1: Fang Lin
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
“Your Root Bones are too poor, unqualified!”
The loud voice echoed in the ears of many young people, causing some of them to wince in pain.
A middle-aged, burly man with a stature like a bear and a waist like a tiger was standing in front of these youngsters, examining their Root Bone qualifications.
By the side of the middle-aged man, there was another old man dressed in grey, smiling and nodding approvingly at the youngsters from time to time.
Most of the young people present wore expressions of apprehension and trepidation, while only a handful remained calm and composed.
“The bone testing is so rigorous, probably only Young Master Fang Yang among us can pass the test.”
“Indeed, Young Master Fang Yang has the best qualifications in our Fang Family. He’s sure to enter the Purple Mist Sect.”
“As long as Young Master Fang Yang becomes a disciple of the Purple Mist Sect, our Fang Family’s status will also rise.”
···
In the crowd, several youngsters were huddled around a handsome youth, flattering him with their words and actions.
The youth, listening to the words of those around him, had a smug smile on his face, evidently enjoying the attention.
Next to them, another boy, somewhat lean, was silently observing the scene, a faint smile playing on his lips.
“A bunch of brats!” The boy observed the youth called Fang Yang and the sycophants around him in disdain.
The boy’s name was Fang Lin, a member of the Fang Family. He had come to the Purple Mist Sect for the disciple selection examination along with Fang Yang and the others.
However, aside from Fang Lin, all the other Fang Family members were clustered around Fang Yang, which made Fang Lin appear somewhat alone.
Fang Lin had no desire to mingle with these Fang Family members; as far as he was concerned, they were all immature kids.
Fang Yang, buoyant from the constant flattery, also noticed Fang Lin standing aside, smiling faintly.
Seeing this, Fang Yang became displeased, and snorted lightly.
Once the other Fang Family members noticed Fang Yang’s discontentment, their attention shifted to Fang Lin.
“What are you smiling at, Fang Lin? Are you under the illusion that you can enter the Purple Mist Sect?”
“Exactly, you, Fang Lin, are merely here to make up the numbers. Yet you’re behaving as if you’re something special.”
“Young Master Fang Yang is the talent of our Fang Family. What are you, Fang Lin?”
···
Many members of the Fang Family began to attack Fang Lin. Fang Yang did not intervene, he simply stood there watching Fang Lin with cold eyes.
Fang Lin, still with a faint smile, seemed as if he hadn’t heard a word from the other Fang Family members.
Fang Yang grew increasingly displeased when he saw this.
Fang Yang’s grudge against Fang Lin stemmed from his observation that among all the Fang Family members, only Fang Lin didn’t ingratiate himself to him.
Fang Lin’s attitude irked Fang Yang. To Fang Yang, Fang Lin was just a mediocre member of the Fang Family, while he himself was the family’s top talent, and the most likely candidate to become a disciple of the Purple Mist Sect. Fang Lin should have been over himself with trying to curry favor with him like the others were.
But he did not. Fang Lin did not fawn over Fang Yang or try to fit in with the other Fang Family members, resulting in him being ostracized by them.
However, Fang Lin didn’t seem to care. In his eyes, Fang Yang and the other family members were just a bunch of immature kids.
“Hehe, maybe I can also join the Purple Mist Sect,” Fang Lin said with a smirk.
Hearing Fang Lin’s words, Fang Yang just sneered, his smile full of contempt.
The rest of the Fang Family members burst into laughter, spouting various remarks of ridicule and scorn.
Fang Lin just smiled, not bothering to argue with them.
The bone examination was still ongoing. Only those who passed this test would be eligible to become a disciple of the Purple Mist Sect.
Many of the youngsters, who had originally arrived full of confidence, were left discouraged after witnessing the harshness of the bone examination.
It was too difficult!
Most of the people who had undergone the examination had been eliminated leaving fewer than ten who had passed.
Even among these select few, most had just barely scraped through. It seemed if they had performed even slightly worse, they would have been disqualified too.
At this point, the middle-aged man was using one hand to press down on a young girl’s shoulder. The girl’s face was extremely tense, her forehead covered in sweat, and her body was shaking slightly.
The middle-aged man’s face was emotionless, his eyes indifferent, just as if he was looking at a lifeless stone instead of a delicate girl.
“Your Root Bones are too poor, unqualified,” the middle-aged man said, his voice devoid of any emotion.
Hearing his words, the young girl turned ashen and almost fainted, her legs buckled.
Just as the middle-aged man was about to call out for the next person, the elderly man in the grey robe spoke up, “Girl, come to me.”
The middle-aged man glanced at the old man but didn’t comment. The girl, overwhelmed with excitement, approached the old man and respectfully bowed to him.
The old man smiled kindly and raised his hand, revealing three withered medicinal herbs.
“Little girl, place your hand on top of them,” the old man said kindly.
Upon hearing his words, the girl placed her hand on the three medicinal herbs.