Chapter Seven—Passing the Test! The Swordsmanship Pavilion!

Elder Hao Bo respectfully bowed to the testing stone, then turned to the crowd below with pride and said, "This testing stone was brought back from the foreign battlefields by our ancestor. It is a supreme-grade spiritual treasure imbued with immensely powerful cosmic energy, specifically designed to test your potential. The levels are indicated by colors: red, orange, yellow, green, and blue, ascending in order."

At that moment, Elder Yu stepped forward and respectfully bowed to the stone as well.

"Senior, we trouble you again this time. Please forgive us," he said, then beckoned to the disciples below.

"Step forward one by one and place your hand upon it."

A chubby youth pushed aside those around him and rushed to the front, excitedly exclaiming, "I'll go, I'll go!"

He eagerly placed his hand on the stone. The stone emitted a red glow. Seeing this, his expression darkened.

Then, the testing stone spoke in an ancient, weathered voice: "Red, low-level talent."

The voice echoed across the vast plaza, tinged with a faint, almost imperceptible sense of regret. The chubby youth’s face instantly turned pale; the light in his eyes swiftly dimmed, as if the sudden blow had drained all vitality from him. Stiffly, he withdrew his hand and took a few steps back, feeling the sharp, piercing gazes of those around him like blades, leaving him utterly ashamed.

"I refuse to accept this! Why is my talent so low? It’s broken, it’s broken!" the youth shouted in despair.

"Step aside!" Wan Ke frowned and ordered.

Seeing this, the youth snapped angrily, "You old geezer, shut up!"

"How dare you!" The voice fell, and the youth was instantly pulverized into a bloody pulp on the ground.

Elder Yu then said, "From now on, disciples with talent below the mysterious level may remain in the menial duties hall or leave as they wish."

At this moment, the testing stone spoke: "Next."

Suddenly, a vast voice rang out: "Green, earthly-level talent!"

"What? Liu Shaoying is an earthly-level talent? What a prodigy!"

"Exactly, this is a big asset. We must hold onto him tightly."

Voices rose and fell among the crowd, all debating whether to form teams.

---

Listening to the chatter below, Liu Shaoying felt a surge of pride and provocatively glanced at Ye Chen and another companion. "Care to try?"

Both frowned deeply. Ye Chen remained silent, but Liu Jinshui beside him couldn’t hold back. "Fine, let’s do it."

Just as he was about to approach the testing stone, Ye Chen grabbed his arm. "No need for blind loyalty."

Liu Jinshui patted his chest. "No problem, brother. I just don’t like him. He deserves a beating. Don’t worry."

Hearing this, Ye Chen stepped aside. "Go for it. I believe in you."

Making a gesture of encouragement, Ye Chen clenched his right fist, raised it high with his thumb up, his gaze firm and trusting. Sunlight filtered through the clouds, illuminating his face and casting a golden glow, lending him an aura of heroic vigor.

Seeing this, Liu Jinshui’s heart warmed, as if inspired by an invisible force. He took a deep breath and strode confidently to the testing stone, his eyes shining brightly. The noisy crowd seemed to fade at that moment, leaving only the tense, solemn confrontation between him and the stone—if only for a brief instant.

"Do you think he’s an earthly-level talent too?"

"Probably. Look at his confident demeanor."

Seeing Liu Jinshui’s unwavering confidence, Liu Shaoying’s face darkened, and he stared fixedly at the stone. "Let’s see what kind of talent you really have, you arrogant fool."

The testing stone trembled violently, as if unable to contain the spiritual energy about to erupt. Everyone held their breath, watching as Liu Jinshui’s hand touched the stone. A brilliant light flared, and a mighty spiritual energy wave burst forth, enveloping the entire plaza. The stone's ancient voice thundered across the sky: "Liu Jinshui, blue, celestial-level talent!"

The voice carried awe and shock, as if even the stone itself was moved. Liu Jinshui’s figure shimmered within the light, a look of disbelief spreading across his face, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Damn! I’m actually celestial-level! Hahaha! I’m amazing!" he laughed heartily, then glanced back at the ashen-faced Liu Shaoying.

"You think you’re so great? How about showing off a little more? Didn’t you say you were impressive?"

Liu Shaoying snapped back, regaining his composure: "You’re celestial-level, but your brother can’t be. What are you laughing at?"

Hearing this, Ye Chen furrowed his brows. "What the hell? Why are you so annoying? You call that watching the show?"

Ye Chen’s steps were steady, each footfall seeming to strike a chord in the hearts of all present, stirring whispers but no one dared interrupt. He approached the testing stone slowly, his deep eyes filled with both expectation and calm.

The moment his fingers lightly touched the stone, the world seemed to freeze. Only the stone’s surface began to tremble subtly, then an unprecedented dazzling light exploded forth, painting the space in a dreamlike radiance. Within the glow, Ye Chen’s figure stood tall and proud, as if a prodigy from ancient legend had stepped forth.

The stone’s aged and solemn voice boomed again, filled with unmatched resonance: "Ye Chen, blue, celestial-level talent!"

Witnessing this, Liu Jinshui burst with excitement. "As expected of my brother, also blue! Hahaha, Liu Shaoying, you useless fool, still barking? Forget him, Brother Ye."

With that, he stepped aside into a corner.

"Lu Ge, orange, mysterious-level talent."

"He Yi, green, earthly-level talent."

An hour later...

Elder Yu stood tall on the platform, his white hair and beard framing piercing eyes. His voice rang out like a bell: "This round is over. Three hundred remain. In half an hour, follow me to the third stage."

With a wave of his sleeve, a streak of light shot forth, transforming into a giant golden scroll suspended midair. The scroll shimmered with golden light, adorned with intricate runes and patterns. Their names were inscribed in the center, radiating a mysterious aura.

The crowd gazed at the scroll, eyes shining with excitement.

Elder Hao Bo then called out loudly, "Ye Chen, Xiao Wu Jie, Liu Jinshui, Liu Shaoying, you four are excused from the upcoming assessments. Now, follow me to the Sword Technique Pavilion to receive your sword techniques."

"Alright!" the four answered in unison, their voices tinged with excitement.

The others looked on with envy.

Half an hour passed in the blink of an eye...

Third Stage: A single match to determine ranking!

As the name implies, the battles would decide their order.

At this moment, on Ye Chen’s side...

Ye Chen and Liu Jinshui stood shoulder to shoulder, their eyes blazing as they faced Liu Shaoying and Xiao Wu Jie. Sunlight filtered through the leaves above, casting dappled patterns on them, adding solemnity to this unseen duel.

Liu Shaoying’s face was dark, his clenched fists revealing unwillingness to accept defeat; Xiao Wu Jie’s gaze was complex, filled with both recognition of Ye Chen’s strength and resignation about the ranking.

Between the four, an invisible tension tautened the air as if time itself had frozen.

Suddenly, a faint smile tugged at Ye Chen’s lips. He exchanged a look with Liu Jinshui—no words were needed; their tacit understanding spoke volumes.

They turned their backs to the crowd and ascended the stone steps leading to the Sword Technique Pavilion, their figures resolute and proud.