Second Time

Chapter 42 - Entrance Exam

The Immortal Steel Sect was surrounded by a vast desert that stretched out a hundred kilometers in every direction. Four wide paved roads cut through it in each cardinal direction, providing passage.

The desert was completely devoid of world energy. Any cultivator who wanted to cross it would need to rely on pills or spirit stones to keep up their qi supply. It made it very difficult for anyone to assault the sect en masse, but it hadn't been set up as a defensive measure. It was merely a side effect of the massive qi gathering array set up in the sect sucking up all of the energy in the area.

When Cai Fei heard this, she immediately grew interested in studying the array.

She and Shao Yue sat in a covered carriage, part of a caravan that slowly progressed through the desert, surrounded by hundreds of other prospective disciples on their way to the yearly selection. Each one of them could be considered a genius due to the sect's requirements.

After a few days of travel, the sect came into view.

It was built on an enormous circular mountain range. The tallest mountain stood in the very center, the one that Lai Qiao and the best disciples resided on. Surrounding it were nine other towering peaks, six of which were occupied and developed. Further out, another seventy-one peaks dotted the landscape, totalling eighty-one peaks.

Cultivators had great vision. They could make out the buildings carved from jade, the waterfalls and rivers, the towering trees, and the long bridges connecting various peaks. Mist and clouds drifted around the mountains, consisting of spiritual energy rather than water, showing just how thick the energy was. The lush scenery was a welcome sight after so much desert.

Shao Yue knew one of the inner nine peaks was reserved for Kong Shun's visits, as the Martial Emperor enjoyed his solitude. The rumours about her and him had actually first started because they'd stayed together on that peak, the only person he'd ever allowed to do so.

Shao Yue idly mentioned that to Cai Fei.

"So, were you together?"

"Don't you already know the answer to that?"

"I know what you've told me before." Cai Fei lifted her left hand. "But now I have this Xiezhi that will headbutt you if you lie."

"Is that why you bought it?" Shao Yue had to laugh. "No, there was nothing between us."

Cai Fei glanced at her hand, then nodded. "That's good to hear."

"What if there was? Would you be mad and jealous about something that happened far before we even met?"

Cai Fei glanced away. "It makes me feel special, being your first. I wouldn't want that to be a lie."

"It's not," Shao Yue assured her, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her closer. "My first and only."

Hu'er appeared on the other side of Cai Fei and mirrored Shao Yue's motions. "Same here!"

Cai Fei turned her head down in a futile attempt to hide her blush.

Liezhu's annoyed voice echoed, "Is the five hundred years over yet?"

"Get used to it," Shao Yue chided.

The caravan proceeded into the closest peak. World energy washed over them as soon as they left the desert, relieving everyone. For cultivators, having no world energy around was like a fish being out of water.

A stone staircase lead further up the mountain. There were at least a thousand steps, but that number wouldn't bother cultivators at all.

At the top, a large stone courtyard awaited them. In the center, a Heavenly Realm cultivator stood proudly beside a roughly cut blue stone more than twice his height and width. He wore a sleeveless vest that showed off his muscles, his beard wild. Behind him were thousands of houses arranged in an orderly fashion.