Chapter 74

The nine counties of Lingxi, apart from Yunwu County and Sifang County, have seven other counties.

Before nightfall, the young martial artists from the other seven counties were gradually led to the Western Academy Martial Field, each forming their own camps, not clustering together.

The other seven counties, like Yunwu County, are all lower-tier counties. Some counties have only dozens of young martial artists, while others have one or two hundred.

The number of young martial artists participating in the academy examination naturally reflects the strength of each county.

"Among the nine counties of Lingxi, only Sifang County is a mid-tier county, with the strongest national power. The young martial artists from Sifang County make up a small half of those participating in the academy examination," Liu Chengfeng said.

Zhang Ruochuan glanced at the number of young martial artists in the Western Academy Martial Field, roughly estimating that there were about 1,500, all of whom were martial arts experts at the Xuanji realm.

Every person present was a young genius in their respective county, with no one being weak.

Zhang Ruochuan asked, "Why are there only martial artists from the nine counties of Lingxi? I haven't seen any from the nine counties of Lingnan, Lingdong, or Lingbei?"

Liu Chengfeng smiled and said, "The Wushi Academy's outer palace is divided into four academies: South, North, East, and West. Each academy recruits independently. The young martial artists from our nine counties of Lingxi can only enter the Western Academy and become outer palace disciples of the Western Academy."

"Only when your cultivation breaks through to the Diji realm and you become an inner palace disciple can you compete on the same stage with the inner palace students from the other three academies."

Zhang Ruochuan nodded and did not ask further. He sat cross-legged on the ground and began to meditate and cultivate.

His gaze was fixed on the four sword-carved large characters "Western Academy Martial Field" on the distant cliff, feeling the sword intent emanating from the characters to comprehend the realm of a clear and transparent sword heart.

Tonight, all the young martial artists from the nine counties would have to spend the night on the Western Academy Martial Field.

The vast majority of martial artists sat cross-legged on the ground, absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, striving to adjust their state to the best to face the academy examination the next day.

The next day, as the sky began to brighten, three deafening bell sounds rang out in the Wushi Academy.

Those who were cultivating or resting were all awakened by the bell sounds.

On a seven-zhang high stone platform in the center of the martial field, ten powerful martial artists stood. One of them was an old man in a golden robe, while the other nine were all in silver robes.

The nine martial artists in silver robes were the guides sent to the nine counties, all of whom were silver-robed elders of the Wushi Academy.

Liu Chengfeng whispered, "The internal hierarchy of the Wushi Academy is very strict. People of different ranks wear different clothes. Only those who become elders of the Wushi Academy can wear silver robes. As for the golden-robed elders... in the entire Western Academy, only the Western Academy Dean can wear a golden robe."

The Western Academy Dean is a golden-robed elder of the Wushi Academy.

As for Elders Xie, Situ, and even Liu Chengfeng's father, they are all just silver-robed elders of the Wushi Academy.

Zhang Ruochuan asked, "If we pass the Wushi Academy examination, what color robes will we wear?"

"White robes," Liu Chengfeng smiled.

At that moment, the Western Academy Dean stood on the seven-zhang high platform, his long robe emitting a blinding golden light, like a blazing sun, making many martial artists unable to open their eyes.

Clearly, the golden robe worn by the Western Academy Dean was far more than just a piece of clothing.

The Western Academy Dean's gaze swept across the entire field, emitting a powerful aura. He said, "This year, 1,537 young martial artists from the nine counties of Lingxi are participating in the academy examination. The examination is divided into two rounds: the first round is 'Hunting Beast,' and the second round is 'Martial Tower Challenge.' In the end, the top 120 will become outer palace students of the Western Academy of the Wushi Academy. Next, Elder Situ will announce the specific examination rules."

After saying this, the Western Academy Dean stepped down.

Liu Chengfeng secretly breathed a sigh of relief and smiled, "Fortunately, the examination rules are the same as in previous years."

Liu Chengfeng had been well-prepared and was very confident about this academy examination.

Even though Liu Chengfeng was the son of a silver-robed elder of the Wushi Academy, he still had to pass the examination to enter the Wushi Academy for cultivation.

Of course, with his identity, he could certainly know many inside details of the examination in advance and make the necessary preparations, giving him a greater chance than others.

"1,537 people, but only 120 will be admitted, less than one in ten. With my cultivation, I definitely won't pass," a young martial artist at the early Xuanji realm sighed, already losing confidence in this academy examination.

On the stone platform, Elder Situ bowed to the Western Academy Dean and then stepped forward, facing the young martial artists below. He said, "The Wushi Academy examination has always been fair and just. We are looking for geniuses with exceptional talent, so even if your cultivation is lower, as long as your talent is strong enough, you have a good chance of passing the examination."

Hearing this, the martial artists who had lost confidence immediately rekindled their fighting spirit and looked at Elder Situ.

Elder Situ continued, "In half an hour, everyone will enter the Tianmo Ridge. You will enter a pre-designated area in the outer region of the Tianmo Ridge. All the third-tier and above beasts in that area have already been cleared out."

"The first round of the Wushi Academy examination is 'Hunting Beast.' Young martial artists at the early Xuanji realm need to hunt five second-tier lower beasts to pass the first round."

"Those at the mid-Xuanji realm need to hunt ten second-tier lower beasts to pass the first round."

"Those at the late Xuanji realm need to hunt twenty second-tier lower beasts to pass the first round."

"Those at the Xuanji peak need to hunt forty second-tier lower beasts to pass the first round."

"If there are any mid-Xuanji realm martial artists, they need to hunt eighty second-tier lower beasts to pass the first round."

"One second-tier mid beast is equivalent to five second-tier lower beasts. One second-tier high beast is equivalent to twenty-five second-tier lower beasts."

As Elder Situ announced the examination rules, the young martial artists below began to discuss in low voices.

A young woman at the early Xuanji realm smiled and said, "Just needing to hunt five second-tier lower beasts to pass the first round, that's too easy!"

Another martial artist sneered, "You're thinking too easily! The beasts in the Tianmo Ridge have lived in harsh environments for a long time, not only fighting human martial artists but also competing for food with other beasts. Their strength is at least twice as strong as those outside. Each second-tier lower beast is almost as strong as a young martial artist at the early Xuanji realm. Hunting one is already very difficult, let alone five."

Zhang Ruochuan also nodded and said solemnly, "The Tianmo Ridge not only has second-tier lower beasts but also second-tier mid and high beasts. If you encounter a second-tier high beast, any candidate here will surely die."

A second-tier high beast is comparable to a martial artist at the peak of the Xuanji realm. Even if Zhang Ruochuan encountered one, he would likely have no chance of survival.

Everyone's faces immediately turned pale.

Liu Chengfeng smiled and said, "Don't worry too much. The designated area of the Wushi Academy is very vast. Unless your luck is extremely bad, you won't encounter a second-tier high beast."

A young martial artist at the early Xuanji realm said dejectedly, "Even if I encounter a second-tier mid beast, I will surely die."

The Wushi Academy's recruitment is so brutal. Not only do you have to avoid powerful beasts, but you also have to be wary of other martial artists to prevent being ambushed.

Elder Situ continued to announce the rules: "Before entering the Tianmo Ridge, each person will receive a Qilin ball. If you encounter a life-threatening situation, just crush the Qilin ball, and the Wushi Academy's rescue team will arrive immediately. Of course, once you crush the Qilin ball, it means you have given up the academy examination."

"The examination period is three days. If you have not hunted enough beasts by the end of three days, you will be eliminated."

"Now, I declare that the academy examination officially begins."

Each person received a Qilin ball the size of a fist, which is said to contain Qilin smoke. Once the ball is crushed, the Qilin smoke will burst out and rise a thousand meters high.

At that moment, Elder Xie led ten outer palace disciples of the Wushi Academy to the sixty-six young candidates from Yunwu County.

Yunwu County originally had sixty-eight candidates, but Chen Libing was killed, and Jiang Heng was seriously injured and sent back to the county, leaving sixty-six.

Elder Xie said, "The ten people standing before you are outer palace students of the Wushi Academy, your seniors. They will lead you to different entrances to enter the Tianmo Ridge."

"Now, you can choose to enter the Tianmo Ridge alone to complete the academy examination, or you can choose to form a team of two to enter the Tianmo Ridge together to complete the examination."

Whether entering the Tianmo Ridge alone or in a team of two has its advantages and disadvantages.

Forming a team of two can indeed share the burden when encountering danger, but you also have to be wary of your teammate to prevent them from stabbing you in the back.

Therefore, if you do form a team, you must choose someone you can trust the most.

However, everyone comes from different places, and many do not know each other. Who can trust whom?

"I choose to enter the Tianmo Ridge alone!" a young martial artist at the mid-Xuanji realm said.

Clearly, he did not trust anyone.

Subsequently, the young martial artists from Yunwu County all made their choices. The vast majority chose to enter the Tianmo Ridge alone, with only twenty-two choosing to form a team of two. Among them were Zhang Ruochuan and Zixi.

Under the guidance of the ten outer palace students, the sixty-six young martial artists from Yunwu County set off for the Tianmo Ridge.

Prince Huoxing stared at the group from Yunwu County who had already left and sneered, "Listen up, once you enter the Tianmo Ridge, if you encounter any martial artists from Yunwu County, kill them without mercy. For each person killed, I will reward you with a second-grade medicinal pill. If you can kill that Ninth Prince, I will reward you with a True Martial Treasure."

Hearing Prince Huoxing's words, the faces of the martial artists from Sifang County all showed a sneer.

If they could kill all the martial artists from Yunwu County, the Yunwu County King would likely be furious. Just thinking about it was quite amusing.