Zhou Xueting felt a flicker of interest. Shuyun Peak’s inherited arts placed enormous importance on comprehension. She herself was only in her twenties, yet had already reached early Golden Core. Part of that was because she had grown up in the Flowing Light Sect, protected by her teachers and never lacking spirit stones or resources. But it was also because her comprehension was exceptional.
Good spiritual roots were easy enough to find; outstanding comprehension was not. On all of Shuyun Peak, she was the only disciple with such an aptitude.
Because their cultivation art demanded so much comprehension, Shuyun Peak had almost the fewest disciples of the seven principal peaks. Had their master not possessed extraordinary strength at late Nascent Soul and surpassed the other peak masters, Shuyun Peak might already have been disbanded.
Seeing Zhou Xueting wavering, Xiao Tao redoubled her efforts. In her eyes, everything about Xu Zirong was admirable. Failing to recruit him would be a terrible loss to their entire lineage.
“Enough, Xiao Tao, you’re giving me a headache.” Zhou Xueting rubbed her forehead helplessly. Xiao Tao grew louder whenever she became excited. Many people were arguing in the hall, but her voice seemed particularly adept at cutting through the noise.
“Oh? Xueting, planning to recruit a disciple for your master?” an elderly man with a white beard asked kindly.
“Yes, Uncle-Master Wu. Xiao Tao has been recommending Xu Zirong to me.” She discreetly shot Xiao Tao a helpless glare.
Xiao Tao stuck out her tongue and hunched her shoulders, not daring to speak.
Uncle-Master Wu was actually very kind, but for some reason he loved opposing her master. They had argued for centuries and still competed over everything like children.
“Xu Zirong?” The white-bearded elder knew of the boy, of course, but his abilities had been overshadowed by his brother’s. Xiao Tao had surprisingly sharp eyes.
He noticed her hiding guiltily behind Zhou Xueting and understood that she feared he might steal a disciple from that old woman.
Come to think of it, he had not accepted any new disciples in three to five years…
Stroking his sparse beard, the elder considered whether to compete with the old woman for the boy.
But he quickly abandoned the thought. The old woman was not even here. Winning the disciple without her present would be no fun.
The elder stopped thinking about Zirong. His own cultivation techniques suited neither Xu brother, so however well they performed, neither would enter his lineage.
Several Golden Core elders in the hall were watching water mirrors intently. The images showed the prospective disciples who interested them.
The white-bearded elder had been following Xiahou Lian. Her twin water and wood spiritual roots suited his Wood-Lotus Incarnation Art exceptionally well. Unfortunately, everyone wanted her too. Who knew whether he could win?
Meanwhile…
After passing the mermaid’s trial, the brothers followed the mountain path beyond the platform. After somewhat less than half a shichen, they reached the summit.
The two peaks interlocked like jagged teeth. A narrow wooden bridge, scarcely a chi or so in length, joined them.
A gray-white stone stele stood at the bridge’s near end. Three large seal-script characters were carved into it: Dust-Leaving Bridge, plainly expressing the idea of departing from the mortal world.
Xu Ziyan inhaled deeply and unconsciously tightened his grip on Zirong’s hand. Once he stepped onto that bridge, the peaceful life he had once known would be lost to him forever. Though he had prepared himself, he could not help feeling anxious at this turning point.
He had considered taking Zirong far from the cultivation world to spend their lives in some quiet town. But he could not be so selfish as to decide Zirong’s future for him.
Besides… having arrived in a world like this, if he fled without even trying, he would despise himself.
“Big Brother?” Zirong looked at him in confusion. He did not understand his hesitation.
With Xu Ziyan’s examination results, crossing the bridge should secure his admission to the inner sect. Even if further tests awaited, the elders would hardly let such a promising disciple go.
Zirong did not worry much about his own prospects either. At his age and cultivation level, the Flowing Light Sect would scarcely reject him. As for which elder became his master, he did not care.
His Blood Sea Heart Scripture was already a supreme cultivation art. Anything else would merely supplement it.
“Nothing.” Warmed by Zirong’s concerned gaze, Xu Ziyan felt his resolve strengthen.
He looked toward the mist-shrouded bridge and slowly closed his eyes. When he opened them again, his final trace of uncertainty was gone.
Xu Ziyan crossed Dust-Leaving Bridge with ease. On the opposite peak, a man in blue-green robes stood waiting with a smile.
“Congratulations. You’re the first to arrive,” the man said warmly, his expression inviting.
“Thank you.” Xu Ziyan offered a sincere reply. Perhaps the bridge had some special effect, because after crossing it, he felt an enormous weight lifted from his heart. The worries accumulated over the past few years seemed to vanish, leaving him refreshed.
The blue-green-robed man smiled and looked past his shoulder.
Xu Ziyan followed his gaze. Zirong had crossed too, arriving at the Flowing Light Sect’s principal peak, Qianyuan Peak.
“You’re the second to arrive. Congratulations.” The man’s attitude toward Zirong was markedly colder. He glanced at him briefly and said nothing more.
Zirong barely noticed the tone. He looked troubled and uncertain enough that even Xu Ziyan saw his unease.
“Having entered our gates, you must obey our principles. Your killing intent is far too strong. If you do not wish to implicate those close to you, restrain your desire to kill.” As Zirong struggled with his thoughts, the blue-green-robed man’s voice suddenly reached his ears through a private transmission.
Zirong’s eyes narrowed sharply, fixing on the man.
“Zirong? What’s wrong?” Xu Ziyan’s heart lurched. He had sensed the man was not particularly welcoming toward Zirong, but had not expected his little brother to look at him with such hostility.
The man ignored that hostile gaze. He merely glanced at Zirong, and with that single look, Zirong’s pupils contracted. He lowered his head.
Cold sweat covered Zirong’s forehead. He felt as if icy water had been poured over him in the dead of winter, as if the stranger had seen straight through him.
Impossible to defeat!
The man was terrifyingly dangerous. Zirong could not match him now as a child at Qi Refining, and even at the height of his power in his previous life, he would have been no match.
Once he calmed down, Zirong realized that the man did not seem to intend to expose him. Otherwise, there would have been no reason to communicate privately.
He concealed his hostility, bowed respectfully and said mildly, “Forgive me. I was upset and behaved discourteously.”
“It’s nothing.” The blue-green-robed man remained detached, apparently indifferent whether Zirong treated him respectfully or with hatred.
Xu Ziyan frowned. Something had plainly happened. But he knew that although Zirong was obedient around him, he could also be stubborn. If he chose not to explain, even Xu Ziyan would never drag the truth out of him.
“Go straight ahead. The third stage cannot begin until everyone has arrived. You may rest in the square outside the great hall for now,” the man told them quietly.
After thanking him, Xu Ziyan hurried onward with Zirong. The man seemed gentle, yet Xu Ziyan could not shake the feeling he disliked his brother.
“Big Brother, I’m fine.” Zirong felt warm inside, and his expression relaxed.
He believed that however powerful the stranger might be, he could not possibly have discovered that Zirong had been reborn. At worst, he had detected the aura of blood and suspected Zirong of practicing some unorthodox method.
Zirong relaxed further. He had never opposed the Flowing Light Sect in his previous life precisely because its attitude toward demonic cultivators was more tolerant than that of most righteous sects. At the very least, its members did not insist on fighting demonic cultivators to the death at first sight. Some so-called righteous cultivators committed cruelties worse than any demonic practitioner.
Before long they reached a magnificent great hall. Its main doors were closed, with two young men in white guarding the entrance. The side halls stood open, with food and drinking water inside.
“Who goes there?” one of the guards demanded.
“Inner-sect examination candidates Xu Ziyan and Xu Zirong greet the two senior brothers,” they said together.
The guard smiled. “So you’re our junior brothers. Please wait a little. The third stage won’t begin until all the candidates have arrived.”
Xu Ziyan thanked them and fetched some food. His storage bag contained Inedia Pills, but those things were about as far from delicious as anything could be.
Zirong ate a little as well. He did not loathe Inedia Pills nearly as much as Xu Ziyan, but he would never refuse food his brother personally prepared.
As for this food… he was only eating it for Big Brother’s sake.
Over the next half day, more qualified candidates arrived at the hall.
Xu Ziyan had long since eaten his fill. He found a quiet corner and sat with his eyes closed in meditation. If the third stage remained unchanged, they were still in for a painful ordeal.