Gathering

The middle-aged man and the old man were half-convinced, half-doubtful, but unwilling to ask further. After pointing Chen Fan in the right direction, they bade him farewell and left. Chen Fan continued onward, slightly reinforcing his steps with Internal Qi, and his pace visibly quickened. Before long, he arrived at the foot of the mountain where Swordcry Mountain's sect was located.

Several hundred people had already gathered there, all wearing anxious expressions. Beneath Swordcry Mountain's distant gate stood two middle-aged men. Judging by their attire and the swords at their sides, they were likely sent by Swordcry Mountain to guard the gate, and were also presumably the examiners for this intake of new disciples. Most among the hundreds were young men around twenty years old, though a small number appeared to be about Chen Fan's age. When they saw Chen Fan striding over briskly, their expressions tightened slightly.

One of them walked straight up to Chen Fan and said coldly, "Brother, you're here to take the entrance examination as well, aren't you? Do you know that Swordcry Mountain is only accepting one hundred disciples this time, and none may be over eighteen? Both the quota and age requirement differ from previous years." Chen Fan immediately understood. "It seems all of you have exceeded the age limit. Then why are you still gathered here instead of leaving?"

The young man continued, "Even so, according to the old rules, if the ten-day recruitment period ends and the quota still has not been filled, the requirements may be relaxed. Those who remain may be selected for entry based on superior aptitude. It can be considered an opportunity for those who persevere and are devoted to Swordcry Mountain."

So that was it. No wonder every one of them showed him a trace of hostility when they saw him. They were afraid he would take another entrance quota. Chen Fan nodded slightly. "So you are lingering here in hopes that the recruitment quota will not be filled, allowing you to enter as replacements. Are you truly that confident?"

At this, the young man revealed a hint of pride. "Brother, you may not know this. Although this recruitment has half as many places as in previous years, and the age limit has been reduced from under twenty to under eighteen, the requirements for martial cultivation have also risen considerably. Thus, even those who meet the age requirement find it difficult to pass the examination. Today is already the ninth day of recruitment, yet only a little over sixty people have passed the assessment and entered the sect."

No wonder some younger people had been turned away at the gate. Those around twenty were likely quite confident in their martial cultivation, believing they could meet the entrance requirements. After all, a few extra years of training were not for nothing. Yet meeting both the cultivation and age requirements at once truly demanded far greater aptitude and talent. Swordcry Mountain had likely reduced the quota because it had anticipated that the number of people capable of meeting the requirements would plummet, while also fearing that too many replacements would make the selection meaningless. Chen Fan understood this clearly now. He asked, "Then do you know the specific requirements for this assessment?"

The young man smiled faintly again. "Besides being under eighteen, one must cultivate at least two of the three types of techniques—Internal Qi, External Force, or Soaring—and at least one of them must reach the second realm. Of course, if all three types have reached the first realm, that also counts as passing." Clearly, he did not believe Chen Fan met this standard at all, and there was more than a trace of contempt in his tone.

Chen Fan was first taken aback, then immediately began calculating in his heart. I have no idea what realm my cultivation has reached. I only know my internal cultivation should have reached the first realm, but whether it has reached the second is hard to say. Since losing my memory, I have not tried cultivating the later sections of the Golden Wheel Scripture. As for the External Force technique, the Golden Wheel Staff Technique, forget the fact that I have lost my memory and have no idea how to use it. Even if I had not lost my memory, I would not dare use it rashly and expose my identity. Besides, Swordcry Mountain will surely use swordsmanship in its disciple assessment. Where would I find a staff to use?

In truth, for ordinary martial artists, reaching the first realm of External Force was not difficult. The lowest-grade sword techniques, saber techniques, spear techniques, and staff techniques circulated widely throughout the market. Of course, without internal cultivation to support them, they were at most flowery fists and embroidered legs, and could never be cultivated to the second realm. Internal Qi techniques, however, were even more difficult for ordinary young wanderers of the martial world to obtain. Even when they encountered a lucky opportunity, what they received was usually only a fragment. Being able to cultivate enough to enter the path and draw the Origin Qi of heaven and earth into their bodies was already rare; reaching the second realm was simply impossible. But Chen Fan, an amnesiac youth, knew nothing of such matters. At this moment, he was only worrying over his External Force technique.

Seeing the difficult expression on Chen Fan's face, the young man's smile widened. "Well? Surprised? Was it unexpected? In truth, even after the ten-day period ends tomorrow, your chances of entering as a replacement will be very slim. To be honest, twenty or thirty people here are disciples of major Aristocratic Clans near the Swordcry Mountains. Their Lineages possess inherited Internal Qi and External Force techniques. If the assessment requirements had not suddenly changed this time, what business would you have here?"

At that moment, more than a dozen youths of similar age gathered nearby. They had clearly overheard Chen Fan's conversation. Each of them looked over with faint mockery. Judging from his previous ignorance and his current troubled expression, they concluded that he was merely some country-born boy. At most, he knew a few crude External Force moves. Perhaps he had reached the first realm of External Force, but he likely did not even know what Internal Qi or Soaring were.

Little did they know that the issue troubling Chen Fan at that moment was precisely his External Force technique. They would never have imagined that both the Internal Qi technique he cultivated and the External Force technique he had casually destroyed were comparable to the treasures that their Lineages had passed down and guarded for countless generations.

Chen Fan finally raised his head, ignored their stares, and walked toward the mountain gate. He still decided to give it a try. He no longer knew where he should go. If he could enter the sect and cultivate in peace, improve his cultivation, and extend his lifespan, what was wrong with that? Was not the ultimate goal of all cultivators to transcend the ordinary and cast off the mundane, with boundless battle prowess? Looking at the immediate future, improving his strength would also grant him some means of self-preservation, while the sect's protection would make him safer. After all, who knew whether those black-clothed men might find him one day? More importantly, if he could cultivate within Swordcry Mountain, he could peacefully study that Poisoncraft Manual bit by bit. Given enough time, he might achieve something with it. The thought stirred Chen Fan's excitement, though he did not know whether he could pass the assessment. He could only cross the river by feeling for stones.

Soon, he arrived before the two sword-bearing middle-aged men beneath the mountain gate. Before he could speak, one of them—a tall man with swordlike brows and bright eyes—said coldly, "Do you know the requirements for our sect's entrance assessment this time?"

Chen Fan gave a slight bow. "This junior, Chen Fan, greets you, Senior. I am already aware of the assessment requirements." Seeing Chen Fan's humble attitude and hearing him claim that he knew the requirements, the middle-aged man assumed Chen Fan believed his cultivation had reached the required realm. At such an age, anyone who met the standard must possess extraordinary talent. This time, the sect had raised the assessment standards for recruiting new disciples because it was preparing for certain major events in the near future. The prospects of this year's entrants within the sect would be immeasurable, and some among them were certain to hold extraordinary positions in the sect one day.

Therefore, he did not wish to seem overly cold and make the youth resentful, much less deliberately make things difficult for him and create enmity. In truth, these youths who met the assessment requirements all possessed immense potential, whereas he and his companion had already reached cultivation bottlenecks and were advanced in years. Further progress would be exceedingly difficult. Thus, using this assessment to befriend a few "rising stocks" could only bring benefits.

The middle-aged man's expression softened considerably. He nodded and said, "No need for such ceremony. Then please tell me, young friend, which types of techniques have you cultivated, and what realm has each reached?"

Chen Fan was instantly at a loss for words, unsure how to answer. Seeing his expression, anger rose in the middle-aged man's heart. "What? Could it be that you have not met the assessment requirements, and were deceiving us earlier?" As soon as those words were spoken, many of the hundreds gathered nearby—those who loved a spectacle—moved toward the mountain gate to watch the excitement. Among them was the young man who had spoken with Chen Fan earlier.

"Ha! He actually dared deceive the examiner. Let's see what he does now!" "He'll definitely be thrown down the mountain!" "That boy looks like he has never seen the world. He must have crawled out of some mountain ravine. He does not even know what martial cultivation is, yet he dared come here for the examination. Should we call him ignorant, or innocent?" "Sigh, that boy is in for bad luck."

Amid the crowd's discussion, Chen Fan finally spoke. "Senior, to be honest, this junior lived from childhood with my Household elders in an extremely isolated mountain. However, one of my elders was fortunate enough to obtain a fragment of an Internal Qi technique by chance. Though I have cultivated it diligently until now, I do not know exactly what level I have reached."

"Ha ha, so it really is like that. This is killing me. He came here without even knowing his own measure." "This works too? He deceived the examiner and still found such an excuse. This is simply unbelievable!"

Another wave of laughter rose from the crowd, and some could not help shaking their heads speechlessly.

The middle-aged man's expression darkened further, and his tone grew increasingly impatient. "What you say is not impossible, but do not think such words can fool us. We naturally have ways to verify your cultivation. If we find that you are completely worthless, you will certainly be severely punished for this offense of deception."

Before Chen Fan could explain, the middle-aged man suddenly appeared before him as though he had moved instantly. One outstretched hand seized Chen Fan's left wrist. Chen Fan immediately felt a stream of Origin Qi enter his body, but aside from nervousness, he felt no discomfort. The middle-aged man's palm clasped Chen Fan's wrist tightly, his expression icy as he watched him. Clearly, he was using his own Internal Qi to probe Chen Fan's level of Internal Qi cultivation.

In the few breaths during which the middle-aged man released Origin Qi into Chen Fan's body to inspect him, the expression between his brows changed twice. First came astonishment, then surprise. His grip on Chen Fan's hand visibly loosened, yet he did not release him. Once more, he drew upon his own True Essence and sent it into Chen Fan's body.

The onlookers were equally puzzled. "Why is he repeatedly inspecting that boy? Could it be that there is no Origin Qi in his body at all, and he has never cultivated internal arts?" Most people thought so.

Yet a small number of more experienced youths, whose internal cultivation had reached the second realm or above, fell into thought. With the middle-aged examiner's cultivation, probing a novice like this should take only one or two breaths. Yet he had now inspected him repeatedly. There was something strange about this. That boy must be unusual. Everyone had their own thoughts, but all stared at Chen Fan and the middle-aged man with curiosity.

Suddenly, the middle-aged man released Chen Fan. After giving him another strange look, he turned to the other examiner behind him, a plain-faced, somewhat short and stout middle-aged man. "Junior Brother Wu, come take a look as well."

"Oh? Does this boy have some abnormality? With Senior Brother Li's cultivation, could you not inspect him clearly?" As he spoke, the middle-aged man addressed as Junior Brother Wu walked over unhurriedly.

"It is not the sort of abnormality you are thinking of. Your Internal Qi cultivation is slightly superior to mine. Take a look first, then speak." Senior Brother Li said.

"Very well." After speaking, the middle-aged man surnamed Wu also grabbed Chen Fan's left hand and inspected him in the same manner. This inspection did not take as long. After only two or three breaths, he too revealed a look of astonishment and turned to the middle-aged man surnamed Li. The latter met his gaze with a deeply meaningful expression. Then, the two actually retreated some distance and began speaking in low voices.

"Senior Brother Li, if I did not sense wrongly, this boy should be at the second realm, and looks to be on the verge of entering the third. That cannot be right, can it? How old is he?" The middle-aged man surnamed Wu wore an expression of utter disbelief. When the two of them had been his age, even with the Lineage's focused cultivation, they had only barely reached the peak of the first realm.

Anyone whose Internal Qi cultivation had reached a certain level knew that the gap between reaching the peak of the first realm and reaching the peak of the second realm could not be bridged merely by investing twice the effort and time. The difficulty of cultivating the first and second realms was as different as heaven and earth. What was more, this youth had seemingly already touched the threshold of the third realm. It was simply too shocking.

"I did not dare believe it at first either, which is why I asked Junior Brother Wu to test him as well. Now, it seems there can be no doubt. I also specifically examined the origin of his technique. He has merely cultivated some low-grade technique, nothing special. Clearly, he has achieved this only because his talent and comprehension are exceptionally high."

The middle-aged man surnamed Li clearly held no interest in the origin of Chen Fan's technique. Swordcry Mountain itself contained many low-grade techniques, and even possessed a fair number of mid-grade techniques.

The two whispered a few more words. Then the middle-aged man surnamed Li returned to Chen Fan, his attitude clearly much kinder, a smile appearing on his face. "Young Friend Chen, you have met the Internal Qi assessment requirement. May I ask whether you have also cultivated an External Force technique?"

He did not mention Soaring, because Chen Fan had clearly come from a remote mountain village. Obtaining even one Internal Qi technique was already a tremendous stroke of fortune, and he must have studied tirelessly to reach his current realm. Having spare time to cultivate some External Force techniques would already have been quite good. How could he possibly have had time to cultivate a Soaring technique? Moreover, low-level cultivators had no Soaring techniques available to learn, and their Internal Qi realm was not yet sufficient for them to create Soaring techniques themselves. Furthermore, they were highly impractical, far less easy to learn than External Force techniques.