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nChapter Thirty Four Opportunity

nNangong Caishu was shocked.

nThe strictness of the entry tests was related to the sect’s foundation and rank. Green Vine Sword School and White Goat Cave were about the same in their status so the difficulty of their entry tests were similar.

nGreen Vine Sword School’s “Ten Thousand Threading” was similar to this stone disk. Even she had taken a full hour before finally passing.

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nIf he passed in just a few seconds … he would break the records of White Goat Cave and Green Vine Sword School.

nThe students of White Goat Cave had similar emotions to her, causing them to exclaim in shock.

nSu Qin frowned. Emotions hard to describe rose. Did this common youth really possess astounding talent and was specially recruited for the sect?

nDing Ning looked calmly at him. He did not give this second senior sect brother of White Goat Cave a chance to speak. He stretched out his hand and opened it.

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nEveryone’s gaze gathered on his palm.

nThen even louder exclamations sounded.

nAmidst the inhales of shock, Zhang Yi’s pupils contracted slightly. The worry in his brow immediately transformed into joyful surprise.

nNangong Caishu completely froze.

nShen Bai, who had reacted the fiercest at the start and had been standing with his head low ever since learning Nangong Caishu’s birth, paled even further. His chest rose up and down.

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nFive pebbles were lying silently in Ding Ning’s hand.

nWhen these five pebbles had been flowing in the grey currents, they did not look any different compared to the other pebbles. Yet everyone could clearly see that one of the pebbles was slightly larger, and the other four smaller.

nIt was the contrast with the slightly larger pebble that caused everyone to immediately see the other four were slightly smaller.

nEven if the five were not all correct, this Disk of Flowing Annual Rings test could be passed by picking three correctly.

nIn the past, White Goat Cave’s record was fifteen minutes.

nEveryone was shocked by Ding Ning’s performance to the point that they started to suspect Ding Ning had deliberately picked a wrong one so they could see more clearly.

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nSu Qin’s expression did not change greatly yet his mind was taken over by great shock.

nHis gaze changed abruptly.

nHe did not immediately state any opinion. He quickly reached out and as he took the five pebbles from Ding Ning’s hand, his finger lightly touched Ding Ning’s palm.

nIn this millisecond, Ding Ning clearly felt a weak presence flow from Su Qin’s finger and quickly circulate around his meridians.

nHe knew what Su Qin intended and so he maintained his calm as though he did not detect it.

nSu Qin’s heart sank again and grew colder.

nHe did not feel any unusual presences.

nThe absence of any unusual presences meant that Ding Ning was not a cultivator with high cultivation.

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n“Four out of five. You have passed this test.”

nHe glanced at the five pebbles in his hand and then handed them to the student next to him. He indicated for the student to put away the disk. Then he pointed at the flesh-colored jade soldier statue in the other box and said slowly, “This is a sensing soldier statue. Perception is a kind of talent. Some people can achieve absolute calm and look within, but their internal energies never sync with the primal energies of the universe. They are not able to feel the existence of their own energies and the primal energies of the universe. People without this talent cannot become true cultivators.”

n“This jade soldier statue is made from a kind of flesh jade which contains energies similar to our bodies. However, it is easier to feel and touch.”

nSu Qin looked coldly at Ding Ning and said, “The small sword the jade soldier holds is empty. If you can feel the energy of the jade soldier, and feel the flow, you can pour the energies out from the small sword like pouring water from a bottle.”

nDing Ning said, “So pouring the energy out will be considered a pass?”

nSu Qin nodded. “Exactly.”

nDing Ning smiled and said, “If I pass this, I can formally enter the sect and cultivate?”

nSu Qin frowned slightly and nodded again without saying anything more.

nDing Ning did not speak again. He went forward and held the jade statue in his hand.

nSince he had chosen his way of passing on the last test, he did not have to consider anything on this one.

nThe surrounding world became silent.

nThis was too simple to him.

nIn his perception, the energy within the jade soldier was like a river flowing in a cave.

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nHis hand automatically moved and changed the direction of the flow. These rivers flowed past the curving cliffs towards the only opening where there was light.

nWith a soft sound, the water sprouted past the cliff and became a waterfall.

nIn his hand, the forward section of the jade soldier’s sword formed a beautiful rainbow with the multi-colored energies.

nEveryone near the gates completely stopped breathing.

nEven Zhang Yi, who had gained some confidence in Ding Ning, was completely stunned. He had thought Ding Ning may quickly pass, but he had not thought it would be like this.

nBeside Ding Ning, Nangong Caishu looked dazedly at Ding Ning’s calm expression as though she wanted to gain something from it.

nEven the two old people sitting in front of the highest temple of White Goat Cave were in shock. Du Qingjiao took a deep breath, turned to look at Xue Wangxu and slowly said, “I knew that this youth was slightly exceptional, but not so much.”

nXue Wangxu hesitated and said, “Could he have cultivated before?”

n“Not possible.” Du Qingjiao shook his head. “I stayed for several hours with him. Even I could not feel any abnormality. Not unless he is a grandmaster like Fourth Zhao and Bai Shanshui.”

nXue Wangxu shook his head. He naturally knew that was not possible.

n“But he has health problems.” Du Qingjiao looked at him and said.

nXue Wangxu stilled and instinctively asked, “What problem?”

nDu Qingjiao said, “He has a body with too much yang and will die early, his energies are too strong.”

nXue Wangxu’s hands stilled slightly. “Then …”

nOriginally he had ideas, but now he had none.

n“So what?” Du Qingjiao seemed to have seen through what this sect leader and junior sect brother of his was thinking. He said with a hint of pride, “Just arrange for him to cultivate with Zhang Yi, and Su Qin.”

nXue Wangxu also knew his senior sect brother well. They could see each other’s thoughts with a glance but right now, he did not understand. “But …”

n“His talent is worthy for White Goat Cave to expend. Are you afraid it will be wasted on him?” Du Qingjiao sneered and shook his head. “Even if it is wasted on him, it is better than following others, and then everything will end up in the hands of others. As to Su Qin … I know that with your personality, you do not like him. I also do not like him. But his talents are good, and our master said to us in the past, when one wants to grow faster, you need people to pressure you. Su Qin is a good choice.”

nXue Wangxu thought for a moment and nodded. He looked seriously at Du Qingjiao, his eyes filled with indescribable gratefulness. “Senior Sect Brother, while my cultivation has been stronger than yours in these years, your spirit is something I cannot rival at times.”

n“But what is the use. In the end, we cannot protect White Goat Cave.”

nDu Qingjiao laughed at himself. The pride in his eyes disappeared and was replaced with emotion. “I am leaving. You will be burdened. But you are able to endure more than me. One that can endure and not compete will go further. White Goat Cave is gone, it is good to leave some seeds back.”

nXue Wangxu looked at Du Qingjiao’s eyes and thought of the storms that his senior sect brother and him experienced at White Goat Cave. When thinking about the other leaving, he had no words.

n“His life was not good, but he encountered us at this time, we have karma together. If there is something to give, give some more. It’s better than benefiting that woman.” Du Qingjiao turned and looked at the distant gates.

nThe gates were completely silent.

nEven Su Qin’s face was slightly pale.

nHe and Zhang Yi had been the best students of White Goat Cave in the last few decades. But when he joined the sect, he had spent half an hour before he felt the energies in the soldier.

nThis jade soldier was unique to White Goat Cave. There would not be any way to practice for this test.

nDing Ning miraculously, using only a few minutes, felt the energies inside, and had the sword the soldier was holding shine.

n“Senior Sect Brother, Senior Sect Sister, can you welcome me in to pay respects to the masters?”

nDing Ning smiled calmly amidst everyone’s shock and bowed to Su Qin, Zhang Yi and the others as he said lightly.

nZhang Yi also smiled. He bowed in return and said seriously with warmth, “Junior Sect Brother, please.”

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