Chapter 4 - Changyun Sect Selection Exam (2)
1979 Words
After Elder Zhao announced the beginning of the Changyun Sect Entrance Examination, the atmosphere in front of the sect’s grand gate became even livelier. Thousands of participants from various cities, villages, and influential families began moving according to the instructions of the Changyun Sect disciples.
“All participants, please proceed to the registration area first!” shouted a disciple in a white robe.
Chen Yu followed the flow of people toward a vast square not far from the main gate. Dozens of registration tables had been set up there, with sect disciples recording the identities of participants. Long lines stretched across the area.
Standing in one of the queues, Chen Yu observed the people around him.
Many participants wore expensive hanfu made from high-quality materials. Some had even arrived in luxurious carriages decorated with their family emblems. Quite a few were accompanied by servants and guards.
Compared to them, Chen Yu’s simple hanfu looked ordinary. However, he did not pay much attention to it. He had not come to Changyun Sect to show off wealth. What mattered was the examination result.
As the line slowly moved forward, a familiar voice suddenly came from behind him.
“Chen Yu?”
Chen Yu turned around. A handsome young man wearing a light blue hanfu embroidered with gold was staring at him. A high-quality white jade pendant hung from his waist. The young man was none other than Sui Yuanqing, the eldest son of the Magistrate of Lin'an County, where Chen Yu, his mother, and his younger sister lived. Sui Yuanqing was someone who often mocked him.
“So it really is you,” Sui Yuanqing said with a disdainful smile.
Despite being looked down upon, Chen Yu still greeted him politely.
“Young Master Sui.”
Sui Yuanqing crossed his arms and looked Chen Yu up and down.
“I never expected you to still dare participate in the Changyun Sect selection.”
His tone sounded casual, but the mockery was obvious. Chen Yu remained silent.
Sui Yuanqing continued, “You come from a poor family. Your mother has to work hard every day just to put food on the table. Instead of wasting your time in the cultivation world, you should help her earn money. You don’t belong here.”
“You’re only wasting your time.”
Several nearby participants began looking in their direction. Before Chen Yu could respond, laughter came from the side.
“Hahaha! So he really is from a poor family!”
Chen Yu turned and saw the three young men who had mocked him earlier at the gate.
The curly-haired youth in a red-and-white hanfu walked at the front. His name was Lu Jianhong.
Beside him stood Gao Wenhao, a tall and thin young man in a dark blue hanfu.
The third was a slightly chubby youth wearing a green hanfu, casually fanning himself with a folding fan. His name was Peng Rui.
“Oh? So you know each other?” Lu Jianhong asked Sui Yuanqing.
Sui Yuanqing nodded lightly.
“Of course. I know him very well. He’s a shameless poor boy.”
Lu Jianhong laughed even harder.
“I knew it. You can tell just by looking at his clothes.”
Peng Rui slowly waved his fan. “If I were him, I’d go home immediately. Better than failing later and embarrassing myself.”
Gao Wenhao added coldly, “He probably won’t even pass the first stage.”
The four young men chuckled among themselves.
The surrounding participants watched with various expressions.
Chen Yu remained calm. Of course he was annoyed. Anyone would be if they were constantly insulted. His fists clenched tightly, but his mother’s words before he left that morning echoed in his mind.
Do your best. That’s enough.
Chen Yu let out a quiet breath.
“The results haven’t come out yet.”
The four youths looked at him.
Chen Yu continued calmly, “As long as the examination hasn’t begun, everyone has the same chance.”
Lu Jianhong’s smile immediately faded.
“Hmph. Your mouth is quite bold.”
Peng Rui snorted.
“We’ll see if you can still be this brave after the exam starts.”
Fortunately, the queue moved forward again. Chen Yu’s turn was almost here. He ignored them and stepped forward.
A few minutes later, his name was finally called.
“Name?”
“Chen Yu.”
“Place of origin?”
“Qinghe Village, Lin'an County.”
The registrar quickly wrote it down on a bamboo slip.
“Age?”
“Sixteen.”
After finishing, the disciple handed him a black wooden token.
“Participant Number 95.”
Chen Yu accepted it respectfully. The number 95 and the cloud emblem of Changyun Sect were carved onto its surface.
“Keep it safe. Don’t lose it. You’ll need it throughout the examination.”
“Thank you.”
Chen Yu nodded and stepped away from the table.
Not far away, Sui Yuanqing and his group had also completed their registration. They occasionally glanced in his direction.
However, Chen Yu no longer paid attention to them. His hand tightened around the participant token. This was the reason he had traveled such a long distance. This was the opportunity he had been waiting for for months.
Suddenly, the sound of a massive bell echoed from deep within Changyun Sect. All the participants immediately fell silent.
An elder wearing a dark blue robe appeared on a stone platform in the center of the square.
“All participants, gather here!”
“The first stage of the examination is about to begin!”
The crowd quickly moved toward the designated area. Chen Yu followed along. Soon, they arrived at an enormous field. At its center stood nine gigantic black stone pillars reaching toward the sky. Ancient carvings covered each pillar, emitting a mysterious aura. Chen Yu’s gaze immediately fixed upon them. His heartbeat quickened.
Meanwhile, in the distance, Sui Yuanqing, Lu Jianhong, Gao Wenhao, and Peng Rui continued looking at him with contempt.
But Chen Yu no longer cared.
At this moment, only one thing occupied his mind:
Passing the examination, becoming a disciple of Changyun Sect, and making his mother and younger sister proud.
***
Standing atop the stone platform, Elder Zhao placed his hands behind his back.
“The first test is the measurement of cultivation talent.”
The atmosphere instantly became silent.
Everyone knew that cultivation talent was the most important foundation of a cultivator’s path. Those with higher talent could absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth more easily.
On the other hand, those with low talent had to cultivate longer and work much harder to achieve the same results.
“This year’s Changyun Sect examination consists of three stages. Those who pass the first stage may proceed to the second. Those who pass the second stage may continue to the third.”
“This year, only thirty new disciples will be accepted.”
“So give it your all.”
Those words caused many participants to swallow nervously.
The competition was extremely fierce.
Soon, the testing began.
One participant after another stepped forward.
Most only produced faint light.
“Low talent.”
“Low talent.”
“Low talent.”
Occasionally, a better result would be announced.
“Medium talent.”
“Medium talent.”
Those participants immediately smiled in relief.
Time passed slowly as participant numbers continued to be called.
Then a disciple shouted:
“Participant Number 61, Sui Yuanqing!”
Sui Yuanqing stepped forward confidently.
Many participants immediately paid attention to him. His clothing and demeanor clearly showed that he came from a prestigious family. He placed his palm on the Spirit Measuring Pillar.
Moments later, a bright green light erupted from the pillar, climbing to its middle section before stopping.
The elder in charge nodded.
“Medium talent.”
Sui Yuanqing smiled in satisfaction.
Although it was not high talent, it was still far better than most participants. As he returned to his place, he deliberately glanced at Chen Yu. His gaze was filled with confidence.
Soon afterward, Lu Jianhong’s turn arrived. The curly-haired youth strode forward proudly. Unfortunately, his result was far below expectations. Only a faint light appeared.
“Low talent.”
Lu Jianhong’s expression immediately darkened. Some participants even struggled to suppress their laughter.
Next came Gao Wenhao. His palm touched the pillar, and green light appeared.
“Medium talent.”
Gao Wenhao nodded in satisfaction. At least his result was decent. Then it was Peng Rui’s turn. The slightly chubby youth stepped forward while casually twirling his fan.
Moments later, the pillar lit up. However, the light was not particularly strong.
“Low talent.”
Peng Rui’s face stiffened. Clearly, he was unhappy with the result. The examination continued.
Finally, Chen Yu’s turn arrived.
“Participant Number 95, Chen Yu!”
His heart began pounding faster. Cold sweat soaked his hanfu. Taking a deep breath, he walked toward the Spirit Measuring Pillar.
Many participants immediately focused their attention on him. Including Sui Yuanqing and his companions.
Lu Jianhong sneered. “Finally, it’s the poor boy’s turn.”
Peng Rui chuckled. “I wonder if the pillar will even light up. Maybe it won’t react at all.”
Sui Yuanqing said nothing, but a mocking smile appeared on his lips.
Chen Yu stood before the pillar. Slowly, he raised his hand and pressed his palm against the cold stone surface.
One second. Two seconds. Three seconds. Nothing happened. Do I really have no talent?Anxiety began creeping into his heart. Whispers spread through the crowd.
“Why hasn’t it lit up yet?”
“Does he not have any talent at all?”
After nearly a minute, a faint light finally appeared.
It was so weak that it was almost invisible. The light slowly crawled upward from the base of the pillar, rising only a short distance before stopping. The entire field suddenly fell silent.
Even the elder overseeing the test frowned and stared at the pillar to make sure he had not seen incorrectly.
“Extremely low talent,” the elder announced.
The crowd instantly erupted.
“Extremely low talent?”
“Can talent really be that low?”
“I could barely see the light!”
Laughter broke out from various directions. Lu Jianhong laughed the loudest.
“Hahaha! I told you so!”
Peng Rui burst into laughter as well.
“With talent like that, he still dared come to Changyun Sect? What a joke!”
Even Gao Wenhao shook his head.
Meanwhile, Sui Yuanqing looked at Chen Yu with contempt.
“What an embarrassment to Lin'an County.”
Chen Yu slowly withdrew his hand from the pillar.bOutwardly, he appeared calm. But deep inside, disappointment filled his heart.
Was his talent truly that poor? Extremely low.
Even worse than he had imagined. For the past three months, he had trained tirelessly. He woke up before dawn and practiced swordsmanship until exhaustion. He had placed all his hopes on this opportunity.
Yet innate talent was not something that could be changed so easily. Chen Yu clenched his fists beneath his sleeves.
Even so, he had no intention of giving up. The results of the first stage had not yet been finalized. As long as he still had a chance, he would continue fighting until the very end.
On the stone platform, Elder Zhao observed Chen Yu for a moment before looking away.
For an instant, a strange expression flashed across the elder’s eyes. However, no one noticed it.
“The first-stage examination will continue!”
Elder Zhao’s voice echoed throughout the field.
Meanwhile, Chen Yu returned to his place, gripping his participant token tightly. Although laughter and ridicule still surrounded him, the determination in his eyes had not diminished. Instead, it had grown even stronger. Unbeknownst to him, something deep within his body was beginning to awaken.
- Writer
