Chapter 85: The Red Crystal of Truth

    ~~~

    Qing Jin.

    The spear on his back, hes gotten used to. The red hair, he barely notices. The name, however, still feels foreign to him. No matter how many times he hears it, there will always be a pause, a moment in which he has to remind himself that is his name now. It is something he needs to fix. A clever person will almost certainly pick up on it.

    Well, Liu Jin doubts he has to worry about that sort of thing when dealing with Huang Shing.

    Qing Jin! Look!

    He seems simple.

    They are starting! Huang Shing points up ahead, where a man in red and white robes is walking down the steps. Lets go!

    Liu Jin sighs as Huang Shing eagerly walks into the mass of people. Crowds are not something he enjoys. Not in Eastern Port City. Not in Five Bats City. And most certainly not here. All those stories about great masters who removed themselves from civilization to achieve eternity probably neglected to mention they also did so because dealing with too many people at once is exhausting.

    Liu Jin thinks about it for a moment and nods.

    Yeah, that sounds right.

    You have come from lands far and wide, the man in red and white robes says once he reaches the lowest step. His Qi reveals him as someone in the True Realm, the fifth Realm of cultivation. Doubtlessly, you have endured many hardships on your way here. However, to join our Eternal Flame Clan, that cannot even be called the first step. We have no use for the weak!

    That draws many frowns from the crowd. Angry whispers are suddenly aplenty; a few even shout.

    Oh? The man raises an eyebrow. You say you are not weak. Very well, you have, after all, come here to prove your strength. Far be it from me to deny you the opportunity. Those who have courage, step forward and be judged!

    He snaps his fingers. People stumble back as a large rock rises from the ground.

    No, Liu Jin quickly amends. Not rock, crystal. It is a beautiful red crystal in the shape of a wild flame. It rises until it is as tall as three men standing on each others shoulders, towering over the crowd.

    You will stand in front of the Red Crystal of Truth. Touch its surface, and your age and cultivation stage will be measured. Those who are not found wanting will pass to the next stage!

    The atmosphere changes. Eagerness is replaced by apprehension. It is not a person but an artifact that will judge them. Their names will not sway it. Neither will their charisma or deeds. Their age and cultivation level will be the only factors taken into account, which means they will pass or fail by those alone.

    Amid this tense atmosphere, a derisive snort rises.

    Hmph! Is that all? It seems the Eternal Flame Clan is much kinder than I thought.

    Bei Hong walks out from the crowd with confident steps. He does not ask for further clarification or even looks at the examiner. He boldly touches the Red Crystal of Truth.

    The crystal glows with red light, and flames erupt from its surface, causing Bei Hong to take a step back in surprise. He need not have bothered. The flame flies straight up and bursts into fiery letters.

    Spirit Realm, Third Level. Fifteen-Years-old.

    Huang Shing curses under his breath. He had probably hoped his senses were fooling him back then, yet it is not so. Bei Hong truly is in the Third Level of the Spirit Realm. Indeed, Huang Shing is far from the only one moved by this reveal. Even among people as gifted as these, to reach the Spirit Realm at such a young age is noteworthy.

    Good. The examiner nods approvingly. You will be transported to the next testing area.

    Bei Hong only has a moment to look surprised before a red circle appears beneath him. He is engulfed in red light and vanishes.

    What was that? Huang Shing asks.

    Transfer circle, Liu Jin replies, his tone far more casual, yet that does not mean he is not impressed. It is, after all, the first transfer circle he has ever seen.

    Transfer circles can connect two different areas, yet there are limits to how far apart they can be. Even if this is the Eternal Flame Clan, he doubts its range goes past the Summer Forest.

    Most likely, he was taken to the next testing area.

    Who will be next? The examiner shouts, his voice asserting itself over the crowd.

    There is a pause. Bei Hong, unfortunately, and perhaps deliberately set the standard too high. He passed the first stage while being in the Spirit Realm. Does that mean only people in the Spirit Realm can pass? Everyone is wondering that. The pressure of having to walk in front of everyone only to fail and return home a loser is too much for many.

    Huang Shing, after a few moments of internal debate, suddenly straightens his back. He takes a step forward.

    And runs right into Liu Jins arm.

    Hey!

    If you go up there right now, Ill have to go as well. Id rather see the other participants first.

    It will give him more opportunities to see how the crystal works.

    What type of prodigy is this child? What place could produce someone like this?

    If he is already this strong as an eight-year-old, how much stronger will he be in the future?

    No one has any chance to ask him that. He disappears in the glow of a gold transfer circle. As he does, Liu Jin cannot help but notice the nervous look on the examiners face.

    No way. Huang Shing looks perfectly defeated. When I was at that age, I was barely in theI how?!

    A good question. Liu Jins lips thin, suddenly feeling more aware of the spear on his back.

    I think... we have seen enough.

    Huang Shing looks at Liu Jin, still shaken, and nods.

    Yeah. He breathes in deeply, taking a moment to compose himself. Lets go!

    Seconds later, Liu Jin touches the Red Crystal of Truth and disappears in a red glow.

    ~~~

    Liu Jin expects to be dropped off in the middle of the Summer Forest and then have to make his way to the Eternal Flame Clans compound. Instead, the transfer circle merely takes him to another section of the Ash Road. There are endless steps in front of him, and a glance back would show him much the same. An examiner stands in his way, his hands folded behind his back.

    Congratulations on passing the first stage, he says even as Huang Shing starts materializing beside Liu Jin. However, that was only the first step. If you wish to join the Eternal Flame Clan, keep moving forward, but be warned. While Spirit Beasts are not usually able to step into the Ash Road, we have loosened the restrictions on the barrier for the sake of the exam.

    Huang Shing grins and cracks his knuckles. So run and kill all the beasts? Good, I was getting worried Id be something hard.

    There may be other obstacles, Liu Jin points out. The examiner nods.

    There might be.

    Will you tell us what those are? Liu Jin asks. The examiner just smiles mysteriously.

    Typical.

    Huang Shing snorts and takes off running. Liu Jin follows.

    It says a lot that even after a full minute passes, the two seem no closer to reaching the end of the Ash Road. Liu Jin and Huang Shing are in the late stages of the Nascent Realm. Even though they have yet to use any movement techniques, their speed is not one that can be taken lightly. It is a testament to how large the Summer Forest is.

    This is boring. I thought there were supposed to be Spirit Beasts here?

    As soon as Huang Shing says that, a massive creature bursts through the trees, its maw wide open as it seeks to swallow them both in one gulp.

    Ground Contraction.

    Liu Jin vanishes from the beasts path and appears right behind it, swinging his spear at its leg. It bites into its flesh and draws blood. Despite that, Liu Jin clicks his tongue in annoyance. The cut is too shallow.

    Even though he has been practicing with Lei Kong, he still has much to learn.

    What is this thing? Huang Shings voice comes from somewhere up above. He is on the beasts back, struggling to hold on as it bucks wildly all over the place. Is it a dragon?

    He almost looks eager at the prospect.

    Lizard, Liu Jin corrects him. Yellow-Crowned Lizard.

    Indeed, the creature is an enormous green lizard with thick scales and a yellow underbelly. Yellow spikes grow from its head, mimicking the shape of a crown. The beast screeches, its long tail swiping at Liu Jin with speed well beyond that of sound.

    Liu Jin leaps over the attack and brings his spear down, slicing the tail off in a single swing. The lizard screeches in pain, giving Huang Shing the opening he needs. His fists glow with power as he brings them down on the beasts back with devastating force.

    It buckles and falls. Liu Jin blurs as he aims his spear right at its head. This time, there is no flaw in his form.

    His spear hits its mark, and the beast dies.

    Huang Shing cheers and slaps his hands together. That wasnt hard at all! This test might be even easier than I thought!

    As soon as he says it, more Yellow-Crowned Lizards start coming out of the forest. There are at least two dozen of them. All in the Nascent Realm.

    Huang Shing stares.

    I need to stop tempting fate.

    Liu Jin cannot stop himself from nodding.

    ~~~