Chapter 145: Second Challenge
Chapter 145: Second Challenge
“Twenty-one years old, Eight Levels of True Martial Arts. Doesn’t qualify.”
Another cultivator failed to meet the requirements and got repelled at the mountain gate.
After these incidents, people became more careful. No one caused trouble anymore.
Cheng Lingyu watched from afar, spotting familiar faces: Jiang Mufeng, Ye Fan and Ye Xinyi from Xuanhuo Sect, Song Chenguang and divine doctor Song Xuejiao from Shenhuo Sect.
Though Lan Xiaozhu used to be close with Song Xuejiao, she stayed back because of Song Chenguang.
Ye Fan from Xuanhuo Sect was too old. He stepped aside after Ye Xinyi entered.
Song Chenguang barely made it at twenty-five, passing the first test.
Everyone acted humble around the black-clad youth and Hua Mantian. Even Blood Martial Realm experts watched quietly.
The first daytime ended with thousands entering Xiyun Divine Mountain.
The process continued through night due to massive crowds. Nobody knew if they’d finish preliminary selection in five days.
New arrivals kept coming until next day, when numbers dropped sharply.
On second afternoon, Qu Wei appeared outside Lou Ri City. Cheng Lingyu pulled her aside, surprised.
“You really came! Did Shenhuo Sect mind?”
Qu Wei laughed. “I made excuse to leave. If not chosen, I’ll return. If chosen, no worries.”
Lan Xiaozhu smiled and updated her on current situation.
As more cultivators entered, the crowd outside thinned.
The trio stood apart, scanning for familiar faces.
“Look! Flying Dragon Gang’s Nie Jiaolong’s here!” Qu Wei spotted Yunyang’s top ten beauty.
Nie Jiaolong came with two: handsome young man and elderly gent.
Lan Xiaozhu said, “That’s her brother Nie Yunlong. They’re either seeking chances or fleeing Flying Dragon Gang’s battle with Mingyue Gate.”
Both Nies passed through the gate.
Cheng Lingyu chuckled. “Five acquaintances entered already: Jiang Mufeng, Song Xuejiao, Song Chenguang, Ye Xinyi, Nie Jiaolong. Wonder who’s next.”
Qu Wei shrugged. “Who knows? Let’s watch.”
Later, Lan Xiaozhu saw another familiar face Cheng Lingyu didn’t know – Du Yarun of Baicao Sect, Yunyang’s “Venomous Phoenix” and Song Xuejiao’s poison-wielding rival.
Third morning brought Hong Xiu Tian Xiang alone to Lou Ri City’s gate.
Cheng Lingyu smiled awkwardly, expression slightly stiff.
Hong Xiu Tian Xiang noticed him. She smiled meaningfully at Lan Xiaozhu from afar but didn’t approach.
Cheng Lingyu smiled back helplessly, glancing at Lan Xiaozhu.
They exchanged distant looks, hidden feelings beneath their smiles.
On the fourth day, Cheng Lingyu, Lan Xiaozhu, and Qu Wei smoothly passed through the mountain gate, joining tens of thousands of cultivators already gathered within.
Stepping into Xiyun Divine Mountain proper, Cheng Lingyu felt an immediate difference from his previous experiences. The mountain stabbed through the clouds like a slumbering gigantic beast, its sheer immensity inspiring instinctive awe despite its stillness. This dormant majesty silently influenced all present, leaving the massive crowd solemn and reverent.
By the fifth day’s nightfall, the first round of preliminary selection concluded as no more cultivators arrived. Over twenty thousand remained outside the mountain gate—failed candidates and escorts.
Hua Mantian approached the detection stone, palm meeting its surface. Numbers flashed instantly. “Eighty-one thousand three hundred fifty-six. Not bad.”
Turning to the excluded crowd, he announced: “The second selection begins tomorrow. Those interested may wait here—eliminated candidates will be teleported back.” He then entered the mountain gate, leaving the black-clad youth guarding the entrance.
“Congratulations on passing the preliminary selection. I’ll now lead you to the second round’s venue.”
Hua Mantian guided the massive procession up winding mountain paths. Their slow progress revealed Xiyun Divine Mountain’s impossible scale—the foothills alone dwarfed mortal comprehension, their full contours obscured like blurred visions.
After two hours, the crowd reached a valley bathed in divine light. At its heart stood a palace wrapped in twenty-four luminous rings, radiating mystery. On its steps sat a plain-faced woman in floral robes, her sharp gaze cutting through the crowd’s murmurs.
Hua Mantian conversed with the woman while cultivators marveled at the palace’s ancient patterns—simple carvings whispering of forgotten epochs.
At dawn, Hua Mantian addressed them: “This palace has four doors. Choose any. While harmless inside, your fates will be decided here.”
When pressed for details, he explained: “A formation here assesses your destiny, potential, and essence with ninety-nine percent accuracy. Lou Ri City’s disciple recruitment depends on this. Pass, and you proceed.”
The floral-robed woman opened the palace doors. Though modest in size externally, the interior expanded into a boundless space. Teleportation arrays appeared beneath each entrant, scattering the crowd across isolated chambers.
Cheng Lingyu released his companions’ hands before the teleportation separated them. Remembering Hua Mantian’s assurance of safety, he relaxed completely, allowing curious observation of the scanning light waves.
Within minutes, he materialized on a rocky cliff holding hundreds of survivors. The platform overlooked both the distant mountain gate and the palace below, where ejected failures accumulated rapidly under the black-clad youth’s watch.
Lan Xiaozhu and Qu Wei soon appeared, equally confused. Cheng Lingyu pointed at the growing crowd of rejects—their presence here meant success.
The arbitrary eliminations continued for three days, whittling eighty thousand down to seven thousand. Murmurs of disbelief spread until Hua Mantian reappeared.
“Congratulations. The final test depends solely on your performance. All may pass if worthy—or none. Lou Ri City values quality over numbers among the empire’s Three Saints and Four Peerless.”
Unease rippled through the survivors. The previous rounds’ simplicity felt unnerving for such a prestigious sect’s disciple selection.