Chapter 14

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Chapter 14: Stone Shatter

“All servant disciples listen! Each of you will find a fist-sized white crystal before you. Place your hand upon it and channel spiritual power slowly. Four colors may appear—teal, blue, red, or purple. Those who fail to produce these colors must leave the mountain immediately and sever all ties with the Heavenly Sword Sect.”

A cold voice pierced the air like needles, stinging everyone’s eardrums.

Four gray-haired elders in long robes materialized overhead, their oppressive pressure forcing most servant disciples to tremble uncontrollably. Thousands of white beams descended, each landing precisely before a disciple. The crystals glimmered like translucent jade.

Ye Yun stared at the crystal before him and steadied his breath. This was the outer sect’s first trial: the spiritual vein test. Cultivators with spiritual veins held greater potential, making them worthy of the sect’s investment. The Heavenly Sword Sect’s crystals gauged vein quality through colors—teal, blue, red, and purple, ascending from weakest to strongest.

After adjusting his state, Ye Yun slowly reached out.

“Shixiong, I’m nervous,” Shen Mo whispered, his body shaking under the elders’ pressure.

“With your talent, you’ll pass eventually—if not today, then next time,” Ye Yun reassured him with a shoulder pat.

Shen Mo nodded, startled to find Ye Yun’s presence somehow dampened the crushing pressure around them.

As the test began, the square erupted in swirling light.

“Teal! I’m teal! I passed!”

“Blue—mine’s blue!”

“Why… why is there no color?!”

“Black?! This must be wrong!”

Colors bloomed above heads—teal, blue, black, or nothing at all. Cheers and wails tangled in the air.

Suddenly, a thick crimson pillar surged upward, towering half a zhang above others.

“Red! A red talent!”

The four elders materialized, faces alight. The Old Man in White gestured, and the red-testing disciple floated toward them.

“Red denotes exceptional aptitude. State your name. You may bypass further trials and join Tian Zhu Peak.”

“This humble one is Qu Yiping from the capital,” replied the blue-robed youth, his delicate features belying his fifteen years.

“Stand aside,” the elder commanded. With a wave, Qu Yiping stood suspended midair as if on solid ground, bowing deeply with unrestrained joy.

Below, lights flickered—teal, blue, black—but no red or purple emerged again. Over half were eliminated; fewer than a hundred passed with teal or blue.

Then another crimson pillar erupted—thicker than Qu Yiping’s.

“Who?!” roared the Old Man in White.

Before he could act, a voice rose from below: “Greetings, Elder Lan. This one is Duan Chenfeng of the Capital’s Duan family.”

It was the same Duan Chenfeng who’d earlier proclaimed his intent to enslave Ye Yun.

“You recognize me? Ah, from the Capital’s Duan clan. With such spiritual vein aptitude, this makes sense. Stand behind me.” The Old Man in White nodded approvingly, his tone carrying natural authority.

“This junior thanks Elder Lan!” Duan Chenfeng bowed deeply before positioning himself behind the elder, his gaze sweeping toward Ye Yun.

Ye Yun ignored him completely. Unlike the others rushing to test, he stood motionless before the jade-like crystal.

“If I can’t clear this first trial, cultivation means nothing!”

As Ye Yun reached toward the crystal, a radiant beam erupted skyward – ten zhang tall, its brilliance dyeing the heavens and earth in purple hues.

Deafening gasps exploded like Divine Thunder.

Purple! The thick light beam symbolized supreme spiritual veins – the mark of an extraordinary genius blessed by providence.

“Purple! When did we last see purple talent?” Elder Lan’s voice shook, face flushed crimson.

The three other elders trembled visibly, equally overcome.

Elder Lan flicked his wrist, levitating a graceful figure from the crowd – a young maiden in flowing violet robes that danced in the mountain wind like celestial garments.

“Jun Ruolan pays respects to the honored elders.” Her curtsy flowed like water, flawless in execution.

“Excellent! You’ll join Shadowless Peak immediately. The elders will assess which cultivation methods suit you best. Your potential knows no bounds.” Elder Lan’s gesture sent Jun Ruolan floating upward, her serene nod acknowledging the decree.

Direct entry to Shadowless Peak – this privilege drove the remaining aspirants into frenzy. Dozens pressed forward, desperate to reveal their own purple talents.

Ye Yun exhaled sharply and slapped his palm against the milky crystal. A cool aura flooded his veins, circulating rapidly until he visualized thick purple energy coalescing within him – energy that should’ve burst through his fingertips.

Purple aptitude?

His heart leapt – sect-wide resources awaited purple talents. But then black and white light flashed internally. The purple energy reversed course, swallowed whole. From that mysterious light emerged wispy teal energy that seeped into the crystal.

A faint teal glow shimmered above Ye Yun’s head before dissipating like morning mist.

Teal bloodline talent.

Outer disciples notified him of his qualified status as the elders paid no heed. Ye Yun’s brow furrowed. He’d witnessed the purple surge clearly – it should’ve matched Jun Ruolan’s display, granting him elite status. Why had that strange light stolen his purple radiance, leaving only weak teal?

Understanding dawned slowly as he stepped aside.

“Senior Brother, my turn.” Shen Mo’s reedy voice interrupted his thoughts.

Ye Yun nodded. “Steady yourself.”

The gaunt youth trembled as spiritual power stirred within him.

*Crack!*

The testing crystal fractured like spun glass before crumbling into glittering dust.