Harvey He and his friends gathered together, and every so often someone would come over to chat—mostly because of Harvey's reputation.
The He family is a powerful force in Oceanport, basically a top-tier clan. That’s exactly why Fang Qiuji is so desperate to have Yolanda Fang marry into the He family.
But Yolanda doesn’t want this at all. She’s resisted in every way, dragging things out and refusing to agree.
The man leaning against the treetop looked bored out of his mind. He glanced down at the crowd of young heirs, wondering how many could actually worship the Southriver Sword and make it into the Southriver Sword Sect.
Soon, another group arrived from behind the crowd—a wave of thirty or forty teens, mostly boys and girls between fifteen and eighteen.
Harvey, who’d been bragging and joking around, was getting impatient. But suddenly his eyes locked onto a girl making her way over, and his gaze grew especially intense.
"Selina! You came too!"
Harvey shoved past the guys and girls around him, hurrying straight toward her.
As soon as he spoke, the crowd around him—who’d been busy gossiping—froze, then turned to look.
"Selina Zhu!"
Selina Zhu snorted and lazily stretched. As the Zhu clan's favored daughter, she’d been spoiled since birth, and rarely bothered to take anyone seriously.
In the entire Zhu clan, only her sister Yvonne Zhu could ever say anything to her.
Harvey He didn’t get offended by Selina’s words—he just gave an awkward smile.
Why isn’t this starting yet?
Selina Zhu yawned, clearly bored.
Just ten more minutes—then we’ll head up the mountain. This time, the Southriver Sword Sect’s disciple selection officially begins.
The man perched in the treetop spoke up, glancing toward the woods behind the crowd.
This year’s applicants aren’t as carefully chosen as before. There are seventy or eighty people here, but only a handful will truly earn a Southriver Sword.
Hey, you over there! You’re taking the wrong path! If you want to enter the Sword Sect, stick with the group—don’t fall behind! The area’s full of swamps; if you get lost, don’t expect me to save you!
The man in the treetop spotted a boy with a backpack and cap trying to walk toward Heavenly Sword Mountain, and his frown deepened.
Are you talking to me?
Evan Lin paused and turned to look at the man in the treetop.
When Evan arrived, he’d already noticed this crowd, but he wasn’t planning to stick around—he just wanted to head straight up Heavenly Sword Mountain.
But before he could take a few steps, someone called out to stop him.
Of course I’m talking to you, bro. Don’t tell me you’re just gonna walk across on your own? Didn’t anyone warn you how dangerous the swamp at the foot of Heavenly Sword Mountain is? If nobody leads you in, you won’t even know how you died! Someone in the crowd snickered at Evan’s response.
Trying to get ahead of us and climb the mountain first? Think that’ll help you get into the Sword Sect? Dream on! Even if you go first, it won’t make a difference.
Who is this guy anyway, carrying a backpack like some idiot? He must be here for laughs. Maybe he’s got snacks in there, thinks this is a sightseeing trip.
The crowd watched the boy and couldn’t help cracking jokes, bursting into laughter.
Just trying to get attention.
Selina Zhu shot Evan Lin a glance, muttered under her breath, and didn’t bother looking his way again.
I bet this kid has no idea what’s going on. He’s definitely not from Oceanport. Maybe he’s some hidden gem the Sword Sect dug up from the middle of nowhere?" Harvey He joked, grinning.
Hearing the crowd’s jeers, the man in the treetop checked his watch, then shouted at Evan Lin: “Don’t just stand there! Get back in line—get ready to enter the Sword Sect!”
He swept his gaze around. “When we cross this swamp, watch my steps—don’t take the wrong path, or you’ll waste time!”
With that, he jumped down from the treetop.
He was just an outer disciple of the Southriver Sword Sect, at late Internal Strength level. Among these rich kids, that was already impressive.
Evan Lin didn’t bother arguing. Whether he entered Heavenly Sword Mountain alone or with the group made no difference to him.
The man led the way, waited at the edge of the swamp, then pulled out a small knife and stabbed it into a nearby wooden post.
As the blade sank into the post, the wind picked up, and the man shouted, “Everyone, follow me!”
Then he stepped out onto the swamp.
Many watched in amazement; others looked puzzled. But as the wind rose, the man walked across the swamp as if it were solid ground—never sinking in.
Interesting.
Evan Lin watched, an amused glint in his eyes.
He looked around. “When we cross this swamp, watch my steps—don’t take the wrong path, or you’ll waste time!”
With that, he jumped down from the treetop.
He was just an outer disciple of the Southriver Sword Sect, at late Internal Strength level. Among these rich kids, that was already impressive.
Evan Lin didn’t bother arguing. Whether he entered Heavenly Sword Mountain alone or with the group made no difference.
The man led the way, waited at the edge of the swamp, then pulled out a small knife and stabbed it into a nearby wooden post.
As the blade sank into the post, the wind picked up, and the man shouted, “Everyone, follow me!”
Then he stepped out onto the swamp.
Many watched in amazement; others were puzzled. But as the wind rose, the man walked across the swamp as if it were solid ground—never sinking in.
Interesting.
Evan Lin watched the scene, his eyes amused.