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墨書 Inktalez
The Canglan Sword Sect has been established for thousands of years, with a long history. Therefore, it has developed its own system for assessing disciples, which is mainly divided into five categories: bone age test, talent test, comprehension test, and perseverance test.
There is actually one more test, but this one is mostly just a formality, which is the bloodline test!
It is rumored that bloodlines are descendants of ancient War Gods or Sword Gods, and they are extremely rare. However, due to the passage of time, it has become impossible to prove.
Nevertheless, it is possible that some people in this world still carry remnants of those bloodlines, but unfortunately, the Canglan Sword Sect has not seen anyone with such bloodlines for nearly a thousand years! Even nearby sects are generally in the same situation.
The tests proceeded quickly; within just one hour, thousands of youths had been ruthlessly eliminated. The situation was indeed cruel. Of course, some of them were simply too young and could try again in a year or two. It was unfortunate for those who had exceeded the age limit.
Some cheered for passing the first round, while others wept bitterly for failing the assessment. Those who lost their eligibility to participate again appeared despondent, and the scene was filled with a mix of joy and sorrow.
Soon it was the turn of Ren Pingsheng and his fifty companions. One by one, they stepped forward to place their hands on a milky-white orb, which would then display their ages. It was quite magical! A dozen outer disciples dressed in blue robes were responsible for recording and screening.
"Ten years old, qualified!"
"Twelve years old, qualified!"
"Fifteen years old, qualified!"
"Fifteen and a half years old, over the age limit, disqualified!" This announcement made the boy before them shudder; he immediately collapsed to the ground like a rootless floating weed. Someone quickly carried him away.
The outer disciples announced each youth's fate with serious expressions! There was no favoritism whatsoever. Those who did not meet the criteria and attempted to cheat were all exposed. Even when they pleaded desperately, they received no sympathy. Ren Pingsheng couldn't help but sigh as he watched from behind.
When it was their turn, all fifty passed successfully since they had already undergone basic screening in Huangshi City before coming here.
When it was Ren Pingsheng's turn, he gently placed his hand on the orb. Although he knew his age was acceptable, he couldn't help but feel a bit anxious at that moment.
"Thirteen and a half years old, qualified!"
Hearing this statement, Ren Pingsheng let out a sigh of relief; it seemed he had passed.
In the envious gazes of many, Ren Pingsheng received a wooden plaque from the table beside him. This was his proof of passing the first round and participating in the subsequent assessment.
Upon inspection, the plaque bore the number 6789. This indicated that Ren Pingsheng was the 1789th youth to pass the first round of the examination.
What a massive number this was! Looking back at the crowd still gathered behind him, it seemed likely that more than ten thousand would ultimately pass the first round. However, how many would eventually be accepted into the Canglan Sword Sect remained uncertain.
After about a cup of tea's time, Ren Pingsheng arrived at the testing point for the second round, which was a talent assessment. This was also the most crucial test, as the importance of talent was undeniable.
Five elderly men dressed in silver robes were in charge of this test, while ten outer disciples in blue long robes stood by to record and evaluate. It was evident that the Canglan Sword Sect placed great emphasis on this aspect. These elderly men, who appeared to be in their sixties, exuded an imposing aura that evoked both awe and respect.
The youths who had passed the first round lined up obediently, moving steadily in five groups. Upon reaching a stone table, they presented their wooden plaques to an outer disciple responsible for registering their numbers.
They then placed their hands on a milky-white orb, which this time pulsated with changing colors. Seven colors were displayed: red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, and purple, each representing different levels of talent. Red was the lowest and purple the highest.
"Number 124, Liao Fei, orange talent!"
"Number 589, Mo Yiran, green talent!"
"Number 790, Chen Xiaoxiao, blue talent!" exclaimed an outer disciple responsible for observation and recording with some surprise!
A brilliant light emanated from the orb, capturing the attention of many. Even the five elderly men in silver robes nodded with smiles, clearly pleased with this outcome.
Such talent could be considered a rare genius seen once in five hundred years. It is worth noting that blue talent is also known as royal-grade talent; it is supreme among talents and ensures efficient cultivation.
Chen Xiaoxiao was a very pretty young woman who, upon hearing what felt like an otherworldly proclamation, disregarded her image and embraced her family while cheering loudly. Those around her were filled with envy and jealousy. Especially those youths who had been assessed with red talent were glaring with jealousy.
It should be noted that red talent is considered the lowest grade. Although this round does not eliminate anyone but rather assesses them comprehensively in subsequent rounds, it serves as a warning signal since falling behind at this stage could lead to elimination if they do not perform well later on. The path of cultivation and martial arts is not easy to tread!
The tests continued; most participants displayed fairly ordinary talents, with few exceeding green level. Occasionally there were some better talents reaching cyan level—considered a genius appearing once in a century. So far, only two individuals had been tested with blue royal-grade talent.
"Number 4688, Luo Yiran, purple... purple talent!" The outer disciple responsible for recording paused for a few seconds before excitedly shouting out.
The purple hue emanating from the sphere lingered for a long time, as if it were signaling his nobility and extraordinary nature.
"Haha, indeed a royal-grade talent, a once-in-a-thousand-years genius! This is a great fortune for our Canglan Sword Sect!" The five silver-robed elders were also stirred, carefully observing the sphere for a while before excitedly laughing.
One of the silver-robed elders whispered a few words to an outer sect disciple, who hurriedly recorded some notes on the document. Clearly, they were being regarded as a key observation and cultivation target.
This time, it was still a woman, but her demeanor was much calmer. Her eyes only flickered slightly before she nodded and proceeded to the next test.
Such talent made Ren Pingsheng feel envious. He believed that even this achievement would be enough to secure his entry into the Canglan Sword Sect.
"Number 6746, Huang Qing, green talent!"
"Number 6789, Ren Pingsheng, blue talent!"
At that moment, Ren Pingsheng realized that the person who had previously mocked them for not knowing about magical artifacts was named Huang Qing. Watching Huang Qing's smug expression due to her green talent freeze on her face felt quite satisfying. His feelings of frustration diminished somewhat. A purple talent was not something anyone could easily possess; blue talent was already quite good.
Just as Ren Pingsheng was comforting himself, a thunderous cheer suddenly erupted from the other side! Turning around, he saw a burst of golden light shooting up into the sky. This puzzled him; he truly did not know what gold represented, and at that moment he realized the importance of knowledge.
Just by observing the scene and the expressions of those silver-robed elders, he feared that it might be even more impressive than the purple talent from earlier. His initially uplifting mood took another slight hit.
Not wanting to dwell on it any longer, Ren Pingsheng took his wooden plaque and hurried to the next test.
The comprehension test took place in a small room where three people entered at a time. An outer sect disciple would demonstrate a set of sword techniques just once and then allow them to practice it themselves to see how much they could comprehend, which would reveal their level of understanding.
The method sounded simple enough; however, remembering all the sword moves in a very short time and grasping the true essence of the sword was not something just anyone could achieve.
Regarding the comprehension assessment, Ren Pingsheng wasn't particularly worried; he believed his understanding was quite good. When training with Wang the Blacksmith in his village, he could memorize any Fist Technique or sword technique after just one demonstration. This left Wang feeling frustrated and calling him a freak, completely devoid of any sense of accomplishment.
After watching the outer sect disciple's demonstration, Ren Pingsheng closed his eyes and mentally replayed it in his mind. With his right hand holding the sword, he began to wield it effortlessly. His movements were graceful and light, flowing like clouds and water without any stiffness! It was impressive enough to make others feel as if he had practiced it hundreds of times before!
"Well done! Let him try another set of sword techniques!" said one interested silver-robed elder nearby!
The outer sect disciple responded and once again practiced a completely different sword technique. The sword's momentum was heavy, as if each move carried the weight of a thousand pounds, vividly expressing the power in every strike.
This still did not pose a challenge for Ren Pingsheng. After a brief recollection in his mind, he began to practice as well. His momentum was equally powerful, as if it could split mountains and shatter stones, yet there was an added smoothness in the transitions, making the entire sword technique appear even more fluid!
"Good! To be able to identify and correct the flaws in your practiced sword technique, making it more seamless, truly shows the insight of a Monster," the silver-robed elder exclaimed, his eyes shining as he looked at Ren Pingsheng several times before praising him.
"Elder, it is my lack of skill that led to my inadequate practice," the outer sect disciple said apologetically, feeling somewhat ashamed.
"Your sword technique follows a path of agility and variability. To practice such a heavy sword technique to this extent is already commendable. What is truly frightening is this little fellow's astonishing insight!"
This round was considered passed by Ren Pingsheng, and his performance seemed quite impressive.
The final test was perseverance.
Perseverance is indeed difficult to define. However, for a martial artist, aside from innate conditions like talent and bloodline, personal willpower plays a significant role on the path of cultivation. This aspect is indispensable.
Sometimes, innate conditions do not determine everything.
Throughout history, this world has not lacked individuals with extraordinary talent. Yet among them, many have fallen into mediocrity and achieved little, as numerous as the sands of the Ganges. Conversely, those with mediocre talents have often relied on tenacious willpower to achieve success and join the ranks of the strong in equal numbers.
Cultivation is difficult! Becoming a strong person is even more challenging!
Therefore, to become a true unparalleled powerhouse, one must not only possess exceptional talent but also remarkable willpower and an essential stroke of fortune.
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