Having broken through to Late Stage Qi Refining, Jiang Yang's magic power had grown to more than twice its former strength.
At Late Stage Qi Refining, a cultivator's magic power was already sufficient to summon a magic wind and fly short distances for a time.
Jiang Yang still preferred flying by sword, however. Transforming into sword light gave him tremendous speed, but also consumed far more magic power, making it unsuitable for routine use.
After all, a lake lay between him and the Ancestral Court. Jiang Yang reckoned that flying across in one go would nearly drain his magic power, and arriving in poor condition would do him no good.
His sword light descended, and Jiang Yang appeared in Cold Creek Valley, drifting gracefully down from the air.
Despite his advancement, he still had to dutifully take a boat.
Cold Creek Valley was livelier than ever. Jiang Yang had taken the boat twice before, but neither time had he seen so many people along the shore.
The moment he landed, the faint din of voices reached him.
The first boat filled almost in the blink of an eye. Those who arrived too late could only wait patiently for the next one.
Jiang Yang had no intention of squeezing his way forward, so he stayed where he was and waited.
Around him, disciples gathered in twos and threes to chat. Jiang Yang appeared to be standing idly, but in fact he had pricked up his ears to listen.
Some discussed the favorites in this Court Examination, others worried over what the examination would involve, while still others cracked jokes and bantered.
"I wonder what the True Persons of the Ancestral Court will choose to test this time?"
"Who can foresee the profound thoughts of a True Person? I only hope it