Chapter 97: Chapter 86: Yunlin

Several canals, as wide as great rivers, converged here in a radial pattern before branching out again, like the veins of a colossal dragon.

A thousand sails vied for passage, a hundred barges contended for the current.

Ornate pleasure barges, merchant ships laden with goods, and even strangely shaped, armed vessels flying the banners of various gangs and Noble Families navigated the crisscrossing waterways in a constant, orderly flow.

The docks bustled with the clamor of voices and the thunder of work chants. Goods were piled high like mountains, and the air buzzed with prosperity and vigor.

The towering ship slowly entered the main channel, passing through one majestic water gate after another.

The guards at the gates had fierce auras and sharp gazes.

Chen Qing could clearly sense that most of these ordinary guards actually had Manifest Force Cultivation, and their leader was an expert in Dark Force.

Upon entering the inner river, the full view of the Prefecture City was even more breathtaking.

The streets were wide and flat, spacious enough for ten horses to ride abreast, all paved with hard, blue-black stone.

Buildings of various styles stood side by side, each exuding a sense of power and age. There were towers that pierced the clouds, with upturned eaves, interlocking brackets, and intricately carved beams and painted rafters.

Enormous, iridescent signs hung from them, bearing names like ’Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion,’ ’Divine Weapon Square,’ and ’Pill Cauldron Tower.’

Sprawling Martial Arts Arenas echoed with shouts and the clang of metal on metal.

There were simple and solemn Martial Temples, filled with the thick scent of burning incense.

Numerous martial practitioners moved in and out, their auras varying in strength, but every one of them carried a rugged, formidable air.

Wu Manqing smiled. “How does this compare to Gaolin?”

Chen Qing said with sincere emotion, “They’re worlds apart.”

This place was completely different from Gaolin County.

Even in the Inner City of Gaolin County, Martial Artists were merely “everywhere.”

But here in the Prefecture City, among the bustling crowds, people with martial skills were a common sight.

Wu Manqing smiled faintly. “Time is of the essence. Let’s go directly to the Wutai Sect.”

The carriage sped westward.

About an hour later, a body of water appeared before them. It was Dingbo Lake.

The misty waves stretched endlessly, water and sky blending into one. Islands were scattered like stars, and flocks of waterfowl soared and gathered.

Unlike the bustling river system of the Prefecture City, this body of water was more open and serene, possessing a transcendent, spiritual aura.

The carriage sped along a wide, flat road paved with blue-gray stone.

The roadside was lined with meticulously manicured wetland scenery, dotted with rare flowers and exotic plants, creating a refreshing and pleasant sight.

In the distance, a magnificent complex of buildings came into view.

That was the Wutai Sect!

The Sect’s entire core area seemed to be built directly on a vast lake.

Hundreds of bridges, plank roads, and covered corridors, like an intricate network of veins, connected islands of various sizes, floating platforms, and grand halls, forming a small city that floated on the water.

The architectural style was simple and imposing, mostly constructed from dark, massive stones and ancient wood, with upturned eaves and interlocking brackets that gave them a majestic air.

White egrets flew gracefully between the pavilions, and the water’s surface was covered with neat rows of lotus leaves, all shrouded in a lingering mist.

The carriage stopped before a massive mountain gate.

The gate consisted of two pillars of profound black stone, with a huge jade plaque hanging between them, inscribed with the two words ’Wutai Sect’!

Wu Manqing said to Chen Qing, “Brother Chen, we’ve reached the mountain gate. This is as far as I go.”

Chen Qing clasped his fist solemnly. “Madam, I will never forget your care along the way.”

“Good. Then I wish you great fortune in your Martial Arts journey, Brother Chen. May everything go smoothly.”

Wu Manqing nodded with a smile, and the carriage departed.

Chen Qing took a deep breath, straightened his clothes, and strode toward the bustling plaza in front of the archway.

The plaza before the archway was wide and already crowded with people, mostly young, their faces a mixture of nervousness and anticipation.

To one side of the plaza were several stone houses, which served as the place for initial reception and screening.

Chen Qing presented Pang Qinhai’s letter of recommendation and his identity documents.

The one in charge of reception was a stern-faced, middle-aged steward with the surname Zhu.

He carefully verified the authenticity of the letter and the information on the documents, then nodded slightly.

“Chen Qing, from Gaolin County, age eighteen.”

Steward Zhu registered the information. “Finally, I need to test your Root Bone.”

As he spoke, he placed a hand on Chen Qing’s ribs and felt them.

Chen Qing immediately felt a sore ache in his ribs.

Steward Zhu glanced at Chen Qing, then picked up his brush and wrote on the paper: Four Forms Root Bone.

Chen Qing asked in a low voice, “Excuse me, senior, what does ’Four Forms Root Bone’ mean?”

Steward Zhu said indifferently, “It is the method our Wutai Sect uses to select disciples. Root Bone is graded from One to Nine Forms, with Nine Forms being the best. Your Four Forms is considered average.”

“Alright, your information has been registered. It will be submitted to Xuanying Hall shortly. After it’s reviewed, it will be sent to the various Deans for cross-examination.”

Steward Zhu handed over a Wooden Token. “You will be notified when there is news. In the meantime, you can wait at the ’Anping Inn’ nearby.”

“Thank you, Steward Zhu.” Chen Qing clasped his fist and took his leave.

He left the mountain gate, found the inn named “Anping Inn” on the next street, and requested a clean, tidy, mid-range single room.

The room wasn’t large, but it was fully furnished with a table, chair, and bed. The window overlooking the street had a decent view, and the room was quiet and private, suitable for Cultivation. The price was also within his means.

After paying for five days’ lodging, Chen Qing followed the attendant into the room.

He put down his luggage and pushed open the window. Below, the alley was bustling with people.

He soon noticed that there were quite a few young people like him in the Anping Inn—carrying luggage, their faces a mix of anticipation and anxiety.

Clearly, most of them wanted to join the Wutai Sect.

’Transmutation Force at eighteen, with a Four Forms Root Bone… I can only wait now.’

Chen Qing silently closed the window and sat cross-legged on the bed.

After briefly regulating his breathing, Chen Qing wasted no time and began to temper his Eight Extremes Vajra Body once more.

[Heaven Rewards Diligence. Success is inevitable.]

[Eight Extremes Vajra Body: Iron Armor (4/500)]

Back on the Wu Family’s merchant ship, he had already advanced this Cultivation Technique to the ’Iron Armor’ realm, causing his muscles, bones, and flesh to condense and greatly increase in strength.

Chen Qing could clearly sense that with every breakthrough in the Eight Extremes Vajra Body, his own strength increased.

…

Geng Metal Institute, Martial Arts Arena.

The ice and snow on the blue-gray stone ground had melted. A middle-aged man in Profound Black Martial Attire had just withdrawn his Fist Momentum, the Qi Force subsiding like a receding tide.

It was Tan Yang, the Dean of the Geng Metal Institute.

Beads of sweat rolled down his resolute cheeks as he casually grabbed a nearby towel.

“Master, the new batch of applicant lists has arrived.”

A disciple hurried in, respectfully holding a thick stack of registers with both hands.

“Just leave them there.”

Tan Yang’s voice was deep. He didn’t look up, focusing only on wiping the sweat from his neck.

“Yes!”

The disciple did as he was told, gently placing the registers on the stone table. He bowed and then quietly withdrew.

Tan Yang took a deep breath, and as his chest rose and fell, the qi within his body completely settled.

Only then did he stroll over to the stone table, pick up the topmost register, and slowly open it.

“Qi Baorui, nineteen, Transmutation Force, Five Forms Root Bone… Passable.”

“Chen Qing, eighteen, Transmutation Force, Four Forms Root Bone… Young, decent strength, but his Root Bone is a bit lacking.”

“Yu Manwen, eighteen, Great Success in Transmutation Force Realm, Six Forms Root Bone! This girl’s aptitude is excellent. She has potential.”

“Sun Ba, nineteen, Transmutation Force, Three Forms Root Bone, hmph… Useless! How dare he dream of the Inner Courtyard with such a Root Bone? What a fool’s hope!”

…

Tan Yang’s voice was cold, without the slightest fluctuation of emotion.

The Geng Metal Institute specialized in aggressive and domineering Fist, Foot and Palm Techniques, so his requirements for his disciples’ Root Bone were the most stringent.

In his eyes, a Six Forms Root Bone was the minimum entry-level requirement. Anyone with less than a Six Forms Root Bone, even if they had reached the Transmutation Force realm, was no different from “rotten wood” to him.

Every selection of disciples affected the rise and fall of the Geng Metal Institute’s power. It determined how many Sect resources he, the Dean, could acquire, and more importantly, it determined the weight of his words in the Sect’s council hall.

This was no trivial matter.

His gaze swept across the list, pausing on Chen Qing’s name for an extra moment.

Reaching the Transmutation Force realm at eighteen with only a Four Forms Root Bone was truly an anomaly.

It was either the result of a wealthy family piling on Treasure Medicines, or he had stumbled upon a great stroke of luck and had a fortuitous encounter.

This Chen Qing came from a poor background… so it seemed to be the latter.

He sighed internally with a hint of regret. ’The Root Bone is the foundation of Martial Arts; there’s no faking it.’

Even with a fortuitous encounter, a Four Forms Root Bone predetermined his upper limit. In the end, he would find it difficult to reach the peak.

Without further hesitation, Tan Yang singled out the registers for Yu Manwen and another applicant with a Six Forms Root Bone, setting them aside.

He decisively closed the remaining thick stack.

Tomorrow, these discarded registers would be passed on to the next Dean, awaiting a new round of review and assessment.

…

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