As the sinister clouds above spiralled an oppressive aura soon fell over the crowd as the noise and commotion quickly went silent.
The eerie atmosphere multiplied exponentially as silence filled the area. . .
A rhythmic thumping could be heard as a wisened elder walked with his cane onto the raised platform above them as he stared downwards.
He was dressed in a thick black robe and red feathers could be seen around his shoulders and the cuffs of his sleeves.
His face was gaunt and his sharp, hawk-like eyes were sunken and turbid, he peered down his straight and narrow nose while his blackened lips carried a slight smirk, as he seemed quite contemptuous of the crowd he saw before him.
He banged his cane on the floor as he gathered everyone's undivided attention, his eyes carried slight hints of expectation as he glanced over six specific individuals who stood out amongst the crowd.
Xiao LingYue also looked up towards the old man as even he shivered slightly when that aura passed over him, inwardly hoping his cover wouldn't be blown.
As it lingered over him for a moment, it continued as it swept over everyone else.
A female examinee to his left leaned over as he saw the quizzical look on LingYue's face, "That old man is called Elder Jiang Bolin, though he looks like that I heard he's an elder of the Disciplinary Hall."
Xiao LingYue looked at the young woman as he smiled slightly and nodded at her in thanks for clearing up his confusion before leaving amongst the crowd.
'Damn, he looked quite good and his innate Yang qi was quite strong too. Now I need to look for a replacement Yang furnace when I enter the sect.' the girl thought as she bit the nail on her thumb, looking as innocent as a fairy gracing the mortal world with her presence.
Elder Jiang continued as he began his explanation of the sect's entrance examination.
" The sect had decided that our examination this time shall be comprised of a series of challenges from the new examinees to the current outer sect disciples.
The bottom 50 outer sect disciples can be challenged and those who are successful shall become the new members of the sect.
Since we do not need the weak, anyone who steps onto the arena shall be expected to kill their opponent, any attempt at mercy will be an affront to the sect and both of you shall forfeit your lives." Elder Jiang stated as his aura flared and his face turned stern as he looked towards the martial arena. . .
"Let the challenges BEGIN!"
The elder slowly walked to the back of the raised platform as he sat on a black throne while two deacons in red stood to the left and right of him.
Once Elder Jiang was seated, a youth flew into the martial arena and quickly bowed towards the direction of Elder Jiang.
"Elder, my name is Hu Shenwei and would like to challenge the 80th-ranked outer sect disciple."
Elder Jiang smiled and nodded as he sat on his throne, glad that the newbloods were quite courageous.
The youth then turned to the disciples in the audience as he said, " Rank 80, come down to die."
The 80th-ranked disciple stood up, his black hair tussled in the wind as he gracefully floated down into the arena.
The youth stood rooted on the arena like a pine tree as he held his sword drawn, its long red blade about three fingers wide and a meter long shimmered as a gleam of light passed over it.
As he shook his wrist, the blade whipped up a gust of wind as his aura surged, his red robes dancing as he readied himself.
Elder Jiang looked below as he smiled contentedly as he gazed upon this outer disciple.
"Battle will firm, no unnecessary movements. This one is a good seed to cultivate. " He spoke to himself.
"Begin!"
Hu Shenwei retrieved a long black stick from his embroidered pouch as he readied his stance, his aura building.
He was Hu Shenwei, the illegitimate son of the Desolate Deer Town's, Town Lord.
Born to a concubine, he had always wanted to prove himself to his father, so he left home to join the entrance test of the Blood Gate Cult.
He aimed for this to be his starting point, his first step on his journey to immortality.
The lowdown origin he could in the future look back upon kindly as he laughed about it with friends.
He would. . . . . .
His eyes widened as he saw the 80th-ranked disciple walking towards the exit of the stage as he diligently wiped the red blade clean.
His hands held a black embroidered cloth as he wiped the blade of his long sword as tenderly as he would a woman.
The rear view of a body at the ready in a stance very similar to his stood off to the side, headless as it stumbled forward.
The black stick raised high while still in hand as blood began to spray.
The world seemed to come to a stop as his eyes captured his surroundings; the disgust on the face of his opponent as he cleaned his sword, the schadenfreude on the faces of the examinees, the cheering of the Outer disciples in the crowd as well as the disappointment on the faces of the elders and deacons.
It was then that he had realized, as he thought to himself. . .
'I...Is...Is that me?"
*BANG!*
His head git the floor with a resounding thump as his blood splattered across the arena; the overpowering smell of iron soon filled the air as Hu Shenwei's headless corpse stumbled forward to its knees before landing flat on the arena floor.
Blood pooled as the audience roared in excitement, the morale of the Outer Sect disciples at an all-time high as the first challenger was decapitated before he could even blink.
"His lack of attention got him killed. . .How foolish," Elder Jiang stated.
"80th-ranked Gong Zimo has won and shall be allotted 10 minutes of rest, " Elder Jiang continued.
Gong Zimo bowed towards the elder before departing the arena as smoothly as he entered.
Leaving many of these new examinees flustered and lacking confidence. . .