Volume One: A Young Man Enters the World Chapter Eighty-Seven: Passing Through

With a thunderous impact, the force of frost within the long sword collided with the heavy palm strike, scattering fallen leaves in every direction and kicking up a cloud of dust so thick that the two figures vanished from sight.

Within the haze, their attacks remained locked in deadlock, neither yielding an inch. After a while, Fang Tian saw that his strike still had not forced the man in the green robe to move even a half step, so he gathered his spiritual power and increased the force behind it. The stalemate that had seemed frozen at once began to shift. He saw the green-robed man’s footing grow unsteady, and with a determined look, he pressed the advantage, intent on making the man retreat.

As the smoke dispersed, their forms were revealed once more. By then, both had withdrawn the spiritual power surrounding them. Fang Tian glanced at the man’s position and said calmly, "You’ve already moved a step. I think I’ve passed the test."

The onlookers around them stared wide-eyed, their faces full of disbelief. This boy had actually driven a master of the Azure Stream Sect at the ninth stage of Spirit Gathering back by a step. How had he done it? Could the man in the green robe have intentionally held back? That seemed unlikely. The difference between each stage was not something so easily bridged, unless this boy had deliberately hidden his true strength. But there was the spirit-testing stone here as well, so no one could make sense of it. The crowd remained baffled.

The man in the green robe was secretly alarmed. He had not expected the boy’s offensive power to be comparable to that of the seventh stage of Spirit Gathering, and that still was not his limit. At first, he had only intended to test Fang Tian with the strength of the sixth stage, but after sensing the incoming assault was unusual, he had been forced to bring out the power of the seventh stage.

Even so, it was still not enough. Just moments ago, he had nearly used the strength of the eighth stage, but on second thought, that would have been bullying the young. So he had kept his cultivation level suppressed at the seventh stage. Yet at that level, he could not possibly contend with the boy, and the result had been that he could no longer withstand the attack and had been pushed back a step.

One had to know that, from his perspective, Fang Tian appeared to be only at the fifth stage. To force him back was no simple matter. Though he had not used the strength of the ninth stage, he had still unleashed the power of the seventh.

Seen in that light, this youth possessed the ability to challenge opponents above his level. One could not help but look at him with newfound respect.

Hearing Fang Tian’s words, the man in the green robe smiled and said, "Truly, the young surpass the old. I misjudged you. You pass."

At that, the crowd erupted in uproar. They had not expected this boy’s true strength to be so formidable. Everyone was curious about how he had cultivated himself; a fifth-stage cultivator contending with one at the ninth stage was simply unheard of.

The person who had earlier tried to stir trouble saw Fang Tian reveal such terrifying strength and immediately lowered his head, shrinking behind the crowd, terrified Fang Tian might notice him and come looking for trouble. He had never imagined he would offend someone like this, and regret filled his heart.

Those who had already passed the test and were standing on the stone steps of the mountain gate were also staring at Fang Tian in shock.

A cultivator capable of fighting above his own level could truly be called one in ten thousand, exceedingly rare.

The sixteen-year-old prodigy, her bright eyes flickering, looked at Fang Tian with a strange expression. Her fair little hands were held before her chest, idly toying with the ornament at her throat, and no one knew what she was thinking.

Fang Tian sheathed his sword and walked up to the man in the green robe, cupping his hands in salute. "I was somewhat rude just now. Please forgive me."

Seeing how courteous he was, the man in green gave a slight nod and said, "First, register your name."

"All right." Fang Tian walked toward the back, where a disciple handed him a bamboo board and a pen. Fang Tian took the pen and wrote his name at the very bottom of the board: Fang Tian.

His eyes swept over the board and saw that at the very top there was a line marked "sixteen, seven," and after that was written the name Mu Qiaoqiao.

"It seems that is the prodigy girl’s name," Fang Tian thought.

After finishing, Fang Tian stood together with the other successful cultivators.

The man in the green robe glanced back once, then looked toward those who had not yet left and said, "It is late. You may go."

The spectators bowed to the man in green and departed one after another. Though they had not been selected, they had nevertheless seen enough to broaden their horizons.

The man in green turned to the crowd that had passed the test and said, "Although you have passed, do not celebrate too soon. The number of places at the Sea Isles Assembly is limited, so if you want one of those places, you must still pass a second selection. This second test concerns strength. Just as that young man said earlier, talent is not the only thing that matters; strength is important as well."

After hearing this, one person seemed to have something to say. He raised his hand and looked at the man in green. "May I ask how this senior is addressed?"

The man in green replied, "You may call me Master Uncle Fu Cang."

The man asked again, "Master Uncle Fu Cang, how exactly will this second test determine the places through strength? Will there be matches against one another?"

Fu Cang nodded. "Yes. Four of you will be chosen from among you."

"And if we fail to obtain qualification for the Sea Isles Assembly?" another person asked.

"Do not worry about that. Whether you obtain a place at the Sea Isles Assembly or not, you will all be disciples of the Azure Stream Sect from now on. If you do not wish to remain here, you may come and go as you please. No one will stop you."

After a moment, seeing that no one had further questions, Fu Cang said directly, "Since there are no more questions, follow me up the mountain. The second selection will be held tomorrow. Later, arrangements will be made for your lodgings. Rest well tonight."

The crowd nodded and followed Fu Cang up the mountain. After climbing the long stone steps, they entered the Azure Stream Sect and were led by the two disciples from earlier to a courtyard.

The courtyard was large. Apart from the side facing the entrance, there were spacious buildings on the other three sides, each two stories high.

There were fifteen successful candidates in all. The disciples who guided them into the courtyard divided them into three groups and assigned them to different buildings.

Fang Tian was placed in the southern building. When he reached it and pushed open the door, he found a main hall on the ground floor, while the living quarters were on the second floor. Glancing around, he saw many small rooms; it seemed each person would have a separate room to stay in.

The Azure Stream Sect disciple behind them told them that the rooms could be chosen freely. There were not many, but there was enough for everyone, so there was no need to worry about having nowhere to sleep. After saying this, the disciple turned and left.

Fang Tian went up the stairs to the second floor and chose a room a little farther inside. When he opened the door, he found it spotless, as if it had already been cleaned. He thought the Azure Stream Sect treated people rather well, at least not giving them a dusty, neglected place to sleep.

Just as he was about to go in, he glanced to the side and saw that the girl named Mu Qiaoqiao was standing at the door of the room next to his.

Noticing someone looking at her, Mu Qiaoqiao turned her gaze to Fang Tian and gave him a light smile.

Fang Tian nodded in return as a greeting. The girl had left a deep impression on him, after all her talent was too astonishing to ignore.

After exchanging simple greetings, they each entered their rooms and closed the doors.

Inside, Fang Tian lay on the bed and thought that if he could pass the test tomorrow, he would be able to take part in the Sea Isles Assembly.

He had not expected his true age to already be twenty-one. He had spent too long in the sword’s inner space and felt that he would need to reduce how often he entered it in the future. Although time flowed slowly there, it did not reduce the actual time Fang Tian himself consumed.

Unless it was absolutely necessary, he could no longer go in. Otherwise, before his cultivation reached a profound realm and his lifespan had increased, he would have spent far too long in the sword’s inner space. In truth, it was not worth it.

Still, for the sake of that place in the assembly, Fang Tian had traveled this far and rushed all the way here without a single moment of rest. Now that he finally had a chance to recuperate, he did not wish to waste it. So he closed his eyes, began to rest, and waited for the next day’s contest.

The night passed in sleep. At dawn the next morning, someone in the courtyard shouted, "The time has come. Please assemble in the courtyard to take part in the second test."

Opening his eyes, Fang Tian heard the announcement, got out of bed, and opened the door. The others were already up, and he descended from his room to the ground floor.

In the courtyard, all fifteen had gathered, and together with the Azure Stream Sect members they walked in one direction.

After about a quarter of an hour, they arrived at a very large training ground. The earth was paved with blue stone, the same kind Fang Tian had seen in the imperial city of Frost Spirit Island. It seemed to be where the Azure Stream Sect usually trained. By then, the area around the field was packed with sect members, and several others stood before them atop a raised platform, looking down at them.

The crowd walked onto the field and stood in the center. The surroundings were very quiet; no one was whispering. Then the person standing in the middle of the platform addressed them.

"Everyone, first of all, congratulations on passing the talent test. I think you already understand that this second round is to test your actual strength, so I hope you will show your true level.

"The rules for this second test are as follows: we begin with a drawing of lots. In the bamboo tube in my hand are slips numbered from one to fourteen, along with one blank slip without a number. Whoever draws the blank slip will advance automatically, receiving a bye into the next round. After everyone finishes the first round, the person with the bye will draw again together with the remaining seven to determine their opponent. In the end, four people will win and secure the places. Of course, other factors have also been considered. Those who lose a match will each have one chance to challenge one of the four who obtained the places, if they believe they can win. If you defeat them, you may take their place, and this will continue until no one else challenges."

After hearing this, everyone felt it was fairly just. At the very least, no one would lose their chance simply because they happened to run into a powerful opponent. In this way, each person had a good opportunity, and anyone might still secure a place.

The person in the middle of the platform remained silent for a moment, allowing the fifteen below to memorize the rules, and then said, "Do you have any questions about the match rules? If not, we will begin drawing lots."

He then handed the bamboo tube to someone beside him. That person took it and walked among the crowd, letting them draw one by one.

Everyone stared at the numbers on their bamboo slips and pondered, their eyes also sweeping over the slips in the hands of the others, eager to know who they would face.

When it was Fang Tian’s turn, he reached into the bamboo tube and drew out a slip. Looking at it, he saw it was completely blank, with no number at all. He was slightly surprised. He had not expected his luck to be this good. He would be receiving a bye in the very first round.