Chapter Fourteen: The Assessment Conspiracy, Changfeng's Insight
The jade slip contained the cultivation method of the Clear Wind Sword Technique. This sword technique was renowned for its speed and agility, and it was his secret weapon prepared for the upcoming outer disciple assessment.
The assessment covered a vast array of skills—not only testing the disciples’ cultivation levels but also their combat abilities, alchemy skills, understanding of formations, and more.
Dong Changfeng was well aware that relying solely on his extraordinary spiritual root would not be enough to stand out in the exam.
In the past few days, he noticed Senior Brother Liu and Junior Brother Ma gathering together furtively, whispering conspiratorially. Their eyes darted around nervously, as if they were thieves afraid of being caught.
Alarm bells rang loudly in Dong Changfeng’s mind. "What are these guys up to? Could they be plotting some mischief?"
One day, pretending to pass by their meeting spot—a secluded bamboo grove—he overheard Senior Brother Liu lowering his voice, “I spent a fortune to obtain some of the exam questions. When the time comes, hehe…”
Junior Brother Ma nodded obsequiously, flattering, “Senior Brother Liu is brilliant and mighty; there’s no doubt you’ll be the top scorer!”
Dong Changfeng sneered to himself, “So they intend to cheat! Such petty tricks, daring to show off in front of an expert!”
On the day of the assessment, the atmosphere was exceptionally tense.
Elder Song personally presided over the event, with all outer disciple candidates gathered at the training ground.
The first test was alchemy.
Dong Changfeng noticed some disciples appeared confident, as if they had prior knowledge of the formulas. Their alchemical speed was astonishing, their techniques flawless, causing a frown to crease his brow.
“Something’s not right! There must be foul play!” His gaze sharpened like a hawk’s, sweeping across those who were progressing suspiciously smoothly.
He observed their faintly smug smiles, eyes gleaming with a hint of mockery, as if ridiculing others’ ignorance.
Anger surged within Dong Changfeng. “How dare they cheat in the exam, not even sparing me a glance!”
He took a deep breath, suppressing his fury and urging himself to stay calm.
Even if they had prior knowledge of the formulas, it didn’t guarantee his defeat.
He trusted that with his strength and experience, he would find a way to break through.
A cold smile curled at the corner of his lips. “Hmph, we’ll see who comes out on top.”
Just then, the supervising elder in charge of the exam announced the next test: “Next, the formation trial…”
A chill ran through Dong Changfeng’s heart, a foreboding premonition rising.
He suddenly lifted his head to look at Senior Brother Liu, who was wearing a sinister smile directed at him.
Around him, disciples, as if having rehearsed the questions, swiftly worked through their answers. The scent of medicinal herbs wafted from their alchemy furnaces, and formation diagrams glowed faintly.
In contrast, sweat beaded on Dong Changfeng’s brow, his hand gripping the brush trembling slightly.
The gazes from the surrounding disciples pierced him like daggers—skeptical, mocking, disdainful—woven into an invisible net that trapped him tightly.
“That guy was so arrogant before; why is he suddenly silent now?”
“I think he’s all show and no substance.”
“Shh, keep your voice down—don’t let him hear.”
The whispered murmurs buzzed like flies, disturbing Dong Changfeng’s mind.
He took a deep breath, striving to calm himself.
He knew this was no time to panic; he had to think clearly and find a way out.
“No, I can’t follow their thinking anymore,” Dong Changfeng thought, staring at the formation question. Suddenly, a spark of insight flashed through his mind. “Rather than obsessing over the answer, I should start from the principles behind the question.”
He closed his eyes and summoned all his knowledge of formations, scenes from his mind flashing by like frames in a movie.
The cycles of the Five Elements generating and overcoming one another, the alternations of Yin and Yang, various formation principles collided and fused in his thoughts.
“Got it!” Dong Changfeng’s eyes snapped open, shining with excitement.
He picked up his brush and wrote a completely new answer on the blank paper—one utterly different from the others.
His answer contained no complicated steps or calculations, just a brief yet profound sentence embodying deep formation principles.
The supervising elder approached Dong Changfeng’s side and, upon seeing his answer, was momentarily stunned. Then his brow furrowed deeply as he pondered.
Disciples around craned their necks, eager to see.
“What… what kind of answer is this?”
“I don’t understand. Is he just scribbling nonsense?”
“Quiet, don’t speak. Let’s see what the elder says.”
Elder Song’s gaze landed on Dong Changfeng’s answer; his pupils contracted sharply.
He studied the sentence repeatedly, his expression shifting from doubt to surprise, then to sudden enlightenment.
“Brilliant! Simply brilliant!” Elder Song couldn’t help but praise. “This youth has managed to approach the problem from such a unique angle—a rare talent indeed!”
The surrounding disciples erupted into chatter.
“What’s going on? The elder actually praised him?”
“Could his answer be right?”
“Impossible! His answer is completely different from ours!”
Dong Changfeng smiled faintly at Elder Song, knowing he had gambled correctly.
Elder Song stroked his beard, eyes bright as he looked at Dong Changfeng and spoke deliberately, “Your answer is entirely correct—and even more ingenious than the standard one! I have studied formations for decades, yet never conceived such a clever solution. What is your name?”
A sudden silence fell, so profound that even a pin drop could be heard.
Those who had been so confident moments before now looked pale and withered like frostbitten eggplants.
Senior Brother Liu’s face turned ashen, while the others stared at Dong Changfeng in shock.
“I am disciple Dong Changfeng,” he replied calmly, inwardly pleased. Hmph, you’re no match for me!
Elder Song nodded appreciatively. “Excellent, Dong Changfeng! Such talent at your young age is a blessing to the Clear Wind Sect!”
He paused, then swept his gaze over the other disciples, his tone turning serious. “However, I have noticed some irregularities. A few disciples answered with unnerving speed and near-identical responses—there must be something going on.”
Seeing the moment ripe, Dong Changfeng stepped forward and cupped his hands respectfully. “Elder Song, I have observed that Senior Brother Liu and others seem to have prior knowledge of the exam questions.”
He recounted everything he had observed and overheard in detail.
Elder Song’s face darkened ominously.
He bellowed fiercely, “How dare you cheat in the assessment! Such blatant disregard for sect rules!”
He immediately ordered a retest and a thorough investigation.
Senior Brother Liu and the others were struck like thunderbolts, pale and trembling.
They never expected their carefully crafted plot to be uncovered by Dong Changfeng.
The announcement of the retest caused an uproar among the disciples.
Some rejoiced, others despaired. Those who cheated groaned bitterly, while the diligent applauded and expressed heartfelt gratitude to Dong Changfeng.
As the retest approached, Dong Changfeng knew the real challenge was just beginning.
Senior Brother Liu and company would not give up easily; they would surely escalate their schemes against him.
He would have to give his all to survive this brutal competition.
Dong Changfeng looked up at the sky, uncertain of what new trials awaited in the retest, but unafraid.
“Hmph, trying to stop me? Not so easy!” With clenched fists, his eyes blazed with determination.
As he stepped into the retest arena, a grim aura swept over him—an almost tangible chill brushing his cheek, sending a shiver down his spine.
His gaze flared like a torch, scanning the surroundings. Senior Brother Liu and the others stared at him with hostile eyes—arrows of malice that seemed to threaten to tear him apart. He could almost feel their venomous intent piercing his skin like needles.
A faint, disdainful smile curved Dong Changfeng’s lips. “Is that all? Child’s play!”
He held his head high, chest out, strides firm and resolute, each step sounding solid and steady like a sword drawn from its sheath, radiating sharpness and strength.
Senior Brother Liu’s expression darkened further, like storm clouds gathering on the horizon. They exchanged glances, plotting some sinister scheme, their conspiracy almost audible in the crackling tension between their eyes.
The air thickened with a tense silence—the calm before the storm—weighty and oppressive upon every heart present.