Chapter 29 : Chapter 29
Chapter 29: Feathered Ascension
After stepping onto the platform, Lin Aoxue glanced at the sect deacon.
“Martial Uncle, how will the test be conducted?” Lin Aoxue asked.
Although the sect deacon was somewhat displeased with Lin Aoxue’s earlier offense toward Yun Yun, he still had to maintain proper courtesy.
“You will attack me with your full strength. I will naturally determine your realm from your attack,” the deacon responsible for the assessment replied.
Lin Aoxue nodded and stepped back.
The sect deacon looked at her calmly. He was a cultivator in the Foundation Establishment Realm of the Dao Palace Secret Realm. A cultivator of the Wheel Sea Secret Realm could not possibly injure him.
“Martial Uncle, I am about to begin,” Lin Aoxue said as she took out her weapon.
However, the weapon she drew was a Spirit Tier weapon. Attacking him with such a weapon would clearly be inappropriate.
“Wait, Lin Aoxue. When testing your realm, do not use magical treasures. Use an ordinary weapon,” the deacon reminded her helplessly.
Lin Aoxue quickly switched swords and replaced it with the blade she used in the mortal world.
After changing swords, Lin Aoxue closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
The next moment, the sword in her hand left its sheath.
At the same time, a phantom figure emerged from her body like a feathered immortal ascending to the heavens, flying outward as it thrust a sword toward the deacon.
“What kind of sword technique is this? How can someone in the Wheel Sea Secret Realm achieve an out-of-body spirit?” the deacon exclaimed.
The moment Lin Aoxue used her technique, he immediately activated his defensive barrier.
Unfortunately, his defense failed to block the attack.
The sword strike, accompanied by the phantom Lin Aoxue released, passed straight through his body.
The deacon immediately felt a sharp pain.
It was not his physical body that had been injured—it was his soul that had been cut by Lin Aoxue’s strike.
“A soul attack?” The deacon’s expression changed dramatically.
The inner disciples and the sect’s high-ranking members nearby all revealed shocked expressions.
A cultivator in the Wheel Sea Secret Realm mastering a sword technique that could attack the soul was simply unbelievable.
“Ah… you girl—cough, cough…” Yun Yun nearly choked when she saw Lin Aoxue use this move.
This was not a sword technique she had taught.
It was an ability that came from Lin Aoxue’s physique.
The Feathered Immortal Physique was a special physique closely connected with the soul. Lin Aoxue had discovered this ability while practicing swordsmanship.
She could separate her consciousness from her body to attack enemies. The attack did not harm the physical body—it damaged the soul.
Unfortunately, her current realm was still too low. She could not cause serious harm to the deacon’s soul. Leaving a small wound was already her limit.
But even that small wound was extremely uncomfortable for the deacon.
The injury to his soul was not severe, but it would still take about three days to fully recover.
“Damn it… how does she possess a sword technique that attacks the soul? That should not be possible. Judging from her aura fluctuations, she should only be in the Spirit River Realm,” the disciples outside the arena exclaimed in shock.
The deacon glanced at the phantom behind him before looking at Lin Aoxue again.
After delivering the attack, the phantom performed a backward flip and returned to Lin Aoxue’s body.
“Martial Uncle, my attack is finished,” Lin Aoxue said once her consciousness returned to her body.
Ye Liuyun was also amazed.
Lin Qingyou had already explained the nature of the Feathered Immortal Physique to her. Its abilities were something ordinary cultivators could hardly imagine.
It allowed the soul consciousness to leave the body and kill enemies invisibly. Of course, that was only the most basic ability.
As Lin Aoxue continued to grow stronger, more abilities would gradually awaken.
“You possess a very special sword technique. Judging by the power of that strike, you must have already reached the peak of the Spirit River Realm, correct?” the deacon asked with a serious expression.
Lin Aoxue nodded and sheathed her sword.
Seeing that Lin Aoxue clearly understood her own realm, the deacon sighed.
“As expected of the disciple personally chosen by the Sect Master. No wonder the Sect Master favors you so much.”
“Inner Sect personal disciple Lin Aoxue — Peak Spirit River Realm. Assessment passed,” the deacon announced loudly.
Those words caused an immediate uproar.
Within just three years, she had reached the peak of the Spirit River Realm, only one step away from the Spirit Sea Realm. That was simply outrageous.
In the entire history of the Yunxia Sect, there had never been someone who cultivated so quickly.
“The peak of the Spirit River Realm? No wonder the Sect Master protects that girl so much. Her talent is truly terrifying,” Yun Ling and the others murmured.
Although they could tell Lin Aoxue had reached the Spirit River Realm, they had not expected her to be at its peak.
Yun Yun wanted to criticize Lin Aoxue for being too flamboyant and revealing the ability of her physique.
However, when she looked at the expressions of the surrounding disciples and elders, she felt quite satisfied.
At the very least, Lin Aoxue’s display had proven her talent to the entire sect and indirectly allowed Yun Yun to save face.
After all, with such extraordinary talent, was it not reasonable for her to protect Lin Aoxue?
As for punishment, that could be discussed later.
Once the deacon announced that she had passed, Lin Aoxue immediately jumped down from the platform and returned to Ye Liuyun’s side.
“Well? Impressive, right?” Lin Aoxue said proudly.
“What are you so proud of? You should learn to be more low-key. Remember: the tallest tree in the forest is the first to be struck by the wind,” Ye Liuyun said while rolling her eyes.
But Lin Aoxue simply replied:
“What is there to be afraid of? As long as you are strong enough, nothing matters. I am about to enter the Spirit Sea Realm soon. In a few more years, even reaching the Dao Palace Secret Realm will not be a problem. But you… why do I feel that the aura of your power is still only at the early Spirit Stream Realm?” Lin Aoxue asked curiously.
It seemed to her that Ye Liuyun’s realm had not improved at all during the past three years.
“Do not worry about me. My cultivation method is different from yours. Anyway, passing the assessment will not be a problem,” Ye Liuyun replied.
Seeing Ye Liuyun so confident, Lin Aoxue became curious about what she had been practicing during the past three years.
After Lin Aoxue’s assessment ended, it was the other entry disciples’ turn.
The deacon on the platform called the name of another disciple.
However, that disciple appeared extremely nervous. After stepping onto the stage, he trembled slightly while facing the deacon before finally launching his strongest attack.
But the deacon simply shook his head in dissatisfaction.
“Unqualified. Go back, pack your belongings, and leave the Yunxia Sect,” the sect deacon said coldly.
“What? Deacon, please give me another chance. I was too nervous just now and did not use my full strength,” the disciple begged.
But the deacon was not a fool. That attack already revealed everything. Whether he had used his full strength or not had nothing to do with it.
His power simply did not meet the required standard.
“Take him away,” the deacon ordered the Law Enforcement disciples expressionlessly.
The Law Enforcement disciples immediately dragged the man away.
These disciples had struggled greatly to enter an immortal sect, so naturally they were unwilling to leave so easily.
But rules were rules.
If one did not meet the requirements, then one did not meet them.
“Sigh…” Ye Liuyun sighed slightly as she watched the disciple being dragged away.
There were several hundred entry disciples, and it would already be fortunate if half of them managed to remain.
Some would be eliminated, some would pass, and a few lucky ones might even be directly accepted into the inner sect.
While receiving their attacks, the deacon would also secretly examine the condition of their Spiritual Roots.
Spiritual Roots usually awakened once a cultivator reached the Spirit Stream Realm.
If the Spiritual Root awakened, it meant the cultivator had reached the Spirit Stream Realm.
If there was no Spiritual Root, then it meant the cultivator had definitely not reached that realm.