Over the years, there had been a large number of gifted students who studied at the Cloud Sect.
Some disciples had a penchant for learning and progressed rapidly. Within a year, those disciples
passed several levels, going from bone refining level up to the level of nature refining.
There were also disciples still at the bone refining level that were comparable in strength to those who
were a half-step into the nature level, and could easily move objects that were as heavy as a mountain.
In contrast to them, Zen seemed so ordinary.
For someone at the organ refining level, Zen's execution was perfect. He not only withstood an assault
from four men at marrow refining level but, after that, he was still strong enough to run past the 30-mile
stone tablet. However, in the eyes of the elder whose eyebrows were silver, and master Su, Zen was
an intermediate, not excellent candidate.
Took Master Su's Drizzle Peak as an example, while it ranked last among the thirty-three peaks at the
Cloud Sect, there were three disciples at least, who were able to resist that kind of attack and were
able to pass the initial exam successfully.
Therefore, neither of them believed Zen was remarkable.
To be fair, ordinarily, it was impossible for someone at the organ refining level to withstand the
enormous pressure of 50, 000 pounds. Yet, Zen had, all the while been standing erect with no sign of
giving up.
It was a miracle that he managed to beat any challenge. Whether it had been the Drizzle Peak, or any
of the other thirty-two peaks at the Cloud Sect, there weren't many people who were as strong or
powerful as him.
Sensing tension in the air, Master Su had the urge to save Zen from the mighty force. But, just as she
was about to step forward, the elder with white eyebrows stopped her.
"Don't be in such a hurry! Watch him," stated the chief elder as he watched Zen.
Viewing Zen carefully, Master Su was amazed to see streaks of red, blood-like liquid trickling from
Zen's body. "He's refining his organs. This is absolutely astounding!" she exclaimed in awe.
Unlike the four men who attacked Zen earlier, both Master Su and the chief elder with white eyebrows
were experienced and knowledgeable. At one glance, they recognized that the red fluid wasn't blood.
Instead, it was the impurities being flushed from the organs. For most people, it took a long time to
cleanse their organs. To their astonishment, Zen exuded a great deal in a short period.
"The boy's future ..." the chief elder stopped talking mid-sentence. He started asserting that Zen would
have a bright future ahead of him.
However, in a high pitched voice, Master Su suddenly cut in, "His future will be gloomy, won't it?"
"Master Su, what do you mean?" asked the elder confused.
"I don't think he is very competent," said master Su, smiling, "It was pure luck that he scraped through
the initial exam. Well, as for the present scene, we should act like it never happened."
Of course, the chief elder was not an idiot, and he understood what she was attempting, and it was
evident that what she was saying was absurd.
According to the rules of the Cloud Sect, top management was to receive a step by step report of every
exceptionally gifted disciple discovered during an initial exam, and it was equally clear that Zen's case
fell precisely under this rule.
"Let me think..." murmured the chief elder examiner, feeling torn, and wanting to think a moment. His
thoughts were troubled by this. It would be no problem to turn a blind eye to Zen's previous
performance. But with what he was witnessing now, there could be no doubt the young man was the
sort of special refiner that only occurred once in a thousand years. It was too much to hide the truth.
"No need to hesitate!" declared Master Su after seeing concern etched in the chief examiner's face.
Her dazzling smile faded slowly. "Do you want me to reveal the Emperor's Token?"
When he heard the words, 'the Emperor's Token, ' the chief examiner coughed harshly. Ever since
Master Su arrived at the Cloud Sect, his health was progressively getting worse. As long as there was
an initial exam, the chief examiner was troubled by her.
So, what was the Emperor's Token?
Any person in possession of the Emperor's Token had the right to order 'the man' in the Burning Sky
Palace to perform any act, including, commit murder, slaughter, genocide, or any other atrocity.
Accordingly, people became scared at the mention of the Emperor's Token.
No one and nothing on earth could stop 'the man'. He was nearly all-powerful.
But, this was under the assumption that the person giving the instructions had one of the Emperor's
Tokens. Otherwise, you were not able to order 'the man'.
In over two hundred years, the Burning Sky Palace released only six of these Emperor's Tokens, total.
One piece had thankfully gone to the Ou-yang clan of the Imperial Capital, and it was revered in their
main shrine. In the past, the Ou-yang was an insignificant, small clan. Utilizing the control that came
with the Emperor's Token, the family became one of the top ten noble clans throughout the Empire.
Although the prosperity of the clan came to the family through their diligent administration, the
Emperor's Token undoubtedly played a significant role. Who would dare offend a person that
possessed the Emperor's Token?
'Even though the young man is indeed very talented, he isn't worth the Emperor's Token. Master Su is
exaggerating, ' thought the chief examiner.
Well aware of Master Su's character, the chief elder knew she was bluffing him. But he knew better she
would possibly use the Emperor's Token if he kept failing to realize her purpose.
Clearly, the elder would consent to her request. "Since you have decided, we won't report the matter,"
the chief examiner informed Master Su willingly.
"Okay, but, keep in mind! I want everyone to be in the dark about him. Remove all the pictures that
were recorded onto the picture slab. Can't let anyone but you and I see. By the way, we had better shut
him down. If people in other peaks know, we'll be in big trouble!" warned Master Su.
When she had finished speaking to the elder examiner, she went back to lustfully ogling Zen and
appreciating him as one did to an uncarved gem.
During their discussion, Zen was concentrating on allowing the warm current to wash through his body
as he absorbed the pressure. The impurities of his organs were almost cleared up.
He took a deep breath as he was quaked by a violent shudder ripping through his body which brought
a flood of red contaminants pouring from his pores as if he were bleeding heavily.
'Finally! I've reached the highest degree of the organ refining level. Soon, I'll begin marrow refining as
long as I cross that mark.'
While Zen contemplated, his eyes shone with pleasure. He was delighted at the pace of his progress.
He was advancing so rapidly, that it wouldn't be long before he could defeat Perrin and rescue his
sister from Hell Mountain.
Right now though, he was excited to continue refining, thinking that, if he did, he might be able to
achieve the marrow refining level.
But, his legs began to shake under the enormous pressure bearing down on him until eventually he
couldn't stand and was at the point of collapse.
It was at that moment he felt someone seized him by the neck and pulled him out of the road.
Feeling the pressure bearing down on him diffused, Zen turned easily and saw that it was the chief
examiner, supervisor for the initial exam who had hauled him away. Standing next to the elder
examiner, was a girl, as beautiful as a fairy, attired in green. She was gorgeous!
"You passed the initial exam. Why haven't you left? What are you still doing here?" asked the chief
elder sharply. 'After all, the boy did cause the unpleasantness of today, ' thought the elder chief
examiner.
Being scolded by the elder, Zen remained calm as he apologized, "Sorry, I didn't realize I wasn't
allowed to be here, Sir."
"Well, now you know. Take your jade pendant to substitute an entrance card, then go wait for your
entrance exam," commanded the chief elder examiner.
Not wanting to irk the chief examiner, Zen began to walk away politely. After a few steps, he looked
back and asked, "Excuse me, Sir. If I am lucky enough to be accepted into the Cloud Sect, may I come
back here?"
Using pressure to refine his body, Zen had accelerated his refining speed and was slightly addicted to
it.
At Zen's request, the elder smiled coldly and said, "This is the place for those who have reached the
nature level to practice. If you want to come, you need to use your earned points. We won't hold you
accountable for today's illegal trespassing. But, don't tell anyone! You have to remember to keep today
a secret!"
Nodding meekly, Zen scurried away.
After Zen was gone, the elder turned to Master Su and asked, "What do you think?"
"Well," Master Su answered offhandedly, "In return, I have this for you." She felt some compassion for
the old man. On Master Su's finger was a beautiful five-colored floret ring, studded with five different
colored gems. As the chief elder watched, she gently touched the ring with her finger, and instantly, a
bright silver pill popped up which she casually tossed at him.
The chief elder was tremendously shocked when he saw what it was.
"What an extraordinary and generous person you are!" the chief elder's voice trembled as he thanked
her.
In the chief elder's palm was a Longevity Pill. One of these pills could extend a person's life a year. The
Longevity Pill was extremely rare, precious medicine, especially to an elderly man.
They said time was money. But, even the wealthiest people in the world didn't have enough riches to
buy time. One more year meant a lot to those who were in their waning years.
It was entirely unexpected for Master Su to award the chief elder examiner with such a precious gift.
Had it not been for fear of being humiliated, he would have been in tears right there.
62fb1bb41dcb31934bd49bda