Chapter 644: Various Examinations (3)

Chapter 644: Chapter 215: Various Examinations (3)

The only way for him to resolve this obsession was to defeat Yang Jing again on the highly anticipated Fushan Battle Platform. Only by winning a decisive, honorable victory in front of every disciple of the Xuanzhen Sect could he wash away the shame of their draw.

Yang Jing sometimes struggled to understand the pride of these top prodigies. Perhaps it was because he had never considered himself one of Heaven’s chosen.

He had gotten this far by relying on his own two feet and arduous training.

So from his perspective, it didn’t matter if he won, lost, or drew in the Fushan finals. As long as he gave it his all, that was enough. He had no particular obsession with the outcome.

But in the eyes of a prodigy like Chu Yunhai, who had been on a pedestal since birth and enjoyed a smooth journey, a draw was probably shameful in itself.

Worse still, his opponent was a previously unknown disciple from a backwater like Yuhe County. The fact that such a person could fight him to a draw was, in Chu Yunhai’s eyes, an unacceptable humiliation.

This was precisely why Chu Yunhai was so fixated on settling things once and for all on the Fushan Battle Platform.

As they stood there, the sound of steady footsteps echoed from the mountain path. Chief Elder Ouyang Jingxuan was slowly ascending to the small plaza at the summit of Feather Peak.

His hair and beard were white, and he was dressed in an Elder Robe. Though his frame was slender, his presence was imposing. A faint pressure emanated from him, instantly casting a solemn air over the entire plaza.

Yang Jing and Chu Yunhai noticed Ouyang Jingxuan’s arrival at the same moment. Not daring to show the slightest disrespect, they immediately bowed, their voices unified and reverent: “Disciples Yang Jing and Chu Yunhai greet the Chief Elder!”

Ouyang Jingxuan’s gaze slowly fell upon the two. A flicker of satisfaction crossed his aged eyes as he gave a slight nod. His voice was calm yet carried an undeniable authority. “There’s no need for such ceremony. You may rise.”

At his words, Yang Jing and Chu Yunhai straightened up together. Their expressions grew even more solemn as they waited quietly for Ouyang Jingxuan to speak.

Ouyang Jingxuan looked at the two before him, his heart filled with emotion.

‘In my opinion,’ he thought, ‘both of these boys are peerless talents. Their innate gifts, potential, and temperament are all at the very peak of the younger generation. Both are the future hope of the Xuanzhen Sect.’

‘But even though they are both so exceptional, the sect must choose the one who stands above the other.’

‘This is because the most supreme resources are also the scarcest.’

‘Within the Xuanzhen Sect, our reserves of the highest-tier resources—like the Exotic Beast Musk Aroma, Grade-A Training Rooms, top-grade Elixirs, and peerless Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures—are extremely limited. There simply isn’t enough to nurture two key prospects simultaneously.’

‘In such a situation, we can only choose the best of the best. We must pour all of our most vital resources into a single individual, concentrating our efforts to cultivate an expert who can contend with the prodigies of the Yunxiao Sect. This is the sect’s best course of action.’

Ouyang Jingxuan took a deep breath, pushing down his feelings. His gaze swept over the two disciples as he announced in a solemn voice, “Let the assessment begin.”

Yang Jing and Chu Yunhai both nodded, their expressions grave. They both understood that this assessment was far more important than any competition they had faced before.

This would determine who the sect would back with the full force of its resources.

Whoever was chosen would be supported by the sect’s vast, top-tier resources. Their future on the Martial Dao would be far smoother; their breakthroughs and power increases would advance at a tremendous pace.

Seeing their tense expressions, Ouyang Jingxuan began to speak slowly. “First, I will assess your Root Bones. In most cases, the Root Bone is the very foundation of one’s Martial Dao. To a certain degree, it determines the upper limit and speed of one’s cultivation. It is the first hurdle in evaluating potential.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Ouyang Jingxuan stepped over to Chu Yunhai.

He extended a withered hand, his fingertips glowing faintly with Inner Qi. He then gently prodded, pressed, and palpated key bones and meridian junctures on Chu Yunhai’s body—the crown of his head, the points on his shoulders, his spine, his Dantian, his knees, and his ankles.

He carefully examined each point, sensing the density of the bones, the resilience of the meridians, and the capacity of the Dantian.

After a moment, Ouyang Jingxuan withdrew his hand and nodded slightly, having already formed a clear judgment of Chu Yunhai’s Root Bone in his mind.

‘A Second-Grade Root Bone. Such a foundation would be considered outstanding in any sect in Jintai Prefecture. No wonder Chu Yunhai has achieved so much at such a young age. And awakening a War Body on top of that is just the icing on the cake.’

Then, Ouyang Jingxuan slowly turned and walked toward Yang Jing. He raised his withered hand again, preparing to assess Yang Jing’s bones.

Watching Elder Ouyang approach step by step, ready to perform the assessment, Yang Jing’s heart sank.

‘I know my own Root Bone better than anyone. Compared to a top prodigy like Chu Yunhai, who was born with a Second-Grade Root Bone, the difference is like night and day. It’s the most glaring weakness on my Martial Dao path.’

‘A person’s Root Bone is innate and can’t be significantly changed in a short time—not unless I could get my hands on a precious elixir like the Bone Jade Pill, which could enhance it.’

‘But each of those Elixirs is priceless, comparable to top-tier Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures. They are exceedingly rare in the Xuanzhen Sect; an ordinary disciple would never even lay eyes on one, let alone consume it.’

‘So, it’s impossible for my Root Bone to improve to one of the top three grades in a short amount of time.’

‘Though I’m frustrated by this, I have no choice but to accept it.’

Before long, Ouyang Jingxuan stood before Yang Jing. Without pausing, his large, withered hands, suffused with potent Inner Qi, descended onto Yang Jing’s body.

From the Tianling acupoint on the crown of his head to the Dazhui and Jianjing acupoints on his neck and shoulders, and then down to his spine, Dantian, knees, and ankles—dozens of crucial bones and major meridian points across his body were touched, pressed, and inspected one by one by Elder Ouyang.