Chapter 57: The Legendary Transfer Token

Seven days later, the Examination Institute of the Treasure Pavilion.

Lan Ming, Zhang Zuo and several others were chatting and laughing leisurely outside the examination site, though they occasionally glanced inside a few times.

The examination site of the Treasure Pavilion is composed of ten courtyards that make up the Examination Institute.

In front of each courtyard stands a main hall.

Formations, artifacts, elixirs, and talismans each have their own courtyard, while the remaining several dozen items are distributed among the remaining seven courtyards.

Although called the hundred arts of cultivation, in fact only over forty have been passed down to the present.

Seven days ago, Wang Ping arrived here to take the artifact refiner examination; today is the seventh day, and Tie Lanshan and his companions have been counting the days, so today should be the day the examination ends.

Therefore, several people gathered together, preparing to welcome Daoist Friend Lan Ming.

"I wonder what evaluation Daoist Friend Lan will receive?" Zhang Zuo said with a chuckle.

Grade B Upper!

Grade A Lower!

Grade A Lower!

Grade B Upper!

Those present all began to speculate, yet no one thought Daoist Friend Lan would fail the examination; someone so highly esteemed by Formation Master Lan must surely not be that terrible.

Master Liaoru uttered a Buddhist chant and said, "This humble monk believes Daoist Friend Lan will at least receive a Grade A Middle."

Oh!

Zhang Zuo, Wang Ye and the others were all astonished!

"Hmph! Boasting shamelessly, do you think the Treasure Pavilion's examination is child's play?" Just as everyone was astonished at why Master Liaoru was so certain, a mocking voice came from outside the door.

Tie Lanshan's face darkened slightly; hearing the voice, he knew who had arrived.

Among the Hundred Arts Garden, aside from him, the only formation master who had obtained a Grade A evaluation qualification was Zhang Zheng.

This person is narrow-minded; Tie Lanshan has always looked down on him. When Tie Lanshan first formed his own circle, he dismissed him outright, and from then on, naturally, he came to hate him.

However, the two usually had no dealings, so conflicts rarely arose; yet they never expected to meet here today.

Zhang Zheng is no fool; although he envies Tie Lanshan, he also knows the other party is capable of receiving a Grade A Upper evaluation, and that talent truly surpasses his by a great deal.

Having undergone the examination himself, he naturally knows how difficult it is; while feeling envy, he cannot help but have a hint of apprehension toward Tie Lanshan.

But to say he is afraid is impossible, for he has joined the Treasure Pavilion and become one of its people.

In status he is somewhat higher than the cultivators residing in the Hundred Arts Garden, and his authority is also somewhat greater.

Today he came here merely to accompany a friend taking the examination; who would have thought that upon entering the gate, he would hear someone so shamelessly boasting that, before the results were even out, they claimed someone could achieve a Grade A Middle, which is hardly different from himself?

, which is hardly different from himself?

Therefore, he could not help but speak out mockingly.

After he entered the main hall, he realized it was Tie Lanshan's small circle; the faint smile on his face froze slightly.

Tie Lanshan glanced briefly at Zhang Zheng; he had never taken this cultivator to heart.

The Treasure Pavilion's examination is nothing short of hellish difficulty for other cultivators, yet he feels little of it.

Zhang Zheng, who could never tolerate being ignored, felt his inner blaze ignite at the sight of Tie Lanshan's gaze, and he spoke with a mocking tone:

"Formation Master Lan Shan! Before the results are out, you'd best not jump to conclusions, lest you end up slapping your own face!"

Tie Lanshan said expressionlessly, "What does it matter to you whether I slap my own face or not?"

Zhang Zheng spoke solemnly:

"As a member of the Treasure Pavilion's Examination Institute, upon hearing someone regard the Pavilion's examination as child's play, I naturally must step forward to correct the mistakes of certain Daoist friends."

Heh heh!

Master Liaoru snorted coldly inside, while Wang Ye blatantly rolled his eyes, disregarding decorum.

The others present looked down on Zhang Zheng, finding this excuse rather lame.

Zhang Zheng didn't care; as long as he had a pretext to flare up, it was fine. Tie Lanshan gave him a deep look, suddenly smiled, and said:

"Then I don't know, Formation Master Zhang, how you wish to punish us?"

Zhang Zheng shook his head and said:

"We're all members of the Hundred Arts Garden; talking about punishment is a bit excessive. How about we make a wager instead? If you lose, just take it as a lesson; if you win, then from now on you'd better speak less of such things."

"What does Formation Master Lan think of this?"

Tie Lanshan smiled and said, "Sure! I don't know what the stake should be."

Zhang Zheng revealed a triumphant smile, feeling pleased, and said:

"I am quite interested in Formation Master Lan's Five-Breath Formation Method; why not use it as the wager?"

Zhang Zuo and the others stared coldly at Zhang Zheng, having circled around, realizing they had been waiting for this.

Having associated with Formation Master Lan for so long, they also knew how precious the Five-Breath Formation Method is; its pinnacle is "a thought forms a formation," and this formation is not a first- or second-tier formation, but at least reaches the level of a third-tier formation.

Upon reaching that realm, spiritual power within the body is endless, and formations cease not.

At that point, one can be called a Supreme Formation Grand Master.

The Five-Breath Formation Method was bestowed upon Formation Master Lan by the Treasure Pavilion as a reward when he initially obtained the qualification for a Grade A Upper evaluation.

The Treasure Pavilion stipulates that whoever achieves a Grade A Upper in the examination will be granted a reward.

Now, in the Hundred Arts Garden, only Formation Master Lan possesses this honor.

The Five-Breath Formation Method is undoubtedly tempting to any formation master.

Zhang Zheng had long been salivating over it; today, struck by inspiration, he proposed this wager!

Tie Lanshan's smile faintly faltered, then he broke into a grin again: "Good! I don't know what Formation Master Lan will put up as a stake, but if it's spirit stones, forget it!"

Upon hearing Tie Lanshan's agreement, Zhang Zheng could no longer hide the joy on his face, and he laughed aloud:

"Formation Master Lan is magnanimous; naturally, I will not be stingy either."

Speaking to this point, Zhang Zheng deliberately paused for a moment, glanced around, and said loudly:

Blue Formation Master, look well! What is this!

Zhang Zheng patted his storage bag, and a black iron tablet appeared in his right hand.

Just now, all the cultivators' gazes were drawn to Zhang Zheng's voice; when he produced the black iron tablet, they all turned their eyes to his palm.

A black iron tablet, shaped like a token, lay quietly in Zhang Zheng's palm.

All the cultivators' eyes showed doubt; what is this!

Can it compare to the Five Breath Formation method!

How about it, Blue Formation Master? Is this item in my hand worthy enough to bet with you? Zhang Zheng said with a smug smile.

When the black iron tablet appeared, Tie Lanshan's body shuddered, the smile on his face vanished, replaced by an expression of excitement, even a flush appeared on his face.

Hearing Zhang Zheng's words, Tie Lanshan suppressed his excitement and said: 'Sure!'

Blue Formation Master!

Blue Dao Friend!

Zhang Zuo, Liaoru, and several others exclaimed in surprise; Tie Lanshan waved his hand and explained to the cultivators:

An ancient transmission token, worth this price!

Ancient transmission token?

Isn't that the token that activates the transmission formation!

Is that very precious!

Zhang Zheng then said: 'Everyone, the transmission formation token and the transmission token are not the same!'

Tie Lanshan nodded and said:

Excellent! The transmission token was extremely precious in ancient times; once activated, it transmits directly without needing a transmission formation. According to records, the shortest transmission distance of a transmission formation token is also over ten thousand li.

In ancient times, the cultivation world was vast and boundless; unfortunately, a great war shattered the continent into fragments. Now, the continent where our Hundred Nations Alliance resides is the largest fragment of the shattered continent. Nowadays, such tokens have become legendary items; I never expected to be fortunate enough to see one today.

Tie Lanshan's words caused everyone to exclaim in surprise; then, with heated eyes, transmitting ten thousand li—couldn't one directly send to the western region!

However, I think the transmission token in Master Zhang Zheng's hand has probably lost its transmission function! Tie Lanshan said.

Indeed, the fine patterns engraved on the token have partially faded and worn, but its research value surely needs no further explanation from me!

Tie Lanshan nodded and said: 'If so, the bet is settled! Everyone, witness! I bet that Dao Friend Blue Ming can obtain the middle-grade A evaluation!'

Zhang Zheng loudly said: 'The bet is settled, everyone witness! I bet that Dao Friend Blue Ming will NOT obtain the middle-grade A evaluation!'

The bet is simple; after speaking, each of the two handed their wager item to the person in charge of the hall.

Master Liu! Trouble!

Master, trouble!

The person in charge of the Artifact Examination Hall chuckled, pointed directly, and a ball of spiritual power, a jade slip, and the token were sucked in with a whoosh.

From then on, the bet was truly established!

Seeing this, Zhang Zheng suddenly slapped his forehead, feigning regret, and said: 'Oh dear, my memory—I forgot to mention that today's examiner is Master Ruolan! He is quite strict!'

Hiss!

Everyone in the venue drew a cold breath; the stern judge, Master Ruolan!

Everyone couldn't help but cast sympathetic glances toward Tie Lanshan!