Yi-gang arrived at the examination site.
It wasnt difficult to find the place. It was like letting oneself be carried by the flow of a river; simply follow the crowd.
An examiner dressed in official attire double-checked Yi-gangs na.
You are in Group 221. Please turn around.
As Yi-gang silently turned around, the examiner affixed a tag made of white paper on his back.
It was marked with the number 221.
There will be groups of four. Two are already waiting under that sign over there, so find your group and wait.
There were 221 groups, all with a four person group setup. This ant that nearly a thousand people had already applied. There was still a line behind Yi-gang, indicating intense competition.
The air feels fresher with so many young people around.
The Blue-Eyed Mad Demon erged from the ring and strolled leisurely, observing the aspiring successors dreaming of glory.
Talking like an old man, as usual.
Its natural to feel proud as a senior of Jianghu watching the juniors.
Juniors? Besides, all these kids are from orthodox sects.
The Blue-Eyed Mad Demon had been designated a public enemy by the Murim Alliance and was killed.
Yet, she smiled wryly as if enjoying the situation.
Youre not going to be outside the top 15, are you?
He had no such intention.
Then, two young n, already with the 221 tags attached, greeted Yi-gang.
Here you are!
Ah, hello
They were two distinctive-looking young n.
They greeted first with a traditional fist-and-palm salute.
Im Cho Myung-hwi from Heaven Sword Sect in Jiangxi! Pleased to et you!
Im well, I dont really belong to any sect. Ive learned a bit of short stick. Im from Guizhou Ah! My na is So Woon.
The young man nad Cho Myung-hwi had a clear and bright aura in his eyes, clearly a remarkable successor. He was polite in speech and wore a blue warriors robe stylishly.
In contrast, the young man nad So Woon seed very timid.
He carried two unusual single-sticks crossed on his back but couldnt look directly into peoples eyes.
I am Baek Yi-gang from the Azure Forest.
Are you the Henans Sage? Cho Myung-hwi asked with a chuckle.
It seems that nickna has spread.
Thats impressive! So Woon exclaid in admiration, and Cho Myung-hwis eyes sparkled too.
Yi-gang felt puzzled once again.
It might sound odd to ask this, but is my nickna really that famous?
Didnt you know? In Henan, theres nobody who doesnt know about Brother Baek.
Cho Myung-hwi, who was of the sa age as Yi-gang, casually addressed him as Brother Baek with good-natured familiarity.
The successor who impressively caught the Face Plunderer and received praise from the Governor, and whose talent was recognized by the Alliance Leader Divine Monk, who personally recomnded your participation!
The fact that Yi-gang uncovered the identity of the Face Plunderer was one thing, but that the Divine Monk had personally recomnded his participation was known to few.
Yi-gang was now certain.
The spread of his na must have been influenced by Jo Gyu-seo and the Divine Monk.
He seed to envision the smiling face of Jo Gyu-seo.
Well it turned out that way.
Once the rumors had spread, there was no way to retract them. Moreover, it wasnt a bad rumor.
Just then, a man with a massive build hurried over.
Are you Group 221?
Yes, we are, and you are?
At Cho Myung-hwis question, the man introduced himself with a grin, Im Gu In-nam! I cant reveal my sect; its a mysterious sect.
Mysterious sect?
The man using the alias Gu In-nam was actually Peng Gu-in.
He had managed to catch up to Yi-gang with his astonishingly fast lightness skill.
Having finally gotten into the sa group, he forgot his earlier struggles and smiled broadly.
The group mbers introduced themselves once again.
Ha-ha, since Brother Gu is the eldest, hes the big brother of our group. Please take good care of us. Feel free to speak casually.
Should I? Uhahaha.
Peng Gu-in laughed heartily, like a bandit.
With so many people waiting, they had to wait quite a while for their turn.
Yi-gang was the type who didnt mind standing still, but sotis there were those who couldnt stand such awkward silences.
Cho Myung-hwi was one of them.
We have so ti to kill. Why dont we share our ambitions before the first round of the exam?
Ambitions?
Yes, Brother Gu. And theres So Woon, who ca all the way from Guizhou. Everyone here must have a reason for coming to the Murim Alliance.
Hmm, thats a good idea.
Ill start.
Cho Myung-hwi seed most eager to speak.
While entering the Five Elents Tomb is important, I want to make a na for myself.
He aspired to earn a heroic na.
It might have been an embarrassing story for Cho Myung-hwi, but it couldnt have been more clichd.
The orthodox kids always say that. Dont they feel embarrassed?
Its possible. Theyre young, after all.
Speaking like an old man again.
The Blue-Eyed Mad Demon repeated Yi-gangs earlier sentint.
However, the reactions of Gu In-nam and So Woon were different.
Well, if youre a gallant hero, you should naturally aspire to gain a heroic na.
Th-thats cool!
Cho Myung-hwi smiled proudly.
Gu In-nam opened his mouth as if not to be outdone.
I ca here to beco a true man.
His statent was even more vague than Cho Myung-hwis.
Although it lacked originality, it was special simply because it was rare for soone to voice such a thought.
A true man, you say?
Yes, a man with hot blood, or a great hero.
The phrase hot blood was a sincere expression from Peng Gu-in.
It was the spirit of the Peng Clan to strive valiantly according to the family motto of burning blood breaks iron.
Um, but
However, no one expected the seemingly timid So Woon to ask a question.
What does it an to be a true man?
Huh?
Like a great hero, or being full of passion. I dont really understand what those an
He was very serious.
Peng Gu-in, about to laugh and reply, suddenly found himself at a loss for words.
Normally, he would have talked about the spirit of the Peng Clan, but he was hiding his identity now.
Without the philosophy of the Peng clan, he surprisingly found himself without much to say.
To be manly is to be a man.
But how exactly does one beco a man?
Well
One must be tall and sturdy, with a bushy beard, and muscles writhing on the arms and legs.
But surely, that couldnt be all.
It was Yi-gang who ca to the troubled Peng Gu-ins rescue.
A manly trait might be even if we say that, maybe its about having hot blood.
What do you an?
Not yielding to the pressure of others and achieving your goals.
Yes, thats it!
Peng Gu-in clapped his hands in agreent.
Yi-gang hadnt expected to suddenly intervene and explain.
Why suddenly butt in?
Just because.
Yi-gang couldnt admit that he too wanted to live that way.
I, Gu In-nam, ca here to beco such a man.
Wow, thats amazing! So Woon exclaid in admiration.
Peng Gu-in smiled and asked in return.
You said your na was So Woon. What about you?
Well, my father told . He said to beco a proper man and co back.
Hmm
But I dont really know what to do or how to do it.
Peng Gu-in inwardly clicked his tongue. From what he saw, it seed difficult for Yi-gang to beco a man of passionate blood.
It was finally Yi-gangs turn.
Feeling the attention on him, he replied quietly, I aim to pass the exam and enter the Five Elents Tomb.
It was a straightforward and rather stark answer.
He chose not to ntion his deeper goals, like finding sothing within the conference or receiving inner elixirs to recover his frail body.
That sounds more like a reason than an ambition, huh.
Peng Gu-in snorted, thinking, As expected, I dont like this guy.
The atmosphere turned subtly awkward.
Fortunately, a commotion broke out just then.
Catch him!
mbers from the Murim Alliance Inspection Squad sward towards a man.
The man tried to fend them off with his arms and legs, but the mbers martial arts skills were superior.
Soone struck the mans acupressure points, forcing him to kneel.
Argh, wh-what are you doing!
Seal his pressure points, take him away.
Incapacitated by the sealing of his pressure points, the man couldnt move at all.
Despite being incapacitated, the mans mouth was still free, and he yelled defiantly, How dare the Murim Alliance commit such atrocities?
Shut your mouth!
Are you disregarding my sect, the ndicant Hall, because its small?
One of the inspection team officers, who seed to be the leader, laughed scornfully, ndicant Hall? Do you think we wouldnt recognize you as a mber of the Bandit Mountain Manor?
!
The mans face turned pale.
Even if the ndicant Hall was an unknown sect, the Bandit Mountain Manor was a well-known na among the unorthodox sects.
Based at the foot of Mount Lao in Shandong Province, this sect was notorious for its cruel thods in that region.
You will be interrogated by the Law Enforcent Hall. We need to check if you are a spy from the Unorthodox Union.
A spy? Thats a misunderstanding! I have nothing to do with the Bandit Mountain Manor!
The mans denial was futile.
Then soone with a hoarse voice interjected, The calluses on only your left hand suggest that you practiced Black Clash Hand of the Bandit Mountain Manor. The deeper imprints of the little toe on your right foot indicate training in the Light Mountain Step.
The old man who appeared was oddly peculiar in appearance.
He was very short, almost as if he had dwarfism, with a bulging back of the head. His long goat beard hung down to his navel, making him an unforgettable sight.
All-knowing Master!
Why is the All-knowing Master here!
The All-knowing Master, Yeom Gyo-cheon
He was one of the most extraordinary figures in the vast Jianghu.
He was famous not for his martial prowess but for his reputation, which has its reasons.
True to his nickna, the All-knowing Master was renowned for knowing everything. While his martial prowess was first-rate, he was more famous for his extensive knowledge of nurous sects and martial arts techniques.
He was adept in formations, chanical traps, scriptures, and scholarly knowledge, said to be able to comprehend a subject just by looking once.
Neither belonging to the orthodox nor the unorthodox, his appearance with the Murim Alliance Inspection Squad seed to dishearten the mber of the Bandit Mountain Manor.
I just ca out of curiosity about the Five Elents Tomb. I am definitely not a spy for the Unorthodox Union!
Well see about that after the interrogation. Take him away!
The man was dragged away limply by the inspection squad mbers.
The venue was abuzz. Yi-gang and his group were no exception.
So its true that the All-knowing Master was employed by the Heavens Secret Scholar
W-what a terrifying-looking person
He might have co to catch any possible spies from the Unorthodox Union. I heard hes directly overseeing this selection exam.
It was Peng Gu-in who responded to Cho Myung-hwis comnt.
All-knowing Master? Why?
Perhaps because the Five Elents Tomb has many chanical traps and devices. So, in selecting successors, they consider not just martial skills but other aspects as well.
This was sothing Peng Gu-in hadnt anticipated. Could this be a deviation from his plan?
Suddenly, So Woon interjected, That man, hes looking at us.
What?
Turning around, they saw the All-knowing Master, standing among the inspection team officers, staring intently at Yi-gang and his group.
People generally didnt like their inner thoughts exposed. And here was the All-knowing Master, known to discern everything with just one glance, staring at them, making Peng Gu-in and the others subtly avert their eyes.
Only Yi-gang continued to look directly at the All-knowing Master.
Whats he staring at, that ugly old man.
Can he see you?
No, he cant.
Even as the Blue-Eyed Mad Demon rushed towards him, making ridiculous gestures, the All-knowing Master didnt notice.
Soon, the All-knowing Master tilted his head and then resud his conversation with the inspection squad mbers.
Only then did Peng Gu-in speak irritably, If this exam is set by him, its going to be really annoying.
Cho Myung-hwi laughed and replied, Still, the first round of the exam is as previously announced. Brother Gu, youll pass easily, wont you?
Is that so? Uhahaha. Of course! A man like !
It was welco news for Peng Gu-in.
He stroked his arm muscles, pleased.
Then he glanced at Yi-gang.
If he cant even pass this exam, Ill separate him from Mu-ah, even if it earns hatred.
The first round was disadvantageous for Yi-gang.
It was a test of physical strength.
Group 221! Co over here!
The place where the examiner called Yi-gangs group was in front of a massive boulder.
The rock, easily weighing around 200 kg, was smoothed to the point that grabbing it was difficult.
It was a well-known feature used in the Dragon-Phoenix Conference and the Seven Stars Conference of the Murim Alliance.
First, well test your strength. You need to lift this rock and carry it across that log bridge.
Crossing a log bridge with a heavy boulder was no easy task.
Looking at Yi-gangs thin arms, it seed impossible for him to even lift it, let alone walk with it.
Hurry up, we dont have much ti. Start from there.
And to make matters worse, Yi-gang was the first one called.
Peng Gu-in watched Yi-gang with anticipation.
Yi-gang rubbed his hands in sand, then shook it off.
It looked like sothing he had seen sowhere.
Then he bent over and firmly grasped the rock.
Hup.
Indeed, he thought he might be able to lift it.
Despite looking frail, he seed to have learned martial arts. Peng Gu-in had even considered the possibility that Yi-gang might barely pass the first round.
But Peng Gu-in didnt expect Yi-gang to lift the rock so easily.
Not just up to his waist, but high above his head.
Great Yin Flow, is this really martial arts?
Its the secret art of physical power.
The Great Yin Flow, created by the Immortal Divine Sword after a lifeti of dedication.
Peng Gu-in hadnt expected Yi-gang to have already mastered the third stage, the secret art of physical power.
Wow impressive.
He looks so thin
Admiration burst forth towards Yi-gang.
The examiner also widened his eyes, waiting for Yi-gang to cross the log bridge.
No one expected Yi-gang to suddenly hurl the boulder across.
The rock flew over the log bridge and landed on the sandy area on the other side.
Boom!
It was so heavy that when it hit, sand erupted with a loud noise.
This ti, not even exclamations of admiration ca out.
P-pass!
Only the examiner said so, raising the flag.
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