Too Low?

The onlookers erupted in an uproar at the middle-aged man's words. Some were utterly bewildered. "What? He actually met the requirements? How is that possible? That kid doesn't even seem to know his own cultivation realm—how could he possibly qualify?" Others showed looks of sudden realization. One of them said, "I get it now. This kid's Internal Qi technique realm must be far too low, making it difficult to determine whether he has truly reached the first level. That's why those two examiners kept testing him one by one. Perhaps they discussed it and decided to give him a chance after all. But if that's the case, he definitely cannot meet the standard. With such pathetic internal cultivation, his External Force cannot possibly have reached the second level." Many people nodded in agreement. This explanation better matched everyone's understanding.

Indeed, External Force and Internal Qi generally complemented one another. Normally, they were at the same realm, or one could be one minor realm higher than the other. It was rare for the two to differ by two realms. Judging by Chen Fan's appearance, his Internal Qi had only just entered the gate. In that case, his External Force could not possibly have entered the second level. As for the Soaring Technique, it was simply beyond the distant horizon for little brats like them, so they dismissed it outright.

The gazes of the crowd converged on Chen Fan once more, as though they were desperate to verify their speculation. If that was truly the case, Chen Fan would be eliminated—and would no longer be a competitor for their replacement advancement slots.

Chen Fan wore another awkward expression, scratched his head, and said, "Actually, this junior's External Force technique is extremely rudimentary. How does Senior wish to verify it?"

Everyone immediately felt relieved, followed by a burst of laughter. It seemed this kid was certainly unable to advance.

Yet the smile on the middle-aged man surnamed Li did not fade. He merely looked at Chen Fan with a somewhat strange expression. "Oh? Is that so? No matter. Once you enter Swordsong Mountain, you will certainly have to practice swordsmanship. As long as the foundation of your internal energy technique is sufficient, cultivating an ordinary external force sword art will be as natural as water flowing into a channel. Come with me. There is a sword-forging stone here. You need only unleash your full strength and strike it with a sword. We will naturally judge the extent of your technique." With that, he led Chen Fan to a huge rock nearby and handed him a sword. Then he stepped aside, seemingly watching Chen Fan with great interest as he waited for him to make his move.

Chen Fan gripped the hilt with his right hand. This sword was clearly made of much better material than his broken sword. His mind spun madly as he tried to recall some moves from the Golden Wheel Staff Art. Though the weapon did not match, he could at least barely make something work with brute force. But his mind remained utterly blank. Forget it. He would just put all his strength into one slash.

Following the circulation method from the first few sections of the Golden Wheel Scripture that he had practiced just last night, he stirred the Origin Qi throughout his body and guided it into the meridians of his right arm, then his wrist, then his palm. Finally, he gave a sharp shout. When the Origin Qi gathered in his palm, he suddenly swung the sword with all his might at the huge rock. With a clang, Chen Fan was thrown backward by the recoil due to using too much force. He fell diagonally backward, while the sword in his hand flew far away and landed on the ground.

The distant crowd burst into laughter again at the sight. "Hahaha, that guy is just chopping with brute force!" "He's practically an idiot. This is killing me!" Chen Fan looked like a clown in their eyes. Yet the middle-aged man's next words brought every laugh to an abrupt halt, replacing them with looks of stunned disbelief.

The middle-aged man surnamed Li walked to the huge rock, glanced at the sword mark on the sword-forging stone, and announced loudly, "Although his External Force technique is indeed exceedingly crude, when bolstered by internal cultivation and brute strength, it has barely reached the power of the first level. He passes the assessment." This outcome was entirely within his expectations. After all, this boy's internal cultivation was so extraordinary that he was bound to be lacking in External Force techniques. But after entering the sect and receiving proper study and training, with his comprehension, he would soon cultivate his External Force to the second level. This was also the conclusion he had drawn based on Chen Fan's Internal Qi realm.

"Junior Brother Wu, take him inside." The middle-aged man called out, and the middle-aged man surnamed Wu hurried over with a delighted look. After all, if they recruited such an extraordinary disciple, the two of them would receive a certain sect reward. Besides, he also intended to get acquainted with Chen Fan.

"Little Friend Chen—oh, no, I should call you Martial Nephew Chen now. Please come with me." The middle-aged man surnamed Wu led Chen Fan through the mountain gate. Chen Fan was not surprised by the form of address. The Martial Arts Beginner's Guide had mentioned it before: those of similar realms addressed one another as peers, while someone whose realm exceeded another's by one major level was considered an elder. Of the three major categories of techniques, a cultivator's cultivation realm was defined by whichever category had reached the highest realm. Anyone who cultivated any technique to the fourth level stood a generation above third-level cultivators, and so on. If a certain technique reached the seventh level, one would rise another generation. Within the same sect, aside from those with master-disciple relationships, everyone addressed one another as martial uncle and martial nephew. It sounded quite intimate, though whether they truly felt intimate inside was another matter.

Just as Chen Fan followed the middle-aged man surnamed Wu through the mountain gate, the crowd outside exploded. The young man who had previously explained the assessment rules to Chen Fan rushed to the front and loudly questioned the middle-aged man surnamed Li, "May I ask, Senior, what is going on? Wasn't it said that one must at least reach the second level to enter the mountain? How can you lower the assessment requirements without cause? What you have done is unfair. Are you not afraid that we will jointly report you to your sect? With Swordsong Mountain's prestige as a great sect, it surely would not permit such a thing to happen. Besides, several hundred of us are present to bear witness. Senior has openly cheated—do you look down on us, thinking we would simply turn a blind eye?"

"Enough!" the middle-aged man sharply interrupted him. "You are right. With Swordsong Mountain's reputation, we would not stoop to cheating in an entry assessment."

"Then why did Senior do that just now? That kid's External Force and Internal Qi are both at the first level. Why was he allowed to pass? Senior should give us an explanation!" His words were somewhat disrespectful now, but his indignation was too great, and he believed himself to be in the right, so his momentum did not diminish.

"An explanation? You are not qualified to demand one from me! But..." At this point, the middle-aged man suddenly revealed a faint, disdainful smile. He seemed to be in a good mood and had no desire to argue with the youth. "That boy's External Force technique is indeed only at the first level, but when did I ever say that his Internal Qi was also at the first level?" With that, he turned and walked back beside the mountain gate, saying no more.

Hearing this, the youth seemed to understand something. His mouth suddenly fell open, and for a moment he could not recover. The others stood there blankly as well, left disheveled in the wind...

Chen Fan traveled through the mountains with the middle-aged man surnamed Wu. He found himself enveloped in a faint layer of primordial energy as he leaped and climbed upward alongside the man. With every takeoff and landing, they could ascend dozens of li. This must be the Soaring Technique. What realm had he cultivated it to?

Seeing Chen Fan's curious expression, the middle-aged man said, "Oh, right, Martial Nephew Chen. I did not have time to introduce myself earlier. I am Wu Xu, a disciple of the Firmament Palace of Swordsong Mountain. That big fellow just now was Senior Brother Li Hui, a disciple of the Sword-Riding Pavilion. Besides the Firmament Palace and Sword-Riding Pavilion, our sect also has the Sword Heart Hall. These three halls all belong to the inner court. Their disciples lean toward different types of cultivation techniques, but all who can cultivate in these three halls are elite disciples. The inner court, including all elders and stewards, numbers no more than two hundred people. Everyone else is an outer disciple. Of course, outer court stewards and elders also hold a certain status within the sect."

Wu Xu and Li Hui? What kind of combination was that? Chen Fan was speechless for a moment, then asked, "I presume Martial Uncle Wu's primary cultivation is the Soaring Technique?"

"Mhm, you have a good eye. However, although we disciples of the Firmament Palace are generally quite proficient in the Soaring Technique, most of our time is still spent cultivating internal energy. Internal energy is the foundation of cultivators, and the Soaring Technique can only be performed through internal energy. Firmament Palace disciples are slightly inferior to disciples of the other two halls in their comprehension of external force techniques, but that does not mean we have no combat power. It is only relative, after all. A person's cultivation time is limited, so naturally one must focus on what one does best."

As they spoke, the two rose and fell several times, climbing another several dozen li. Chen Fan grew increasingly curious and asked, "May I ask what level Martial Uncle Wu has cultivated the Soaring Technique to?"

Wu Xu looked at Chen Fan with pride in his eyes. "I am ashamed to say that I only recently reached the peak of the fourth level. If I were not bringing you along for Mountain Ascending, I would have arrived at the main mountain gate long ago."

So this was the Mountain-Climbing Realm. Seeing it with his own eyes, it truly lived up to its reputation. Chen Fan could not help revealing a trace of envy.

Wu Xu added, "Actually, though I have gained some attainments in the Soaring Art and have long since reached the fourth level in Internal Qi, my External Force technique remains at the third level. Thus, when it comes to actual combat ability, I cannot defeat that big fellow."

He was naturally referring to Li Hui. Chen Fan thought that the two men were likely close friends who probably sparred and bickered often. He followed up, "May I ask what Martial Uncle Li's cultivation is?"

At this, Wu Xu looked somewhat annoyed. "That fellow's internal energy has only just entered the fourth level, but his primary external force sword art has already reached the peak of the fourth level. If his internal energy cultivation had a little more fire to it, his external force might have entered the fifth level as well. As for his Soaring Technique, it is not worth mentioning."

So that was it. Wu Xu's Internal Qi was clearly higher than Li Hui's, yet he was at a disadvantage in martial combat. No wonder he was dissatisfied. But there was nothing to be done about it. Everyone had different talents. Li Hui must have possessed good comprehension in External Force techniques and spent most of his time studying them to achieve this.

After several more breaths, the two had arrived at the main mountain gate halfway up the mountain. Sect powers in the mountains generally chose to build around the halfway point. First, the summit was too far removed from the outside world, making travel highly inconvenient. Second, the terrain at the mountainside was flatter, offering more area for buildings and room for more people to live there.

Chen Fan immediately felt a clear breeze brush his face, leaving him calm and unburdened. Even the Origin Qi of heaven and earth here was far purer than below the mountain. Wu Xu withdrew his technique and slowly exhaled, then smiled. "Martial Nephew Chen, we tested your age and cultivation with internal cultivation at the foot of the mountain. You fully meet the conditions for the new disciple assessment. But shortly, an inner court steward will personally review you and determine whether you are qualified to enter the inner court directly."

"Does Martial Uncle think I have a chance of entering the inner court?" Chen Fan was somewhat surprised. He had heard earlier that inner court disciples were extremely few. Did he truly possess such outstanding talent?

"Not necessarily. Your situation is indeed rather special. Come, I will take you over to have a look." With that, Wu Xu led Chen Fan further into the main mountain gate.

Past the gate was a small square. Four youths around Chen Fan's age stood in a line there. At the front of the line was an elderly man with gray hair and beard. His brows radiated heroic vigor, and he showed none of the frailty of old age. One could tell at a glance that his Internal Qi cultivation had reached a very high realm.

The old man was examining the youths one by one and asking them questions from time to time, likely confirming their techniques, backgrounds, and origins. These youths should also have been new disciples who had passed the assessment earlier. Before long, it was Chen Fan's turn. He stepped forward, while Wu Xu remained by his side.

When they reached the old man, Wu Xu cupped his hands in salute. "Soaring Heavens Palace disciple Wu Xu greets Steward Liu. Li Hui and I were responsible for today's new disciple assessments at the foot of the mountain. The two of us..."

Before he could finish, the old man waved a hand and interrupted him. "Enough. Since you personally brought him up here, this boy must possess rather exceptional talent." As he spoke, he extended two fingers and pressed them to Chen Fan's forehead, closing his eyes to sense him.

Chen Fan did not resist. He knew the old man was examining his cultivation, though his methods were clearly more sophisticated than those of Wu Xu and Li Hui. After a long while, the old man suddenly opened his eyes and looked toward Wu Xu. "Not bad. You two have found a good seedling this time."

Wu Xu's face filled with delight. Yet the old man asked again, "How is this boy's External Force technique?" Since Wu Xu had brought Chen Fan here personally, he must have fully understood the situation, so the old man asked Wu Xu directly.

"Reporting to Steward Liu, although this boy's Internal Qi has reached the peak of the second level, he is basically a layman when it comes to External Force. He has only barely entered the first level." Wu Xu was extremely respectful, though he also looked slightly embarrassed.

What!? Chen Fan felt as though he had been struck by a bolt from the blue. The peak of the second level? There had to be some mistake. Along the way, Wu Xu had mentioned that among the many young inner court disciples, anyone under twenty who could reach the second level in internal cultivation was already considered outstanding. Did that mean his talent was truly that exceptional?

Yet the old man frowned slightly upon hearing this. Though the three major categories of techniques complemented one another and generally did not differ by more than two levels, Internal Qi cultivation was the prerequisite. In other words, it was possible for someone to cultivate only an Internal Qi technique. Even without cultivating any External Force or Soaring Technique, as long as their technique's grade and comprehension were sufficient, they could cultivate Internal Qi alone to the ninth level without practicing anything else. But having high cultivation in only one internal technique was also an extremely bizarre existence.

At this moment, the old man was somewhat concerned about Chen Fan's comprehension in the other two categories of techniques. If his Internal Qi realm was high to the exclusion of everything else, the sect would not place too much importance on nurturing him. After all, once such a person encountered battle, he could neither win nor escape. He was, in truth, quite as useless as chicken ribs.

Wu Xu appeared somewhat anxious. After a stretch of silence, the old man said, "How about this? Let him first enter the outer court to study."