Playing inventor in a cultivation world-Chapter 28: Entrance Examination (5)

Marcus growled and attacked. The two flame blades multiplied, becoming six in an instant.

Seraph was unperturbed, immediately countering with six sharp water blades. The water blades shot forward like discs, blocking the flame swords and locking them in a stalemate.

"Amazing."

Tamar said unconsciously, staring at the spectacle in surprise. She hadn’t expected Seraph to be able to resist Marcy’s this easily.

The white-haired boy grinned at his opponent. "Marcus, right? I’m going to attach you once. Do not die."

He suddenly changed his stance, leaning forward like he was about to sprint.

"Seraphim Spear: Second Form—Piercer."

He thrust the spear once, and it seemed to extend like a staff. Marcus was alarmed and immediately controlled the flame swords to act as a shield for him.

The six swords rotated, creating a tight shield that protected Marcus.

"It’s Senior Brother Marcus’s special move! Sword Shield!" One of Melox’s underlings squealed in surprise.

"Yes. It is unbreakable by many people." The other added.

Finally, the elongated brown spear struck the sword shield, and shattered it instantly.

The complacent expression on Marcus’s face disappeared instantly, and he hastily moved to avoid the spear.

The weapon brushed past his side, tearing his cloth and peeling off a layer of his skin. He hissed in pain, staring at his exposed skin that was threatening to bleed.

"You...!"

Seraph smiled gently, retracting his spear back to its original size. Then, he turned to Marcus and Melox.

"You brothers need to improve on your skills. You have pretty decent foundations, but you’ve stopped training with your weapons. Remain like this and you’ll continue being trash."

His words made Marcus almost cough up blood in anger, but he restrained himself. He had never been called a trash in his entire life.

Ignoring their ugly expressions, Seraph turned to Tamar, bowing politely.

"Thank you for your help. We appreciate it."

Tamar nodded subtly, then turned away.

"Good luck."

Marcus and his brother left soon after she left, sulking and full of complaints.

"Big brother, you’re so cool."

Ariana’s eyes lit up as she stared at him in awe. Seraph nodded perfunctorily, patted her head, then collected the other talismans.

"Alright. We’ve gotten what we needed. Let’s go."

The silver-haired girl nodded with a smile, holding her talismans tight as she followed him back to the Open Hunting Ground’s entrance.

Unsurprisingly, there were several other participants that had also completed the first test. Seraph and Ariana gave their talismans to the lead disciple, who in turn gave them a black token each.

"Keep your token well."

Ariana nodded and Seraph smiled, playing with the token at hand.

"Let’s go."

Several hours later, the first test ended with only two hundred participants successfully clearing it. The remaining hundred and more were disqualified, returning to their guardians with dejected looks.

Again, the qualified participants were gathered again at the city center, where the same Soul Cross Sect Elder addressed them.

"You all are those who passed the first test and received a token. You have my acknowledgement."

"Now, let me introduce myself. I am Elder Wang Tem of the Solstice Peak. In the Soul Cross Sect, there are five main peaks. The Cloud Peak, the Winter Peak, Summer Peak, Solstice Peak, and the Soul Peak."

"The Soul Peak is only accessible by the core disciples of the sect or the direct disciples of the other sect elders."

"The other peaks are for all disciples, but your placement would be determined after the entrance examination is completed."

"For now, you may all return to your respective abode. Tomorrow, we shall have the second test."

Elder Wang Tem turned around, the long arm of his robes flapping after him. He levitated in the air and flew into the distance. The disciples also unsheathed their swords, standing on them and flying after him.

After staring at their departure in awe, the crowd gradually dispersed. Elder Cassius led Ariana and Seraph to a restaurant to dine, congratulating them on successfully passing the first test.

"The next one should be easy too. If it’s what I think it is."

He said seriously, watching them eat ravenously.

"Hm? What’s that?" Seraph leaned forward, a curious expression on his face. Ariana also paused, paying attention to him.

"It’s simple. Nothing to worry about. They’re just going to check your bone age, your current cultivation, and your aptitude level."

Elder Cassius’s eyes landed on Seraph.

"You... I hope your aptitude doesn’t go beyond what it has shown."

Honestly, he wasn’t really confident that Seraph’s talent wouldn’t surpass the seven-ci it had reached back in the clan.

After all, the instrument they had used back then only had a seventh-ci as its limit.

Seraph pretended to be oblivious. "What I have shown? You mean my aptitude could surpass five-ci?"

After all, that was what everyone had told him as he grew older.

Elder Cassius shook his head. ’Whoever is backing him must have told him he has a seven-ci-aptitude, right? Why is he still hiding it? Is it because of Ariana?’

After all, if Ariana knew Seraph was better than her, her mood would surely drop. She was still that childish.

"Anyway, you understand what I mean. Let’s wait and see though."

Ariana asked. "Why are they checking the bone age though?"

"The age limit for recruitment is between 10 years to 14 years. Those older or younger than that would not be allowed."

"Ah! I get it now. So there would be people of 15 years trying to become disciples. Hmph!"

She snorted, then resumed eating the food before her. Meanwhile, as Seraph calmly consumed his own food, he spoke with Halo internally.

’What do you think? Will my aptitude surpass the seven-ci?’

["Absolutely. Your talent is infinite. As long as you’re allowed to grow, you can reach the peak. The aptitude rods are useless in your case."]

Seraph sighed. ’Is there a way to control the results? I wouldn’t want to fill up a fifteen-ci or more.’

["There isn’t a way, but we can surely make one."]

’Great!’ 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

["Don’t get too excited. Listen to what I have to say first. Perhaps you might decide against hiding at all."]