The Sadhu smiled and nodded at Lin Feng: "The first part of the exam shouldn't be too difficult for you. On the day of the exam, we'll see if you can finish."
"Thank you, Master." said Lin Feng politely. He then turned around and went down the stairs. The Sadhu had given him the opportunity to try. Lin Feng wanted to continue going up, but he already had the opportunity to do more than was allowed for others, he had to be content.
The Sadhu turned around and left. Lin Feng couldn't sense the energies coming from upstairs anymore. Each step had a hidden force. Nobody know how it would be.
"Not bad, even the master said you would have no problem during the first part of the exam." said Qiu Yue Xin smiling.
"I wonder if there are several rounds, the master made it sound like there were." said Lin Feng. The first part was already difficult. Even some talented cultivators would find it difficult.
"Emperor Shi and Emperor Yu's recruitment process can't be easy. There are many other emperors in Ba Huang Province, they also recruit imperial cultivation disciples, But too many people try to become their imperial cultivation disciples, they already have so many disciples. It's not that interesting to be part of gigantic groups as an imperial cultivation disciple. This time, it's different. Emperor Shi and Emperor Yu are organizing their first recruitment process. The ones who succeed will become the emperors' direct disciples. Many geniuses came from many other parts of Ba Huang Province as well, not only from the northern part. We just haven't seen them. Wait until the exam, you'll see." said Qiu Yue Xin to Lin Feng slowly before adding, "In the future, out of those who will have succeeded, they will maybe pick a more restricted selection of disciples to become their direct disciples. That's most rich and young cultivators' goal."
Lin Feng nodded. He understood. Rich and young cultivators were arrogant and didn't want to be considered ordinary imperial cultivation disciples, especially people like Xuan Yuan who had imperial blood. He wanted to receive an emperor's direct instructions and become an emperor too!
"Lin Feng, if you become a direct imperial disciple, everybody will respect you. It is a symbolic social status. The Qiu Clan will have to respect you too." whispered Qiu Yue Xin. She sounded impatient.
"You're so impatient to marry me!" said Lin Feng smiling. Qiu Yue Xin looked at him.
"The moon is beautiful tonight, let's sleep here." said Lin Feng looking at the sky. He was smiling in a resplendent way. It felt like they had a mountain weighing on their back. Surprisingly, he wanted to sleep there?
"If we stay here for a few days, we will get used to the force. Then, when we go down, we won't feel any weight." explained Lin Feng.
"As you wish!" said Qiu Yue Xin indifferently. She then sat down. This meant that she agreed.
Lin Feng sat down too and closed his eyes. He calmly sensed those energies. He was trying to understand that force. It was oppressing his skin, his flesh, his blood and his bones. Undergoing such challenges made cultivators become stronger.
Lin Feng took out his Tian Xuan stone and the force of the Earth and the sky instantly became much more intense. Lin Feng could sense the pulsations of the Earth and sky even.
He entered in a meditative state and started using his corporeal strength to resist the energies. It was difficult at first, but over time, it became easier. Lin Feng fell into a trance, he was gone. Nothing existed around him anymore, at least, he wasn't aware of anything.
The moonlight slowly disappeared and it was the morning. Qiu Yue Xin opened her eyes. Her body felt sore.
She looked at Lin Feng. He was calm, he was even smiling. She was more and more surprised everyday.
Qiu Yue Xin went down a few steps and suddenly felt much better. Just like Lin Feng had said, if they stayed on the higher steps, going down would be easy. However, staying up there a whole night had wore her out.
She went to the bottom of the stairs, sat down cross-legged and closed her eyes again.
Lin Feng was still in a meditative state. As if he had forgotten everything around him.
Very quickly, three days passed. Many people came and saw Lin Feng. They were all surprised. A cultivator of the third Tian Qi layer could stay up there calmly, that was very surprising. He looked like a mystic being. Some people tried to copy him, but very few people could stay up there that long.
Qiu Yue Xin opened her eyes and looked at Lin Feng. His face was red, but he looked like he was enjoying it. He looked like he was enjoying a sauna bath.
"What a guy…" thought Qiu Yue Xin. She was speechless. Lin Feng was enjoying it when the others suffered.
The Sadhu appeared at the top of the stairs and looked at Lin Feng, he smiled. Then, he turned around and left again. He didn't want to disturb Lin Feng.
Qiu Yue Xin was staring at Lin Feng with an indifferent smile. Just looking at Lin Feng was making her feel relaxed.
"Why are you staring at me!" said Lin Feng at that moment. She was startled and turned around.
Lin Feng didn't say anything after that. Qiu Yue Xin was wondering if he was practicing cultivation or if he was actually awake.
He was holding his Tian Xuan stone and studying the force of the Earth and sky. Even though Lin Feng's eyes were closed, he could still see her.
A strong wind started blowing above Qiu Yue Xin's head. She saw Lin Feng above her and he was surrounded by a terrifying pure Qi.
The Qi of the Earth and sky was spinning. Lin Feng was absorbing the strength of the Earth and sky at a rapid rate. His pure Qi turned into a tornado and shuttled back into his body. Qiu Yue Xin was surprised, what was he doing?
When the energy made it inside Lin Feng's body, Qiu Yue Xin sensed that he had become stronger. He had progressed from the bottom of the third Tian Qi layer to the middle.
"Pfeww…" Lin Feng exhaled and a pure Qi came out from his mouth. Then, it dispersed. Lin Feng slowly opened his eyes. He felt terribly good.
Lin Feng stood up and smiled at Qiu Yue Xin. It was as if there were no oppressive energies anymore. It couldn't affect him at least.
"How pleasant!" said Lin Feng smiling. The next steps would be easy for him!