Finally, the day of the Sect Entrance Exam had arrived. The streets of the Orchid Mountain City were bustling with people. Today, was likely the most profitable day for the merchants, shopkeepers and street vendors.
Thousands of people were making their way towards the City Square to either be a spectator or a participant for the Trials.
Great Yu Dynasty's Righteous Sect Alliance conducted the Sect Entrance Exam once every five years. The minimum criteria for appearing in the exam was 13 years old and have a cultivation base of peak-stage Body Tempering Realm, whereas the maximum limit was 18 years old and have a peak-stage Blood Qi Realm strength.
Di Tianming being a Peak-stage Blood Qi Realm cultivator at the age of 17 could be considered talented. Even the most talented genius in the entire Xin Province, Huo Jian, was only a Peak-stage Blood Warrior at the age of 16.
After passing the bare minimum requirements, the participants have to pass the Strength Monument Test, which determines if the individual's cultivation was genuine or was forcefully raised by pills and secret techniques.
Next, they would have their Elemental Attribute Trial, where the participants elemental affinity would be determined. After that would be the ranking tournament that would decide which sect the participant could go to.
Di Tianming was currently eating his breakfast and looking indifferently outside the window of his room. He could see the lively atmosphere, it was like a festival.
Quickly finishing his food, he checked on Xiao Hu. This little cub had asleep for a week now. At first, he was worried that something might have happened to this little guy but sensing his constant increase in cultivation, he was relieved.
He set off for the City Square too.
While on his way towards the venue of the Sect Trials, he attracted countless gazes. Of course, with his azure hairs, a cold and handsome face, how could he not. The women, be it young or adult, married or not, had their eyes burning with passion fixated on him. The men seeing this were extremely jealous but could blame no one and grit their teeth in silence.
However, he didn't care and quickly reached his destination.
_City Centre, Orchid Mountain City_
The city centre was divided into two areas - The Spectator Area and the Participant Area.
After inquiring around, Di Tianming quickly made his way towards the Participant Area. Upon entering the place, he saw ten or camps set up and youths lining in front of them and quickly joined the one with least people.
However, what he didn't know was that this line was especially for the children of Aristocratic and Noble families.
"Look! It's Huo Jian, Feng Lin'ger and Duan Ming. They have arrived.", someone among the participants shouted.
Hearing it, literally everyone's head turned to look at the entrance gate of the area. They all looked at the group of six people.
In the lead was a 16 years old young man and a young lady of the same age. Both of them looked like a heavenly couple. Behind them was a burly young man, he was nearly 6'5 feet and had red hair and eyes.
Walking behind them were two boys and a girl. They seemed around 13 years old and had delicate and innocent features.
"Kyaa! Huo Jina's so handsome!"
"Oh! My goddess, marry me!"
"Hey! Don't look into Duan Ming's eyes else you will get pregnant."
"What!? Who taught you that looking into someone's eyes could make babies? Come, let this grandpa teach you."
Words of myriad emotions were being emitted from the surrounding. However, the six people chose to ignore it all and walked past the Strength Testing Trial section.
Di Tianming, too, was looking out of curiosity.
When he looked at Huo Jian, he got a threatening feeling which was fleeting. However, he chose to take a not of him and be cautious.
"Pretentious.", he thought while observing Feng Ling'er. Due to Evil-eyes Azure Tiger Bloodline, he could feel that this woman was looking down on everyone and thought of herself as some higher existence that couldn't be tainted.
Looking at Duan Ming, Di Tianming felt that this fellow was a madman. Thus, should be avoided to stay away from trouble.
But when he looked at the rest of them, he found a familiar face. Among the two boys, one of them was Young Master Huo who he had encountered in the wilderness forest of Xi'An town.
He raised an eyebrow seeing that the brat's cultivation had risen to early-stage Blood Qi Realm: "Hmm. To have gone from peak-stage body Tempering to early-stage Blood Warrior Realm. Either he was on verge of breaking through or just that talented. Then, that must be Miss Feng he was talking about."
However, despite knowing their names now, he had no information about about them. So, he decided to inquire from the person standing in front of him.
...
Li Yan was lecherously gawking at Feng Ling'er and was lost in his own dreams. He was a young master of the Li Clan, a Second Rate force in the Orchid Mountain City and would spend his days in houses with red doors.
However, was talented enough to not be criticized for it. Now that the Sect Trials were being held, he was obligated to participate and enter a sect to cultivate further.
But he didn't want to. So, his father beat the shit out of him and forced him to come here.
While he was busy staring at Feng Ling'er's departing figure, he felt a pat on his shoulder, followed by a cold voice, "This Daoist brother, do you know who they are?"
Hearing this question, Li Yan turned his head in shock, wanting to look at the fascinating idiot he had stumbled upon. He was about to sneer but stopped when he saw the person who had just asked him a question.
"Fuck! This guy is way too handsome. And his cultivation ...I can't tell? That means he is stronger than me. Fortunately, I didn't say anything."
"Ah! Brother, you are?", he asked cautiously.
Di Tianming thought for a moment before replying, "I am Ying Xuan. You?"
"So, it's Brother Ying. Nice to meet you, I am Li Yan...", Li Yan paused for a bit: "As for your earlier question. How can you not know them!?" He suddenly asked in surprise.
"Well, I come from a remote town and am unaware of most of the things here.", Di Tianming said indifferently.
"Wait a minute. You're from a remote place? Then, why are you standing here?", Li Yan asked in confusion. He couldn't believe what Di Tianming had just spoken.
"Well, it was the shortest line.", 'Ying Xuan' replied casually.
"Ah", Li Yan nodded in agreement. This was indeed the shortest line. "Just when you think that people can't be more ignorant."
He said coolly, "Well, don't worry. I will tell you. You saw the young man walking in front right, he was Huo Jian, the most talented genius of the Xin Province and is rumored to have killed a First-stage Spirit Body Realm cultivator."
He paused for 'Ying Xuan' to absorb this information. "Killed a first-stage Spirit Body Realm cultivator?", he asked, raising an eyebrow while thinking, "Just how strong must one be to accomplish such feat?"
After what Zhang Mei had made him experience, literally nothing surprises him anymore. He was like a cold blooded murderer to whom the world was a dark place. However, this information was simply too ridiculous to believe.
Li Yan chuckled lightly before his expression turned serious, "Haha. I know you won't believe me. Even I don't believe in that rumor but the fact that he has such rumors around him shows just how talented and powerful he is."
'Ying Xuan' nodded in agreement.
Soon, the line got shorter and finally it was their turn for the Strength Monument Trial.
Inside the camp, a middle-aged man was sitting, he wore a white robe with the embroidery of cloud and trees.
The Sky Forest Sect.
Di Tianming thought when he looked at the robe as memories of this sect flooded his head.
Ranked Sixth among the the top ten, the Sky Forest Sect had a Ninth-stage Spirit Soul Realm powerhouse as their Sect Master. They specialized in Wood and Wind element techniques and had countless Spirit Body and Spirit Mind Realm disciples along with several Spirit Soul Realm Elders.
In short, they were a force to reckon with.
He couldn't sense middle-aged man's aura which meant that he was stronger than him. At least, first-stage Spirit Body Realm. Beside him was a semi-transparent, crystal like boulder which was at least two meters in height.
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