Ding---
Boom---!
On the sword-testing platform, a woman in plain clothes was slammed into the chest by a male disciple of the Black Star Sect with the hilt of his sword and flew off the stage as if blown away by a wave of air.
"The frame is unstable and the foundation is lacking."
The man walked to the edge of the stage and spoke coldly to the female practitioner he had knocked down. After that, he returned to center stage and motioned the disciple who was taking notes to call on the next person.
"Next, Yang Guo, Heavenly Cloud Peak sword-testing platform! Come on stage."
When the examinee named Yang Guo heard he was called on the stage, his pupils shrank instantly as if he had seen a ghost, and his face turned pale.
The other candidates around him patted him on the shoulder as a sign of comfort, saying, "Brother, don't worry. We'll carry you to the clinic afterward."
At the same time, another sword-testing platform also called out, "Next, Yun Ling, Moon Spring Peak sword-testing platform! Get on the stage."
The candidate named Yun Ling was relieved after hearing this. He almost jumped for joy and hurriedly ran to the sword-testing platform on the other side.
Pei Lianxue, who was waiting in the rest area, noticed the two completely opposite reactions. Puzzled, she asked Xiao Yunluo who was sitting next to her in a low voice, "Sister Xiao, how come, when their names were called, one was happy and the other was sad?"
Xiao Yunluo looked at her and explained, "The sword test is scored based on how long you can last. On the Heavenly Cloud Peak platform, all are sword cultivation disciples in the Foundation Building stage while on the Moon Spring Peak platform, there are simple Foundation Building cultivators. Against whom do you think you will last longer, a sword cultivation disciple or a regular cultivation disciple?"
"So..." Pei Lianxue nodded. "No wonder. Then, everyone should want to go to the Moon Spring Peak platform, right?"
"Of course. There are twelve sword-testing platforms up here, and no one wants to be assigned to the Heavenly Cloud Peak platform."
Xiao Yunluo clutched the sword in her arms tightly, hesitated, then asked, "Which sword-testing platform do you want to go to?"
"I..."
At this very moment, the man named Yang Guo just flew off the Heavenly Cloud Peak sword-testing platform and spat out a mouthful of blood. It looked like several ribs had been broken.
When Pei Lianxue saw this, she immediately shrank her neck and said hastily, "Anyway, I definitely don't want to go to Heavenly Cloud Peak."
Xiao Yunluo also glanced at that Yang Guo and snorted in disgust. "Hmph! It is the Heavenly Cloud Peak platform that the elders pay the most attention to."
Pei Lianxue timidly said, "It's better than being hurt. My brother taught me that I shouldn't die on the account of preserving my image."
"..."
Xiao Yunluo glanced at her in disgust but said nothing more.
Sensing the disdainful look in Xiao Yunluo's eyes, Pei Lianxue nodded weakly and also stopped talking.
Xiao Yunluo frowned slightly. When she watched Pei Lianxue's sword routine, she thought she was probably a very powerful person, but now, seeing her so spineless, she simply took a step aside, as if it was an affront to be with her.
"Hmph!"
At this time, her name was also announced.
"Next, Xiao Yunluo, Heavenly Cloud Peak sword-testing platform."
Hearing that she was assigned to the Heavenly Cloud Peak platform, Xiao Yunluo's eyes lit up as if she was shouting in her heart, "Yes!" Immediately, she pulled out the sword and threw the scabbard to Pei Lianxue.
"Hold the scabbard for me. I'll take it back later."
Flustered, Pei Lianxue took the scabbard and nodded. "Ah... okay."
After that, Xiao Yunluo stepped onto the three-foot-high platform, walked to the center, and looked at the Heavenly Cloud Peak female disciple who was her opponent.
She remembered that this senior sister was called Bai Yuexin, and she was considered a mid-to-high-level Foundation-Building disciple in the Heavenly Cloud Peak. She smiled in satisfaction, then cupped her hands and saluted. "Senior sister Bai, please teach me."
As she saluted, she glanced again toward the seats of the Grand Elders at the top.
The five Grand Elders of the Black Star Sect oversaw the sword test, and if there was someone with impressive abilities, they could take a personal disciple on the spot.
However, Xiao Yunluo's attention was not on the five elders but on a goofy-looking golden-crowned parrot perched on the railing behind them.
Others didn't know, but she knew that the goofy golden-crowned parrot was raised by her mother.
Her mother was a Void Returning cultivator, and it was impossible for her to come in person to watch the exams. Otherwise, even before the sword test started, many people would faint because of her powerful Immortal aura. Therefore, the parrot was her mother's eyes.
Xiao Yunluo did not expect her mother to come to watch the sword test. When she saw the parrot, she was a little nervous, but she plucked up the courage and said to Bai Yuexin, "Sister Bai, you don't have to use a wooden sword. Just use your own sword."
Bai Yuexin, who had just picked up the wooden sword from the side, was taken aback by these words. A little worried, she asked the disciple who was taking notes.
That disciple shook his head slightly and said no.
A bit helpless, Bai Yuexin persuaded, "Young Lady, the rule is to use wooden swords, but don't worry, I won't go easy on you."
Xiao Yunluo was a little disappointed but said nothing and raised her sword.
"Then, please teach me, Sister Bai."
"Hmm!"
On the Heavenly Cloud Peak sword-testing platform, cold sparks were flying everywhere.
The five Grand Elders looked from above at Xiao Yunluo wielding her sword on the stage, nodded with satisfaction, and praised her unanimously. "She is really worthy of being the Young Lady. She has already withstood the five moves of that Heavenly Cloud Peak disciple?"
"Indeed, the Young Lady is only fifteen years old this year. She will definitely become a generation to be proud of in the future."
...
From the moment Xiao Yunluo stepped onto the stage, the five Grand Elders hadn't stopped praising her.
However, the golden-crowned parrot behind them didn't seem to be happy, and suddenly opened its beaks and started speaking, "Shut up, shut up!!! Noisy, noisy, noisy!!!"
When the five Grand Elders heard this, they immediately sewed their mouths shut obediently.
At this time, on the stage, Xiao Yunluo couldn't hold on any longer. Bai Yuexin caught a mistake in her footwork and hit her in the right shoulder with the wooden sword, throwing her off the stage and knocking her heavily to the ground.
However, instead of lying on the ground wailing like the others before, she stood up leaning on the sword as a crutch, clenched her teeth, and said, "Thank you, Sister Bai."
After speaking, Xiao Yunluo cupped her hands and bowed to Bai Yuexin who was on the stage, then headed back toward the rest area. There were a few inner disciples who wanted to go up to help, but she pushed them away with a glare.
"No need. I can walk by myself."
After returning to the lounge, she sat back next to Pei Lianxue and asked, "How long did I last?"
"Almost ten minutes?" Pei Lianxue replied weakly.
"That should be a perfect score." Xiao Yunluo smiled smugly and murmured, "I wonder if Mother saw it, hmm."
"Mother?"
"Ah..." Realizing that she expressed her thoughts out loud, Xiao Yunluo's face turned red and she said with a frown, "Humph!!! It's none of your business. You'd better start praying you'll be assigned to the Moon Spring Peak sword-testing platform."
Not knowing how she offended her, Pei Lianxue was at a loss, but looking at the wound on her shoulder, she said with concern, "Go and bandage it. It's all swollen."
"It's none of your business! It's just a minor injury!"
"Oh..."
At this moment, the next contestant was announced for the Heavenly Cloud Peak sword-testing platform.
"Next, Feng Yu Die, Heavenly Cloud Peak sword-testing platform! Come on stage."
After waiting for a long time, no one showed up, so the announcer called out again.
"Feng Yu Die!!! Is Feng Yu Die here?!"
It was only when they called out for the second time that Pei Lianxue came to her senses, and looked at Feng Yu Die on her left.
It was unknown what she did last night, but just after coming here, Feng Yu Die leaned on her shoulder and slept, blowing snot bubbles.
With a disgusted look, Pei Lianxue burst the snot bubble with her index finger.
"Ah?!" Feng Yu Die suddenly woke up, looking back and forth. "What? What happened?!"
"It's your turn. Go on the Heavenly Cloud Peak platform."
"Oh..." Feng Yu Die laughed, then looked at Xiao Yunluo. Seeing that she seemed to be injured, she asked, concerned, "Are you hurt?"
Xiao Yunluo turned her head away in disdain, not wanting to talk to her at all.
At this time, she was called again on the stage. "Feng Yu Die! This is the last call, otherwise, it will be recorded as a forfeit match!!"
"Ah! Here I am!" Feng Yu Die quickly stood up, waved her hand, then shyly looked at Pei Lianxue and asked, "Sister Pei, if I get full marks now, is there any reward? Like... hugs or something..."
With a disgusted look, Pei Lianxue sighed, then stood up, grabbed her by the collar, and threw her straight toward the Heavenly Cloud Peak sword-testing platform.