Free Web NovelChapter 62: Chapter 61: Apprentice Mystic Master
"Applying for the Mystic Master assessment?"
Not only were Zuo Song and the vice president, Hall, standing beside him astonished, but even Liu Xi and Guan Ruolin halted in their tracks, spinning around to stare at the white-robed youth in utter disbelief.
Everyone in the hall stared blankly at Qin Feng. If his display of Level Eighteen Innate Perfect Spiritual Power had merely surprised them, his application for the Mystic Master assessment left them completely stunned.
Level Eighteen Innate Perfect Spiritual Power was a rare aptitude, but not entirely unheard of. A fifteen-year-old Apprentice Xuan Master, however, was beyond belief.
It was common knowledge that becoming an Alchemist or a Mystic Master was incredibly difficult. To become an Alchemist, a Martial Artist first had to break through to the Condensing Vein Realm. Then, after comprehending a Seed of Heaven and Earth of either the Wood or Fire Attribute, they had to form a Heaven and Earth True Fire. Only then could they qualify as an alchemist’s apprentice.
The Martial Arts Realm requirement for a Mystic Master was slightly lower, but this didn’t mean the barrier to entry was easier. In fact, it was even more demanding. Across all of Mountain and River City, and even in the entire Yan Kingdom with its hundreds of major cities, one could not find a single fifteen-year-old Apprentice Xuan Master.
Even the famed Dinghai Xuan Venerable, who later became a Sixth Grade Xuan Master, only managed to become an Apprentice Xuan Master at sixteen years of age...
Taking a deep breath, Zuo Song’s long eyebrows twitched repeatedly. His expression turned grave as he spoke slowly. "Young man, have you considered this carefully? The Apprentice Xuan Master assessment is no simple task. It requires more than just sufficient Spiritual Power. There are also certain physical requirements for the Martial Artist. Typically, one must have broken through to the Martial Arts Seventh Layer Heaven, as the physical enhancement from that breakthrough is just barely enough to withstand the stamina drain of the assessment..."
"The Martial Arts Seventh Layer Heaven?" Qin Feng chuckled softly, his eyes brimming with confidence. "I haven’t reached that, but I have mastered a Secret Technique called Hidden Essence and Breath, which is more than enough to bear the strain!"
Qin Feng was referring to the Xuanwu Yin Yang Dao. He had refined a trace of the Ancient Divine Beast Xuanwu’s Essence Blood within his own body. The Xuanwu itself was a Dragon Turtle Alien Species, and the Turtle Race, being one of the longest-lived races, was exceptionally skilled at Concealing Essence Qi.
"Since you insist, go ahead and try. It’s no matter if you don’t pass!" Zuo Song breathed a sigh of relief. He truly hoped Qin Feng would pass the assessment. Discovering a promising sapling with Level Eighteen Innate Perfect Spiritual Power was one thing, but unearthing a genius Mystic Master was on a whole other level.
’A fifteen-year-old Apprentice Xuan Master... Mountain and River City might just produce a Mystic Array Grandmaster even more terrifying than Dinghai Xuan Venerable! This is a fantastic opportunity to gain face among my peers. When this story is told in the future, I, Zuo Song, will certainly earn a reputation for having a keen eye for talent. Perhaps with this contribution, my career will take off...’
Zuo Song’s eyes glinted with fervor. He called out to the attendants. "Men, prepare the Mystic Master assessment procedures at once! Open the testing Mystic Sect, prepare to activate the Void Dharma Disc! We will observe from a distance before the Void Mirror!"
At his words, several solemn-faced Black-robed Xuan Masters stepped forward. They walked briskly through a side door, which connected to another, slightly smaller hall.
This was the Mystic Master assessment grounds!
"Qin Feng, go on in. Someone will explain the assessment’s details to you!" Zuo Song patted Qin Feng’s shoulder. Then, the group ascended to a special hall on the second floor. The other onlooking Mystic Masters followed close behind, unwilling to miss the spectacle.
"Master, what do we do?" Seeing Qin Feng actually enter the assessment grounds, the faces of Liu Xi and his disciple changed dramatically. Guan Ruolin forced down her fury and asked.
"Let’s go. We’re going up too. I refuse to believe that little bastard can actually pass the Mystic Master assessment!" Liu Xi sneered, flicked his sleeve, and followed them to the second floor. fгeewebnovёl.com
The hall on the second floor was a most peculiar space. It was vast and covered in countless complex rune arrays, layered one on top of the other. Wondrous runes covered every surface—the floor, the walls, every inch was made of various kinds of mirrors. It made the hall feel like a dreamlike mirage, and stepping inside was like entering another world.
A stone pillar stood tall in the center of the hall, a transparent mirror mounted upon it. Arranged around it were more stone pillars, each carved with intricate runes.
This was a Third Level Mysterious Array named the Taixu Yin Yang Illusionary World Xuan Array. The array had only one function: to construct an illusory Void World to be used for the Apprentice Xuan Master assessment.
The lower part was yin, the upper part yang, one primary and one secondary. If an examinee below could successfully map out a genuine Profound Array, its power would be instantly projected into the illusory Void World, forming the array and simulating its true might.
Meanwhile, those before the Void Mirror above could experience the array’s specific power, its strengths, and its weaknesses as if they were truly there—and most strangely, without any risk of harm.
"Qin Feng, since this is your first time at the Mountain and River City Mystic Master Guild, you may be unfamiliar with the assessment procedure. We will explain it now. The Apprentice Xuan Master assessment is actually quite simple. You only need to successfully deploy any one of the three hundred and sixty-five Basic Xuan Arrays published by the Mystic Master Guild within the Void World. Deploying one will make you a newly-promoted Apprentice Xuan Master. If you can deploy more than three, you can be considered a Low-level Apprentice Xuan Master. If you can deploy more than six, you will be deemed a High-level Direct Apprentice Xuan Master. And if you can deploy more than nine, you will be a Top-level Apprentice Xuan Master!" a Black-robed Xuan Master explained.
Qin Feng followed his gaze to a small booklet titled "Basic Profound Array Diagram." He opened it, and page after page of strange and wondrous Array Maps seemed to leap off the paper.
The first things to catch his eye were the thirteen supposedly simplest Basic Xuan Arrays.
Earth Attribute Basic Xuan Array - Thick Earth Profound Array
Water Attribute Basic Xuan Array - Kui Water Profound Array
Gold Attribute Basic Xuan Array - Taibai Xuan Array
Wood Attribute Basic Xuan Array - Cyan Wood Profound Array
Fire Attribute Basic Xuan Array - Li Fire Profound Array
Ice Attribute Basic Xuan Array - Ice Array
Thunder Attribute Basic Xuan Array - Thunderfall Array
Wind Attribute Basic Xuan Array - Sundering Blade Array
...
Beyond the thirteen supposedly simplest ones, Qin Feng also saw arrays renowned for their offensive power, such as the Desolate Array, the Red Water Array, and the Aurora Array...
"Regardless of your rank—newly-promoted, low-level, high-level, or top-level—you will receive a gray Apprentice Xuan Master badge issued by the Mystic Master Guild and be permitted to wear a gray Mystic Master Robe!" freewebnσvel.cøm
A Black-robed Xuan Master explained this with a deadpan expression. Meanwhile, another had already prepared the assessment, pointing to a Crystal Altar situated in the center of countless runic arrays.
"Qin Feng, you just need to step into this Profound Array. We will then activate it. As long as you condense your Innate Spiritual Power, you will be able to project yourself into the Void World. The rest is up to you!" After speaking, the two retreated to the side, standing in solemn silence.
Hearing this, Qin Feng put down the "Basic Profound Array Atlas" in his hand, took a deep breath, and strode onto the Crystal Altar. He sat down cross-legged, just as they had instructed.
Once Qin Feng was ready, the two Black-robed Xuan Masters nodded in unison. Each formed a wondrous Profound Seal and activated the Profound Array. The runes on the tall stone pillars throughout the hall began to emit a faint glow. An invisible ripple started to spread, its resonance creating a peculiar force. The transparent prism at the array’s center suddenly erupted with a dazzling light, releasing a cascade of brilliance that enveloped the white-robed youth, who sat cross-legged with his eyes closed upon the Crystal Altar...
Qin Feng closed his eyes and focused his Spiritual Power. He felt a jolt run through him, and a strange, dark vortex materialized above his head. A suction force pulled at his balled-up Innate Spiritual Power, instantly drawing it into the vortex. After a violent tremor, he found himself standing on a grey, boundless, and barren plain. For a dizzying moment, Qin Feng had the distinct impression of a time when the Void was the Dao, Hongmeng was the heavens, Yin and Yang were yet undivided, and the Primordial Chaos was at its very beginning...
