Chapter 39

This voice was cheerful and carefree, with a hint of unruliness. Jiang Feng had heard it not long ago.

Pingle Shan!

The light in the alley was poor, but it was still visible that Pingle Shan had shaved off his beard.

Indeed, once the beard was gone, he looked like a different person, revealing his true age.

Refused outright, the man in the blue robe's face darkened, and one of them said, "It's your good fortune that Lord Xian Ning is willing to take you in! Don't refuse the wine and end up drinking the penalty wine..."

Pingle Shan scratched his head and said, "Business may not work out, but friendship remains. You're putting me in a difficult position. I told you, I already have a master, and I can't bow to another..."

This man wanted to say more but was stopped by a pat on the shoulder from his companion: "Why say more? We, the Vortex Sect, never lack for members. Missing this opportunity, he will be the one to suffer!"

Pingle Shan smiled without speaking, but it was clear he had no intention of changing his mind.

The man in the blue robe snorted coldly, walked out of the alley, and passed by Jiang Feng. They glanced at Jiang Feng, saw that he was just a young boy who hadn't entered the realm, and walked away with a look of disdain.

Pingle Shan picked up his wine gourd, about to take a sip, when he looked up and saw Jiang Feng, smiling in surprise, "Eh? How did you come over?"

Jiang Feng pointed at the back of the blue-robed man: "Why did they take an interest in you?"

Pingle Shan wiped his lip with his thumb, where there was a shallow scar. He said nonchalantly, "I ran into a few brats earlier, had a fight, and they saw it."

Jiang Feng understood: "Then they thought you had good potential and wanted to recruit you?"

Pingle Shan laughed, "Unfortunately, I'm used to freedom. They have too many people, and I'm a bit scared!"

The two laughed together, and Jiang Feng asked, "From what they said, you haven't started the preliminary exam yet?"

Pingle Shan took out a number plate: "I came in the morning to get the plate and completed the Heavenly Exam. The Human Exam is done in order according to the number on the plate. It's almost my turn... How about, do you want to come and watch?"

"Sure!" Jiang Feng agreed readily. He thought for a moment and called out, "Wait a moment."

He took out a leather bag from his chest, poured a piece of meat the size of a finger into his palm, and handed it to Pingle Shan, "This is special dried meat made from a Ming Beast. It should increase your strength by thirty percent for ten minutes. No side effects. You can consider using it."

Seeing Pingle Shan's surprised gaze, he explained, "A friend of mine made it. It hasn't been tested much, and it's unclear if it works for everyone."

Pingle Shan laughed, "Not enough test subjects, so you want me to try it too?"

Jiang Feng raised an eyebrow but didn't speak.

Pingle Shan thought for a moment and put the meat away, "Thank you, but I'll think about it."

A food that could increase strength by thirty percent, with a duration of five minutes, was clearly very precious.

With it, Pingle Shan's biggest weakness could be compensated.

However, the Heavenly Mandate Order was best obtained by one's own strength. In this regard, his thoughts aligned with Jiang Feng's.

He led Jiang Feng toward the county office, and the closer they got, the more tense the atmosphere became.

Pingle Shan was focused on the upcoming exam and didn't pay much attention, but Jiang Feng was observant, his brows furrowing tighter and tighter.

He felt that the current Hezhong County was like a powder keg, ready to explode at any moment.

The patrols and the Vortex Sect members did play a supervisory role, but they also made the tension even tighter.

In front of the county office was a square paved with green stones, now enclosed by curtains, divided into several sections. Various sounds came from behind the curtains: the shouts and roars of martial cultivators, the cries and roars of Ming Beasts, the sounds of battle were deafening.

On one side of the square were some tables and chairs, with a few people sitting there, chatting leisurely.

Pingle Shan walked over, pushed his nameplate forward, and said, "I'm number forty-two."

One of them glanced at it and pointed backward with his thumb, "The sixth platform over there, you're next. Go on over."

After giving the casual instruction, they continued to chat and laugh. Pingle Shan's brows furrowed slightly, and Jiang Feng patted his shoulder. The two walked in the direction they were pointed.

On the earth-colored curtain was a black "Six" character. Below it stood a man in a black robe, holding a board, expressionless. Seeing Pingle Shan approach, he raised his eyes and asked, "Number forty-two?"

Pingle Shan took a deep breath and nodded.

At that moment, there was a "howl," and the curtain began to shake violently. A moment later, a man supporting another walked out, saying coldly, "Number thirty-five, failed."

The man in the black robe nodded and made a mark on the board.

Number thirty-five was a muscular man. He covered his right cheek, blood seeping through his fingers, staining his entire arm red.

Hearing this, he immediately roared, "Impossible, how could I fail?! It's just a first-level Ming Beast, how could I not beat it?!"

The man in the black robe said coldly, "You have already failed. If it weren't for Lord Gan's intervention, you would have been killed by the Ming Beast. Go, don't waste time."

The muscular man was very agitated. He rushed at the man in the black robe, grabbing his shoulder, and shouted, "No, I want to try again!"

The man in the black robe took a step back, and the man who had supported him frowned and waved his hand lightly.

The muscular man's body immediately flew backward, crashing into a pillar and slowly sliding down.

A patrol team rushed over, and the man said coldly, "This person is causing a disturbance in the exam, drive him out."

The patrol team bowed and carried the muscular man away hurriedly.

In an instant, only a pool of blood remained on the ground.

The man in the black robe bowed to the man and said, "Thank you, Lord Gan."

"Lord Gan" nodded indifferently, turned, and walked into the curtain. Soon, a cloth-covered iron cage was sent out, and another identical iron cage was sent back in.

Jiang Feng's brows furrowed. He observed quietly and noticed that the sleeve of "Lord Gan's" robe and the corner of the iron cage both had a flowing water symbol!

A member of the Vortex Sect?

He took a step back, gently pulled Pingle Shan, and said hurriedly, "Eat the meat."

Pingle Shan was slightly stunned. Jiang Feng secretly pointed, and Pingle Shan immediately showed a look of realization mixed with disbelief.

After a while, he gritted his teeth, turned his back, and indeed took out the meat, putting it in his mouth.

Just as he swallowed, the man in the black robe patted the board in his hand and said, "Number forty-two, go in."

Only the examinee was allowed to enter the curtain. Jiang Feng was a bit worried and asked, "This is my brother, can I go in and watch?"

The man in the black robe looked him over and glanced at Lord Gan for confirmation. Lord Gan said coldly, "A boy who hasn't entered the realm, what can he see? If you want to go in, go in."

Jiang Feng and Pingle Shan exchanged a glance and indeed followed him in.

The curtain, which looked like cloth, was actually woven from the silk of a certain Ming Beast, making it very sturdy. As long as the attacks were not out of range, they wouldn't affect the surroundings.

At the front of the tent was an iron cage, from which some commotion could be heard. This was the Ming Beast Pingle Shan would use for the exam.

Lord Gan pointed to the side and said, "Boy who hasn't entered the realm, stand there and don't move. If you get hurt, no one will take responsibility."

Jiang Feng nodded and indeed stood in the position he was pointed to.

Pingle Shan took a deep breath and said, "I'm ready!"

Lord Gan pointed, and with a bang, the iron cage exploded, a yellow light shot out, bounced on the ground, and charged at Pingle Shan.

It was a half-human-sized ape. It seemed to have been pent up in the cage, and once released, its eyes glowed red, looking mad!

...

...

Ten minutes later, Pingle Shan roared, grabbed the ape's throat, and slammed it to the ground!

Veins bulged on his arms, and with a twist of his fingers, a splash of blood appeared on the ape's throat, and its trachea was directly snapped. The giant ape struggled like a human, making gurgling sounds in its throat, and finally died, collapsing.

Pingle Shan fell to one knee, blood and sweat mixing and dripping to the ground.

He panted heavily and looked at Jiang Feng.

Jiang Feng had retreated to the darkest corner, the worry in his eyes now gone, and he relaxed.

If it weren't for the dried meat Jiang Feng had given him and made him eat before entering, he would have definitely lost to this golden-haired giant ape!

He wiped the sweat from his forehead and glanced at the giant ape's forehead.

Under the thick fur, a mark on the skin was faintly visible. There was no better proof; it was indeed a first-level Ming Beast!

However, this giant ape was far more powerful than any Pingle Shan had faced before, only slightly weaker than the deep-rock dragon!

Even with the clear mark, he couldn't help but doubt. Was this really a first-level Ming Beast? Why was it so strong?!

Lord Gan had stood by the side the whole time, showing no signs of helping when Pingle Shan was in danger. Only when Pingle Shan won did he raise his eyebrows slightly, "I didn't expect you to be so fast and strong. Not bad, you have potential!"

He nodded toward the outside, "You can go out now. The Earth Exam is complete, the actual results will be announced on the list."

Pingle Shan's breathing had just stabilized, his Ming Force overused, and his head was a bit dizzy.

He flexed his fingers, feeling a bit disappointed. He had only won because of Jiang Feng's dried meat. Did that mean his actual ability wasn't enough to pass the Human Exam?

He walked out of the curtain and exhaled toward the sky. If so, could he really pass the big exam?

Jiang Feng followed him, watching him report his results to the man in the black robe. He noticed that when the man heard Pingle Shan's results, his eyes showed a clear look of surprise.

Pingle Shan was troubled and walked out after reporting.

Jiang Feng followed him to a secluded corner and suddenly pulled him, whispering, "Brother Ping, something's not right."

Pingle Shan wiped his face dejectedly and asked casually, "What's not right?"

Jiang Feng said, "This golden-haired giant ape, in terms of strength, speed, defense, and reaction, is all twenty percent higher than the eagle-headed lion last time!"

The eagle-headed lion was the one Pingle Shan had killed last time, a second-level Ming Beast. Twenty percent higher than the eagle-headed lion meant that this giant ape's abilities were extremely close to a third-level Ming Beast!