First Growth

Half an hour later, the first few thousands were amazed to see the few tens of thousands of people from the forests. Half of the forest people wore casual clothing, but the rest were adorned with something from their native homeplace. They surrounded the recruitment area, patiently waiting as per Pretieta Gori's instructions. Meanwhile, the children and parents who came here earlier were a bit nervous. The forest people didn't only bring children, but even cultivators at the Phrenic realm early stages.

“The testing grounds will officially open!” Pretieta enhanced her mouth with her Conflagrate realm 3rd stage cultivation base, gaining a lot of attention and quieting every little ongoing chat among the crowd. Everyone looked at her as she stepped forth with her hands behind her back.

“These tests are a danger to one’s life. If one is not smart enough, they either die or are harmed during the test. All of those who don’t wish to risk their lives may leave now. When the time comes, there will be no explanations from our part, and you should not seek any.” Pretieta’s voice echoed through the silenced crowd.

“Those who fail and linger days after their failure will be considered to hinge the Sect’s recruitment and might be killed on the spot. Every person must wait the next year to attempt again.” Pretieta slightly lowered her chin and said, “One more thing. Anyone who dares to try fooling the Sect, cheat, or harm others during the test will be killed on the spot!”

“Gasp~!…” The people around the recruitment zone became apprehensive. However, none of them left. Some traveled large distances to come here, some more than others. Others became attracted here after the Gori mansion spoke so highly about the Forbloffende Traes Sect, even acting as their advertiser. They came here to try it, and if they could find treasure hidden by their leaves, they wouldn’t mind spreading the word to the forests.

“Begin,” Pretieta lightly said, almost in a whisper compared to her earlier attitude. Then, the kiosks flashed an ephemeral, orange glow at the desks. The people outside immediately moved forth, careful not to run, and simply quickened their pace. Some children looked up at their parents before gaining the courage to step forth. The first phase began.

“…” Pretieta and Todoro exchanged a glance before standing with crossed arms as they watched the people enter the kiosks. Once a few hundred passed through the first phase and began their screening in the ‘haunted’ buildings, Todoro and Pretieta backed away.

They left the remaining people to their business, more relaxed and less restricted after the Sect’s examiners left. Todoro went one way and Pretieta went the other. They waited about 20 minutes before those few hundred’s few dozens were amassed in 2 zones where they could see the inner territory from afar. Of the first few hundred, only slightly above a hundred managed to pass the test, becoming Servants or Outer Disciples, but only auxiliary units at best.

When they reunited and understood that they were not to move carelessly, chatting with the other successful people, still bathing in their sweat or with blood running down their skin. Pretieta and Todoro appeared behind them before walking to stand in front of them. Then, they each gave their speech to the first dozens of the ‘second’ generation’s first batch of the day.

“You can all become Servants or Outer Disciples of the Forbloffende Traes Sect now. Come with me so you can kneel before your future brethren. Swear your allegiance and exchange your badges for the Sect’s medallion and emblem. From then on, you’re either a cultivator of the Sect, or a citizen of the Sect.” Pretieta’s voice echoed in the distance as Todoro looked at his first group.

Todoro felt proud, and he could already imagine how satisfied the Sect Master should feel after seeing all these people walk here and so many becoming the Sect’s people at once. After all, the highest number before were 4 new members, of which more than double that number had quit after just entering the Sect.

He looked at the possible new members before him and sternly shouted with his hands behind his back, proud of his Sect and his current cultivation base. “You’ve passed the test. Now, come with me. Swear your allegiance to my Forbloffende Traes Sect and you will become one of my people. I’m the Sect’s First Disciple. After your oath, if there’s anything…”

Then, after both parties said their part, the new members were ecstatic or provoked. They either wanted to rush to the statue and form their oath, not knowing their nature was at play, or were somewhat enraged by the haunted buildings’ testing phase and wanted to see whether this shit was real or not.

When they arrived before the statue, the excited ones trembled as they felt something strange from deep within their hearts, but they waited as their future senior disciple walked away and turned around before the statue. The others were slightly more apprehensive, feeling like they were before something monumental in their lives. Their previous dissatisfaction was gone.

“Don’t waste any more time,” both Todoro and Pretieta said, nearly at the same time, as the new members before them exchanged glances. Then, one after another, ‘putong’ sounds echoed around the statue, with both groups just bout a hundred meters apart.

No one chose to doubt Forbloffende Traes Sect’s method before being granted their well-earned status. They had chosen to participate despite knowing the risks, and they knew many more didn’t make it. However, they were willing to bend at least one of their knees and swear an oath of loyalty to the Sect and the Sect Master.

It was a strange notion. One that seemed etched into their bones, and not particularly because of Heian Ciemnosc’s identity. It came from something purer and unique to themselves. Nature itself at play.

Afterwards, a panel gave Pretieta and Todoro dozens of medallions and emblems pairs, which they sent through the air to the new Outer Disciples and Servants. They held their first medallion and emblems in their lives with newfound emotions in their hearts. Then, puppets walked towards them to guide them through the inner territory and bring them to their respective quarters.

A few minutes after, Todoro and Pretieta returned to the places where the new members would gather after reading through the Sect’s military system. While waiting for the first few to appear, they exchanged a glance and saw the tremendous pride and weight of responsibility they felt from this moment onwards. This was a true Sect. Its time was just beginning.

A few more minutes later, the first few exhausted children of the day’s second batch began exiting the small rooms. More and more people followed them out as the passage of gradual time occurred. They were a little quieter this time, but still chatted among themselves.

Finally, the second batch was reminded where they were after sightseeing and chatting comfortably. Todoro and Pretieta ‘came back to life’ and gave their speech to the new possible members before bringing them to the Sect Master’s statue.

These practices led by Todoro and Pretieta alone were from the morning to the late afternoon. However, things ended when the afternoon arrived. All the thousands and thousands of people who came here to try the Sect’s testing grounds had their chance. Those who couldn’t make it seemed to at least understand a little more about themselves, and what they lacked.

Nonetheless, more than half of them wanted to try other organizations after failing here, somewhat similar to what the First Disciple felt back then. Although it was still yet to be seen if they would attempt other organizations, or if the Forbloffende Traes Sect somehow awoke an unthinkable passion in their hearts.

After the last few people were accepted into the Sect, Pretieta and Todoro flashed smiles at each other. However, they were too enthusiastic to engage in their passionate love. They returned to their bedrooms in the Inner Disciple section and began cultivating and meditating like crazy. They were unaware that the meditation method they’ve instinctively used since years ago came from the notoriously famed Soul-exalting Old World parchment and Heian Ciemnosc’s knowledge.

As for Heian Ciemnosc, he was unfazed by the development. This was truly too small, but it was a beginning he achieved only after using connections, even if those connections weren’t that into the cultivation world matters. The servants of the Gori mansion were mostly accepted, but a few were too improper and could only be given the ‘try again next year’ outcome.

From this day alone, the Sect’s ‘first’ aperture recruited 527 Outer Disciples and 10,200 Servants. Many people were flabbergasted when they became Servants, and then saw the Outer Disciple’s promotion requirements. After all, some had cultivation base, but they were still only Servants in the Forbloffende Traes Sect? How advanced was the organization?

However, after entering the Sect, they realized they were literally the first big batch to enter the Sect. There was only 1 Servant before, and now there were about ten thousand. It was a slightly comical sight, but the First Disciple and Pretieta knew how to deal with it like it was the usual stuff. The notion spread to the others, allowing them to quickly acclimatize.

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The next day approached, and more people showed up, but these weren’t as many as on the first day, not even 30%. However, that was understandable. After news of the Sect traveled by the civilians’ mouths, and the Sect disciples were sent into regular missions outside, the traps Heian Ciemnosc hooked to prick the people’s minds would work its wonders.

It was a bit quirky that the Forbloffende Traes Sect opened their recruitment daily, and only for a set schedule. But this allowed many to come whenever they pleased, although it also made the Sect look too easy. Some who wanted to give it an earnest try would think twice and change their minds. It couldn’t be helped. However, do something different from the rest and you will gain what the others ignored.

The days passed, and no matter how much Pretieta and Todoro wanted to leave the Sect’s matters to the new disciples, as only Outer Disciples could manage the recruitment zone, they had to wait a few months at least. Only then would the new Outer Disciples be eligible.

Thus, for the next several weeks, although their total cultivation and sparring time was impaired, Todoro and Pretieta still advanced through their cultivation path while spending ⅖ of their days attending the new possible members.

After a couple of weeks, the Sect’s fame seemed to really make a number everywhere around the Vrida Region. This was mainly because severe, in quantity, batches of people traveled to the Sect together.

Now, people formed groups to adventure out of their homes or zones, wanting to make travel easier and more comfortable. From the south, north, and even forests. The people joined each other and took this trip as vacations, wanting to try the Forbloffende Traes Sect. If they were refused entry, they could try the other organizations. They were nearby anyway.

Along the way, they could make comrades, or more. In the same manner, it was much easier to face setbacks in groups. Especially those made along the way, where the civilians could start a new life they didn’t imagine, or the cultivators engross themselves in a direction of their lives they didn’t see coming.

At first, the other territories were a little weary of the Forbloffende Traes Sect. After all, their Sect Master was already at the peak of the First Step. They didn’t know if the Sect had more of those experts, except an infant Peaksky Swan at the peak of the First Step. But then, the Forbloffende Traes Sect’s quirky recruitment formula brought more people to their gates, wondering if they would do the same, or when their next recruitment period would arrive.

This, added with the Sect Master’s sinister and ‘clever’ methods. The territories didn’t bother with the Forbloffende Traes Sect and continued developing peacefully, mining their Stone ores, and preparing for a future Region war.

On the other hand, the Sect’s daily recruitment results remained somewhat in between a hundred and a few dozen Outer Disciples a day and hundreds to 1 or 2 thousand Servants for the first few weeks. When the 11th month came, the Forbloffende Traes Sect shared new, exciting, worrisome news.

The Forbloffende Traes Sect would remain inactive in the 12th month and resume their daily recruiting period on the first day of the next year’s first month. However, the Sect also changed their requisites to become an Outer Disciple, which the first batch of the 11th month cruelly experienced and didn’t delay relaying the news to their families or other knowns.

Before, to become an Outer Disciple, all they required was cultivation base. There was the battle prowess optional method, but that one was always taken off their list. Now, all Outer Disciples were required to become well-versed in a Craftsmaking profession. To become an Inner Disciple, one must master their Craftsmaking profession. To become a Core Disciple, one must master 1 Craftsmaking profession and become well-versed in another one.

This left many Outer Disciples sweating. But just as many Servants felt dispirited and the weight of the Sect’s harsh requirements to become a disciple increased, so did Todoro sweat bullets. He had just mastered his Craftsmaking profession and was short of a few days from going to the Core Achievement building to get promoted.

Nevertheless, the new members could only become Servants or quit, which began the ‘desertion’ rate of the Forbloffende Traes Sect from 0 to several Servants for each batch. They either didn’t want to start as Servants, humiliating themselves, or felt too burdened by the promotion requirements.

Thus, as ‘the first year of aperture’ of the Sect came to a conclusion in the last seconds of the 11th month’s 31st day, the Forbloffende Traes Sect no longer paraded their lavish, but simple black clothed Outer Disciples. Of course, Pretieta and Todoro had turned their time managing the recruitment zones every day.

At least 1 Inner Disciple must take care of a hundred kiosks, but for now, only 1 of them was allowed to manage the testing grounds, and all of them at once.

In the end, the Forbloffende Traes Sect recruited another 23,919 Outer Disciples and 228,123 Servants in their first year, with people actually coming to register for the testing grounds. In total, the Sect had 24,446 Outer Disciples, 2 Inner Disciples, and 228,124 Servants. For a total of 2 soldier units, 252,570 auxiliary units, of which 50 thousand are cultivators, and 202 thousand are citizens. As a whole, the sect now has 252,572 members, not including Heian Ciemnosc.

Like this, many new Outer Disciples understood the harsh reality, but were glad their previous mentors or family members forced them to study their Craftsmaking well. The small rooms now had a little extra test and required proof of their expertise. Those who innocently cheated were kicked out, while those that vehemently wanted to fool the Sect’s array formations were executed on the spot.

Their corpses flew through the air and landed on the ground, becoming greener as they slid a little before stopping. The Outer Disciples working in the recruitment kiosks weren’t used to dealing with these matters, so they let the puppets take some organs and bones away, leaving the rest to their knowns.

While it was exaggerated, they insulted the Forbloffende Traes Sect. Besides, who the hell thinks of cheating an organization? Maybe they thought the Sect wouldn’t notice since there were no examiners with them in the room, not appreciating they were granted a tranquil space.

Some who might’ve had the talent no longer had the chance to do anything in their lives, gone. Such people are not only the Sect’s source of disgust, as the Forbloffende Traes Sect has shown a few times every month. They are also a means to let the world understand that this Sect wasn’t just trying. Much less an organization they could joke about.

The year came to an end, and the lectures Heian Ciemnosc gave every month didn’t stop, but only Outer Disciples could attend the Concourse Lesson. Heian Ciemnosc’s lectures were free, but the Servants had many things to work with. Besides, after the new requirements to promote, they visited the Book Instruction more often, wanting to get ahead while they’re at it.

When the 12th month arrived, the Sect was surprised with a few events. For starters, the best Servant of the year was granted 1,000 Inferior Powerful Stones. Then, the Outer Disciples had the chance to participate in a mini tournament to gain prizes and weapons. The best from each realm, from the Spiritual Ligament realm to the Phrenic realm, could ask for guidance from their senior Inner Disciples.

Only 2 Outer Disciples asked Todoro and Pretieta to spar, leaving to a world-shaking shock the entire Sect lived. Even though the Inner Disciples limited their cultivation base to the same realm and stage as their sparring partner, they fought as if they were several stages higher, or even the next realm!

Like this, Pretieta Gori’s servant obtained a thousand Inferior Powerful Stones, greatly encouraging him to refine that strand of energy. The rest of the Sect became used to life here without needing to move to work at the kiosks or their habitual cleaning duties.

The Servants tasked with cleaning the different buildings in the Servant and Disciple Quarters, and the Throne Halls didn’t dare to cause trouble after a few incidents. Somewhere mid-year, a few Servants and Outer Disciples messed around and tried doing things way above their clearance. In the end, their headless corpses were hung near the kiosks.

Array formations were inscribed around them to preserve their bodies. Their families or comrades could come and take them, but only a few came and retrieved their bodies. The Forbloffende Traes Sect didn’t consider their public image, always seeming ruthless and unapproachable whenever a punishment went underway.

However, such were things, and nothing could change it. Besides, after leading the Disciples for a year, Todoro and Pretieta gained pride and arrogance the people of the Forbloffende Traes Sect should cultivate. That was in Heian Ciemnosc’s darkest eyes, and he was satisfied with the Inner Disciples he picked. If only Todoro could work harder on his Craftsmaking…

The next year arrived. Nothing much happened, and the other territories said some nasty stuff about the Sect’s methods. Other than that, however, nothing much really happened. The Forbloffende Traes Sect’s 40th year commenced, and the influx of members slowed down after their Outer Disciple promotion requirements were known and spread throughout the Vrida Region.

This couldn’t have happened without the ‘aid’ of some territories. Nevertheless, as the Forbloffende Traes Sect experienced a small increase from the testing grounds compared to the year before, their influx was stable and decent. The failure rate of the tested was thinned out to nearly 90%, leaving most people trying the testing grounds to be successful. Of course, virtually everyone knew they’d become Servants and would do a Servant’s work.

However, seeing the corpses hanging around, instead of causing fear or revolt, they served to steel the examinees’ minds as they walked to the kiosks and filled their information in.

… Like this, another year passed. The Forbloffende Traes Sect was like no other organization. Its emphasis in the Craftsmaking department, which any other organization leaves to luck and selection through time, was the most pressing matter.

The Forbloffende Traes Sect’s influx was more or less stabilized, and it seemed like it would remain for the years to come. In this year, they recruited 2,553 Outer Disciples and 46,355 Servants. Additionally, the Sect now had the Vrida Region task them with missions.

It was rocky at first, but after the southerners saw a new light and wanted to run at it, they hesitated no more and tested the waters. In the first 7 missions outside the Sect, led by Todoro or Pretieta, the group of Outer Disciples and Servants to follow the Inner Disciples’ command was efficient and quick.

Only one of them involved bandits, led by Pretieta. The others were miscellaneous or ensuring a settlement’s path safety from Fauna. Afterwards, around the 2nd month, the Forbloffende Traes Sect finally gained enough popularity in the Vrida Region. The people began presenting them with missions of all kinds.

Only those involving Fauna or dealing with other cultivators abusing their power and making the others fearful and yield were taken by the Inner Disciples, followed by a group of Outer Disciples and Servants. The rest could be handled by the Outer Disciples, or a group of such and some Servants to accompany them.

The Sect gained about 20 missions from the north, the east, west, eastern and western forests, and the southeast, southwest, and the general south. Since the Vrida Region’s activity was focused further up north and the center, the Sect was like a beacon that could extend to the rest of the south. The southerners weren’t shy to hug the Forbloffende Traes Sect’s thighs either, especially after showing their wondrous results.

…