Some people were cheering and celebrating for passing the first round. Others, however, wept and lamented their failures, some even considering extreme measures. The wide square was a stage for a dramatic display of life's joys and sorrows.

Ding Sheng arrived at the registration area on the edge of the square. This was the venue for the first of five assessments: the Bone Age Test. Only those who passed this test, revealing a true age of no more than fifteen years, would be eligible to proceed to the next assessments, thus saving everyone time.

A white-haired elder in a silver robe sat quietly in a vine rocking chair, observing the registration process. Around him, dozens of third-generation disciples clad in crimson robes with black trim wore pointed rings on their fingers. They pricked the skin of the applicants to draw blood, swiftly determining their true ages.

"Thirteen years old, passed!"

"Nine years old, passed!"

"Sixteen years old, failed!"

"Twenty-one years old… Come on, old man, you're too old to be pretending to be young. Failed!"

"Fifteen and a half, failed!"

The third-generation disciples acted like the strictest judges, loudly declaring the fates of each applicant. Those who tried to cheat were quickly exposed; some left in shame, others begged for mercy, and some wept bitterly, but the Wanjian Sect showed no sympathy. If anyone caused too much of a scene, disciples from the sect would simply toss them off the mountain.

Ding Sheng felt a mix of emotions as he watched. He quickly reached the front of the line.

Behind a black wooden table sat a handsome young disciple, around twenty years old, who glanced at Ding Sheng with an expressionless face. "Extend your arm, right arm, hurry up."

As Ding Sheng lifted his right arm, he felt a sharp sting, like a bee sting, in his forearm. So fast! The young disciple's strength was truly unfathomable; Ding Sheng hadn't even seen the movement.

"Fourteen and a half, passed!" The young disciple glanced at the color emitted from the ring and confirmed Ding Sheng's eligibility, signaling him to move on.

Ding Sheng let out a sigh of relief. He had finally passed the first step. Amidst the envious gazes of his peers, he quickly approached the next wooden table, where he received a wooden token from another third-generation disciple of the Wanjian Sect.

The token was finely crafted, serving as Ding Sheng's proof to participate in the next four tests. One side bore an ancient, majestic longsword, while the other side was engraved with the number 9989, indicating he was the nine thousand nine hundred eighty-ninth boy to pass the Bone Age Test.

Every year, tens of thousands of youths came to the Wanjian Sect for the entrance test, but only around two thousand would ultimately succeed in passing all six trials and become registered disciples. The competition was fierce, to say the least.

It's important to note that after six months of training, the two thousand registered disciples would face a second major examination. Only those who passed would be able to shed the title of registered disciple and become true disciples of the Wanjian Sect. Failure meant being expelled from the mountain.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

Thus, the path to becoming a martial artist in this world was fraught with challenges.

...

A few minutes later, Ding Sheng arrived at the second testing site, which was for the Attribute Test. In the Endless Continent, martial artists cultivated mystic energy, which varied in elemental attributes.

Throughout history, martial artists on the continent had predominantly belonged to the five elemental categories: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. There were also rarer attributes like space, darkness, and light. Each person's attributes were unique.

The purpose of the Attribute Test was to facilitate categorization for teaching, making it easier to select martial arts techniques, manuals, and various medicinal pills, allowing the sect to develop a tailored training plan for each disciple. It also gauged a person's talent for cultivation.

A considerable number of people had gathered at the Attribute Test venue. In the center stood several high platforms made of bluestone, where a two-meter-wide, twenty-meter-long blue stone table was set up. On it rested six oval-shaped stones, each over a meter tall, representing the five elements along with tools for testing rare attributes. Each stone was a different color and had a remarkably smooth surface.

Behind the stone table sat six sect elders in silver robes. Most were elderly, looking as if a gust of wind could topple them, yet they exuded an aura of terrifying power, akin to ancient mountains pressing down, instilling fear in everyone and ensuring order in the line for testing.

Dozens of third-generation disciples in crimson robes, equally strong in presence, were busy assessing, recording, and judging various test results.

The youths who had passed the Bone Age Test queued up to approach the stone table, presenting their tokens. After their numbers were recorded, they proceeded to place their hands on the six massive smooth stones. If any stone emitted light, it would indicate that the tester possessed a particular elemental talent, with the intensity of the light signifying the purity of the attribute.

"Number 765, Zhang Fan, Metal Attribute, Grade D…"

"Number 894, Lie Fei, Earth Attribute, Grade B."

"Number 1467, Wu Mo Chou, Fire Attribute, Grade C…"

"Number 2250, Cao Yan, Water Attribute, Grade A!"

As beams of light burst forth from the stones, the third-generation disciples loudly announced the results, determining the fate of each tester. As always, some celebrated while others mourned.

Particularly, number 2250, Cao Yan, a thirteen-year-old boy in fine clothing, was ecstatic upon hearing his result. The Water Attribute Grade A designation marked him as a true genius.

In contrast, Zhang Fan, fourteen and a half years old, with an ordinary appearance dressed in tattered leather armor, looked glum beside his fierce-looking hunter companions. His talent was deemed the lowest grade.

If Zhang Fan performed poorly in the upcoming tests, he would likely miss the opportunity to join the Wanjian Sect and be forever barred from the path of martial arts.

Just then—

"Hey, you're here too?" a voice exclaimed nearby. "You're taking the test… turns out you're not a Wanjian Sect disciple yet?"

Ding Sheng looked up to see Xiao Chengmo, the burly boy from Qingyang Town, who he had briefly met three days prior by the mountain's washing sword pool. The boy turned around, surprised to see him.

Ding Sheng smiled slightly, not bothering to explain anything.

"Haha, I really fell for your trick that day," Xiao Chengmo laughed heartily. This youth from Qingyang Town, with his chiseled features, seemed quite good-natured and bore no resentment.

As they spoke, Xiao Chengmo had already reached the stone table. He confidently presented his token, then strode up to the first stone, placing his hands on it. In an instant, a dazzling golden flame erupted, soaring over ten meters high, brilliant and eye-catching, instantly captivating the attention of everyone around.