by Lu Zhen. They also climbed the stairs as if climbing a tree. 

It took Lu Zhen thirty minutes to reach the nine thousand nine hundred and ninety ninth step but he stopped when he reached this step. Everyone was surprised that Lu Zhen would suddenly stop. He stood there for a while without moving an inch. Some people wondered what Lu Zhen was seeing that hindered his path while others rejoiced in his misfortune. 

The others quickly caught up and surpassed him, reaching the tenth thousand steps but they didn't leave, it wasn't because they couldn't but because they didn't know where to go from there. 

In Lu Zhen's eyes, he was seeing the most beautiful women in his life. Their beauty could be described as 'otherworldly' Although Lu Zhen knew that this was just an illusion, he didn't immediately break away from it. He saw his previous appearance,the Supreme White Lion, hugging and kissing these women. His imposing, domineering, terrifying and noble aura was nowhere to be seen. He looked like a tamed dog waiting to be patted by their owner. 

Suddenly, everything changed. In this illusion, he stood in a ruined planet, a planet void of life and in this planet and in this planet, five divine beasts stood before him, a golden Dragon with a majestic and noble aura, a Nine Tailed Fox with a dreamy and illusory aura, a Phoenix with a blazing aura, a Kun-Peng with a deep aura like the ocean and a White Tiger with a majestic and kingly aura. Before such figures, stood eight gorgeous women, these were the same women Lu Zhen had met in the previous illusion. These women apologised to Lu Zhen while tears ran down their faces. 

"Don't throw away your pride for us!" "Don't forget about us!" "Take revenge for us!" is what they said and other things but what was similar in their words was that they didn't want Lu Zhen to yield. Lu Zhen watched everything from the sidelines.

Just as the Supreme White Lion was about to kneel and beg for his women to be spared. The women with determined looks, bit their tongues and died on the spot. 

"NO!!!"

Lu Zhen and the white lion shouted at the same time. In the real world, while everyone was minding their own business since they'd finished the second test, something unexpected and terrifying happened. They all looked at Lu Zhen and became surprised because Lu Zhen was crying, surprise then turned to fear. They all shivered involuntarily, all ten thousand of them shivered in fear as they looked at Lu Zhen.