Chapter 7
Here we are.
The short, stout elder waved his hand and said, "Then line up properly, one by one, to check your bone structure."
As soon as he finished speaking, countless young boys and girls, under the management of the disciples of Qingyuan Sect, lined up obediently for the assessment.
The stewards seemed to have practiced a special technique; with a light pat on the shoulder of each tester, they could roughly discern the person's innate talent.
"Wu Ping, level C, you can go ahead."
"He Hai Kuo, level D middle."
"Qian Ning Ning, level D low..."
The Qingyuan Sect classified bone structures into four grades: A, B, C, and D. Anyone with a C grade or above was qualified to enter the sect.
There were many factors that determined talent, and bone structure was just one of them. Having a C grade meant possessing a ticket to the martial arts world.
Even so, out of every ten, only one or two would be above C grade.
Just this first round would likely eliminate eighty percent of the candidates.
Above A grade?
That would all be classified as A high.
"It's not always accurate, but the vast majority of those with a blue destiny have successfully passed," Li Mo thought as he stood in line, his Destiny Eye wide open.
"Little girl, come up," the elder woman in front beckoned.
Ying Bing stepped out of the crowd, instantly drawing countless gazes.
It was simply because she was stunningly beautiful...
Standing there with a cool demeanor, it felt as if the world around her fell silent, making her impossible to ignore.
Li Mo stroked his chin.
Based on his experience from reading novels, if nothing unexpected happened, there were two possibilities.
Either she was an absolute prodigy, or she was utterly useless.
With such great fortune, she certainly couldn't be just an ordinary person...
"Hiss..."
As expected.
The elder woman's brows furrowed instantly.
She became much more serious, her energy sinking into her dantian, her robes moving as if stirred by an unseen wind, as she prepared to use her internal energy to check the girl's bone structure.
The commotion drew the attention of everyone around.
Even the other stewards grew curious.
Checking for A grade bone structure shouldn't require such theatrics.
In the next moment, the elder woman's voice echoed throughout the venue:
"Ying Bing, A high!"
Her tone was complex, a mix of shock and excitement.
The crowd erupted in an uproar.
Those with A high qualifications were few and far between in the history of Qingyuan Sect.
Just moments ago, Murong Xiao, known as the "Qilin Child" of Ziyang Mansion, barely qualified as A low.
And even he was hailed as the top genius of the decade.
Li Mo: "..."
It seemed she was indeed the former.
Under the scrutiny of various gazes, Ying Bing became the center of attention.
Yet, the girl herself showed no signs of joy or sorrow.
Because she knew this was hardly significant.
Her A high status was simply because Qingyuan Sect had no higher classification than A high.
"Unfazed by praise or blame, this composure is truly rare. I look forward to your performance on the Heavenly Steps," the short, stout elder couldn't help but praise.
The bone structure test was merely a way to eliminate those unqualified for martial arts.
The real test of talent would come in the second round.
The Heavenly Stone Steps!
Bone structure wasn't everything when it came to talent, but with A high bone structure, this girl was bound to perform well in the second round.
The entrance ceremony had just begun.
The top contender had likely already emerged.
Ying Bing nodded and joined the group of successful candidates.
The pride and self-satisfaction that had adorned the faces of the other boys and girls who had passed the first round vanished without a trace.
They were still pondering how to enter the inner sect.
Ying Bing, at least, was a true disciple.
---
Chapter 6: C Grade
On the high platform.
"Truly extraordinary, perhaps the best I've ever seen," Xue Jing, still clad in his patchwork robe, twirled his long beard, his eyes glinting.
He was not surprised by Ying Bing's A high bone structure.
"Is this the promising talent you mentioned encountering on your way down the mountain?"
A lazy voice came from nearby.
A woman dressed in palace attire, her cheeks flushed, lounged back in her chair.
"Yes, but I wonder how far she can go on the Heavenly Stone Steps," Xue Jing replied, glancing at the woman with a hint of helplessness.
"I like this girl," the woman said, taking a hearty swig of her drink.
The elders exchanged glances: "..."
Are you sure it's not just because the girl is stunningly beautiful?
"She’s not suited for the martial arts of your lineage," Xue Jing said helplessly.
"Why not?" The palace-dressed woman raised an eyebrow.
"Look at you, training like a furnace; this girl clearly shouldn't be under your tutelage."
A voice, slightly cold and firm, interjected.
"Hanshe, are you looking for a fight?" the palace-dressed woman clenched her fists, eager for a challenge.
Elder Hanshe instinctively took a half-step back, letting out a wary snort.
"Everyone, calm down."
The voice carried authority.
Only when the sect leader spoke did the palace-dressed woman reluctantly take another swig from her gourd.
The elders exchanged glances.
Could it be that the sect leader was interested in that girl?
---
Unbeknownst to them, another incense stick had burned down.
Five hundred candidates had undergone the bone structure test.
Finally, it was Li Mo's turn.
The elder woman grasped his shoulder, feeling a surge of energy rushing in, ready to flow through his meridians.
But soon, that energy vanished.
Hmm?
The elder woman furrowed her brows for the second time.
Internal energy could stimulate a person's organs and even their meridians and bone structure.
The better the bone structure, the stronger the reaction to this stimulation.
Yet, this boy's body showed no response whatsoever.
As if that weren't enough, her internal energy seemed to vanish into thin air, like a cow sinking into the sea.
If she hadn't seen the boy standing right in front of her, she might have thought he was a stone.
After hesitating for a moment, she noted down his name:
"Li Mo, C grade, you can go ahead."
"Thank you."
Li Mo had anticipated this outcome and cupped his hands toward the elder.
With a calm demeanor, he passed through the mountain gate.
"Ah, C grade. Dad's probably not going to be happy about this."
"When the time comes, you’ll have to help me explain; your words carry weight with him."
Li Mo chuckled heartily, nudging the girl beside him with his shoulder.
Ying Bing was slightly taken aback.
C grade talent was not far from what she remembered.
But he didn’t seem disappointed.
Li Mo wore a carefree expression, still cheerful:
"Three parts fate, seven parts hard work."
"Many people can't even enter the mountain gate; I'm already quite lucky."
There was something he didn’t say.
What’s there to worry about? I have a backup.
Ying Bing observed the boy's nonchalance, finding it genuine.
Well, at least his bottle of Pure Yang Pill had helped her open her meridians ahead of time, saving her six months.
This mindset was worth a little push; how far he could go would depend on him.
Just then, a steward's announcement caught everyone's attention again:
"Wang Hu, tiger arms and leopard waist, B middle!"
The crowd erupted in chatter.
Aside from the two A grade prodigies, Wang Hu was the most talented of them all!
To say he was one in a million would not be an exaggeration.
Basking in the compliments from those around him, Wang Hu grinned arrogantly, casting a glance at the crowd.
"What are you looking at?"
Li Mo fell into deep thought.
---
At that moment, a figure landed before the mountain gate.
"Tiger-leopard physique?"
A tower-like middle-aged man reached out and squeezed Wang Hu's shoulder.
Wang Hu was startled but then saw his cousin stepping out from among the disciples, giving him a knowing look.
"Indeed, it’s a tiger-arm, leopard-waist physique," the middle-aged man said with satisfaction.
"Master, this is my cousin," Wang Hao respectfully bowed.
"Not bad, not bad. He’s even more suited to practice the Tiger-Leopard Thunderclap of a certain sect than you," his laughter boomed, resonating painfully in the ears of those nearby.
"Futu, wait until he enters the inner sect before you take him as a disciple," the short, stout elder reminded with a frown.
Futu?
Wang Hu was momentarily stunned, then filled with joy.
This was a very powerful inner sect steward; if it weren't for the fact that elder positions were limited, he would have long since been in charge of a peak.
"Hehe, I know the rules," Futu replied nonchalantly, cupping his hands.
Under his cousin's signal, Wang Hu quickly bowed:
"Greetings, Master."
"Go ahead and pass the Heavenly Stone Steps first," Futu did not correct the title.
After Futu left, Wang Hu held his head even higher, practically radiating arrogance.
As he walked past the mountain gate, he confidently approached Ying Bing and clasped his fists:
"Ying girl, we’ll be fellow disciples from now on."
And then, he received nothing but indifference in return.
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