Chapter 28: THE EXAMINATION (2)

Li Yan accepted it and looked down.

Three thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine.

He had not expected there to be so many examinees.

Hu Biyan leaned slightly toward him. "Keep it safe. Losing it will complicate your registration."

Li Yan nodded and carefully placed the token inside his robes.

The disciple pointed toward a large gathering area beyond the registration tables. "All examinees are to gather there. The examination supervisors will provide further instructions once everyone has assembled."

Li Yan turned toward the indicated area.

Thousands of young cultivators were already gathering there, their voices blending into a constant murmur. Some stood with their companions, while others had already separated from their families and were waiting alone.

Hu Biyan stopped before the entrance to the gathering area.

"I cannot accompany you any farther."

Li Yan looked at him.

"You will be among the examinees now. Listen carefully to the supervisors and do not allow anyone to provoke you into wasting your strength."

"I know."

Hu Biyan gave him a brief nod. "The master will come when he can. Until then, focus on your examination."

Li Yan glanced toward the city behind them.

Hu Bai still had not appeared.

A faint trace of disappointment crossed his expression, but he quickly pushed it aside. Hu Bai had promised to return, and Li Yan had no reason to doubt him.

He turned toward the gathering area.

"I will see you after the examination, Uncle Yan."

Hu Biyan smiled. "I will be waiting."

Li Yan stepped forward.

The moment he entered the gathering area, the atmosphere changed.

There were simply too many people.

Cultivators of different ages stood scattered throughout the enormous courtyard, though most appeared to be around his age. Their cultivation levels varied considerably, and Li Yan could sense several practitioners who were already stronger than him.

He did not let it bother him.

He had only awakened his cultivation three days ago.

There was no reason to compare himself with people who had likely been cultivating for years.

A loud bell suddenly rang across the courtyard.

The conversations gradually died down.

A group of Nine Jade Sect disciples entered the platform overlooking the examinees. The person at the center stepped forward and swept his gaze across the enormous crowd.

"Those holding examination tokens, gather according to your assigned numbers. Do not leave your designated area until instructed."

The crowd began moving.

Li Yan looked at the number on his token again before following the flow of examinees toward his assigned section.

Three thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine.

He took his place among the others and quietly waited.

The Nine Jade Sect disciples moved through the rows, checking tokens and ensuring that no one had entered the wrong section.

Li Yan stood calmly among the crowd, his hands resting inside his sleeves.

He had come this far.

Whatever the examination demanded, he would face it.

And somewhere beyond the vast city, Hu Bai was still making his way back.

Li Yan lowered his gaze toward the jade token in his hand.

He would simply have to make sure he gave Hu Bai a result worth returning for.

Li Yan stood among the thousands of examinees, his jade token resting securely inside his sleeve. Around him, conversations rose and fell as young cultivators waited for the examination to begin, while the Nine Jade Sect disciples continued arranging the crowd into orderly sections.

He touched the concealed jade pendant beneath his robes.

The treasure had already been prepared for this moment.

"Xiaoxiao," he called quietly.

"I know," she replied. "Activate it."

Li Yan circulated his Qi through the pendant.

A faint coolness spread through his body before disappearing. His bloodline and spirit root were immediately concealed beneath the treasure’s effect, leaving behind exactly what he and Xiaoxiao had planned: an ordinary innate foundation.

His cultivation remained untouched.

He was only at the first level of Martial Qi. There was nothing remarkable about that.

"Done," Xiaoxiao said.

Li Yan nodded and lowered his hand.

Their plan was simple. He would not hide his intelligence or his ability to learn, nor would he deliberately perform poorly. He would simply make certain that his innate talent gave no one a reason to take special interest in him.

The written examination would be different.

That was where he intended to show what he knew.

A deep bell suddenly rang through the examination grounds.

The restless crowd quieted almost immediately.

An elder of the Nine Jade Sect stepped onto the elevated platform overlooking the examinees. He wore simple dark robes, but the pressure surrounding him was enough to make even the more arrogant young masters straighten their backs.

His gaze swept across the courtyard.

"Welcome to the Nine Jade Sect examination."

His voice carried effortlessly across the entire grounds.

"Before the first assessment begins, there are several rules every examinee must understand. Those who violate the examination regulations will be disqualified immediately, regardless of their background or cultivation."

The crowd became even quieter.

The elder raised his hand, and a massive formation appeared behind him. At its center was a circular stone platform surrounded by intricate patterns.

"The first assessment is the Spirit Root Test."

A ripple of anticipation passed through the crowd.

"This examination determines whether you possess the minimum innate qualification required to become a disciple of the Nine Jade Sect. Anyone below a yellow spirit root will be eliminated."

Several examinees immediately became nervous.

A yellow spirit root was not particularly rare, but it was still beyond the reach of many ordinary cultivators. Some of the younger examinees exchanged worried glances, while a few wealthy young masters remained completely composed.

The elder continued, "The spirit root will be measured through the Nine Jade Stone. Place your hand upon the stone and allow it to examine your foundation. The formation will determine your spirit root grade automatically."

A disciple stepped forward and demonstrated.

The Nine Jade Stone lit up beneath his palm, producing a faint yellow radiance.

"Yellow spirit root," the elder announced. "Pass."

The disciple stepped aside.

Another examinee was called forward.

The process continued.

One after another, young cultivators approached the stone.

Some produced yellow light and were allowed to remain. Others caused green or blue light to appear, immediately drawing murmurs from the surrounding crowd.

"Blue spirit root."

"That’s quite good."

"Look at that. She’s only fifteen."