18 Chapter 18: Reach Profound Crystal (Seeking votes and monthly tickets)
Translator: 549690339
As Lin Chen finished speaking, Meng Hongfei, who was by his side, walked down from the stage and stepped in front of the candidates.
“My name is Meng Hongfei, a disciple of the Martial Academy. I am in charge of the Cloud Water County exam together with Senior Brother Lin.”
“The first part of the exam is very simple. As long as you don’t encounter any issues, you should be able to pass.” Meng Hongfei’s gaze swept over everyone, and a cold and sharp smile appeared on his face.
“However, if you don’t pass the test, the consequences might be a bit serious.”
Sensing Meng Hongfei’s cold smile, a chilling feeling rose deep within the hearts of the young boys and girls.
“Why do I have a bad feeling?”
“Senior Brother is just joking with us.
“Exactly, if we don’t pass the test, at most we won’t be able to join the Martial Academy.”
The young boys and girls started to discuss, dissipating their fear unknowingly.
“Alright, let’s begin the test.” Meng Hongfei stopped the chatter among the people and with a slight wave of his hands, two black-armored soldiers brought up a table. He then took out a black crystal ball that emitted a mysterious, profound light, giving it an indescribable charm.
“This is the Reach Profound Crystal, developed by the Court Observatory using a significant amount of resources. This is the first time it’s being used. As for its specific effects, I won’t tell you about them. Just line up accordingly, register in order, and walk past the Reach Profound Crystal.”
“The crystal’s appearance will change depending on the person, eventually showing three different colors. When that happens, you will need to stand in three separate lines based on the respective colors.”
“Additionally, inaccuracies in the registration of your identity will result in consequences that you will have to bear.”
Meng Hongfei stood with his hands clasped behind his back, speaking sternly.
“Yes!”
The young boys and girls nodded in agreement.
Since there was only one Reach Profound Crystal, more than a thousand candidates had to undergo the test one by one.
The information required for registration included name, age, and affiliation – a simple process that wouldn’t take up much time.
The first candidate to come forward for registration was a young man with sword-like eyebrows and shining eyes. Seeing him, Lu Yun’s brows furrowed slightly. “This person is Xiao Chen, that swordsman of Heavenly Pride who fought against higher-ranked opponents?”
Lu Yun had learned about the young man’s identity when he heard the whispers around him and saw many people casting glances at Xiao Chen.
Upon closer inspection, this person indeed seemed extraordinary. He appeared young but had a refined aura and an aura like an unsheathed, peerless sword.
He stepped forward, quickly finished the registration, and walked past the Reach Profound Crystal, which enveloped him in its profound light.
Then, thirteen star-shaped patterns emerged on the crystal, and the entire sphere emitted dazzling yellow light.
During the process, the black-armored soldiers and the four True Qi Realm masters remained silent. Xiao Chen walked over leisurely, found an empty spot, and stood there with his hands behind his back.
Next were the equally talented young martial artists who had also stayed at the Soaring Dragon Restaurant. They registered one after another.
When they walked past the crystal, the number of star-shaped patterns that appeared did not exceed fifteen. The smallest number was twelve.
The entire sphere also emitted dazzling yellow light. As instructed earlier by Meng Hongfei, the powerful True Qi Realm individual, they all took their places behind Xiao Chen in the yellow light team.
Seeing how easily these people passed the test, the others lowered their guard and proceeded to register for the test confidently and boldly.
Most of the people had no more than fifteen yellow stars emerging on the crystal when they passed it, with the lowest being ten.
As for the remaining few, two different situations arose when they passed the Reach Profound Crystal.
First, the Reach Profound Crystal emitted dazzling red light, with ten to fifteen star-shaped patterns of varying numbers.
Second, the Reach Profound Crystal suddenly emitted intense white light but no star-shaped patterns emerged in the end.
Candidates that caused the crystal to exhibit these two different responses were separated into two queues.
Both queues had very few people.
An hour later, it was Lu Yun’s turn.
“Lu Yun, ten years old, Spirit Creek Village.”
After swiftly registering his information, Lu Yun walked past the crystal ball.
Enveloped by the mysterious light emitted from the Reach Profound Crystal, Lu Yun felt a warm sensation, as if he was being gently caressed by a warm, large hand.
Before Lu Yun could react, ten star patterns appeared on the Reach Profound Crystal, immediately followed by a dazzling yellow light.
Upon seeing this, Lu Yun inexplicably breathed a sigh of relief for some reason.
Walking slowly toward the queue with the most people, Lu Yun suddenly recalled the words of the young Martial Academy disciple from the beginning, about how failing the test may have severe consequences.
“The number of star patterns must represent age, but what do the red, yellow, and white colors flashed by the crystal ball represent?”
Filled with doubt, Lu Yun cast a glance toward the directions of the other two queues.
“Hehe, I passed the first test too.”
Suddenly, Lu Liangpeng patted Lu Yun on the shoulder, snapping him back to reality.
“We both passed the first test, so we should be happy. Why do you look so preoccupied?” Lu Liangpeng, noticing the oddness in Lu Yun, asked.
Lu Yun, of course, would not reveal his inner guesswork and simply replied indifferently, “Most people can pass the first test, which means that the competition for the second or third tests will be incredibly intense. There’s not much to be happy about.”
“Oh, is that so?” Lu Liangpeng found it difficult to comprehend and responded sheepishly, “Anyway, we’ve passed the first test, and even if we’re eventually eliminated, at least we wouldn’t have lost face.”
Before long, the first test was completed.
Three queues formed on the entire square, the one Lu Yun was in being the largest with over a thousand people.
The other two queues consisted of test takers whose Reach Profound Crystal balls had emitted either red or white lights.
There were a total of ten in the former queue and twenty-three in the latter.
Lu Yun perceived something off about the faces of the youths in these two queues.
Anxiety, nervousness, and fear were all present as they couldn’t put their finger on it. However, it was certain that under the watchful eyes of the black-armored city guards, they dared not make any sudden moves.
“Lord Jiang and Commander Han, tell me, how should we deal with those who ignore warnings and falsify their ages to attend the test, wasting our time?”
At this moment, Lin Chen on the platform spoke aloud.
“Very simple, just kill them!” County Magistrate Jiang Hongji said coldly.
Commander Han Zhuang, dressed in a green robe exuding scholarly elegance, smiled and said, “That’s not right. These youths merely long for the Martial Academy and, thus, dare to risk everything. However, they cannot be allowed to waste our time by refusing to heed advice. Let’s administer twenty military baton strikes each as a punishment!”
“Since Commander Han shows compassion, I cannot go against your wishes. It will be done as you say!”
Jiang Hongji then turned to Lin Chen and asked, “What do you think, my friend?”
“Haha, perfectly acceptable.” Lin Chen responded with an amused smile, “But guess which queued examinees are the ones who lied about their age?”
“That?” Jiang Hongji’s brow furrowed slightly, “This is my first encounter with the Reach Profound Crystal, so I don’t understand its specific use.”
Han Zhuang remained silent, a subtle glint flickering in his eyes.
Many of the young people waiting for the test results on the square were unaware that, in a short span of time, the fate of some of them had been decided by several True Qi Realm martial artists during their casual conversation.
Glancing at the True Qi Realm martial artists on the platform and then at Meng Hongfei, who appeared cold and aloof at the front, Lu Yun felt that his premonition was growing stronger.
“Bring forward those twenty-three, administer twenty military baton strikes each, and expel them from the test site!” At that moment, Lin Chen’s voice, mixed with True Qi, echoed throughout the central square, clearly reaching everyone’s ears and stirring unrest.
Lu Yun looked up to see a group of black-armored soldiers walking in, taking the twenty-three youths into custody and leading them away.
Immediately after, the sound of baton strikes and miserable cries filled the air.
Everything happened in the blink of an eye, but most of those present were smart enough to have a vague idea of what was going on.
“Wow, that’s so cruel!” Lu Liangpeng couldn’t help touching his buttocks, imagining them being beaten and bruised, and shaking his head.
“I’m afraid this is just the beginning!” Lu Yun’s gaze shifted to the other queue.
That queue only had ten people, and during the test, the Reach Profound Crystal had emitted a dazzling red light.