Free Web NovelChapter 327: Chapter 135: Noble Clans and Humble Origins, Dragon Gate Martial Trial, 10,000 Contribution Points
When Yang Jing heard this, his curiosity grew, and he couldn’t help but ask, "Is the Dragon Gate Martial Trial really that difficult?"
He had only known that one could enter the Inner Sect by reaching the Peak of Transformation and passing the Dragon Gate Martial Trial. He had no idea how difficult the test actually was, so he was naturally full of questions.
The smile on Lin Wenxuan’s face vanished, replaced by a grave expression. He said in a low voice, "Of course, it’s extremely difficult. That’s not something we say lightly."
He paused, then looked up at Yang Jing and added with a serious tone, "To put it simply, for every five outer sect disciples who reach the Peak of Transformation, only about one will pass the Dragon Gate Martial Trial. The rest either have to try over and over, or they remain stuck at the Peak of Transformation for the rest of their lives, never able to enter the Inner Sect."
Yang Jing was shocked. His pupils constricted, and a look of astonishment crossed his face.
Only one out of five at the Peak of Transformation could pass. The success rate was far lower than he had imagined. He hadn’t realized the Dragon Gate Martial Trial was so stringent, and he began to view the test with a new sense of gravity.
Liu Rou nodded beside him, picking up the conversation. "The Dragon Gate Martial Trial doesn’t just check if your Cultivation has reached the standard," she explained. "It tests many other things."
"It examines whether a Martial Artist’s foundation is solid and profound, or if it’s hollow and artificially inflated from rushing one’s progress. It also tests if your combat talent is outstanding enough to find a path to survival in a desperate situation. Furthermore, it assesses your practical combat experience and ability to adapt on the fly. After all, cultivating the Martial Dao ultimately comes down to combat. Only by meeting the standard in all these areas can you pass the trial and become a true Inner Sect Disciple."
At the mention of the words "Inner Sect Disciple," a flash of intense yearning appeared in the eyes of all four people present. It was a longing for higher levels of cultivation and better resources. Who didn’t hope to shed the status of an outer sect disciple, join the ranks of the Inner Sect, and walk further down the path of the Martial Dao?
At that moment, the very air seemed to crackle with a sense of urgency.
Su Qingyue lifted her chin slightly, a complex look flashing in her proud eyes. "Only by becoming an Inner Sect Disciple can you be considered a true disciple of the Xuanzhen Sect, one who has access to the sect’s core legacy," she said with a sigh. "As for us outer sect disciples... to be blunt, we’re only a small step above the servant disciples who handle menial chores. With scarce resources and limited cultivation, it’s hard to achieve anything great."
She paused, a determined glint in her eyes. "Our families went to great lengths and pulled many strings to get us into the Xuanzhen Sect. We never came here for the empty title of outer sect disciple, but for the chance to become Inner Sect Disciples. Only as Inner Sect Disciples do we have real potential to grow and live up to our families’ expectations."
Zhao Hongxiang sighed softly, his expression growing more profound. "For me, passing the Dragon Gate Martial Trial isn’t the real challenge," he said slowly. "Even if I fail the first time, it would only delay my cultivation progress. I’m confident I can pass after another try or two. The real difficulty is breaking through from the Transformation Realm to the Qi Eating Realm. That is the great chasm that lies before every Martial Artist."
He looked at the others and said solemnly, "You should all be aware that the previous breakthroughs—whether to Bright Strength, Dark Strength, or Transformation—were all essentially about polishing and advancing one’s Inner Strength. They are considered minor realm breakthroughs after stepping onto the Martial Dao, and their difficulty is manageable."
"But breaking through from the Transformation Realm to the Qi Eating Realm is completely different. It’s a massive, qualitative leap from Inner Strength to Inner Qi. It requires one to generate and hold a breath of qi, using it to nourish the internal organs and fill the Dantian, thereby transforming Inner Strength into a purer, more powerful Inner Qi. This stage depends on talent, opportune encounters, and one’s foundational depth. Countless Martial Artists have been stuck at the Peak of Transformation for years, unable to cross this barrier in their entire lifetime."
Yang Jing stood silently to the side, his gaze lowered slightly as he committed their every word to memory. A flicker of gravity crossed his eyes. His understanding of the realms of the Martial Dao had deepened once again.
Su Qingyue looked at Zhao Hongxiang, the cold indifference in her expression melting away completely. A soft smile touched her lips, and her tone became flattering and reverent. "Senior Brother Zhao, you jest. Once you successfully enter the Inner Sect, you’ll be able to switch to high-level Cultivation Techniques and martial arts that are better suited to you. With the right techniques, polishing your foundation and breaking through bottlenecks will become much less difficult."
"I have faith in your talent and strength, Senior Brother Zhao. You will certainly break through to the Qi Eating Realm. When you become a Core Disciple of the Inner Sect, you must be sure to look after us. When I take the Dragon Gate Martial Trial in the future, I’ll be counting on your guidance to help me enter the Inner Sect."
The pride and coldness in her bones were reserved for those she deemed inferior, people who weren’t worthy of her attention. Take Yang Jing, for instance. Hailing from some remote backwater, he was, in her eyes, just a country bumpkin with no background or vision. Naturally, she couldn’t be bothered to show him a pleasant face.
But when faced with a genius like Zhao Hongxiang—someone from a prominent family with exceptional talent and strength—Su Qingyue would sheathe her claws and adopt a warm, fawning demeanor. Her only thought was to curry favor and build a connection that could pave the way for her own future cultivation.
Zhao Hongxiang was clearly pleased by her words, a smile gracing his features, but he still made a show of humility by waving his hand. "If such a fortunate day ever comes, I will certainly not forget my fellow disciples," he said sincerely. "I will help wherever I can. But the bottleneck to the Qi Eating Realm is simply too difficult to overcome. There are too many factors involved. Even I don’t have much confidence I can break through, so I daren’t make any promises."
Liu Rou and Lin Wenxuan quickly chimed in with words of reassurance.
