The Ice Demoness Loves

Chapter 5: The Disappearing Forest

Male and female cultivators yawned as they rubbed their eyes and chatted amongst their friends in hushed voices while standing at the front of their sect entrance. It was still faintly dark since the sun had just started to awaken.

"The test every year is always exciting," one disciple whispered.

"Really? I'm nervous since it's my first time..."

"I heard we're going to the Disappearing Forest this year."

"I hope I get teamed up with you."

"Huh? Where is Tan Hu?"

"Tan Hu can't go since he's only just reached the second tier."

"Ah... that's true. Not everyone can go."

It was time for the Moon Sect disciples to get tested on their skills and knowledge that they have obtained and learned these past few years; and this test was to be taken inside the Disappearing Forest. The Disappearing Forest is a small part of a larger forest in the east that was close to the forest surrounding the Moon Sect and was only separated by a few villages.

This area, compared to the rest of the forest, was named so because although its location is well known, there are times when this zone seemed to completely vanish, with mist covering its original area. If someone walked through it, they would only find a normal forest, unable to enter this special zone. The Disappearing Forest would then mysteriously appear again in its original spot as if it was never gone in the first place. No one knows why this happens but there is a clear set time from when it disappears and reappears.

Most of the Moon Sect disciples gathered in front of the sect entrance as they got ready to leave. Wu LiJing was already there, standing with her back straight as she observed the disciples, along with the two masters who would be in charge of the expedition. It was early in the morning and a few ended up waking up late, still rushing over. Those who were late didn't dare look up at the masters and their senior sister, who was emitting an indifferent aura as she stared at them. She was dressed in her dark violet robes compared to the inner and outer disciples, who were dressed in a lighter lavender color.

The difference between the two was that outer disciples wore a white inner robe and had a white sash and inner disciples wore black inner robes and had a black sash instead. One had to earn their title as an inner disciple by passing a certain level or getting recognition by one of the masters who taught them.

One way to enter as an inner disciple right away was by testing in. All sects have a special spiritual stone that could test someone's core rank and measure their potential of growth by the amount of inner chi they possessed. Blue and purple core cultivators usually are able to enter right away. For others, if they possessed a good amount of chi and also passed a skills test, then they could enter in as an inner disciple and even be taken in by a master. Wu LiJing was able to test in many years ago when she first joined. Only by showing their potential by training can they get more resources to further their cultivation and prove to their sects that they are worth the investment.

In general, inner disciples have more opportunities. For example, they are gifted with stronger herbs every month to help with their cultivation and are also able to go on missions and gain more experience outside of the sect and get rewards for fulfilling missions. If a master from the sect favored them, they could also receive private lessons and get to learn from the masters directly by becoming their main disciples.

The Moon Sect would be considered a normal-sized sect and currently has about a little over one hundred inner disciples and two hundred outer disciples. So, with more than half of their disciples leaving, quite a big group was gathered.