On the way, Shen Xiuhan and Liu Chong walked toward the martial arts field together.
After passing through several stone paths shaded by pines and cypresses, the view ahead suddenly opened up.
The martial arts field was situated below the Tingtao Courtyard, occupying a vast open space paved with bluestone slabs.
At this moment, forty to fifty inner court disciples of the Tingquan Academy, all dressed in blue robes, were already standing on the field.
The disciples gathered in groups of twos and threes; some were talking in low voices, while others closed their eyes to regulate their breathing.
The qi aura around them was intense, and it was obvious that every single one of them was an Anjin Rank expert!
Standing ahead of the crowd were two figures wearing blue robes embroidered with flowing patterns of spring waterfalls.
Although those blue robes were similar in color to the livery of the inner court disciples, their texture was completely different.
The silver-threaded cloud patterns on the collars and sleeves were layered intricately...
It was indeed the attire of core disciples!
The two stood side by side, their presence naturally carving out a space of their own!
Although the surrounding inner court disciples stood close together, none dared to approach them too closely.
One of them had a slender, graceful figure with a thin sword hanging from her waist. Her black hair was styled in a sloping bun. It was none other than Zheng Hongxiu, who had visited him a few days ago!
She was speaking in low tones with the delicate-faced, gentle-looking young man beside her.
As her eyes swept over, she suddenly saw Shen Xiuhan approaching, dressed in the same core disciple livery. Her beautiful eyes lit up slightly, and she raised her fair hand to wave at him.
Seeing this, Shen Xiuhan paused, cupped his hands to Liu Chong, and said in a low voice, “Senior Brother, I will head over there.”
“Go on, go on.”
Liu Chong waved his hand hurriedly. Knowing the difference between the inner court and core disciples, he naturally had no intention of joining in blindly.
Once Shen Xiuhan had walked away, he slipped into the crowd to find familiar faces to chat with.
Shen Xiuhan adjusted his lapels, quickened his pace, and cupped his fists to Zheng Hongxiu.
“Greetings, Fourth Senior Sister.”
“Oh, no need to be so polite.”
Zheng Hongxiu said with a smile, waving her hand as she turned sideways. “Come, let me introduce you. This is your Fifth Senior Brother, Cui Xiangyang. He is a direct descendant of the Cui Clan of Xinyi Prefecture. He was out searching for herbs for Master Wen recently and only returned yesterday.”
Shen Xiuhan turned to the young man and cupped his fists once more. “Junior Brother Shen Xiuhan greets Fifth Senior Brother.”
Cui Xiangyang smiled slightly and returned the gesture. He was tall and slender, his blue core disciple robe pressed so neatly that not a single wrinkle could be seen. His dark hair was meticulously bound with a jade crown, and his demeanor naturally carried the noble poise of a noble family's descendant.
When he spoke, his tone was warm, but his phrasing carried a deeply ingrained formality: “Junior Brother is too polite. Since we are now fellow disciples, we should walk the path of martial arts hand in hand, polishing and encouraging each other as we head toward the peak together. Only then can we live up to Master Wen's nurturing grace.”
Standing nearby, Zheng Hongxiu rolled her eyes and interrupted him without ceremony: “Alright, alright, Junior Brother Cui. This isn't the Cui family ancestral hall where you lecture the younger generation. Drop that tone of yours.”
Cui Xiangyang was not angered either. He merely curled his lips, his gentle smile carrying a hint of helplessness.
Shen Xiuhan remained expressionless on the surface, but his mind was on something else.
Xinyi Prefecture...
He was no stranger to this name!
The ancestral home of the Han family, one of the Five Great Families of Changyun County, was in Xinyi Prefecture.
Han Li, whom he had met a few times before, also hailed from there.
Like the Han clan, the Cui clan was also an influential family in Xinyi Prefecture, with deep foundations and a Gangjin Rank expert presiding over them.
Aside from the Cui and Han clans, only the Ancient Sword Sect could be considered a major power in the entire Xinyi Prefecture; the rest were not worth mentioning.
Its overall martial arts strength was indeed a notch below that of Nanxiang Prefecture.
Thus, it was not difficult to understand why the descendants of the Cui clan would travel to other prefectures to cultivate in sects.
As he was pondering, a wave of respectful greetings suddenly rose from behind him, echoing from far to near.
“Second Senior Brother!”
“Greetings, Second Senior Brother!”
Hearing the voices, Shen Xiuhan, Zheng Hongxiu, and Cui Xiangyang turned around and saw He Tunan walking over with large strides.
Compared to his demeanor when he was in charge of the Affairs Hall, he was much more low-profile today. He would pause from time to time to nod and return the greetings of the inner court disciples bowing on either side.
When he reached the very front, He Tunan's gaze swept over the Affairs Hall token at Zheng Hongxiu's waist, and his expression stiffened slightly!
Yet, in the end, he said nothing. He merely cupped his fists and said in a low voice, “Greetings, fellow Junior Brothers and Junior Sisters...”
Before his voice could fade, above them, the tightly shut bamboo gate of the Tingtao Courtyard opened from within with a creak.
The sound was not loud, but like the tolling of an invisible bell, it instantly echoed across the entire martial arts field.
A slender figure slowly stepped out from the courtyard gate. The newcomer wore a green robe, his face lean and refined. His long hair was casually bound behind his head with only a bamboo hairpin, and he stood on the steps with his hands behind his back. It was none other than the famous Flying Waterfall Sword, the Tingquan Academy Head... Wen Qingye!
The field fell instantly silent.
Some disciples subconsciously clenched their sleeves, their palms already slick with a thin layer of sweat.
Others quietly swallowed their saliva, their Adam's apples bobbing.
Wen Qingye's assessments had never been as simple as merely checking one's progress in cultivation. Those present had been in the Tingquan Academy for a long time, and they all knew this Academy Head's temperament well.
He was highly skilled in both the sword and elixirs, making him a renowned alchemist in Nanxiang Prefecture. If his disciples performed exceptionally well, he would often bestow elixirs upon them as a reward.
But for those whose cultivation had stalled, who lacked talent, or whom he perceived as lazy and negligent, he did not hesitate to mete out punishment!
The Tingquan Academy conducted assessments three times a year. Any disciple whose cultivation stagnated for three consecutive times would be placed on the Dismissal Registry!
If one's name was recorded on it, let alone having no hope of becoming a core disciple, once they reached a certain age, they would be the first to be dismissed.
Consequently, many in the field now stood tall with chests puffed out, their eyes flashing with anticipation, eager to try.
There were also some who hung their heads and shrank back into the crowd, their expressions uneasy. They wished they could squeeze themselves into the cracks of the bluestone slabs so that the Academy Head would notice them last.
Wen Qingye's gaze was like water in an ancient well, calm and without ripples. “Now that everyone is here, we shall begin according to the usual practice. Take turns stepping forward to display your cultivation and the execution of your martial techniques!”
He paused slightly, his gaze shifting toward He Tunan. “We shall start with the core disciples!”
He Tunan understood immediately. Master Wen wanted him, the Second Senior Brother, to take the lead. He took a deep breath, suppressed his churning emotions, and strode into the center of the field.
The Tingquan Meditation Scripture began to circulate. The eight acupuncture points in his body vibrated in unison, and a dense qi aura diffused from his body.
With a flick of He Tunan's right hand, his long sword unsheathed with a metallic clang. Sword-light flared instantly, and cold air swept in all directions.
The Flying Waterfall Swordplay was executed by his hand, the sword momentum continuous like a surging river. One move, “Flying Waterfall Hanging from the Sky,” was followed by another, “Silver Ribbon Hanging in the Sky.” The sound of the sword blade piercing the air whistled sharply, fierce and dazzling.
“Anjin Eight Acupoints! Second Senior Brother is not far from the Great Perfection of the Anjin Rank!”
“As expected of Second Senior Brother! Looking at this progress, he can begin to plan for the Huajin Rank by the end of the year.”
“His Flying Waterfall Swordplay has also reached Great Accomplishment. With this level of mastery, who knows when we will ever catch up.”
The disciples in the field whispered among themselves, their words filled with admiration.
He Tunan returned his sword to its scabbard. Though his face remained impassive, a trace of pride flashed in his eyes.
Wen Qingye cast a few indifferent glances. Showing neither joy nor anger on his face, he merely nodded slowly and said, “Not bad. Next, Hongxiu!”
Zheng Hongxiu stepped forward at the call. With a soft cry, the thin sword at her waist unsheathed like a silver rainbow.
She was using the Thousand-Wave Sword, but her sword momentum was completely different from He Tunan's!
Like overlapping waves in an angry sea, each strike was faster than the last, pushing forward in layers. By the time her final sword thrust went out, the sound of the tip piercing the air was as sharp as a whistle.
“Fourth Senior Sister has also opened her eighth acupuncture point! Incredible!”
“Senior Sister's Thousand-Wave Sword has reached Great Accomplishment. In terms of sword technique mastery alone, she is probably not much inferior to Second Senior Brother.”
“I wonder who between Fourth Senior Sister and Second Senior Brother will enter seclusion to break through to the Huajin Rank first...”
“...”
He Tunan pursed his lips, his hands clasped behind his back tightening unconsciously.
He had already learned from others that Zheng Hongxiu's ability to open her eighth acupuncture point in such a short time was entirely due to the three drops of Century-Old Earth Stalactite Milk bestowed by Master Wen.
This item had been obtained by Master Wen by chance. Many core disciples had received a share, yet He Tunan was the only one left out!
This was a punishment! It was Master Wen's punishment for his act of pushing Shen Xiuhan into the Precious Fish ponds.
Others did not know the inside story, but he was painfully aware of it.
‘Hmph, so what if she has the Century-Old Earth Stalactite Milk? I am already not far from the ninth acupuncture point. No one will break through to the Huajin Rank before me.’ He Tunan gritted his teeth, swallowing his bitterness and resentment.
Once Zheng Hongxiu finished demonstrating her swordplay, her breathing remained steady, her face unflushed and her breath unhurried.
Wen Qingye remained as calm as ever. He nodded and said, “Not bad. Xiangyang, your turn.”
Cui Xiangyang stepped forward, bowed with cupped hands, and drew his sword.
Although his Thousand-Wave Sword had similarly reached Great Accomplishment, his cultivation progress was noticeably slower than that of He Tunan and Zheng Hongxiu. He had only just perfected his sixth acupuncture point, and the seventh had yet to be opened.
However, his foundation was solid, and his qi force was harmonious. Once he consumed the Century-Old Earth Stalactite Milk, it would not take him long to step into the Great Accomplishment of the Anjin Rank.
After Cui Xiangyang finished his demonstration, Wen Qingye nodded. His gaze shifted, and he spoke: “Next... Xiuhan!”
Shen Xiuhan let out a soft breath and strode into the center of the field.
Dozens of gazes fell upon him in unison! Some were filled with admiration, some with coldness, some with envy, and some with faint defiance—all sorts of emotions intertwined.
Standing still in the center of the field, Shen Xiuhan's thoughts stirred: ‘I intend to inform Master Wen about the Blessed Land to gain his protection. But before that, I must at least gain his high regard! So, it's time to reveal more of my cultivation...’
Having made up his mind, Shen Xiuhan quietly activated the Turtle-Breathing Face-Altering Formula!
Several concealed acupuncture points in his body suddenly vibrated!
A massive wave of qi aura surged and diffused from his entire body!
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