Selection, Part One

"This will be your temporary lodging for the next few days. There are plenty of rooms inside, so each of you may find one and settle in. During the coming days, none of you may leave this courtyard. Meals will be delivered by designated attendants."

Stopping before a residence deep within a dense forest, the big man in purple turned to face the children. Sweeping his gaze over them, he spoke in a deep voice with an imposing expression.

Though Qin Fengming and the other children felt somewhat helpless and frightened, none of them dared make a commotion.

On the morning of the sixth day, while Qin Fengming and the other children were still asleep, waves of clamor suddenly drifted over from a distant valley. As everyone wondered what was happening, the big man in purple who had brought them here suddenly appeared in the courtyard.

"Today is the day of Luoxia Valley's once-every-three-years selection assembly for new disciples. I hope all of you will fight with all your strength and strive to be chosen. I will now take you to Green Bamboo Peak, where you will join all the other candidates in this selection."

Hearing the big man in purple's words, Qin Fengming knew that today was the crucial day that would decide whether he could enter Luoxia Valley. He was both excited and somewhat nervous.

After speaking, the big man in purple glanced over the children, said nothing further, and led them toward the bustling place.

When they arrived at a valley, several hundred people were already waiting there. Among them, more than two hundred children around Qin Fengming's age stood in the middle of the small valley.

Looking at the sturdy youths standing around them, dressed in five-colored garments and carrying swords and sabers, Qin Fengming could not help but feel envious. There was no need to ask—they were undoubtedly disciples of Luoxia Valley.

The big man in purple hurried forward and bowed to a handsome middle-aged man in yellow robes standing atop a great boulder. "Hall Master Zhang, the candidate disciples from Qijia City have arrived."

The middle-aged man in yellow lowered his head and looked at Qin Fengming and the others. He merely said, "Good," and offered nothing more.

After bowing, the big man in purple arranged Qin Fengming and the other children among the more than two hundred children.

Over the next half hour, several more groups of children arrived in the valley. After looking around, Qin Fengming discovered that there were now more than three hundred children gathered within it.

Just as Qin Fengming and the others stood in the valley with nervous expressions, a figure flashed. Elder Wang, the man holding a Feather Fan whom they had seen when entering the mountains, appeared atop a massive rock ahead.

"Brother Zhang, it is already getting late. The children participating in this selection should have all arrived. Shall we begin?"

Hall Master Zhang showed no change in expression. He lowered his head to survey the crowd, then gave a faint nod. With a flicker of his body, his tall frame floated lightly down like a tuft of cotton, landing atop an even taller boulder.

At once, exclamations of amazement rang out among Qin Fengming and the other children. Their eyes filled with longing.

Hall Master Zhang showed no expression at all. He gave a light cough and said, "I am the Hall Master of Hundred Refinements Hall. Today's selection assembly will be presided over by Hundred Refinements Hall. This selection consists of three trials. Only those who pass them all may officially become disciples of Luoxia Valley. Elder Wang will explain the details of each trial."

After sweeping his gaze over the children, Hall Master Zhang flashed away to one side.

With a wave of his Feather Fan, Elder Wang, his complexion ruddy, instantly appeared before the crowd.

"The three trials established for selecting disciples of Luoxia Valley are as follows: the first is the Agility Test; the second tests endurance; the third is the Courage Test."

Upon hearing Elder Wang's words, Qin Fengming pondered secretly. Judging by the nature of these three trials, there was nothing particularly strange about them. He had experienced such tests many times while hunting in the mountains.

Passing these three trials should not be overly difficult. Thinking this, Qin Fengming felt greatly relieved.

"The first Agility Test requires the candidate disciples to climb the eastern mountain peak with their bare hands within the allotted time." While Qin Fengming and the others were still thinking to themselves, Elder Wang spoke again.

Following the direction of Elder Wang's finger, Qin Fengming and the others turned to look at the mountain peak.

With only a glance, Qin Fengming saw the peak. Though it was merely forty to fifty zhang high, the trees and bamboo groves on it bore signs of having been deliberately cut away. Vines hung down in the places with the greatest drops. For children around ten years old, climbing such a mountain was truly no small challenge.

"The time limit is one hour. Those who reach the summit within that hour will pass. Those who fail to arrive in time will be judged unsuccessful and may not participate in the latter two selection trials. Very well, time begins now."

As Elder Wang's words fell, the more than three hundred children in the valley surged toward the small mountain peak like chickens and ducks driven from a coop.

Duan Meng, who stood with Qin Fengming, was only two years older than him, but he was more mature than the other children. Even he wore a nervous expression at this moment. "This selection concerns our fate. I hope everyone will give it their all. Let us begin." With that, he was the first to run toward the mountain.

Standing at the foot of the mountain, Qin Fengming raised his head and looked up. Finding a place where fewer people had gathered, he began climbing the slope barehanded.

Faced with such a slope that offered many handholds and footholds, Qin Fengming did not seem hurried in the slightest. At times, he grasped protruding rocks; at others, he nimbly leaped from one tree to another. Whenever he encountered vines, he grabbed them and climbed upward, appearing entirely at ease.

Though Qin Fengming found it effortless, this climb was exceedingly difficult for the other children. From time to time, children rolled down the slope, while others fell from the vines.

Though the children who fell appeared to be in extreme danger, whenever one dropped, a youth in five-colored clothing would promptly appear and catch the falling child.

Most of the children who fell were sent down the mountain, though a few still chose to continue climbing.

As time slowly passed and the children's strength waned, perilous situations continued to arise one after another.

Though the other children encountered constant danger, Qin Fengming remained entirely safe. After half an hour, he flipped over with a leap and reached the summit.

By then, several children were already on the summit, but Duan Meng and the others had yet to arrive.

After surveying the crowd, Qin Fengming noticed that these children were mostly eleven or twelve years old, and all were somewhat sturdier in build.

As more and more children reached the summit, Duan Meng and the others finally arrived one after another. Looking at this Duan and the others, aside from Duan Meng, all of them appeared exhausted.

When they saw Qin Fengming already standing on the summit, this Duan and the others all revealed startled expressions. They all remembered that when the climb had begun, Qin Fengming had been the last to set out.

By this time, quite a few children stood atop the summit. Their clothing was somewhat torn, and their faces showed even greater exhaustion.

After the time it took to drink a cup of tea, two figures flashed onto the summit. Hall Master Zhang and Elder Wang suddenly appeared.

"Very well, time is up. The children who failed to reach the summit have lost their qualifications to continue. Gather all those who did not make it here. Once the assessment is over, give them some silver and send them home together."

Facing the foot of the mountain, Elder Wang spoke sternly.

As his words fell, many youths in five-colored garments flashed out from the forest below. Their bodies flickered as they tucked the children still struggling to climb beneath their arms and raced down the mountain.