pertwk Chapter 21 The Five-Year Trial
Chapter 21 The Five-Year Trial
Time is like an arrow, the sun and the moon are like a shuttle.
As Lu Ming and his two companions gradually adapted to the exploration and combat training at the edge of the Misty Forest, their daily arduous training honed their foundations to an increasingly solid level.
The five-year examination stipulated by the Taoist academy is fast approaching.
In this final year, the atmosphere of Chuming Garden and even the entire outer courtyard of the Taoist temple quietly changed.
The former carefree and leisurely atmosphere is gone, and everyone feels immense pressure.
On the practice ground, the number of practitioners increased, and the shouts of exchanging skills became more frequent.
The lecture hall was packed, with every seat filled. The disciples listened intently, afraid of missing a single word of advice from the elder.
Even the barter market became more bustling, with prices for various pills and talismans used to enhance cultivation and aid in combat rising.
Through continuous trials in the Misty Forest, Lu Ming and the others killed some demonic beasts to sell. With the addition of talismans drawn by Lu Ming himself, the three of them finally had their own magical artifacts.
Lu Ming bought a long sword. He had been instructed by Qingping, and although he was able to comprehend a trace of Qingping's sword intent during the initial Dao Qi process.
But now that he has embarked on cultivation, he is unable to condense even a trace of sword intent no matter what he does.
This puzzled Lu Ming.
Whenever Lu Ming recalls Qingping's dashing figure, accompanying him through thick and thin, he feels a surge of longing.
He meditated and studied the four characters "风起青萍" (The wind rises on the green duckweed) written by Qingping every day, but ultimately he gained nothing.
Lu Ming assumed it was related to the environment at the time, since he hadn't felt tired running around like crazy in the Dao Qi Secret Realm and hadn't felt hungry even after kneeling for three days straight.
The upcoming assessments will determine their future path within the academy: whether they will pursue advanced studies in the inner sects or fade into obscurity.
Lu Ming, Qin Feiyu, and Hu Zhen have long since shed the naivety they had when they first entered the mountain gate.
Now, they are sixteen or seventeen-year-old boys and girls, with upright postures, full of spiritual energy, and a different aura.
Lu Ming's cultivation level steadily improved to the late stage of Qi Induction. The spiritual power in his body became more and more refined and profound. His understanding of the Qi Induction Technique and Body Forging Fist far surpassed that of his peers. At the same time, he was also quite accomplished in swordsmanship.
More importantly, he demonstrated a unique talent in the art of talismans.
Although he can still only skillfully draw the lowest-level talisman, the Gentle Breeze Talisman, his understanding of it is already extremely profound.
It can even slightly adjust the effect after activation by micro-manipulating spiritual energy, either emphasizing speed bursts or agile movements.
At the same time, he did not give up on acquiring other knowledge. He has read books such as "Chronicles of the Land of Nine Provinces" and "Illustrations of Basic Formations" countless times.
Qin Feiyu, on the other hand, has forged his own path in martial arts.
His cultivation level was slightly lower than Lu Ming's, barely reaching the peak of the mid-stage of Qi Induction, but his vigorous blood and strong physique were definitely among the best of his peers.
He wielded the spear with such skill that water could not penetrate it, and combined with his increasingly powerful body-strengthening fist techniques, even two or three disciples of the same level would find it difficult to subdue him at close range.
He has now mastered the Waterfall Body Tempering technique and can now penetrate to the edge of the central area and persist for nearly an hour!
Hu Zhen's progress is reflected in her Taoist cultivation and mastery of magic.
Her cultivation level surpassed others, reaching the late stage of Qi Induction as well, and her spiritual power was extremely pure.
With the enhancement of the magical artifact, she could now cast those low-level spells instantly, and the toughness of the vines had also greatly increased.
Over the past three years, they have fought countless battles with low-level monsters in the Misty Forest. From initially being forced back by the Ironback Apes in a sorry state, to later being able to deal with small groups of Poison Arrow Boars and Wind-Walking Wolves with relative ease, their combat experience and teamwork have increased day by day.
On one occasion, the three of them worked together to successfully hunt a lynx with claws, which was equivalent to a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator, making them somewhat famous among the lower-level disciples.
Of course, they are not the only ones making progress.
With the support of his family's resources and his considerable talent, Nangong Yu's cultivation level has steadily reached the late stage of Qi Refining. His family's Flowing Fire Technique is exceptionally powerful, and he has achieved good results in several public sparring sessions among disciples.
Shui Ling'er, who comes from the East Sea, has become increasingly adept at water magic. It is said that she can now condense water into ice, and her strength should not be underestimated.
Since being rescued by Lu Ming and the other two, Liu Qing has remained arrogant, but he has clearly toned down his pride and would nod to them when he sees them.
He has also made significant progress, becoming more proficient in using fire magic.
The outer courtyard of the Taoist temple was a scene of dazzling stars and surging undercurrents.
Everyone was giving it their all, ready to show their skills in the five-year test.
On this day, Lu Ming and his two companions had just returned from a routine training exercise in the Misty Forest, still carrying the faint smell of blood from their battle with several ignorant demonic beasts.
Walking on the stone path of Chuming Garden, I happened to run into Nangong Yu and his group, who were also returning from their training.
Their eyes met, and an invisible spark seemed to flash in the air.
Nangong Yu nodded slightly as a greeting: "The five-year period is approaching. I hope to learn from your skills during the assessment."
Lu Ming calmly returned the greeting: "Likewise, Senior Brother Nangong."
Without further ado, the two passed each other. The atmosphere of competition was already palpable.
Back in the courtyard, Qin Feiyu brandished his spear, his fighting spirit high: "It's finally here! Five years have passed, this is it!"
Hu Zhen's eyes held both anticipation and a hint of nervousness.
Lu Ming gazed at the spirit tree in the courtyard that had been with them for five years, its branches and leaves growing ever more lush.
Five years of honing a sword, yet its sharp edge remains untested.
Tomorrow, we will see the outcome.