Chapter 4: Ruthless

The stone steps were steep and uneven, with dangerous terrain on both sides. A single misstep could lead to a fatal fall.

After less than half a day of walking, Wang Lin felt his legs were filled with lead. He was sweating profusely, gasping for breath, and struggling to take another step. When he had first looked from the foot of the mountain, the stone path didn't seem long, but actually walking on it, he found it seemingly endless, causing a sense of despair to rise from the depths of his heart.

Ahead of him were over a dozen strong-bodied youths, all panting and slowly climbing upwards. So far, no one had given up.

Wang Lin gritted his teeth and persevered. He knew this was his last chance, and the hopeful gazes of his parents lingered in his mind. Just then, a youth behind him suddenly stumbled, missed a step, and fell rapidly from the side, a terrified scream echoing out.

"I give up, help!"

Everyone stopped and looked down in unison. A black light flashed, and a Hengyue School Disciple, appearing from who knew where, caught the youth mid-air and gently landed at the foot of the mountain.

Wang Lin's face was pale, and he remained silent, carefully continuing his climb. Time flew by, and two days later, the dozen or so youths ahead of him were no longer in sight.

Wang Lin didn't know how many of his companions had given up. He only knew that he absolutely could not give up. Even though his legs and feet were covered in blisters, and a piercing pain constantly emanated from the broken ones, he still insisted on climbing forward with his hands.

"A child's heart is firm, but the Great Dao is ruthless. It's futile, all futile…" A long sigh drifted down from the peak of the mountain. A sallow-faced middle-aged man floated lightly down the stone steps, swiftly passing by the youths with a look of emotion on his face.

When he passed Wang Lin, the middle-aged man paused slightly. This child before him was the sixth youth he had seen, but definitely the most disheveled. His entire body was covered in blood, his clothes soaked, his knees and toes a bloody mess. He was completely relying on his hands to climb bit by bit. The middle-aged man sighed softly and asked, "Child, what is your name?"

Wang Lin's expression was already blurred. He had only one thought in his mind: to reach the mountain peak even if it killed him. He didn't even hear the middle-aged man's question. In his eyes, there was nothing but this stone path.

The middle-aged man gazed into Wang Lin's eyes, deeply moved by the firmness of his resolve. He placed a hand on Wang Lin's head, then shook his head and muttered to himself, "Exceptional perseverance, but unfortunately, his Aptitude is too ordinary. No缘, no缘…" He gave Wang Lin a deep look and continued down the stone steps.

On the second night, Wang Lin's hands were a bloody mess. The stone steps he had climbed left a deep trail of blood. Wang Lin was no longer aware of these things; he was now entirely propelled by a single will, his breath on the verge of fading.

At sunrise on the third day, he vaguely seemed to see the end of the stone steps, but unfortunately, a ruthless voice like thunder came, shaking his heart.

"Time is up. Only three have passed. The rest… have failed!"

Wang Lin let out a bitter laugh, swayed, and collapsed on the stone steps, unconscious.

The black-clothed middle-aged man who had tested their talent three days ago stood at the mountain peak, looking at Wang Lin, who was less than ten zhang away, with a ruthless expression in his eyes.

At this moment, several Hengyue School Disciples quickly descended from the mountain peak, bringing all the youths who were still persevering up the mountain and uniformly feeding them medicine.

"Senior Brother, out of 39 testers, 25 gave up. Besides the three who passed, there are still 11," a female Hengyue School Disciple reported coldly. She had experienced such a cruel test herself years ago, and only by relying on her martial arts foundation from childhood had she barely passed in terms of perseverance to become a Named Disciple. She had worked hard for nearly ten years, yet still hadn't become a true Disciple.

The black-clothed middle-aged man's demeanor was cold. He nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over the 11 unconscious youths, and spoke faintly, "Take the three who passed to the Miscellaneous Duties Office to arrange their future work. Send the 25 who gave up back to their respective Families. As for these 11 who persevered to the end, once they awaken, send them all to the Sword Spirit Pavilion to see if anyone has a connection with a Sword Spirit. If not, they will still be sent back to their respective Families."

With that, the middle-aged man left with a flick of his sleeve, not even glancing at the youths.

Three days later, inside the Sword Spirit Pavilion, the 11 youths, including Wang Lin, all stood pale. Wang Lin's physical injuries had healed, but the wounds in his heart had torn wider, and a piercing pain relentlessly devoured his body and mind.

This Sword Spirit test was not presided over by the black-clothed middle-aged man, but by a strange young man in white. However, without exception, their faces were cold, and their gaze towards them was as ruthless as if they were looking at ants.

"This is the final test. Those who can walk into this room pass," the youth said concisely, a look of impatience on his face.

Wang Lin's gaze fell upon an extremely ordinary room. The main door of the room was open, and looking inside, he saw various ancient swords of different lengths displayed within.

The youths walked towards the room one by one in order. The first youth had just approached within five zhang of the house when a look of struggle appeared on his face, and he was pushed back several zhang by an invisible force.

"Failed. Next!" the youth said indifferently.

Wang Lin was the seventh. The previous six had all been unable to advance past five zhang. He smiled bitterly, gathered the little remaining hope in his heart, and walked forward.

He easily stepped past the five-zhang mark. Wang Lin was stunned, his inner hope rapidly rising. His mouth was dry, his heart pounded, and he took another zhang step. At this point, he still felt no discomfort.

The youth let out an "Oh?" His eyes flickered, revealing a hint of interest. His expression softened slightly, and he said, "Don't hesitate, keep walking inside. If you can enter the room and gain the Sword Spirit's approval, even if you failed the previous two tests, you will still be accepted as a true Disciple!"

The other ten youths all showed envious expressions, an envy that also contained deep jealousy.

Wang Lin's heart was nervous, and the expectant gazes of his parents once again entered his mind. He took another step, now three zhang from the main door. Wang Lin was uneasy and took another step.

Just then, a massive force suddenly appeared, surging wildly towards Wang Lin. His body uncontrollably retreated rapidly, stopping only after more than ten zhang.

The other youths standing by all showed mockery in their eyes. In their opinion, Wang Lin should be just like them, with no chance whatsoever.

With a bitter smile, the tear in Wang Lin's heart grew larger, and the expectant gazes of his parents gradually faded from his mind.

The youth's expression returned to its previous coldness, and he said faintly, "Failed. Next."