Zanxing

Chapter 12 - Selection Contest (2)

After a night of rain, the early morning in Pingyang Town carried the chill of late autumn.  

The morning mist slightly dampened the roadside weeds, while the occasional chirp of cicadas pierced through the cold, waking up the entire town.  

Today, Pingyang Town was unusually lively, with countless cultivators rushing towards the same destination. A passerby, enjoying breakfast, curiously asked the tea shopkeeper, "Boss, what's going on? Why is everyone running around so excitedly?"  

The shopkeeper smiled and replied, "Today is the Taixian Sect's recruitment selection day. All the talented and brilliant young men of Duzhou are eagerly waiting to make a name for themselves at Wangxiantai."  (Translator XiaoBai: Wangxiantai (望仙台) refers to an elevated platform located at the base of Gufeng Mountain. It is the setting where many cultivators gather to participate in or observe the selection process, hoping to join the prestigious Taixian Sect.)

Wangxiantai was a flat platform at the foot of Gufeng Mountain. It was said that if you stood on it in the evening and looked up, you could see the ethereal clouds and mist of the mountain's celestial landscape. Today, the area beneath Wangxiantai was already crowded with people. Zanxing and Hong Su, along with Old Niu, stood at a distance, staring intently at Wangxiantai, lost in thought.  

In Duzhou, cultivation was a widespread pursuit, and among the major sects, the Taixian Sect was one of the most renowned. Founded three hundred years ago by the great master Yushan, who ascended to immortality a hundred years ago, it was the first sect in Duzhou to have a successful ascension. After his ascension, his disciple, Master Shaoyang, took over as sect leader. Following the devastating war between humans and demons twenty years ago, the Taixian Sect was severely weakened, but despite its decline, it remained a prestigious sect with deep reserves of knowledge and techniques. Becoming a disciple of the sect was still a great opportunity. Moreover, the Taixian Sect had not recruited new disciples for nearly ten years, so once the news spread, cultivators flocked to Pingyang Town, hoping to seize their chance to join the sect.  

"I thought there wouldn't be many people," Hong Su said in surprise. "Can the Taixian Sect really accommodate so many?"  

"Since it's such a prestigious school, it's only natural for many to want to join. Besides," Zanxing glanced around, "it seems they've expanded their intake this year."  

As they spoke, they saw a group of people flying from the direction of Gufeng Mountain, riding their swords through the air, and landing on Wangxiantai within moments.  

"Ah! Those are disciples of the Taixian Sect!" an excited cultivator shouted beside them. "They're here!"  

Hong Su also grew excited. "Miss, those are Taixian Sect members! They're so good-looking!"  

Most of the group wore light gray gauze robes, with white belts around their waists and dark gray ribbons binding their hair. Their faces were upright, their bodies lean and graceful, and their robes fluttered elegantly in the wind, giving them an otherworldly presence. Leading them was a young woman dressed in a grayish-purple robe, with delicate features and a bold, heroic spirit between her brows. When she smiled, her aloofness vanished, and she appeared kind and approachable.  

She stood on Wangxiantai and addressed the crowd below in a loud voice: "I am Zi Luo, a disciple of the Taixian Sect. Today, as we welcome new recruits from far and wide, your dedication to the path of cultivation is clear."  

"The path of cultivation is fraught with difficulties and dangers. Without the determination of a rock and the perseverance of Yu Gong, you are likely to fail halfway. As you all know, the first step in cultivation is reaching the Foundation Establishment stage. In our Taixian Sect, every disciple must begin with Foundation Establishment. Today's recruitment test starts here at Wangxiantai, but not everyone is qualified to step onto it."  (Translator XiaoBai: Yu Gong (愚公), or "The Foolish Old Man," is a figure from Chinese folklore. In the fable The Foolish Old Man Removes the Mountains, Yu Gong, an elderly man, decides to dig through two large mountains blocking his village, despite being mocked for attempting such an impossible task. He believes that, even if he can't finish the job, future generations will. Impressed by his persistence, the gods send divine help to move the mountains. The story symbolizes perseverance and long-term determination in overcoming seemingly impossible challenges.)

After she finished speaking, she waved her sleeve and a streak of golden light shot out, quickly forming a glowing archway at the foot of Wangxiantai in the shape of a "gate."  

"This is the Yuan Power Gate," Zi Luo explained. "Only those who have reached the Foundation Establishment stage can pass through. Those who are still in the Qi Refining stage may leave now."  

Zhan Xing: "..." Impressive, an intelligent security check.  

Many of the gathered cultivators were still at the Qi Refining stage and became disgruntled upon hearing this. "How can they do this? Why look down on those in the Qi Refining stage?"  

"Exactly! The Taixian Sect is a great sect, how can they be so arrogant and dismissive?"  

Zi Luo smiled and said, "It's not arrogance. It's for your safety. The trials on Wangxiantai are no ordinary tests. Attempting them before reaching the Foundation Establishment Stage could lead to serious injury or even death. The sect is only thinking of your well-being."  

Upon hearing this, the previously indignant cultivators fell silent. They truly wanted to join the Taixian Sect, but no one was willing to risk their life for it.  

Zi Luo continued, "Now, for those of you who have reached Foundation Establishment, please proceed through the Yuan Power Gate."  

The golden gate stood tall beneath Wangxiantai, as if stepping through it would lead one into a mystical realm of clouds and moonlit pathways. Eager participants rushed forward, with the first few diving headfirst into the glowing gate, laughing loudly as they passed through. "Everyone, I'm going in first!"  

Seeing this, the remaining cultivators surged forward, but a few who hoped to sneak through without reaching Foundation Establishment were immediately repelled by the golden light, falling heavily to the ground.  

Zi Luo smiled sweetly at those who had fallen. "Don't even think about sneaking through. The Yuan Power Gate is very clever."  

Zanxing observed this and said, "Let's go."  

Hong Su and Old Niu hurriedly followed. As they approached the Yuan Power Gate, Zanxing was about to enter when a voice called out from behind: "Miss Yang?"  

Zanxing turned around to see Wang Shao and Duan Xiangrao standing behind her. Duan Xiangrao looked at her in surprise. "Miss Yang, you're here too? Could it be," she glanced at the Yuan Power Gate, speaking exaggeratedly, "you're also here to participate in the selection?"  

"Stop joking," Wang Shao interjected without thinking. "She's only in the Qi Refining stage; she can't even get past this gate."  

"Really?" Duan Xiangrao laughed regretfully. "I thought I'd have the chance to compete with Miss Yang."  

The two of them seemed intent on picking a fight. Hong Su, unable to resist the provocation, angrily retorted, "Don't look down on people! Our young miss is much stronger than you, you fox!"  

"Strength isn't measured by sharp words," Duan Xiangrao countered without backing down.  

Zanxing, uninterested in engaging with the duo, lifted her foot to walk towards the Yuan Power Gate.  

"Wait!" Wang Shao called out.  

Zanxing turned back. "What is it, Young Master Wang?"  

Wang Shao wasn't sure why he had called out to her, but he couldn't shake the feeling that she was ignoring him, which irked him. After a pause, he mocked, "Yang Zanxing, are you heartbroken and losing your mind after I broke off our engagement? Didn't you hear? You can't enter the gate if you haven't reached the Foundation Establishment Stage. Are you deaf?"  

"Young Master Wang," Zanxing smiled at him, "haven't you heard the saying, 'Do not judge a person by their past after a mere three days' absence?'"  

With that, Zanxing walked through the gate.