The Wudang disciples responsible for testing were, once again, shocked.
The record had been broken, yet again.
The previous record had been set by a disciple of the Emei Sect.
Six silver needles, four hitting the twenty-meter target, and two hitting the fifteen-meter target.
And that was with sequential releases.
The result was that Xia Qiu Xi, with a single movement, had sent out six needles, all hitting the twenty-meter target.
This was incredibly impressive.
Xia Qiu Xi had used her name directly, not a Taoist appellation. kuAiδugg
At this point, Old Mo's Yang Ting and Xia Qiu Xi had both secured the highest records at the Wudang testing point.
And Xia Qiu Xi, accordingly, received her reward.
However, this time, it wasn't a secret technique.
A Wudang disciple took out a wooden box.
Then he spoke:
"Senior Sister Xia, congratulations on successfully completing the challenge. This is your reward: one hundred and eight rune-etched silver needles, and the incantation to control and activate them. This is the only one."
He then opened the box.
Inside the box lay one hundred and eight silver needles.
They were exquisitely crafted, far superior to the personal rune-etched needles Xia Qiu Xi had been using previously.
This was a set of high-quality silver needle magical artifacts.
Xia Qiu Xi was delighted upon seeing them.
They weren't particularly valuable, but they suited her perfectly.
She accepted them with both hands, expressing her gratitude repeatedly.
With Old Mo and Xia Qiu Xi having received their rewards, those around them looked on with envy.
The two of them then joined Qin and Chen Yao.
Old Mo chuckled, "Old Qin, Little Yao, are you two going to try?"
I actually had little interest.
Since the first rewards had been claimed by my two friends, and the queue was extremely long, I didn't want to embarrass myself.
Before I could speak, Little Yao was already eager.
She stepped forward and registered:
"I'll go and try."
With that, Little Yao ran off.
I was also curious to see how Little Yao, a Tian Gang living relic, would perform in the spiritual root test.
After Little Yao waited in line for over ten minutes, she began her test under everyone's gaze.
The rune-etched iron rod turned red, indicating a fire-attribute spiritual root.
Following that, the rune sections lit up.
Finally, it stopped at eight rune sections.
Although it didn't match Old Mo's ultimate spiritual root, stopping at eight rune sections still amazed many of the onlookers.
She received a few Hemostasis Pills.
As for the second challenge, Little Yao did not attempt it.
She was self-aware and didn't bother.
Xia Qiu Xi also did not attempt the spiritual root test.
As for me, I skipped both challenges, too lazy to wait.
The rewards weren't enticing enough.
Subsequently, our group, under the watchful eyes of the surrounding people, and amidst their astonishment, departed from the testing point.
They left behind only two peak records at the Wudang testing point.
We walked a short distance further and encountered the challenge set up by the Emei Sect.
And here, just as we had heard on the road, was the easiest of all the challenges.
It involved channeling spiritual energy and extinguishing candles with palm wind.
One didn't even need cultivation; those who had practiced some traditional Chinese martial arts could extinguish five or six candles.
The upper limit was only ten candles.
For the cultivators present, it was very simple.
It was basically handing out rewards for free.
However, the disciple responsible for testing here was Xia Qiu Xi's best friend, Song Yan of the Emei Sect.
I had seen her before at Blackwater Temple.
She was ordinary in appearance, but very cheerful.
She greeted us with exceptional warmth.
We stayed here for a short while, testing briefly.
Then, I also received my reward, a health supplement pill called "Clear Heart Pill," which had little practical use.
It was merely something to boost morale.
Afterward, we proceeded to other testing challenges.
The challenges were varied and peculiar.
There was identifying objects from pictures, calligraphy challenges, walking with closed eyes, and discerning positions by sound, among others.
They seemed simple, but each one involved the manipulation of spiritual energy.
An ordinary person coming here would definitely be unable to complete even a single one.
However, the difficulty was not high, and almost all the young generation who participated could take away prizes.
But very few, like Wudang Sect, directly offered weighty secret techniques and magical treasures as rewards.
Most offered elixirs and materials for magical artifacts as rewards.
For instance, monster claws, tendons, bones, and medicinal herbs...
We walked along, challenged along the way.
Nothing particularly special, we collected quite a few rewards, and it was quite enjoyable.
However, as we neared the end, we noticed a large crowd gathered.
Upon closer inspection, it was the Shaolin testing point.
There were at least forty to fifty people gathered around.
Yun Long and Yun Hu, who had left earlier, were also there.
"So many people gathered?"
"I heard earlier that Shaolin's challenge is the hardest."
"Let's go see!"
After a few words, everyone quickened their pace.
As we arrived, from the periphery, we heard Yun Long and Yun Hu complaining:
"Damn, this is too difficult!"
"Exactly. Anyone can chant scriptures, but to chant them with Zen intent, that's asking too much."
Hearing Yun Long and Yun Hu speak, I called out, "Yun Long, Yun Hu!"
Upon hearing my voice, the two turned their heads and finally saw us.
"Brother Qin, Brother Mo, you've arrived!"
"It's good you're here, come try the Shaolin monks' test, it's incredibly difficult."
The two continued.
"What challenge? Is it really that hard?"
Xia Qiu Xi inquired.
Before they could answer, a disciple from the Kongtong Sect nearby chimed in,
"Chanting scriptures!"
He then left with a disgruntled expression.
We were taken aback.
"Chanting scriptures? How is that a challenge?"
Chen Yao also asked suspiciously.
Yun Hu explained:
"It's chanting the Great Compassion Mantra.
Not only chanting, but chanting it with Zen intent.
You must make the crystal Buddha beside you emit Buddha's light to be considered successful..."