Shi Lei who had been in seclusion also emerged, having broken through to Late Rank Seven Martial Vein, which was further than Hua Nongying.
This was probably due to his whole-hearted devotion.
Shi Lei focused on cultivation, but Hua Nongying liked to play tricks and schemes, delaying his cultivation.
Originally, he had been somewhat stronger than Shi Lei.
But now, he had fallen behind.
The night was as cold as mountain rivers, and the bright moon was high in the sky.
Ling Xiao stopped his cultivation and invited Shi Lei, Yin Ran, Ling Yixue, and Leng Mei to drink tea.
All of them were somewhat excited, and Ling Xiao was no exception.
Ever since he had obtained the Landscape Martial Soul, his cultivation had soared, allowing him to step on many geniuses who once were stronger than him.
But even like this, he didn’t want to give up any opportunity to improve his cultivation because that blue-robed woman he had encountered in the Crouching Dragon Mountain Race often appeared in his mind.
At that time, his cultivation base had been very low, and the level of his Landscape Martial Soul had also not been high enough; therefore, he had been unable to judge that woman’s age.
But, thinking about it, that woman’s age couldn’t exceed twenty.
A twenty-year-old Transcendent Martial Artist!
Every time he thought about this matter, he couldn’t stay still.
However, he didn’t lose confidence, simply working harder and harder. Moreover, he was even more unwilling to give up any opportunities.
Now that there was a chance to become a disciple of a transcendent martial artist, how could he remain calm?
Basically, all the young martial artists remained awake this night, but it was no big deal.
After their strength reached Rank Four Martial Vein, they just needed to rest for an hour or so to fully restore their spirits, not to mention Martial Masters like Ling Xiao.
Early in the morning, a horn resounded.
All disciples below the age of sixteen, including Ling Xiao, followed General Ninth Month and set out to White Cloud Temple located on White Cloud Mountain, which only had one path. It was easy to defend but difficult to attack.
Nevertheless, this was just on the surface.
In fact, this path had restrictions.
From the foot of the mountain, the selection had already started in secret.
Merely, most people didn’t know about it.
Without enough perseverance and willpower, martial artists couldn’t traverse this path. Therefore, this seemingly endless flight of steps became the first hurdle for these young martial artists.
Under normal circumstances, as long as one were at least a Rank Four Martial Vein martial artist, one could climb these steps with sufficient persistence, but many gave up before their bodies did.
At the foot of the mountain, many martial artists had gathered, but only a thousand or so were able to reach White Cloud Temple.
Most were unable to endure even this small bit of hardship.
However, it was normal. Many young geniuses were high-ranking figures respected by everyone in their respective clans: they ate the best, drank the best, and used the best.
Therefore, how could they endure this kind of hardship?
In any case, they were unlikely to be selected by White Cloud Great Master, so there was no point in pushing themselves.
In front of White Cloud Temple was the second checkpoint: a test of comprehension.
Servants brought over a stone tablet that contained a martial art move.
By comprehending it, one would be qualified to enter White Cloud Temple.
This was harder than the previous checkpoint. Therefore, only 50 among over a thousand martial artists passed this checkpoint.
Among them, there were seven people of the Hidden Dragon Battalion: Dai Yuling, Ling Xiao, Shi Lei, Ling Yixue, Hua Nongying, Yin Ran, and Leng Mei.
The remaining forty or so were all disciples of Heavenly Ren Academy.
As for those young martial artists from outside, none remained. And this was just after the first two checkpoints.
White Cloud Temple opened, and all fifty-two people entered.
However, the moment they entered White Cloud Temple, their breathing grew hurried; a terrifying aura filled the White Cloud Temple.
No one had told them that this was the third checkpoint, a test of courage and boldness as well as endurance.
Putong!
Putong!
Just after entering White Cloud Temple, people began to kneel on the ground. Their complexions were deathly pale, and their bodies dripped with cold sweat.
Those who just knelt down weren’t eliminated, but those who lost consciousness would be directly carried out.
One person, two people, three people…
Soon, the original 52 people became 22.
Among the Hidden Dragon Battalion, Hua Nongying fainted and was eliminated.
All others who were eliminated were from Heavenly Ren Academy.
Six from the Hidden Dragon Battalion and sixteen from Heavenly Ren Academy remained.
Finally, the huge pressure dispersed, and three figures appeared in front of them: Lin Ze, Wan Ben, and White Cloud Temple Master.
These three were all Peak Rank Nine Martial Vein powerhouses.
“It was them!”
“No wonder that aura was so powerful!”
“But Lord Governor, Lord Side General, and White Cloud Temple Master are all Peak Rank Nine Martial Vein Martial Masters! Moreover, they are all famous figures with power and influence. How can they be mere assistants to White Cloud Great Master?”
“Humph, don’t you know? These three can barely be considered disciples of White Cloud Great Master.”
A person from Heavenly Ren Academy snorted.
“Barely?”
“Yes, they can’t be regarded as the true disciples of White Cloud Great Master. They can only be regarded as entry disciples.”
That man complacently revealed.
What!
Everyone was shocked, and Ling Xiao couldn’t believe that this was true.
In White Cloud Province, with the exception of White Cloud Great Master, these three were the most powerful and famous people. Moreover, their cultivation bases were all at Peak Rank Nine Martial Vein. But they actually weren’t true disciples, just entry disciples?”
No matter how you thought about it, entry disciples were incomparable to true disciples.
“Entry disciples can only get occasional guidance from the master, but true disciples can follow the master and receive his careful guidance. Both the resources and conditions of the true disciples are much better than entry disciples.”
That Heavenly Ren Academy’s disciple added: “Our Heavenly Ren Academy’s two super geniuses, Zuo Leng and Ming Tian, are White Cloud Great Master’s true disciples.”
Zuo Leng?
Ming Tian?
Ling Xiao heard these names for the first time.
“You all might not have heard about them. When Zuo Leng was just fifteen, with a cultivation base of Peak Rank Eight Martial Vein, he easily killed a Rank Nine Martial Vein Martial Master! As for Ming Tiang, when he was sixteen, he became the only sixteen-year-old Rank Nine Martial Vein Martial Master!”
“My God! Sure enough, there are people more talented than oneself in the wider world! Whether it is Zuo Leng or Ming Tian, anyone could easily exterminate all of Heavenly Peak City.”
Ling Xiao couldn’t help taking a deep breath. At that time, those martial artists of Heavenly Peak City had fought each other to prove their talent. Thinking about it now, those so-called geniuses were a joke compared to these two.
“It’s a pity that those two peerless geniuses are the Ren Race’s martial artists.”
Another person sighed.
Ren Race martial artists!
Ling Xiao gritted his teeth.
This was the Human Race’s territory. In White Cloud Province which belonged to the Human Race, human martial artists were actually trampled under the feet of the Ren Race’s martial artists. This was truly a humiliation.
At this moment, Zuo Leng and Ming Tian leaned against a pillar while casually chatting. One looked cold and indifferent while the other one colorfully chattered.
But the identical thing between them was that their auras were incomparably powerful.
In front of them, the other geniuses suddenly paled like a grain of rice and the bright moon competing in terms of brightness.
Many young martial artists lowered their heads, showing tier inferiority and despair.
