Feng Qingyang watched Liu Yichen as Liu Zixuan's voice suddenly rang out, carrying a hint of coldness: "Agility test!" A faint, almost imperceptible sneer curled at the corner of his lips as he thought to himself, "Liu Yichen, even if your strength is impressive, what can you do in an agility test? I'll make sure you suffer!"
The agility test was set up at a cliffside in the back mountains of the Gathering Stars Sect.
The one hundred and ten candidates who had passed the strength test were brought here. As they took in the scene before them, many couldn't help but gasp.
On either side of the cliff stood towering peaks, connected only by thin, hair-like steel cables. When the mountain breeze blew, the cables swayed slightly, emitting a low, ominous hum. The sound seemed like a mournful wail, as if the cables were on the verge of snapping at any moment.
Below the cliff was a bottomless abyss, shrouded in swirling mist. A single glance into its dark, unfathomable depths was enough to send shivers down one's spine.
The candidates were divided into eleven groups of eleven, each taking turns to undergo the test.
The air was thick with tension. Each person's heartbeat thundered like a drum, so loud it seemed as though it might burst through their chests.
Liu Yichen was placed in the eleventh group, eleventh in line.
As he approached the steel cable, his brow furrowed slightly.
He noticed that the cable he was to walk on was much thinner than the others, barely the width of a pinky finger, and it swayed more violently in the wind.
"Liu Yichen, this was specially prepared for you," Liu Zixuan's voice rang in his ears, laced with mockery. "I hope you can pass without trouble." Liu Yichen looked up at Liu Zixuan, his gaze steady and fearless.
He took a deep breath, feeling the cold air rush into his nostrils. The Xuanling energy in his dantian began to circulate, and a surge of confidence welled up within him.
"Lingbo Micosteps!" Liu Yichen silently recited the technique, lightly tapping his foot as his figure ghosted onto the steel cable.
Like a nimble swallow, he landed gracefully on the hair-thin cable, his feet rooted firmly as if they had grown into the steel.
The mountain wind howled like a wild beast, trying to blow him off. The gale cut across his face like a knife, and the cable swayed violently, as if attempting to hurl him into the abyss below.
Yet Liu Yichen stood as immovable as a towering mountain.
In the next moment, his figure flashed like a bolt of lightning, leaving behind only a blurry afterimage as he sped across the cable.
"Hmph," Liu Yichen smirked confidently. "You think this little challenge can stop me?"
When he reached the middle of the cable, Liu Yichen suddenly felt the ground beneath his feet vanish, and his heart tightened.
He tapped his toes lightly, his figure darting nimbly across the cable.
The wind roared in his ears like a demon's scream, and beneath him was the bottomless abyss, a gaping maw threatening to swallow him whole. Yet he felt no fear, his mind focused and his Xuanling energy flowing smoothly.
However, when he reached the midpoint of the cable, the sight before him made his brow furrow.
The once-connected cable had now split into two parallel strands, separated by an arm's length.
The two cables were even thinner than before, trembling more violently.
This was no natural break—it was sabotage!
Liu Yichen snorted coldly in his heart. This Liu Zixuan would stop at nothing.
But did he really think this would stop me?
He underestimates me.
I, Liu Yichen, am not so easily defeated. Today, I'll show him that his schemes are nothing but the antics of a clown in the face of absolute strength.
He took a deep breath, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.
He knew that backing down now would only play into Liu Zixuan's hands. He wouldn't just pass—he would do so spectacularly!
Crossing his feet, he shifted his weight slightly, drawing power from his core. Like a nimble cat, he leaped onto one of the cables.
He steadied himself, feeling the Xuanling energy gather beneath his feet, increasing the friction between him and the cable. The energy rose from his soles, and with another leap, he landed precisely on the other cable.
The two thin cables swayed precariously beneath his feet, but Liu Yichen moved as if he were walking on flat ground, his steps steady as he sped toward the opposite cliff.
In no time, he reached the other side.
According to the rules of the test, he needed to pluck a three-leaf clover from the cliffside as proof of his success.
Liu Yichen quickly gathered several clovers, his fingers brushing against their delicate leaves, feeling the fine fuzz and the moisture of the morning dew. Then, without hesitation, he turned and stepped back onto the cable.
By now, the other candidates were still cautiously inching their way across the cable, moving at a snail's pace.
Liu Yichen's figure was like the wind, swiftly returning.
His expression was calm, his steps light, as if he were taking a leisurely stroll in his own backyard.
By the time he returned to the starting point, some candidates hadn't even completed their first crossing.
Liu Zixuan, seeing Liu Yichen return so quickly, showed a flicker of surprise before his expression turned to mockery.
His eyes swept over Liu Yichen's empty hands, and a smug smile curled his lips.
"It seems you've given up," Liu Zixuan said with a sneer. "You didn't even manage to pluck a clover. It seems you're just—"
Liu Yichen ignored Liu Zixuan's taunts, merely giving him a brief glance before walking to the side and closing his eyes to rest.
Liu Zixuan, thinking his mockery had struck a nerve, grew even more pleased with himself. He straightened his back, waiting smugly for the rest of the candidates to return.
The other candidates watched Liu Zixuan's behavior. Some frowned, feeling he was going too far; others remained indifferent, focused solely on their own performance; and a few who were close to Liu Zixuan wore expressions of schadenfreude, occasionally casting disdainful glances at Liu Yichen.
Suddenly, Liu Zixuan heard a voice.
"Is everyone back?" A deep voice echoed across the testing grounds.
Feng Qingyang's booming voice reverberated through the valley as all the candidates returned to the starting point.
He scanned the crowd and said solemnly, "Those who have plucked a three-leaf clover, step forward!"
Out of the eleven, only seven stepped forward, each holding a vibrant green clover.
Liu Zixuan's gaze swept over the group, a cold smile playing on his lips. He was certain Liu Yichen couldn't possibly have plucked a clover.
However, at that moment, Liu Yichen also stepped forward.
Liu Zixuan's smile froze. His eyes widened in disbelief, as if he had seen a ghost.
"You… how is this possible…" he stammered, pointing at Liu Yichen, his voice trembling with shock.
Liu Yichen said nothing, simply opening his palm to reveal a fresh three-leaf clover resting in his hand. Its emerald leaves glistened with dewdrops, and a faint, refreshing fragrance wafted from it, filling the air with a soothing aroma.
Liu Zixuan was stunned. He hadn't expected Liu Yichen to actually have a clover.
He quickly strode over to Liu Yichen, snatching the clover from his hand and scrutinizing it closely, as if searching for some flaw.
The veins of the clover were clear, its leaves full and exuding a faint herbal scent. It was undoubtedly real.
Liu Zixuan's face turned ashen, his anger boiling within. He secretly channeled his Xuanli, injecting a scorching energy into the clover.
The once-vibrant clover withered at a visible rate, turning into a pile of dry fragments that crumbled to dust in Liu Zixuan's hand.
"What… what's going on?" The surrounding candidates erupted in murmurs. They had seen Liu Yichen's clover turn to dust before their eyes and were utterly baffled.
Some began whispering among themselves, saying, "There must be something wrong. Liu Yichen's clover was fine just now." Others shook their heads in disbelief.
Liu Zixuan sneered, scattering the dust into the air and declaring loudly, "Liu Yichen, you have failed the test!"
The crowd was in an uproar. They had all seen Liu Yichen's clover—it had been real. How could it have turned to dust so suddenly?
There had to be foul play!
"Liu Yichen, you cheated!" Liu Zixuan pointed at him, shouting harshly. "Guards, seize him!"
Liu Yichen coldly met Liu Zixuan's gaze. "Liu Zixuan, don't go too far!" he said, his voice icy, as if it had emerged from the depths of hell.
"Too far? Hah!" Liu Zixuan laughed maniacally. "You, a worthless fool, dare to challenge me? Today, I'll show you the consequences of crossing me!"
Liu Yichen clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white as rage surged within him.
He glared at Liu Zixuan and said through gritted teeth, "You'll regret this."
Liu Zixuan scoffed. "Regret? I, Liu Zixuan, never regret anything!" He waved his hand dismissively. "What are you waiting for? Seize him!"
Three disciples in yellow robes stepped forward, advancing toward Liu Yichen…
The three yellow-robed disciples approached Liu Yichen with menacing expressions, their faces twisted in disdainful smirks as if they were looking at a lamb led to slaughter.
The surrounding candidates watched the scene unfold. Some showed pity, feeling Liu Yichen might be wronged; others, fearing involvement, quietly stepped back; and a few secretly anticipated the drama to come.
Liu Yichen's eyes turned cold, a chilling aura emanating from his body like a dormant beast ready to strike.
Yet, instead of resisting, he smiled strangely.
Slowly raising his right hand, he pulled out a handful of vibrant green clovers from his storage ring.
The moment the clovers appeared, it was as if a spring breeze had swept through, dispelling the tension in the air.
The candidates' eyes widened, their jaws dropping as if they had been struck dumb. They stared in stunned silence at the growing pile of clovers in Liu Yichen's hand.
Liu Zixuan, on the other hand, looked as if he had been slapped. His face flushed red, then turned pale. His body trembled like a leaf in the wind, beads of sweat rolling down his forehead. His eyes were filled with terror and disbelief, as if he had witnessed the most horrifying sight in the world.
One, two, three…
Liu Yichen's hand seemed to perform magic, continuously pulling out clovers from his ring. Soon, his hand was filled with over thirty clovers.
Each clover was vibrant and full, exuding a faint, refreshing fragrance, as if freshly plucked from the morning dew.
Liu Zixuan's smile froze. His eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at the scene before him.
He had thought Liu Yichen was already cornered, but now Liu Yichen had produced so many clovers.
His face turned from red to white, then to green, and finally to a sickly gray, as if he had swallowed a fly.
Liu Yichen, seeing Liu Zixuan's discomfited expression, felt a surge of satisfaction. He lightly tossed the pile of clovers in his hand, a mocking smile playing on his lips, sharp as a blade aimed at Liu Zixuan.
"Liu Zixuan, you said I didn't pluck any clovers. Now, would you like to count how many I have?" Liu Yichen said, tossing the clovers into the air. They scattered like a green rain, each leaf seeming to mock Liu Zixuan's foolishness. They sparkled in the sunlight, their fragrance filling the air and leaving Liu Zixuan utterly humiliated.
The surrounding candidates burst into laughter, some amused by Liu Zixuan's self-inflicted humiliation, others marveling at Liu Yichen's skill, and a few quietly relieved they hadn't crossed Liu Yichen.
Liu Zixuan stood as if struck by lightning, his mind blank and his eyes vacant.
He seemed to forget where he was, forgetting his earlier arrogance.
He couldn't comprehend how Liu Yichen had gathered so many clovers. It defied all logic.
Liu Yichen, seeing Liu Zixuan's stunned expression, smiled even more broadly. He casually tossed the clovers into the air, letting their green leaves dance like sprites.
He said nonchalantly, "Liu Zixuan, the test is over. Shouldn't you announce the results?" His tone was dripping with sarcasm and triumph, as if he were enjoying a farce.
Liu Zixuan shuddered, snapping out of his daze. He looked up, his eyes locking onto Liu Yichen with a gaze full of hatred.
He opened his mouth to speak but found his throat choked, unable to utter a word.
Liu Yichen chuckled softly, stepping past Liu Zixuan toward Feng Qingyang. As he passed, he whispered in a low voice, audible only to the two of them, "Liu Zixuan, the real show is just beginning…"