316: Chapter 316 Entering the Mountain

A month of time passed quickly in preparation.

Ling Ye went to the teahouse almost every day, piecing together more information about the Qingyun Sect from the various scattered chats.

He learned that the current Sect Master of the Qingyun Sect was surnamed Shen and was a Cultivator at the Golden Core Stage; he learned that the Sect was divided into three levels: Outer Sect, Inner Sect, and True Disciple, with the most being Outer Sect Disciples and only a sparse dozen or so True Disciples; he also learned that the triennial mountain-opening recruitment was the biggest event within hundreds of miles, with young people coming from over a dozen surrounding villages and towns to participate.

He also learned more details about the trials.

The physical test usually involved weight-bearing mountain climbing or long-distance running, the identification test might involve identifying raw Spirit Stone ores, Spiritual Plants, or Yao Beast Materials, and the mental test involved enduring a spiritual trial inside a stone chamber engraved with an illusion array.

As for that rumored fourth stage—the combat assessment—it had never been confirmed, but no one had denied it either.

Old Shi also made progress on his end.

He discovered a hidden cave in the back mountain of the Qingyun Sect; the entrance was blocked by vines and shrubs, and the interior was dry and spacious, enough to accommodate two people.

He stocked some dry rations and fresh water in the cave for emergencies.

He also figured out the daily patrol routes and shift change times of the Qingyun Sect Disciples and drew a rough map.

"If you have any accidents during the trial, or need to pass messages from inside to the outside, that small path in the back mountain is the safest route." Old Shi's tone was flat when he said this, but Ling Ye could hear the concern in his words.

"I will not have any accidents," Ling Ye said. "At least, not during the trial."

The day for the mountain-opening recruitment was set for the ninth day of the ninth lunar month.

The Double Ninth Festival, with its crisp autumn air, was the perfect season for climbing high and looking far.

On the night of the eighth, Ling Ye did not sleep.

He sat by the window, watching the silent mountain peak under the moonlight, mentally rehearsing the various situations he might encounter tomorrow over and over again.

The physical test should not be a problem for him—his experiences in the Star Gate World had made his physical fitness far exceed that of an ordinary person; even without his extraordinary powers, his endurance, speed, and reaction abilities remained.

The identification test was an unknown variable; he knew almost nothing about the spiritual objects of this world and could only improvise on the spot.

The mental test... he was unsure.

In the Star Gate World, he had experienced countless spiritual shocks—the erosion of the abyssal eye pollution, the backlash of Order energy, and countless times on the verge of collapse.

His mind had already been tempered to be tough enough.

But he could not judge whether the mental test of this world was the same as that of the Star Gate World.

He did not know the quality of his Spiritual Root.

This was the biggest variable.

If he had no Spiritual Root, then all his preparations would lose their meaning.

He would be turned away and would then have to find other ways to integrate into this world.

If he did, even if it were the lowest Low Grade Spiritual Root, he had the confidence to climb up step by step, relying on his own experience and perseverance.

Everything would have to wait until tomorrow to be revealed.

Early in the morning, before the sky was bright, Ling Ye got up.

He washed himself briefly with the fresh water he had drawn last night and changed into a set of clean clothes Old Shi had bought from town—a dark blue coarse cloth tunic, simple but neat and decent.

He put the ring formed by Old Shi on his finger; the ring warmed slightly, as if giving him silent encouragement.

Old Shi stood at the doorway, not saying much, just handing him a cloth bag containing a few steamed buns and a gourd of water.

"I will wait for your news at that cave entrance in the back mountain," Old Shi said.

Ling Ye nodded, took the cloth bag, and carried it on his back.

He walked out of the inn and headed toward the town entrance along the bluestone road.

The morning mist had not yet dispersed, and the air was humid and cold.

There were already many people on the road—mostly young people; some were wearing simple tunics like him, while others from wealthier families wore silk clothes, with jade pendants or sachets hanging from their waists.

They were all heading in the same direction: the dirt road outside the town that led to the Qingyun Sect.

Ling Ye walked silently, blending into the crowd.

He was neither nervous nor excited.

He just walked calmly, step by step, toward the mountain peak that was gradually becoming clear in the morning light.

At the end of the dirt road was a wide stone plaza.

Behind the stone plaza stood a tall stone archway, with three large characters engraved on it—'Qingyun Sect'.

Under the archway stood two Green-robed Disciples with long swords hanging at their waists, their expressions solemn.

Behind them was the winding stone staircase that disappeared into the depths of the morning mist and trees.

The applicants gathered on the stone plaza; at a rough count, there were over two hundred people.

Some were whispering to each other; some looked nervous and kept rubbing their hands; others had arrogant expressions, appearing confident.

Ling Ye stood at the edge of the crowd, quietly observing everything around him.

After a while, a middle-aged man wearing a deep green robe walked out from behind the archway.

His robe was different from those of the ordinary Disciples; silver cloud patterns were embroidered on the cuffs and collar, and a white jade token was tied to his waist.

His gaze swept over the crowd, and the once noisy stone plaza quieted down.

"Everyone," the middle-aged man's voice was not loud, but it clearly spread throughout the entire stone plaza, "Today is the triennial mountain-opening recruitment day of our Qingyun Sect."

"The rules are roughly the same as in previous years—three stages of trials, with the best selected for admission."

"But there is one thing I must inform you of in advance—"

He paused for a moment, his gaze slowly sweeping across the crowd.

"This year's trial does indeed have a fourth stage."

"Those who pass the first three stages will enter the back mountain hunting ground to engage in a combat match against an adult Iron-backed Wolf."

"This stage does not count wins or losses; it only looks at performance."

"Those who are afraid to fight, those who retreat, and those who have absolutely no power to fight back will not be admitted."

A low commotion arose in the crowd.

Some showed fear, while others were eager to try.

Ling Ye stood in the crowd, his expression unchanged.

Iron-backed Wolf.

He had heard this name in the teahouse; it was a common Low Grade Yao Beast near the Qingyun Sect, with thick skin and flesh, sharp claws and teeth, and it was difficult for three or five ordinary strong men to even get close to it.

But for someone with real combat experience, it was not invincible.

After the commotion subsided, the middle-aged man continued: "Now, the first stage begins."

"Run along the mountain road to the Half-Mountain Pavilion, then return here."

"The whole journey is about twenty li, with a time limit of one and a half hours."

"Those who exceed the time will be eliminated."

As soon as he finished speaking, some impatient people rushed out.

More people followed closely behind, and the sound of footsteps rang out messily on the stone steps, like a sudden rainstorm.

Ling Ye did not rush.

He adjusted his breathing, took a step, and started running at his own comfortable pace.

Twenty li.

One and a half hours.

He had plenty of patience.