8 The Demon Beast Forest
"That Wen Lu isn't too bad, He's already at the peak of the eighth stage of Qi Condensation. Even when fighting an early ninth stage Qi Condensation Realm demon beast alone, he can still beat it without too much difficulty. He can be considered among the best talents this year!"
The one who spoke was an Inner Elder, even though there were a few other people who had reached the Eighth Stage of the Qi Condensation Realm, Wen Lu was by far the one who did the best so far.
"Indeed. In comparison, that Feng Li fellow is a bit inferior. Originally, I thought that even if his talent weren't at the same level as Wen Lu, it wouldn't be so far off. Now however, it seems like I had overestimated him... Hah... He's already at the peak of the eighth stage of Qi Condensation, yet he's struggling so hard against an early eighth stage Qi Condensation demon beast!"
Besides Xuan Hao, Feng Chen shook his head and looked at a green-clothed young man on one of the small floating screens with a sense of disappointment.
At this moment, the young man in question was being chased down by two early eighth stage Qi Condensation demon beasts, and to call his appearance miserable would be an understatement…
"Heh, this Feng Li most likely relied on medicinal pills to reach his current realm. At the same stage, anyone could beat him with ease…" Observing the young man in question, Xuan Hao chuckled a bit as he joined in on the conversation. Not forgetting to also cast a disappointed look towards the green-clothed young man on the small floating screen of qi projecting the figure of a young man running away teary eyed from a large demon beast.
No matter what, someone who had just relied on medicinal pills to boost his cultivation would not be able to easily enter the Flying Sword Sect. Feng Li, even though he had reached the peak of the eighth stage would most likely not be ranked within the top 1000 to enter the sect! Especially given his current appearance...
The first test only measured the participants cultivation bases and bone age. There was no real test to their abilities and most people coming to the Flying Sword Sect would be able to pass this test.
But the second test was different from the first.
The 'geniuses' that had used a ton of medicinal pills to boost their cultivation were revealed immediately. Feng Li being the best example.
Xuan Hao did not bother with these people and instead focused his attention back on to Qing Yi.
Other than Xuan Hao, no other higher-ups from the Flying Sword Sect would focus their attention on her.
To be certain, she would most likely not be among the 1000 spots later on.
However, Xuan Hao didn't expect her to pass the second test either. Before her Bright Sun Divine Physique awakened, her talents were as average as can be among the ten thousand people present in the second test.
Back to before the start of the second test, Qing Yi had been nervously looking at the giant forest looming in the distance, as it slowly grew closer and closer.
This was the Demon Beast Forest. One under the control of the Flying Sword Sect!
From what she had learned, there were demon beasts ranging between the first and ninth stage of the Qi Condensation Realm inside of it... Just the possibility of running into a ninth stage Qi Condensation demon beast made Qing Yi feel a shiver run down her spine.
"All of you will enter now, you are not allowed to group and should try to hunt as many demon beasts you can before the time runs out! Demon beasts are, as all of you know, only at the Qi Condensation Realm here. Therefore, there is not much danger to any of you!"
The elder of the Flying Sword Sect who had led the Qing family disciples and some other participants to a part of the demon beast forest, told them this before starting to walk back towards the Flying Sword Sect.
"Ah, remember! The further in you go, the stronger the demon beasts become! Now off you go, hurry and hunt as many demon beasts you can. The stronger, the more points you get. Simple as that." Just before the elder disappeared into the distance, the group of youths heard his voice reminding them that the second test had already started.
"Ah! Got to hurry, if not, my chances of entering the Flying Sword Sect will be gone!"
"Demon Beast Forest? Here I come, hopefully there is enough demon beasts for me!
"Look, the other groups have already entered the Demon Beast Forest!? We got to hurry up as well!"
Soon, both the youths from the Qing family and the extras, disappeared into the Demon Beast Forest. Only Qing Yi was left behind staring at the Demon Beast Forest directly in front of her.
Swish~
Unsheathing her sword, Qing Yi looked at it to make sure it was in the best possible condition before clenching her hand around the leather handle.
"Hah..."
Taking a deep breath, Qing Yi took a step forward. Entering the Demon Beast Forest.
...
Making her way through the thick foliage of the forest. Cautiously looking around herself from time to time. Making sure no demon beast sneaked close to her without noticing-
Roar!
A roar suddenly echoed through the surroundings, as Qing Yi felt herself tensing up and the grip on her sword strengthened even further. Prepared for the inevitable battle that would take place.
ROAR!
Thump!
Soon, the origin of the roar appeared in front of her.
A giant cat shaped demon beast!
Standing in front of her, the savage aura filled with bloodlust and a will to fight immediately washed over her. The sharp teeth of the demon beast were more than enough to intimidate anyone who dared to face it.
A demon beast at the Peak of the Second Stage of the Qi Condensation Realm!
Roar?
The cat like demon beast also spotted Qing Yi almost the same time she spotted it. Cautiously inspecting her before beginning to slowly approach her.
"..."
Seeing this, Qing Yi gripped her sword even harder, as she took a deep breath before narrowing her eyes with a look of determination.
Swoosh~
Raising her hand before the cat like demon beast had any time to attack, her silver-coloured sword flew out!
However, the silver sword wasn't fast enough and the cat like demon beast managed to react, as it quickly made a move to dodge the sudden attack.
Whoosh~!
However, in the end, the cat like demon beast did not manage to completely dodge the attack, as the sword suddenly accelerated towards the end and stabbed into one of the demon beast's four legs.
Roar!
Letting out an angry roar filled with pain at suddenly having one its four legs pierced by Qing Yi's sword, the demon beast tried its best to retreat... But Qing Yi did not let go of such a great chance.
Swish~!
Jumping forward and directly piercing through the head of the demon beast, killing it before it had time to escape.
"Hah… Hah…."
Laying down exhaustedly, Qing Yi did not look happy at all after her seemingly easy victory.
All things considered, she had used a lot of her qi for those two earlier attacks and only barely managed to kill the demon beast by catching it off guard.
This was only a demon beast at the Second Stage of the Qi Condensation Realm!
How was she supposed to kill anything stronger than this and enter the top 1000 and become a disciple of the Flying Sword Sect if she already struggled with a demon beast two realms weaker than herself...?
"Hah…"
Letting out a depressed sigh upon thinking about this, Qing Yi quickly stood up again.
No matter what, she would not let this stop her! She would definitely enter the top 1000 and become a disciple of the Flying Sword Sect! That way, her father and family would be safe from the Bai clan and the Black Rose Sect as well.
