Supreme Emperor of Swords Chapter 20

Chapter 20-The Sect Entrance Exam

Some cheered in joy as they had passed the first round.
While others wailed out loud and tried to commit suicide because they failed.
Scenes of joys and tribulations of life played out in the wide square.
Ding Hao arrived at the registration area at the edge of the square.
This was the test center of the “Bone-age test” which was the first of the five major tests. One would pass the test as long as the results showed that they were truly less than 15. And only through passing the test, would the registrant be qualified to take the other tests so that they would not waste time.
A white-haired elder wearing a silver long robe sat on an old bamboo rocking chair silently as he monitored the works at the registration counter.
There were more than ten other third-generation disciples wore red robes with black trims who wore a sharp ring on their fingers. They would sweep it over each registrant’s body and after a slight analysis, report their true age.
“13 years old, pass!”
“9 years old, pass!”
“16 years old, fail!”
“21 years old…Uncle, you’re already so old, yet you pretend to be young and take the test. Fail!”
“15.5 years old, fail!”
The third-generation disciples were like the strictest judge. They loudly proclaimed the fates of each registrant.”
After those who attempted to fudge their ways through were revealed, some left crestfallen, some begged bitterly while others cried bitterly. However, they would not receive any compassion from the Swordsmanship-seeking Sect. If they made too much of a fuss, there would be sect disciples who would come forth and throw them off the mountain.
Ding Hao sighed.
He queued and quickly came to the front.
Behind the black wooden desk, stood a handsome third-generation disciple who took a glance at Ding Hao. He looked to be in his 20s. He said dispassionately, “Stretch out your arm, the right arm. Quickly.”
Ding Hao had just lifted his left arm when he felt as if his forearm had been stung by a bee. It felt slightly numb.
That was quick!
The abilities of the third-generation disciple were indeed unfathomable. Ding Hao did not even clearly see his actions.
“14.5 years old, pass!” The handsome third-generation disciple looked at the color emitted by his ring and made the judgment, indicating that Ding Hao had passed.
Ding Hao heaved a sigh of relief.
He had finally passed the first step.
Under the envious gaze of his peers, Ding Hao quickly went to the next wooden desk. He took a wooden tablet that belonged to him from another third-generation disciple of the Swordsmanship-seeking Sect.
The fine texture on the tablet was the token for Ding Hao to participate in the next four tests. On one side, there was a simple and mighty long sword while the other side was engraved with the number 9989.
This meant that Ding Hao was the 9989th youngster to have passed the bone-age test.
Every year, tens of thousands of young people would come to the Swordsmanship-seeking Sect to participate in the entrance test. However, in the end, only 2000 people would be able to pass the six major tests and become disciples on the waiting list of the Swordsmanship-seeking Sect. One could imagine how fierce the competition was.
Moreover, it should be pointed out that after two years of cultivation, the two thousand disciples on the waiting list will participate in a second major test. Only those who passed can be removed from the waiting list and become a true disciple of the Swordsmanship-seeking Sect. Those who did not pass would be expelled from the gate.
It was evident that the path to becoming a martial artist in this world was fraught with difficulties.
…
Ten minutes later, Ding Hao brought his token to the second test center.
This was where the element test was administered.
In the Land of Infinity, martial artists cultivated in Qi that had five different types of elements.
Since the ancient past, the martial artists of the land had common elements such as metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. There were also other rarer elements such as space, darkness, and light. Everyone’s element was different.
The aim of the element test was so that they could be taught different subjects in the future and aid in choosing their skills, secret manuals, and various pills. This was helpful to the sect for they could make a cultivation plan for their disciples.
Of course, it could also test if one had the talent for cultivation.
The purer one’s element was, the better as their cultivation path in the future would be wider. Those with mixed elements were weaker, and it meant that their path to cultivation would be extremely difficult.
There were quite a large amount of people at the element testing center.
In the middle of the center were more than ten platforms made of green stones. On them, was a greenstone table that was two meters wide and twenty meters long. On the table, there were six oval, egg-like stones that were one-meter-high. They were divided into gold, wood, water, fire, earth and rare elemental species used for testing. Their colors were different and the surfaces were smooth.
Behind the stone table, sat six elders of the sect who wore silver robes.
Most of these elders were elderly and it seemed as if a gust of wind could topple them. However, the vaguely scary aura flowed in their body, making them feel like ancient mountains. Everyone felt trepidacious and they all stood obediently in the line for their testing, not daring to cause any trouble.
The auras of the other third-generation disciples wearing red robes with black trims were not weak either. They were busy judging, proclaiming and recording the results of various tests.
The young people who passed the bone age test lined up in the long queue and arrived before the stone table. They would first hand over their tablet and have their numbers noted down before they proceeded to walk along the table. They would press their hands on the six large shiny stone eggs. As long as one could make the stone egg shine, it proved that he did have some form of elemental talent. The brilliance of the shine showed whether their element was pure or not.
“No. 765 Zhang Fan, Metal element, D grade…”
“No. 894 Lie Fei, Earth element, B grade.”
“No. 1467 Wu Mochou, Fire element, C grade…”
“No. 2250, Cao Yan, Water element, grade A!”
As bunches of light beam shone from the stone eggs, the third-generation disciple at the side judging and recording would yell out loud, proclaiming the tester’s fate. Just as before, some were delighted while some were despondent.
Especially number 2250, Cao Yan, who was a well-dressed 13-year-old. When he heard the results, he cheered excitedly and hugged his parents. Having an A grade Water element, he was definitely considered a genius.
Meanwhile, Zhang Fan, who had been judged to have a Metal element of the D grade was 14 and a half years old. He looked ordinary and wore an old armor of a hunting family. It was evident that his family background was not that good. He had been accompanied by several fierce looking hunters.
When they heard the results, Zhang Fan and his hunter companions looked gloomy.
This sort of talent was considered to be on the lower end.
If he did not perform well in the next few tests, Zhang Fan would probably not have much of a chance to enter the Swordsmanship-seeking Sect. He would have no fate with martial arts from then on.
At that time—
“Eh, you’re here too?” There was a surprised voice by his ear. “You’re here to join the test…so you’re not a Swordsmanship-seeking Sect disciple?”
Ding Hao looked up.
He saw the burly young man, Xiao Chengxuan from Qingyang Town, he met at the foot of the hill three days ago by the Sword-cleansing Pond. Xiao Chengxuan walked towards him, looking at him with a shocked expression.
Ding Hao smiled lightly and did not explain himself.
“Haha, I was really cheated by you that day, rascal.” Xiao Chengxuan laughed loudly. The teenager from Qingyang town had brows that were blade-like. He was very good-natured and did not get angry.
While he talked, Xiao Chengxuan reached the front of the stone table.
The young master of Qingyang town handed over his tablet and then went forth to the first stone egg confidently. The moment he pressed his hands on the surface, a wisp of brilliant light rushed up to the sky. It was several dozen meters tall and was blinding. This brilliant scene startled countless people.