Chapter 21 First Stage of the Exam (Part 1)
The whole family was in a cheerful mood after Ling Zhan broke through the sixth meridian.
Meng Xi Yun, in particular, instructed the servants to prepare a lavish banquet in celebration and hoped that Ling Zhan can become a xuan practitioner as soon as possible.
After dinner, Ling Zhan called Ling Xiao into the study.
“Son, thank you!” Ling Zhan said as he patted Ling Xiao’s shoulder gratefully.
Ling Xiao waved his hand and said, “Dad, you are my father. I wouldn’t even be here without you, so there’s no need to stand on ceremony. We’re not strangers, we’re family.”
Ling Zhan looked at his son and sighed with emotion, “I thought I had to resign to living a muddled up existence and never dreamed there would come a day when I will be able to cultivate xuan strength again. As a martial artist, you have given me a second lease on life. My only wish now is to be able to regain my original strength.” He paused for a moment and then gave Ling Xiao a good, hard look before continuing, “Xiao’er, you’re not the same as me. Since the Immortal has picked you as a disciple, the Immortal’s vision cannot be wrong, and your future is destined to be brighter than your father, our Ling Family, or anyone else in Falling Stone City. So you must practice diligently and live up to the Immortal’s expectations for you!”
Ling Xiao heard the serious tone in his father’s voice, did not refute but nodded his head submissively. “Don’t worry, Dad. Your child will certainly practice really hard and live up to both you and the Immortal’s expectations.”
“That’s good to hear. Oh, right, you have to make sure to do well in the family exam three days from now, so that we can shut those guys up who look down on us.” Ling Zhan exhorted.
“Yes, Dad!” Ling Xiao nodded.
Three days passed by in a flash.
Ling Family’s annual exam will be held today.
At first light, more than a hundred youths between twelve and twenty years of age were already waiting on the training field.
These are the youths of Ling Family’s eighteenth generation; some were from the direct branch while others were from collateral branches. As long as they can pass this exam, they will become the future pillars of the Ling Family. It did not matter if they were from the direct branch or the collateral branches, they will receive the same treatment. Whether they can remain in the inner court or be sent out will depend on their results today.
Everyone on the training field is separated into three groups. The first group is led by the grandson of the Patriarch’s first wife, Ling Li. Another group is led by the grandson of the Second Elder’s first wife, Ling Kuang. The last group is simply members of collateral branches led by the most powerful among them, Ling Hu. Among the three groups, Ling Kuang’s group has the most supporters, accounting for more than half of the people present, followed by Ling Li and then Ling Hu.
In a world where only the strong has the right to speak, all families worship martial prowess, and the Ling Family is no exception.
Ling Kuang is the most outstanding among those who were twenty years or younger—he had reached the ranks of xuan warrior at the age of nineteen—therefore, he received the support of many people. Ling Li’s also not weak. He already has the strength of a high-rank xuan practitioner at eighteen years old and is expected to break through to low-rank xuan warrior before age nineteen. As the Patriarch’s grandson and ranked third in the last exam, he has also garnered many supporters. Ling Hu is nineteen years old and has the strength of an intermediate-rank xuan practitioner. Although he’s only ranked fifth among the youths of the eighteenth generation, he’s the most outstanding among the descendants of the collateral branches, and all the children of the collateral branches follow his example.
The three groups were chatting among themselves, but everyone was either excited or nervous. They were excited because the annual exam has arrived, and nervous from doubting their ability to pass the exam.
“What do you guys think? Will Elder Brother Ling Kuang take first place in today’s exam? He has been first for two consecutive years. He’s really worthy of praise!”
“There’s no contest. Elder Brother Ling Kuang is already a low-rank xuan warrior and is the strongest among our generation. If he doesn’t come in first, then who would?”
“That’s right. Although Ling Li is also very strong, he still haven’t broken through to the xuan warrior rank. He’s bound to lose at the hands of Elder Brother Ling Kuang.”
“If even Ling Li will come up short against Elder Brother Ling Kuang, is there anyone that can pose a threat to Elder Brother Ling Kuang?”
“Like hell there is. A xuan warrior can already project xuan strength externally and cultivate formidable techniques according to one’s attribute. The difference between a xuan warrior and xuan practitioner is like night and day. Only another xuan warrior would be a match for Elder Brother Ling Kuang.”
“Didn’t you guys hear that someone else has broken through to the xuan warrior rank?”
“Could it be…last year’s second place Ling Bin?”
“Right, it’s her.”
As the discussions continued, the atmosphere became vivacious and noisy.
Ling Xiao arrived rather late and casually found a random place to sit down. From his memories, he was not particularly close to anyone among the eighteenth generation. He didn’t feel like making merry but just wanted the exam to hurry up and begin.
Shortly after, all the elders and an honor guard walked out from the inner chamber.
Patriarch Ling Cang stepped onto the high platform in the middle of the training field, hands behind his back as he spoke, his voice sounding deep and extremely dignified, “Today is the day of our Ling Family’s annual exam. Each year on this day, we witness your growth. The survival of the fittest is the most fundamental truth of life, so your fate is in your hands. I’ll not speak about the rules but I will say this: the first five finishers of this year’s exam will be able to participate in the competition between the major families of Falling Stone City at year end.”
Ling Cang’s words caused an uproar among the crowd below.
Falling Stone City altogether has more than ten large and small aristocratic families, and will hold a triennial competition among the younger generation to gauge the potential of each family’s posterity. At the same time, each family will put forth generous rewards for those who made a good showing. Not only will they gain honor for their family, but they can also receive the prizes from the competition. These prizes can all promote cultivation, whether it’s xuan skills, spirit medicine, or even a best quality weapon…
The age restriction for the competition was set at twenty-five and anyone who exceeds this age is prohibited from participating.
Ling Cang waited for the crowd to quiet down and continued, “Furthermore, the first five finishers will receive the personal instruction of the elders and will be given a status equal to the inner court’s honor guards. And most importantly, Elder Taishang will choose his successor from among the five.”
Waves of audible gasps arose from the crowd.
What made them astonished was not the personal instruction of the elders or the status equal to the inner court’s honor guards, but the final words that “Elder Taishang will choose his successor from among the five.”
Elder Taishang has an unsurpassed status in the Ling Family, his power was deep and unmeasurable, and commanded even higher prestige than the Patriarch. Ten years ago, an intermediate-rank spirit master outsider dared to challenge the Ling Family’s authority. At that time, there was no elder of the Ling Family that can match with a spirit master. Elder Taishang turned him into mincemeat with one move and no one dared to provoke the Ling Family ever since. Even the Li and Luo Family feared Elder Taishang to some degree. On that day, Ling Family acquired an unshakable position in Falling Stone City.
It is easy to imagine what an honor it is to become Elder Taishang’s successor, and what a pleasant surprise this announcement is. This not only represents a chance to cement their place in the Ling Family, but Elder Taishang will also impart his cultivation methods. At that time, it would be impossible not to improve even if you wanted to! Whether it was the Ling Family’s seventeenth generation or the younger generation, they all highly respect Elder Taishang and long to become his successor. It’s just that the former no longer has this opportunity while the latter will be crazy for the only available position!
After offering up words of encouragements, Ling Cang announced the start to the exam.
The first stage is a test of martial strength.
This test is very simple and makes use of a test crystal to examine everyone’s martial strength. As long as the examinee strikes the crystal with all their strength, the crystal will display a color that corresponds to the examinee’s level of martial strength.
Ninth Elder Ling Fu will serve as the proctor for this stage of the exam.
Ling Fu is no more than sixty years old, slightly emaciated, and looked like a harmless old man who’s too weak to truss up a chicken, but you must not underestimate this old man or you’ll have to face the consequences.
Ling Fu stood on the high platform and started reading off from the list of names in his hand, “Eighteenth generation’s Ling Yan, come up!”
His voice just fell, a robust and simple-looking fifteen-year-old stepped out from the crowd and leaped up onto the high platform.
Ling Yan clasped his hands and bowed toward Ling Fu, and then, with a loud shout, condensed all of his strength into his right fist and heavily smashed toward the test crystal.
“Bang!”
Ling Yan stepped back as the test crystal changed from white to light gray, continuing to darken until it reached a certain degree and then halted.
Elder Ling Fu nodded, then in a loud, clear voice said, “Hmm, not bad. Eighth-rank martial apprentice, so you promoted one rank since last year. You can continue to cultivate in the inner court. Try hard to break through to xuan practitioner rank as soon as possible!”
Having obtained Ling Fu’s approval, a happy expression bloomed on Ling Yan’s face as he bowed deeply to Elder Ling Fu before leaving the high platform.
Ling Fu’s voice rang out again, “Eighteenth generation’s Ling Yan, please come up.”
Ling Yen was younger than Ling Yan, only thirteen years old, appeared weak, and a descendent of the collateral branch. He timidly made his way on the platform and punched the test crystal.
The test crystal also turned from white to light gray before darkening but stopped short of the degree Ling Yan was able to achieve.
Ling Fu announced, “Ling Yen, fourth-rank martial apprentice. You can remain in the inner court. Next is Ling Shui.”
Ling Shui, sixth-rank martial apprentice. You can continue practicing in the inner court.”
“Ling Wen, third-rank martial apprentice. No improvement in two consecutive years. You’ll be expelled from the inner court. Your arrangements will be announced at a later time.”
……
One examinee after another went up on the platform, a majority of which were excited from passing the test. The ones who failed hanged were utterly crestfallen, wearing a dejected expression on their faces.
“Eighteenth generation’s Ling Tian, please come up.”
Just as Elder Ling Fu’s voice fell, a hubbub of voices broke out in the crowd.
Shortly thereafter, a sixteen-year-old dressed in white carrying a slender sword on his back leaped up in the air, and with a somersault, landed gracefully on the platform. His eyebrows were sharp like a sword and his eyes shimmered like starlight. He had a handsome appearance but he’s so full of himself that it rubs people the wrong way.
Ling Tian is Fourth Elder Ling Wei’s grandson and an exceptional talent; he broke through to low-rank xuan practitioner last year at the tender age of fifteen.
“Ling Tian was already a low-rank xuan practitioner last year. I wonder if he broke through to intermediate-rank xuan practitioner this year!”
“Breaking through a lesser rank in a year is not an easy feat. I think it’s impossible.”
“There’s no such thing as impossible. Elder Brother Ling Kuang was also sixteen years old when he became an intermediate-rank xuan practitioner. Ling Tian’s talent is comparable to Elder Brother Ling Kuang. Judging by the smug look on his face, I think it’s likely he had become an intermediate-rank xuan practitioner.”
……
Ling Tian ignored the crowd, but the corners of his mouth turned up into a slight smirk as a single fist lightly landed on the test crystal.
“Boom!”
The test crystal turned from white to gray, from gray to a pale yellow, and then stopped after darkening a few degrees.
Ling Fu revealed a look of appreciation and nodded at Ling Tian, “Excellent. Having broken through a lesser rank to intermediate-rank xuan practitioner in one year, Ling Tian can stay in the inner court to practice cultivation.”
When Ling Fu announced Ling Tian’s results, the crowd went into an uproar, clearly shaken by Ling Tian’s show of strength.
Ling Tian seemed satisfied with the crowd’s reaction, but his face stiffened as his gaze fell on a particular part of the crowd, and then stepped down from the platform with a look of displeasure.