Chapter 3

"However, there's no need to worry too much about them. In a few days, Qin, the deputy head of the Mountain Patrol Hall, will be out of seclusion. With his discerning eyes, the scoundrels of the Xuanhao Party will have nowhere to hide! They can only be arrogant for these few days."

The two walked and talked, and in just a moment, they had already arrived at the training ground. It was four li long and wide, with nearly a hundred sparring platforms inside. The thousands of young men who had been there earlier were already resting in the pavilions set up on the side.

"Actually, in this Mountain Gate Trial, there is another participant who, like you, is from Guanglin Mountain. It's a girl, and they say she is particularly beautiful and has a great figure."

"Another from Guanglin? Is she called Xie Ling'er?"

In Zhang Xin's mind, the image of a little girl appeared. In the first half year after he was 'helped' by the Sun Moon Xuan Sect, he often fell unconscious. At that time, the one who took care of him was a girl named Xie Ling'er.

But if she is 'particularly beautiful and has a great figure,' it can't be the girl in his memory. She was at most considered pretty, and her figure was as flat as a washboard.

If Ling'er is to participate in the martial trial, she must also return to Tianzhu Mountain. If there's time later, I need to go and look for her.

"Xie Ling'er? I don't know. I just heard someone say that."

Wang Feng casually replied, and at this point, he had already led Zhang Xin to a pavilion. He then pointed to a high platform outside and said, "Your sparring platform is this No. 75 platform, very close. You should know the rules of the martial trial, no need for me to repeat them."

Zhang Xin naturally knew the rules of the martial trial. Today, the Tianzhu Mountain branch only accepts a thousand people as probationary disciples, who are eligible to participate in the second trial. This martial trial is an elimination system, and everyone must win three matches to be considered qualified.

However, those who fail still have a chance. There is a loser's bracket afterward. All those who win at least one match can still compete, until the most outstanding disciples are selected. If they lose again here, they will have to wait for the next martial trial in two years. However, the Sun Moon Xuan Sect has a rule that the age of inner disciples cannot exceed twenty. After this age, if they want to become spirit masters, they can only be outer disciples of the Sun Moon Xuan Sect.

Today, Zhang Xin is also so determined because this body's age has reached the limit.

Moreover, the winner's bracket also needs to continue the competition. This is no longer for the sake of securing a probationary disciple slot, but for the rewards provided by the Sun Moon Xuan Sect.

The top three hundred receive elixirs from the sect, the top hundred receive first-grade magical artifacts, and the top ten not only receive more generous rewards but also have independent 'spirit dwellings' for cultivation during the third trial.

But Zhang Xin then felt strange and glanced at Wang Feng. "Senior Brother, aren't you going?"

"Go where? I still have to send you down. The exam supervisor has already instructed me to take special care of you today."

Wang Feng said this while looking at the sky. "It's soon, Zhang Xin, you're the first one."

Zhang Xin's lips twitched, thinking that if he were really Zhang Xin, he might have wanted to strangle this person. He ignored him and closed his eyes to rest.

But just a moment later, Zhang Xin heard a sweet voice ask, "Is it Brother Xin?"

Zhang Xin was surprised and opened his eyes, turning to look in the direction of the voice. He saw a beautiful girl standing ten steps away. Zhang Xin couldn't help but show a look of joy. "Little Ling'er! You're really here."

But he then noticed that behind Xie Ling'er was a handsome and tall young man, like a tree in the wind, wearing white clothes. Zhang Xin keenly noticed that when he called out 'Little Ling'er,' the man's eyebrows slightly furrowed, seemingly very displeased.

But Zhang Xin quickly lost interest in this person because the girl suddenly rushed into his arms, hugging him tightly. Zhang Xin could feel her incredibly good figure and the two impressive peaks on her chest. He couldn't help but draw in a breath, thinking that the little bean sprout from back then had grown into such a beautiful young woman?

"Is it really Brother Xin? Ling'er missed you so much."

Xie Ling'er soon realized something was amiss, her face turning slightly red as she took two steps back. She said somewhat embarrassedly, "I guessed it was you, but Ling'er saw that you looked very different, and with so many people watching, I didn't dare to recognize you, Brother Xin. Don't be mad at me."

Zhang Xin touched his face, thinking that he had indeed changed a lot over the past two years. To be safe, he had specifically asked 'Ruo'er' to alter his appearance, making him more like another 'Zhang Xin's' father, the head of a local martial arts hall.

He didn't really care and now smiled broadly. "The one who changed the most isn't me, but you, Ling'er. If I met you somewhere else, I probably wouldn't recognize you and would be captivated by you."

"Brother Xin, why are you still like this? You like to tease people."

Xie Ling'er's face turned even redder, her eyes full of concern and worry. "Is Brother Xin okay? The spirit master said your soul was injured by an evil demon and needed at least five years to recover. During this time, you must not let your soul be damaged again. Why are you pushing yourself so hard today? I was almost worried to death watching from above, but I couldn't help."

—Actually, it's not just five years. According to the spirit master, Zhang Xin would never achieve anything in the path of a spirit master.

"I'm fine!"

Zhang Xin smiled, knowing that explaining would be useless, and pointed to Wang Feng. "If you don't believe me, ask Senior Brother Wang Feng. He is a second-stage spirit master and knows my condition best."

"Really?"

Xie Ling'er indeed looked at Wang Feng, who was staring at her with shining eyes. He nodded rapidly, like a chicken pecking. "Don't worry, Brother Zhang's condition is good. He just overused his soul, but he wasn't injured. With my care, he will definitely be fine."

"That's good."

Xie Ling'er sighed in relief, but just as she was about to continue speaking, she heard a light cough from behind.

Xie Ling'er immediately realized and hurriedly introduced the white-clothed young man behind her. "This is my senior brother Huangfu Cheng from the Spirit Gathering Class. He has taken good care of me over the past two years."

Then she introduced Zhang Xin to him. "This is my Brother Xin!"

Zhang Xin couldn't help but laugh, liking this little girl even more. One 'Brother Xin,' one 'Senior Brother Huangfu Cheng,' and the added 'taken good care of' immediately showed the difference in closeness.

Huangfu Cheng clearly noticed this and looked somewhat displeased as he bowed to Zhang Xin. "I am Huangfu Cheng! I practice in the Spirit Gathering Class with Ling'er. My father is an outer sect transmission elder, from the Tianzhu Huangfu family."

Zhang Xin's expression was indifferent as he returned the bow. "I am Zhang Xin! From Guanglin Mountain."

The so-called 'Spirit Gathering Class' is actually a special class for the descendants of Sun Moon Xuan Sect members.

Many spirit masters' descendants have some cultivation potential, but they may not necessarily pass the three entrance trials. Therefore, after the second generation patriarch, the Sun Moon Xuan Sect established the Spirit Gathering Class to gather all qualified spirit masters' children and teach them the ways of spirit masters in advance. As for the position of outer sect elder, it is somewhat powerful but not a major figure. There are over a hundred transmission elders.

As for the Tianzhu Huangfu family, it is just a medium-sized spirit master family on Tianzhu Mountain.

This is just a young brat showing off his family background. If it weren't for Ling'er, Zhang Xin wouldn't bother to acknowledge him.

But he indeed didn't have the time to bother. Huangfu Cheng, in front of Xie Ling'er, still had to maintain his demeanor and spoke politely. However, after a few words, his name was called for the No. 75 platform.

"Platform No. 75?"

Huangfu Cheng's eyebrows slightly raised, and then he smiled. "What a coincidence, I am also on platform No. 75, but I won't face Brother Zhang until the third match. I hope we can meet then and have a good sparring session."