Chapter Eighteen: This Is Not Fair

Moreover, even if after coming out they only meet the minimum requirements and can only enter the lowest-grade secret realm, that does not mean they are forever confined to it. After a few years of cultivation within the secret realm, it is entirely possible for them to advance to the middle-grade, or even the highest-grade secret realms!

With this in mind, the doubts that had lingered in everyone’s hearts vanished like smoke, replaced by eyes shining with a covetous light as they fixed their gazes on Zhou Yi and Song Hai, as if afraid the two might escape at any moment!

Compared to the prospect of producing a peerless master for their sect, their own little schemes suddenly seemed utterly insignificant.

“By the way, Sect Leader, you mentioned earlier that there are two ways to pass through the Wind Pass. You only spoke of the talented route—what is the other one?”

After a while, as their excitement calmed, someone recalled the Sect Leader’s unfinished words and immediately pressed him for an answer.

“Yes, what is the second method?”

The Sect Leader’s enigmatic gaze drifted past Song Hai and settled on Zhou Yi, the meaning in his eyes unfathomable. “In fact, you all know the second way already—you just dare not believe it.”

“We know? How could that be? If I knew, why would I ask?”

“No, you really do know!” the Sect Leader replied firmly, without turning around.

“We…”

His unwavering response left everyone bewildered. Did they really know? Surely, if they did, they wouldn’t be asking… would they?

Yet, it was hard to argue. If the Sect Leader said they knew but simply could not believe it, then it must be so. But what could be something so unbelievable, and yet so familiar?

For a long while, everyone lowered their heads in deep thought, but no one could arrive at an answer.

The Sect Leader sighed deeply, a sound that seemed to resonate within each of their hearts, startling them into attention.

“It’s not your fault,” he said softly, “It really is too unbelievable. If I hadn’t read records about it myself, I wouldn’t have thought of it either.”

“What is it? Sect Leader?”

“He endured it—he forced his way through!” The Sect Leader’s words struck them like a thunderbolt, waking them from their dreams, and then like a heavy hammer, driving the realization deep into their hearts.

“He… he forced his way through?”

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“How could that be?”

“Is it really possible to just grit your teeth through the Wind Pass? The difficulty, the pain—”

“And yet it’s possible!”

“Haha, so it’s true—we knew, but couldn’t believe!”

“I couldn’t believe it either. In the past, I treated those old records as jokes, nothing more than fanciful tales.” The Sect Leader’s somber voice drifted into the ears of the crowd, and as they followed his gaze, all eyes fell upon Zhou Yi. “But just now, I saw it with my own eyes.”

“For those with talent, once they endure the initial pain of the Wind Pass, the winds begin to reshape them, allowing them to ignore the pain thereafter. But for him, there was no such possibility.”

“He endured the second phase of the blade wind from beginning to end, relying on nothing but sheer willpower!”

“He withstood the entire second phase of the Wind Pass!”

The way everyone looked at Zhou Yi changed. So young, yet capable of such endurance and perseverance—a will and determination that left them all deeply shaken.

“But even so, regardless of how strong his will is, even if he completely survives the Wind Pass, aside from being admitted into the sect, he gains nothing more!”

“What?” The bearded elder, the third elder in charge of discipline and famed for his fairness and intolerance for injustice, could not abide this. Seeing the suffering Zhou Yi endured, only to be denied what he deserved, his anger erupted.

He glared fiercely at the Sect Leader and shouted, “Why? On what grounds?”

“Yes, why?” The others were equally indignant, unable to understand.

They all fixed their furious stares on the Sect Leader.

The Sect Leader sighed and turned to face their angry faces, a trace of helplessness in his eyes. “Don’t look at me like that. I’m not the one withholding his reward. These are the rules of the Wind Pass, not of my making!”

“If you must blame someone, blame the founder who created the Wind Pass!”

Though still disgruntled, they knew it was not the Sect Leader’s fault. After so many years together, they understood his character and that he would never do such a thing.

Yet, because they knew this, they vented their frustration at him nonetheless. After all, he was the one who knew the most, and he was the Sect Leader!

The crowd’s frustration would not dissipate, as if a lump was stuck in their chests, stifling their breath.

The Sect Leader, understanding their feelings, sighed again and continued his explanation. “For those with talent, once they pass through the initial pain, the blade wind leaves a mark upon their bodies and imprints the entire blade technique into their physical memory.”

“In other words, they do not learn the technique in the usual sense—their bodies remember it. When they see the manual or witness the technique later, they will master it instantly, needing not even a quarter of an hour!”

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“But all this depends on the blade wind’s mark and innate talent working together.”

“For those without talent, even if they survive through sheer force, the blade wind’s mark alone is useless without the cooperation of talent—they simply cannot learn it.”

“That’s not fair!” the bearded elder roared.

“Fair? What in this world is truly fair?” The Sect Leader shook his head softly. “Talent is the greatest unfairness of all.”

“So what can you say to that?”

“I…” The elder found himself at a loss for words. Though the reasoning was sound, he could offer no rebuttal.

A heavy silence fell. None of them were children; they understood the Sect Leader’s meaning and could accept it. Yet, looking at Zhou Yi, who had suffered so much and would not receive the reward he deserved, their hearts ached with a stifled sorrow.

They watched in silence as Zhou Yi struggled below, their hearts inexplicably heavy, unable to entertain any other thoughts.

“Still, not all is lost. Even if he gains none of the great rewards, as he endures this third stage, he will at least grow physically stronger. Though not as much as those with talent, it is still something.” The Sect Leader tried to offer comfort.

But their gazes remained fixed on Zhou Yi, not a single one responding. It was cold comfort: withstanding endless gravity and blade winds would strengthen anyone’s body—even a pig would grow tougher—yet what did that matter?

Compared to what the talented gained, this was so trivial it was scarcely worth mentioning.

…

“Yi!” Song Hai called out again, but Zhou Yi’s vision was blurred, his consciousness flickering, and he did not hear.

“Let’s go, together!” Song Hai’s expression changed. He drew a deep breath, clawed his way along the wall with difficulty, managed to get in front of Zhou Yi, and took his hand. “This time, let me lead you!”

…

“Ninety-six, ninety-seven, ninety-eight…”

Zhou Yi’s vision swam, his mind adrift, but he still kept count in his heart. At the corner of his eye, his attribute panel was open; he forced himself to hold on, waiting for the moment the energy bar would fill.

“Ninety-nine—there!”