Fusang Sword Heart Diagram

Chapter 2 The Ancient Bell Rings Three Times
Min Qianyun brushed the snow off her sleeve and replied calmly, "They were worried that you might get into trouble if you flew too fast on your sword, so they sent me to check on you first. You should be here soon."

As soon as she finished speaking, several streaks of sword light flew over. Xiang Xiaozhi landed and stood firm, then said enviously, "Jiaxiu, Qianyun, you have mastered the sword control technique so skillfully. I wish I could reach your level someday."

Xiang Xiaozhi forgot what she had said and turned to look at the foot of the mountain, where countless people were gathered together, creating a lively scene.

Some people had a resolute look in their eyes and secretly clenched their fists to encourage themselves.

"Last time, when the Southern Star Sword Sect recruited many disciples, I was just a hair's breadth away from reaching the top. This time, I must reach the summit and become a disciple of the Southern Star Sword Sect!"

"My great-grandfather once said that the Southern Star Sword Sect's disciple-acceptance examination is like climbing a peak. I never expected that after so many years, it would still be the same. Well then, let me fulfill the wishes of my ancestors!" The young man was full of vigor.

"Five years have passed, and I am no longer the ambitious young man I once was. My youthful beauty has faded, and I am now old and gray. I thought I would never have a chance to ascend to the immortal realm in this lifetime, but unexpectedly, things have taken a turn for the better. The Southern Star Sword Sect has actually started accepting disciples two years ahead of schedule. This is my last chance, and I must seize it!" The middle-aged man, weathered by time and with an aged appearance, had an excited gleam in his eyes.

Compared to these tall adults, the children mixed in with them showed a variety of emotions on their faces, such as unease, tension, worry, and anxiety.

"Theoretically speaking, children have better innate qualities. Unfortunately, almost all the Sword Sect's assessments include perseverance and persistence in the assessment criteria. If you want to ascend to the Immortal Gate, you must climb step by step on your own. But most seven- or eight-year-old children are physically weak and soft-hearted. No matter what, they can't reach the top of the mountain."

"Even the shortest mountain in the Southern Star Sword Sect is eight hundred feet tall. A ten-year-old child might be able to, but the possibility is extremely slim."

"Being too young or too old is not an advantage; the best age range is between twelve and twenty."

A faint sneer came from the crowd: "A bunch of bumpkins."

The group, having been unjustly insulted, glared coldly at the speaker.

She was a girl of twelve or thirteen years old, with a fair complexion and luxurious clothes. It looked like the most fashionable brocade in Yuling Prefecture, with auspicious cloud patterns embroidered on it with silver thread.

The girl ignored the menacing glares that seemed to want to devour her alive, and instead casually played with a hidden sword in her hand.

A maid stepped forward and said loudly, "My lady means that what you all said earlier was truly ignorant."

"This is a sacred mountain, naturally shrouded in spiritual energy. Children's young age is both their weakness and their strength. Humans are born with a spirit, but when polluted by impurities, they become ordinary mortals. How can one draw spiritual energy into the body when flesh and skin are blocked by impurities?"

"The sacred mountain is rich in spiritual energy, which nourishes the body and bones. How can one not reach the summit?"

The maid's two questions left those who thought they had the upper hand speechless, while the children, who had been deeply hurt, raised their faces and their eyes regained their sparkle.

Amidst the commotion, the ancient and deep sound of a bell suddenly rang out.

"The ancient bell is ringing, the assessment has begun!" someone in the crowd shouted.

Some people realized what was happening and were the first to run towards Dudao Peak.

Not wanting to be left behind, the others swarmed forward, and the dull bell rang again, striking the hearts of everyone.

The bell's sound was not pleasant; instead, it evoked a sense of gloom and oppression, and it continued to ring three times before finally ending.

Ning Fusang raised her hand to cover her ears, and He Jiaxiu's voice was barely audible.

"Everyone has gone hiking, why isn't she moving? Does she no longer want to join the Southern Star Sword Sect?"

Upon hearing He Jiaxiu's words, the girl in pink shifted her gaze to the person she was referring to, and then her eyes widened slightly:

"Xu Jianjia—"

Everyone looked at her, even Ning Fusang turned her face away. Xiang Xiaozhi, who was the most curious, asked the question on everyone's mind: "Qingci, do you know her?"

Bai Qingci felt a little uncomfortable when everyone looked at her like that. With her bare face adorned with rouge, she said softly, "Her house and my house are next to each other, so we are close neighbors." "Xu Jianjia was in poor health when she was young, and later her whole family moved to Dongyao Mingzhou. It's been seven or eight years since I last saw her."

Bai Qingci added, "I thought the Xu family had moved away and wouldn't be coming back, so I was a little flustered when I saw her."

Xu Jianjia was two years younger than her. When they were young, she saw Xu Jianjia taking medicine every day and once gave her a candied fruit.

Unexpectedly, they would reunite at the Southern Star Sword Sect. However, Bai Qingci didn't intend to acknowledge them. How much of a childhood bond could there be? Perhaps they didn't even remember her at all.

He Jiaxiu said indifferently, "She doesn't look unwell at all. She has a rosy complexion and is full of energy. She's much healthier than you."

Min Qianyun nodded in agreement. The white porcelain vase was light and graceful, yet somewhat thin, with a slender wrist, just like the narrow neck of a jade bottle.

Ning Fusang, on the other hand, looks thin and frail, but she is actually strong and healthy. She spent three years in the harsh and cold place of the Sword Washing Pool and never got sick.

It is especially pure when it snows, and even more beautiful when it is frosted.

That's referring to people like Ning Fusang.

After the ancient bell rang three times, there were almost no people left at the foot of the mountain. On the other hand, the Dudao Peak was full of dense black shadows, like fish swimming upstream. Some leaped over the rapids and went further, while others were washed away by the merciless water.

The sect elder in charge of this matter, Gu Pingsheng, looked around and saw Xu Jianjia standing still.

He took a step forward, and the enormous distance suddenly shrank. Gu Pingsheng asked directly, "Why is the Ancient Spirit Bell ringing, and why are you so late in entering the mountain?"

Xu Jianjia bowed gracefully, completing the proper etiquette, before respectfully replying, "I've heard that anyone who possesses the Star Sword Token, regardless of age or aptitude, can enter the sect without taking an exam. Is this truly the case?"

"Star Sword Token?"

A rare look of surprise appeared on Gu Pingsheng's usually composed face. "You have the Star Sword Token?"

Xu Jianjia handed over the hidden sword in her hand.

Gu Pingsheng took it and looked at it several times, checking the star lines engraved on the back of the sword. After confirming that everything was correct, he put it away.

"Now that you have the Star Sword Token, you are a disciple of my Southern Star Sword Sect. After the assessment, I will take you to meet the sect leader."

Xu Jianjia shook her head: "Immortal Master, this Star Sword Token is for Xiao Qiu, not for me."

Gu Pingsheng was filled with doubt: "Who is Xiao Qiu?"

The maid beside her smiled brightly and answered crisply, "Replying to the Immortal Master, Xiao Qiu is me. I take Miss's surname, and my full name is Xu Qiu."

Gu Pingsheng had a headache. He rubbed his temples and waved his hand, saying, "Okay."

The Star Sword Token belongs to them; they can use it however they want.

All he needs to do is retrieve the Star Sword Token.

Other things have nothing to do with him. Thinking this, Gu Pingsheng's feelings of pity and regret for others completely dissipated.

Eight hundred zhang is approximately 2640 meters high. Taking the well-known Mount Hua as a reference, it is about 500 meters higher than Mount Hua (which is about 2150 meters high).

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(End of this chapter)