Chapter Seventeen: The Great Discipleship Trial

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As the bright moon accompanied the bustling crowd of examinees through the first barrier of Mount Shu, they ascended the stone steps for about half an hour and arrived before a towering mountain peak. The guiding disciples of Mount Shu signaled everyone to wait here. Suddenly, in the void, four disciples—Feng Qingcheng and three others—appeared, casting intricate hand seals together to dissolve the barrier. The group then passed into the second barrier. Only upon reaching the third barrier did the crowd behold a vast suspended platform.

The platform was immense, capable of accommodating tens of thousands. Near its base stood rows of houses. A majestic waterfall cascaded from the peaks behind the platform, splitting into numerous streams in the mountains, descending like white mist until plunging into the deep pool below. The scenery was breathtaking, resembling a river of stars fallen from the heavens. Everyone marveled, realizing just how beautiful Mount Shu truly was.

Mingyue noticed Feng Qingcheng, Hua Qiandu, Qiao Chuya, and Mei Ren sitting aside as chief examiners, overseeing the test. Feng Qingcheng saw Mingyue and nodded in greeting.

A disciple from Mount Shu stepped forward to explain that this was not the central sect of Mount Shu but a testing center used only during recruitment, located deep within one of the sect’s mountains.

Only those who passed all three tests would qualify to enter the central sect of Mount Shu for a five-year cultivation study. Anyone failing any one test would be gradually eliminated and sent out of the sect through the first barrier that very day.

This selection exam would last a full seven days; it was clear that the Mount Shu recruitment trial was extraordinarily rigorous.

An examiner stepped before the crowd and loudly announced: “Everyone will now participate in the first test—Individual Potential Assessment. There are 1,688 candidates. Though each has an immortal vein for cultivation, not all are suited to it. Those who fail need not be disheartened; perhaps a prosperous life among common folk suits you better. Now, candidates, please line up to my left in ten rows for the first round. When your turn comes, exert your maximum power to strike the test stone before you. Each candidate strikes three times; the highest score will be recorded.”

He pointed to a partitioned area on the left, marked by colorful flags. “Those eliminated should stand there, separated by the flags, to await escort out of Mount Shu.”

He then indicated a flower-decorated area on the right. “Those who pass the first round should stand here, awaiting the second test.”

Disciples at each test stone raised their right hands, signaling everyone to queue orderly for their turn. Two disciples at each stone recorded the scores. The examiner also announced rules forbidding cheating, disturbances, or fighting, with violators disqualified immediately.

Within the space of a tea break, the candidates lined up on the left side of the square. Mount Shu disciples swiftly distributed spirit tokens to each person for recording their scores, instructing them to input their place of origin and name.

“I’m not very literate. How do you read these two characters?” a tall boy in front of Mingyue held up his spirit token and asked, turning back. Upon seeing Mingyue’s face, he blushed deeply and froze.

“Place of origin means where you’re from; the other is for your name,” Mingyue smiled kindly and patiently explained.

The boy, Niu Zhuangzhuang, reddened fully and said, “Thank you so much. My name is Niu Zhuangzhuang. And you?”

Mingyue smiled, “Mingyue.”

A girl behind Mingyue spoke softly, “I’m Nangong Yurou. Nice to meet you all.” Mingyue looked back to see a beautiful girl with a melon-seed-shaped face.

Behind her, a sturdy, plump girl spoke with great spirit, “I’m Dou Ruhua. Pleased to meet you.” Niu Zhuangzhuang recognized Dou Ruhua as the one who had bled heavily at the tavern, his face showing embarrassment.

Turning his head, he noticed a strikingly beautiful girl standing nearby in elegant robes—Princess Nalan Meidai, whom he had seen before at the tavern. Beside her stood a pale, slender girl—Jiang Yiyi, the eldest daughter of the Jiang family.

Niu Zhuangzhuang’s face flushed as he quickly bowed his head.

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The beautiful girl Nangong Yurou whispered, “There are so many candidates this time. I wonder how many will be admitted in the end.”

Mingyue frowned as well, “Yes, let’s just do our best.”

Jiang Yiyi rolled her eyes and loudly said, “Why are you all making such a fuss? So annoying!”

Nangong Yurou retorted with an eye roll, “Didn’t you say anything?”

Everyone noticed the two exceptionally striking girls among the crowd—the elegant and proud Nalan Meidai and the gentle, lovely Mingyue. Many young men couldn't help but secretly gaze at them. Some whispered and pointed at the stout Dou Ruhua, chattering noisily.

“Quiet down, please! The test is about to begin; prepare yourselves,” a staff member shouted with inner power, silencing the vast square instantly. The silence was so profound one could hear a pin drop.

The first test officially began, and everyone grew tense, watching the first candidate.

“Zhang San, score: 2 points. Eliminated.” Zhang San handed over his spirit token and dejectedly moved to the flagged-off area.

“Wang Shiliu, score: 4 points. Eliminated.” Wang Shiliu was a tall, sturdy youth; upon hearing his failure, he paled, rolled his eyes, and fainted, immediately carried away.

“Mu Xiaotian, score: 7 points. Passed,” said the examiner. Mu Xiaotian, standing in front of Niu Zhuangzhuang, nodded slightly and was led to the flower-decorated area for those who passed, which was much smaller than the eliminated side.

When it was Niu Zhuangzhuang’s turn, he stood before the test stone, inhaled, exhaled, gathered his inner strength, and struck out three fierce palm blows.

“Niu Zhuangzhuang, score: 5 points. Passed.”

“I passed! I finally passed!” he shouted joyfully, running to join the group of those who passed.

Soon came voices tinged with envy and resentment:

“Why show off? This is just the first round,” someone jeered.

“I’m so close, just one point short,” someone sighed sadly.

“Such a foolish look, idiot,” another sneered disdainfully.

Mingyue approached the test stone—a tall, black stone about the height of a person, with faint red light flowing within.

She closed her eyes, inhaled deeply, and struck in one fluid motion.

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“Mingyue, score: 6 points. Test passed,” the recorder said, glancing twice at the youthful, beautiful girl.

Mingyue’s heart leapt with joy as she was led to the flower area to await the second test.

To her delight, Nangong Yurou and Dou Ruhua also passed the first test, both scoring 6 points.

However, out of the several hundred candidates in their line, only five passed. Nearby, another line of several hundred had no one pass at all. Mingyue noticed that the proud and beautiful Nalan Meidai also passed, scoring a high 7 points. The pale, slender Jiang Yiyi passed with 6 points.

As the sun set, the first potential test concluded. Of the 1,688 who took it, only a little over 400 passed. Those who passed were settled in nearby houses to rest. Here, meals and lodging were provided uniformly to prepare for the next day’s second test.

That evening, after dinner, Mingyue learned much about the backgrounds of many candidates.

“Princess Nalan, long time no see. I am Feng Linchuan, prince of the Fengluan Empire. We met three years ago,” a flamboyant young man claimed, approaching to make connections.

Nalan Meidai merely raised an eyelid and gave a brief greeting, her expression remaining haughty and cold.

Jiang Yiyi glanced at Feng Linchuan, smiling teasingly: “Feng Linchuan, if I’m not mistaken, you should be the eldest son of Feng Yuchen, the sixth prince of Fengluan. You’re a royal grandson, not a prince. Don’t confuse the generations. Long time no see. You’re also here for the Mount Shu trial?”

Exposed, Feng Linchuan glanced at Nalan Meidai. Seeing her indifferent face, he turned red with embarrassment.

Mingyue naturally joined Nangong Yurou, Dou Ruhua, and Niu Zhuangzhuang in conversation, learning that Dou Ruhua and Niu Zhuangzhuang, like herself, were independent cultivators—candidates without any family backing.

Nangong Yurou came from a small kingdom in the northwest and was a princess. Another strikingly heroic-looking girl joined their chat. She was Mo Yao, eldest daughter of the prestigious Mo family.

After some conversation, Mount Shu disciples returned to announce the content and rules of the next day’s test.

The second test was a Combat Power Assessment, designed to measure one’s accumulated cultivation and inner strength. Only those with a solid foundation in cultivation and inner power stood a chance of passing.

Most candidates were elites carefully groomed by imperial families or major clans, while scattered cultivators like Mingyue were rare.

After the disciples left, everyone retired early to rest and prepare for the second test the following day.