The Examination at the Immortal’s Abode

Bai Lan had already arrived at the Immortal’s Abode. This time, she came openly, with no need for concealment.

The Immortal’s Abode specialized in sword arts, thus their primary assessment focused on one’s innate talent for sword cultivation.

Even if a candidate possessed excellent cultivation aptitude but lacked a strong sword dao talent, they would not be accepted. Conversely, those with exceptional sword dao talent, even if their cultivation aptitude was slightly inferior, would still find a place within their ranks.

Consequently, the Immortal’s Abode always maintained a small number of disciples. Truly, disciples possessing both decent cultivation aptitude and remarkable sword dao talent were exceedingly rare.

In each intake of outer sect disciples, perhaps only a dozen or so would manage to pass the Immortal’s Abode’s rigorous assessment.

Among the major factions, the Immortal’s Abode stood out as the most understated. Its architecture was notably simple, devoid of the flashy embellishments favored by other branches.

Aside from the disciple residences, it comprised only a Sword Pavilion, a training platform, and a library. Yet, despite their scarcity, these structures possessed a grand and robust quality.

This was a necessity, as the sword light and qi generated during practice could easily damage less substantial buildings, leading to their swift destruction.

Currently, the assessment for the Immortal’s Abode was underway within the Sword Pavilion. At the entrance, a figure familiar to Bai Lan was waiting: Luo Yuyan, who was responsible for welcoming new disciples that day.

“Why hasn’t Junior Sister arrived yet?” Luo Yuyan muttered idly. “Several people have already come to our Immortal’s Abode for the assessment. Why is she taking so long?”

She held no interest in the assessments of other disciples, her attention solely fixed on Bai Lan.

“Eh? Second Senior Sister.” Just then, Bai Lan’s voice reached Luo Yuyan’s ears.

Luo Yuyan paused, then quickly looked forward. Indeed, Bai Lan strolled leisurely towards her, seemingly unhurried. It was only natural, for what cause did she have to rush, given her predetermined acceptance?

“You’re finally here!” Luo Yuyan quickly jogged over, complaining to Bai Lan. “I’ve been waiting for you here for quite a while, Senior Sister.”

“Ah? What’s the rush?” Bai Lan replied. “It’s just a formality, after all. I took the opportunity to admire the scenery around the sect on my way here.”

“Admire the scenery? What’s so great about it?” Luo Yuyan rolled her eyes. “This place looks the same all year round; I’m sick of it. The outside world is so much better, with spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Our Eternal Blossom Island is nothing but flowers, flowers, and more flowers.”

This was perfectly normal. Even the most beautiful things eventually become monotonous over time. Eternal Blossom Island was undeniably stunning upon a first visit, but with prolonged exposure, its charm waned.

However, the inner sect grounds, being more distinctive than Eternal Blossom Island, might captivate Bai Lan’s attention for a while longer, but that would be the extent of it.

“Second Senior Sister, how many people registered before I arrived?” Bai Lan asked, her curiosity piqued.

“Not many,” Luo Yuyan explained. “Our Immortal’s Abode is very strict about accepting disciples. If we manage to recruit twenty people in one intake, that’s already considered a lot.”

Bai Lan pondered this. She knew the Immortal’s Abode was a sword cultivation faction, and sword cultivators were inherently rare, so it made sense that they had fewer disciples. Yet, the disciples of the Immortal’s Abode were undoubtedly the elite of the Luoshen Sect.

“Alright, then I’ll go in,” Bai Lan stated. “The sooner I pass the assessment, the sooner it’s over.”

“Go on, then. I’ll come find you tonight, little sister.” Luo Yuyan nodded, then added, a playful glint in her eyes.

This last remark nearly caused Bai Lan to stumble.

“Huh? Come find me tonight? For what?” Bai Lan asked, looking at Luo Yuyan with a speechless expression.

“For what?” Luo Yuyan said, her expression serious. “We haven’t had a proper chat in three years, and I miss you, little sister. Besides, you’re a girl now, so there’s no longer any gender barrier between us.”

This little girl’s thoughts were still too simple, leaving Bai Lan at a loss for how to respond.

Fortunately, over the past three years, Bai Lan had grown accustomed to accepting the unknown. She had become increasingly rational, her way of thinking no longer conflicting as it had when she first transformed into a woman.

Under the influence of the Ice Crystal Profound Jade earrings and the Snow Divine Scripture, her thought processes had fundamentally changed.

“Fine, I’m going then.” Bai Lan didn’t dwell on the issue with Luo Yuyan. With a sigh, she entered the Immortal’s Abode.

Upon entering, she first encountered a vast training platform. However, as it was the day of the new disciple assessment, all disciples of the Immortal’s Abode were required to observe. The assessment itself was being held within the Sword Pavilion, further ahead.

Bai Lan merely glanced at the layout of the Immortal’s Abode’s grounds before proceeding towards the Sword Pavilion.

Inside the spacious Sword Pavilion, many inner sect disciples, clad in flowing white robes, were seated, observing an outer sect female disciple at the seventh level of Qi Refining engaging in combat with Ximen Xue.

Bai Yiren was also present, meticulously observing the outer sect disciple’s combat talent. Naturally, Ximen Xue, a cultivator at the peak of the Golden Core realm, would not use her full power against the examinee.

The assessment had just begun. The Immortal’s Abode tested the Luoshen Sword Art, the most fundamental sword technique of the Luoshen Sect, known to all.

Three years were certainly enough for outer sect disciples to master this sword art. However, mere mastery was insufficient. In Bai Yiren’s view, one had to grasp the essence of the sword dao while also mastering the Luoshen Sword Art.

The female disciple, at the seventh level of Qi Refining, was currently executing the Luoshen Sword Art with all her might, each move performed with practiced skill. Ximen Xue countered with power restricted to the same realm, also employing the Luoshen Sword Art. Yet, in her hands, the sword art appeared remarkably fluid and ethereal, utterly distinct from her opponent’s execution.

The female disciple, beads of sweat on her brow, fought with a solemn and cautious expression, continuously attacking Ximen Xue. However, each strike was effortlessly parried by Ximen Xue.

Bai Lan had already entered. Aside from Bai Yiren, who cast a glance at her upon her arrival, everyone’s attention remained fixed on the sparring platform in the center. Seeing that no one paid her any mind, Bai Lan simply found a quiet spot on the periphery to observe the ongoing exchange.

However, after only a few glances, her interest waned. The female disciple at the seventh level of Qi Refining had clearly not grasped the true meaning of the sword dao. No matter how proficient she was with the Luoshen Sword Art, it remained just a set of techniques.

If mere mastery of sword techniques qualified one as a sword cultivator, then anyone could claim the title. This disciple made a common mistake among many female cultivators: her movements lacked offensive power, appearing more flashy than practical, and she lacked the ability to adapt to changing circumstances.

While she had indeed mastered the Luoshen Sword Art, she had not reached the level of proficiency. Of course, unless one specialized in sword arts, few could truly cultivate a sword technique to such a refined degree.

After approximately fifty exchanges, Ximen Xue disarmed the female disciple, her sword flying from her grasp. A disarmed opponent naturally signified the end of the assessment.

“Alright, that’s enough,” Ximen Xue said calmly.

The female disciple looked at her sword lying on the ground, her face a mixture of joy and disappointment.

“Thank you, Senior Sister, for your guidance,” the female disciple said with a sigh, picking up her sword and bowing to Ximen Xue. “Please offer your critique.”

“You have mastered the Luoshen Sword Art, but you haven’t truly understood it,” Ximen Xue stated frankly. “Your movements are empty forms, devoid of soul. You merely executed all the stances of the Luoshen Sword Art. I saw nothing that was truly yours.”

“The sword resides in the heart; it is for you to control the sword, not for the sword to dominate you. Go back. You do not meet the requirements of our Immortal’s Abode. Either try another faction, or return to the outer sect and train for a few more years.”

Upon hearing these words, the female disciple felt a tinge of disappointment, but it was merely a slight one, as she had mentally prepared herself for this outcome before coming.