Chapter 3

The two of them left with their arms around each other’s shoulders. Of course, before leaving, Wang Meng still carefully put the handwritten copy of the Peiyuan Technique into his chest. For his first magical tool and first cultivation technique, Wang Meng cherished it greatly.

"Tonight, we won’t return until we’re drunk!" Wang Meng, who had finally seen the light of day, shouted boldly.

"Congratulating Brother Meng for coming out of seclusion!"

"Hair, we should celebrate you, little guy, entering the Holy Hall’s Arrow Sect. Damn, there’s going to be one more fat archer!" Wang Meng laughed.

Zhang Xiaojiang’s parents were not cultivators, but their family was much better off compared to Wang Meng’s. However, this did not hinder the two from becoming best friends. Mainly, when they were young, whenever others bullied the little fatty, Wang Meng always stood up for him. This kind of childhood friendship was the most special. Although Zhang Xiaojiang was fat, his talent was better than Wang Meng’s, with a natural four-layer life mark, and he directly entered the Arrow Sect of the Holy Hall’s Lightning Branch. It was said that his eyesight was very good.

Perhaps in three years, it would really be Zhang Xiaojiang who would be protecting him. Wang Meng felt a bit gloomy, but he quickly adjusted. It was good that his brother had a bright future, and he still had time; hard work could change everything!

That day, when they returned to the city of Lightning, Wang Meng and Zhang Xiaojiang truly got drunk. The little fatty didn’t say much. As a best friend, he knew that Wang Meng had been determined to enter the Holy Hall since childhood. He worked harder than anyone, but sometimes fate liked to play tricks. He was a four-layer life mark. If he could, the fatty really wanted to swap with Wang Meng.

In the middle of the night, the two of them, with their arms around each other’s shoulders, returned to Zhang Xiaojiang’s house. This was a gift from Zhang Xiaojiang’s father, a reward for the fatty entering the Holy Hall. It was said that there were several grand banquets just for the guests. For the rich, having a cultivator in the family brought even more prestige and status.

To ordinary people, the Holy Hall was top-notch, and everything else was subpar.

Almost as soon as he hit the bed, the fatty snored loudly. The little fatty was very happy. He felt that the current life was great, sneaking peeks at beautiful women bathing with Wang Meng, fighting together, and being chased down the street by others. It was all very enjoyable.

Thinking about himself entering the Holy Hall while Wang Meng couldn’t, the fatty in his dream clenched his chubby little fists and mumbled, "Brother Meng, you said you would take me to dominate the Holy Hall and date all the pretty girls, uh~ Hu Jing’s legs are so beautiful, I really want to touch them."

Immediately, the fatty’s drool soaked the pillow.

Wang Meng lay awake, unable to sleep. Tomorrow was the decisive moment. Deep down, he never gave up.

The next morning, the two of them came to the Holy Hall’s Lightning Branch. Looking at the Holy Hall disciples in their characteristic white robes, Wang Meng felt a surge of excitement.

Outside, hundreds of people were still queuing for the second round of tests. The wait was long, and neither Wang Meng nor the fatty spoke. The atmosphere was too oppressive, not just for them, but for everyone.

Seeing the candidates who came out with their heads down, some even crying on the spot, the fatty became even more anxious. In contrast, Wang Meng remained calm, especially in critical moments.

Wang Meng was very clear about his goal. If he didn’t make it this year, he would cultivate on his own for three years. After all, he had the fatty as an insider.

"Number 130, Wang Meng."

Wang Meng took a deep breath, straightened his back, and walked in.

Inside the room, two Holy Hall elders were sitting, clearly of a higher rank than those in the first round, as they had four golden sword star emblems on their chests, which could only be obtained with a full ten-layer life mark.

The elder on the left, with a large beard, glanced at Wang Meng indifferently. "Try a punch."

Wang Meng’s two-layer life mark was obvious to such experts.

Without hesitation, Wang Meng walked steadily to the testing wall and struck it forcefully with his bandaged hand. He had put in his best effort during this period, with no hesitation or regret.

The two elders exchanged a glance and smiled slightly. "How did you spend this month?"

"Following the Peiyuan Technique, I practiced repeatedly. I want to enter the Holy Hall’s Sword Sect!"

The Sword Sect was undoubtedly the pride of the Holy Hall.

Wang Meng stood straight and loudly stated his goal. He didn’t feel ashamed about it.

The two elders’ gazes fell on Wang Meng’s bandaged hand.

The elder on the right, whose sharp eyes revealed he was an archer, asked coldly, "Oh? Quite a big talker. My question is, what is the most important thing in cultivation?"

"Talent," Wang Meng replied straightforwardly.

"Then what talent do you have to offer?" the bearded elder on the left asked with interest.

A two-layer life mark was too common in the Holy Hall, only suitable for menial tasks.

"Perseverance!" Wang Meng said firmly.

The two examiners exchanged a glance and smiled lightly. The bearded elder waved his hand casually. "You can go."

Wang Meng’s hand clenched tightly. He took a deep breath, bowed, and knew that without significant improvement, just shouting slogans was useless. But he would definitely come back in three years!

Just as Wang Meng was about to leave, the bearded elder suddenly said, "Kid, don’t forget to report to the Sword Sect in three days."

Wang Meng’s body stiffened. He turned around in disbelief, his mouth wide open, pointing at himself. He thought he would be eliminated, given that he had practiced the technique for a month with no improvement.

The other elder from the Arrow Sect waved his hand impatiently. "Don’t block the way, there are many more people behind you."

"Sword Sect, I’m coming!!!"

Wang Meng burst out and rushed out. Outside, many people were still waiting. Seeing Wang Meng’s elated state, their faces showed various expressions: envy, jealousy, anxiety, and concern...

The fatty was pacing back and forth at the entrance, more nervous than Wang Meng, his back drenched in sweat. He was still in shock when Wang Meng suddenly picked him up.

"Sword, Sword Sect, really??" The fatty was still in a daze, as if in a dream.

"Brother either doesn’t enter, or only enters the Sword Sect!" Wang Meng struck a cool pose.

Before he could finish, the little fatty lifted him up. "Damn, Brother Meng, I admire you even more. With a two-layer life mark, you can enter the Sword Sect, even pigs can climb trees!"

Zhang Xiaojiang’s forehead was immediately hit with a fist. "Damn, you always thought Brother had no hope."

"Cough, cough, I just slipped up, Brother Meng. We’re brothers, so let’s be honest. What did the two elders give you? Was it a beauty? But even a beauty wouldn’t look at you."

"Damn, Zhang Xiaojiang, you’ve grown in the Arrow Sect. Don’t run, today Brother will help you lose weight, stand still, still running!"

The two brothers ran off amidst the various envious, jealous, and hateful gazes of the crowd.

Throughout the day, only a few people passed the second round, and they were mostly from less popular sects. Entering the Sword Sect in the second round was not impossible, but it was extremely rare.

The bearded elder, Xu Huang, of the Sword Sect, looked at the punch mark Wang Meng left on the testing wall and couldn’t help but laugh. "So there really are such fools in the world."

"Cultivation is something fools do."

The elder from the Talisman Sect smiled. "But you’re quite something, letting a two-layer life mark enter the Sword Sect in the second round. People will say you’re just trying to win popularity."

"Who cares," Xu Huang said indifferently.

The heavens are impartial, treating all things as straw dogs. Cultivation is about defying the heavens to gain strength and longevity. Who would do it if not a "fool"?

The Peiyuan Technique was not meant to improve the life mark level but to enhance its stability and increase the output of primordial energy. Wang Meng had just been focused on the level and didn’t notice.

(Collect, recommend, click, none of these can be missing, this is also a kind of perseverance!!!)

;

<a href="