Chapter 3 - The Test of Tread Divine Gate (1/2)

The Test of Tread Divine Gate

An hour later, a swishing sound of sharp objects cutting through air was heard, and then three flying sword landed before the great hall of Shiao’s family. On those swords were standing three young men of more than 20 years old with cold faces.

“Is the Master of Shiao’s family here? We come here under orders. Bring the candidates to us fast.”

They were cold and arrogant, and their eyes swept the crowd occasionally as if they were high above the others.

Shiao Wenting led his family members out in a hurry to greet the three guests. “Three Immortals, you have come a long way here. Please do me the favor to rest in the great hall and have a cup of tea.” His face was modest and his voice humble.

The drastic difference made Shiao Chen secretly clenched his hands and sworn to be a powerful Immortal one day to make his parents proud.

“No need. Once we have all the candidates for the Test of Tread Divine Gate, we’ll leave.” One of the three young men who appeared to be in charge replied in cold voice, frowning.

“Yes! Yes!” Shiao Wenting nodded hastily, daring not to meddle any more.

“Go!” The three young men muttered some incantations and suddenly pointed their hands to the flying swords under their feet, which at once grew big enough for dozens of people to ride on.

“Come up and stand in sequence. Don’t be afraid.”

The teenage boys of Shiao’s clan were all held in awe by the three Immortals who were able to travel on flying swords and make them grow bigger with spells, so they obediently did what they were told to do.

“Rise!”

After all the boys were up on the swords, the three young men immediately steered the flying swords and flew away without the courtesy to say goodbye. In a blink of eyes, no trace of them could be found.

Watching him leaving, Shiao Chen’s father was unable to suppress the injuries any longer. His face turned deathly pale in an instant, still he managed to hobble across the hall and left.

“Patriarch, why did you agree to permit Shiao Chen to attend the Test? Even though he is a member of our family, he will never be one of us. We have offended him and his father. If he gets lucky and pass the test, none of us can sleep tight at night.” Shiao Wenbin complained.

Shiao Wenting laughed. “Wenbin, don’t worry. Shiao Chen is not in good health. I even bet he will die young. How can the Immortals pick such a weak boy? You can rest assured.”

In his heart, the only boy who would succeed was his own son, Shiao Lin, who had taken a valuable treasure just in case.

Above the cloud, three gigantic swords were flying. The wind blew straight at the faces of the people who were standing on them. It was so strong that nearly no one was able to open their eyes.

Shiao Chen was on the last sword. He clenched his hands into fists, trying his best not to look frightened.

The young man steering the sword laid his eyes on Shiao Chen, a bit of surprise mixed with a bit of admiration.

“Hu!”

The wind abruptly got stronger, and its direction suggested they were descending in a fast speed. A moment later, a cold voice said, “We are here. Get down.”

Until then did all the teenage boys of Shiao’s family open their eyes and find them in an unknown place.

Shiao Chen followed others down the flying sword and examined the surroundings. It was a verdant valley of several thousand meters long, a fairy land full of green trees, exotic flowers and rare herbs, even the air smelled faint fragrant.

Dozens of teenage boys and girls had arrived before them, except they all stared at them with a bit of hostility.

“Line up in pairs. The Test is about to begin.” Before the boys and girls was a stone table, and before the table was sitting a stout old man, about 50 years old. The three young men who escorted Shiao Chen and the others saluted him in a respectful manner and retreated to his side.

Shiao Lin, as the oldest son of his family, had received instructions from his father, so he bowed to the old man and led his brothers queue up quickly.

“All right. Now come to me one at a time to take the Test.” The old man opened his eyes, darting penetrating glances at them as if he could see them through. Most of the teenagers lowered their heads, afraid to confront his eyes.

“Let’s start with Mei’s.”

Hardly had the sound fade away, a 16 or 17-year old boy, strong and with bright piercing eyes, promptly stepped forward from the far left group. Anxiously, he bowed before he put his hands in the old man’s.

In a moment, the old man opened his eyes and announced emotionlessly, “No spiritual root. Go to the left.”

The young boy obeyed and walked to the empty land on the left downheartedly, as if all his energy had been drained off by these words.

“Next!”

A young girl came to the old man gingerly and put her hands in his.

“No spiritual root. Go to the left.”

……

The Test went on in a very fast speed, and half of the candidates had been tested by the old man, but no one was ever qualified.

“Next!”