Qin Jieyu and Jiang Xinyi had been indifferent to the disciple recruitment ceremony, but the crowd's cries of astonishment made even them glance over.
The ringing bell meant someone had passed the first trial, yet at that very moment, there was no one outside the Heart-Chaos Bamboo Grove.
While everyone was puzzling over this, an elder exclaimed in bewilderment:
"It's not a heavenly spirit root-it's a crippled spirit root... How did that boy end up at the foot of the mountain?"
The first and second trials were both held on a mountain near the Main Peak, with the first halfway up the mountain and the second at its summit.
Everyone followed his gaze. Sure enough, no one was up on the mountain. Instead, a tall, straight figure stood at its foot, in the opposite direction.
"The first trial requires candidates to leave the bamboo grove. This boy did leave it, but in the opposite direction. Do you all think that counts as passing?" An elder spotted the loophole and stroked his chin as he spoke.
"Strictly speaking, he should have passed. But he hasn't reached the location of the second trial."
"Hiss, how strange. The formation I laid out guides them in the right direction. How did he get down the mountain?"
"Sect Master, what do you think?"
Intrigued, the elders discussed it for a while before deciding to toss the question to Wenzhenzi, who occupied the sect master's seat.
Wenzhenzi narrowed his eyes and studied Zhang Yuan at the foot of the mountain. The more he looked, the more familiar the boy seemed, until his heart gave a sudden jolt.
Isn't that the True Disciple arranged for Jiang Xinyi?
"Since he has technically passed, we'll count it as a pass," Wenzhenzi said decisively.
None of the elders objected. Qin