212 Chapter 212 (1/2)
The leader from the Black Scar tribe that was previously at odds with Yang Rong walked into the scanner tube. The other members from his clan looked at him with anticipation. Rong wasn't far behind as he also was the first one to get into another measuring device that was standing to the side.
The machines took some time to process the information and the two stepped out into the open. A 'Passed' in green letters appeared over each of the cylindrical treasures as the two went out. Each one of them wanted to laugh at their enemy when they failed but both passed at the same time.
”Please move, there are other people waiting to take the test.”
One of the members from the sect had to move in as Yang Rong kept glaring at the person from the Black Scar tribe. Both of them made it in so they headed inside the city, they stopped right outside the entrance and they waited for more of their tribe members to appear.
”I bet more of my brothers will pass than yours!”
”As if!”
Yang Rong replied while crossing his arms over one another and glancing back into the gate corridor. He had made it through the first test but he was still worried about his tribe members.
”Brother Rong I made it through”
Cheng Yun strutted out right after Yang Rong which caused the person from the Black Scar tribe to frown. They weren't the only three that made it through, each side ended up with 10 people passing which halved their numbers.
”This isn't the only trial, we will see who remains till the end you trash!”
The two enemy tribes slung some profanities at each other before walking away. They all finally looked into the city, it was a lot different from their old fashioned village. The houses here were mostly made from stone and bricks which was the biggest difference. The villages used wood for their houses and straw for the roofs.
The people that passed the initial scanning test weren't left to their own devices on the inside. Everyone was guided to the city square that was quite spacious. When Yun and Rong arrived they spotted something that they recognized.
”Isn't that?”
”Yes it is!”
It was a statue of the renowned Zhang Dong. He was standing gallantly in his tight robe while looking out into the distance. The statue was located in the middle of the city square and was in the middle of a large fountain. There were two other people standing next to him both on the sides while he was in the middle.
”I think that's the Senior's wife Elder Feng Liena.”
”Yes and that man over there must be Huo Qiang, the three Elemental Lords!”
Zhang Dong was sometimes also referred to as the 'Lightning Emperor' but that name was a bit problematic due to the Azure Emperor's existence. At most they could call him the 'Lightning King' otherwise they might offend people in that camp as they couldn't be two emperors in an empire.
The two youths looked around, there were many people here close to their age. They were standing or sitting while just waiting. The person who guided them here told them that they needed to stay here for now. They would be provided food but no shelter for the night.
”This is probably another test, we need to be resolute!”
They all nodded and sat down in their lotus positions. They would use this time to relax and wait. There were still many people waiting to get tested and it would probably take days until everyone was processed.
Everyone took their time to examine the surroundings they were in. This was the new Spirit Spring City that was built after the short war with the Dark Palm sect took place.
The buildings all looked sturdy and had an oriental feel to them. They mostly had hip roofs or xie shan roofs. The area they were waiting in had some parks with flowing water and small bridges outside the square. They could also see some larger pagoda-like structures in the distance sprinkled here and there. They were akin to modern-day skyscrapers and probably could house thousands of people in them.
This city was owned by the sect, but it wasn't populated by the sect members. They lived inside the sect compound that was further in. Even from here, they could see another wall that was twice as tall as the one outside the city. This was where the real sect resided and where they would be taking the trials.
Night came and everything became well lit. There were many soldiers patrolling the area that were mostly in Qi condensation but there were some others that were above it. These people had different uniforms, they were dark blue but not like the inner sect disciples.
”I think they are part of that 'police' unit.”
One of the people from the Tatar Tribe spoke up, after the sect rebuilt the police force was reestablished. The only change being that it was now mostly populated by the people from the city. The top bras were made of outer sect disciples and the police chief was at least a core formation expert.
These people in those strange uniforms were all spread throughout the city. There was quite a bit of them out as they were worried that some of the trainees were going to cause some trouble. They were there to break up fights that might occur between the participants. One such fight was taking place right about now but it was swiftly resolved. The rowdy cultivators that couldn't follow the rules were promptly kicked out. This was enough to keep everyone else silent as they still wanted to make the cut.
It took another two days for all of the participants to get examined at the city gates. The moment everyone was at the square the fountain sculptures started rumbling. The eyes of the Sect Patriarch started glowing and his head started turning.
”Welcome potential brothers and sisters, we welcome you to this Trial!”
A beam of light shot out from the statue and produced a hologram of a beautiful woman. This wasn't one of the inferior holograms that the Zhang Clan made all those years ago. This one looked very lifelike. The person was a young woman in a violet robe and snow-like hair. Her characteristic hair color gave her away as most people knew that it was the fabled Zhang Xue.
”Fairy Xue!”