In the Swordsmans.h.i.+p-seeking Sect’s first-level ranking area, crowds thronged in that s.p.a.ce; it was bustling with voices and sounds.
From miles in the vicinity, scores of His Excellencies’ young talents, under the protection of their own guards, were nearing the Swordsmans.h.i.+p-sect after a long journey. They held great hopes in entering the sect’s entrance test and wished that they could become members of the Snow Province’s dominating sect.
After remaining quiet for over a month at the first-level ranking area, energy as high as that of the olden days was regained.
“Bone Age Test—Cao Xing, thirteen years old, pa.s.sed…”
“Bone Age Test—Liu Yuting, fourteen years old, pa.s.sed…”
“Bone Age Test—Gao Chuang, nine years old, pa.s.sed…”
“Bone Age Test—Feng Jing, fifteen years old, did not pa.s.s…”
In the first test venue, the inner core disciples who wore long red robes had come forward to the entrance test to facilitate the Bone Age Test for the youths. At the high pedestal in front of a total of ten Bone Age Tests, long queues had formed and the youths who had pa.s.sed the tests were exclaiming in great joy, while those who had not pa.s.sed were pleading for a second chance…
The same tragedy played out a second time.
That was something that happened in the far distance, in the const.i.tution test venue.
For suddenly a surge of green glowing light rose up and broke into the heavens. The crowd exclaimed and the host was proclaiming in a loud voice. He laughed and that showed that a genius with his body clad in armor had been born and scores of envious eyes were cast toward that ecstatic youth. No matter how the results of the tests would be thereafter, if one’s body had the attributes of armor, essentially, he would be able to enter the Swordsmans.h.i.+p-sect.
One lucky fellow whom everyone was envious of.
Those youths who had come forth for the sect entrance test were essentially the young masters of His Excellencies who had great influence. Beside them were scores of great expert bodyguards and one would rarely meet poor rascals who were dressed very shabbily. All of them were wearing beautiful robes; those youths who had gotten used to being successful in their respective spheres of influence, couldn’t hide their faces of arrogance when they went to the Swordsmans.h.i.+p-sect.
All sorts of tests proceeded without a hitch and occasionally, a much-envied genius would appear and display his unparalleled talent, with a groundshaking effect.
As for those fellows who courted death, they had been promptly thrown down the cliff by the experts of the Swordsmans.h.i.+p-sect.
Once the test had been conducted all the way into noontime, a team of about forty people appeared and drew everyone’s attention.
All the pedestrians were dressed as poor children. There were boys and girls who were all around the age of twelve or thirteen. The faces were child-like, and they arrived unattended by adults, let alone have bodyguards to protect them. That group of small fellows carried themselves with pride and before they had appeared before the Bone Age Test in a group, they had very enthusiastically queued up, preparing to have their ages tested.
Among the bustling crowds, that group of forty something rascals were a peculiar bunch.
That was because even though their robes were exceptionally clean, without any stains whatsoever, most of those who came from the group of youths and guards with superpowers furrowed their eyebrows and kept a distance from the rest, as they did not want to be a.s.sociated with those who looked like beggars. The latter wore torn and tattered robes, receiving the full brunt of the derision and jokes made by the arrogant young masters.
“Who are these beggars? How do they even dare come here to take the test?”
“Look at their torn and tattered robes. Who knows how they even made their way to the Swordsmans.h.i.+p-seeking Sect? It’s just humiliating for us to be taking the test with them.”
“Heh heh, so even these poor beggars wish to take the test? Are they here to be a disgrace?”
“Heh, heh, interesting. Let’s look at this—don’t let even one of these beggars enter the Swordsmans.h.i.+p-sect. I simply don’t believe that the Snow Province’s dominator grade sect would take in a bunch of lowly beggars.”
Amongst the crowds, there were already some restless youths who had started discussing among themselves.
Those with an air of superiority about them were feeling restless. Not only were they usually domineering in their territory, that time, they did not even lower their voices and everyone around them had heard their derision and mockery.
Only those genius youths who truly had eyesight for greatness and those warrior guards who had had experience in the Jianghu world were not as shallow. Their gazes swept over the bodies of those poor boys and girls and turned a deep shade of seriousness.
That was because they could tell that even though they were dressed very shabbily, their capabilities were extraordinary. In fact, the capabilities of those martial artists had even surpa.s.sed those of the majority of disciples. That was especially so for the three spiritual and radiating Qi, that were just as adorable and lovely as little Lolis—they had actually entered the Martial Disciple Realm halfway already.
Moreover, there were some observers who had realized with a shock that those inner disciples from the Swordsmans.h.i.+p-sect who were in charge of the Bone Age Test originally had an expression of arrogance, then seemed to have recalled something the moment they saw those youths appear. It was as if they had thought of something and they immediately removed their air of arrogance and seemed to have an expression of reverence. Their tones became gentle and some even carried fear of those youthful boys and girls.
Could it be that those poor fellas could have some extraordinary background?
But that couldn’t be true. If they truly had a remarkable background, why would they be dressed up so poorly, as beggars? Moreover, they carried the charisma of the affluent and rich. It was truly strange!
Under the curious glances of those men, the group of forty something people had pa.s.sed the Bone Age Test very quickly. Every single one of them had pa.s.sed.
What followed next was the property const.i.tution test.
The young boys and girls who were shabbily clad queued up on order. They carried cards in their hands, waiting for the eleven or twelve people queuing up before them. The manner of the test was still carried out in the sense that six stone eggs were waiting for the candidates’ hands to press up upon them, and the egg would emanate light, glowing in different intensities. The greater your talent was, the stronger the glow.
When it was almost their turn, a ray of red light suddenly glowed on stage. It glimmered with heat and the light painted the surrounding area of ten over miles a bright fresh red, as well as the faces of everyone in the vicinity, which turned red too.
“Number 1023 Wu Xingyun, Fire Attribute!”
The Elders in silver robes shouted very excitedly. Their adulations were jarring to the ear as they were amongst a crowd that had turned quiet.
After a long period of silence, the crowds finally erupted in shouts.
All sorts of shouts and exclamations rang out like thunder. That was after all, the first time that such a superpowered genius had appeared. Such heavenly talent was destined to be some influential in that entrance test. The name, Wu Xingyun, instantly became a name that would be firmly etched in the minds of many.
On the testing stage, Wu Xingyun was wearing a beautiful flowing golden jade-like robe. He was only a youth of about eleven or twelve years of age. He looked handsome with fair skin. His pair of large eyes were glimmering with spirit and he carried an air of superiority, and his face was expressionless. He carried a calmness and detachment that surpa.s.sed his age. His gaze swept the bodies of everyone around him with aloofness.
“Sister Xue’er this rascal is too arrogant.” Below the testing stage, amidst the teenage boys and girls, Huanhuan was softly whispering in Gao Xue’er’s ear.