The moment the white-robed, grey-haired man opened his eyes was when the sun rose from the deep end and into the sky. Suspending itself there and shining its dim light, which brings relaxation upon the faces of the youths in the field, who look as if they are about to fight war.
Sake looked around and whispered to Rale. "Rale, everybody is so focused on the comprehension test." Rale nodded his head in agreement.
The white-robed grey-haired elder stood up and glanced at the focused youth, whose eyes reek of determination to have success. He grinned and said inwardly. (Every year it's like this).
He then sighed (but... It's not only determination that made you become a disciple of the sect).
(The cultivation world is ruthless. Only by moving forward can you avoid to minimize the chance of being killed).
(And only those who are talented can continue advancing!).
The elder looked towards the youth and like performing magic.
A book appeared in his hands. The youths were surprised. And it didn't end there. What the elder said next shocked them.
"This is the Sword River Association cultivation manual, which introduces cultivation and how to cultivate".
This one, in my hand, is only for the body tempering rank.
As the youth perked their ears In attention. The white-robed grey-haired man continued. "This will be your comprehension test".
The rule of the comprehension test is that the cultivation manual is to be distributed equally to all three hundred and eighty-two youths.
Everybody is to be given five hours to comprehend and cultivate with the manual.
The hundred with the best result will pass the test.
The manual was distributed to Zeron and the trio by a Sword River association disciple who smiled at Zeron and said good luck.
The white-robed and grey-haired elder brought out a long incense, which to burn completely would take five hours. As he lit the incense. He said to the youths. "Your time starts now!".
Every one of the youths' eyes focused. And with a sacred look. They opened the manual.
Zeron opened the manual and was surprised. He could understand the words written. It was the common language of this world. 'Chinese letters'. Although Zeron was not Chinese he knew how to read and write in Chinese.
"Since this manual can be understood. Then why is the letter not understandable?".
Zeron first thought that he couldn't understand the letter because he was not familiar with the world's writing. It baffled him when he could understand and read the words in the village but not the letter.
"Now it is made clear that the letter was written in another language".
"A foreign language of this world!"
"Not Sealore because all of Sealore's uses one common language".
Zeron read the body tempering rank manual, and from there, he understood the stages of body tempering and how to achieve it.
The body tempering rank begins with skin refining, muscle tempering, bone refining, blood refining, internal organs refining, pulse, and meridian's tempering, aperture, and the peak, which is Qi sensing.
Skin refining is to refine your skin to be strong, durable, and elastic. No mortal weapon can hurt your skin.
When you refine your skin. You are no longer a mortal but a cultivator. No number of mortal blades can penetrate you, and no number of martial artists can beat you.
The person would have the speed and strength of two times a god-class Martial Artist. Which would be 100m/s. And your skin will be impenetrable by the god-class martial artist. No matter the number of cuts allowed.
Zeron is now trying to follow the breathing pattern that the manual requires you to do.
The breathing pattern allows qi to refine your body and evolve it to a supernatural basis.
The origin of cultivation is from the ancient times when humans were weak and vulnerable against beasts.
Some saints who can communicate with nature came together to explore the profoundness of the human body because they had the belief that humans can not be lesser than beasts but greater.
And that belief led to the shocking realization of human potential and how to tap into the potential. And with that cultivation was born.
The body tempering rank was inspired by the monster beast of that time and how impossible it was to kill it. No matter the amount of men. The saints drew a diagram of the body tempering rank from them.
Zeron was immersed in the breathing exercises and before long.
He started feeling his skin warming up. It felt like some kind of limitation was leaving him and he could feel like flying.
but before he could continue, there was a bang sound in his head, which shocked him awake.
The other youth were also shocked awake.
They looked at each other first before looking at the white-robed grey-haired elder who was still sitting down but was now gesturing towards the youths to come forward.
The youths were still in a trance, but when they saw the table and the incense that had burned out.
They were shocked wide-eyed. "How is it possible?". Was what occurred in their mind.
Their cultivation only felt like it was a few minutes but according to the incense. They spent five hours.
The youths were still finding it unbelievable when the gesturing elder told them to come forward.
As the youths came forward. The elder continued by saying.
"The comprehension test will be on how much percentages you have refined your skin."
"Only the hundred best can pass this test".
The youth were on attention when the elder finished his sentence which threw them into worried and anticipating mode.
"Only the best hundred can pass this test and enter the sect?!".
"Passing the comprehension test eligible you to enter the sect?!"
All the youths were repeating those words aloud.
They could not mask their nervousness because entry into the sect has a quota, and not all of them would be eligible.
They kept wishing that they were among those that would pass.
(So, what was the reason for the third test? Maybe it has its important reason). Zeron thought. And that was the thought in other youth minds.
The white robed grey-haired elder stood up and said to the crowd in front of him. "Now I will point out the hundred best!".
Badum! Badum!
Every one of the youth's hearts made a loud sound.
It begins!