Chapter 146: Personal Examination

A draw?

Feng Renliang found it hard to remain seated. In his view, Luo Tian genuinely had a chance to surpass Jiang Zihe, and a very strong one at that.

He looked at the other contestants around him; their expressions were identical, carrying a mixture of mockery and knowing smiles.

So this was the Wind and Cloud Guard?

"Heh, this Luo Tian is truly unlucky. Everyone knows his sect master is on bad terms with Commander Ling!"

"What kind of nonsense are you talking about? It's simply that Luo Tian lacks common sense, insisting on competing against the Jiang family. Don't you know the Wind and Cloud Guard belongs to the Jiang family? Would they ever allow him to step on them to reach the top?"

"In my opinion, there is no way Luo Tian will ever get into the Wind and Cloud Guard. Who told Liu Changtian to fall out of favor with Commander Ling? But if the Jiang family hadn't been here this time, he might have actually taken first place in the initial trial and had something to show for it when he went back."

Listening to the whispered discussions around him, Feng Renliang seemed to understand something, and he let out an inward sigh. The Wind and Cloud Guard was hardly a clean place.

Then again, in such a vast world, where was it any different?

The world had never been fair to begin with.

Even though he felt the outcome was a bit too blatant, Feng Renliang, unlike the others who were gloating over Luo Tian's misfortune, had no intention of stepping forward to speak up for him.

Whether it would do any good was secondary; if by some chance he managed to enter the Wind and Cloud Guard only to offend the deputy commander, he would truly be walking to his doom.

Feng Renliang pressed his lips together and lowered his head slightly.

Hearing Ling清河 (Ling Qinghe) pronounce the verdict directly without waiting for the outcome, Jiang Zihe felt a lingering resentment, yet could not help but breathe an inward sigh of relief.

Had he really let Luo Tian play it out to the end, he could still have won, but it would have required a considerable amount of effort. In any case, this result did not affect his securing the first place.

As for this Luo Tian...

Ling Qinghe would undoubtedly set up obstacles for him. Openly blocking someone from entering the guard was indefensible; such a thing could not be allowed to happen in the supposedly impartial Wind and Cloud Guard trials. But during the third trial...

Taking a step back, the pressure on his shoulders vanished instantly. Jiang Zihe let out a gentle breath, cast a pitying glance at the slightly fatigued Luo Tian, and walked away without a word.

So what if he had a bit of talent?

He was destined to be on a completely different level from himself; their fates were worlds apart.

Backed by the prestige of the Jiang family, one could easily obtain numerous conveniences. Jiang Zihe was well aware of this and was not foolish enough to refuse them. Only a fool would have conditions available and refuse to use them.

Luo Tian gazed from afar at the calm and composed Ling Qinghe, a surge of anger rising in his chest.

However, this was indeed not the appropriate time to voice any complaints.

With a blank expression, he descended the thousand-step ladder and silently walked back to the ranks of the contestants.

The youths who had successfully passed the first trial had climbed past the two-hundredth step, called out their names, and then stepped down directly to rest briefly in preparation for the second round of trials.

Those cultivators who had failed to pass did not leave either. There would still be opportunities to prove oneself in the upcoming second round. If someone showed exceptional talent and brilliance, they might catch Commander Ling's eye and receive special consideration.

"Looking at him now, he must be pretty unhappy, right?"

"Of course he's unhappy! Who dares to steal the spotlight from the Jiang family and expect to be happy about it?"

"Hey, that's enough out of you lot. The man worked hard to come all the way out from the Divine Sun Sect, full of ambition to make a grand achievement, and you're teaching him such a profound lesson about life. Isn't that a bit too cruel?"

Seeing Luo Tian, who had climbed up with such painstaking effort and clearly held the momentum to surpass Jiang Zihe and claim the top spot, only to have Commander Ling casually dismiss him with a flick of his lips, felt like a thoroughly entertaining spectacle.

With so many people failing the first trial and feeling thoroughly disgruntled, the sight of Luo Tian's even deeper depression naturally stirred a sense of inexplicable amusement within them.

"Enough, all of you shut your mouths!"

A golden-robed youth from a major sect frowned and shouted in a low voice.

This was Jin Xishan, a disciple of the Golden Light Pavilion, whose cultivation had reached the late stage of the Second Transformation Meridian Flow Realm. While climbing the thousand-step ladder, Luo Tian had actually noticed him; his tangible orange glow was exceptionally dense, and he was only a step away from entering the Third Transformation of the Meridian Flow Realm.

Not only was he exceptionally strong, but he also hailed from the Golden Light Pavilion, the most powerful among the five major sects, and possessed the highest cultivation level among the dispatched disciples. Naturally, his words carried weight.

Even though the five major sects were at odds with one another, when facing the various families hailing from Wandu City, they tended to stand implicitly on the same front.

Luo Tian tightly clenched his hands inside his sleeves. He had no idea what kind of trial awaited him next, but no matter what, as long as he performed to the best of his ability, this blind-eyed Ling Qinghe surely wouldn't dare to spout absolute nonsense.

Even if Ling Qinghe harbored a grudge against Liu Changtian, he still had to maintain some shred of dignity.

After all, Ling Qinghe did not merely represent himself; he represented the Wind and Cloud Guard.

Casting a casual, dismissive glance at the silent Luo Tian, Ling Qinghe let out a cold internal snort and slowly announced, "A total of twenty-one people have passed the first trial, and their names have already been recorded. As for the upcoming second trial, the rest of you still have a chance. If you perform exceptionally well, you will also be eligible to participate in the third trial."

"That's wonderful! This is what I've been waiting for!"

"I am definitely going to pass the second trial!"

Those young cultivators who had failed to climb past the two-hundredth step earlier stared with glowing eyes at Ling Qinghe, hoping he would announce the details of the trial immediately.

This was their final chance!

If they failed the second trial as well, they could pack up and get lost immediately. Everyone knew the contents of the third trial; there would be no possibility of standing out then.

As for Jiang Zihe and the others who had already passed, they consciously or unconsciously cast their gazes upon Luo Tian.

Even if this fellow had zero chance of entering the Wind and Cloud Guard, they could not let him steal the spotlight again in the second trial. They had to crush him completely!

A brat from the Divine Sun Sect—what right did he have to be outstanding?

Luo Tian stared intently at Ling Qinghe, the upright-seeming deputy commander of the Wind and Cloud Guard, wondering what kind of trick this fellow was going to pull this time.

However, as long as the rules were fair, Ling Qinghe would have no excuse to expel him!

"The first trial tests your foundation in body-refinement secret arts. After all, without a formidable physical body, it is utterly impossible to walk far on the path of cultivation."

Ling Qinghe slowly paced back and forth, his calm gaze sweeping over the excited, expectant, and nervous expressions of the youths before him, his tone steady. "As for the second trial, it will test your comprehension and mastery of intent."

As soon as these words left his mouth, not only were all the participating cultivators filled with doubt, but even the members of the Wind and Cloud Guard who had just finished recording names flashed an imperceptible hint of astonishment.

Here it comes!

No matter how Luo Tian listened to it, he felt as though Ling Qinghe was plotting something sinister.

It seemed he would have to be extremely cautious during this trial.

At this thought, Luo Tian could not help but shake his head with a trace of self-mocking amusement. He would have to sail through all three trials without giving Ling Qinghe the slightest pretext to fault him; otherwise, if he failed to enter the Wind and Cloud Guard, where else could he find such a large gathering of powerful cultivators?

Sensing that he had sufficiently stirred the emotions of the young cultivators below, Ling Qinghe smiled faintly. "The second trial will be personally overseen by me!"