An Examination Stage Beneath A Roofless Sky.

"I thought this place would be as luxurious as I imagined, but it turns out to be more like a martial arts stage."

Hei Xing slipped his hands into the armholes of his shabby robe, his eyes busy glancing at the rows of empty seats surrounding hundreds of people waiting for the exam that would take place soon.

"Y-You're right... this place is hot."

While Xiao Rou's hand shaded her forehead from the dazzling sunlight, her sweat flowed from her chin and fell onto the teak floor.

Unfortunately, this place had no roof like pavilions in general, as if this building was deliberately designed like a giant wooden tub that could hold hundreds of people inside.

When his irises reached the row of nine chairs on the altar between the spectator stands, and one magnificent throne located above them.

At that moment his feelings improved again.

For him...

Someday...

Today he would tread the path to the Throne of 'Cultivation Emperor' he had dreamed of for so long.

Among the hundreds of people waiting, several members from the nine sects watched over the Main Hall.

"L-Look, they're coming!" shouted one of the participants.

Hei Xing turned toward the voice, someone's index finger pointing at the chairs where the leaders of the Nine Great Sects were.

Up there, silhouettes appeared from the hallway, then slowly revealed themselves.

"That's... that's Yan Bai... she's the eldest sister of the Yan clan as well as the leader of the Spring Flower Sect," said another, looking enthusiastic.

All pairs of eyes immediately widened at the middle-aged woman with pink hair who walked gracefully and sat in the first chair. She was accompanied by two girls who looked almost similar to her.

Her face... her hair... and the name of the 'Yan' clan... made Hei Xing blink his irises several times.

"She looks very much like the one who bumped into me earlier," his inner self said. "Is she the sister of that girl named 'Yan Zhi'?"

Not long after Yan Bai, another figure emerged from the same hallway. A man with flaming red hair like blazing fire.

He sat next to Yan Bai, accompanied by a teenage figure standing beside him.

"Ahh!!! Handsome Master Zhu Longwei! I-I hope you choose me!" shouted a girl with eyes filled with passion. "I want to be your slave in the Wisdom Fire Sect!"

Hei Xing who saw that... could feel the calmness from the flat expression without a smile from the aura emitted by that man.

"His face and appearance are contradictory," his heart said. He let out an honest smile with a glimmer of light in his eyes.

"U-Um..." called Xiao Rou pinching Hei Xing's robe slightly. The white-haired man turned to her.

"Is it true that you have no Qi?" she continued asking.

Hei Xing put on a surprised face. Before this, he had told Xiao Rou about the problems he experienced throughout his life.

"Yes," he answered calmly. "I won't give up just because I'm different."

Without a definite reason, he became even more puzzled seeing Xiao Rou's smile after Hei Xing said that amid the noise of hundreds of people in the Main Hall.

"Thank goodness, somehow I feel calm when I'm with you," Xiao Rou said softly. "Last year I failed this exam... and I feel unconfident."

"Hahaha... don't worry about it, Xiao Rou."

"Hmm... if only I could be like what you said."

Then, both of them shifted their gaze back to the altar.

"Hei Xing." Xiao Rou pointed at a man with light blue hair who appeared cold emerging from the hallway. "That is Lanhua Xue, he's the leader of the Blue Rose Sect."

"Hoo... you've memorized them all..." responded Hei Xing stroking his chin.

"Of course," she replied, shifting her index finger to a mysterious man with a cloth covering his eyes. "And the one walking without looking is from the Dream World Deity Sect, Mengluo Xian."

"Hmm... hmm... luckily I met you, Xiao Rou." Hei Xing crossed his arms in front of his chest. "Please continue."

"Just a little." Xiao Rou followed Hei Xing's style of crossing her chest. "Now that one..." she continued again as a thin man with a terrifying face came from the hallway with two swords in his hands. "He is Zhandao Kuang, leader of the Praying Mantis Sect."

"Hmm! Hmm!" Hei Xing nodded repeatedly. "His face is more like a true criminal than a sect leader who protects the people of the Qingye Empire."

"Pfffttt." Xiao Rou held back her laughter. "You really are straightforward..." Her hands rested on her waist.

Hei Xing just stayed silent, he was a bit embarrassed to hear that from that gentle girl.

"Then that one..." the girl continued quietly. "Zixuan Feng, the fat one from the Purple Whale Sect."

"His body is truly fertile..."

Then, a very young boy stepped out from the dark hallway nervously.

Hei Xing's eyes widened.

"Why is there a child there?" he asked in surprise. "Is the sect leader unable to attend?"

"Hahaha, you must be surprised," replied Xiao Rou while chuckling. "He's the youngest sect leader, you know... he's only fifteen years old, Hualing Zi from the Water Deer Sect."

"EHHH?! SERIOUSLY?!"

"Yep! I'm serious!"

Not long after...

From up there...

Not from the dark hallway...

A bright oval portal appeared, making Hei Xing's pupils widen without blinking at all. His mind immediately recalled the woman who had previously insulted him as crippled.

"Ahh... you must know this..." Xiao Rou said curtly. "I wanted to tell you earlier... but... I was expecting your surprised expression."

"I-I know this..."

From that portal, the figure of a black-haired woman like a black panther emerged together with a woman with jade-green hair.

"Yes, that is Mo Jianxiu and she's with one of her sect members, Xuanzhi Yuze. They're from the Black Star Sect, the worst sect of the worst," said that girl lowering her head.

"O-Oh no! I've offended one of the leaders of the Nine Great Sects." Hei Xing held his head in panic.

"Hahahaha... it's lucky you didn't die."

All the people in the Main Hall cheered, even though only eight leaders had appeared at the altar. They were waiting for one name, the leader of the strongest and most respected sect in the entire Qingye dynasty.

"I can't wait for Lady Huangjin Chen!"

"You're right, I want to be chosen by him to the Golden Dawn Sect!"

"They say the Cultivation Emperor is coming?"

"I heard that too... Emperor Shikong Tianzun will witness this year's exam!"

The voices of hundreds of prospective sect members made Hei Xing freeze. The enthusiasm from those who might have big dreams like himself, and today... he was one of the many dream chasers...

"Feng Yun... I know you're among them, let's fight," his inner self said.

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