After walking non-stop for a few minutes with others, I finally arrived at the imposing gate of the Seven-Martial Art Hall. A gatekeeper stood sentinel, overseeing the lengthy queue of eager individuals awaiting their turn for entry.
As I joined the end of the line, I struck up a conversation with the boy standing ahead of me, seeking clarification on the purpose of our wait.
"Pardon me, is this line designated for the recruitment assessment?" I queried, casting a glance towards the gatekeeper for confirmation.
"Indeed, this line leads to the test," the young man affirmed, his gaze briefly assessing my appearance before returning to meet my eyes.
"You have quite an eye-catching eye, you know? Quite unique…" he remarked, a hint of curiosity inflecting his tone. "And what might be your name, brother?"
I replied nonchalantly, "Xinli," maintaining an air of nonchalance, preferring not to draw undue attention to myself…. That will be a pain in the ass.
"Oh ho, nice to meet you, brother Xinli," he declared with a hint of pride. You may call me Yang Gang," he added with a playful grin.
[name: Yang Gang
spiritual root: 7
cultivation: Qi gathering 6th level]
'oh… quite interesting' I muttered
After patiently queuing and occasionally engaging in conversation with a man named Brother Gang, my moment arrived.
"What is your name?" the guard inquired, his tone crisp.
"Xinli," I replied, meeting his gaze steadily.
He gestured towards a luminous orb, prompting me to place my hand upon it. Instantly, information materialised.
[ Bone age: 17] written on it
This orb was explicitly designed to show someone's bone age, so only individuals who were 18 years old or younger could participate in this test.
However, I was pretty curious about it, so I decided to use the forbidden pupil of the eye.
[Bone age-showing orb (green grade-high tier): orb with a powerful formation within it, capable of showing the bone age of someone below the foundation Realm]
"Wow, a green-grade high-tier orb must be quite valuable," I thought. Even though I don't know how high the foundation realm is.
Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.
I was also curious about the cultivation of the Profound-Enmity Sect's guard,
[Cultivation: Bone Forging 1st Realm]
To my astonishment, I couldn't contain my surprise. "The Bone Forging level person is only a guard of the Profound-Enmity Sect?" I murmured to myself.
Unexpectedly, the guard interrupted my thoughts, stating, "Oi, you passed the test, so you're clear to enter." He handed me a token with participant number 340 inscribed and added, "This token is your identity here, so guard it closely."
Startled by his sudden interjection, I quickly replied, "Oh, thank you, sir," expressing my gratitude to the guard as I accepted the token.
Passing through the gate, I noticed a substantial crowd gathered, numbering well over three hundred. There was a queue lining outside, and a big hall came into view in front of us.
In the middle of the hall, there was a small pillar with an orb on it, but this one was bigger compared to the previous orb.
[Spiritual root showing orb (blue grade-tier low): This orb has a powerful formation within it. By infusing it with your Qi, you will be able to perceive your spiritual root level. However, please note that this orb can only reveal the spiritual roots of individuals with less than ten spiritual roots. It will not be effective for those with higher-grade spiritual roots.]
..,
One of the guards approached me, inquiring, "Where's your token?"
Quickly, I presented it, and he nodded, remarking, "Number 340? Alright, proceed. Wait over there."
Following his command, I joined the assembled group, blending into the crowd as we all awaited further instructions.
After a few fleeting minutes, the grandiose hall welcomed the arrival of three figures of considerable influence. Draped in the illustrious robes of the Profound-Enmity sect, they emanated an aura of mesmerizing splendor.
Yet, the presence of a woman among them captured all attention—a beauty so profound that it seemed as if divinity had meticulously crafted her form with extra care.
Her arrival sent ripples through the gathered participants. Alongside her, two men of noticeable presence stood, yet it was her demeanor that captivated everyone in the room.
With a gaze as piercing as ice and an aura as cold as the winter wind, she stood apart from her companions.
Her black hair cascaded gracefully down to her shoulders, creating a beautiful appearance with the black robe she wore. By her side, a sheathed longsword accompanied her, adding a chilling aura within her surroundings…
Quite different from the two other gentlemen, they were adorned in deep blue robes, hinting at her esteemed position within the sect.
An indescribable air of unattainable allure lingered in her presence as if she were a rare flower blooming in the middle of a desolate landscape.
As the murmurs and whispers swirled around the hall in response to the woman's presence, one of the men accompanying her couldn't conceal his disdain. With a sneer etched on his face, he muttered under his breath, his contempt palpable in his words.
"Again? What a pain in the ass," he grumbled, his voice dripping with irritation.
Yet, before the commotion could escalate any further, his authoritative tone sliced through the air like a blade.
"Everyone, be quiet!" he commanded, his aura radiating such potent authority that it quelled the unrest among the participants. Even amidst the crowd, I felt the weight of his presence pressing down upon me, suffocating yet strangely exhilarating.
In that moment, a surge of excitement pulsed through me, not fear but a burning desire. I yearned for that kind of power, that ability to command respect with a mere word, and I knew deep within that I had to attain it, no matter the cost.
Meanwhile, amidst the hushed silence, one of the participants couldn't help but feel a shiver crawl down their spine as they caught sight of my evilly smile.
"What is going wrong with him? What a creepy smile," they muttered to themselves, their unease palpable.