Chapter 52: Aptitude Test… ?
When Luo Xue finished circulating her energy a few times and opened her eyes again, many aspiring cultivators had gathered around, men and women, old and young.
Everyone was hoping to pass the Immortal Ascension Gate, cross the chasm between mortals and immortals, and transform into immortals.
It seemed that the identity verification at the gate was almost complete.
However, this time, Luo Xue didn’t cause a commotion. Instead, many aspiring cultivators, like her, found a spot and sat down to meditate.
But Luo Xue’s meditation was genuine, while theirs… was mostly for show, hoping to earn some brownie points from the sect elders.
Just then, the appearance of several graceful figures in the distance attracted the attention of the aspiring cultivators. Just as everyone was wondering why these sect prodigies were among them, they suddenly heard their calls.
“Little Junior Sister?”
“Little Junior Sister!”
“Little Junior Sister, where are you? Have you arrived yet?”
“Your Senior Sisters are looking for you!”
Luo Xue shivered at the sound of these voices.
She looked towards the source of the sound and saw the familiar long skirts of Falling Flower Peak. The leader was Ye Ningshuang, whom she had met in the morning.
“Why are they all here looking for me…”
Luo Xue really didn’t want to be in a group, especially with these enthusiastic Senior Sisters who seemed like they would chatter non-stop.
So she pulled her hood lower, concealing herself further.
With her height, if not for her silver hair, she would be hard to find even with Divine Sense.
The Falling Flower Peak sisterhood searched but couldn’t find her. As the Immortal Ascension Gate was about to begin, they could only leave in disappointment.
Only the surrounding aspiring cultivators continued to discuss.
“Are these the female disciples of Falling Flower Peak? Tsk tsk, if I could enter the sect, I would definitely choose Falling Flower Peak!”
“Shh, don’t you know? Falling Flower Peak… only accepts female disciples!”
“Really?”
“Of course. It’s said that it wasn’t like this originally, but the Venerable Falling Flower was heartbroken by her lover, so…”
Luo Xue couldn’t help but twitch her lips.
It was hard to imagine Luo Huaxin being that kind of person…
It was more likely that she was the one breaking hearts.
At least, Senior Sister seemed heartbroken.
“Hey, speaking of which, did you know that Venerable Falling Flower actually has a daughter?”
“Yes, yes, I saw her this morning. She has beautiful silver hair… Excuse me, little brother, we’re still talking here.”
Luo Xue silently moved aside.
“And also…”
The aspiring cultivators around her chattered endlessly about the sect’s gossip. If it weren’t about her, Luo Xue would have liked to hear more.
But the time for gossip was running out. Soon, a bell rang from Cold Edge Cliff.
Not too loud, not too soft, but it seemed to ring in everyone’s ears.
“Silence.”
A deep and powerful voice rang out, and instantly, all sounds on Cold Edge Cliff disappeared.
The figure of Xi Xiaofeng, the Peak Master of Cold Edge Cliff, appeared in the sky, overlooking everyone.
The other elders also appeared one after another, silently floating beside Xi Xiaofeng.
These elders were at least at the Core Formation Realm, and Xi Xiaofeng was even a Nascent Soul cultivator. With so many powerful figures appearing at once, the air on Cold Edge Cliff seemed to condense.
The aspiring cultivators held their breath nervously, their excitement for the Immortal Ascension Gate diminishing.
Xi Xiaofeng swept his gaze over the crowd, his eyes lingering for a moment before he spoke.
“Ye Liufeng of Dawn Light Peak, Ye Ningshuang of Falling Flower Peak, Kong Lianbin of Cold Edge Cliff, and Li Guixing of Underworld Water Ravine, step forward.”
As his voice fell, four figures rose from the ranks of the second-generation immortals. Looking closely, there seemed to be a technique acting upon them.
Luo Xue looked on curiously, seeing a young man in golden robes, a Daoist priest with narrow eyes, a silent figure in black, and the familiar Ye Ningshuang.
“The four of you, your tests will be several times more difficult. Any objections?”
Xi Xiaofeng said in a deep voice.
“None.”
The four immediately bowed.
“So these are the Peerless Four.” Luo Xue touched the brim of her hood, watching with amusement. “It seems the ordinary test is too easy for them, so…”
“Luo Xue.”
“Hmm?”
Before Luo Xue could finish her thought, she heard her name.
She was stunned for a moment, then a force lifted her into the air, placing her alongside the four.
The young man in golden robes looked at her with disdain, the Daoist priest with narrow eyes just smiled faintly, and the silent figure in black remained silent.
Only Ye Ningshuang winked at her.
“The same goes for you. Any objections?”
Xi Xiaofeng stared at her.
…Could she object?
“No.”
Luo Xue mumbled, feeling that her expression must be very interesting right now, but it was a pity she didn’t have a mirror to see it.
She could only use her Post-Heaven cultivation now. If she could use her Innate Realm cultivation, she wouldn’t be in this situation…
Xi Xiaofeng nodded at Luo Xue, then waved his hand.
“The aptitude test, begin!”
Suddenly, a cold and fierce wind swept through the surroundings, forcing everyone to circulate their cultivation to resist the bone-chilling wind.
Strictly speaking, there wasn’t a convenient stone in the Immortal Domain that would glow when touched, with different colors representing different aptitudes.
As far as the Immortal Domain knew, the Demon Abyss didn’t have one either.
Ordinary cultivation aptitude could only be observed through cultivation, unless it was a special case like the Xuanyin Body.
The Peak Master of Cold Edge Cliff made the aspiring cultivators circulate their cultivation in the bone-chilling wind, then the other elders would observe and record their performance, compiling a list in the end.
This was the most mature method for testing aptitude, and it was almost impossible to miss a cultivation genius.
This wasn’t just an ordinary cold wind; it also affected the soul.
No matter one’s cultivation level, as long as it didn’t exceed that of the Cold Edge Cliff Peak Master, they would have to experience the bitter cold of winter that mortals endured.
Moreover, circulating one’s cultivation could only alleviate the chill, not completely resist it.
Under such stimulation, all the aspiring cultivators and second-generation immortals present circulated their cultivation with all their might, trying to lessen the cold.
It was almost impossible to hold back under these circumstances.
Especially the Peerless Four, under Xi Xiaofeng’s special attention, were even more miserable.
They used various techniques without reservation, creating a spectacular display.
Among everyone present, only Luo Xue’s situation was strange.
In the cold wind, Luo Xue was confused.
She looked at everyone struggling and was completely dumbfounded.
“What’s going on?”
Was this wind very cold?
Why couldn’t she feel it?
She even felt a bit warm…
It couldn’t be that after experiencing so many extreme cold disasters in the apocalyptic world, she had become immune to cold wind, right?
Luo Xue looked up innocently, meeting Xi Xiaofeng’s gaze.
But at this moment, Xi Xiaofeng averted his gaze guiltily.
Clearly, this Peak Master of Cold Edge Cliff’s shamelessness hadn’t reached the required level.
“Damn it, you’re actually helping me cheat!”
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