Too Low?

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

Indeed, External Force and Internal Qi generally complemented each other. Being at the same realm, or having one category higher by a minor realm, was normal. Very few people had a gap of two realms between the two. Looking at Chen Fan, his Internal Qi had only just entered the gate. In that case, his External Force could not possibly have entered the second level either. As for the Soaring Art, it was simply as distant as the moon in the sky to little brats like them, so they directly ignored it.

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

Chen Fan wore an embarrassed expression again. Scratching his head, he said, "To be honest, this junior's External Force technique is exceedingly crude. How does Senior wish to verify it?"

The crowd immediately felt relieved, then burst into laughter. It seemed this kid certainly would not advance.

Yet the smile on the middle-aged man surnamed Li did not fade. He merely looked at Chen Fan with a slightly strange expression. "Oh? Is that so? No matter. Since you wish to enter Swordcry Mountain, you will certainly need to practice the sword in the future. As long as your Internal Qi foundation is sufficient, cultivating an ordinary External Force sword technique will be as natural as water flowing into a channel. Come with me. There is a sword-testing stone here. You need only unleash your full power and strike it with a sword. We will naturally judge the level of your technique." With that, he led Chen Fan to a huge rock at the side and handed him a sword. Then he stepped aside, seemingly watching Chen Fan with great interest as he waited for him to act.

Chen Fan gripped the hilt with his right hand. This sword was clearly made of far better material than his broken sword. His mind raced wildly as he tried to recall some moves from the Golden Wheel Staff Technique. Although the weapon did not match, he could at least muddle through somehow. Yet his mind remained 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 cultivated the previous night, he directed the Origin Qi throughout his body and sent it into the meridians of his right arm, then his wrist, then his palm. Finally, he suddenly let out a sharp shout. The moment Origin Qi gathered in his palm, he fiercely swung his sword at the huge rock. With a clang, Chen Fan used too much force and was sent flying backward by the recoil. He fell diagonally behind himself, while the sword in his hand flew far away and landed on the ground.

The distant onlookers burst into laughter again at the sight. "Hahaha, this guy is completely relying on brute strength to chop at it!" "He is simply an idiot. This is killing me!" In their eyes, Chen Fan was no different from a clown. Yet the middle-aged man's next words abruptly cut off all their laughter and turned their expressions into utter shock.

The middle-aged man surnamed Li walked to the huge rock, glanced at the sword mark on the sword-testing stone, and announced loudly, "Although the External Force technique is indeed far too crude, when bolstered by internal cultivation and brute force, it has barely reached the power of the first level. You pass the assessment." This result 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 once he entered and received proper instruction and training, with his comprehension, he would quickly 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, obtaining such an extraordinary disciple would earn the two of them a certain sect reward, and he also intended to get to know Chen Fan better.

"Little Friend Chen—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. It had been mentioned in that Beginner's Guide to Martial Cultivation. Those at similar realms generally addressed one another as peers, while one whose realm exceeded another's by a major realm was an elder. Of the three major categories of techniques, a cultivator's cultivation realm was defined by whichever category had reached the highest realm. Once any one technique reached the fourth level, one stood a generation above those at the third level, and so on. If a certain technique reached the seventh level, one stood another generation higher. Within the same sect, apart from those with a master-disciple relationship, everyone addressed one another as martial uncle and martial nephew. It sounded quite intimate, though whether they truly felt intimate was another matter.

Just as Chen Fan followed the middle-aged man surnamed Wu through the mountain gate, the onlookers outside had already exploded into turmoil. 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 what this means, Senior? Was it not stated that one needed at least the second level to enter the mountain? How can you lower the assessment requirements for no reason? Such conduct is unfair. Are you not afraid that we will jointly report you to your sect? With Swordcry Mountain's great sect prestige, it surely would not permit such things to happen. Moreover, several hundred of us are present and can all testify. Senior is openly cheating—do you look down on us so much that you think we will turn a blind eye?"

"Enough!" the middle-aged man sharply interrupted him. "You are right. With Swordcry Mountain's prestige, we would not deign to cheat in an entrance 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 had better give us an explanation!" His words were somewhat disrespectful now, but he was too indignant and believed himself to be in the right, so his momentum did not diminish.

"An explanation? You are not qualified to demand one from me! However..." At this point, the middle-aged man suddenly revealed a trace of a contemptuous smile. He seemed to be in a good mood and did not wish to quibble with this youth. "It is true that the boy's External Force technique is 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 to the side of the mountain gate without another word.

Hearing this, the young man seemed to understand something. His mouth suddenly fell open, and for a moment he could not recover his senses. The rest of the crowd also stood there dumbfounded, left disheveled in the wind...

Chen Fan proceeded through the mountain with the middle-aged man surnamed Wu. He saw himself enveloped in a faint layer of Origin Qi as he leaped and climbed upward alongside the man. With every takeoff and landing, they could rise dozens of li. This should be the Soaring Art. What realm had he cultivated it to?

Seeing Chen Fan's curious expression, the middle-aged man said, "By the way, Martial Nephew Chen, I did not have time to introduce myself earlier. I am Wu Xu, a disciple of Soaring Heavens Palace of Swordcry Mountain. That big fellow just now was Li Hui, Senior Brother Li, a disciple of our Sword-Imperial Pavilion. Apart from Soaring Heavens Palace and Sword-Imperial Pavilion, our sect also has Swordheart Hall. These three halls all belong to the inner court. The techniques their disciples cultivate lean in different directions, but anyone who can enter one of these three halls is an elite disciple. The total number of inner court members, including elders and stewards, does not exceed two hundred. Everyone else is an outer sect disciple. Of course, outer sect 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 Art?"

"Mm, you have a good eye. However, although we disciples of Soaring Heavens Palace are all rather proficient in the Soaring Art, most of our time is still spent cultivating Internal Qi. Internal Qi is a cultivator's foundation, and Soaring can only be performed with Internal Qi. Soaring Heavens Palace disciples have slightly inferior comprehension of External Force techniques compared to the disciples of the other two halls, but that does not mean we have no combat strength. It is only relative, after all. A person's cultivation time is limited, so naturally one must focus on what one is better at."

As they spoke, the two rose and fell several more times, climbing dozens more li upward. Chen Fan grew even more curious and asked, "May I ask what level Martial Uncle Wu has cultivated his Soaring Art to?"

Wu Xu looked at Chen Fan with pride in his eyes. "I am unworthy of such praise, but I have only recently cultivated it to the peak of the fourth level. If I were not bringing you up the mountain with me, I would have reached the main mountain gate long ago."

So this was the Mountain Ascending Realm. Having seen it with his own eyes, it truly lived up to its reputation. Chen Fan could not help revealing a hint of envy.

Wu Xu continued, "Actually, although I have achieved a little in the Soaring Art and my Internal Qi reached the fourth level long ago, my External Force technique is still at the third level. Therefore, in terms of actual combat ability, I cannot defeat that big fellow."

He was naturally speaking of Li Hui. Chen Fan thought the two were probably quite close and must often bicker and spar with each other. He followed up, "May I ask what Martial Uncle Li's cultivation is?"

At this, Wu Xu looked somewhat indignant. "That fellow's Internal Qi has only just entered the fourth level, but his primary External Force sword technique has already reached the peak of the fourth level. If his Internal Qi cultivation were a little more mature, his External Force might already have entered the fifth level. As for his Soaring Art, it is not worth mentioning."

So that was it. Wu Xu's Internal Qi was clearly higher than Li Hui's, yet he still lost out in actual martial combat. No wonder he was unwilling to accept it. But there was nothing to be done about it. Everyone had different talents. Li Hui must have had excellent comprehension in External Force techniques and spent most of his time studying External Force, which was why he had achieved this much.

A few breaths later, the two had reached the main mountain gate halfway up the mountain. Large sects in the mountains generally chose to build at the mountainside. First, the peak was too far removed from the outside world, making travel greatly inconvenient. Second, the terrain at the mountainside was flatter, providing more area for construction and accommodating more people.

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

"Martial Uncle believes 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. Could it be that his talent was truly that good?

"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 into the main mountain gate.

After entering, they came to a small plaza. Four youths about Chen Fan's age were lined up there, while at the front of the line stood an elderly man with gray hair and beard. Heroic spirit pressed forth between his brows, 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, origins, and the like. These youths should also have been newly accepted disciples who had passed the assessment earlier. Before long, it was Chen Fan's turn. He stepped forward, with Wu Xu accompanying him at his side.

When they reached the old man, Wu Xu cupped his hands in salute. "Wu Xu, disciple of Soaring Heavens Palace, greets Steward Liu. Li Hui and I were responsible for today's new disciple assessment 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, this child must possess exceptional talent." As he spoke, he extended two fingers and pressed them against 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 refined than those of Wu Xu and Li Hui. After a long while, the old man suddenly opened his eyes and looked at Wu Xu. "Not bad. You two have found a good seedling this time."

Wu Xu's face immediately filled with delight. Yet the old man spoke again. "How is this child's External Force technique?" Since Wu Xu had brought Chen Fan here himself, he must already fully understand the situation, so he directly asked Wu Xu.

"Reporting to Steward Liu, although this child's Internal Qi has already cultivated to the peak of the second level, his External Force is basically that of a complete outsider. He has only barely entered the first level." Wu Xu was extremely respectful, though he also looked somewhat embarrassed.

What!? Chen Fan felt as though a bolt from a clear sky had struck him. The peak of the second level? There had to be some mistake. During the journey, 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. With this talent of his, could he truly be some sort of genius?

Yet the old man only frowned slightly upon hearing this. Although the three major categories of techniques complemented one another and their levels generally did not differ by more than two, that was based on Internal Qi cultivation being the foundation. In other words, it was possible for someone to cultivate only Internal Qi. 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 training anything else. But having high internal cultivation alone was also an extremely peculiar existence.

At this moment, the old man was somewhat worried about Chen Fan's comprehension in the other two categories of techniques. If his Internal Qi realm was merely high, the sect would not place much importance on nurturing him. After all, once such a person encountered battle, he could neither fight nor flee. He was truly as tasteless as chicken ribs.

Wu Xu appeared somewhat anxious. After a stretch of silence, the old man finally said, "In that case, enter the outer sect and study first."