Passing the Assessment, Rising to the Top

As a major power, the Four Seas Merchant Guild dealt in all manner of things. Countless martial artists came and went every day.

Some bought treasures, some sold what they had acquired, and others took on jobs for pay.

When Lin Chen entered the guild, the Starshatter Sword was strapped to his back. His Profound Martial Realm aura flowed naturally from him, carrying a faint edge of sharpness.

A young attendant quickly approached with a smile. "How may I help you, honored guest?"

"My name is Lin Chen. I come from a remote region and have long admired the Four Seas Merchant Guild. I've come today in the hope of joining."

Lin Chen's answer was entirely sincere.

The attendant paused, surprised that he wanted to join them, then smiled.

"Young master, the Four Seas Merchant Guild will indeed be holding an assessment to recruit promising talent soon, but the Tower-Climbing Trial won't take place for another ten days or so. Perhaps you could return and wait a while..."

Before the attendant could finish, an elderly voice came from behind the counter. "Hold on."

Lin Chen looked toward the voice.

Behind the counter, an old man in a plain white robe slowly sat up from a reclining chair, as though their conversation had only just woken him.

He scratched his tousled hair and walked around the counter toward Lin Chen. His steps looked casual, yet made no sound.

When he drew close, the old man's seemingly clouded eyes swept over Lin Chen, leaving him with the feeling that he had been seen through.

The Earth Martial Realm!

Lin Chen's heart tightened.

Sure enough, an Earth Martial Realm expert was stationed at the Four Seas Merchant Guild.

"Elder Su." The attendant hurriedly bowed.

The old man waved the attendant away, then looked at Lin Chen with a glint of appreciation in his eyes.

"A sword cultivator around thirty years old. Reaching the first level of the Profound Martial Realm is impressive enough, and comprehending Sword Intent is more impressive still. You say you've come to join the Four Seas Merchant Guild?"

"That's right."

Lin Chen answered without hesitation.

"Good. Come with me, then."

A faint smile touched Elder Su's lips as he turned toward the guild's inner hall.

"With your talent, there's no need to wait for the Tower-Climbing Trial. When it comes to genuine geniuses, the Four Seas Merchant Guild has never stood on ceremony."

Lin Chen followed Elder Su through a carved corridor and soon arrived at a quiet courtyard.

At its center stood a white jade platform half as tall as a man. Its surface was smooth as a mirror, and a soft luster played across the warm jade in the light.

Beside it stood an ancient-looking blue-green stele covered in intricate patterns. Ten crystal-clear jade lamps lined its top, their wicks dark.

"To assess a true genius, the Four Seas Merchant Guild requires only two tests." Elder Su pointed to the jade platform.

"The first measures your bone age and martial potential. Just place your hand on the platform."

Lin Chen stepped forward as instructed and pressed his right hand steadily against it.

Soft white light spread across the surface, flowing like water. Fine patterns appeared beneath his palm and extended outward.

Lin Chen felt nothing, but the platform's glow intensified, then formed two lines of text suspended in the air:

[Bone age: thirty years, five months]

[Martial foundation: solid and flawless; no signs of cultivation shortcuts]

Elder Su nodded slightly at the words and explained.

"Some martial artists reach high realms while still young, but only by taking shortcuts. They'll never amount to much, and the Four Seas Merchant Guild won't accept them."

"But you broke through to the Profound Martial Realm at thirty, and your foundation is firm. You must have trained hard. Very good."

After that word of praise, Elder Su turned his gaze to the blue-green stele.

"Your result on the jade platform already qualifies you to join the Four Seas Merchant Guild. But this second test will determine whether your martial potential ranks you as a second-class or first-class genius."

"This is the Martial Dao Stele. It has ten lamps. Attack it with everything you have, using your strongest move. If you light seven lamps, you'll be admitted to the guild and ranked as a first-class genius."

Lin Chen gave a slight nod. He fixed his eyes on the stele and drew his sword.

With the Starshatter Sword in his hand, the Sword Intent in his sea of consciousness stirred and resonated with the blade.

The air in the courtyard seemed to freeze.

A falling leaf hung motionless in midair as an invisible sharpness slowly spread outward from Lin Chen.

At his side, surprise flashed through Elder Su's eyes. This young man understood the sword even better than he had expected.

He seemed to have reached the point where the blade moved as naturally as his own arm.

The boy really does have some talent for the Sword Dao.

Elder Su nodded to himself, unaware that this was merely the effect of Lin Chen's Life-Bound Divine Artifact.

"Hah!"

After gathering his strength for some time, Lin Chen gave a low shout and stepped forward. The Starshatter Sword became a streak of silver light that thrust straight at the stele.

There were no flashy variations to the strike, only speed and sharpness taken to the extreme. Lightning flickered, and the sword tip tore through the air with a piercing shriek.

Clang!

The sword struck the stele with a thunderous crash. Patterns across the blue-green stone lit up at once, the light racing upward from its base.

The first jade lamp lit.

The second jade lamp lit!

Then the third, the fourth, and on through the sixth.

At the sixth, the light's ascent slowed noticeably, but it kept climbing.

At last, under Elder Su's gaze, the seventh jade lamp flickered a few times before slowly glowing purple.

Then the light stopped completely. The eighth jade lamp did not stir and remained dark.

The courtyard fell silent.

Lin Chen withdrew his sword and stood still, somewhat surprised.

Seven lamps signified the potential of a first-class genius, so that result itself did not surprise him.

But he was a sword cultivator, and swordsmen were unmatched in offensive power among those of the same realm. Even so, he had only just managed to light seven lamps?

Elder Su caught every change in his expression and stroked his beard with a smile. "What's this? Think seven is too few?"

Lin Chen answered frankly.

"I did think that a sword cultivator's offensive advantage, combined with Sword Intent, would yield a better result."

"Hahaha..." Elder Su laughed. "Boy, do you know where this blue-green stele came from?"

Without waiting for Lin Chen to answer, Elder Su went on.

"One thousand four hundred years ago, a Heavenly Martial Realm ancestor of the Four Seas Merchant Guild crafted this stele himself. It doesn't measure raw destructive power, but the height of one's potential compared with others in the same realm."

"Lighting seven lamps is beyond what most martial artists could achieve in a lifetime. You have your comprehension of Sword Intent in the Spirit Martial Realm to thank for it."

"As for the eighth..."

Elder Su shook his head. "Only someone with heaven-defying talent could manage that. In the entire history of the Four Seas Merchant Guild, just three people have done it."

Lin Chen understood.

The Martial Dao Stele was strict indeed.

Who could light all ten lamps? Would it take a legendary Martial Immortal?

Elder Su then took a Purple-Gold Token from inside his robe.

Lin Chen accepted it solemnly.

"Under guild rules, a first-class genius may choose to train at the Yunlan City branch or go to the blessed land of Spirit Mist Mountain."

"I suggest Spirit Mist Mountain," Elder Su continued. "Not only is its spiritual energy abundant, but Earth Martial Realm sword cultivators also give regular lectures there. They'll be of great help as you deepen your understanding of Sword Intent."

"Thank you for your guidance, Elder Su." Lin Chen cupped his hands.

Elder Su nodded and continued.

"I can see you haven't switched to a new cultivation method. Before you go to Spirit Mist Mountain, you may choose one cultivation manual and two martial arts manuals to study and practice."

"You may also bring a maidservant to attend to your daily needs and handle miscellaneous matters at Spirit Mist Mountain. That way, you can devote all your energy to cultivation."

"If you don't have a maidservant, the Four Seas Merchant Guild will recommend a few. You can simply choose one..."