Path to Dual Cultivation

Chapter 9: Entrance Exam Area

"This journey will take approximately nine days." The carriage driver said shortly after they began moving. Beside the driver was a cultivator emitting the prowess at the Profound Spirit Realm.

The atmosphere inside the carriage was dead silent, but it didn't take long before someone there started a conversation.

"Since we'll be together for some time, why don't we get to know each other a little better? I'll start. My name is Lu Bei, nineteen years old, and I come from the Tranquil Bamboo City. This will be my second time taking the entrance exam," said the person seated in the middle on the opposite side of Su Yang.

After Lu Bei finished his introduction, another followed.

"I'm Hou Ziruo, and I just turned twenty-one last month. I grew up in Three Spring Village, and this will be my fourth time taking the exam," said the man sitting beside Lu Bei.

"Huang Ruofei, fifteen years old. I also came from the Three Spring Village. This is my first time participating in the entrance exam."

"Hello. I am Chen Wanyi, sixteen years old. I came from the Tranquil Bamboo Forest. This is also my first time." The young lady sitting in front of Su Yang spoke somewhat bashfully.

"Fan Qingzhao, twenty-five years old. I am on my 8th exam," said the other female in the carriage.

"I'm Qin Zhiqiang, fourteen years old. This is my first time." The young man right beside Su Yang introduced himself, being the youngest in the group.

"Su Yang, sixteen years old. This is also my first time doing the entrance exam."

Since everyone in the carriage had introduced themselves, it would be awkward if he alone remained silent.

"Huh? Qin Zhiqiang? I heard of you before! Aren't you the renowned genius of the Qin Family from Cold Iron City? They say you have a once-in-a-hundred-year sword talent! With such talents, I'm sure your acceptance into the Sect is already secured!" Li Bei said with a look of surprise on his face.

Qin Zhiqiang showed a bashful smile and said, "It's not that amazing... really..."

The carriage swiftly filled with lively conversations as everyone, excluding Su Yang, grew better acquainted. Su Yang's presence soon became an anomaly within the group.

Eventually, someone decided to speak to Su Yang, asking him, "Um... Su Yang, right? Can I ask why you're wearing that mask?"

Su Yang opened his eyes and turned his head to look at Qin Zhiqiang who just spoke.

"I... burned my face when I was young," he lied in a clear voice.

"I see... that must've been a horrible experience. I'm sorry if I made you recall something unpleasant."

He shook his head, "No, I am fine."

"What do you guys think they'll make us do in the entrance exam this year?" Fan Qingzhao asked a moment later.

"This is my first time participating so I don't know." Chen Wanyi said.

"The first two tests are always the same thing. They examine your Dantian's capacity and absorption rate." Huo Ziruo said.

"Last year, they had us fighting spiritual beasts. Even though they were at the lowest level, it's not something mortals like us can deal with." Lu Bei sighed.

"You guys haven't cultivated yet?" Qin Zhiqiang expressed surprise after learning this.

"Do you have any idea how expensive cultivation techniques are? It's only something wealthy families like your Qin Family can afford."

"Oh... sorry, I didn't know. I started cultivating last year and just entered the first level of Elementary Spirit Realm." Qin Zhiqiang revealed.

He could've joined the Sect at an earlier date, but he wanted to wait until he became a cultivator before partaking in the entrance exam for a better result.

"It only took you a year to become a cultivator? As expected of geniuses, you all live in a different world." Fan Qingzhao sighed in a dejected manner, and she continued, "I have failed the entrance exam eight times in a row. This year will be my last chance since I will surpass the age limit before the next one..."

A few days later, the carriage came to a sudden halt that was not on the schedule, and the cultivator beside the driver said, "There's a spiritual beast blocking the path. Stay inside your carriages."

"A spiritual beast?!" Qin Zhiqiang swallowed nervously. He had never encountered a spiritual beast before and was feeling quite anxious.

Seeing this, Lu Bei smiled and said in a calm tone, "Relax, we are not in danger. It's not uncommon to encounter spiritual beasts on our way to the Sect, but the guards are powerful enough to deal with most spiritual beasts around this area."

"Most? Not all?" Chen Wanyi swallowed nervously.

"Most of the spiritual beasts around this area are only at the Elementary Spirit Realm while our guard is at the Profound Spirit Realm. However, powerful Profound Spirit Realm spiritual beasts occasionally wander to this area. Though, even if that happens, we are not the only carriage traveling to the Sect." Lu Bei explained.

Sure enough, there were several carriages trailing behind them, so if the guards worked together, even a Profound Spirit Realm spiritual beast would pose no threat. Moreover, the Fleeting Sword Sect also deployed their own disciples to clear out the spiritual beasts around the pathing area, so there were rarely any casualties during this time.

After stopping for a few minutes, the carriage started moving again.

As they got closer to the Fleeting Sword Sect, due to the increased Profound Qi in the air, their encounters with spiritual beasts also escalated, reaching a maximum of a dozen encounters in a day.

In the end, their journey lasted a day longer than expected, and they arrived right outside the entrance exam area on their tenth day. The entrance exam took place in an empty plain about a hundred miles away from the main Sect.

When Su Yang exited the carriage, he was amazed to see how many people were already there. There were so many people that it looked like a black sea from his point of view.

'There has to be tens of thousands of people here!'

Seeing how many people were there, Su Yang felt the temptation to brandish Senior Wu's medallion to expedite the process. Yet, having dedicated years to scholarly pursuits and being raised in a righteous family, the thought of committing such a shameless act was inconceivable for him.

'Forget it. I doubt it will take too long.' Su Yang thought to himself as he joined the massive queue.