Chapter 91
(Unedited)
…
Everyone is looking at the young woman walking on the stage towards the testing platform. She then extended her hands and then tries to remember how she felt back then when Fu Chou was holding her wrist and then touching her back.
However, upon recalling that scene, a blush appears on her face.
Zhao Fen felt a bit nervous at this time and she also feels a bit shy upon remembering the touch on her back. Although Fu Chou is not the most handsome young man in the sect, in fact, he could be called ugly due to that long scar on his face; she still could not help but feel warm inside her heart.
He helped her get the determination and courage that she needed. Though she is not sure about things as she did not know how she should be feeling when reaching the 1st stage of Qi practice, yet she could already feel her body becoming stronger than before.
When she first started in the sect, she was a very shy girl and would always be with her brother. Her brother was a big guy, but he is a late bloomer when it comes to Qi practice. The both of them have been in the sect for a month when his brother fought someone in the 1st stage. He was able to defeat that guy even though the odds are against him.
And this gained him a reputation in the sect. He then joined the blacksmith group and from there was taught by Master Ji to practice Qi. The next month's testing, Zhao Bojing was able to pass the test and became a level 1 Qi practitioner.
However, Zhao Fen was different. She is having a hard time forming Qi in her body as she could not imagine how or even feel the Qi in the air.
She felt a bit hopeless as she knew that she would not be able to be like her brother. Then 3 months have already passed and now she is in this state once again.
She is unable to feel the Qi or rather, she is too nervous to feel anything.
And so, it has already been a minute since she put her palm on the testing platform but still, she is unable to exert her Qi.
"Get her out of there!"
"She is still a failure! Kick her out of the sect!"
"This is unfair, why would she still be in the sect even after failing the test 3 times already. Kick her out!"
The people below the stage are shouting as they look at the young woman who is already trembling in fear and shame.
She looks at the people behind her and tears could already be seen falling from her eyes. She could not concentrate and her heart is filled with fear, anxiety, uncertainty, and doubt. It's no wonder that she could not do anything. Her mind was too distracted.
While in her state, her eyes roam in the crowd trying to look for support. She saw her brother already looking helplessly at her and his head slowly droops down. She could not help but feel ashamed as she knew that she has failed her brother's expectation of her.
As she tries to shift her gaze, she saw a familiar face in the crowd which showed a slight smile on his scarred face. That was the first time that she noticed that even though the scar looks ugly, she felt that he is the most handsome man in the world. His simple smile gave her some comfort and hope in this desperate moment of her life.
Her heart was ignited in passion and wanted to try again.
However, at this time, one of the Outer Sect personnel suddenly walks forward and held her hand.
"That is enough… No matter what you do, you are still trash. Nothing but a lowly… trash." He said with a sneer on his face.
Upon hearing this, the heart of Zhao Fen was immediately downcast. Her previous desire and passion were doused with cold water of truth. She knew in her heart that what he said was true and she could only accept this fact in her heart.
As the man wanted to drag her down to the lower class of the Outer Sect to become one of the servants, a person suddenly grabs his hand and stopped the man.
"What are you doing?!" the guy shouted and the people under the stage are all looking at this scene with interest.
One of the Elder of the Outer Sect then shouted.
"Who are you to get on the stage?! Get down from there!"
…
I look at the elder and the young man I have my hand on and said.
"I am the next candidate!"
The crowd was silent. In the sect, everyone has heard of the name Fu Chou but it seems that they have not seen my face yet. So those who did not know me began to murmur in the crowd and even the elders on the stage are discussing.
"Man, I did not know that Fu Chou is that ugly. He is the genius alchemist, right?"
"What a domineering, scar… if you told me that he is a good fighter or a blacksmith, I would agree with you… But an alchemist… damn…"
"I thought Fu Chou was very handsome because he makes good pills… My dreams have just been dashed."
"Well, who told you to dream of someone without seeing them, Hihi…"
The people below the stage began to discuss me. But I ignore those words and look at the young man.
"Let go of her first…"
My stern words made the young man seem to shudder as he immediately lets go of Zhao Fen's hand.
"Come here… Relax… take a deep breath and remember what I told you… The cycle…" I said in a low voice.
When Zhao Fen heard this she suddenly calms down. She was a bit reluctant but still walks to the platform. Upon doing so, one of the elders showed a frown and then stood up from his seat.
"This is useless, take her away!" he shouted in anger.
But before everyone's eyes, the rostrum suddenly ignited, and the light-filled the screen. In front of everyone's eyes, the screen showed two lights, blue and white.
Everyone in the crowd gasped in shocked as they did not expect that the young woman they all considered as trash was able to show two elemental roots, is wind and water.
"This… how could this be? This is impossible!" shouted the young man who has his eyes on Zhao Fen.
"She… she has two elemental affinities? This… how could this happen?"
"Although two elemental affinities are good, that is still hard to practice… Her progression would be slower, if she improves both, right?"
The people below began to discuss.
"Impatient… and you call yourself an elder…" a stern voice said from the elder's platform.
That man was the bearded Master Ji. He is now looking at Zhao Fen and me with a big smile on his face.
"Amazing, truly amazing… Good job!" Master Ji said while clapping his hand.
In fact, Zhao Fen was the fifth dual-element Qi practitioner in the sect. And according to the result of those dual practitioner practices… their strength is always below single element practitioners. But as time goes by, their strength became more pronounced and they could combine elements that could devastate their opponents. That's why even though it is hard to practice, dual-element practitioners are revered in the sect.
Different reactions have caused the whole Outer Sect to become rowdy.
…
In the platform among the group of Outer Sect elders, some Inner Sect members are among the group. Two female Qi practitioners are looking at Zhao Fen with beautiful smiles on their faces.
"She is not that bad… She has a potential, a late bloomer, but has potential."
"I'm more interested with that scar-faced guy…" the taller and more beautiful female Inner Sect disciple said.
"Oh, why is that?"
"Hihi… He did something back there and I felt it. It's like he knows how to stimulate Qi in one's body… Hihi…"
"What? Are you certain of this?"
"I'm not sure, yet… But this would be our secret."
"Haha… I agree with that. If he can really do that, then we should invite him to be with our group."
"Hmm… I hope that he would come. I truly like that guy… Hihi…"
The two discussed in a hushed tone.
Meanwhile, the rest of the disciples are already looking at the next screen and saw that the scar-faced Fu Chou has passed and his element is earth.
After that fiasco, the rest of the disciples return to their quarters and Zhao Fen followed behind her brother who walks proudly beside his sister. He knew that he was disappointed a while ago and was a bit down because he did not trust her.
He now looks at Fu Chou in a great light as he was the one who supported his sister on that stage.
He showed him a grateful look as he bowed upon passing by.
"Thank you…" he said.
"Thank you, big brother, Chou…"
Fu Chou showed a grateful smile on the two and left the crowd. Behind him followed two figures, Old Chang and Fa Wenling…