Chapter 5

At this moment, in the center of the training ground, Li Guanghai was also looking at a figure on Platform 75, his gaze fixed and entranced.

This made Wang Chun, the deputy examiner standing beside him, quite curious: "Junior Brother Li, what are you looking at?"

"That figure on Platform 75, it might be 'Yifa Bingjin' (Intent and Action in Tandem)!" After regaining his composure, Li Guanghai's eyes showed a hint of surprise.

Hearing this, Wang Chun was also greatly surprised: "Second Realm Yifa Bingjin? Junior Brother, you didn't see wrong? I wonder who it is?"

Yifa Bingjin is a realm in the martial arts of mortals and the combat of Spirit Masters. There are four realms in total: the First Realm is 'Yi Zai Fa Xian' (Intent Before Action), the Second Realm is 'Yifa Bingjin' (Intent and Action in Tandem), the Third Realm is 'Fa Zai Yi Xian' (Action Before Intent), and the Fourth Realm is 'Jifa Cang Yi' (Action Conceals Intent), which refers to the combat consciousness and instinct of Spirit Masters, also known as the Combat Realm.

When cultivation levels are equal, different combat realms can lead to a tenfold or greater difference in combat power.

Among these, 'Yi Zai Fa Xian' is easy to understand, surpassing the ordinary level. In most cases, ordinary people fight by swinging their fists randomly, without any consciousness in their minds. However, 'Yi Zai Fa Xian' means taking action only after the corresponding consciousness arises. 'Yifa Bingjin' goes a step further, where one's consciousness and actions occur simultaneously. This is extremely difficult to achieve and requires a deep understanding of spirit techniques and combat methods, even transforming the use and response to various spirit techniques into one's instinct.

There are over a hundred thousand Spirit Masters of the first five ranks in the Sun Moon Mystic Sect, but only one in ten can achieve 'Yifa Bingjin.' Once a Spirit Master reaches this combat realm, their strength greatly increases. They can usually fight ten ordinary Spirit Masters of the same rank, or even fight across ranks.

As for 'Fa Zai Yi Xian,' it means taking action before the consciousness arises, responding to any provocation with the optimal and most appropriate method.

In short, when you are still thinking about how to attack, the other person's blade will already be at your throat.

Today's martial examination on Mount Tianzhu is to test the combat talent of the disciples.

"It's that Zhang Xin, but I might have seen wrong."

Li Guanghai only slowly收回了目光 when the person on Platform 75 walked down from the platform: "But by the third match, we'll know for sure."

"Zhang Xin?"

Wang Chun thought of Zhang Xin's difficult climb up the Spirit Ladder not long ago and shook his head slightly, feeling skeptical.

"Impossible, right? He has been idle for at least three years!"

However, he knew that Li Guanghai had good judgment and wouldn't be wrong. Moreover, he noticed that the first match on Platform 75 had already ended, and the loser was a rising star from Jiulipo.

This piqued Wang Chun's interest, and he casually flipped through the list: "The third match on Platform 75 is against Mo Gong? Zhang Xin's luck is really bad. If he's not at the 'Yifa Bingjin' level, he has little chance of winning—"

Shaking his head, Wang Chun casually rolled up the list: "Speaking of which, this time Mount Tianzhu's entrance examination is truly a gathering of talents. Mo Ting, Mo Gong, Sima Changsheng, Li Donghai, Yuan Jie, Dong Rui, Luo Chen, Zhou Xiaoxue, Xie Ling'er, and others are all outstanding. If Zhang Xin can really achieve 'Yifa Bingjin,' that would be truly remarkable. This is indeed our good fortune!"

Indeed, it was good fortune. For the examiners, every outstanding disciple they promoted would earn them a certain reward from the sect. If these people performed well in the major competition held every ten years or were selected as true disciples within ten years, the sect would offer even greater rewards.

"However, Fang Xinzhi is truly a pity. I had high hopes for him."

"If Senior Brother feels sorry for him, you can use the special selection right to let him try again in the loser's group."

Li Guanghai's expression remained calm: "I think his mindset is not stable. It's just right for him to be polished in the Spirit Gathering Class, and it won't delay anything."

※※※※

Zhang Xin was unaware that he had caught the attention of the two examiners. Soon after he walked down from the platform, he received a hug from Xie Ling'er.

This girl was usually quite shy, but at this moment, she was so happy that she didn't care about much, still maintaining her habit from three years ago.

"Great! We can be together again, Brother Xin."

Xie Ling'er wrapped her arms around Zhang Xin's arm, her expression excited: "After passing the entrance exam, we will be 'fellow students.' But I think Brother Xin, you'll have to call me Senior Sister."

At this, she couldn't help but laugh smugly.

According to the rules of the Sun Moon Mystic Sect, Spirit Masters call each other brothers and sisters, and they call Divine Masters as Dharma Seats or Uncles and Aunts.

Fellow students who enter the sect in the same year often have a particularly close relationship, viewing each other as 'fellow students' and supporting each other within the sect. They are also ranked based on their performance in the entrance exam, determining the titles of senior and junior brothers and sisters.

However, when they saw Xie Ling'er's affectionate demeanor, not only did Huangfu Cheng's eyes blaze with anger, but even Wang Feng felt a bit jealous.

"Too early to celebrate!"

Huangfu Cheng snorted: "I've seen the match list. Mo Gong is also on Platform 75, and he will be Zhang Xin's opponent in the third match."

"Mo Gong?"

Although Wang Feng was a bit jealous, he frowned deeply for Zhang Xin upon hearing this: "This is troublesome! It's said that he can already project his spirit energy externally?"

Projecting spirit energy externally is a threshold for Spirit Masters, a key to becoming a true Spirit Master. Once one reaches this level, ordinary martial arts techniques are hard to deal with.

"Three months ago, Mo Gong could already do it. In these three months, he might have mastered a spirit technique."

Huangfu Cheng was worried, looking rather pessimistic: "Brother Zhang, the odds are not in your favor."

Xie Ling'er was not worried: "What's there to fear? If Fang Xinzhi can be certain to win, why would Brother Xin be eliminated? Even if he enters the loser's group, he can still pass."

Huangfu Cheng was speechless, thinking that Zhang Xin was likely to pass the martial exam. Since he could defeat Fang Xinzhi with one strike, his martial arts skills must have reached the peak of the mortal realm.

The only ones who could defeat him would be those from the Spirit Gathering Class. However, his classmates had special arrangements, and they wouldn't meet in the first three matches, so the chances of entering the loser's group were low.

Shaking his head, Huangfu Cheng said with a sneer: "But Ling'er, don't forget that there are two more major exams after this, and only three hundred will be admitted. I think Brother Zhang's talent as a Spirit Master is not good, and he might still be eliminated."

Zhang Xin heard the envy in his words but didn't bother to respond. He thought this guy was young and didn't understand Xie Ling'er's nature. Saying such things would only backfire.

Sure enough, Xie Ling'er's eyebrows furrowed, and she started to worry. But then she hugged Zhang Xin's arm tightly, her tone resolute: "There must be a way! I still have some elixirs that can help Brother Xin. If it's not enough, I can borrow more."

In short, she was determined to keep Zhang Xin in the sect.

Huangfu Cheng was stunned, then his eyes turned red, and his face was full of regret.

Zhang Xin's expression was somewhat uncomfortable. He didn't care much about Huangfu Cheng's jealousy, but at that moment, his arm was wrapped by Xie Ling'er's developing chest, and she was innocently squeezing it, making him feel the astonishing elasticity. Zhang Xin couldn't help but have some inappropriate thoughts, and he could only lament whether his physical condition had recovered too well.

Moreover, Xie Ling'er was indeed still naive. Did she not understand the difference between men and women, or did she really see him as her brother?

Fortunately, Xie Ling'er had to leave soon. Her match was about to start, and it was far away on Platform 7, so she couldn't stay.

After she left, Huangfu Cheng also lost interest in staying with Zhang Xin. He gave him a cold glare and walked into a nearby pavilion.

When the area became quiet again, Wang Feng sighed: "These people from the Spirit Gathering Class are indeed arrogant!"

Then he added somewhat unwillingly: "She treats you so well, doesn't she? She really sees you as her big brother? After all, you've shared hardships, and your bond is different from others."

Zhang Xin looked up and down at the fat man, then decided to speak the truth: "You have no chance. She's not the type Xie Ling'er likes."

Wang Feng's face fell, and he looked at the distance with a sad expression. He had noticed that Xie Ling'er hadn't even glanced at him much, though she was polite, she didn't want to get close to him.

Zhang Xin's lips curled slightly, deciding to hold back his words and not further打击 this guy. He still had a good impression of him.

"You should lose some weight. Although a stronger body means stronger spirit energy, it usually can't last long, and girls won't like it."

"I want to!" Wang Feng's expression became even more sad: "But the body cultivation technique I practice is the Swallowing Heaven Technique. I can't lose weight even if I want to."

Zhang Xin raised an eyebrow and then silently mourned for Wang Feng. The Swallowing Heaven Technique is the easiest body cultivation technique in the sect. All you need to do is eat, but it comes with a price, like Wang Feng—