Chapter 5

"Little Master, what... what are you doing here?"

After a brief moment of shock, Mu Wan'er's eyebrows furrowed, and she gazed intently at Yang An.

"Of course, I'm here to register for the test," Yang An said with a slight smile, his expression calm.

"Register for the test? You, you've broken through?" Mu Wan'er's eyes widened.

"Yes. Not only have I broken through, but I'm also very strong. Wan'er, my grandfather has found me many young brides, but I think you are the only one who barely fits the bill. Do you want to reconsider?"

Yang An looked straight at Mu Wan'er with a piercing gaze, getting straight to the point.

His handsome face was filled with his signature "silly smile."

His gaze seemed aggressive, and his words were more assertive than ever.

Mu Wan'er's face darkened, and her eyebrows furrowed. "Little Master, is this the head of the family's decision? Please tell the head of the family that I will represent the Yang family in the assessment. I will not forget the Yang family's kindness and will repay it in the future. However, I cannot accept your offer. I have made my stance clear. My heart is set on the path of martial arts, and you and I are destined to be from different worlds."

Her refusal was clear and firm, without any hesitation.

"Wan'er, what's the point of talking to an idiot? After the test, I'll have my grandfather talk to the head of the Yang family personally. An idiot, it's already a great fortune for you to have taken care of me for a few years. Do you still want to be a toad lusting after a swan? Wan'er's talent is destined to be..."

Chen Nan's gaze towards Yang An was cold.

Yang An's face made him feel extremely threatened.

"Brother Nan." Mu Wan'er interrupted Chen Nan, holding his arm and shaking her head slightly.

The way she called "Brother Nan" was quite natural.

Yang An looked at Mu Wan'er's hand on Chen Nan's arm and smiled wryly. "Indeed, that's how it is. What a pity... Mu Wan'er, the little fool understands. Also, you don't need to represent the Yang family in the test, and the Yang family doesn't need your repayment. The Yang family hasn't fallen to the point where it relies on a servant to uphold its reputation. From today on, we owe each other nothing. Yes, that's it."

Yang An smiled brightly and then turned around.

There was no lingering, no regret, no anger, no blame, and no harsh words.

Yang An just wanted to resolve the little fool's lingering obsession.

Ha ha.

Aim for martial arts?

Destined to be from different worlds?

Such classic, cliché lines!

Yang An was frustrated. He thought he was a unique presence in the world of reincarnation, but in the end, he couldn't escape the cliché.

Little fool, see?

This is the girl you thought of even in your dying moments!

This is the girl you deeply relied on and trusted!

This is the girl you secretly gave almost all your cultivation resources to!

This is the girl you considered your closest person!

And now,

This is the harsh reality!

Just like Yang An's first love, which withered and died before it could even bloom, before his accident.

Manipulative bitch! Hypocrite! White lotus!

Screw that!

...

"Little brother."

Yang Jing, who had followed, glared at Mu Wan'er and then quickly caught up to Yang An. She sympathetically and compassionately hooked her arm around his shoulder and patted him hard. "Don't be sad. She's not the same Wan'er anymore. A white-eyed wolf who climbs the social ladder and forgets her roots isn't worth your sadness!"

"Sixth Sister, do I look very sad?"

Yang An touched his nose and turned to look at Yang Jing.

"You do... Little brother, don't cry, don't cry! It's not worth it!"

"Cough, it's sand, just sand, really sand!"

Yang An was very frustrated.

Damn, the little fool is dead, and I'm actually shedding tears involuntarily? How embarrassing is that?

"Um, it's sand. Our little An is always happy! Don't worry, I'll take care of you in the future! With me in the Yang family, it won't fall. I'll find you a prettier young bride!"

Yang Jing patted her chest and said with great seriousness.

"Sixth Sister, you're so awesome!"

Yang An said helplessly.

Even if he jumped into the Yellow River, he couldn't wash away the misunderstanding...

At that moment, a majestic voice echoed throughout the area:

"Welcome Teacher Tang Qing and the five envoys of Baiyun Academy!"

"Welcome!"

"Welcome!"

The people of Qing Shui County bowed deeply. Six experts from Baiyun Academy walked into the arena with a steady pace.

Respectful and admiring gazes were cast at the six experts exuding powerful auras.

"One at the peak of the Xiantian realm, five at the third and fourth layers of the Xiantian realm, they are indeed impressive in Qing Shui County!"

Yang An narrowed his eyes.

The realms of Qi Body, Bone Tempering, Marrow Washing, and Xiantian...

The Xiantian realm is the realm of a fully developed physical body, with muscles, tendons, bones, bone marrow, blood, and internal organs all refined. In front of an Xiantian expert, even a Marrow Washing expert is like an ant!

They indeed have the right to be impressive.

The old man, Tang Qing, scanned the crowd and announced crisply:

"Baiyun Academy, Qing Shui County examination site, the annual recruitment assessment officially begins. Please step forward in order, starting from those at the Bone Tempering realm and above, to begin the test!"

As the old man Tang Qing spoke, a brilliant white light flashed, and a black tower, about three zhang tall, covered in dark gray crystals, appeared in everyone's sight.

This is the testing tower!

Only Bone Tempering realm martial artists who can release their qi and blood externally can take the test.

This is why one must reach the Bone Tempering realm to register for the assessment.

Testers only need to focus their minds and use their strongest martial technique to channel their qi and blood into the tower.

The more crystals that light up, the higher the final score.

This is a comprehensive test of a martial artist's realm, strength, and talent.

A score of thirty lit crystals is required to pass the test.

In previous assessments, those who passed in Qing Shui County were usually in single digits.

"Chen Liang, go for it!"

"Chen Liang, go for it!"

The first tester was a sixteen-year-old boy named Chen Liang, at the third layer of the Bone Tempering realm (early peak), an excellent student at the Qing Shui County school, with a good chance of passing the test.

He looked excited but slightly nervous.

However, his gaze was exceptionally firm and confident.

"Twenty-nine crystals, eliminated."

But when the result came out, Chen Liang collapsed to the ground, sobbing uncontrollably.

"What a pity, just one crystal short... If even he couldn't pass, I probably have no hope either..."

Yang Jing's face turned pale, and she was drenched in cold sweat, her hands and feet icy.

Chen Liang's result had shattered her confidence.

"Sixth Sister, you're much stronger than Chen Liang. What's there to be nervous about?"

Yang An turned to look at the slightly trembling Yang Jing beside him and said softly.

"Little brother, I've sparred with Chen Liang, and I'm not his match."

"That's just your combat skills, not your talent or potential. This testing tower evaluates various aspects comprehensively. How can Chen Liang compare to you? Sixth Sister, you have a unique bone structure, you're a martial arts prodigy. I have a... cough, don't worry. Ignore others, just focus on yourself, and you'll win."

Yang An couldn't help but start to persuade Yang Jing, almost going off track.

"Little brother, you can actually reason with your sister now?"

Yang Jing looked at her silly little brother in surprise.

"Look into my eyes."

Yang An, with his signature "silly smile," had clear and deep eyes.

His voice seemed to have a hypnotic charm.

Though surprised, Yang Jing still turned to look into Yang An's eyes.

So beautiful!

Little brother is so handsome...

"Don't move, relax, take a deep breath, inhale~~~~~ Yes!"

"Relax, exhale, exhale~~~~~"

"Inhale, relax, exhale, relax, inhale, relax, exhale..."

Yang An's hands, following his gentle guidance, gently pressed on Yang Jing's head, and she soon closed her eyes, as if hypnotized. The comfortable sensation from her head made her quickly forget everything, immersing herself in a wonderful state.

Her body and mind became increasingly relaxed.

Blind massage master's technique + fresh qi and blood + powerful mental control from his second life, a triple effect!

Yang An sensed Yang Jing's changes and gradually smiled.

The Yang family disciples nearby looked at their silly young master and Sixth Miss with strange expressions.

Is the silly young master taking advantage of Sixth Miss? And she seems to be enjoying it?

"Zhao Wu, nineteen crystals, eliminated."

"Wang Jun, fourteen crystals, eliminated."

"Wu Lei, twenty-three crystals, eliminated."

Eliminated, eliminated, eliminated!

The testing speed was fast, and dozens were eliminated in a row.

Chen Liang's twenty-nine crystals were the best score so far.

Several third-layer Bone Tempering boys lit fewer than twenty-five crystals.

Yang An had already stopped pressing on Yang Jing.

He gently supported Yang Jing, letting her lean on his shoulder.

At this moment, Yang Jing seemed to be asleep, her breathing deep and even.

Her face had a faint smile, and at this moment, she looked like a girl, at least in appearance.

"Su Mingzhe, fifteen years old, fourth layer of the Bone Tempering realm, a disciple of the Su family."

A handsome young boy with a youthful face calmly reported his information.

The crowd immediately burst into exclamations.

Su Mingzhe is already at the fourth layer of the Bone Tempering realm?

Su Mingzhe, a direct-line disciple of the Su family in Qing Shui County, at only fifteen years old, shocked the entire county when he advanced to the Bone Tempering realm six months ago, rising to a level comparable to Chen Nan of the Chen family. He was temporarily hailed as the second genius of Qing Shui County, with the potential to surpass Chen Nan in the future.

Everyone thought Su Mingzhe wouldn't participate in the assessment this year.

After all, he was only fifteen.

Another year of cultivation would undoubtedly yield better results.

This is why most participants were sixteen years old.

"How is that possible? Su Shao is too strong? He broke through to the fourth layer of the Bone Tempering realm in just half a year?"

"Such strong talent! He might have the qualifications to compete for the top spot in the assessment with Chen Nan!"

Gazes turned towards Chen Nan of the Chen family.

Chen Nan, however, remained unperturbed, his narrowed eyes carrying a hint of disdain.

"Brother Nan, Su Mingzhe has advanced to the fourth layer," Mu Wan'er said with a slight surprise.

"For the test, he forced his breakthrough, which is not worth it. The Su family's vision is limited..." Chen Nan said coolly. "Wan'er, today we will pass the assessment as the top male and female, showing them what true geniuses are!"

"Um..."

Mu Wan'er responded softly, involuntarily glancing back at Yang An.

Her gaze was a bit complicated.