Chapter 3 - Test

Wang Zhou was dazed by the scene before him. It took a long time for him to recover his senses, and the amount of arrogance in his heart shrank.

At this moment, several rainbow-colored swords[1] flew towards them. For each sword that dissipated, there was a Heng Yue Sect disciple, each followed by several 15-year-olds.

There were both male and female youths. As they landed, they too had similar expressions to Wang Lin’s group as they stared at the scene in front of them.

All the Heng Yue Sect disciples that brought the youths gathered at the side and started talking about the youths. After waiting a while, all the other youths who had been recommended arrived at the sect. A black-clad middle-aged man scanned the area. Then he emotionlessly said, “Among the lot of you, only a few will be selected to be Heng Yue Sect disciples.”

All of the youths cried out in shock. Wang Lin’s heart shuddered. He counted a total of 48 people taking the test.

“Cultivation, the path to becoming an immortal, depends on your natural talent. The first test is to see whether or not your spirit is strong enough. Now, whoever I point to will come up and take the test.” The middle-aged man emotionlessly pointed at a youth.

The youth walked over carefully, his legs trembling. The middle-aged man put his hand on his head and said, “Not qualified. Stand to the left.”

The youth suddenly lost all strength. Face looking bleak and eyes blank, he moved to the left in silence.

Then another youth was selected. He moved forward with a fearful expression.

“Not qualified.”

“Not qualified.”

“Not qualified.”

Ten people in a row all failed the test. Up until now there was still no one to the right of the middle-aged man.

It was Wang Zhuo’s turn. All of his previous  pride disappeared from his face. Looking pale, he stepped forward.

After the middle-aged man put his hand on Wang Zhuo’s head, his face suddenly lit up and he asked, “What is your name?”

Wang Zhuo quickly replied respectfully, “Immortal, my name is Wang Zhuo.”

The middle-aged man nodded. He then smiled and said, “So you are the one Martial Teacher mentioned. Good. Wang Zhuo, stand to the right.”

Wang Zhuo felt exaltation and walked toward the right under everyone’s admiration. His eyes were filled with arrogance and contempt as he looked at the crowd. He felt untouchable.

“Motherfucker, he is one lucky dog,” Wang Hao murmured to Wang Lin while curling his lip.

Wang Lin’s heart became more tense. In front of his eyes rose his parents’ eyes filled with expectations. He tightened his fists.

“Not bad, you also stand to the right,” said the middle-aged man, surprised, to the young girl in front of him.

After a short period of time, almost all the youths had been tested and only two stood to the right of the middle-aged man. Wang Hao was up next.

Wang Hao quickly ran up to the middle-aged man. Before he could even start the test, he knelt to the ground and kowtowed a few times. He said, “Immortal, may you enjoy a long life! My name is Wang Hao. You have already tested so many people, so you must be tired! Why don’t you rest for a while? I’m in no rush, it’s no problem.”

The middle-aged man laughed out loud. He had tested so many people whose faces were filled with fear, yet this clever youth here, without the slightest bit of fear, was trying to win favor with him. He pressed his hand on Wang Hao’s head and said, “Talent is lacking. Not…”

The moment Wang Hao heard that his spirit was lacking, his heart plummeted. Without waiting for the middle-aged man to finish, he quickly took out a jade box and presented it front of him. Wang Hao wisely said, “Immortal, my father found this by accident in the mountain but was unable to open it. I specially brought it to give to Immortal.”

The middle-aged man chuckled and shook his head. He was about to refuse Wang Hao, but as he scanned the box, his pupils suddenly contracted and his face suddenly lit up. “Not bad! This is at least a 300-year-old mushroom. Looking at the jade box, it was sealed by a cultivator. No wonder your father couldn’t open it.” He paused, then said with a slightly faltering voice, “I’m in need of a helper for my alchemy. Are you willing to be my helper?”

Wang Hao, surprised, got up quickly. The difference in treatment was like heaven and earth, causing him to be very excited. He exclaimed, “Yes, Immortal, I am willing!”

The middle-aged man said, while chuckling, “Since you’ll be my helper, I won’t mistreat you. You can cultivate just like the other disciples. Go stand to the right.”

Wang Hao was very excited inside. He ran to the right side and gave Wang Zhuo a triumphant stare.

The faces of all the youths that failed turned pale. All of them felt very depressed. A few even started crying.

The middle-aged man frowned. He shouted, “Send away all those who started crying.”

A few of the Heng Yue Sect disciples stepped out. They quickly took the ones that started crying and casually disappeared in swords of light.

The middle-aged man pointed at Wang Lin.

Wang Lin took a deep breath. He nervously walked toward the side of the middle-aged man, his mind completely blank. Praying silently in his heart, he couldn’t help but remember the expectation in his parents’ eyes.

“I will definitely be selected!” Wang Lin thought with determination.

The middle-aged man’s hand pressed on his head. With a deadpan face, he said the two words Wang Lin dreaded the most.

“Not qualified!”

Wang Lin didn’t remember how he made it to the left side, he only heard the spring thunder roaring in his ears and the echoing of the two words the middle-aged man said.

After a moment, everyone had been tested, and only three people stood to the right. In the eyes of everyone else, the three were insurmountable and immensely tall.

Wang Zhuo looked at Wang Lin with a face full of contempt, fully expressing his disdain for him.

“While a strong spirit is needed to be cultivator, perseverance is even more important. Even ordinary students like you, can become sect disciples if you have enough perseverance! The second test is perseverance!” The middle-aged man paused, then said with a deadpan face, “Follow the steps up. If you reach the top, you are qualified. If you’re not finished within three days, you fail. Those who fail will be returned to their families. If you cannot endure any longer or meet danger, just yell out loud and someone will come and save you.”

The middle-aged man smiled to the three on his right and said, “You two, follow me to meet the patriarch. We will also find you masters. Wang Hao, you don’t need to go, come with me to the alchemy house to get used to the place.”

After the middle-aged man finished giving instructions, he took the three selected youths and disappeared into the mountains.

Wang Lin took a deep breath, eyes full of determination. He walked up the stone steps with no hesitation and started the test of perseverance.

Minus the three selected youths and the six crying youths who were taken away, 39 remained.

Among these 39 youths, the ones that were very depressed, the ones very determined, and those who were scared all walked towards their own futures.