Chapter 652

Chapter 652: Misty Drizzle

Within the Rexia泽, on the High Platform,

The usually bustling city was even more lively today. Around the High Platform were not only the square towers representing the four major factions but also several other factions’ seats. Though they were not as powerful as these four, they were still excellent destinations for many ordinary people.

Today, the area around the High Platform was filled with noise, as young men and women holding wooden plaques climbed the steps one by one.

These were the promising newcomers who had passed the first two rounds of assessments. The first round involved literacy tests, reading and explaining classics, while the second round tested their knowledge in arithmetic and calculations.

Although these tests weren’t too difficult, they had eliminated most of the ordinary people, as not every young person had the opportunity to receive education.

Currently, the third assessment was underway, focusing on physical strength and combat skills.

Due to the large number of participants, it wasn’t initially a one-on-one match. Instead, banners were hung up to divide the High Platform into four sections. Newcomers entered in batches and groups, wielding wooden swords and knives in a free-for-all, with each group consisting of ten people, quickly eliminating the weaker ones.

The top three winners would naturally advance to the next round, but even those who failed could be retained if the observing teachers deemed them promising.

In this world, there were no so-called talent-detecting instruments; even some masters couldn’t fully predict a young person’s future.

How far a person could go and what rank they could achieve depended on many variables, including their intelligence, spiritual nature, cultivation potential, willpower, perseverance, opportunities, resources, and unforeseen events. Relying solely on cultivation potential couldn’t explain much. Moreover, after the changes in the heavens and earth, aspects like willpower, spiritual nature, and perseverance were increasingly valued by major factions.

The purpose of the grand selection was to pick out the best candidates, absorb and cultivate them. With a larger base, there would surely be a few who could support the faction in the future.

“Batch 27, preliminary round ends.” The referee announced loudly, and several veteran teachers nodded in agreement beside him.

Lolan Hill, dressed in a light blue gown, stood with a wooden sword in her hand on one of the selection grounds. Not far from her stood two others: a burly man holding a wooden hammer and another girl with a wooden sword whose blade still emitted faint green light.

After being guided by the event personnel, the three moved to the side to register further.

“Hello, please write your names and places of origin here.” A pale yellow paper sheet lay on the table, with neat rows marked by red lines.

“Okay.” The three walked over.

A few minutes later.

“Tang Nanlian, from Shuiming Town, Jiaxia Prefecture, age 17,” the staff member asked while checking.

“Uh-huh, correct.” The girl answered cheerfully, her voice as lively as a skylark’s.

“Jialan, from Yuyu Village, Minze Prefecture, age 17.”

“Yes.” Lolan Hill nodded. This was the alias she had recently come up with; after all, “Lolan Hill” was too unique compared to common two or three-character names. It was indeed better to keep it simple.

“Di Gushan, from Wumeng Mountain, Jilao Prefecture, age 20.”

“Indeed.” The sturdy man who previously held the wooden hammer responded in a deep voice.

“Alright, here are your new plaques. Please wait over there. The second round of selection will follow.”

After saying this, the staff member handed the three numbered wooden plaques to them, then proceeded to the next batch of registrants.

After receiving the plaques, Lolan Hill waved at Yubaiqiu in the distance, signaling her success. Seeing his response, she joined the others nearby in the waiting area.

After settling down, the people around her began chatting excitedly, as they were all young people of similar ages.

“Oh wow, I didn’t expect to pass the preliminaries so smoothly. Truly blessed by the heavens.”

“Haha, let’s work hard together. Where do you come from? We might end up in the same sect.”

“My hometown is Heize Prefecture.”

They started exchanging information excitedly.

“I wonder what the next assessment will be?” asked a young man in a dark blue robe.

“It seems like it will be one-on-one matches since there aren’t many people left now.”

“Oh, does that mean we’ll be fighting each other? What about those who haven’t practiced martial arts before?”

“No, no, it’s us practicing against the senior teachers from the factions. The goal isn’t to defeat them but to showcase our strengths.”

“Alright then, since I haven’t really seen much blood before, my hands are quite rusty. It’s also my dad’s fault for always worrying about me having accidents.” The young man in azure robes said with a smile.

“Haha, this is just a common misunderstanding among ordinary people. In fact, major factions value those with outstanding talents more than those who are average in all aspects.”

“So that’s how it is. You seem to have such well-informed news; you must have done quite a bit of preparation.”

“Of course, I have an older brother at home who has been through the Great Selection before, so he knows a lot more about it.”

“I envy that. If only I had an older brother or sister to take care of me.”

“What’s there to envy? If everyone passes the Great Selection today, we’ll all be the same age, and we’ll be good brothers who share life and death together.”

“Excellent, excellent!” The crowd laughed and cheered.

“It’s settled then. If I pass too, I’ll treat everyone to a big meal tonight,” said the young man in azure robes standing at the forefront.

The other young men in the waiting area also smiled and joined in the commotion.

Lolan Hill sat under a bamboo eave, listening to the lively chatter nearby, and couldn’t help but chuckle. Indeed, it was the spirit of youth—so confident and full of grand plans.

Strange, why do I think like this? Could it be that I’m getting old? The young lady reflected inwardly.

“Jialan Sister,” a light voice sounded beside her while she was deep in thought.

She turned her head and saw the other young lady she had been on stage with earlier, named Tang Nanlian.

“Is Jialan Sister from around here?” the girl with a melodious voice asked curiously.

“Why do you ask?”

“Because you don’t look like it. You seem to be from another prominent family.”

Sigh, is my disguise really that poor? The young lady couldn’t help but recall that, back when she was the successor of Karyates, Linke had seen through her disguise on the very same day.

“Because Jialan Sister seems so composed and calm, and your aura is very subtle, almost like a master. Yes, exactly like that, very impressive.” The girl clapped her hands together, approving her own analogy.

Hearing this explanation, Lolan Hill shook her head helplessly, unsure how to respond to this lively girl.

Fortunately, this girl was quite outgoing. Seeing that Lolan Hill wasn’t particularly rejecting her, she happily introduced herself.

“My name is Tang Nanlian, from Shuiming Town. I plan to become the best doctor in the world.” She patted her slightly rising chest as she spoke.

“I am Jialan,也算是出自闵泽洲内吧, actually lived a reclusive life before, knowing little about the outside world.” Lolan Hill recalled her previous introduction method.

“Why do you want to become the best doctor in the world?” she asked curiously.

“Because it’s so impressive.” The girl clenched her small fist tightly.

“Think about it, Jialan Sister. If girls engage in fighting and killing, they might end up with all sorts of rumors and gossip. And there aren’t many suitable professions for them either.”

“Besides, being a doctor is great. You can earn a lot of money and gain respect. Those masters and nobles would have to beg for your help. Isn’t that a wonderful thing?”

Her eyes seemed to sparkle as she spoke.

“Hehe, I think you just want to be pampered and adored,” Lolan Hill said with a smile.

“Of course, isn’t that every girl’s wish? That’s what I want.” She spoke boldly, her pretty and innocent face showing pride, her eyes wide open.

“Perhaps, but some things may not last forever.”

“Ah, Jialan Sister, that’s not right. Why must things last forever to be worth doing? Besides, anything is possible.”

“If we have to wait for something to last forever to try it, that would be too boring, just like the old man in town who always likes to talk about big principles.”

“Yes, yes, just like that. Like seeing a red fruit by the roadside and wanting to taste it, regardless of whether it’s sour or not.”

“Hehe, indeed. Actually, what you say isn’t wrong.” Lolan Hill saw a special vitality in this girl. In contrast, sometimes she herself was too fixated on correctness and overlooked the fun in life.

“Mm-hm, I’m right, right? Hehe.” After being praised, the girl laughed happily like a petted cat.

They continued their conversation, discussing the selection process and the second round of assessments that followed.

Moreover, as time slowly passed, the preliminary round gradually came to an end.

After such initial screening, about 200 people advanced to the second round.

The high platform was divided into several sections again. Then, the newcomers called by their numbers one by one ascended the stage to undergo the sparring test with the masters from the sects.

“Number 62, Tang Nanlian.”

“Here here.” The girl dressed in light green gauze stepped onto the high platform and waved at Lolan Hill before leaving.

“I’ll go up first, Sister Jialan.”

“Go ahead, wish you luck.” Lolan Hill responded with a wave.

Although they were of similar height and age, why was she called “Sister”? The young lady’s mind floated this thought, but before she could ponder further, another voice sounded.

“Number 65, Jialan.”

“Alright.” She stood up, picked up a handy iron sword from the rack beside her, and walked onto the stage.

Compared to the preliminary round, this time it was more serious, and the newcomers participating in the selection could use unsharpened weapons.

“Hello, my name is Jialan, from Min Ze Province,” Lolan Hill slightly bowed, looking at the elderly man in front of her.

He was around forty-five years old, wearing blue-and-white cotton clothes, with a blue headband wrapped around his head, adorned with five-colored silk threads. His hands were slightly clasped behind his back, holding a long knife in his rough hand, still unsheathed.

Upon seeing Lolan Hill ascend the stage, he nodded slightly, seemingly impressed by her light and balanced steps.

“Attack me with your weapon. Use all your skills. Begin.” He wasted no time and spoke directly.

“Yes.”

Lolan Hill stood on the stage, looking at the elderly man in front of her. She stabilized herself, and the long sword in her hand slowly rose from her side.

The ordinary iron sword seemed like autumn water in her hand, imbued with the mist from mountains and rivers. As she lifted it, the mist also slid along the blade, gathering at the tip.

Glistening droplets of water were sliced in half by the cold air, and then the sword tip, like a shadowless chill, pierced straight towards the face of the elderly man in front of her.

In that brief moment, which felt like an eternity, when the elderly man regained his senses, a long sword was already placed at his neck. Though it hadn’t stabbed down yet, the coldness of the tip still made him hesitate to move.

The hazy mist dissipated, leaving a cool sensation on his neck, while the figure of the young lady in front of him gradually became clearer.

Seeing this astonishing scene, the judges watching nearby were momentarily stunned. It wasn’t until later that the audience below understood what had happened and erupted in exclamations of admiration.

“How amazing.”

“This talent is truly rare.”

“How fast, I didn’t even have time to react, and it was over.”

“Can that old man handle it? So easily taken down by a girl.”

Various murmurs arose from the crowd below, and for a moment, factions on the surrounding towers also took notice of this girl.

“Interesting.”

“It seems we have another promising candidate.”

“Send someone to contact her next.”

While others were discussing, the elderly man in front of Lolan Hill on the stage found himself in an awkward situation. His face flushed red as he picked up the scabbard to block the sword tip.

“Let’s do it again, I was a bit careless just now.”

“Okay.” Lolan Hill did not argue, stepping back a few paces and stabilizing herself again.

This time, the elderly man held the long knife in his palm, his body slightly crouched, eyes focused on the figure in front of him.

Though his current strength was much diminished compared to before, he was once a Sequence 6 expert before the world changed. His eyes still had discernment.

The young lady slowly raised her sword again, as if demonstrating, she did not change her stance but proceeded as before.

Watching the sword slowly rise, the elderly man’s pupils constricted. The long knife in his hand drew out like a silver whip, cutting through the cold air and slashing horizontally towards the figure opposite him.

Clang—

A crisp metallic clash echoed in the air, followed by a lingering vibration. Countless tiny water droplets scattered from the blade, and then the long knife fell from the air, plunging into the wooden stage.

The iron sword, like an extension of her arm, landed lightly in front of the elderly man, pointing directly at his neck, just as it had been before.

The crowd below erupted again in exclamations of admiration.

“This person’s talent may be immeasurable.”

“Oh, it looks like a major player will emerge from this great selection.”

Amidst the surrounding clamor, the host on stage announced loudly:

“Jialan, advance.”

The young lady in the blue feather dress stood quietly amidst the drizzle, her face under the veil dreamy and enchanting.

(The End)