Night of the Broken Gliph

Chapter 459

Chapter 459

The Cloud Trial – the name of the last stage of the Cloud Palace enrollment. The teenagers had a love-hate relationship with this stage because winning didn’t matter in this stage; all that mattered was who Cloud Palace deemed to be the best candidate. The previous stages in the straw huts were just qualification rounds.

Many felt indignant towards the Cloud Trial, but there was nothing they could do as legends said that the birth of the Cloud Trial was a rule set by the Cloud Palace Master that nobody could go against.

Many were surprised at the participants who qualified for this stage.

Representing the South – Chui Yim, Kam Chin Kee, and Lam Zaa. Representing the North – Mung Si, Yeung Tin Hun, and Man Yee Ho, who were also the representatives of the three largest organisations of the North.

It made sense for Lam Zaa to be qualified for the Cloud Trial. He had inherited the Hundred Streams Body, otherwise known as the strongest defensive special body form that was ranked third on the Heaven Rank.

Chui Yim and Kam Chin Kee were both ranked on the Blue Skies Rank, but they had no supporters behind them nor did they have any background. The important figures felt uneasy seeing such candidates make it to the Cloud Trial.

Fourth Teacher Wong Kei and Fifth Teacher Wat Suen were also nameless before they made it to the top of the world.

The six teenagers appeared on the field, but not the Cloud Palace five disciples. Now, it was Woo Nim and Cheuk Kwun’s turn to host the enrollment.

Gentleness washed over Woo Nim’s face slightly when she saw Chui Yim amongst the qualified participants. Indeed the child that Uncle Wun brought. However, the gentleness disappeared within no time as she regained seriousness, announcing the start of the last stage. “Now, time for the last stage, the Cloud Trial.”

She pointed at the classroom next to the field, where the outer sect classes were held normally.

“Take turns to go in one by one, and hand in an item of yours when you exit.”

Chui Yim, Mung Si, Kam Chin Kee, and Lam Zaa did not react to Woo Nim’s words, a sign that they had already heard about the question. On the other hand, Yeung Tin Hun and Man Yee Ho were in a daze.

“What did you say we have to hand in?” Yeung Tin Hun asked.

His question did not annoy Woo Nim, who was prepared to give an example due to her meticulous character. “The Cloud Trial depends on the participant themself. Feel free to hand in anything. Back then, the fifth teacher handed in a music score that she composed, River Running Dry.

“The fourth teacher handed in the board game record to a tough game of Go named Fighting Star.

“While the third teacher handed in a dish – Enchanted Intoxication

“There isn’t any question for the Cloud Trial and you can hand in anything you want, as long as it can be submitted to us and most represents you,” Woo Nim said calmly.

After spending much time with introverted Man Yee Ho discussing gliphism, Kam Chin Kee and he  were on good terms. “You can hand in anything; a hundred years ago, one of the disciples handed in a stone that he got from the ground as an answer.”

This might’ve sounded weird, but it was an actual event.

The third teacher of that generation, Shek Kei Hang, also known as Teacher Strange Stone, was the last member of the fallen Shek clan. He handed in a stone that he picked up from the ground during the Cloud Trial and was successfully selected.

Afterwards, he created the powerful Magical Seven Stone Formation, which was known as the strongest trap gliph in the world. However, this gliph disappeared from the world after Shek Kei Hang passed, and it was said that only the mysterious Cloud Forest had records of it.

The best and most precise description for Cloud Palace would be none other than “inexplicable.” There wasn’t a standard rubric on how they selected their disciples. For example, a decade ago, the Cloud Trial that involved Chor Shing Chit, Wong Kwan, and Wat Suen: Chor Shing Chit created the Breeze Mountain gliphility in the classroom, Wong Kwan created her personal gliph, the Freezing Gale gliph, that even outsiders felt scary chills from, and Wat Suen handed in a music piece she randomly composed. Yet, Wat Suen was the one who was selected and became the fifth disciple of Cloud Palace.

Cloud Palace was always odd and left everyone puzzled. Some said the determining factor was the cultivator herself, while some said it was the cultivation or enlightenment state. There were sayings that mental state was what Cloud Palace cared about instead. At the end of the day, nobody could figure out the answer.

“Enter according to the sequence you reached the cliff.

“First – Yeung Tin Hun.”

Yeung Tin Hun strode in. He was confused, but never fearful.

It was as if he had entered another world as the door shut behind him. The anxious spectators could not watch Yeung Tin Hun, but there were five people who could. They were seated in a straw hut, watching him from a huge painting.

The spacious classroom that was filled with tables and chairs was currently empty like a blank sheet of paper waiting for an artist to start their drawing.

Yeung Tin Hun was at a loss for words. What kind of examination style is this?

How am I supposed to answer if I don’t even know what the question is?

Thus, he sat on the spot blankly, not knowing what to do.

Yim Mo Chiu was an impatient person, thus she couldn’t help but comment after a short while. “What is this brainless kid doing?”

Sung Tsz Hin couldn’t help but chuckle. “Junior Sister, you spent even more time staring into blank space back then compared to him,” he reminded her.

Yim Mo Chiu glared at him but dared not retort.

As if feeling how lost Yeung Tin Hun was, Sung Tsz Hin spoke up, his gentle voice breaking through the room and landing in Yeung Tin Hun’s ears. “Don’t overthink it, just answer with something you’re best at.”

Yeung Tin Hun immediately looked around the room like a madman. Frankly, having reincarnated, he had seen many odd things, but nothing quite like today. He immediately suspected he was still in the painting after hearing Sung Tsz Hin.

But he calmed down very soon.

Something I’m best at? Definitely spearmanship.