Chapter 123 – The Arena

Someone walked past them and boarded an iron-cast carriage, its horse lifting hooves that trailed flames.

That person was none other than Chu Tiankuo, one of the only two upper-grade root bones from this round of testing. A man with an overwhelmingly powerful presence.

The group offered a few passing remarks about Chu Tiankuo — nothing beyond his cold and decisive manner, his unapproachable attitude, and his deep family coffers. Even his horse was a demonic beast.

After that, they turned to analyzing the strength of the other candidates.

They were all being squeezed along toward the exit anyway, so Zhan Changfeng listened to their chatter for a while before asking, “Is the physiognomy test only a hidden reference factor?”

“That’s right, but for those taking the unified examination, physiognomy is a concrete evaluation criterion,” Lin Wu said. “Every year during the unified exam, many people are eliminated for having unfavorable physiognomy.”

Leng Yuzi pressed her lips together in amusement. “That’s also why people say our Council of Elders is the most distinguished in bearing. Regardless of gender, every member is both talented and virtuous, with exceptional appearance and unmatched elegance.”

Li Baimao had been worried that Zhan Changfeng might be unhappy about receiving only a lower-grade rating, but seeing her act as usual, he excitedly chimed in, “You haven’t seen all the council members gathered together — just standing there, they’d outshine the entire world in beauty.”

Master Yao Yu scolded, “How shallow. Physiognomy isn’t a beauty pageant. One’s physiognomy is a manifestation of their spirit and bearing. Physiognomists use it to infer a person’s life fortune and potential, and it also keeps a bunch of crooked melons and split dates from meddling in Cangyun Ravine’s governance.”

The students all fell silent. After all, he was a Foundation Establishment master — they wouldn’t dare pull a tiger’s whiskers.

Master Yao Yu didn’t stop there and turned to scold Zhan Changfeng next. “Are you thinking of running off to the Council of Elders? The Martial Arts Academy’s examination is only half over and you’re already thinking of giving up?!”

She had only asked about physiognomy, hadn’t she?

Zhan Changfeng replied, “The Council of Elders does rather suit my aesthetic sensibilities.”

The Council of Elders gathered souls brimming with wisdom, coordinating relations between territories, determining the direction of the world, and shaping the destinies of all living beings. That was what she admired. Just as, compared to these people around her — some gifted, some with broad prospects — she actually preferred that girl who carried the world in her heart and wanted to advance the process of evolution.

On top of that preference, if that girl were to make a request, she could help her clear away anyone or anything that affected or obstructed her.

Though come to think of it, that girl was more than capable of handling her own difficulties.

Yao Yu snorted. “Can’t even manage yourself, and you want to manage the world.”

At that moment, Xiao Shaobai suddenly let out a derisive laugh. “Better to give up early and save yourself some face.”

The atmosphere turned awkward at once. They all knew Zhan Changfeng’s true strength, but none had expected her root bones to turn out like that. Though they had their private doubts, no one had voiced them aloud. Xiao Shaobai’s remark was a blatant mockery. Tch — someone headed for the Outer Academy really was different.

As for Zhan Changfeng, she didn’t even glance at him.

Master Yao Yu seemed about to say something, but ultimately said nothing.

The unified examination allowed no breaks midway — it ran continuously for two and a half days, with eating, drinking, and all other needs handled on-site. Because of this, the entire Green White Mountain was under lockdown. So the group didn’t go back and instead found lodging in Falling Blossom City.

The whole party returned to the inn in a strange mood, quickly splitting up and retreating to their own rooms. The atmosphere was rather unsettling.

At dinner, Master Yao Yu and Lin Wu discussed the Green White Mountain cannibalism case, mentioning that a cultivator named Luozhao-zi had caught a charm demon. When they saw the students coming down one by one, they dropped the topic.

“Do your best tomorrow. If you can advance, advance. If not, you can always wait another three years.” Lin Wu stood and offered a few words of encouragement to the students, telling them not to wander around after dinner and to hurry back to their rooms to cultivate.

Lin Wu was worried too. As long as the cannibalism case remained unsolved, the hidden danger would persist — especially since five of the students who had come for the Martial Exam were potential victims.

Zhan Changfeng noticed his gaze repeatedly falling on her, the Leng siblings, Xiao Shaobai, and Cheng Zhigao. A moment’s thought told her why.

In truth, if the Wolf King were really behind it, Xiao Shaobai should have been the first to die, and the killing methods should have been far more brutal.

But if it wasn’t the Wolf King’s revenge, then there was no explanation for why all the victims had been people who killed wolves on Bijia Mountain that day. And he had hidden himself too well — not a single trace had surfaced even now.

The night passed without incident.

Early the next morning, the eliminated candidates with inferior-grade root bones were already rolling up their sleeves, eager for the re-examination. The Branch Academy candidates with lower-grade root bones were filled with trepidation.

“There are seventeen or eighteen hundred of them. How long is this going to take?”

“That person’s aura is so powerful — could they be at the Prenatal realm?”

The judges came out. “We will now announce the rules for the eliminated candidates’ revival. To earn the right to challenge and replace a Branch Academy candidate, eliminated candidates must each meet the following conditions!”

The examinees listened intently, not daring to miss a word.

“First condition: Prenatal realm!”

Some Prenatal realm cultivators breathed a deep sigh of relief and walked toward the area the judges had indicated.

“Second condition: Postnatal realm perfection or peak of the Postnatal realm, and under forty-five years of age!”

The crowd grew restless. They could see the pattern now — the Martial Arts Academy wanted either the strong or the promising. But they couldn’t argue the point. Compared to yesterday’s root bone test, the talent requirements this time had been relaxed considerably. If you weren’t selected, you could only blame yourself for lacking both talent and strength.

Zhan Changfeng had already heard Master Yao Yu explain the general process of the Six Academies selection and the Martial Exam the day before. Now, having experienced their elimination methods firsthand, she had a much deeper appreciation for the difference between the two.

The Six Academies selection valued talent above all else. Once admitted to the Inner Academy, one would likely enter straight into focused martial cultivation. The Martial Exam also valued talent, but used it as a basis for determining whether someone was worth investing in.

The difference between those who advanced through these two paths was roughly the difference between adopted and biological children — between lackeys and masters.

Still, the Martial Arts Academy had thrown a bone. Eliminated candidates had the chance to replace Branch Academy candidates, and Branch Academy candidates had the chance to replace Outer Academy candidates. Once in the Outer Academy, there were also opportunities to enter the Inner Academy. As for how likely these opportunities were to succeed — that was another matter entirely. In any case, by the time the judges finished reading all ten rules for this revival round, only about a hundred people remained on the field.

From seventeen or eighteen hundred, only about a hundred remained.

This result alarmed not only the eliminated candidates but also the Branch Academy candidates, since it would be their turn to face elimination that afternoon.

However, these hundred or so people weren’t Branch Academy candidates yet. They had merely earned a single chance to challenge and replace one.

Once the hundred-odd candidates had registered, the judges brought out a wooden box. “Congratulations to those who successfully revived. We will now randomly match you with Branch Academy candidates. Win, and you take their place!”

“Note: I will be calling out exam token numbers. When you hear yours, proceed to the corresponding arena. Anyone who fails to appear within fifteen quarter-hours will be judged as having forfeited!”

Eight arenas had been set up across the vast Martial Arena. After three drumbeats, the judges began calling numbers.

“First arena — number 1587 challenges number 752!”

“Second arena — number 631 challenges number 964!”

“You Branch Academy candidates number around seven or eight hundred, and they’re randomly matching about a hundred challengers. That’s roughly a one-in-seven chance. If you actually get matched, you can only call it bad luck.” Li Baimao, never one to shy away from watching the excitement, said this to Zhan Changfeng, Leng Yi’an, and the others.

Leng Yi’an replied with disdain, “Just wait for me to challenge you tomorrow.”

Oh right — tomorrow was the day Branch Academy candidates challenged Outer Academy candidates. Li Baimao immediately turned sycophantic. “We’re all from the same Community School! Why be so harsh on each other? You should go after someone at Peak Postnatal — that would actually match your strength.”

“I’m so envious of those two with upper-grade root bones. They get to go straight to the Inner Academy.”

“But speaking of which, what’s the name of that other girl with upper-grade root bones? How come nobody’s talking about her?”

“I haven’t heard of her either. She probably isn’t a young lady from any of the local families.”

“I know all the notable students from the nearby Community Schools. She shouldn’t be from one of those either.”

While everyone speculated and fantasized about that mysterious upper-grade root bone holder, several arenas had already cycled through multiple rounds of fighters.

“Fourth arena — number 869 challenges number 175!”

“Hey, Yi Zhan — that sounds like you.”

(End of Chapter)