The Rise of the Divine Oracle

Chapter 19 - The Test

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With everything set, Wangji met with the clan leaders to discuss the plan before they all head out mid-day to meet the young cultivators at the training grounds. Wuxian was practically skipping with excitement.

The five elected youth introduced themselves: (three boys) Ouyang Lijian, Ouyang Qiao, Ouyang Mingyi, (and two girls) Ouyang Morui and Ouyang Linao. They bow in respect and Wangji addresses them: "I am pleased to meet you all. Today you will be facing multiple challenges that will determine your ranking and leadership skills. The life of a cultivator is rarely uneventful and facing hardship without hesitation is key. We will not go easy on you and some of you might get hurt so pace yourself. I will head out into the back hills first with Wen Ning to set up the test obstacles and Master Wei will guide and assess your skills as you complete each test. Follow his instructions. You will journey together after I send the signal."

Wangji turns to Wuxian and brings him close: "Be safe."

Wuxian nods: "See you at the end."

Wangji kisses his hand and with a warning glare aimed at the youth, walks into the back hills with Wen Ning.

Zizhen stands next to Wuxian: "I've never seen someone as possessive as Hanguang Jun. He threatened me with death if I let a scratch touch your skin."

Wuxian sighs: "I think he forgets that I'm a grown man with two first-class weapons and unbeatable skills."

Zizhen nods and turns to him with a wide smile: "Since he's finally gone. Can I hug you? You smell amazing!"

Before he can step closer to Wuxian, a flying sword lands an inch away from his feet. He freezes and looks fearfully at Wuxian for help. Bichen is pulled back into the hills as Wuxian yells towards that direction: "LAN ZHAN! HE'S JUST A KID!" When he looks back and sees the collective look of horror on all the young cousins, he awkwardly laughs: "Don't worry kids. He's just showing off his sword skills. We're about to start soon so make sure that you're ready for a full-day journey."

Morui, a joyful looking girl with red and blue ribbons in her long hair, approached Wuxian: "Master Wei, may I ask you a personal question?" Wuxian smiles and nods. She looks at his flute: "How come you don't carry a sword?"

Wuxian noticed that all the young cousins were intrigued and moved closer to hear his answer. He pats her head and replies: "If you had a strong rock or a hand full of wise written pages, which one would you use to fight a wild boar?" Morui replied: "The rock." Wuxian shows her Chenqing: "This is the instrument that I made when I needed protection the most. It is much stronger than any first-class weapon. Besides, I do have a sword, Suibian. Wen Ning carries it on my behalf."

Qiao gets closer to see the flute properly: "I've heard that a single note from your flute can bring the dead back to life. Is that true?"

Zizhen huffs: "Don't insult Master Wei's abilities! He can control fierce corpses, not make them."

Wuxian smirks and just looks at the youth before him: "Worry about your own progress before looking into others."

A big flash of light appears in the sky signaling the start. Zizhen leads the group into the hills and Wuxian follows last to observe.

They encounter a few minor obstacles and hidden spiritual traps but the youth were able to spot them and overcome them with ease. Mingyi, the oldest in the group, looks back at a bored Wuxian: "Hanguang Jun said this is going to be hard. So far all we've encountered are child's play." Wuxian stares back at him and says: "Well.. You are children."

Mingyi huffs and rejoins his cousins as they venture deeper into the back hills.

An hour in, they take a water break and Wuxian sits next to Zizhen: "Is it always this quiet in your part of the world?" Zizhen shakes his head: "Not really. We recently heard rumors about a vengeful warlord spirit that roams these hills, possessing capable men into killing their travel companions."

Wuxian looks intrigued. Lijian, the youngest and calmest looking boy in the group, chimed in: "My father told me that one of the cultivators looking into this matter confirmed that he's not a possessing ghost. He's the last remaining fierce corpse, summoned by Jin Guangyao himself before he was killed. He also has the ability to possess other bodies to do his bidding."

Linao, a tall girl with fierce eyes, joins the conversation: "That makes no sense. Shouldn't he have died again when the fake Stygian Tiger Seal was destroyed?"

They all look at Wuxian, and he stares back in confusion: "Why are you looking at me? I didn't make these corpses return to life."

Linao: "But you're the creator of the original Stygian Tiger Seal, correct?"

Wuxian laughs stiffly: "The writer of a book is not responsible for those who understand it incorrectly."

Mingyi: "But you can control them, that makes you sort of like their leader."

Zizhen glares at his cousin: "Leadership is not based on control. Watch your tongue, cousin Mingyi. Master Wei might be tolerant of your ignorance but I'm not."

Wuxian sighs: "So many impatient overprotective people around me." He pats Zizhen's shoulder: "Calm down Zizhen. The kid just wants to understand what is unknown to him."

Mingyi got irritated: "I'm not a kid! I have been to night hunts and trained under many grandmasters!"

Wuxian looks back with a smile and stands up: "Alright not-kids. Let's continue our journey."

While they were walking, a disciple from the clan intercepted their journey with a letter for Zizhen: "Young master, Leader Ouyang sent me to fetch you. An emergency requires your immediate attention."

Zizhen looks at Wuxian: "Master Wei, I beg your forgiveness. My father has summoned me back. Will you be able to continue the test without me? My cousins know the back hills very well, I am sure you won't get lost."

Wuxian pats his back and smiles: "I am sure we can manage."

Before he leaves, he steals a quick hug and a sniff from a surprised Wuxian and flees before anyone can react. Wuxian sighs deeply: "That boy has a death wish."

As they continue going deeper into the back hills they spot a figure in black standing still in the middle of the road. Wuxian instructs the youth to stand back and approaches the man slowly. When he gets close he sees that it's Wen Ning and thinks: 'Something is wrong. Why is he standing alone like this in the middle of the road?'

He gets closer and whispers: "Wen Ning?"

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