Chapter 107: Thousands Seek a Master, but the True Inheritance Goes to One Alone!

Dragon Form!

Li Yuan was actually a superior Dragon Form!

"That's a transformation only the Nine Forms possess…"

Below the high platform, the examination continued amid lively clamor and a great hubbub of voices, but for Shao Shao Fangbai, the examination was already over.

"How could he…"

Shao Shao Fangbai walked out of the grounds in a daze. When Zhao Zhao Yunsheng, Luo Luo Renshu and the others crowded around, he felt nothing but shame.

For this day, his clan had spared no effort he knew not how many.

But no scheme or calculation could compare to the Dragon Form. He was confident he could surpass Gan Wu and Tong Tong Jincheng, but…

"How could he be a Dragon Form?"

Shao Shao Fangbai's expression was vacant.

He had begun learning Wu Gong from the time he could understand things. The elders' greatest hope was for him to gather all Nine Forms, but even though he was born with six, to this day he had only cultivated one Wu Gong to completion, still far short of altering his root bone.

Let alone the Nine Forms?

"Outer sect, then. So be it—outer sect it is. Enter the sect first, then take it Xu Xu…"

With a flick of his sleeve sending his opponent sprawling to the ground, Zhao Zhao Yunsheng stepped down from the arena. Given his status and standing, the outer-sect examination held little interest for him.

He glanced from afar at the high platform, only to find that everyone had already left it.

"Brother Shao? Where is the Valley Master?"

"I…"

Shao Shao Fangbai felt a tightness in his chest, unable to utter a single word, wanting only to cover his face and flee.

Had Luo Luo Renshu not been quick-eyed and quick-handed enough to grab him, he likely would not have wanted to take part even in the subsequent entrance ceremony.

"What on earth, what on earth happened?"

Luo Luo Renshu's brow furrowed slightly, keenly sensing something was wrong: "Could it be that Gan Wu and Tong Tong Jincheng?"

"Not them…"

Shao Shao Fangbai shook his head, his voice bitter:

"It's—Li Yuan, he's a Dragon Form…"

"Li Yuan?!"

Zhao Zhao Yunsheng's expression changed drastically: "He, a Dragon Form?!"

"Dragon Form?! How could he possibly be a Dragon Form?!"

……

……

At the foot of Divine Weapon Mountain, a few pavilions served as the boundary; no commoner or disciple passing through dared to step past them.

"Good, very good."

Within the pavilion, Han Han Chuijun's face was wreathed in smiles. Looking at Li Yuan standing with bowed body, his satisfaction grew ever greater:

"Those born with the Nine Forms are rare under heaven, but to this old man, an acquired Nine Forms is the true heaven-defying talent!"

Having practiced Wu Gong for only two years yet already altered his root bone several times—such talent can no longer be described as astonishing; it is a heaven-defying talent in the truest sense!

At least, so it was for him.

"In my younger days I once roamed the world, traveling through the various Daozhou prefectures, and I only ever heard of such prodigies—I never expected your talent to reach such heights!"

Han Han Chuijun was in excellent spirits; even a true born-with-Nine-Forms would not have made him this happy.

"You flatter me, sir…"

Li Yuan had not quite adapted to Old Han's enormous change. At this moment, where on his face was the coldness of before? Even through the ghost-face mask, one could sense his smile.

"You don't understand, don't understand!"

Han Han Chuijun paced back and forth, then suddenly asked: "How is your practice of the Soldier's Path Combat Killing Hammer coming along?"

"This disciple is untalented; I have not yet achieved minor completion."

Li Yuan answered.

During this period, he had been immersed in the alteration of his root bone, so the progress of his other Wu Gong had lagged considerably—especially the Soldier's Path Combat Killing Hammer. Lacking the core Soldier Division, after reaching mastery, its progress had grown slower and slower.

"Mastery, mastery is not enough…"

Han Han Chuijun muttered to himself, feeling an urge to immediately impart the Soldier Division's core method to him, but still held back:

"After the entrance ceremony, I will transmit to you the Soldier Division's core method. Set aside all other Wu Gong and, at the fastest speed, cultivate the Combat Killing Hammer to completion!"

"When the time comes…"

Li Yuan nodded repeatedly; he had been eyeing the Soldier Division breathing method for a long time.

Han Han Chuijun praised him without stint, set down a few bottles of pills, then drifted away, moving very fast, no one knew where he had gone.

……

"Once I enter the sect, the progress of the Soldier's Path Combat Killing Hammer can be greatly improved!"

Not only because of the Soldier's Path Combat Killing Hammer itself, but also because of hammer-type weapons.

Boosts of the technique-type do not arise from nothing; only those deeply immersed in this Way can leave traces upon a weapon. The hammer-type weapons within Divine Weapon Valley must surely carry such technique-type boosts.

"If I could also get my hands on Old Han's hammer to use, that would be wonderful."

Li Yuan was very envious of Han Han Chuijun's hammer, but could only dream. For a man of the jianghu, a weapon that fits one's hand is like one's very lifeblood—how could it possibly be lent to another to toy with?

Li Yuan sat in the pavilion for a while, then regretfully withdrew his gaze. After so long, he still had not seen that mysterious-glow light again.

"Rift Sea Mysterious Whale Hammer!"

Gazing deeply once more at Divine Weapon Mountain, Li Yuan returned to the examination grounds.

……

The assessment is still ongoing.

On every arena, people are fighting fiercely, the sound of blades clashing never ceasing.

Those who can obtain a spot in the Ru Sect assessment seem to be everywhere here, but in reality, they could already be considered elite in a county or a town.

At this moment, to enter the Divine Weapon Valley, they are fighting with no reservations; Li Yuan glanced over and saw many injured.

Even with Divine Weapon Valley disciples on the platforms, many people had their hands and feet directly chopped off.

"They're fighting so brutally!"

Li Yuan was somewhat shocked.

As he walked along, very few on the platforms had cultivated internal strength; most were like Yue Yue Yunjin and Wu Ming, with their vital energy fully matured.

Their Wu Gong meant nothing to him at this time, but that ruthlessness made him even turn his head to look.

Entering the Divine Weapon Valley is a true chance to change one's fate; for most on the field, it might be the best, and the only, opportunity.

The slaughter was fierce, as one could imagine.

"If I didn't have the Commanding Military Talisman..."

Li Yuan muttered half a sentence in his heart, then thought: "If I didn't have the Commanding Military Talisman, I probably wouldn't even have had the chance to participate in the assessment."

Thinking this, Li Yuan felt somewhat heavy in his heart, and even more alert.

What he has today was truly not easy to come by...

"Ah, Second Brother!"

A shrill voice came; Li Yuan looked toward the sound and saw that on a nearby arena, Wu Ming's face was covered in blood. He couldn't stop his hammer weapon in time; his opponent's chest collapsed, coughing up great mouthfuls of blood.

"Ding Thirty-Two Platform, Nineteenth Match, Winner: Wu Ming of Gao Liu County!"

Below the platform, several youths glared with anger, their eyes filled with grief and indignation. On the platform, blood rushed to Wu Ming's pale face; he raised his hammer weapon high:

"I won!"

"You killed my Second Brother! I'll fight you to the death!"

Below, someone holding a blade jumped up; before the words were finished, he was kicked off the platform by a Divine Weapon Valley disciple:

"In arena duels, blades have no eyes. This was announced beforehand. Whoever dares to cause trouble will be killed without mercy!"

That blade-wielder coughed blood, his face deathly pale; he could only struggle to take away the corpse and staggered away.

And on various arenas, similar things happened frequently; among the assessment of thousands, casualties were ultimately unavoidable.

"Continue!"

Li Yuan glanced from afar; after Wu Ming left the platform, the arena duels continued.

The martial artists participating in this assessment mostly held blades; engagements often decided victory or defeat in a few or ten-plus moves, with very few prolonged struggles.

Therefore, the assessment proceeded very quickly.

Li Yuan turned half a circle and watched dozens of duels.

"Brother Li."

Li Yuan turned and saw Wang Wang Peiyao, her face pale. Her clothes were stained with blood, but it was her own; she had been struck by a blade and was now only simply stopped and bandaged.

"Passed?"

Wang Wang Peiyao forced a smile: "No, I met a tough opponent and was defeated in a few moves..."

Li Yuan sighed slightly in his heart and could only comfort: "... Even servant disciples have a chance to transfer to the inner or outer sects. With your talent, it's no problem."

Divine Weapon Valley

The mountain gate stands wide open, recruiting many disciples, but no matter how many, not everyone can enter the sect. Moreover, because conditions were relaxed, there are quite a few tough opponents of older age.

Eighteen-year-olds with internal strength are rare, but twenty-eight-year-olds with internal strength are quite numerous.

"Brother Li, no need to comfort little sister. I came with these silver coins this time, fully prepared for this."

Wang Wang Peiyao was somewhat disappointed, but she quickly calmed her mood and smiled, clasping her hands:

"I must also congratulate Brother Li on successfully entering the inner sect. I heard it before I went on stage! Later, you'll have to treat me to a good meal!"

"That goes without saying!"

Knowing she was pretending to be carefree, Li Yuan did not press further on her wound and did not mention that he was already a true transmission disciple.

When the sun tilted west, the Ru Sect assessment reached its conclusion. The people of Gao Liu County gathered together; some rejoiced, others mourned.

"I entered the sect!"

Wu Ming's eyes turned red. These days, he had practiced tirelessly without sleep or rest; only now did he relax, not even caring that blood still flowed from his body.

"Congratulations, Brother Wu!"

Liu Zheng and Wen Wen Yida's smiles were somewhat forced. Like Wang Wang Peiyao, they won a few matches before meeting a master and were defeated, leaving the field.

"Congratulations to Brother Li as well!"

Liu Zheng and the other pretended to be carefree, but their hearts were truly bitter. As soon as they turned, seeing Li Yuan, their hearts grew even more bitter.

The gap between servant disciples and inner sect disciples is far, far too large.

Servant disciples, as their name implies, must pay money and still perform menial labor. Outer sect disciples do not need to pay silver. As for inner sect disciples...

The silver they pay every year is used to support the inner sect disciples.

Thinking of this, Liu Zheng almost wanted to cry. Failing to enter the outer sect, the silver he had painstakingly saved up, intended for the Hundred Flowers Pavilion, was gone...

"Congratulations, Brother Li (Shopkeeper)..."

As Li Yuan approached, the crowd surrounded him. People from other nearby prefectures and counties also cast envious and awestruck glances.

Zhao Zhao Guangqing's Lion's Roar Art had already gained some momentum; whoever passed the inner sect assessment was known to everyone on the field.

Li Yuan responded to each one, sighing slightly in his heart.

More than half of those who came from Gao Liu County were eliminated; this does not include Liu Zheng, Wen Wen Yida, and others. Furthermore, Li Yuan also remembered the agreement with the Yuan family.

Yuan Yuan Pingjun's son was a simple, honest youth named Yuan Ping, with mid-to-lower root bone and average talent, but fortunately his family was wealthy enough to afford the silver.

"Where's Senior Brother Yue?"

Li Yuan looked around, didn't see Yue Yue Yunjin, and couldn't help but frown slightly.

Yue Yue Yunjin had superior root bone — there was simply no way he could fail to enter the Outer Gate…

"Senior Brother Yue did pass, but he was seriously injured, carried into the mountain gate by senior brothers from the Divine Weapon Valley."

Wu Ming answered.

For this Ru Sect examination, Divine Weapon Valley had prepared quite thoroughly; outside the grounds were quite a few Physicians, and aside from those killed on the spot, all could receive basic treatment.

"Although he's injured, compared to us, he's still far better off."

Liu Zheng sighed mournfully, heart aching over his silver.

But glancing at the dejected outer-city apprentices, his mood improved somewhat — even a menial disciple wasn't a position just anyone could hold.

"Brother Liang, aren't you going to take the Outer Gate examination?"

At this moment, Wu Ming suddenly turned his head and saw Liang Liang Ashui, whose face had gone dark, limping along as if he'd been beaten half to death.

"…"

Under the attention, Liang Liang Ashui's face twitched, his teeth nearly ground to powder.

He had been hiding a reserve of internal force, planning to amaze everyone the moment he entered.

Who knew he'd get hammered — in just three moves, every bone in his body nearly came apart; right now his heart was bleeding.

"I…"

Liang Liang Ashui glanced at Li Yuan, his mind completely blank.

Clang!

Clang!

At this moment, the sound of bronze gongs being struck rang out.

Several hundred Divine Weapon Valley disciples gathered together, and the voice of an elder, brimming with vigor, spread for miles:

"

"This Ru Sect examination has concluded. Those who did not pass, leave the grounds!"

That elder's Lion's Roar Wu Gong was far stronger than Zhao Zhao Guangqing's; even from several hundred meters away, Li Yuan felt his eardrums buzzing.

As he spoke, a chorus of wails and sobs rose from the grounds, but under the watchful eyes of the Divine Weapon Valley disciples, none dared act up.

They could only retreat in unwillingness.

Some left in dejection; others remained outside the grounds.

"Those who have entered the sect, step forward!"

The elder said in a deep voice.

This elder had also been on the high platform earlier — he was one of the eight Outer Gate Elders, named Kong Kong Anguang.

On the high platform, this elder hadn't stood out, but the moment he opened his mouth, it truly was deafening; his Wu Gong was clearly extremely high.

"This is Outer Gate Elder Kong. It's said that over a dozen years ago, he had already cultivated internal Qi; I wonder if he's achieved Grand Circulation by now…"

Wang Wang Peiyao muttered softly.

Her collection of intelligence on Divine Weapon Valley was very thorough — the Inner and Outer Gate Elders, the famous disciples, she knew them like the back of her hand.

"Probably so. I heard that among all the Inner and Outer Gate Elders, only Elder Han hasn't achieved Grand Circulation…"

Liu Zheng also said in a low voice, with a look of longing.

When Internal Strength reaches Grand Accomplishment, one enters the Yi Xing realm; when Yi Xing reaches Grand Accomplishment, internal Qi is born. When one's strength transforms into Qi, it can leave the body — blades and swords gain edge-light, fists and palms break the air — that is a true grand master.

"Old Han is doing it for Yi Bai Xing, so he's suppressing his realm, right?"

The thought flashed through Li Yuan's mind.

He had personally experienced the benefits of root bone alteration, and could understand Han Han Chuijun's desire for Yi Bai Xing, but when he'd heard this before, he'd also been puzzled.

Because he had never heard the claim that achieving Grand Circulation made Yi Xing impossible.

'Once internal Qi is born, one cannot Yi Xing? Or is it that…

Li Yuan was pondering in his heart when he suddenly turned his head and saw not far away the young Shao Shao Fangbai with a complicated expression, and Zhao Zhao Yunsheng with a stiff smile.

"Silence!"

Once the crowd had gathered around, Kong Kong Anguang spoke again, suppressing the noise on the grounds.

With a wave of his hand, over a dozen disciples had already stepped forward bearing documents, and he announced in a loud voice:

"For this opening of the mountain gate, the total number of people who came to take the examination was two thousand three hundred and ninety! Among them, three hundred and ninety are menial disciples,

three hundred and sixty Outer Gate disciples, and thirty-six Inner Gate disciples…"

The grounds were very quiet.

All disciples who had passed the examination already knew whether they'd entered the sect; their hearts were calm at this moment — only Liang Liang Ashui was somewhat restless and uneasy.

Although he had taken those three moves, that Divine Guard Army armored warrior had been stony-faced as iron, hadn't said a single word, and had simply turned and left.

"Reporting to the Elder, the roster of all disciples who have entered the sect is here!"

Zhao Zhao Guangqing, in armor, stepped out, took all the documents in his hands, and bowed as he handed them to Kong Kong Anguang.

"Mm."

Kong Kong Anguang took the roster casually, but did not open it, merely saying in a deep voice:

"Where is Li Yuan?"

Li Yuan?

There was a slight stir in the crowd. Everyone from Gao Liu County was full of envy — Li Yuan was the first person to pass the Inner Gate examination.

"He…"

In the crowd, Shao Shao Fangbai's expression tightened slightly. He still clung to a sliver of hope—after all, a non-Dragon Shape disciple finding it hard to become a true disciple upon entry didn't necessarily mean a Dragon Shape disciple would certainly be granted the true disciple seat upon entry.

"Disciple greets the Elder!"

Li Yuan stepped forward, his heart calm. He had long known he would become a true disciple, and so had Kong Kong Anguang, but the proper procedure still had to be followed.

"Li Yuan of Gao Liu County, who has mastered the Nine Shapes Transformations, has already nurtured internal force at the age of seventeen—he is an unprecedented genius of our Hibernating Dragon…"

Kong Kong Anguang's expression was solemn as he spoke:

"After deliberation by the Valley Master and the various Elders…"

At this point, his voice paused slightly as he surveyed the crowd. The gathered entry disciples first fell silent, then stirred with a sense of premonition.

"He shall be a true disciple!"