Chapter 137: Second Stage, Fang Xu Stunned?

Killing one's own friend also comes with punishment!?

Fang Xu's thrown fist suddenly stopped; seeing this, more than ten Ji Province martial artists thought he was preparing a killing move and none dared to step forward.

Over a dozen people stared at each other, all on guard watching him, as if the great battle in the arena had been paused.

A moment——

A faint smile suddenly appeared on Fang Xu's face.

His previously stalled body surged forward again, launching a fierce attack at the remaining dozen or so people!

However, after launching the attack again, the force in his hands became measured; each punch and kick merely injured these so-called 'friends' severely without taking their lives.

The pale yellow light, as judged by the seven colors, shows that what this person has comprehended has reached seventh-grade.

High-grade martial techniques or secret arts are tempting, with a guaranteed ten points per hour, but the passage of time is a crisis.

Sitting cross-legged beside Fang Xu were Lu Qingluo and Yun Wan.

In the square, Guan Qing, the steward in charge of this entrance examination for the Ascension Immortal Society, had already been waiting here for a long time.

【Your friend Yuwen Jue has died; as a friend, you may randomly inherit any one of the three portions of his legacy.】

After the dazzling blue light cluster flew to the four of them, it directly entered Lu Qingluo's body.

The virtual light curtain popped up again; Liang Shuai's three legacies somehow made Fang Xu a bit interested.

There is one thing Guan Qing didn't tell Fang Xu and the others: the Cliffside Heavenly Scripture is truly more miraculous than the bone stele in the Timber Blue Mountain Ruins.

【Name】: Fang Xu

【Realm】: Warrior Disciple Eighth Stage

Added Strength attribute: 1908

Added Vitality attribute: 459

Added Agility attribute: 79

Added Spirit attribute: 75

With nearly two thousand Strength, but in terms of strength, Fang Xu feels that ordinary Martial Master Ninth Stage martial artists are no match for him.

An axe chopped off Yuwen Jue's head; the axe-wielder martial artist, seeing Fang Xu's eerie smile, spoke somewhat nervously.

While completely looting the core of the mechanical puppet on his body, a scorching energy also surged into his own body along his arm.

After recounting what he had comprehended, that martial artist sighed in relief and left the hall.

"Alas!"

Its wonder lies in that, as long as one can persist in observing for three days, unless one's comprehension is extremely poor, one will basically gain something.

Two clusters of pale blue light flew out almost simultaneously from the jade tablet, then again flew toward Fang Xu's direction.

As for Legacy Two, the eighth-grade movement technique Swift Shadow Step, he had also experienced it during the earlier fight; it is a decent movement skill, and although only eighth-grade, Liang Shuai relied on Swift Shadow Step to barely dodge his two attacks.

He is an elder of the Ascension Immortal Society, regarded as a senior figure of the Yu State branch of the Ascension Immortal Society.

Legacy Three: 【White Legacy, Strength +55】 can be inherited without risk, but requires touching Liang Shuai's corpse to obtain.

If someone simply gave up the second stage, they would gain 360 points; adding the first stage's 200 gives a total of 560 points.

"Steward Changqing sure is lucky," said the woman named Yanwu, looking enviously at Xu Changqing: "The examination hasn't even started, and Steward Changqing has already picked up a little girl with the Danxiang Sacred Body for free."

"Can you kill people?" Fang Xu asked.

【Congratulations on obtaining Legacy Three!】

"This is the Cliffside Heavenly Scripture; those who wish to quit can now leave directly through the side exit, where someone will register you and add your points."

This is just like building a house: within a limited time frame, you must design what you want to build and calculate the time needed to alter it into what you desire.

Final elimination is based on proportion; if everyone's points are equal, they will surely compare the points gained from the first and third stages to see which is higher.

Lu Qingluo rose, glanced at Fang Xu and Yun Wan, did not dare to disturb them, and headed straight for the front exit.

"Congratulations on passing the first stage."

Jiang Feng was only later assigned to the Yu State Ascension Immortal Society as Chief Elder; before the one-legged old man, he is considered a junior.

Legacy One: 【Purple Legacy, Spirit +20】 can be inherited without risk, but requires touching Liang Shuai's corpse to obtain.

The beautiful woman also frowned upon hearing this: "I went to the Timber Blue Mountain Ruins not long ago and have already sent people to look."

The axe-wielder hesitated, then slowly tightened his grip on his axe and looked at Fang Xu, asking, "Did you really kill him?"

Seeing this, Fang Xu pointed at a martial artist on the ground and said, "Kill him, and you may pass."

Seeing this, the people on the high platform, including Jiang Feng, all showed smiles.

The second examination is said to test comprehension, but in fact it tests these people's hearts more.

The martial artist he named stepped forward with a sword, without the slightest hesitation, directly cut the throat of the small martial artist, then bowed to Fang Xu and headed straight for the exit.

"I truly hope more monsters like you appear among these little brats," the one-legged old man said, looking at Jiang Feng and sighing.

Legacy One: 【White Legacy, Strength +65】 can be inherited without risk, and can be obtained by touching Yuwen Jue's corpse.

After spending twelve hours with no gain, some martial artists in the arena angrily stood up, seized the time, and left the hall.

Longlong, due to color blindness in the first stage, earned too few points; if he cannot widen the gap in this stage, all hope rests solely on the third stage.

In the hall, some people, after glancing at the complex patterns on the Cliffside Heavenly Scripture, decisively chose to give up and headed straight for the exit.

After lowering his fists, Fang Xu suddenly beckoned a burly martial artist wielding a short axe from the crowd behind him.

In the end, although it seemed he had gained nothing over these three days, he had already obtained a prototype!

He only needs to gain another opportunity to observe the Cliffside Heavenly Scripture in the future, and he can continually refine the prototype in his mind.

The system wouldn't let him kill his own 'friend', but there are plenty of helpers in the arena.

The blue light faded, and Lu Qingluo slowly opened her eyes.

This time observing the Cliffside Heavenly Scripture, relying on her comprehension, she spent two days with no clue; finally, having no choice, she used Bai Ze's Power to comprehend this fifth-grade martial technique.

"Yanwu, speaking of Feishan Tianyi, where has that little girl run off to lately?" the one-legged Tieshan frowned, saying: "After the entrance examination, the core disciples' examination will soon begin."

In a moment, Fang Xu's mind gained some mixed information.

"Go on, go on." Fang Xu didn't even glance at him, waved his hand, then walked straight to Yuwen Jue's corpse.

After closing his eyes and carefully savoring this strange feeling, Fang Xu did the same, randomly selecting other martial artists to have them help kill people, while he harvested the inheritance.

Watching the stone door slowly close, Fang Xu secretly decided that after entering he must quickly find a way to earn enough contribution points, then come back in again.

The four chose a spot and sat down slowly; nobody spoke, all silently gazing at the jade tablet before them.

The Mora Cliff Heavenly Classic is far more exquisite than the bone stele in the Ti Lan Mountain relics. With three days and plenty of points to fall back on, he didn't care about the time limit; he just wanted to make the most of this opportunity to study it thoroughly.

"Senior Brother Fang, I..." Long Long glanced at Fang Xu, hesitating whether to simply give up on comprehension and take the safe option.

After selecting inheritance, one-third of the estate rolled across the light screen, and finally the light screen froze.

"As for the second level, I believe you've all heard of it; this level mainly tests your comprehension."

Inheritance Three: 【Purple Inheritance, Broken Dragon Fist (8th-grade martial skill)】 Inheritance risk unknown; Broken Dragon Fist is a damaged martial skill that Yuwen Jue obtained by chance in Ji Province. The technique is fierce, but its side effects are significant; using its domineering force often results in hurting the enemy a thousand while self-inflicting eight hundred. It can be obtained by touching Yuwen Jue's corpse.

Under normal circumstances, everyone should be clear that the assessment lasts only three days; in such a short time, it is absolutely impossible to comprehend anything too profound.

From his perspective on fist techniques, this Broken Dragon Fist is indeed quite strange; he'll need to study it thoroughly later.

Almost four thousand people left at once; before the jade tablet, the densely packed martial artists suddenly became much fewer.

Inheritance Two: 【Yellow Inheritance, Swift Shadow Body (7th-grade movement technique)】 No risk in inheritance, but requires touching Liang Shuai's corpse to obtain.

Being able to comprehend a third-grade martial skill from the Mora Cliff Heavenly Classic within three days is enough to prove that Yun Wan and Long Long have exceptional comprehension and disposition.

Kuang Qing said, then turned and left the hall.

Seeing that fewer than ten thousand disciples had passed the first-level examination, his brows slightly furrowed as he muttered, "I really don't know why Elder Jiang and the other transmission elders chose this kind of combat examination this year..."

Blaming others shouldn't fall on just a few of us; these people before us were blocked by Ji Province martial artists here to extort tolls, so knocking them down and having them help kill someone shouldn't be excessive, right?

"From now on, I will take you all to admire the Ascension Society's supreme treasure, the Mora Cliff Heavenly Classic; in the process, those who comprehend a ninth-grade martial skill will earn one hundred points, and for each grade increase, the points earned will double."

This information contains the damaged content of Broken Dragon Fist and Yuwen Jue's insights on it over the years.

After hearing Kuang Qing's words, many martial artists in the venue furrowed their brows.

He knew that Fang Xu possessed divine abilities; now he greatly anticipates what Fang Xu will comprehend through the Mora Cliff Heavenly Classic.

Nearly ten thousand people, at least forty percent chose to take the safe option.

Compared to the safe option, they felt that gaining over three hundred sixty points of comprehension in three days was obviously too difficult.

The short‑axe martial artist blinked slightly, then instinctively nodded.

"Time's up!"

Yet her face showed no hint of joy.

Watching the stone door slowly close, Kuang Qing knew that everyone who had passed the first-level examination was present.

"If you don't intend to give up, find a spot to sit down and begin contemplating."

"Everyone is prohibited from making noise that disturbs others."

The light screen rolled, then gradually froze.

Under these circumstances, those who can calm their minds, recognize themselves, resist greed, withstand temptation, endure danger, stay to observe the Mora Cliff Heavenly Classic and still gain insight are truly talented disciples.

Isn't it normal for the Yu State Ascension Society's disciple recruitment standards to be at the bottom?

Gradually, clusters of light of various colors emerged from the jade tablet and quickly entered the bodies of those disciples present.

Upon hearing Fang Xu's words, Long Long hesitated a moment then said, "I'll follow Senior Brother Fang."

Beside him, other Ascension Society disciples listening to his muttering also wore strange expressions.

"What is that kid doing?" Seeing that the three people beside Fang Xu had already left, only he remained continuing; Jiang Feng couldn't help but frown and mutter.

Inheritance Two: 【Yellow Inheritance, 60 Vitality Points】 No risk in inheritance; touching Yuwen Jue's corpse can obtain it.

【Obtained by touching Yuwen Jue's corpse.】

Seeing this scene, several stewards and transmission elders of the Ascension Society on the high platform glanced sideways.

These 55 points of spirit attribute were still obtained from the inheritances harvested earlier from the Ascension Society's Mu Xuan and Tao Ziheng.

"Jiang kid, what do you think—how many of these little fellows below can last three days, and how many can gain something?" In the crowd, a burly, one‑legged old man exposing his right shoulder spoke up.

After unleashing full firepower, these Ji Province martial artists, even with strong physiques, were no match for him in a single exchange; within just over ten breaths, more than a dozen were severely injured and collapsed.

Fang Xu bent down, just as before, and scavenged all the mechanism puppet cores from Liang Shuai's body, then also easily obtained twenty attribute points.

After the pale yellow light cluster merged into that person's body, he excitedly opened his eyes, then somewhat disappointedly stood up and walked toward the exit.

What he said is a fact.

After three days passed, Kuang Qing woke all those still continuing their contemplation and drove them all out.

Two hours remained until the end.

"Two days have ended, leaving over two thousand people, roughly as you expected." On the high platform, Xu Changqing gazed down at the martial artists, turned his head to look at Jiang Feng, and smiled.

"You only have two hundred points now; even if you took the safe option's three hundred sixty points, you wouldn't be far behind them." Fang Xu spoke.

Leading the crowd, Kuang Qing hurried past the stone gate and soon arrived at a vast underground palace!

After carefully experiencing it, Fang Xu furrowed his brows.

Observing his practiced movements, it was clear he often used this technique.

【Congratulations on obtaining Inheritance One!】

Finally, after the second day passed, they reached a peak; many martial artists, to cut losses in time, held onto their last one hundred twenty points, and rose to leave the hall en masse.

After harvesting Yuwen Jue's inheritance, Fang Xu then randomly selected another martial artist.

The short‑axe martial artist swallowed, then slowly approached the severely injured Ji Province martial artist, raised his axe and chopped off his head!

As one of the few female stewards of the Yu State Ascension Society, her sect mostly consists of female disciples.

At the top of the hall, on a platform, Jiang Feng together with the Ascension Society's stewards and transmission elders stood there, evaluating the examinees below.

After twelve two‑hour periods with no gains, they naturally lost one hundred twenty points.

"How to weigh the pros and cons is up to you."

Jiang Feng gave a slight nod; over seventy thousand martial artists obtained the Immortal Sect travel permit this cohort, and in the end, most of those who successfully joined the Ascension Immortal Association were among these two thousand plus.

But if I were to spend three days on the second stage, I would ultimately have comprehended only a single grade‑nine martial technique—or even failed to grasp a grade‑nine technique—needlessly losing three hundred sixty points compared to others.

No matter how ingenious the design, if it cannot be completed within the schedule, it will ultimately fail.

After all, the other national branches don't have a pervert like Elder Jiang.

"Just the first stage has already cost so many people; I doubt even a thousand disciples will manage to pass the trial."

The group of four headed straight for the exit of the first stage.

"Alright, everyone, follow me."

After Lu Qingluo and Yun Wan enter the sect, it is highly likely they will become my disciples.

The stone gate at the exit had already been opened; after paying two hundred points, many participating disciples streamed out of the trial grounds.

Xu Changqing chuckled, the image of Chu Mu appearing in his mind, and he couldn't help but nod.

Within the Jade Tablet, flowing light swirled, its surface etched with dense, mysterious characters and intricate patterns.

The reason Yun Wan and her two companions were not allowed to act is because this is, after all, the Ascension Immortal Association's trial; some of these people will eventually become official disciples of the Association.

With the infusion of twenty attribute points, he could clearly feel his thoughts becoming clear again, and even things he previously couldn't understand now gave him a faint glimmer of comprehension.

"Fang Xu, you…" Yun Wan was about to speak, but then it seemed she suddenly thought of something, and the words on her lips were swallowed back.

After collecting the cores of these mechanical puppets, his consciousness sank into the Sea of Consciousness, and Fang Xu glanced at his panel.

These two light orbs entered Yun Wan's and Long Long's bodies, one after the other.

Time trickled by, and from time to time someone in the arena silently rose and left.

I just don't know whether what he comprehended was a cultivation method and secret art or a martial technique.

"Tie Shan steward is dreaming again." His words had just fallen when, on the other side, a voluptuous, bewitching‑looking woman chuckled: "My disciple Yu Shan Tianyi is the most talented person recruited by our Yu State Branch in the past century; even so, she cannot compare to the poise of the head elder back then."

"Kill him, and you can pass."

Below, the time had arrived at the third day, and finally someone in the arena had comprehended something.

"This stage has no requirements; each person has three days of observation time."

Outside the stone gate of the hall, Yun Wan and her two companions watched Fang Xu nervously, not knowing why he continued.

Feeling her gaze, Jiang Feng said nothing, his eyes fixed on Fang Xu below.

Seeing the light curtain appear before him, Fang Xu's face lit up with joy.

When the time came to within a quarter of an hour of the trial's end, most people had already left, leaving only a few dozen, Fang Xu among them.

"I… I can go through now, right?"

Soon, the dozen or so martial artists from Ji Province were all slaughtered, and Fang Xu thereby harvested three martial techniques, 150 points of life attribute, 170 points of strength attribute, and a damaged secret art.

If he could obtain Commander Liang's twenty spirit‑attribute points this time, his bonus spirit attribute would reach seventy‑five, which would undoubtedly greatly aid his comprehension.

【Your friend Commander Liang has died; as a friend, you may randomly inherit any one of his three legacies.】

The importance of spirit‑attribute points is beyond doubt; as of now, his bonus spirit attribute is only fifty‑five points.

The gap was instantly widened!

Whether one ultimately passes the trial mainly comes down to total points.

"Come with me."

"Not bad—finally a little brat has comprehended something, and it's a grade‑seven." Beside him, Tie Shan's gaze had been fixed on the arena below; suddenly seeing a pale yellow light orb appear on the Jade Tablet, he immediately laughed and said.

The first day's comprehension time quickly passed.

"Alas, our Yu State Ascension Immortal Association's target this year is likely to be at the bottom again."

"Of course, if you feel your comprehension is lacking, you may give up midway; for each remaining hour you gain ten points, and if you outright abandon the second stage, the minimum you'll receive is three hundred sixty points."

All three thought Fang Xu surely wouldn't be unaware of this.

This kind of script is not any script familiar to everyone.

"You…"

Commander Liang's corpse lay right before him, and the light curtain couldn't even be bothered to show an arrow.

"Azure… grade five." A gleam flashed in Yan Wu's eyes as she smiled faintly.

"Senior Brother Fang…"

In the arena, the other disciples continued their comprehension.

Suppressing the excitement in his heart, he directly selected to inherit.

Those who managed to reach the second stage each already had a baseline of two hundred points.

As the number of people in the arena dwindled, with less than two hours left until the trial's end, a dazzling burst of azure light shot from the Jade Tablet, flying toward the direction where Fang Xu and his three companions stood.

Those who gave up early might perhaps have a tiny chance to enter the sect, but it would still be very difficult for them to transform from outer‑sect disciples into inner‑sect disciples.

"Hard to say—if twenty percent can persevere, that's already good."

Fang Xu nodded: "Go ahead and kill him—once you do, you can pass."

But even a martial technique, according to the rules, is worth four hundred points, already exceeding the baseline of three hundred sixty, so it's worthwhile.

Yu Shan Tianyi, as the foremost person of the Yu State Ascension Immortal Association's branch, had been personally appointed by Jiang Feng years ago to be her own master, but because of her licentiousness, she has caused no end of troubles over the years.

"You…"

Long Long was about to speak when he saw Fang Xu slowly open his eyes, then reluctantly glance at the Jade Tablet before walking straight out.

This situation, as time passed, only intensified.

"Those who comprehend a grade‑nine cultivation method or secret art start with five hundred points, and for each grade increase, the points earned double."

"Senior sister, let's go."

In the end, it's still because my foundation is too weak.

That warrior approached with some apprehension, looking fearfully at Fang Xu.

【Touching Liang Shuai's corpse can be obtained.】

After saying that, she furtively glanced at Jiang Feng.

The palace's dome is very high, nearly a hundred zhang, and at the center stands a stone tablet fifty zhang tall, its whole body resembling a jade stele carved from Han white marble.

The second stage was the easiest for everyone; no one was eliminated, and there were no casualties.

Pointing at a short warrior on the ground whose legs had been broken, Fang Xu spoke.

Having plundered the mechanism puppet cores from these people, his score now reached nearly fifty thousand!

Pale blue, third grade.

"Alright, the second stage is over; next is the third stage."

Since the first stage's examination was about to end, Fang Xu also didn't intend to, like these Jizhou warriors, rely on his strength to block the road and collect tolls here.

Some warriors who thought their comprehension wasn't very good were now hesitating, wondering whether to simply give up the second stage and first secure a minimum reward.

Because they had pondered for several hours, some found they had no clue at all; rather than waste time pointlessly, it was better to give up early—extra points are still points.

But the third stage is different.

Under Kuang Qing's leadership, everyone proceeded upward along the exit's stone steps, soon reaching the ground and appearing before a massive stone tower!

(End of chapter)