Chapter 35 - Desolate Fang Pagoda

A few hours later, the second test was thoroughly finished and the applicants went down a

valley where they saw a giant, 11-layered pagoda. At the entrance of this pagoda were two pillars with golden dragon statues coiled around them. These pillars were made of compressed stone however, there are traces of embedded precious jades that could be seen along the coil of the dragons. Even the dragons themselves were cast in gold metals, which could easily indicate the wealth and importance of this pagoda.

Instructor Cheng leapt onto the roof of the first layer of the pagoda and projected his voice so that everyone could hear him clearly. "This is the Desolate Fang Pagoda, created by the blood and sweat of the Tang Fei founders. This will also be where you will be conducting your final

test."

Tian Longmeng watched as numerous people looked on the Desolate Fang Pagoda with awe and reverence. It seemed as if this pagoda was something highly significant to this city.

"I will probably learn about this sooner or later." Tian Longmeng thought to himself as he

continued listening to the instructions.

Instructor Cheng continued. "For this test, you will enter the pagoda and sit on a platform. You

will then face against an illusion based on the average strength of someone with your age and

talent." "If you win, then you are officially a disciple of Tang Fei. If you should lose however-"

Instructor Cheng ended his instructions with a chilling smile that shook the confidence of some

of the applicants.

He retreated to the lookout post that the other instructors were staying and observed as the

Desolate Fang Pagoda doors opened. This meant that the final test started and everyone was free to take their platform.

Many of the applicants took specific platforms or even grouped with friends in a certain area.

This was most likely them just following traditions and rumours of good luck. Not that it would

actually give them any benefit whatsoever but it is a nice gesture for them.

The platforms themselves were not overly flamboyant but anybody with a keen eye can spot the precious stones used to embed the runes and lines used to power them. As Tian Longmeng sat

on one of the platforms, he felt the platform heat up very quickly as it began working.

In about a breath of time, everything around Tian Longmeng became an indescribable blur, and

suddenly he was the only one in the Desolate Fang Pagoda.

Tian Longmeng stroked his chin as he surveyed the pagoda. "This is just like when I enter the

Ark. I think this is called spiritual projection or something like that."According to what Instructor Cheng said, he should be waiting on a contender to fight, so Tian

Longmeng stood and did just that. Interestingly, the platform sunk into the floor as soon as he got off it.

"It does not want to hinder my movements. Neat!" Tian Longmeng spent his time admiring the machinations of the Desolate Fang Pagoda and completely forgot about the opponent that just appeared.

The opponent punched at Tian Longmeng without a single word of warning. Naturally, Tian

Longmeng dodged this and leapt a couple of steps backwards.

"That was quite rude. Can you not even speak?" Tian Longmeng sarcastically addressed the opponent that he finally noticed. What coloured Tian Longmeng's face in surprise was the fact that the opponent he was facing had not even a sliver of cultivation!

Tian Longmeng realized a strong point from this; he is leagues above what Tang Fei Martial

Academy considers as normal for his age and talent level. However, this did not mean that he could afford to be complacent. There are already about 3 people that could give him a hard time keeping up with the title of "genius".

While Tian Longmeng was busy comparing himself to other talents the opponent to the chance to attack once more. It was going to be disappointed, as Tian Longmeng did not give it the chance to touch his body.

Tian Longmeng quickly returned the favour with a fist of his own. The opponent's head was

brutally crushed by the sheer force of near 2000 jins.

Tian Longmeng sighed as the opponent's body turned into mist and dusted away. "That was way too boring. I hope there will be stronger opponents instead of it just finishing there."

What Tian Longmeng did not know was that he actually finished way too quickly.

While he was finished and waiting for anything else, everyone else was engaged in heated battle. To some, this battle was probably the hardest they have ever had in their life.

Actually, before you knew it, many people already began to be forcefully removed from the

Desolate Fang Pagoda. This meant that they were weaker than someone of their age and talent should be, thus they failed.

Obviously, these people were distraught. They were so close to finally changing their lives but

they could not pass the final hurdle.

In what seemed like a rabid frenzy, they began banging on the pagoda doors and even pleading to the instructors. "Oh great instructors, could you give us one more chance to prove ourselves better?"

"Scram!" The instructors were disinclined to even spare them a glance and plainly commanded them to leave. It was as if these people were just considered to be ants.

They were dejected but they could not do anything about this. What could they do really,

oppose one of the instructors? That would just be them desperate to meet their ancestors early.

In about half an hour, more people were similarly ejected from the Desolate Fang Pagoda and

had to resign their hopes and dreams until a later date or possibly forever.

However, the pagoda stopped releasing people and there were still 73 people left inside.

This meant that those 73 applicants had passed the final test and were now officially disciples of

Tang Fei Martial Academy.