Chapter 5
The middle of each month is the day when the inner disciples of the sect collectively go to Little Mirror Lake for trials.
The Little Mirror Lake Trial is one of the most distinctive features of the Heavenly Evolution Sword Sect. Its reputation has spread throughout the four seas and eight wastelands, and many people want to join the Heavenly Evolution Sword Sect just to be able to participate in the Little Mirror Lake Trial.
This place was truly an excellent training ground for immortals, a feng shui treasure land for cultivation and advancement, rich in spiritual energy and spacious, open to all disciples every month. Everyone scrambled to come and compete for this training ground, inevitably leading to fierce battles and unpleasant endings over a single spot. Later, the sect elders simply proposed that all disciples be gathered at Little Mirror Lake for a unified monthly training session.
The advanced trials eliminate a certain number of people in each round. The later levels become increasingly difficult. Those who survive to the end gain both fame and a significant increase in cultivation. It's a win-win situation.
Xie Wen, carried by Chu Xianyue, was instantly transported to the area above Little Mirror Lake. Gazing at it from afar, they saw a huge, sunken depression nestled among the mountains, with an icy blue lake like a piece of jade embedded within it. Layers of mist shrouded Little Mirror Lake, which resembled a woman half-veiled, playing the pipa.
Flying lower, I suddenly saw a dense swarm of tiny, ant-like figures crowding the lakeshore, moving about, brandishing swords and spears, and a few couldn't contain themselves and started fighting even before the trial had begun. It was incredibly lively.
When Chu Xianyue brought Xie Wen down, the disciples all stared at him like dumbfounded geese.
In the past, when Senior Brother Yun Yan was absent, Xie Wen always came in first place in the Little Mirror Lake Trials. Her strength was boundless, and everyone envied her. No matter what, no one dared to question Senior Sister Xie Wen's power.
Upon seeing Xie Wen, some in the crowd were amazed, some were disdainful, and some couldn't help but sigh. After all, as long as Xie Wen was there, they could forget about getting first place.
They were initially surprised and delighted to see that Immortal Venerable Qingheng had come to watch their trials. Who wouldn't want to show off in front of Immortal Venerable Qingheng? If they could gain his favor, that would be even better. However, upon glancing at the people behind Immortal Venerable Qingheng, their initial enthusiasm vanished instantly.
Indeed, with a disciple as outstanding as Xie Wen, how could anyone else possibly catch the eye of Immortal Venerable Qingheng?
After landing safely, Xie Wen still instinctively grabbed Chu Xianyue's arm and didn't let go. While in the air, Xie Wen's face was almost distorted by the force of the blows, and she was still a little dazed.
Chu Xianyue glanced at Xie Wen sideways, "How much longer are you going to hold me?"
Xie Wen awkwardly released the object and asked, "Master, what kind of trial is this?"
Chu Xianyue said calmly, "You'll find out when we get there."
Xie Wen pursed his lips and said, "Tch, what are you pretending for?"
Chu Xianyue turned around, narrowed his eyes, and slightly curved the corners of his eyes. "What?"
Xie Wen immediately chased after him, saying, "Nothing's wrong."
"Do you still remember the mental techniques, incantations, and swordsmanship I taught you before?" Chu Xianyue walked ahead with his hands behind his back.
Xie Wen truthfully replied, "I don't remember." This was true; she currently possessed abundant spiritual power but didn't know how to circulate it, and she had magical treasures and artifacts but didn't know how to summon them. She was nothing but a useless person with empty shells.
You can't blame her. She was badly damaged by a truck when she transmigrated, and it's already a miracle that her brain isn't completely ruined. It's quite remarkable that she can still remember even a little bit.
Chu Xianyue looked at Xie Wen with utter contempt and disdain, his eyes seeming to say: Is he an idiot?
Compared to his former genius apprentice Xie Wen, he is far inferior.
However, he can't accept it right now, but he'll have to accept it sooner or later.
Xie Wen walked with his head swaying, showing no remorse for being a good-for-nothing to Chu Xianyue. Regardless, he could only obediently teach her step by step. Xie Wen chuckled to himself behind her.
Disciples from all sects gathered in one place, where a simple platform was set up on an open space by the lake. The first challenge was a martial arts contest, which would eliminate half of the disciples.
The arena competition is purely an internal contest among the disciples, selecting the half with the best aptitude to advance to the Small Mirror Lake Trial. Therefore, those who can't even pass this first stage won't even reach the edge of the Small Mirror Lake. How can they possibly improve their cultivation through the Small Mirror Lake Trial?
Those with good aptitude and cultivation level will overcome all obstacles and enter the Little Mirror Lake Trial, where their cultivation level will steadily rise. Those with poor aptitude and cultivation level will not even be able to pass the first level from the beginning, and will be suppressed for their entire lives, remaining stagnant.
Those with higher cultivation levels are less likely to lack resources and opportunities.
This is actually quite unreasonable.
Unfortunately, this has always been the case, both in the cultivation world and in the modern society where Xie Wen used to live.
Chu Xianyue called Xie Wen several times before she reacted. Chu Xianyue said, "What? Scared out of your wits? Go draw lots."
Xie Wen said "Oh," walked to the lottery box next to the table, took out a piece of paper, unfolded it, and his eyes lit up, "Sikong Mingxue."
As everyone knows, Sikong Mingxue is Elder Sikong Ye's beloved daughter, but her cultivation talent is extremely poor. In the original work, she only needs to play the role of a beautiful but useless ornament to live a carefree life. As the last-ranked member of the sect, no one would look down on Sikong Mingxue, because from the beginning, she was positioned as a mascot of the sect.
Xie Wen curled her lips; she was quite lucky.
Xie Wen refused to believe that he couldn't even beat the last place.
Chu Xianyue noticed the four large characters "Sikong Mingxue" on the paper Xie Wen had drawn, and his expression became somewhat subtle. "Don't tell me you can't even beat her."
Xie Wen looked at Chu Xianyue with newfound respect. Hey, you're the male lead, and Sikong Mingxue is the female lead! This is the first time he's seen a male lead so openly look down on and belittle the female lead. How did this bastard even become the male lead?!
Xie Wen said, "If you teach me how to circulate my qi and summon my sword now, it might not be too late."
Over there, the competition on the stage has already begun. Two people compete in pairs, and the winner advances directly to the second trial. Sure enough, the outcome was decided in no time. That's the advantage of random card drawing; the top student and the bottom student from the sect could be drawn together, their strengths vastly different, often resulting in a single, decisive move. Of course, there are also matches that last three hundred and six rounds without a clear winner, so intense that the audience is almost falling asleep.
Originally, Xie Wen and Sikong Mingxue were the first type of couple. But now, it's not so certain whether they're the first or the second type anymore.
Chu Xianyue frowned as he looked at Xie Wen, saying incredulously, "You really don't remember anything? You can't do anything?"
Xie Wen nodded honestly, and for a moment she saw a hint of despair on Chu Xianyue's icy face. What could be more despairing than your carefully nurtured, promising student who's expected to get into Tsinghua or Peking University, waking up one day having forgotten everything, and blinking their clear eyes at you saying, "I don't know any of it"?
Chu Xianyue seemed to take a deep breath. Xie Wen felt that Chu Xianyue harbored murderous intentions towards her.
"Immortal Venerable Qingheng." A sweet voice suddenly rang out from the crowd. Sikong Mingxue pushed through the crowd and squeezed to Chu Xianyue's side. Today, she was wearing a light pink ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress). As she walked, the ruqun bloomed like a flower, swaying with her steps, and the hair ornaments on her head made a soft tinkling sound.
With an innocent smile on her face, she tilted her head and said to Chu Xianyue, "Immortal Venerable, what brings you here today?"
Xie Wen's heart almost melted at the sight. She felt a sudden surge of attraction.
Chu Xianyue didn't reply. Sikong Mingxue, unperturbed, continued, "Mingxue, do you think the Immortal Venerable came to see Mingxue's trial?"
Sikong Mingxue had been smiling for so long, her smile never faltering, it was both sustained and natural, Xie Wen admired her. She admired Chu Xianyue even more. He was such a good actor.
Chu Xianyue replied earnestly, "No."
"Oh, then you'll be able to see Mingxue's trial in a little while."
Chu Xianyue: "I already said no."
Xie Wen couldn't help but laugh when he saw Chu Xianyue getting impatient. The next second, Chu Xianyue glared at him, and his smile slowly disappeared.
A quarter of an hour later, someone on stage announced, "Next match: Xie Wen versus Sikong Mingxue."
The crowd erupted in uproar. Some said it was too unfair to Sikong Mingxue. What was Xie Wen's strength? What was Sikong Mingxue's strength? She probably couldn't even withstand a single move from Xie Wen.
Xie Wen was already invincible, as if she had a cheat code. Now that she has drawn Sikong Mingxue, wouldn't it be even easier for her to win?
Xie Wen had no idea how popular Sikong Mingxue was, how many people wanted to be drawn into the same group as her.
So some people started shouting in dissatisfaction, "This is so unfair! We strongly demand a change!"
Humans have a herd mentality; if one person shouts, more people will follow suit, saying, "Yes, this is unfair to Mingxue."
Sikong Mingxue was quite touched, thinking that everyone genuinely cared about her, and said very politely and sincerely, "Thank you for your concern, Mingxue doesn't need a replacement. Whoever it is, I will fight seriously."
Xie Wen: As expected of the female lead. Such poise.
However, once Xie Wen stepped onto the arena, she was dumbfounded. Chu Xianyue hadn't even taught her the mental cultivation techniques and incantations yet? And how did she summon her sword again?
The two stood facing each other. Sikong Mingxue, holding her Zhaoxue sword, bowed to Xie Wen, who followed suit.
The referee then shouted, "Start!"
Xie Wen didn't even draw his sword at this moment, standing casually on the arena as if he were taking a stroll.
Everyone: Senior Sister Xie Wen is so arrogant! Even if Sikong Mingxue is no match for her, she can't be so dismissive! She's just too arrogant.
At this moment, the once invincible and arrogant Xie Wen stood on the stage, her heart pounding with cold sweat. No one had told her how to compete! How was she supposed to compete? Where was her sword?
Xie Wen glanced at Chu Xianyue below the stage out of the corner of his eye. What should he do?
Chu Xianyue, feeling helpless, mouthed something to Xie Wen. Xie Wen understood!
Xie Wen recalled the cultivation novels he had read, where the protagonists would always shout "Sword, come!" and the sword would fly into their hands. Chu Xianyue's lip movements were probably exactly what he meant by "Sword, come!"
Xie Wen straightened up, opened his palms, and shouted, "Sword, come!"
Instantly, a surge of true energy rippled outwards from Xie Wen, causing the swords in the hands of all the disciples within a ten-mile radius to tremble violently, as if some force was pulling the swords in one direction.
The crowd below immediately pressed down their restless swords, looking in horror at Xie Wen, who stood on the stage with an upright expression: "Senior Sister Xie Wen, have you gone mad?!"
Chu Xianyue sighed and rubbed his forehead in exasperation. He was talking about sword intent! Sword intent! Only by sensing the sword intent within one's heart and silently reciting the sword's name can one summon one's natal sword!
Who told her to say the sword was coming!
Chu Xianyue watched as his Nine Heavens Sword flew over, and he could no longer suppress his killing intent.
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