"Ok everyone our group is going in next. Remember your strategies. Sarah I will guard you the first half after that you will be on your own. Do not disappoint me guys. This is our chance. " I say trying to calm my team down.
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As we move forward the trual kep getting harder. Kurt had taken two bad hits before he could dven summon the golem form. Kuruk and isebal were doing the best as with their skill and body durability the few hits they had received barely did anything. Tania hasn't been hit at all yet which surprised everybody but unfortunately her body was beginning to feel the strain from the increased gravity. I looked like sh*t. I was covered in blood and ruck fragments, I was being hit constantly. The worst hit was on my knee, I used it to block a rock aimed at my groin. normally I can dodge rocks at this speed buy I had to protect Sarah. Speaking of Sarah the gravity barely touched her, apparently a side effect of you body that the formations didn't effect. Nizhoni was beautiful, her broadsword always moved just the right amount to block the rocks. She used the force of her swings to help you move her body as well, thereby dodging many more rocks.
I was reminded not to get distracted by her when a rock hit the side of my neck, making my vision fade for a second before I regained control. Focusing on the task at hand we continue to move forward.
It takes us an hour to reach the 100 yard mark which is the safest spot, no more rocks but the ghost fire hasn't appears yet. there was still the gravity though, weighing on everyone and making it hard to recover any strength before moving on. We were not allowed to use pills or we would be disqualified.
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We waited for an hour trying to regain some of our energy. After our rest I tell my team, " Ok we have 3 hours left to go through this test. everyone needs to go at there own pace. I will try to rush to the 299th yard and wait for you there. We shall temper our souls and will there until only 5 minutes are left. After that we will leave and rest, we will only have a single day to rest as we were in the last group to take this test."
As I was about to continue a few other disciples started jeering at me, "You think you can rush though and use this place as your personal training hall? Everybody has to give their all to pass. Not to mention you barely made it this far from how bloody you are, you look like a cow that left it's skin at home. You probably won't make it five yards before failing out.
Surprisingly it was Nizhoni who stood up in my defense before I could speak, "Foolish pr*cks, he is only so bloody because he guarded one of our ten though the first half. And look at her, she has no scar blood or even a winkle in her clothes because of his sacrifice. " As she berated them for me I felt a warmth in my heart for her, but I quickly push it down as she obviously doesn't care about me that way as she has already made clear to me before.
One man sneered before saying, "Only a fool would protect someone here. Especially harming themselves to protect someone too weak to pass the test on their own."
Nizhoni was about to retort again, so I put my hand on her arm causing her to flinch away. "I am sorry for startling you. Do not respond to them , we will prove them to be idiots with our actions, not our words . " I said, quickly pulling my hand back like it had been shocked.
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When the ghost fire began to refine my soul a red flecks started to come out. Looking closely I realize that it is vital qi. Wondering how this is possible as I had only heard of the body absorbing vital qi i could only come to the conclusion it was the fault of my Nine Immortals Rebirth technique . My soul began to turn red from its original white color. Noticing no other changes I decided to just continue moving forward.
Each time a new flame was added more vital qi came out and merged with my soul. By now my blood was a dark blood red and gave off a very heavy feeling. I noticed the pain but it was still less than the pain of tribulation lightning from my past life but the refining was hundreds of times better. After reaching the 299th yard i sat down to meditate.
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Outside you could watch the participants inside the formation and make guesses of what was going on, "What is that brat thinking? Who the hell would use ghost fire to temper their soul? I already told him it was the most painful, brutal, and inefficient way possible to refine the soul. Is he a madman?" the man who had sold Jason the information mumbled to himself with a new light in his eye.
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25 minutes passed before Nizhoni came and date beside me with a grimace on her face. After what she had been though it was obvious she had a very strong will. Being able to pass the test in 30 minutes was just the proof of that.
It was nearly 2 hours after the start when the other members of my group reached us at roughly the same time. standing up I told them, "Sit here and meditate, I am going to the side to practice my body forging art with the dragon blood for the next hour after that we will leave the test together."
Saving that I move to the side and start my exercises drinking the impure dragon blood I got at the auction months back. The bone itself has been ground up with the pigeon bone before being forged into my glaive.
Moving though the movements I quickly surpass the second stage and start rushing to the third. All the parts of my body that had been hit started spraying out a dark black slime as my body healed. The black slime was my impurities and smelled horrible. Unfortunately my body forging art was slowing down to fast, I needed to motivate it. Yelling to my group, "Kurt make metal hammers for Nizhoni and Isabel to beat me, Tania beat me with your "Vine Whip" spell. Kuruk just hit me with your staff. "
Everyone hesitated for a moment be fore Nizhoni said, " Cone on guys he deserves it. Think of it as payback for the beatings he gives us during practice. " I guess she is still angry I touched her arm, oh well this way she can vent and everything will be ok. Besides I will get stronger from this, I just wish they wouldn't enjoy it so much.
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Moments later you could here some very weird cursing. " Ahhh, dammit that hurt you bastards. "Hit me Harder you bunch of pansies. GODDAMMIT WHY ARE YOU HITTING SO HARD! STOP HOLDING BACK ALREADY I AM TRYING TO TRAIN YOU WEAKLINGS. " That last one set them off and the next moment I was in a world of painunable to speak as the tried to beat me to death.
After 20 minutes I was able to rrach stage three of the Dragon's Forged Body Art . Calling out weakly I tell them that it's good. Everyone stop but Nizhoni who hit me with the hammer two more times before Kurt made it disappear. instead of getting mad though I was sad when I saw the tears on her cheeks. After a short time I stand up and go meditate witheverone else until only a few minutes are left, as we are leaving I see one of the guys who was insulting us was is still only halfway though the second half of the test. Flashing a smile at him i walk out.
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Looking around outside I see many people staring at me strangly. One guy starts to come closer to me. it take me a while to recognize him. It was Robert the guy who I owed the 2 mana stones to.
"I don't have to pay till the end of the exam." I quickly stated thinking he was here for his money.
"I am not here for that. I only came to make money during the first test as that test changes every year so people can make money doing this while the school doesn't care. I actually belong to the Awakened Treasure Palace of this kingdom. " Pausing here he looks at me.
" While that is impressive I don't know why it concerns me" I reply making my confusion apparent.
"Obviously you have talent and an unbelievable will. (you are probably insane) I want to ofder you a deal. I shall provide a few resources and when you reach core disciple status you apply to join my Palace instead of the War Palace." He explained.
" First why sid you mumble that you think im insane, second what do you mean apply to join after becoming a core disciple?" I asked, still confused.
"Heheheh well I have this device that let me see that you called you team to beat you bloody and while you beat them you kept insulting them, as for the second part its more complicated. Let us just put it like this; all core disciples from the top 5 schools of every dukedom and higher is eligible to apply to join either the War Palace or the Awakened Treasure Palace. If you can continue to advance you will be able to go to higher branch guilds and possibly even the main guild. " He explained.
I was beet red hearing he saw how i was beaten. Coughing I focused on his offer. "How many resources are you willing to give?" I ask.
Hearing me he smiles. " That depends on you. I will give you resources equal to ten times what you receive for passing the faction leader test. " he states.
After thinking about it for a little time I nod and tell him he has a future recruit.