In 2 month Yu Min and Parasite decide that they are confident enough in their abilities and they can now travel into the Dark Woods. Due to this Yu Min went to the register for the exam in order to be allowed to go to the Dark Wood.

Near the Pavilion where the exam was going to start Yu Min looked around and saw at least 40 students who wanted to take part in that exam. Most of them were level 6 students on the major stage of cultivation. Yu Min found some familiar faces. One of them was Ken Chi who already reached level 7 minor stage in his cultivation. This was a sign of better talent than Yu Min had. Ken Chi's reward was only 12 pills and with them he already reached Minor Stage level 7.

Another person was Kim Li who got 4th place in the last tournament. Yu Min thought that Kim Li would go to the woods much earlier. However, both Yu Min and Parasite saw that Kim Li has now level 8 cultivation. Which means that instead of rashing in the woods Kim Li understood his weak points and took some time to improve his cultivation and potentially as well his techniques.

At some point near the Pavilion a new person appeared. That person was wearing Elder cloth and due to this all disciples bowed to him in respect.

“Good morning my beloved disciples. My name is Chun Lin and I am responsible for the Pavilion of Missions. As I see many of you decided to face the dangers of the outer world. Thus, my mission is to prepare you as much as possible. The exam would consist of 2 parts. The first part is a theoretical exam on which you should show your knowledge about the outer words and danger which hides out there. And then before getting to the second part of the exam you would be required to finish the practice. You would be divided into groups of 4 people. Each group would be led by one Inner Disciple. During one month you would be surviving in the woods and learn how to hunt the animals in groups. All your progress in Dark Wood would be valued by Inner Disciple. And if your score is not good enough you will not be allowed to take part in the second exam.”

Many students were amazed that they would have the opportunity to learn from Inner Disciple for 1 months. Inner Disciples were seen only during such cases as Tournaments or some special missions or some disciplinary punishments. Everybody knows that the cultivation path is very hard and the fact that Inner Disciples will spend 1 months on carrying out QI Formation Disciples is very surprising.

“Lets begin with the first part of the exam. Please get inside the Pavilion of Mission in the special room prepared for it. You can choose whatever place you like. Exams will begin as soon as the doors will be closed. You will have 2 hours to answer all the questions.”

When Yu Min took the exam paper he understood that he can easily answer all of the questions. Most questions were about the different animals which live in the woods. What danger do they have? Which plant should be used to hide human scent? How to recognise different sect disciples? But as well there were questions which were not part of the bestiary. Those questions were related to the amulets which disciples are getting when they are going to the woods. Yu Min knew how to answer that question while he was reading additional literature in the Pavilion of Knowledge. All students on QI Formation Level could go to Dark Wood only in groups of 4. And each was receiving a special amulet. Each disciple in the group was required to give one drop of blood to the amulet of another person. After that the amulet could be used to track where teammates are. However, it was working only 10 kilometre away. If a person goes more than 10 kilometres aways amulet stops showing that person's movement. The same happens if discipline is dying. Amulets could work for only one month and then they should be charged. However, only people in the QI Subdual realm can charge it. Due to this QI Formation students should get back each month. Additionally, an amulet could be used to send help signals. In such a case, all groups which are within 50 kilometres could be notified in which direction they should go to provide help.

Other questions were about tactics and how to tackle different animals. How to properly fight against them and how to properly retreat. Those questions as well were not in the bestiary. And Yu Min as well as Parasite began to understand why it was not in the bestiary.

There were even questions about what staff should be taken into the Dark Wood. But even this Yu Min knew after he read several diaries of the disciples who were going to the Dark Wood for a long time. In most cases, it was a bag, some medicine (2 pills of QI Regeneration, 1 antidote, 3 herbs to hide smell, 2 blood-restoring potions, bandage) and as well other tools for camping and butchering.

On the next day Yu Min came to check the results. On the big board near the Pavilion of the mission all results were shown. However, it only showed if a person passed or failed. As Yu Min expected, he passed. But, at least half of the students didn’t. Furthermore, one of the students which didn’t pass was Ken Chi. Exam was held only once a month, so Ken Chi could try to pass it in a month.

Another student appeared near Yu Min to check his result, but there was only dissatisfaction. He went to the reception desk of the Pavilion of Mission.

“Can you tell me why I have not passed?” - frustrated disciple has asked

Inner Disciple glanced at him and responded - “You didn’t pass because you don’t have enough knowledge to pass it.”

“But nobody was telling me what would be on the exam. The only thing I knew is that it requires some knowledge about the beasts living in the Dark Wood. And thus I read the bestiary and for sure I have answered all those questions. But there were questions which I didn’t expect”

“You want to say that it is Sect Fault that you didn’t pass the exam. If you die somewhere in the Dark Woods or in combat with another sect disciple it would be only your fault. You should know what risks are there and how to defend yourself from them. Sect made everything in order to provide this information. You can always go to the Pavilion of Knowledge and read more about outer worlds. Only you are responsible that you didn’t path the exam”

After this short conversation Yu Min understood what is the main purpose of this exam. Indeed if disciples are going to have 1 months practice with Inner Disciple they can learn much about the Dark Wood and how to survive there. However, they would not learn the main lesson. They always should seek knowledge, analyse their steps, quantify the risks and make the best decision. And indeed anybody could go to the Pavilion of Knowledge to get almost any information if it is not related to the secret techniquest which the sect has. However, the truth was that the disciples were lazy and didn’t really want to learn more. And due to this the main purpose of the exam was to teach students to learn more than just a small minimum.

After the previous disciple went away, Yu Min got to desk.

“Good Morning, my name is Yu Min. I recently passed the theoretical exam and want to know when part will be held”

“Good Morning, Yu Min, my name is La Yi. You will see me hear very often. According to my documents your team would be required to gather in 3 days near the main gates early in the morning. Please prepare all required before that. While this is your first time you can get all of those things for free from our warehouse. But next time you will need to pay for that” - La Yi was a female disciple. In most cases 80% of disciples were male and this was one of the rare cases when a female disciple was a cultivator. In addition, La Yi was an inner disciple and she was already on QI Subdual Realm.

“Thank you very much for the information La Yi. I was glad to get to know you. I hope we would meet each other more often”

“Haha, maybe it would be the case. I wish you good luck in your first journey to Dark Wood.”

After that Yu Min went to the warehouse to get his stuff. But after he received all the things he was not satisfied with the quality of those. Bag was small and could fit only camping stuff and medicine. And there was little food for 3 days. In other words, it doesn’t have space for the trophies. In addition, all medicine was not of the best quality. It was at least several years old and due to this was at least 50% less effective.

“Can I get a better bag and medicine as well?” - asked Yu Min

“As I understand it would be your first journey to Dark Wood. But yes you can get a better bag. One big bag would cost you 1 QI Formation pill. In the case of medicine it would cost you 2 pills for the same quality which you have and 4 pills if you want to get better quality. If you had any Sect points you could pay with them.”

“I can understand the price for the medicine. But why does the bag cost so much? As well can you tell what would be the price in Sect points” - Yu Min knew about the Sect Points, but mostly it was used by Inner Disciples.

“Bags are made from the “Devil Pit”. It is not as good as low grade armour. But still it is much tougher than any other bag made from materials. As well it can stretch which means that you can put 3 wolf skins there if you would be able to defeat them. With regards to the prices. 1 QI Formation Pill costs 3 sect points, 1 Devil Pit bag costs 2 sect points. Before you ask why then you are paying 1 QI formation pill. It is because sect points are hard to earn. Converting 3 points into QI Formation Pill is easy. But vice versa QI Formation pill would already cost only 2 points”

“I didn’t know that Devil Pit could be used to make bags. That is good information. As well thank you for the prices. Please take these 3 QI Formation stones, I would take one bag and an additional set of low quality medicine.” - Yu Min gave 3 pills, but then understood that he needed more information. - “Do you know what are current prices on the market for the goods out of Dark Wood?”

“In the case of Devil Pit you can sell a body for 1 point, additionally for 2 points you can sell its poison. You can get 1 point for 10 herbs and meat of hare. If you are lucky and kill the wolf you can get 10 points for skin and 1 point per 10 Kilograms. The deer meat would cost only 1 point, but its horns can cost 10 points and more. Depends on how old it is. If it is only 10 years old it would cost only 10 points. But from 10 to 50 years old the price would already be 30 points. Spine Snakes poison cost 1 point. Currently I think it should be enough.”

“Can I in this case take 10 empty vials additionally?”

“Yes, of course. You may not pay for them. But you will need to give back 5 vials with snake poison and then you can leave all those 10 vials for userself”. - Yu Min quickly took all things and went home.