Soul Emperor Martial God

Chapter 102: Chapter 101: Survival of the Fittest

After passing Four Seasons City, one entered the territory of the Sky-splitting Sword Sect, within a range of three hundred miles.

Xiao Yi had already taken off his Ghost Mask and changed out of his usual black robe, reverting to the attire he used to wear in Purple Cloud City.

His clothes were those of a wealthy young master, and his handsome appearance bore an air of unruly nobility.

He ran all the way. Within the three-hundred-mile range, there was a vast and boundless forest teeming with wild beasts and insects, but not a single demon beast.

On the road, there was no sign of human life either.

Xiao Yi suddenly found it strange and thought to himself, ”Isn’t today the day the Sky-splitting Sword Sect is recruiting disciples? Why can’t I see even a ghostly shadow?”

After a moment, Xiao Yi shook his head, unwilling to dwell on it any further.

Several hours later, when he saw the extraordinary and majestic palaces in the distance, he finally stopped.

Those palaces, seen from afar, looked like a battle formation, impressive and imposing.

At a glance, it seemed like a divine weapon, a Heavenly Sword, with its sword body soaring towards the sky, its tip piercing the clouds, as if it were about to split the heavens and earth in two.

”It’s indeed worthy of being the Sky-splitting Sword Sect, the Martial Arts Holy Land of Northern Mountain County. Just by gazing from afar without entering, I can already feel its spectacular sharpness.”

”The vast Sword Sect sits in this extensive forest, truly a land of outstanding people and spiritual serenity.”

Xiao Yi suddenly smiled, filled with anticipation for joining the Sky-splitting Sword Sect.

...

Outside the gates of the Sky-splitting Sword Sect, thousands of martial artists had already gathered to participate in the examination.

Further ahead, there were several dozen elders dressed in mysterious dark clothes, all with Mysterious Profundity Cultivation.

This clothing was only entitled to be worn by the deacons of the Sky-splitting Sword Sect.

Xiao Yi instantly realized that the reason he hadn’t seen anyone on the road was that the other martial artists had arrived early.

The day the Sky-splitting Sword Sect recruited disciples was of paramount importance; ordinary martial artists wouldn’t dare to be lax, with many of them waiting outside the gates since yesterday.

It was only he who had arrived late.

He saw those deacons barely lifting their heads, busily writing at their desks, registering the martial artists who came for the examination.

One by one, the martial artists completed their registration and entered the Sky-splitting Sword Sect.

The original thousands soon dwindled to merely a few hundred.

When it was Xiao Yi’s turn, the deacons still didn’t lift their heads, asking in a flat and emotionless tone, ”Name, age, Martial Soul, Cultivation.”

Xiao Yi was taken aback, then honestly replied, ”Xiao Yi, 16, Fire Control Beast, Innate Third Layer.”

”Hmm.” The deacon nodded mechanically, making notes, but when he got to Fire Control Beast and Innate Third Layer, he suddenly paused, and for the first time, raised his head in astonishment.

The deacon’s face showed confusion, and when he saw Xiao Yi’s slightly youthful handsome face, his brow furrowed even more.

Xiao Yi asked, ”Why are you looking at me in such a way, Deacon?”

The deacon expressed his doubt, ”Young man, are you truly not playing a trick on me?”

”What do you mean by that?” Xiao Yi was startled.

”You’re 16, I can see that, and your Innate Third Layer Cultivation, I can see that too, but your Fire Control Beast Martial Soul...”

”Young man, could that most foolish and low-grade Fire Control Beast Martial Soul actually allow its possessor to cultivate to the Innate Third Layer?”

”Uh.” Xiao Yi was taken aback, then let out a wry smile, consolidating his own Fire Control Beast.

The Martial Soul lay inside a martial artist’s body, unseen and undetectable by others.

Only when the martial artist himself consolidated it could others discern the type of Martial Soul based on its appearance.

Of course, for other martial artists, consolidating their Martial Soul meant their strength was unveiled, relying on the amplification of their Martial Soul to boost their combat power.

However, Xiao Yi’s Fire Control Beast offered no amplification; it only had the ability to control fire.

Thus, he had never before consolidated his Fire Control Beast.

This time, coming to the Sky-splitting Sword Sect to learn and cultivate, Xiao Yi understood the importance of respecting his teachers and their ways.

Naturally, he consolidated his Martial Soul and also used his real name.

At this moment, when the deacon saw the foolish-looking Fire Control Beast that Xiao Yi had consolidated in his hand, he was immediately shocked, ”It really is the Fire Control Beast Martial Soul.”

Nearby, other Martial Artists ready to register burst into laughter.

”Fire Control Beast, that kid actually has the rumored worst Martial Soul.”

”Don’t laugh, after all, it’s one of the rarest Martial Souls.”

”Haha, yep, the rarest. Ordinary people would never awaken such a Martial Soul, of course it’s rare. Only one in ten thousand fools could awaken it.”

The Martial Artists nearby laughed smugly, feeling superior to Xiao Yi as all those who came to the Sky-splitting Sword Sect for the trial were naturally not lacking in talent or Martial Souls.

Xiao Yi frowned but chose to ignore it.

However, the Deacon sternly scolded, ”Insolent.”

”Already so arrogant before passing the trial? If you truly join the Sky-splitting Sword Sect, won’t you disregard elders and act recklessly in the future?”

The Deacon instantly became angry, which made Xiao Yi and those who had been mocking him abruptly stunned.

At this time, other Deacons in charge of registration came over, bowing and saying, ”Elder Yi, please calm down.”

The elder in front of them was clearly different from the other Deacons, holding a higher status.

The Deacon waved his hand and said, ”Enough.”

Then, handing a Token to Xiao Yi, he said, ”Young man, this is your Token. Go ahead, other sect Deacons will arrange your trial later.”

”Yes.” Xiao Yi bowed and took the Token, turning to enter the Sky-splitting Sword Sect.

...

Half an hour later, the thousands of Martial Artists outside the mountain gate had all registered, one by one entering the Sky-splitting Sword Sect.

At that moment, several Deacons appeared and led the crowd to a spacious square.

There were already tens of thousands of people waiting on the square.

Most of the Martial Artists coming for the trial had arrived early.

Xiao Yi and the several thousand Martial Artists were one of the last groups.

However, the Deacons at the mountain gate continued to wait until the afternoon, when the sun set, concluding the open mountain recruitment day.

...

When night fell, the crowd was once again led outside the mountain gate.

Several Deacons stood before the tens of thousands of Martial Artists and announced loudly, ”The open mountain day has ended. You, although registered, are not yet disciples of the Sky-splitting Sword Sect.”

”Now, you will undergo the first trial, named ’Survival of the Fittest’.”

Amplified by True Qi, the voice clearly reached everyone’s ears.

”Survival of the Fittest?” Many Martial Artists discussed amongst themselves, extremely puzzled.

”Silence.” A Deacon shouted, instantly silencing all the noise.

”The Sky-splitting Sword Sect only accepts geniuses, not mediocrity.”

”Starting tonight, you will spend a month within this three hundred miles of forest.”

”Your Tokens will serve as a scoring standard. Each Token contains one point, and by seizing others’, you can increase your score.”

”After one month, rankings will be done based on the scores, with only the top five hundred eligible to join the Sky-splitting Sword.”

The Deacon’s voice was clear and swift as he explained.

However, the tens of thousands of Martial Artists all changed their expressions and looked around suspiciously.

”Seize from each other?”

”Only the top five hundred scores can enter the Sky-splitting Sword Sect?”

Everyone understood then; no wonder this first trial was named Survival of the Fittest.

Xiao Yi also frowned; the entire Northern Mountain County had a population in the billions, and the tens of thousands of Martial Artists gathered here were the young talents from all over the county.

In the end, only those with real talent could pass the trial, each one formidable.

Tens of thousands of geniuses were about to engage in a month-long struggle for supremacy within this forest.

Without a doubt, for anyone present, this was going to be a fierce competition.