Deacon Yang had also climbed up from the bottom step by step.
When it came to arithmetic, Deacon Yang wouldn't claim to be exceptionally gifted, but when managing the sect's industries, how could he not keep accounts?
So in terms of arithmetic, Deacon Yang thought he was quite competent, right?
But today, when he encountered the arithmetic genius Ma Liang, Deacon Yang realized he was wrong...
He couldn't have been more wrong...
Because even now, Deacon Yang couldn't figure out how sixty points could damn well exceed ninety points...
And what baffled Deacon Yang the most was that he couldn't find a way to refute Ma Liang's words; in fact, upon careful thought, Ma Liang seemed to make sense...
You scored nine points in each of the ten categories, giving you a total of ninety points, right?
But even though I only have sixty points, I scored full marks in six of those categories. So tell me, didn't I surpass you in those six areas?
Although there are four areas where I'm not as good as you, I excel in six, so sixty points being greater than ninety points makes perfect sense!Deacon Yang finally understood why Ma Liang was Chu Xinghe's number one confidant...
Just look at Ma Liang's mind... it's simply beyond human... it's a super brain!
Seeing Deacon Yang's shocked expression, Ma Liang remained calm and said, "Deacon Yang, you've been recruiting disciples outside the sect for years and haven't had much contact with Senior Brother Xinghe, so it's normal that you can't grasp his intentions..."
Deacon Yang nodded quickly.
It wasn't just about not grasping it; when he heard Xinghe say that recruitment would start at six points, he was dumbfounded.
You know, six points isn't considered a bad talent. For most sects, even those ranked lower among the Top Ten Sects, six points would get you through the first round of recruitment.
Six points might not be called genius, but it's definitely considered excellent.
I heard that this year, the Cloud Soar Sect lowered their recruitment standard from seven points to six.
As for why... Deacon Yang did some digging and found out it was because not many disciples went for assessment at the Cloud Soar Sect this year?
The reason seemed to be that everyone thought the Cloud Soar Sect was too aloof...
At the Millennium Grand Festival, while all sides were showing off, the Cloud Soar Sect didn't make a move at all. So, tell me, isn't the Cloud Soar Sect aloof?
With such an aloof sect, their recruitment must be harsh, so after much consideration, young people decided to choose other sects that suited them better...
Leaving the Cloud Soar Sect aside, sects like our Grand Sky Sect and Martial Emperor City require at least eight points for recruitment, right? There's no choice; too many people want to join these two every year, and if you're not a prodigy, you really don't have the qualification.
Even when the Grand Sky Sect raised the standard to nine points this time, there were only a few complaints from the outside world.
After all, it's the Grand Sky Sect... entering it is a huge opportunity.
But suddenly lowering it to six points, wouldn't that cause chaos?
Wouldn't Xinghe know this logic? Ma Liang just said that Xinghe had always expressed that the assessment scores were actually unreasonable.
Xinghe even said this in front of me.
Even Deacon Yang felt it was a bit unreasonable.
But knowing doesn't help; hasn't the Blazing Sun Continent been using this assessment method for so many years? Everyone uses this method, and changing it easily is not simple.
But after listening to Ma Liang, Deacon Yang understood.
It had to be Xinghe... Xinghe's considerations were truly comprehensive this time.
It seemed like Xinghe lowered the scores, but in reality, he made the recruitment criteria more precise.
You see, the disciple assessment consists of ten categories, and previously, only those with a total score exceeding nine points were eligible.
Most people simply weren't qualified.
But as Ma Liang said, does a high score necessarily mean excellence?
Take the Spirit Crane Palace, for example. They focus on alchemy, so they value alchemy talent the most.
Among the ten categories, only three or four are related to alchemy, and the other assessment items don't really matter when it comes to cultivation in the Spirit Crane Palace.
For instance, the ten assessments include tests for crafting and formation talents. If we followed the old standard, even someone with maxed-out alchemy and cultivation talents couldn't get nine points just because they lacked crafting and formation talents, and they wouldn't have a chance to pass the first round of the Grand Sky Sect's assessment.
But can you say they're not suited for the Spirit Crane Palace?
So this six-point assessment method proposed by Xinghe has opened up a whole new situation.
In the future, if your total score is above nine, you can pass the first round. If not, you still have a chance to test for extreme scores.
If you can achieve full marks in six categories, congratulations, you can still pass the first round of the Grand Sky Sect.
So Xinghe has essentially opened a new path for young people everywhere, giving them a new opportunity.
And more importantly, hasn't there been a fuss these past few days about Xinghe recruiting too many disciples from various families?
Now, by introducing this six-point assessment method, it directly silences the critics.
You're unhappy that disciples from various families with around six points can enter the Grand Sky Sect?
Now you also have a chance; as long as you can reach six points, you can enter the Grand Sky Sect!
In this way, what else can those young people say?
If you can't even reach six points, what right do you have to pass the first round?
Deacon Yang was excited. Xinghe's visit to Ice City, though said to be an inspection, was actually about caring for disciple recruitment... he came specifically to give me ideas.
Deacon Yang sent the news back to the Grand Sky Sect overnight via spirit bird message.
When the Great Elder opened the spirit bird message and saw the content, he was also serious, especially when he saw "sixty points greater than ninety points." His first reaction was that Deacon Yang must have gone mad.
But after carefully reading all the content on the spirit bird message and seeing that it was proposed by Xinghe, the Great Elder called an emergency meeting of the Head Elders overnight.
At the meeting, all the Head Elders passed around the content on the spirit bird message.
Seeing the content, the heads of each palace nodded in agreement.
"I think Xinghe's six-point assessment is very correct. Take our Thunder Palace, for instance... our disciples mainly need strong control over elements, sufficient spiritual power perception, and a pursuit of speed and physique... actually, if we can achieve full marks in four or five categories, they're already geniuses. There's really no need for nine points!"
"Right, Elder He makes a good point. In recent years, some disciples we've recruited at the Eternal Spring Palace, although they did well in assessments, weren't entirely suitable for us. Xinghe always said, 'The suitable is the best,' so that's what he meant."
"The suitable is the best... I support Xinghe's six-point assessment."
"I support it too..."
"Same here!"
Quickly, the heads of each palace unanimously passed the idea of the six-point assessment. The Great Elder directly sent a spirit bird message to Deacon Yang, informing him to implement it.
Early the next morning, outside the Grand Sky Branch in Ice City, young people from all sides were already gathered.
These past two days, Chu Xinghe had been constantly meeting with various families and allowing their disciples to pass the first round without testing, causing quite a stir.
Although such things happened before, Chu Xinghe, aren't you going too far?
Look at Deacon Yang; although he also engaged in social dealings before, he did it discreetly and kept the numbers within a reasonable range.
But you, Chu Xinghe?
You're doing these social dealings right in our faces, aren't you?
"Why can disciples from various families pass the first round with six points, but I can't with eight? Chu Xinghe, come out and give us an explanation!"
"Right... Chu Xinghe, known as the number one of the younger generation, is this what being the number one of the younger generation means?"
"I used to idolize Chu Xinghe; he was my life's goal. But I never expected Chu Xinghe to be like this; it's really disappointing."
"Disciples from noble families can pass without testing, but we from humble backgrounds aren't fit to enter the Grand Sky Sect..."
"What virtue and righteousness, Chu Xinghe... just rumors!"
Outside the Grand Sky Branch, it was lively, as this concerned everyone's future. Who wouldn't want to fight for their future?
But after shouting for two days, the Grand Sky Sect hadn't responded at all.
Finally, some people lost hope.
"Forget it... it's the Grand Sky Sect, the number one sect in the world. Why would they care about small people like us..."
"Exactly... Chu Xinghe is the number one of the younger generation... he's a noble person, and we, mere commoners, can't catch his eye..."
"I'm planning to go to Martial Emperor City..."
"I'm thinking of going to Martial Emperor City too!"
"I want to go to the Star Moon Sect..."
"I'm going to the Heavenly Sword Sect..."
"Why aren't you going to Cloud Soar Pavilion?"
"Where's Cloud Soar Pavilion?"
"You don't know the Cloud Soar Pavilion, ranked third among the Top Ten Sects?"
"What third rank... they didn't even have the qualification to showcase at the Millennium Grand Festival. Can they really be ranked third? Is this ranking fake..."
"Is Cloud Soar Pavilion recruiting this year? Didn't see them at the Millennium Grand Festival... are they not recruiting this year?"
"Well... I think they're called Cloud Soar Sect..."
"Not important! Anyway, it's that..."
Just as the young people were discussing where to go in the future, Deacon Yang opened the doors of the Grand Sky Branch and walked out.
Ignoring those debating whether it was Cloud Soar Pavilion or Cloud Soar Sect recruiting this year, Deacon Yang directly posted a notice.
And as soon as the notice appeared, the young people who were arguing about why Cloud Soar Sect or Cloud Soar Pavilion wasn't recruiting this year, why they were so aloof, were instantly dumbfounded...
What is this? Six-point assessment!
From now on, as long as you reach six points, you can pass the first round of the Grand Sky Sect's assessment!