Chapter 48: Initiation

The reddish-brown main gate, the pure-white courtyard walls, the rust-speckled handles.

As the Thousandfold Gate was pushed open, it seemed as if a holy light showered upon everyone.

Listening to the babbling stream, after viewing the moss on the eight artificial hills, walking along the uneven pebble path, stepping onto the nine steps of white jade, entering the main hall of the Thousandfold Gate.

The seven elders, all in black robes, sat upright and proper in the hall, waiting for the fortunate ones chosen by the Thousandfold Gate or who had chosen the Thousandfold Gate.

The Grand Elder sat in the center, the Second, Fourth, and Sixth Elders on the left, the Third, Fifth, and Seventh Elders on the right. They had no personal names, only the title 'Elder'.

The ten youths were already the top generation of the Tian'an Continent. Their strength was immeasurable, likely surpassing their predecessors. Naturally arrogant, yet upon entering the Thousandfold Gate, even a dragon must coil.

The Sixth Elder seated on the far right rose from his seat and asked, "Everyone's here, right?" After counting, all ten were present. "Ladies and gentlemen, you surely already know before entering that our Thousandfold Gate does not teach martial arts. Since you already possess the martial arts of your own sects, what we seven elders must do is help you grow stronger upon your existing foundation."

"Heh, really?" Zhou Kai suddenly questioned.

The Grand Elder, who had been lowering his head as if asleep, lifted his head and glanced at Zhou Kai.

"Bang!" Zhou Kai was blasted outside, falling down the nine steps of white jade.

"Brother!" Xiao Xiao Yu exclaimed in shock.

Without even a trace of true qi manifesting, he directly blasted Zhou Kai out. This was still showing mercy; otherwise Zhou Kai would surely die!

The Grand Elder coldly said, "This is the Thousandfold Gate, not the Returning Goose Pavilion; your ancestors cannot save you." These words were not only for Zhou Kai but for all the youths present.

The Seventh Elder rose and said to everyone, "From today onward, the period is ten years; if you are still alive after ten years, the Thousandfold Gate's doors will open for you, and we will personally escort you out."

No one dared laugh at this, for according to past data, out of a hundred selected for the Thousandfold Gate, only about twenty-six or seven usually walk out alive, a ratio roughly one quarter. Even so, every ten years, the younger generation seems to forget others' suffering and then desperately strive to crowd into the Thousandfold Gate... To exit is to achieve greatness; what is fate? It is nothing more than a gamble where life is the stake!

"Will we definitely die?" Zhang Beihai asked.

"Whether you live or die depends on your fate… and your strength," the Seventh Elder replied.

Zhang Beihai was suddenly speechless.

"Upon entering the Thousandfold Gate, you become its disciples. Life comes from the Thousandfold Gate, death comes from the Thousandfold Gate; the thousandfold tribulations are for entering this gate." The Seventh Elder's icy tone was like icicles forming under winter eaves—sharp and cold.

Chen Yi He had heard this saying before, but he didn't know why, when spoken by the Seventh Elder, it felt worlds apart from when others said it.

Then the Sixth Elder rattled on endlessly; Chen Yi He didn't absorb any of it, still wondering whether he could make it out alive...

"Everyone, did you bring the tuition?" the Sixth Elder asked. This Sixth Elder was essentially the steward of the Thousandfold Gate...

Chen Yi He and his two companions handed over their gems and gold, keeping silver notes for easy transport and storage. The Sixth Elder also issued an invoice for each of them...

In the afternoon, the Sixth Elder arranged lodging for the ten.

The ten stayed separately; Chen Yi He finally understood why Zhou Kai was so fixated on the number one token. The larger the number on the wooden token, the farther, worse, and more shoddy the lodging...

Long Wang resided in a large villa with a courtyard, while he had only a small wooden hut, located in a weed-choked corner beside the courtyard wall... Inside were just a table and a bed... "Why is this? We all paid the same tuition, why such a huge gap?!" Chen Yi He, who pursued quality of life, found it hard to accept at once.

"Sixth Elder, would it be alright if I added another hundred thousand taels to get a better room?" Chen Yi He pleaded as the Sixth Elder brought the wooden hut.

The Sixth Elder scornfully told Chen Yi He, "Only a hundred thousand taels? Number Eight Zhou Kai paid a million taels. This isn't about money—just make do, or find someone to swap with."

"Who would swap with me..." Chen Yi He stood dully before the wooden hut, feeling despondent... "Did I spend a hundred thousand taels to buy a house in the suburbs?"

But thinking that Dongfang Xing was number nine comforted Chen Yi He... "Dongfang is number nine; she should be my neighbor, hehe... That's not too bad..."

Later Chen Yi He realized he had overthought it; although number nine is also large, the gap from number ten is huge. Dongfang Xing's dwelling was not a wooden hut but a higher-grade bamboo house, with ample space and complete facilities, and clusters of flowers planted before the door... Indeed they were neighbors—one a raw shell, the other a finished unit... Their layouts were completely different...

Dongfang Xing was quite satisfied with her residence, and was watering the flower clusters at the doorway.

"Long Wang is number three—just how luxurious must his place be?" Chen Yi He swallowed.

Suddenly, Chen Yi He saw Long Wang shouldering a large bag and carrying a small one, walking toward him. "Yi He, you little brat, come help me!"

"How are you so weak now?" Chen Yi He mocked Long Wang, taking a large bag from him.

"'It's not that I'm weak; I drank too much last night, threw up until my stomach was empty, now I'm staggering as I walk... my vision blurs...'" Long Wang panted; if not for Dongfang Xing supporting him, he would have collapsed.

"What are you doing over here?" Chen Yi He asked Long Wang.

"Quickly help me find Room Eight."

"Aren't you number three?"

"Ah, forget it—aren't you worried we'll be lonely?" Long Wang waved his hand, then added to Dongfang Xing, "I'm afraid you'll be bullied by Yi He in my absence, with no one to stand up for you."

Chen Yi He knew Long Wang was reluctant to part with them, "Did you swap rooms with Zhou Kai?"

"'Mine is a mansion; Zhou Kai is still grateful to me! Hehe...'" Long Wang replied with a laugh.

Room Eight is next to Room Nine, a two-story wooden-bamboo loft with its own courtyard; a hundred meters ahead lies a natural large pond, branched off from the stream that runs through the entire Thousandfold Gate—breezes sway grass, birds sing, flowers scent the air, practically a high-end farmstead inn...

Thus it was good; the three of Dragon Tiger Gate at least gathered together.

"I really don't know what kind of residence the Young Palace Master lives in," Chen Yi He said, envious.

"Ding ding ding..."

The bags Long Wang carried in his hands and on his shoulders all fell; the previously listless him sprang up as if injected with adrenaline-laced chicken blood.

That was the Thousandfold Gate's Death-summoning Bell! Though it clearly came from afar, it sounded as if it fell from the heavens; it penetrates everywhere, and as long as you are inside the Thousandfold Gate, it will surely reach your ears—if you fail to arrive on time, you will suffer punishment.

The severity of the punishment increases each time; many die in the punishment.

This morning the Seventh Elder had already said: upon hearing the bell, you must immediately drop everything and rush to the Thousandfold Gate Main Hall! No delay.

"It's only the first day; haven't we officially started school yet?" The bell reminded him of the school bell at Twenty-Two Middle School; Chen Yi He helplessly asked his two companions.

When he turned back, he discovered his two companions had vanished...

"Wait for me! Wait for me!"