The First Trial (2)

Li Feng looked at the examiner. He had half drowsy eyes, staring down instead at Li Feng.

"Step forward and try to hit the slab as hard as you can." The examiner lazily said.

Li Feng nodded, stepping forward.

Taking a deep breath, he put his foot forward, bringing his right arm down hard.

Just as he was about to punch the slab, a sharp pain froze him.

The world around him suddenly changed, turning back into the world of blue and white that he saw just an hour ago.

The slab in front of him was a giant blue blot in the white world, while the examiner also had a concentration of blue.

"Not now, It can't be happening now." Li Feng cursed.

But as he looked at the slab, he could see that even though there were blue spots everywhere, there was one particular white spot at the left corner.

"This…. Is it telling me to hit the plate there?" Li Feng wondered.

The pain slowly started fading away, and Li Feng realized that the momentum of his punch was still there.

Instead of hesitating, he looked at the white spot that he saw just a moment ago.

The location was still fresh in his mind as he swung his fist down at the left corner of the plate, as opposed to the center.

The examiner suddenly opened his eyes slightly, with his mouth curled up into a smile.

"Interesting." He chuckled as he went back into his lazy daze.

Li Feng looked up at the machine, his eyes filled with hope.

He could feel it in the tremor. The quality of the sound, and the way the plate gave way. It had to be a winning blow.

"16. You pass." The man lazily said.

"Next."

A wave of relief filled Li Feng as he walked toward the waiting station for all of those that passed the first trial.

He looked at all of them.

Some were huge, with bulging muscles. But the majority were lean and frail looking, like him. And yet, he felt more danger from them than the body builders.

His eyes were drawn to an aloof figure in the corner.

Clad in white and blue robes just like those who were holding the trials, a veiled woman was standing still, not engaging in any discussions.

When he looked at her, Li Feng felt a chill run down his spine for a quick second, before he looked away.

"That felt terrifying." Li Feng thought to himself as he shuddered.

He quickly looked at the rest of those that passed the trial.

An odd coincidence had brought all of them together.

"Aren't these all people who had that blue spark in them when I entered that white and blue world?" Li Feng suddenly realized.

"Could this mean that the white and blue world isn't just my mind playing tricks on me? It is actually something helpful?" He thought.

"Hey, young brother. Looks like you are the latest to join us." A scruff voice broke Li Feng's circle of thought.

He looked up at the source of the voice.

It was the big baldy that he saw at the very beginning. The one who had a larger score than almost everyone else.

"So then, friend. What's your name?" The big baldy beamed at Li Feng.

"Li Feng. And you, Brother?" Li Feng smiled.

"Sima Xun. I am from the West Wind Town. The pride of the whole town. I will make sure to return as a cultivator from the great Seven Sword Sect." He stood with his chest up, looking up at the sky.

"There is still time before we can claim that, Brother Sima." Li Feng smiled and nodded.

"I wish you the best."

"Well, you are surprising though, You were able to get through the first trial with just your physical strength. Not many are able to do that." Sima Xun chuckled.

"Just what kind of secrets are you storing in that body of yours? You are the only on here who passed even though you don't have any Qi." He laughed heartily.

The moment Sima Xun said this though, Li Feng could feel all the eyes in the waiting space fall on him.

It was like the big baldy had just asked the question that everyone else had been dying to ask as well.

"Qi. So all of these people are already well versed with the usage of Qi." Li Feng sighed.

"I really can't compete against the great families of these towns. They always have the most resources. They can use skills even though they aren't a part of any sect." He thought to himself.

"Maybe I was just lucky. I was just trying to pass the test. Maybe they saw my perseverance?"

"Don't slight it on luck, brother. They failed everyone who used just muscle. Everyone except you. What makes you special? I am really curious." The baldy looked closer at Li Feng.

"I assure you. It is nothing that makes me special, brother." Li Feng uncomfortably squirmed. This was getting a little out of hand.

"Ah! I will get out of your face then, brother. It appears like I have crossed a line." Sima Xun chuckled.

"Crossed a line?" Li Feng's face turned sour. Right now, it seemed like he was some public enemy, even though he didn't do anything at all.

"And how do they expect the commoners to know any Qi techniques? Is this whole thing rigged?" He thought to himself.

"14. Pass."

All of a sudden, something took the attention of everyone, giving Li Feng space to catch a breath.

He also looked over at the second line, where another frail looking man stepped through.

"It seems like all of the requirements to pass have been thwarted one by one. What is going on here?" Li Feng thought to himself.

"It appears as if I spoke just a tad bit too soon, Brother. It appears as if I assumed too much about the test. We have been looking at it wrong." Sima Xun looked at Li Feng and smiled.

"It appears as if they are looking for something that has nothing to do with strength or Qi in this test. Maybe the next few tests will tell us something."

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