Chapter 27: THE EXAMINATION (1)

Three days passed, and the day of the examination finally arrived.

Li Yan stood outside the manor with Hu Biyan, two large bundles of clothes already prepared for the journey. Hu Biyan had brought everything they would need for their stay in Floating City, but before they left, he handed Li Yan one final bundle that had been kept separate from the others.

"The master asked that you wear this for the examination."

Li Yan looked down at the neatly folded clothes before glancing back at him. "He said he would not miss the examination, Uncle Yan. Why is he not here yet?"

Hu Biyan shook his head. "The master will catch up with us. For now, let’s head to the dock so we can make our way to Floating City."

Li Yan glanced toward the manor once more.

Hu Bai had promised to return on the day of his examination, so Li Yan had expected to see him waiting for them that morning. However, there was no sign of him, and they could not afford to delay their departure any longer.

He adjusted the bundles in his arms and followed Hu Biyan toward the dock.

The journey through the air was considerably faster than Li Yan had expected. Once they left the ground, the familiar landscape beneath them gradually disappeared beneath layers of clouds, leaving nothing but an endless expanse of white and blue.

Li Yan had seen cultivators travel through the sky before, but experiencing it himself was entirely different. The wind that rushed past them was blocked by the protective barrier surrounding their transport, leaving the journey surprisingly smooth.

As they traveled westward, Hu Biyan occasionally pointed out landmarks below.

The Warring Continent was divided among four great nations, each occupying a different region and governed by its own ruler. Shiyuantian lay in the south under Empress Bai, Kunlong occupied the north, Seven Sea Valley stood in the east, while Floating City ruled the western skies.

Unlike the other three nations, Floating City was not built upon the earth.

The city existed high above the continent, suspended among the clouds by ancient formations. Ordinary travelers could not simply walk into its territory. Anyone wishing to reach it needed a sea boat capable of sailing through the sky, a flying sword, or access to a teleportation array.

Li Yan found the concept fascinating.

The higher they traveled, the more difficult it became to see the land below. Mountains that had once looked enormous became little more than shadows beneath the clouds, while rivers appeared like thin silver threads winding through the landscape.

Then, after nearly two hours in the air, the clouds ahead began to thin.

Li Yan’s gaze was drawn to the horizon as a vast silhouette slowly emerged from the white expanse. At first, he could only make out a few distant structures, but as they approached, the scale of what he was seeing became clearer.

Floating City stretched across the heavens like an enormous piece of land suspended above the clouds.

Magnificent buildings covered its surface, their roofs gleaming beneath the sunlight while bridges and elevated paths connected the different districts. Powerful formations shimmered beneath the city, supporting the immense structure and keeping it firmly suspended in the sky.

Li Yan stared without realizing he had stopped breathing.

Flying swords moved between the clouds, carrying cultivators toward the city, while enormous vessels sailed through the air with their sails spread wide. Some were large enough to resemble floating fortresses, their decks crowded with travelers and cultivators.

The heavens around Floating City had become a world of their own.

"This is Floating City?" Li Yan murmured.

Hu Biyan glanced at him and nodded. "Yes. We will be entering through the western passage. The Nine Jade Sect is located at the heart of the city."

Li Yan’s gaze moved toward the center.

The territory of the Nine Jade Sect immediately stood apart from everything surrounding it. Its buildings were larger and more imposing, with towering halls and jade-colored structures rising above the rest of the city. Layers of formations surrounded the sect, and even from their current distance, Li Yan could sense the profound spiritual energy gathering around it.

The closer they came, the more cultivators they encountered.

Some flew on swords, while others traveled aboard smaller flying vessels. Several groups wore distinctive robes bearing the insignia of different sects, and many of them appeared to be heading in the same direction.

The examination had attracted people from all over the Warring Continent.

Hu Biyan guided their transport toward one of the city’s outer docks, where several enormous platforms had been built specifically for incoming vessels. They descended smoothly, and the moment Li Yan stepped onto the platform, he felt the difference in spiritual energy.

The Qi here was denser.

It was not overwhelming, but compared with the manor, the difference was obvious enough that Li Yan instinctively took a deeper breath.

"This place has so much Qi," he murmured.

"Floating City has existed for many years, and the formations beneath it gather spiritual energy from the surrounding heavens," Hu Biyan explained. "The closer you get to the Nine Jade Sect, the denser it becomes."

They left the dock and followed the stream of people moving toward the sect.

The closer they came, the more crowded the streets became. Young cultivators carrying weapons and wearing sect robes could be seen everywhere, accompanied by family members, servants, or elders who had come to see them off.

Li Yan quietly observed them.

Some looked confident, while others were visibly nervous. A few were already discussing their cultivation levels with their companions, while others remained silent and focused on the road ahead.

Hu Biyan noticed his gaze.

"Do not concern yourself with them. The examination will determine what you are capable of."

Li Yan nodded.

"I understand."

The entrance to the Nine Jade Sect soon came into view.

It was enormous.

A pair of towering jade gates stood at the end of a broad staircase, with the insignia of nine interlocking jade pieces carved above the entrance. Several disciples stood on either side of the gates, directing the arriving examinees toward different registration areas.

A large banner had been erected nearby announcing the examination.

Hu Biyan led Li Yan toward one of the registration tables.

"Name?"

"Li Yan."

The disciple seated behind the table looked down at the registration records before entering his name into the formation tablet in front of him.

"Age?"

"Fifteen."

The disciple’s fingers paused briefly.

He looked up at Li Yan before checking the record again.

"Fifteen?"

"Yes."

The disciple gave him another look but said nothing. He pressed his palm against the registration tablet, and a faint glow spread across its surface.

A moment later, a jade token appeared from the formation.

The disciple handed it to Li Yan.

"Examinee number three thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine. Keep this token with you. You will need it throughout the examination."