Chapter Fifty: The Little Sword Immortal’s Name Resounds Throughout the Celestial Path

"Those whose martial arts techniques are unqualified will not be accepted!"

The smooth, wide welcoming square, paved with bluestone, echoed with Xiao Xuanzhen's slightly youthful voice.

She was dressed in a black Daoist robe, embroidered with the white-patterned mountain tiger of the Supreme Void Dao Sect on her chest, and a bagua jade pendant hung from the side of her black brocade belt.

Although her figure and age were similar to those of the many children who had come to seek discipleship, her every word and action commanded respect and prevented anyone from taking her lightly.

Especially set against the backdrop of the Dao palace behind her, named the Hall of Supreme Harmony, she appeared all the more imposing and majestic.

However, most people's attention was focused on those three criteria, making it easy to deduce that the entrance examination of the Supreme Void Dao Sect likely consisted of these aspects:

Natural talent, temperament, martial cultivation, and techniques.

"The results of the first test are out. Step forward one by one. Those who pass may enter the Hall of Supreme Harmony behind me."

With that, Xiao Xuanzhen casually pointed to the person on her right. "Start with you."

The child gave a start and hurriedly stepped forward to bow.

"Fang Zhongyong from Xijiang Prefecture pays respects to..."

Before he could finish, Xiao Xuanzhen had already found the roster containing his portrait and talent assessment, and said coldly:

"Lower-grade talent!"

"Devoid of innate spiritual Qi, devoid of special bloodlines, devoid of manifested divine talents, and his cultivation is at the lower stage of the Ninth-Grade Mortal Realm, with a slower rate of progression."

"Examination, failed!"

No, failed?

The child's face instantly turned pale, and he stared blankly at Xiao Xuanzhen.

"C-could there be a mistake?"

"Escort him down the mountain."

Xiao Xuanzhen offered no explanation, and upon finishing, pointed to the next child.

"Next."

Among her senior brothers and sisters standing behind her, one stepped forward and led the reluctant child down the mountain.

As his cries faded into the distance, all the children in the square grew nervous.

Lin Xueru subconsciously grabbed Chen Yi's sleeve, drawing a little closer.

Du Yan leaned toward Du Yanqing.

Even Hua Youxiang obediently let the Fairy of Flowers pull her to the side, shielding Hua Yourong who kept her head lowered behind them.

Wang Yongnian was also nervous.

However, looking at Chen Yi, Du Yanqing, and the others huddled together on his left, and then at the Hua family sisters hugging each other on his right, a thin layer of sweat involuntarily broke out on his forehead.

In the end, he could only imitate Wei Letian and Wei Xiaoyun, lifting his small chin and putting on a brave face.

Amidst the tension, some odd thoughts suddenly popped into his mind.

Clearly, they had all come together, so why did he have this solitary "illusion" of being completely out of place?

Chen Yi was not nervous at all, though unlike Wei Letian and his sister, he had already confirmed from Xiao Xuanzhen's words that he would pass the examination.

The so-called innate spiritual Qi was recorded in the *A Brief Discourse on Daoist Scriptures*.

It was a type of spiritual Qi present in the body at birth, which could enhance one's cultivation speed.

Special bloodlines referred to people like Gongye Shou, who possessed barbarian ancestry or skipped-generation bloodlines from their ancestors.

The martial talent mentioned afterward was precisely where Chen Yi's confidence lay.

With his mastery of swordsmanship at the minor completion stage, he could surely be considered a prodigy.

At least compared to Du Yanqing and the others whose martial techniques were merely at the threshold, his advantage was far too obvious.

However, as time passed and over thirty children were evaluated with very few passing, the faces of the remaining children in the crowd grew increasingly pale.

Soon, it was the turn of Chen Yi and the others.

Du Yanqing patted Du Yan's hand and walked forward with his head held high.

"Du Yanqing from Kyoto Prefecture!"

Xiao Xuanzhen glanced at him, flipped through the portraits, and recited calmly:

"Upper-grade talent, possesses innate purple Qi, devoid of special bloodlines, devoid of manifested divine talents, Ninth-Grade Mortal Realm upper stage."

"Examination, passed!"

With that, a disciple of the Supreme Void Dao stepped forward, signaling Du Yanqing to stand beneath the Hall of Supreme Harmony, where only two people with joyful expressions stood.

Du Yanqing turned back to give Du Yan a reassuring look, gestured to Chen Yi and the others, and walked over there.

The tense atmosphere in the crowd eased slightly, followed by whispers of low chatter.

"The third person has passed."

"So many failed, it's truly worrying."

"As expected of someone from Kyoto Prefecture. Upper-grade talent, the highest today so far. I hope I can make it too."

Putting the others aside, Du Yan stepped forward immediately after.

"Du Yan, Kyoto Prefecture."

"Upper-grade talent... Examination passed."

Soon, it was the turn of Chen Yi and Lin Xueru.

Chen Yi softly offered a comforting word, "Waiting for you over there," and stepped forward first.

A trace of tension appeared on Lin Xueru's face as she intertwined her hands, her gaze fixed intently upon him.

Brother Yi, you can definitely do it!

Chen Yi stepped forward and stood firm, locking his gaze directly with Xiao Xuanzhen's. His expression was calm, showing not a shred of timidity as he spoke in a clear voice:

"Chen Yi from Kyoto Prefecture!"

Xiao Xuanzhen gave him a deep look and lowered her head to read the information on the roster.

Could this be the swordsmanship prodigy Elder Gu and Senior Sister Ning spoke of?

To reach the minor completion stage of swordsmanship at under four years of age, he indeed possessed extraordinary qualities.

Yet, that was all.

"Chen Yi, top-tier talent!"

"Devoid of innate spiritual Qi, devoid of special bloodlines, supreme swordsmanship talent, and his cultivation is at the upper stage of the Ninth-Grade Mortal Realm."

"Examination, passed!"

T-Top-tier?!

As Xiao Xuanzhen's words fell, a gasp of astonishment erupted from the crowd.

Among the nearly thirty disciples who had sought entry previously, only four had passed.

With two medium-grade and two upper-grade among them, the rest were already filled with envy.

Now, a top-tier talent had actually appeared.

Their feelings were probably, perhaps, most likely jealousy outweighing envy...

"Chen Yi? Could he be the Kyoto Prefecture 'Little Sword Immortal' that's been rumored lately?"

"The 'Little Sword Immortal'?"

"That's right. They say he's the son of the Marquis of Wu'an, gifted with astonishing swordsmanship talent, and capable of defeating the swordsmanship successor of the Supreme Void Dao Sect."

"Such a monster actually exists?"

Even those disciples of the Supreme Void Dao Sect, upon hearing the name "Little Sword Immortal"—especially that he had defeated a fellow swordsmanship successor—could not help but glance at Ning Xue not far away.

Impossible, right?

Even if his swordsmanship talent was truly astonishing, with such a vast gap in cultivation, how could Senior Sister Ning have lost?

If they had known it was merely a sparring match of sword techniques, they wouldn't have...

Still impossible!

There was a difference of over a decade in their ages!

The surrounding chatter almost caused Chen Yi's calm expression to crack.

Now that they had arrived at the Supreme Void Dao Sect, could they please drop that damned "Little Sword Immortal" title?

While silently cursing the gossips, Chen Yi turned around, gave an encouraging fist-salute to Lin Xueru and the others who had yet to be tested, and went to join Du Yanqing and his sister.

"Brother Yi, impressive." Du Yanqing gave a thumbs-up.

"Top-tier talent, oh, Brother Yi," Du Yan said with an uplifting tone. "I knew you were much better than a certain heir."

"..." Du Yanqing looked at her helplessly. "Our talents are the same, you know."

"But this young lady is a princess."

Listening to the siblings' routine bantering, Chen Yi looked toward Lin Xueru who followed, and heard Xiao Xuanzhen say with a hint of praise:

"Top-tier talent, possesses innate spiritual Qi, possesses a special bloodline. Examination passed!"

Special bloodline?

Chen Yi was slightly stunned. Before he could ponder further, he saw Lin Xueru trotting over, happily hugging his arm.

"Brother Yi, I passed the examination too."

"And just like you, it's top-tier."

"Congratulations."

Chen Yi's congratulations made the smile on Lin Xueru's face even more brilliant.

This way, she would have the chance to protect Brother Yi in the future!