Chapter 33: Special Intuition for Winning Without Contributing
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Chatter broke out at the tunnel entrance.
The students could no longer contain their excitent.
Most of them knew nothing about the changes prior to Chao Xiaojian’s announcent. Their ntors did not ntion anything. Regardless, the tunnel was no stranger to most sword disciples.
The students present were talented cultivators from various academies. Their goal was to be recruited into the sects after the Imperial Examination. Many present were aiming for the Sword Guild.
Thus, they were familiar with the workings of the Sword Guild and the tunnel test.
It was a triennial test that outer sect disciples went through in order to join the inner sect. The test was known for its difficulty.
They could not believe the tunnel test—which participation was limited to the Sword Guild disciples—was being used for the competition’s individual event.
Everyone had their sights set on the floating sword at the end of the tunnel. According to Vice Leader Chao, anyone who held the sword could claim it for their own.
Every student present had the chance to own the sword!
The prospect excited them!
The Tang Dynasty’s First Sword, Sect Leader Xuanyuan Taihua’s personal sword!
Whoever wields the sword might earn the right to beco Sect Leader Taihua’s disciple!
What a tempting idea!
At that mont, realization dawned on most students. ‘No wonder the Drunken Blade Lord’s grandson, Lu Ze, and Donglu’s God of Blades’s disciple, Lin Yun, entered the Gathering of Swords this year...
‘They’re aiming for the Blooming Lotus Sword!’
Fang Lang was surprised too. He wondered, ‘Is this the ‘great opportunity’ ntor Wen hinted at? The sword is impressive but unfortunately, it is not sothing an ordinary person can obtain.’
According to their textbooks, the tunnel existed for centuries. Nurous batches of Sword Guild disciples had taken the test, yet the sword remained unbudged from its place!
The disciples were like a flowing river against the steel blade but never making a dent.
An idea popped into his mind. Fang Lang wondered, ‘Will I be able to retrieve the sword?’
He shrugged away the idea a mont later, shaking his head. ‘I’m getting ahead of myself.’
The fact that Chao Xiaojian dared to rile them up with the promise of ownership ant he was confident no one could touch the sword.
Fang Lang kept his expectations low.
Chao Xiaojian left soon after. The responsibility of hosting the event was delegated to an elderly sword master who had a scar on his face. He had a cold and unsmiling expression—an intense aura surrounded him.
In his hand was a steel blade that gave off a stench of blood. He swung the blade at the ground, causing a large crack across the floor.
“The test will be conducted in batches of a hundred participants. Stand behind this line when it’s not your turn. Participants from the sa academies will be split up.
“Additionally, Vice Leader Chao has ntioned anyone who can walk past the 800-ter mark will earn additional 20 points,” the old sword master announced in a hoarse voice.
The Sword Guild had made this arrangent with the imperial courts.
Upon hearing the announcent, the students were overjoyed.
The first batch of participants quickly lined up before the tunnel entrance. Under the old sword master’s command, they set foot into the tunnel.
Fang Lang was in the fifth batch. He took a few steps back and observed silently.
Jiang Linglong stood beside him. Her beautiful eyes were fixed on the sword at the end of the tunnel.
Fang Lang turned toward her and asked, “Was this your motive for representing Luojiang Academy in the Gathering of Swords?”
Jiang Linglong was caught off guard by his question, but nodded soon after.
Initially, she had no intentions of replying to him, but the odd sense of familiarity got the best of her. She explained, “This sword... it holds a special place in the heart of a person very dear to . That’s why I hope to obtain it.”
Fang Lang gave her a knowing nod.
anwhile, the first batch of participants stepped into the tunnel. All sorts of emotions were on display—nervousness, eagerness and more.
So students who were eager to show off took off running.
Every ti soone stepped into the tunnel, the floating sword at the end of the tunnel trembled faintly.
It sent out invisible pulses of energy.
Like an open floodgate, waves of energy poured out into the tunnel!
Every sword present trembled in sync, shaking as if they wanted to be unsheathed.
Whoosh!
The students running in the tunnel were bombarded by the waves of energy. In a blink of an eye, they lost control of their bodies and were flung out of the tunnel.
Many participants had blood dripping out their nose and mouth, traumatized.
“That’s the sword intent.”
Jiang Linglong’s red lips parted demurely under her veil as she spoke, explaining the phenonon to Fang Lang.
Fang Lang took a deep breath. ‘Sword intent?’
“When going through the tunnel, you can’t rush in. Every step you take must be full of confidence and determination. Otherwise... your will power will be shattered by the sword intent in an instant.”
Jiang Linglong shared her knowledge with Fang Lang.
Fang Lang nodded and paid attention.
The few students who had rushed into the tunnel were swiftly ejected. They had traveled less than ten ters in.
The old sword master with the scar on his face snickered. With a wave of his hand, he instructed the nearby Sword Guild disciples to take the injured participants away for treatnt.
The remaining students continued their journey into the tunnel. They tottered and trudged. Evidently, the test was not as simple as they had imagined.
As ti passed, participants exited the tunnel one after another—dejection and grief on their pale faces.
The average distance the first batch achieved was between 100 to 200 ters.
Among the first batch, a student from Donglu Academy had the best result but it was only 400 ters.
The outer sect disciples of the Sword Guild had to walk 800 ters to earn their place in the inner sect.
The best participant from the first batch could only achieve half of the requirent.
“Second batch, get ready.”
The old, scar-faced sword master instructed. He was not surprised by the disappointing results.
The students in the second batch quickly gathered behind the line on the ground. Within this batch, Fang Lang noticed a familiar face—his next door neighbor, Song Qingyun of Beijiang Academy.
Under the sword master’s order, the students entered the tunnel. Learning from the mistakes of the first batch, they entered the tunnel with steady steps. This ti, no one was instantly disqualified.
Nonetheless, the results of the second group were not stellar. Song Qingyun only managed to travel 500 ters into the tunnel.
The cruel reality of the test finally dawned upon the students. The students who were initially excited for the event were quickly discouraged.
Third batch!
Fang Lang recognized another student among the group—Lin Yun of Donglu Academy!
Lin Yun carried his tal blade on his back. His icy-cold eyes scanned the crowd and paused on Fang Lang for a second. Then, he strode into the tunnel.
As the disciple of Donglu’s God of Blades, Lin Yun’s performance was unsurprisingly much better than the other students’.
Like an unsheathed blade, he cut through all the obstacles in front of him and traveled through the tunnel at great speed!
400 ters, 500 ters, 600 ters!
Lin Yun broke the record with ease.
Lin Yun did not stop and his forward montum carried on. The students gasped and cheered as they watched. When Lin Yun reached the 800-ter mark, his pace began to slow.
The mont he slowed down, it seed as if all his energy left his body. It beca impossible to continue forward.
Finally, after reaching the 879-ter markl, Lin Yun retreated with a ghastly pale face.
His result of 879 ters impressed even the old scarred sword master.
As the sweat-drenched Lin Yun stepped out of the tunnel, he turned to Fang Lang and lifted his chin challengingly.
It was the fourth batch’s turn. Jiang Linglong left Fang Lang’s side.
Fang Lang froze as a sudden realization hit him. His expression showed a hint of disappointnt.
‘I don’t get to walk the tunnel with Jiang Linglong. I lost a chance to have a aningful interaction with her...’
Fang Lang was curious to find out Old Jiang’s limit.
Thanks to Fang Lang, Jiang Linglong did not get the chance to show off her true strength during the team competition. Fang Lang was very excited to witness her power.
The old scarred sword master glanced at Jiang Linglong, who still had her veil over her face. She stood out among the crowd of students.
At his command, the fourth batch of students stepped into the tunnel.
It was the first ti Jiang Linglong drew the White Frost Blade. Jiang Linglong sliced through the sword intent radiating from at the end of the tunnel. Her blade sang as it clashed with the energy pulses.
The sword intent was deflected by her blade, flowing around her like ripples of water.
Jiang Linglong advanced effortlessly.
After 100 ters, she touched the tip of her blade to the ground.
Every 100 ters, Jiang Linglong touched the tip of her blade to tunnel floor—slicing apart the sword intent—then continued forward.
One after the other, the students around her stagered and retreated. anwhile, Jiang Linglong continued forward effortlessly, like a lone ship wading across the ocean.
Compared to Lin Yun, Jiang Linglong sauntered through the tunnel with much less effort. Even when fighting against the sword intent, her movents were still as elegant as poetry.
However, when she reached the 800-ter mark, Jiang LingLong suddenly found it difficult to tap her blade against the ground.
Ding!
A crisp sound reverberated through the tunnel as her White Frost Blade touched the tunnel floor.
The sword intent was once again deflected.
Jiang Linglong made progress with small and gentle steps.
900 ters, 910 ter, 920 ters...
At the last 100 ters, Jiang Linglong had to use her White Frost Blade every ten ters.
With every swing, Jiang Linglong’s green silk robe fluttered and her body shook violently.
She was reaching her limit.
The sword intent pressed on her White Frost Blade, making it arch dangerously!
A shrill sound was heard!
Her sword snapped back into shape.
Jiang Linglong’s body trembled. She stumbled back several steps. A hint of red slowly spread across her pure white veil.
920 ters.
That was Old Jiang’s final result.
Her result had stunned everyone. Even the Sword Guild disciples could not hide their astonishnt.
However, Jiang Linglong’s eyes were dark—the shining stars in her eyes had extinguished.
In the end, she could not reach the Blooming Lotus Sword.
Jiang Linglong exited the tunnel with a heavy heart.
“Fifth batch, get ready!”
Just as Fang Lang was about to console her, the old sword master shouted for the fifth batch.
Fang Lang had no choice but to proceed toward the line made at the tunnel entrance.
Liu Bubai stood behind Fang Lang. He rubbed his hand across his fancy sword. Liu Bubai was in the sixth batch. The boy stared at Fang Lang, pouting.
For so reason, an odd feeling overca Liu Bubai.
‘Have I developed so special intuition for winning without contributing?
‘But...
‘This is an individual event... How can anyone carry to victory?’
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