Chapter Sixteen: The Final Test Begins

Jiang Feng finished tidying up and headed to the kitchen for a meal.

“Young master, you’re here.” Inside the kitchen, Lanxin was busy. Upon seeing Jiang Feng, she hurriedly stood up.

Feng nodded without saying anything more, as though deep in thought. At this moment, Jiang Feng’s mind was occupied, pondering the true reason that had propelled him to master the fourth step of the Shadow Dance Soul Shattering technique.

He felt as if he were on the verge of understanding, yet plagued by the discomfort of something indescribable, something he could not quite grasp.

Before long, Lan’er began to serve the dishes. There were several more delicacies on the table than usual. Jiang Feng could not think of any important occasion that would warrant Lan’er preparing such a sumptuous feast, so he looked at her inquiringly, hoping for an explanation.

“Young master, the final evaluation is coming soon. You’ve been working so hard these days, and I haven’t been able to help, so I thought I’d make you something extra delicious to reward your efforts.” Lan’er blushed and lowered her head as she spoke.

With the answer, Feng nodded and didn’t press further, nor did he notice anything unusual about Lan’er. At this moment, Jiang Feng had some ideas brewing inside him, but nothing was clearly resolved yet, so he seemed somewhat absent-minded.

He set aside his inner turmoil, devoured the meal Lan’er had prepared with the voracity of a whirlwind, and prepared to return to his room. Lost in thought, he walked as if his soul had left his body. Upon reaching his door, he opened it and, careless for a moment, tripped over the threshold.

Suddenly, Jiang Feng felt a sharp pain in his chest—something hard had jabbed him. He cursed his luck, got up, and brushed the dust from his clothes. Reaching into his garments, he felt an object—ah! He suddenly remembered the “treasure” he had acquired for ten thousand gold coins.

Back then, he sensed that the item was somehow fated for him, as if it was calling to him. Could his breakthrough have been due to it?

He closed his door, sat cross-legged, and held the “treasure” in his right hand, sinking back into meditation.

Bang—

As soon as his eyes closed, an icy, bone-chilling murderous aura swept in from all directions. Jiang Feng was plunged into a blood-red world.

A figure shrouded in crimson slowly approached. Jiang Yue silently calculated the distance; his body moved suddenly, just before the blood-red blade struck.

First, two steps to the left rear, then one to the right. Perfectly executed, so that his dantian collided with the blade’s light. “Hiss—” Jiang Yue gasped. Though he had endured this pain countless times and knew it was only an illusion, the sensation of his body being torn apart felt all too real.

He forced himself to withstand the pain, then sat cross-legged and began his cultivation.

Whish whish whish whish—

At that moment, countless shimmering lights surged into Jiang Feng’s body, gathering mysteriously. After a long while, they all flowed to his dantian, forming a translucent crystal rod. This must be the treasure.

It seemed he had bet right once again.

Jiang Feng emerged from his meditation, startled by the sudden surge in his strength.

“Ninth Stage of Nether Martial!” From the fourth stage, he had leaped directly to the ninth. Such speed was astonishing—if the elders of his clan knew, they’d be scared out of their wits!

And that was not all. Now, every major meridian in his body was saturated with Nether energy. His muscles, veins, organs—all brimming with power. Now, he needed only to condense the seed of Nether energy at the right moment, and he would formally step into the ranks of a Nether Warrior.

This truly was a peerless treasure! His investment had been well worth it!

Gurgle—

Jiang Feng’s stomach suddenly growled, a wave of hunger crashing over him. “Who knows how many days I’ve been in seclusion this time? It’s a pity I still can’t control the timing of my cultivation. Well, it’ll come with practice.”

Clenching his fists, Jiang Feng rushed back toward the kitchen.

Once again, he devoured his meal ravenously. After finishing, Jiang Feng learned from Lan’er that his cultivation had lasted two days—meaning the clan’s final evaluation would be held after tomorrow!

“Come then. Hurry up and arrive! Let me astonish you all! Let you witness what a true cultivator can do!” Jiang Feng silently recited these words to himself.

...

After one night, the day of the final evaluation arrived.

The sky was high and clear, the breeze gentle and the sun shining—a tranquil, auspicious day. It seemed to bode well for the events to come.

Before the assessment platform of the Jiang clan.

On such an important occasion, the family must first honor their ancestors. Since ancient times, ancestral rites have been a major event for the clan. All manner of ceremonial vessels were prepared, the altar set, offerings laid out.

As clan chief, Jiang Yuehai presided over the ceremony. His expression was solemn, dressed in formal dark robes, reciting the obscure and complex ancestral prayers that made nearly everyone drowsy. After burning incense, he ascended to the chief seat, sitting upright.

With a wave of his hand, he signaled for the proceedings to begin. The presiding elder began to recite the names of those participating in the final evaluation. When their name was called, each candidate stepped onto the platform for assessment.

Everything proceeded in an orderly fashion.

“First up, Jiang Liu’er!”

The elder’s voice had barely faded when an agile figure leaped up onto the stage, landing expertly in the center.

“Excellent!”
“So cool!”
“Brother Jiang Liu is definitely the best!”
...

Jiang Liu’er heard the enthusiastic cheers, turned, smiled, and cupped his hands in salute before heading to the test platform.

Moments later, an elderly voice rang out, and the crowd erupted again.

“Jiang Liu’er, Fifth Stage of Nether Martial, passed!”

Fifth stage! Among peers of the same age, that was outstanding. No one expected the first candidate to be so exceptional.

“Quiet! Next, Jiang Shanshan, step up!”

A spirited young girl strode onto the stage, and after a brief moment, she stepped down.

“Jiang Shanshan, Fourth Stage of Nether Martial, passed!”

Wow! The crowd was abuzz—no one expected Jiang Shanshan to reach the fourth stage, and she was only ten years old!

Her cultivation age was far less than Jiang Liu’er’s.

“Silence! Next, Jiang Mantong! Step up!”

“Jiang Mantong, Third Stage of Nether Martial, passed!”

“Next, Jiang Tao! Step up for assessment!”

“Jiang Tao, Fourth Stage of Nether Martial, passed!”

...

The testing continued. Most candidates passed, but the majority only achieved the first or second stage—none matched the early candidates.

Suddenly, a surprising voice rang out:

“Jiang Yang, Seventh Stage of Nether Martial! Passed.”

After announcing this, the presiding elder’s face showed a rare trace of satisfaction.

This youth, Jiang Yang, bore a cold demeanor as he turned from the testing platform. Jiang Yang was the youngest son of the eldest uncle, much favored by the family, and his talent was formidable. Now, he had reached the seventh stage! Apart from the eldest uncle’s legitimate heir, Jiang Qing, he was already a leader among his peers at fourteen years old—a true prodigy.

The crowd fell silent until Jiang Yang left the arena, then the grounds erupted anew.

“My heavens! Brother Jiang Yang is so handsome,” a lovestruck girl screamed.

“He’s simply a flawless gem!”

“So cool!”

...

The scene was even more chaotic than before, the cheers gradually unifying:

“Genius!”
“Genius!”
“Genius!”
...

It seemed Jiang Yang’s reputation as a prodigy was now firmly established.