The deadline of one month was approaching, with only one day left. Those still alive had gathered near the exit.
Naturally, those who had found their quest items were smug, while those who hadn't could only hang their heads in dejection, all the while observing their surroundings for any easy targets.
Some, who were only missing one or two spiritual herbs, were now in a frantic search, desperate to acquire them through trade or by force.
"Excuse me, fellow cultivator, do you happen to have any spare Dragon's Breath Grass? If so, the He family owes you a favor."
Two cultivators from the He family approached Xiao Fei and inquired.
Xiao Fei, at the opportune moment, displayed a hint of disappointment on his face.
"Apologies! I also failed to find any Dragon's Breath Grass."
Xiao Fei had encountered several waves of such cultivators, but he had not traded with any of them.
The Dragon's Breath Grass was the most sought-after item among the assessment quests this time.
Of the sixty to seventy family cultivators who entered the second level of the Dragonfall Abyss, only Ji Wudi had managed to walk out alive.
Although there was Dragon's Breath Grass on the first level, its yield was extremely low, and only a handful of lucky individuals were fortunate enough to obtain it.
As for selling Dragon's Breath Grass, Xiao Fei hadn't even considered it.
These cultivators, who were out for trials and assessments, would not carry much wealth besides their magical artifacts. They wouldn't fetch a good price, and with scarcity, they might even risk their lives.
This was the most chaotic period in the Dragonfall Abyss, with over ten murders occurring in a short span.
The fights were all for the quest items, especially the Dragon's Breath Grass.
In such conflicts, rogue cultivators often suffered the most.
Xiao Fei led Huang Feifei to a secluded spot with few people near the exit to await its opening.
"Hold this leaf in your mouth and don't spit it out."
Xiao Fei plucked a leaf from a Black Datura flower and handed it to Huang Feifei, then put one in his own mouth.
Dozens of feet away from them, Zhu Yu also sat alone on a large rock, his face twitching uncontrollably.
Xiao Fei saw a cultivator approach Zhu Yu, say a few words, and then suddenly collapse and die from a sudden illness.
Finally, they had safely endured a day. The next day, the exit opened, and Xiao Fei and Huang Feifei successfully submitted their quests, each receiving an entry qualification for the Danxin Sect.
Three days later, Xiao Fei and Huang Feifei were on a flying sky-boat.
This vessel was larger than a house but could fly through the air.
There were five newly recruited disciples on the flying boat, all curiously gazing at the mountains below.
However, Zhong Jingsheng, the Foundation Establishment cultivator responsible for the recruitment mission on the flying boat, had a grim expression.
Some unforeseen events had occurred within the Dragonfall Abyss this year, causing a large number of cultivators to be unable to complete their assessments due to the lack of Dragon's Breath.
In previous years, they could recruit at least twenty new disciples, but this time, there were only five.
One of them was a cripple with only 20 points in every spiritual root aptitude. He had no idea what stroke of luck this person had to have managed to find all the required spiritual items for the assessment.
In past years, he could have found a thousand excuses to reject a cripple with only 20 spiritual root aptitude.
It was just that too few people had passed the assessment this year, so recruiting this cripple was to make up the numbers and look better.
It wasn't that he had any personal prejudice against Xiao Fei, but rather that such aptitude was not suitable for cultivation. Without the ability to absorb spiritual energy from heaven and earth through meditation, one could only cultivate by relying on spiritual stones, elixirs, and other rare treasures.
Cultivating with such aptitude was simply a waste of spiritual resources.
The total amount of spiritual energy required for Qi Refining was relatively small, and various spiritual medicines were also easier to obtain, allowing for a semblance of cultivation.
Beyond this, such individuals had almost no future; they would likely stop at Qi Refining.
Xiao Fei, at this moment, was not paying attention to the Foundation Establishment senior's worries. Instead, he was absentmindedly listening to a cultivator opposite him boasting incessantly.
This person was named Sun Dazhi, one of the five newcomers recruited this time, possessing extreme social butterfly syndrome.
Since boarding the flying boat, he had taken turns boasting to each new disciple for two hours, repeating the same few phrases until their ears were calloused.
Among the five newcomers recruited this time, besides himself, Huang Feifei, and Zhu Yu, there was another person who was rather quiet, named Liang Shun.
The flying boat's speed was not fast; Xiao Fei felt it was definitely not as fast as an airplane. After flying for three days, they finally saw a range of towering, continuous mountains appear in the distance.
"Alright! We have arrived at the Danxin Sect. This mountain range is called the Cuihua Mountain Range and belongs exclusively to the Danxin Sect. These mountains are extremely suitable for the growth of spiritual herbs, which is why the Danxin Sect is renowned for its alchemy.
This time, seven Foundation Establishment cultivators in the sect intend to recruit disciples, and all five of you have a chance."
Zhong Jingsheng said this, glanced at Xiao Fei, and added.
"If you are not chosen by a Foundation Establishment cultivator, do not be discouraged. With effort, you may have another chance in the future."
The flying boat docked on the mountainside of a main peak, where a rather grand architectural complex had been built. A large plaque bore the three characters "Danxin Sect."
"Wait here for a moment, I'll be right back."
Zhong Jingsheng arranged the five individuals under the plaque and went inside after giving instructions.
A moment later, Zhong Jingsheng emerged from within, accompanied by seven Foundation Establishment cultivators.
The cultivation of Danxin Sect cultivators could be discerned without the use of Qi-gazing techniques; it could be distinguished from their robes.
The Danxin Sect had a uniform style of Daoist robes, predominantly white.
The white robes of Qi Refining disciples were embroidered with blue patterns, while the white robes of Foundation Establishment cultivators had purple patterns, making them easy to identify.
"The seven of us originally intended to each select a disciple with excellent aptitude and virtuous character.
However, since we have only recruited five of you this time, I will begin the selection."
One of them, with an immortal-like demeanor, seemed to hold the highest status. His gaze first swept over the five individuals.
The aptitude and other information of the five had already been conveyed by Zhong Jingsheng; now, they only needed to look presentable.
As for moral character, it was difficult to ascertain with just a glance. The most important thing was to respect one's master and not to be a disciple who would betray or harm their master.
Beyond that, occasionally killing someone, robbing them of wealth, or assaulting them outside were mere minor issues, not significant at all.
This immortal-like Foundation Establishment cultivator seemed very pleased with Zhu Yu and was the first to select the handsome Zhu Yu.
The second was a female cultivator, who chose the fair-faced Huang Feifei.
The third cultivator selected the taciturn Liang Shun.
The fourth cultivator's gaze lingered on Sun Dazhi, who suffered from social anxiety, for a moment, but he eventually shook his head.
"Never mind, I'm quite busy lately and may not have time to mentor disciples. I'll wait for the next session."
As for Xiao Fei, he did not even cast a glance.
The remaining two Foundation Establishment cultivators also readily found perfunctory excuses and declined to take disciples.
Soon, three Foundation Establishment cultivators left with their chosen disciples, leaving only Xiao Fei and Sun Dazhi behind.
Xiao Fei knew that his aptitude was too poor, so it was normal for others not to fancy him.
"Those Foundation Establishment seniors just now really missed out on great talent!"
Sun Dazhi, however, was shaking his head and sighing, not for himself or for Xiao Fei.
Instead, he lamented that the Foundation Establishment cultivators had missed out on him, which was a great loss.
A moment later, a Qi Refining disciple came to escort the two away, arranging a small courtyard for each of them on the mountainside.
Outside the courtyard were three mu of spiritual fields, where they could grow some spiritual herbs themselves, considered a benefit provided by the sect to its disciples.
The Qi Refining disciple explained some precautions and common knowledge about the sect, handed each of them a booklet, and then left.