Chapter 215: Inner Disciple Admission Test
Aura had assessed several geniuses to that date, and had also recruited a lot of talented refiners into Drizzle Peak from the Eastern Region. But until now, there was no hope she could see.
“Master Su!” Zen came looking for Aura in her room as soon as he got the message, but she wasn't there. He searched around for a while and finally caught up to her in the pavilion.
The pensive look on her face gave place to a smile as she saw Zen. “Here you are.”
“You looked troubled just now, Master Su.” His piercing eyes fell on her face and to his penetrating gaze, it was obvious that her smile had a fixed quality to it.
Aura responded by an instant change of the subject. She stared at Zen and asked, “What have you been practicing lately? Your eyesight seems to have improved a lot since earlier on.”
She had reached the consummation of the nature level and therefore, could feel a special energy around Zen, hurtling and cutting in the air. Even her own protective life vitality felt slightly scratched by this energy. He must have learned some sharp 'intent' to create this effect.
It was rather like some refiners at the Illuminating Soul Realm knocking people out with just a gaze.
Zen might have learned a soul-attacking skill, Aura thought. Soul-attacking skills were similar to 'intent', but their theories were different. One needed to use one's soul to cast an attack for the former, but 'intent' was a realm in which refiners would continue emanating special energy all the time. Typically, the aura would have given people around them a sense of oppression.
Zen could have restrained his sword intent. But his instinct was telling him not to. He had just learned it and to be frank, even if he wanted to, he wasn't very practised at controlling it until now. So he just let his sword intent spread around naturally for a while until it was steady.
He gave a nod when he heard Aura's remark. “I picked up a sword intent on the Seven Star Sword Light Platform.”
“A sword intent?” Aura asked, slightly taken aback. “I seem to remember that you prefer your fist.”
Aura was under the impression that the only weapon Zen owned was a flying knife. It was sharp but to be frank, it served better as a hidden weapon to blindside the enemy than as a proper weapon to confront the enemy.
“I learned to use a sword recently. I've been practicing it.” Zen smiled.
For a moment, Aura was speechless. How was this man able to comprehend a sword intent in such a short amount of time? He was just a beginner in the field.
Aura had to admit Zen had done some remarkable and amazing things in the past. He had challenged the outer disciples of Vulture Peak and had even fought with Vale, who was an expert in the Illuminating Soul Realm. What was more extraordinary was the fact that back then, he had been only a half step into the nature level. It was beyond dispute that Zen was an extraordinary genius.
Sword intent was a different kettle of fish, it was vague, elusive and abstruse. Some swordsmen in the past had gone to extreme lengths in the search for their sword intent. They carried their swords with them wherever they went and stuck with it every second of their life. Even sleeping and eating couldn't part them from it. They did it for decades but most of them never even got a glimpse of the intent their entire lifetimes and went into their graves full of regret.
But this vague power seemed to come almost effortlessly to Zen. How was that possible?
If there was one person who could climb to the very top and get into the Cloud Hall, Aura was counting on Zen as long as he survived his period of growing up.
Still… it was already too late.
The crown prince was about to ascend the throne in less than a year. And the king's third and seventh sons, who had been lurking out there and waiting, were sure to launch a coup any time they were ready. They might even do it the moment the crown prince was seated on the throne.
Zen had been making steady progress. But as a refiner at the second rank of the nature level, he wouldn't make much of a difference.
Aura realized that she was bemoaning fate. If only there were more time, things would be totally different. Just two or three more years and Zen could be the star disciple of Cloud Sect. Aura was certain of it.
Giving up was never an option for Aura. She had grown up in the royal court and the experience had made her mind sharper and wiser than most common men. Her decision to join Cloud Sect had seemed a bit rushed and naive when she had looked back on it, but she never regretted it. She was the kind of person who, after making a choice, stuck to it.
“You got to know the sword intent in such a short amount of time after practicing swordsmanship. That is very lucky...” For a moment Aura was at a loss for words. She had summoned Zen because she had intended to ask him to take part in the Inner Disciple Admission Test with the others. If he passed the test and became an inner disciple, then he could join the All Peaks Competition.
All Peaks Competition was held every three years. Aura had already made up her mind to make Zen have a go at it; not that she expected him to land in a good spot in the league table. He was only seventeen, a young boy with so much potential, yet not enough training. He would probably make it into the top spots at the next All Peaks Competition, but not now.
There were so many talented young people in this day. Zen had a very good fortune but god had showed almost the same amount of favor to some other top talents. That was the reason Aura didn't expect too much of Zen.
Following the train of her thought, she finally got to the point, “Now you have entered the nature level, which is enough to qualify you as an inner disciple. But you still need to pass the test. The test is tomorrow. All top thirty outer disciples are going to take it.”
Zen nodded. This test should not be too stressful for him.
Seeing the look on his face, Aura added, “Do you have any idea why I want you to become an inner disciple of Drizzle Peak right now?”
“Does it have something to do with the All Peaks Competition?” Zen asked.
Aura nodded and replied, “I want you to take a shot at the All Peaks Competition. There's no pressure and I am not asking you to win it. Take it as a familiarization course. Soak up the atmosphere. There is one thing you'll want to keep in mind. The number of disciples who can compete is limited. The quota varies from peak to peak, basically according to the peaks' strength. Drizzle Peak has got seven places.”
All Peaks Competition was a contest among all the top inner disciples from all 33 peaks.
But there was huge gap between the strength of the 33 peaks. For instance, Skytop Peak constantly topped the other peaks and a great number of its inner disciples had already reached the consummation of the nature level. Some had even entered the Illuminating Soul Realm. Drizzle Peak was nothing compared to Skytop Peak. The best of its inner disciple had just reached the consummation of the nature level.
It would be unfair if all peaks had same quantity of places. For example, a refiner at the consummation of the nature level could barely qualify to fight on behalf of Skytop Peak. Meanwhile the places of Drizzle Peak fell on those disciples who were merely at the fifth or sixth rank of the nature level.
Therefore every peak was allowed a different number of places.
Skytop Peak was the best peak and was allowed to send 43 disciples to fight in the All Peaks Competition. As for Drizzle Peak, seven places was all it got.
“Seven places for the top seven inner disciples from our peak. Which means you'll have to get into the top seven to qualify for a shot at the All Peaks Competition. I can't help you on that. You'll have to do it on your own.” Aura told him slowly.
In Aura's view, Zen was capable enough to reach the inner disciples' top seven. Even though, he was still at the second rank of the nature level, his battle skills were enough to make up for the refining level gap.
Drizzle Peak's number one inner disciple had already reached the consummation of the nature level. And the disciple who had come seventh had reached the seventh rank of the nature level. If Zen's previous performance was kept in mind, then he had already clinched a place at the All Peaks Competition.
The ranking of the inner disciples was generated automatically based on their performance in the test.
There was no way to cheat on the ranking and you simply had to be at your best. If Aura abused her power to put Zen into the top seven, the other disciples were sure to raise several questions. Besides, she felt that there was no need to do so.
“Got it. So the test is tomorrow, right?” Zen nodded.
“Yes. It's on tomorrow morning. I will help you get ready for the test. Remember that your performance in the test will decide whether you can get into the top seven and fight in the contest on behalf of Drizzle Peak or not.” Aura smiled, and was slightly relieved to see the look on his face. From that confident expression, it was evident that he was pretty sure of himself.
The next day Drizzle Peak's annual inner disciple admission test began.
The test was very important for all the outer disciples of the Drizzle Peak. The result would have determined their fate and whether they would find themselves promoted to inner disciple or not.
However only the top 30 of the outer disciples were able to take the test vying for the 10 places of inner disciples.
A middle-sized magic array appeared on the outer disciples' muster station. Obscure runes engraved around the magic array were emitting pale blue light, which meant that it had been activated.
Even though only the top 30 were allowed to actually take part, no disciple would have missed it for the world. This was such a grand moment that it attracted everyone's attention.
Aura and some other masters had already been there. The magic array had been set up a long time ago. But the maters needed to finish other preparations such as putting on crystals and activating the runes.
Before long, the outer disciples all arrived, including Henry and Wurth.
In theory, those who were able to take on others at the refining level would gain a huge advantage for themselves. It was believed that they would be the ones who would score big and be promoted.
But that was not always the case. Some disciples at lower refining levels with commendable fighting skills usually got higher scores. Once, there had been a disciple who had ranked 29th among the outer disciples, but had successfully fought his way into the top ten in the test. He was now an inner disciple of the Drizzle Peak.
“Zen is a nature creature now. He can be promoted to an inner disciple directly. Why has he come here to take the test?”
“What do you know about it? He can make an inner disciple easily. He is good. Rumors are floating around that he wants to get into the top 7 of the inner disciples list, so that he can have a shot at the All Peaks Competition. And this test, this magic array is his chance.”
“Impossible. Drizzle Peak isn't that good, but still.... The seventh inner disciple has already reached the seventh rank of the nature level. Zen is good, but not good enough to beat a guy so many levels above him.”
“Ha! Have you ever actually tested Zen's limits? Besides, why else would those black-robed disciples be here to watch the test? You can see from here. That black-robed disciple standing at the far side is Ben Wang. He ranks seventh among the inner disciples. He is supposed to join the All Peaks Competition on behalf of Drizzle Peak. But he is a bundle of nerves now. If Zen performs well, he will beat Ben and take his place.”
The test had not yet started, but all kinds of news were spreading among people, much like wild fire.