Over the next two days, Jiang Zhong, Zhou Bai, and the others began their competitions in earnest.
Chen Qinglin arrived at the Martial Arts Arena as if nothing had happened.
Senior Brother Xie Jingjiang also returned in time for the second round of competition.
Only now did the Iron Sword Martial Arts School show its true strength in Dingyuan County.
Only Xie Jingjiang had reached the Body Tempering Ninth Level. Jiang Zhong and Zhou Bai were at the Body Tempering Seventh Level, while Lin Yun was at the Body Tempering Eighth Level.
Compared with the towns, they were doing quite well. Among the thirteen towns, only two martial arts schools had disciples at the Body Tempering Ninth Level.
But they were still far behind Changfeng, Blood Saber, and the other martial arts schools in the county.
After the competition, they ranked ninth, about the same as in previous years.
But this year, Chen Qinglin had joined them. Taking everything into account, they ranked fourth, behind only Changhe, Blood Saber, and Baoyu.
It was the best result the Iron Sword Martial Arts School had achieved since its founding.
During those two days, Xie Feng wrote a letter and asked Chen Qinglin to deliver it to Xie Jingyun when he reached Qingfeng Mountain.
Zhong Qing also often came to see Chen Qinglin, bringing along the haughty Xin Shuming and the aloof Qi Hanwen.
In the end, they were just young boys, and none of them was the sort to commit every evil under the sun.
After meeting up a few times, they put aside the little matter of the competition and began sparring, brewing tea, and discussing martial arts together.
Their elders were happy to see them getting along. They often prepared places for them to meet and turned away visitors who came calling.
On the fourth day, Chen Qinglin went to the County Office and met up with Zhong Qing and the other two.
Steward Shen Shi took the four of them out through the city gate, then produced a strange whistle and blew it. A black speck appeared in the distant sky and gradually grew larger.
When it drew near, they saw that it was a magnificent Green Eagle, its wings spanning more than ten meters.
After ushering them onto the eagle's back, Shen Shi took out a disc and activated it, forming a shield that covered the bird's back.
The Green Eagle gave a beat of its wings and shot into the sky.
The eagle flew swiftly, yet Chen Qinglin and the other three felt nothing unusual on its back.
What a remarkable item! All four wore expressions of amazement.
"This is Qingfeng Mountain's very own Green Feather Eagle. It can fly ten thousand li in a day. We're setting off at the hour of the Dragon, and we'll reach the mountain gate by the hour of the Rooster."
Seeing how amazed they were, Shen Shi gestured to the divine eagle beneath them and explained.
"Steward Shen, what is that disc?" Xin Shuming asked. Shen Shi didn't seem so stern now, and he had relaxed enough to speak up.
Rather than answering directly, Shen Shi said, "You've already joined Qingfeng Mountain. You only need to register at the mountain gate, and then you can call me Martial Uncle or Steward."
He went on, "That disc was forged at Qingfeng Mountain's Weapon Forging Peak. It's a Human-tier Low-grade Magic Tool. When activated with True Qi, it forms a protective shield. It's nothing rare."
"..."
As far as Shen Shi knew, weapons in this world were divided into three tiers: Heaven-tier Dao Artifacts, Earth-tier Spirit Weapons, and Human-tier Magic Tools.
Each tier was further divided by power and quality into four grades: low, middle, high, and supreme.
The weapons Chen Qinglin and the others had used before were all unranked. Even an ordinary person wielding a ranked weapon could easily cleave them in two.
Along the way, Shen Shi told them about Qingfeng Mountain's strength and answered their questions.
High above, the Green Eagle soared over mountains and rivers, streaking across the sky like a green beam of light, gone in the blink of an eye.
No one knew how far they had flown. Only when the setting sun was about to sink below the horizon did the Green Feather Eagle finally descend beneath a majestic, beautiful mountain.
Beyond the mountain stretched range upon range of peaks, rolling and rising as far as the eye could see.
White cranes and Green Eagles flew among the mountains. Exquisite palace complexes were scattered throughout like stars in the heavens.
At the foot of the mountain stood a Grand City, bustling with people. Its many splendid buildings dazzled the eye.
The Green Feather Eagle landed in a vast square at the foot of the mountain, and someone immediately came forward to greet them.
Shen Shi returned the whistle and disc, then led them into the city, stopping before an old building with a sign that read Qingfeng Inn.
"Steward Shen!" The innkeeper came out to greet him.
"These are the disciples who've come to register this year. Put them up here for now. I'll come back tomorrow and take them away."
"Yes."
Turning back, he reminded the four, "Rest here for now. Tomorrow I'll take you to the square before the mountain to register."
After speaking with them, Shen Shi left the inn.
"Junior Brothers, come with me. Rooms have already been prepared for you."
"For the time being, none of the inns belonging to Qingfeng Mountain are accepting other guests. Over the next few days, more and more disciples like you will arrive."
"Thank you, Innkeeper."
"It's only right. You can come downstairs for dinner after you've rested awhile. You can also go out and see the sights in the city. Qingfeng City is quite beautiful at night."
"Junior Brothers, let me know if you need anything. I'll take my leave for now."
"Go ahead, Senior Brother. Don't worry about us."
After all they had seen that day, the boys were already mentally exhausted. The four agreed to meet for dinner, then each returned to his room to await the next day.
At dawn the next morning, before the sun had risen, the Mountain Square was already packed with disciples from the three provinces.
Words of flattery, greetings, boasts, taunts, and more mingled together.
Chen Qinglin and the others were among them, chatting.
"Silence!" A thunderous, booming voice rang out. An old man with white hair and the face of a child stood before them, dressed in a white robe. His expression was stern and commanding.
Only after the square had quieted down did the old man slowly begin to speak.
"Welcome to Qingfeng Mountain, disciples. Here, you will enter the true world of martial arts."
"Qingfeng Mountain is a Martial Dao Sect with a history of more than a thousand years. We possess numerous profound martial arts and an orderly tradition of inheritance. Now that you've come here, you'll reach higher Martial Dao Realms. I hope you will..."
"Lastly, you will..."
"..."
Chen Qinglin's scalp prickled. It was as if he had returned to his past life, gripped by the terror of being held captive by principals and leaders giving speeches.
He looked around. Everyone had the same dead-eyed expression, and some had already started fishing right where they stood.
"Now, the Sect Entrance Tournament officially begins!" That was the only sentence Chen Qinglin caught. He immediately came to his senses.
He tugged at Xin Shuming, who was still a little dazed, and got into position.
"Line up according to your province. Cangzhou disciples on the left, Yunzhou disciples in the middle, and Youzhou disciples on the right. You'll be tested in turn. Don't wander off."
"Begin the tests!"
"Ye Tian of Yunzhou Ling Commandery, sixteen years old, Body Tempering Seventh Level. Place your hand on this stone." A blue glow emerged from the stone. The testing Steward glanced at it, made a few notes, then said:
"Faint blue aura, below-average talent. Yunqing Courtyard."
"Tian Fugui of Youzhou Ling Commandery, fifteen years old, Body Tempering Seventh Level, average talent. Yunqing Courtyard."
"Lin Wangyu of Cangzhou Annan Commandery..."
"Xiao Muyu of Yunzhou Changling Commandery, fourteen years old, Body Tempering Ninth Level! Hmm?"
A crimson radiance burst from the stone and shot into the sky. "Exceptional Talent!" The testing Steward was stunned. Before the Outer Sect Steward and elders nearby could say a word, a green-robed figure swiftly descended from the sky.
"This disciple is coming with me to Green Lotus Peak. Young lady, will you accept me as your master? You can become an Inner Disciple directly." The figure was a charming and dashing man dressed in green.
"This disciple is willing!" The young girl replied at once, overjoyed.
"Good. Come with me!" He took the girl by the hand, and the two transformed into a streak of green light and flew toward the mountain, vanishing from sight.
"Where is she? Where's the one who just produced the crimson light?" Before the disciples could recover, several more figures landed. Among them, a woman in a purple dress asked the question.
"Elder Yunhua took her away," the testing Steward hurriedly replied.
"Ah! Mo Yunhua, you shameless thing! You swooped in and took her first!"
"Junior Sister Yun Ling, there are plenty more disciples coming. Why not wait and see?" said a man in a white robe behind them, a warm smile on his face.
"Hmph! ◣_◢ Don't let me run into him!"
"Continue the testing. Don't hold things up," the white-robed Elder told the testing Steward.
"Yes, Elder."
The testing continued.
"Qi Feng of Youzhou An Commandery, fifteen years old, Body Tempering Eighth Level, above-average talent. Yunqing Courtyard."
"Hua Yunqing of Cangzhou Baihua Commandery, fifteen years old, Body Tempering Ninth Level, superior talent." Another red light flared from the stone. Elder Yun Ling took her as a disciple.
By noon, it was finally the turn of Chen Qinglin and his three companions.
"Channel your Blood Qi, then place your hand on the testing stone." The testing Steward felt the bones of his hand.
"Yes."
"Chen Qinglin of Cangzhou Changyang Commandery, fourteen years old, Body Tempering Eighth Level, above-average talent. Yunqing Courtyard."
"Go over there. A disciple will take you to Yunqing Courtyard."
"Yes."
"Xin Shuming of Cangzhou Changyang Commandery, fifteen years old, Body Tempering Seventh Level, average talent. Yunqing Courtyard."
"Qi Hanwen of Cangzhou Changyang Commandery, fifteen years old, Body Tempering Seventh Level, above-average talent. Yunqing Courtyard."
"Zhong Qing of Cangzhou Changyang Commandery, sixteen years old, Body Tempering Seventh Level, below-average talent. Yunqing Courtyard."
Before you continue