Chapter 74: Verdant Sword Sect Test (4)
The main hall of the Verdant Sword Sect was immersed in deep silence.
The silent pressure of the patriarch had eased, but even so, a faint, unmistakable pressure of someone with higher cultivation lingered in the air.
But then, Mei Ran’s soft voice rose, breaking the silence.
"Sect Leader, elders... this year, the exam revealed remarkable talents. More than in recent years."
"I identified five youths who have already entered the Qi Liberation Realm. The number of youths at the peak of the Qi Accumulation Realm is also notably high."
"That is why I suggest we increase the rewards for the top rankings."
"Hmph... Five in the Liberation Realm... that is indeed a respectable number. I agree with Elder Mei Ran." One of the elders, an old man with a severe expression, said with a nod.
Another elder then added.
"I also agree. Those at the peak of Qi Accumulation at this age are our backbone for the future. Most of them will become inner disciples."
The elders discussed, but all were satisfied and in agreement. Yet there was one person present who was not satisfied at all.
That was the sect leader. His face remained impassive and cold.
"So that’s all?" His voice echoed in the hall, cutting through the conversation.
"A few talents? We are full of them. What we lack are not strong talents. What we need is not another handful of competent swordsmen."
"What we truly need is someone who can rise above the rest. A blade capable of rivaling the core disciples of the other sects."
"Someone worth investing all our resources into, who can compete with the monsters of those sects."
As the sect leader’s cold voice resounded, all the elders fell silent. None dared to speak. Especially because they knew he was right.
"So, was this the only reason you called me here?" the leader asked again, looking directly at Mei Ran.
It was at this moment that a faint smile appeared on her lips.
"No, sect leader. That was merely the prelude." She began, causing everyone’s attention to return to her once more.
"There is a youth, in this exam, who possesses a special physique."
As soon as her words fell, the effect was instant. The elders were surprised, while the sect leader leaned forward for the first time. His previously bored gaze was now fully focused.
"A special physique?" he repeated, his words coming out as a murmur, then asked with complete attention.
"What grade?"
"I have not yet confirmed." Mei Ran began calmly, choosing her words.
"But the signs are promising. According to the information I obtained from the outer elder in charge of the youth’s country of origin... about two months ago, this youth was a cultivator of the 1° stage of the Qi Accumulation Realm. Today, he is firmly at the 6° stage."
A murmur then swept among the elders. Two months to climb five stages was truly a terrifying speed.
Mei Ran then continued.
"And from what I have observed, I have no doubt his physique is, at the very least, a spiritual-grade physique."
The leader’s expression immediately softened upon hearing this. A small but unmistakable smile appeared on his stern face.
"A Spiritual Physique... with such an absurd rate of growth, perhaps it is even of a higher grade..."
The once severe lines of his face gave way to something that now seemed like satisfaction.
"Very well. Increase the rewards. Triple them if necessary. And prepare for the moment, this youth..."
"What is his name?" the leader asked.
"It is Kyrian, sect leader." Mei Ran replied.
"As soon as Kyrian arrives at the sect, he will be subjected to a full evaluation. I do not care if he has no affinity with the sword. A Spiritual Physique is already the rough diamond we needed."
"A talent worthy of receiving our investment." The leader’s gaze swept across the hall.
"The Domain Gathering is approaching, only two years remain. We must show that the Verdant Sword Sect still stands tall..."
The elders agreed in unison, as a new flame of expectation lit the hall.
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Meanwhile, in the forest below the Red Mountain. Three youths were kneeling on the ground.
Their clothes torn, their faces marked by bruises and shame. They breathed with some difficulty, looking upward with a mix of hatred and terror.
Before them, Kyrian stood, his expression as impassive as ever. In one of his hands, he casually held five Ash Fruits.
Fruits he had taken from them. His sword was once again sheathed.
"Tsk." Kyrian spat, the sound dripping with disdain.
"You are truly blind to try to rob someone with this level of strength."
"Idiots."
Without another word, Kyrian turned and began to walk. Leaving the three youths of the 7° stage of the Qi Accumulation Realm behind, their confidence completely crushed.
Their charge against Kyrian, if observed from outside, would have seemed truly pathetic.
Kyrian did not even truly fight. They were merely basic, precise, and fast movements. In just a few exchanges, he brought the three down.
Kyrian thought the three were truly weak. Yanyu, at least, could last several moves against him while he used all his cultivation strength. He never lost to her, but the fight was at least interesting.
"Bastard... how..." one of them groaned, clutching his injured arm. But the phrase died before it was completed. They had completely underestimated the youth with strange eyes.
Kyrian ignored the murmurs. He had already moved on.
’I believe I already have enough to be among the top ten. Now, it is time to find Yanyu.’
Kyrian thought, showing a faint trace of concern. Mainly when thinking of the fox near Yanyu. He then recalled it in his mind.
Tracing a path back to the general area where Yanyu had fallen. And he began to move, then run at full speed.
**************************************************
While Kyrian was worried about the fox having awakened, in another part of the forest, the scene was very different from what he could imagine.
Mu Yanyu was sitting on a large rock, a broad, satisfied smile on her face.
At her feet, a small pile of Ash Fruits was arranged. And in front of the rock, the body of a beast in the 8° stage of the Qi Accumulation Realm lay motionless.
Meanwhile, two other youths who had the same unfortunate idea as those who faced Kyrian were lying on the ground, groaning in pain but still alive.
Yanyu looked at the small white fox, who was perched atop the beast’s body, licking one of its front paws with an expression of superiority.
"Ready to go to the next place?" Yanyu suddenly asked, cheerful.
The fox merely let out a short grunt while snorting and turning its head slightly.
But Yanyu immediately interpreted it as a yes. She had already understood how the little fox behaved. Always with disdain.
The fox then leapt from the beast, sniffed the air for a moment, and quickly dashed in a specific direction.
Two days had already passed since the start of the exam. And the unlikely partnership between the two had proven especially effective.
The fox was like a perfect tracker, able to find all the fruits along the way with extreme ease.
The fox was also a fierce fighter. On more than one occasion, they had fought together, with the little beast attacking enemies from behind while Yanyu held the front line.
The fox’s initial hostility had now given way to a tolerant distrust. Perhaps even a slight respect for the human she once thought weak and useless.
Mainly because of the promised delicious spirit stones.
Yanyu then picked up the fruits, carefully storing them away. She not only had enough to pass, but she was absolutely certain she would be fighting for a spot in the top ten.
In fact, if the little fox had not been eating half of all those they found, it would not have been a surprise if she were the person with the most fruit in the entire test.
The slight concern she once had for the fox was now replaced by calm confidence. With the fox at her side, she feared nothing as she walked through the forest.
The weaker beasts fled in fear when the fox approached. Those with the same cultivation were no match for the little beast.
As for the stronger ones, they were few. The two simply avoided those. And that was how they had hunted in the past days.
Yanyu was truly eager for only one thing, to find Kyrian. She was certain he would be surprised and impressed.