Chapter 68: Thunderbolt Sword
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Chen Fei listened attentively to the discussions around him, confirming that more than half of the people present were from other cities. Among them, besides those who aspired to become disciples of the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect, most were refugees like Chen Fei.
“Here they come!”
Soon, a group of figures rushed down the mountain and swiftly stood before the crowd.
Chen Fei’s eyes narrowed as he observed their movements. Their speed was astonishingly fast. The movement technique that Chen Fei took pride in might not be weak, but it couldn’t compare to the agility displayed by the newcomers just now.
Judging from their calm postures, it was clear they hadn’t exerted their full strength.
“Let’s skip the pleasantries. If you wish to join our Immortal Cloud Sword Sect, you must possess exceptional comprehension abilities. Those below thirteen years of age follow my junior brother up the mountain for the test. Those below fifteen years old and who have reached the Bone Tempering realm also follow my junior brother. Those below eighteen years old and who have already attained the Marrow Tempering realm, follow me for the test,” Fan Shiyu announced loudly, pointing at her two junior brothers standing beside her. “These are the rules. Let the testing begin!”
“Wait a minute! What about those over eighteen?” someone shouted in surprise, realizing there were only three rules and Fan Shiyu was about to ascend the mountain.
…..
“The sect currently does not accept anyone over the age of eighteen,” Fan Shiyu replied with a shake of her head.
“You mean we don’t even have a chance to be tested? What about testing our comprehension and aptitude, as we used to?” Many people grew anxious, including Chen Fei, who glanced at Fan Shiyu.
“The rules have changed. Today is the day,” Fan Shiyu stated firmly.
“This is unfair! We’ve come all this way and aren’t given a chance!” some protested.
“I’ve only started practicing martial arts recently, but I’ve trained my body diligently for a year. In a few more months, I will definitely reach the Bone Tempering realm,” another argued.
“Yes, we’ve just started learning martial arts, but it doesn’t mean our talent and foundation are lacking!” voices of discontent echoed through the crowd.
Almost half of the people were shocked, and the scene grew chaotic, with many expressing their indignation.
“Silence!” a thunderous shout reverberated, rendering everyone deafened. Those with lower cultivation levels even stumbled and fell to the ground, overwhelmed by the sheer force of the sound. The uproar immediately ceased.
“Luck is also part of the martial path. Coming into contact with martial arts late means you’re unlucky! Now, those who meet the requirements proceed up the mountain for testing. The rest of you are dismissed!” Fan Shiyu scanned the crowd with an imposing aura, causing many to lower their heads in submission.
Chen Fei and Fan Shiyu exchanged a brief gaze, but it went unnoticed by the others. Chen Fei took a deep breath, exhaling slowly.
Life is filled with hardships.
Chen Fei had envisioned various scenarios regarding becoming a disciple, but he never expected that the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect wouldn’t even grant him a chance to be tested. As Fan Shiyu had emphasized, luck was indeed a factor in martial arts. In other words, luck was a part of life. Sometimes, when there was no opportunity, there simply wasn’t one.
Those who met the requirements began queuing to ascend the mountain for the test, while the others who fell short refused to leave, clinging to a glimmer of hope.
Many thoughts raced through Chen Fei’s mind, but ultimately, he shook his head. The Immortal Cloud Sword Sect’s stance was crystal clear. There was no chance for an older martial artist like him.
Wine Immortal Inn.
“These are the nearby sects where you can seek apprenticeship. Although they may not compare to the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect, they have a long history,” the tooth man handed Chen Fei a piece of paper. Chen Fei skimmed through it, discovering three sects listed. The paper provided brief introductions about each sect’s location and its unique cultivation techniques.
“You’ve prepared quite well,” Chen Fei remarked, surprised by the tooth man’s perceptiveness. He had only stopped by the inn for a moment, yet the tooth man instantly saw through his intentions. His business acumen was remarkable.
“It’s all for the sake of earning some money,” the tooth man chuckled.
“How much do I owe you?” Chen Fei asked.
“Ten taels of silver. I’ll share everything I know once you pay!” the tooth man replied, his expression turning serious.
“Please have a seat!”
Chen Fei called over a waiter and ordered a cup of tea for the tooth man. The tooth man beamed with delight. The transaction was completed.
An hour later, the tooth man departed. Chen Fei watched the bustling street and furrowed his brows.
The tooth man possessed a wealth of information, even if it was publicly available. Nevertheless, it saved Chen Fei considerable time.
The Big Dipper Tower, Long Rainbow Sect, and Sunken Water Pavilion were the names of the three sects. According to the tooth man, these three sects possessed similar strengths, each with its own distinctive cultivation techniques.
Apart from these three sects, there were smaller sects in the vicinity of Immortal Cloud City as well. However, they were considerably weaker. Some of them had enjoyed glory in the past but lost their inherited cultivation techniques or encountered other setbacks.
The Sunken Water Pavilion exclusively recruited female disciples, making it irrelevant for Chen Fei.
The Long Rainbow Sect focused on spear techniques, which wasn’t particularly appealing. Additionally, they only accepted those below thirteen years old and didn’t admit disciples who already possessed their own martial arts skills.
The Big Dipper Tower’s ascetic monks were forbidden to marry, as their cultivation technique required them to maintain their virginity. Marrying would disrupt their cultivation progress and, at worst, cause a regression in their cultivation realm.
After listening to the descriptions of these three sects, Chen Fei felt disheartened.
It became apparent why these three sects couldn’t compare to the Immortal Sword Sect. The restrictions imposed, and their cultivation techniques paled in comparison. How could they possibly match up?
“I didn’t expect to be unable to join my first choice, then my second choice, and now I’m left with the third choice,” Chen Fei murmured to himself. He hadn’t anticipated this outcome before coming to Immortal Cloud City.
“The Primordial Sword Sect… I’ll give it a try,” thoughts of the Primordial Sword Sect flashed through Chen Fei’s mind. It possessed a respectable heritage, comparable to the Sunken Water Pavilion and the other two sects.
The only drawback was that no one had managed to attain Great Completion of their most renowned cultivation technique, Thunderbolt Sword, in many years. Consequently, the sect’s overall strength and top-tier combat prowess were slightly weaker compared to the other three sects.
Moreover, the current sect leader seemed to struggle with management.
“What connection does the Thunderbolt Sword have with the Thunderous Sword Force?” Chen Fei had asked the tooth man previously. The similarity in names intrigued him, especially considering the fame of the Thunderous Sword Force in the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect.
“I don’t know,” the tooth man was about to shake his head, but when he saw Chen Fei produce another five taels of silver, he immediately changed his tune and whispered, “I heard that the founder of the Primordial Sword Sect deemed the Thunderous Sword Force to be extraordinary. In response, he created the Thunderbolt Sword to counter it.”
“But the Thunderbolt Sword has certain flaws, making it extremely challenging to cultivate.”
“I truly don’t know,” the tooth man chuckled, refusing to divulge further.
Chen Fei finished his wine and left the restaurant.
Two hours later, Chen Fei arrived at the entrance of a mountain gate.
Today was also the day for the Primordial Sword Sect to recruit disciples. However, compared to the bustling scene at the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect, the number of people present was considerably smaller. Nonetheless, there were still a handful.
Fifteen minutes later, Chen Fei possessed a waist token and a manual on their cultivation technique. He had paid a hundred taels of silver for these items.
Chen Fei now held the status of an outer sect disciple of the Primordial Sword Sect. By diligently cultivating the sword technique within the manual and reaching its peak within half a year, he would have the opportunity to truly become a disciple of the Primordial Sword Sect.
Chen Fei gazed at the manual, his expression filled with complexity. It felt as though he had entered a large martial arts club..