Chapter 197 - 195: A Gathering of Geniuses

Under the gray-haired elder’s lead, the group slowly advanced to the foot of the Yunxiao Sect’s mountain.

A dozen or so people were already waiting there.

They were the ones who hadn’t gone to the reception points, having set out on their own and arrived early. Most of them were from the Chilong Dynasty.

’What powerful auras!’

Yuwen Xuan’s pupils shrank. He could sense several auras at the Fourth Layer of the Spirit Sea Realm!

His gaze instantly fell upon a handsome man standing alone on an isolated boulder. The man’s face was stern, his eyes like dark pools as he surveyed the area ahead, emanating a cold and powerful aura.

Everyone who met the handsome man’s gaze felt a sense of inadequacy.

’Xiao Feng! Number one on the Chilong Dynasty’s Human List!’

Yuwen Xuan’s heart trembled. The moment their eyes met, he had the illusion of looking up at a giant.

Though they were both geniuses on the Human List, he and Xiao Feng seemed to be on completely different levels.

’How terrifying!’

To think the number one on the Chilong Dynasty’s Human List was this frightening.

Moreover, the Eighth Prince, number two on the Human List, and Feng Qiuling, number three, were indeed emitting auras at the Fourth Layer of Meridian Opening!

Before coming, he had solemnly promised his father that he would definitely get into the Yunxiao Sect.

Now, Yuwen Xuan was starting to lose his confidence.

「Not long after.」

Two more large flying bird mounts arrived, each carrying over a hundred geniuses from the Human Lists of different kingdoms.

The Yunxiao Sect’s entrance examination was for the entire Eastern Domain, and even for those from beyond it.

There were three reception points in total.

The geniuses brought from the other two reception points weren’t as impressive as the group from the Chilong Dynasty, but there were still a few terrifying individuals at the Peak of the Spirit Sea Realm’s Third Layer, or even the Fourth Layer of the Spirit Sea Realm.

Nevertheless, among all the geniuses present, those from the Chilong Dynasty were clearly the leaders.

Some geniuses from the Chilong Dynasty’s vassal kingdoms all went over to curry favor.

In terms of numbers, those from the Chilong Dynasty and its vassal states made up nearly half of all the candidates participating in the examination.

In terms of top-tier experts, there was no comparison.

"Hmph!"

However, a woman in a yellow dress showed a hint of indignation, casting a cold, slightly hostile glance toward the Chilong Dynasty’s contingent.

Luo Tian was also standing in the Chilong Dynasty’s camp of geniuses. With his keen senses, and because the yellow-robed woman was quite beautiful and charming, he noticed this scene.

He discovered that this woman’s cultivation was extraordinary, having reached the Peak of the Spirit Sea Realm’s Third Layer. He wondered where she was from.

’So these are the geniuses of the younger generation in the Eastern Domain today? It truly is a land of crouching tigers and hidden dragons, teeming with talent!’

Luo Tian’s gaze swept across the crowd, a hint of anticipation and fighting spirit in his eyes.

Back in the Azure Cloud Kingdom, he had rarely met a worthy opponent among his peers and was gradually starting to feel a sense of loneliness.

But upon arriving on this vast stage, he instantly felt as if he were seeing a whole new world.

SWOOSH!

Just then, a Steward from the Yunxiao Sect strode over.

’A Half-step Earth Element Realm expert!’

Luo Tian was slightly startled.

An ordinary Steward from the Yunxiao Sect would be qualified to be a Mansion Master in one of the Azure Cloud Kingdom’s Holy Mansions.

The Steward held a register and a writing brush. He calmly swept his gaze over the geniuses present and said, "Now, form a line and come forward one by one. Take out your tokens."

The Yunxiao Sect never accepted anyone of unknown origin.

All participants would have their tokens inspected and be questioned about their background.

"Dong Lei, from the Li Hai Kingdom, a disciple of Donglai Academy’s vice-principal."

The Steward recited calmly, recording the relevant information in his register.

"The Eighth Prince of the Chilong Dynasty!"

"Yuwen Xuan of the Azure Cloud Kingdom, son of Yuwen Zhou from the Yuwen Family!"

"Xiao Feng of the Chilong Dynasty, a Mansion Master’s Disciple from the Flame Dragon Holy Mansion!"

...

Soon, it was Luo Tian’s turn.

’Lin Feifan, during the examination, I will make you regret this for the rest of your life!’

Behind him, Young Master Yan Qing stared daggers at Luo Tian’s back.

The beautiful Lin Qiao’Er’s eyes were filled with a yin cold as she stared at Luo Tian, hating him to the bone.

But just then, the man they knew as Lin Feifan tore off a human-skin mask, revealing a different, slightly younger and more delicate face underneath.

The Steward was also a little surprised but didn’t pry.

"Luo Tian, from the Azure Cloud Kingdom’s Sun Chasing Holy Mansion, disciple of Lin Dongfeng!"

After his inquiry, he calmly announced the result.

But in that instant, many eyes in the crowd widened as they all turned to look.

"Luo Tian?"

"Is that the Luo Tian wanted by Prince Zheng?"

"How did he sneak in here? Once Luo Tian enters the Yunxiao Sect, even Prince Zheng wouldn’t dare to kill him so openly."

"It seems the kid disguised himself as Lin Feifan and tagged along with Young Master Yan Qing!"

The surrounding discussions all came from the people of the Chilong Dynasty.

It was a miracle that he was still alive despite being wanted by Prince Zheng.

Yan Qing, after a moment of shock, had a murderous expression on his face.

It turned out that all along, he had saved the very criminal wanted by Prince Zheng.

"You bastard! You actually disguised yourself as Lin Feifan and deceived me!"

Yan Qing was furious.

He didn’t have to think hard to guess that since Luo Tian dared to impersonate Lin Feifan, the real Lin Feifan was probably already dead.

This kid had killed his subordinate, and he himself had helped him escape. Yan Qing felt like he’d been made a fool of!

There were also some geniuses from the Chilong Dynasty who were connected to Prince Zheng or knew Zheng Wei. They now took a keen interest in Luo Tian.

"So this is the one who killed my cousin, Zheng Wei?"

the Eighth Prince of the Chilong Dynasty said.

"Although Zheng Wei was arrogant and obstinate, he was still a Crown Prince of our dynasty. This prince will not allow this boy to pass the Yunxiao Sect’s examination!"

The Ninth Prince was also openly hostile.

Aside from them, Yuwen Xuan from the Azure Cloud Kingdom was staring wide-eyed, his face a mask of disbelief.

"Luo Tian!"

He truly hadn’t expected that Luo Tian was not only alive and well but had also successfully reached the Yunxiao Sect!

’Is there no trouble that can stop him?’

Yuwen Xuan asked himself, feeling a deep sense of jealousy toward Luo Tian.

’No, he’s bound to fail this time. There’s no way he can enter the Yunxiao Sect!’

Yuwen Xuan glanced at Yan Qing, certain of it.

’This person seems to have annoyed many of the geniuses from the Chilong Dynasty?’

The woman in yellow took note of Luo Tian.

「Not long after.」

Everyone’s tokens and identities were confirmed.

"Next, as long as you pass the Yunxiao Sect’s examination, you can become official disciples of the Yunxiao Sect!"

The Steward closed his register and said with a faint smile.

He suddenly turned and pointed to a mountain a hundred meters behind him. "The first trial: Cloud Ascending Peak! Reach the top of this peak, and you pass!"

"That’s it?"

"The peak is a bit steep, but it’s only five hundred meters high. Climbing it should be a piece of cake."

"The Yunxiao Sect’s examination isn’t so brutal after all. The rumored seventy percent death rate must have been an exaggeration to scare people."

The geniuses all remarked with relief upon seeing Cloud Ascending Peak.

"Oh? You think the first trial is simple?"

The Steward smiled faintly.

The next moment.

VWOOM!

An invisible, immense tremor emanated from Cloud Ascending Peak, releasing astonishing fluctuations of Spiritual Power.

Immediately after, a fierce wind erupted, making the entire mountain peak seem as if it were caught in a tornado.

At this, the faces of many geniuses instantly turned pale.