Li Feng opened his eyes.
The musky room that he entered not too long ago greeted him once again.
"I'm back. Looks like I had to find what my motivation was or something like that?" Li Feng thought to himself.
As he looked around, he could see others sitting crosslegged with the incense burning on the side.
In the very front, Li Feng could make out Shi Hou's figure.
"Surprising. Someone is already awake." Shi Hou chuckled as he glanced at Li Feng momentarily.
"Looks like we have some really good talents this time around." Gentle sword nodded as he looked around the room.
His eyes stopped in the right corner, where the veiled woman and a young boy with yellow robes were standing, staring at each other.
"The only problem is them. Do their parents know that they are here?" Gentle Sword said.
"I am sure they know. Maybe these are trials that they have to face?" Shi Hou murmured.
"Regardless, the sect will be in an uproar for the next few months. The talent pool this year, it is comparable to yours." Gentle Sword said.
"If that is true, then the sect can only benefit. My interest is the kid. The other two have the benefit of their own resources. I am worried that this boy will become a flower who will not bloom." Shi Hou said.
"If one of the elders takes an interest toward him, then his life will be smooth sailing from then on. But if not, then he is on his own." Gentle Sword said.
"Well, how much longer till the other wake up. We do not have all day, after all." Shi Hou said, sighing.
"Not everyone can wake up in just three minutes. Give them another three, and eliminate whoever is not awake." Gentle Sword said.
Shi Hou nodded as he looked at the fifty strong crowd in front of him once more.
Meanwhile, Li Feng glanced at the corner where the few who had stirred awake had gathered.
"Should I go?" He wondered.
"Never a bad thing to make a few friends, I guess?" He shrugged as he started making his way toward the small waiting area.
He could already hear what they were talking about.
"I can't believe it. This illusion was so real. But I have already trained with the Heart Cleansing Incense. How can it affect me?" One of the young men haughtily laughed.
"Heart Cleansing Incense huh? I heard that it was so expensive and rare that only the richest families could afford it." Li Feng made a note.
"But this particular variety is even stronger than the regular heart cleansing incense. No wonder they cut down the numbers by that significant amount. Who would want to waste this precious incense on some random passerby who thinks he can become a disciple?" Another said.
By this point, Li Feng made his way to the group. His eyes gravitated to the side, where the mysterious boy who talked with him before the first trial was staring off at the veiled lady.
"Two mysterious blokes. They're perfect for each other." Li Feng chuckled.
"Oh. This brother is also awake." The two who were talking to each other turned to face Li Feng.
"We are going to be fellow disciples soon enough. Why not have introductions go ahead now?" the first among them said.
The first was mediocre looking, but his robes were lavish enough to tell Li Feng just how rich and powerful his family was.
"I am Li Feng, brother. And you are?" Li Feng smiled and cupped his hands together.
"I am Pan Zexi."
"And I am Shao Li. Nice to meet you, fellow brother." Both of them said with unison.
"You said that we are going to be fellow disciples soon… How are you so sure that this is the last trial?" Li Feng chuckled as he asked.
"Well, my big brother is already a part of the sect. I know how the trials progress. There are different trials according to the tester, but the trials are the trial of strength, which we passed, the trial of the heart, which we have just completed, and the trial of talent."
"And regardless of the outcome of the trial of talent, we are sure to pass over to the sect itself. Because the trial of talent is simply a formality. If your talent is good, then the elders will swoop in." Pan Zexi said.
"I see… Thank you for enlightening me, Senior Brother." Li Feng smiled as he quickly put the person in front of him in a higher pedestal.
Pan Zexi smiled shrewdly as he accepted the moniker.
"Of course, of course Junior Brother. I will surely help out a fellow disciple." He nodded.
"Forgive me, for I am not as knowledgeable as you are. What is this talent trial? How will they test our talent?" He asked.
"Oh, you don't even know that? Well, I guess the commoners are not privy to this information. The talents are split into three. Constitution, Spirit and Soul. But the specifics, I am sure the examiner will be the one to tell you." Pan Zexi smiled.
"Constitution, Spirit and Soul." Li Feng mused.
They looked forward at the giant meditation hall where people were slowly stirring back to reality.
Li Feng could see Sima Xun arise now, while a few others were still seated, frowning.
"This trial seems to be even more particular than the last one. After all, this is already the creme of the crop." Li Feng thought to himself.
"Lucky for me, I have that weird world of white and blue to help me out." He thought as he looked back at Shi Hou.
And as if on cue, Shi Hou stepped up and stretched his arms, readying himself to say something.
Quickly, the chit chat behind Li Feng stopped as everyone looked at the examiner.
"Looks like there are thirty three of you who woke up. That should be enough. All of you pass. And as for the rest…" he stopped as he brought his hands together to clap.
"Clap!"
A resounding clap echoed through the hall, and as it did, Li Feng felt all of his senses get assaulted by a vibration.
"Aagh!"
Moans and uncomfortable shrieks suddenly filled the hall as everyone who was still meditating opened their eyes.
"The rest will fail. You are no longer needed here." He said as he snapped his fingers.
Immediately, everyone who had just woken up suddenly started moving. They were moving back at a rapid pace toward the exit, and in an instant, they were gone.
"That power…. " Li Feng looked in awe.
"Well then… let's carry on." Shi Hou smiled.
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